For Afghanistan's journeyman, 'playing England is like a dream'

DUBAI // England's ascent to the top of the Test cricket pile has been a triumph for preparation as much as talent.

Their brain trust will have had their work cut out in researching their first opponents on tour in the UAE, however.

It is difficult to imagine two sides having more starkly contrasting profiles than the world's No 1 Test team and the International Cricket Council (ICC) Combined XI, a side composed of leading players from beyond the Test sphere.

Forget the ICC's player video database, which can be accessed from the Global Cricket Academy (GCA) where the opening three-day warm-up match of this series starts today.

Even Google will have struggled.

England's players arrived in the UAE this week after two months off, during which time their most notable official engagement was to collect the BBC's team of the year award at a glitzy ceremony in Manchester.

Their first opponents on tour today are a diverse team including three Afghan refugees turned cricketers, and Saqib Ali, who had to ask for time off work from his job in Abu Dhabi to play.

England should be aware, though, that their opponents are craving recognition and want to take a notable scalp.

"We are looking to win the match," said Mudassar Nazar, the former Pakistan player who, in his role as a staff coach at the GCA is in charge of the Combined XI.

"There are only limited chances for Associate cricketers to play against the 10 Test playing countries, so every time they do it is like a World Cup final for them."

The prospect of facing high-class fast bowlers is rare for players from outside the Test elite.

However, Mohammed Shahzad, one of the Afghan contingent, who first learnt the game as a refugee across the border in Pakistan, is undaunted. "When the official confirmation came through that we had been selected for this game, it felt like a dream come true," the wicketkeeper-batsman said.

"I am not nervous at all. I have played against quick bowlers from India and South Africa [in the 2010 World Twenty20 in the West Indies].

"I've trained against the bowling machine and I'm feeling pretty good about myself."

Cricket will have to be the common language in the Combined XI dressing room.

The team of Pahsto, Hindi, Urdu and Afrikaans speakers are led by William Porterfield, whose strong Northern Irish accent is not easy even for native English speakers to decipher.

Porterfield, who plays county cricket for Warwickshire, is no stranger to success against England, having captained Ireland to their World Cup win over them in India last year.

Despite the disparate background of the players he is leading this week, he says they are united in their ambitions.

"There are a lot of good cricketers in Associate cricket, and there are 12 lads here looking to prove a point," the captain said.

"England are the best team in the world in this form of the game at the minute, so who better to pit yourselves against?

"We are looking at it as an opportunity to go out there and take a big scalp. Everyone wants this opportunity."

Andrew Strauss, England's captain, wants his side to get back into the winning habit at the first opportunity ahead of bigger tests to come against Pakistan.

"It is a good idea from the ICC and a great shop window for some of the players from the Associate nations," Strauss said.

"We know some of the players but we don't know them all, so we have to be prepared to adapt quickly to what we come up against."

The Combined XI

Who are the players providing opposition to Test cricket’s top side in Dubai this week?

William Porterfield (Ireland): Captained Ireland to win over England at the 2011 World Cup

Kyle Coetzer (Scotland): Made a century for Durham in Abu Dhabi in the 2010 county curtain-raiser

Paul Stirling (Ireland): Promising Irish batsman who plays professionally for Middlesex

Saqib Ali (UAE): Pakistani expatriate who is a storekeeper in Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's leading batsman

Mohammed Nabi (Afghanistan): Powerful all-rounder who captains the Afghan Cheetahs Twenty20 side

Craig Williams (Namibia): Plenty of first-class experience in South Africa's domestic competition

Mohammed Shahzad (Afghanistan): Burly wicketkeeper with a first-class best of 215 not out

Christi Viljoen (Namibia): His bowling will be "something different to what England are used to", according to Porterfield.

Hamid Hassan (Afghanistan): Former refugee who likens his rise to the Rocky movies

George Dockrell (Ireland): Bowled Ireland to World Twenty20 qualification in 2010 while still at school

Boyd Rankin (Ireland): Cattle farmer turned fast bowler who has played for England Lions

pradley@thenational.ae