Akram finds a wise bowler in Aamer

London: It is a long time since a Test series in this country started with so much focus on both bowling attacks.

There are different reasons why the bowlers of Pakistan and England will be under close examination when the first Test begins at Trent Bridge tomorrow, but one thing is for sure — the battle should make compelling viewing.

Last week's events at Headingley between Pakistan and Australia proved it is batsmen suffering that provides Test cricket's thrill factor.

Whereas it is the number of faces on parade that is the issue for the England management to grapple with, as they choose between four and five bowlers, it is the excitement of a new star rising which gives Pakistan hope for a successful series in this country.

Mohammad Aamer is only 18 and has played just 10 Tests for Pakistan, but his ability to swing the ball both ways at a decent nip was too much for some of the world's best batsmen as Australia sunk to 88 all out in Leeds.

Several times during that match comparisons were made between Aamer and the finest left-arm quick of them all, Wasim Akram.

It was Wasim who discovered Aamer three years ago at a training camp in the villages around Rawalpindi and he is convinced the pupil has already outstripped his master in terms of development.

"He is definitely a much cleverer bowler at his age than I was," Wasim said. "He is only going to improve from here. He is nippy and he swings the ball.

"He is the perfect bowler for these conditions and he is a quick learner. I am very impressed by his performances so far.

Improve a lot

"He is a wise bowler and it doesn't matter how quick you are as long as you swing the ball. With Waqar [Younis, the Pakistan coach] around him he will definitely improve a lot more as long as he realises how much hard work is required because this is just the start for him."

Voices from the past must have been echoing in Wasim's ears when he uttered that last line. It was in 1987 that a 21-year-old Wasim enjoyed a seminal tour to England, opening the bowling with Imran Khan and delivering Pakistan's first Test series win in this country.

Imran drove his young apprentice around the country on that trip and said to him "you have to work like a dog, Wasim" to succeed.

He listened, and went on to take 414 Test wickets all over the world. Wasim enjoyed the advantage of bowling in good attacks throughout his career.

First with Imran and then Waqar. Aamer has Mohammad Asif, whose control will help build pressure for his younger partner to exploit, and Umar Gul, who has more than 100 Test wickets, as first change.

Neither Pakistan nor England have an experienced attack. James Anderson has been around for a decade but his tally of 48 Tests makes him far from a veteran.