Pakistan Test

LONDON: England batsman Jos Buttler has vowed not to curb his attacking instincts after earning a “surprise” recall to the test team for the opening test against Pakistan starting at Lord’s on Thursday. Buttler returns to the test fold for the first time since December 2016 after a series of impressive innings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and he believes a similar bold approach in red-ball cricket can help cement his place in the side. “They’ve told me to play in the way people watch me play in white-ball games,”…

LONDON: Former England internationals Boyd Rankin and Ed Joyce were included in a 14-man Ireland squad named by coach Graham Ford on Friday for next week's inaugural Test against Pakistan. Ireland will again be led by experienced captain William Porterfield for what will be their first taste of the five-day format since being elevated to Test status. Meanwhile Kevin O'Brien, the century-making star of Ireland's 2011 World Cup win over England in Bangalore, has been included in the squad, as have county cricketers Tim…