England on wait and see if Stokes can bowl in Pakistan test

VIDEO SHOWS: NEWS CONFERENCES WITH ENGLAND CAPTAIN JOE ROOT AND PAKISTAN CAPTAIN AZHAR ALI

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: CONTAINS WHITE FLASHES

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS:

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (AUGUST 4, 2020) (ENGLAND AND WALES CRICKET BOARD - MUST ON SCREEN COURTESY ENGLAND AND WALES CRICKET BOARD)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CAPTAIN, JOE ROOT, ON STARTING 11 AND BEN STOKES, SAYING:

"Absolutely, there's a temptation to do that (stick with same 11 starters). But luckily, we're in a position where we can - we're going to name the same squad, so the same squad of 14 as the last game. And we still need to hear a little bit more and know a little bit more about where Ben's (Stokes) at. Unfortunately, because of the weather today, he wasn't able to bowl outside. So, we'll probably have to wait on that throughout tonight and make a decision in the morning. But what we have got with that squad of players is we've got a number of different options we can go down and we feel we've got everything to cover the conditions and the pitch. And whatever that throws at us, we feel that we'll have an answer."

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3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CAPTAIN, JOE ROOT, ON CHALLENGE PAKISTAN POSE, SAYING:

"Yeah, we know they're a very good side. They've come over here since 2008 and we've been unable to win a series - well, here and abroad. So, we know they're a very difficult side for us to play against and that they've had a lot of successes in English conditions as of late. They've got some fantastic players. They've done some special things here, but we're playing some very good cricket at the minute. We're full of confidence. We're playing as well as we have done for a while. We are used to playing in this environment, as you've mentioned, having three games under our belt now as a team, and feel that we're starting to emulate our game plan more consistently. And the challenge for us will to continue to keep trying to nail that as much as possible. To keep looking to get better at doing that over and over again. Become more consistent. And we've got a big focus on starting well this week. We're all very aware that in previous series we've not gotten off to the best start and we've been 1-0 down. And we want to really focus this time around of trying to get a win early on and then drive the series from there."

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5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CAPTAIN, JOE ROOT, SAYING:

"Yeah, but again, that's all part and parcel of professional sport, unfortunately. And, you know, if we want to be the number one side in the world, we're going to have to have a battery of fast bowlers and a number of guys that can come in and perform at any given stage. Especially if we're playing back to back games within a series. It's really important that we have options and that we can rotate our bowlers if guys are a bit sore or have pulled up a bit stiff and have a slight injury concern. So, I think, for the longevity of this team, it's really important that we continue to keep looking after our bowlers. (That) we make smart decisions at the right times. And, you know, we'll get judged on that through results. You know, it is tough, but it's a good tough."

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (AUGUST 4, 2020) (PAKISTAN CRICKET BOARD - MUST ON SCREEN COURTESY PAKISTAN CRICKET BOARD)

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTAN CAPTAIN, AZHAR ALI, ON BOWLING ATTACK, SAYING:

"Yeah, they're very talented (Pakistan bowlers). Obviously, they're not as experienced as some of the other bowling attack teams in the past for Pakistan, but potentially, they're right up there. And I'm sure they're very much ready because it could have been very hard coming out of the lockdowns and all of that in Pakistan - and I think everywhere in the world - and to get ready for the test match in 6-weeks' time or 5-weeks' time. I think they have done really well, and I think team management has prepared them really well. So, they are ready for the test matches and I'm sure that they will perform to their potential."

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9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTAN CAPTAIN, AZHAR ALI, ON STARTING 11, SAYING:

"Obviously, we are in a three-match test series and obviously England had to play six test matches. So, I think they're going accordingly, and they probably will do the same, but we'll try our best to keep them fit as we want to play our best 11 as well. So, it's always hard, but if you play a test match, you need to have your best 11. We have three test matches, so I'm sure they will be nice and fresh for all three test matches. And wherever we feel someone is not fit enough, then we always have replacements."

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11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTAN CAPTAIN, AZHAR ALI, ON

"Rightly so, because England conditions are quite tough for batting and also with the Dukes ball and the weather, it swings around. But we have had experience in the past with players like Babar (Azam), Asad (Shafiq), myself. We've played cricket in England before and we'll try to perform and use that experience to our good and transfer that to our other players as well. And also, we have coaches like Younus Kahn and Misbah (ul-Haq) who played a lot of cricket in England and performed. So, I think we all know how to play in England, but obviously, it's always a challenge, especially for a nations batsman to come here and perform."

STORY: England skipper Joe Root on Tuesday (August 4) said he would take until Wednesday (August 5) morning to name his starting 11 for the first of three tests against Pakistan as it remains unclear at what capacity all-rounder Ben Stokes will be at.

Stokes continues to nurse a quadriceps injury making it unclear if he will be available to bowl come Wednesday's first match of the three-test series in Manchester.

Root said he was confident in his arsenal of bowlers that he can rotate in and said the side are gunning to get off to a good start against Pakistan after having lost the first game in eight of their last 10 test series, including against the West Indies who England beat 2-1 last month as international cricket returned from the COVID-19 shutdown.

However, Pakistan captain Azhar Ali also said his talented group of young bowlers was ready to throw their all at the English.

It has been six months since Pakistan's last test match and Ali said his team were looking forward to the challenge, having drawn their last two tours to England, most recently in 2018.

The test series will be held behind closed doors in a bio-secure bubble with the second (Aug. 13-17) and third tests (Aug. 21-25) to be held in Southampton.

(Production: Kurt Michael Hall)