England aspire for "something special" in final Test
England captain Nasser Hussain said his team aspired to do "something incredibly special" in the final Test against Pakistan starting at the National Stadium in Karachi on Thursday.
"We want to do something incredibly special in this final Test and after playing some good cricket I am confident we can end the tour on a special note," he said on Wednesday.
After two draws, the tourists will be battling against history in the series decider as no English side has won a Test in Pakistan since Ted Dexter's 1962 side took a 1-0 series victory.
Pakistan has also never lost in this bustling southern port city in 34 Tests.
"We broke some records in the last English summer and we have not won here for quite some time but Pakistan's unbeatable record gives us some incentive to try to do something very special," Hussain said.
England scored a 3-1 home victory over the West Indies last September, the first English team to beat the once mighty West Indians for 31 years.
"We will never forget the West Indies series for the rest of our lives and here we will have to work very hard to achieve such a memorable result," Hussain said.
England entered the series as underdogs but surprised the hosts with a morale-boosting draw in Lahore and then fought hard to save the second Test in Faisalabad.
"I am enjoying captaining this side because I'm seeing people realise that they can play under different conditions and perform," Hussain said.
"We are here to play good cricket and if we win it would be a big bonus. We will do everything in the next five days and won't let this chance slip."
England are likely to include paceman Matthew Hoggard after leg-spinner Ian Salisbury failed to impress in the first two Tests.
Veteran batsman Graeme Hick may survive after scores of 16, 18 and 0 as his replacement Michael Vaughan has not recovered fully from a calf muscle injury.
Wicket-keeper batsman Alec Stewart has a sore elbow but it is not serious and he is expected to play.
Pakistan, meanwhile, are facing a dilemma between pace and their much vaunted spin attack and have yet to decide on their combination.
"The pitch looks a sharp turner and I hope our bowlers will make up for the unimpressive show of the first two Tests," captain Moin Khan said.
Leading paceman Wasim Akram is under tremendous pressure to perform after taking just two wickets in the series so far.
"Akram is a great bowler and he can hit form any time but others too will have to perform if we want to win," Khan said.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia has warned Akram he must produce the goods or get the axe.
"I have my options open whether to play with three spinners or three seamers -- we will decide on Thursday morning," Khan said.
If Pakistan play with three seamers, Waqar Younis may squeeze in after being left out of the first two Tests.
Pakistan included allrounder Shahid Afridi to raise the squad to 16 after dropping him from the 15 last Sunday.
"This pitch looks conducive to our spinners. It has bite and bounce and it's up to the bowlers to exploit this," Khan said.
Batsman Naumanullah, who hit a half century in the tour match against England at Peshawar, is expected to make his debut.
The squads:
Pakistan: Moin Khan (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice captain), Saeed Anwar, Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Salim Elahi, Yousuf Youhanna, Faisal Iqbal, Qaiser Abbas, Wasim Akram, Abdur Razzak, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, Arshad Khan, Naumanullah and Danish Kaneria.
England: Nasser Hussain (captain), Alec Stewart, Michael Atherton, Marcus Trescothick, Graham Thorpe, Graeme Hick, Craig White, Andrew Flintoff, Ian Salisbury, Ashley Giles, Andrew Caddick, Darren Gough and Matthew Hoggard.
Umpires: Steve Bucknor (WIs) and Mohammad Nazir Junior (Pak)
TV Umpire: Feroz Butt (Pak)
ICC Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri)
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