It may lack the history - and hype - of the Ashes or the revenue potential of a tour by India, but rarely has a Test series promised as much as this encounter between England and Pakistan.These are two fine if slightly flawed sides who could, by years end, be rated No. 1 in the Test rankings. And, as well as arguably the two best swing bowlers in the world, this series will also feature (again, arguably) the worlds best spinner, one of the worlds most exciting allrounders and the two highest run-scorers in the history of either Test team. Evenly matched teams who play, on the whole, attractive cricket and will be watched by gd-sized crowds with over 100,000 tickets sold for the first four days of the series. It really could be a classic.If England win, they will hold the trophies in every bilateral series against other Test nations. While not a unique achievement, it would be an impressive one and reflects well upon a side that may well still be a year or two away from its peak. It is, after all, barely 18 months since the disappointing tour of the Caribbean and only just over two years since they were defeated at home by Sri Lanka. These remain relatively early days in the England recovery.Pakistan, by contrast, are reaping the rewards for sticking with many of the same players for half-a-dozen years and appear to have an excellent opportunity to secure a rare away victory. It is not just that they have prepared more thoroughly than at any time in recent history, with training camps stretching six weeks ahead of the first game of the tour, or that they are bsted by the return of a left-arm bowler of rare skill. It is that they will play England on the least typically English surfaces - Lords, Old Trafford and The Oval - that may negate some of Englands seam threat and bring into play the one area where Pakistan are indisputably stronger: spin bowling. Home advantage, while not surrendered, has not been exploited as it was against Australia.In this first Test especially, where they are without Ben Stokes and James Anderson, England lk just a little vulnerable. On a Lords surface that rarely favours Englands traditional skills - it may well turn out to be the last Test wicket prepared by Lords groundsman Mick Hunt, who is contemplating retirement after spending his entire career at the ground - Pakistans batsman have an opportunity to build the type of total that their legspinner, Yasir Shah, can exploit. Jake Ball is a fine, skilful bowler with an exciting future. But he has only been a first-choice player in Nottinghamshires Championship side for a few months and clearly cannot hope to replicate the experience of Anderson.England do have some significant advantages, though. Once Stokes returns, they have a lower-middle-order that can dig them out of trouble - with Moeen Ali back to No. 8 and Chris Woakes at No. 9 - compared to the likes of Mohammad Amir (who has a Test batting average of 12.63) and Yasir Shah (who has a Test batting of 10.46). The partnerships between Moeen and Stuart Broad were crucial in helping England win the 2015 Ashes; they could prove just as crucial this summer.England also have more depth with the ball. Pakistan are, at present, committed to a four-man attack. On the flat pitches anticipated, that leaves their three seamers and one spinner with a heavy workload in a four-Test series that features two sets of back-to-back Tests. Yes, England went to No. 1 in the world with their four-man attack. But it tk a heavy toll on some of the participants. Equally, for all the worries about Englands middle-order - and Gary Ballances Test average of 47 might assuage some of them - the Pakistan opening pair lk every bit as fragile. And, for all the experience and skill of Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan, their combined age is now 80. They will not want to be exposed t early to the new ball. Pakistans fitness and fielding, while improved and improving, is still not the standard they would like. In a tight series, such factors could be crucial.It is no secret that previous series between these sides - at least, previous series played in England - have been bedevilled by controversy and ill-feeling. So awful was the relationship between the teams after the Tests of 2010, that Englands players held a vote over whether they wanted to complete the limited-over series. In previous years, we had seen arguments over ball tampering, reverse swing, allegations of umpiring bias and match-fixing. There were, no doubt, faults on both sides with the 2010 spot-fixers bringing shame on their sport and Englands concerns over reverse swing evaporating once they themselves learned how to do it.But those days are gone. Misbah inherited a fearful mess when he was appointed captain, but he has built a strong team in desperately testing circumstances and ensured corruption has been eradicated. Few figures in modern cricket history - not even Brendon McCullum - have done so much to shape the spirit with which their side play. Few figures in modern cricket history warrant as much respect.Meanwhile, an England side that regularly includes two Muslim players - most notably Moeen who has embraced the position of role-model and bridge builder - has become a little more respectful, a little more mature and a little more worldly in their outlk. The relationship between the sides is vastly improved.There is no reason the relationship between the supporters should not be equally harmonious. While the Barmy Army trumpeter, Billy Cper, has been researching prison-themed songs to play when Amir is in action, the organisation hope such gestures are taken in gd humour and staged a match against the National Asian Cricket Council on Wednesday evening with a view towards recruiting more Asian members.While the term Barmy Army is often applied lsely to cover most England supporters, the actual Barmy Army have distanced themselves from the bing of Ricky Ponting in previous years and the chants aimed at Mitchell Johnson. Were not about bing great players, their founder, Paul Burnham, told ESPNcricinfo. We want England to win but we want to see gd cricket and we respect our opponents. Burnham insists - pretty much without smiling - that the original rhyme was his bowlings not right.There is a wider context, t. Recent weeks have suggested that the rts of multiculturalism in England and Wales are not as deep as many of us believed. It would be na?ve to ignore the rise in hate-crime - some of it Islamaphobic - and not be on our guard against it at these games. It would be sickening if legitimate reservations over the return of Amir were exploited by those with agendas against the beliefs of the team or, more pertinently, its supporters. And it would be sickening if it occurred and the authorities tk the same lk the other way approach they have sometimes adopted in the past.But we have seen, be it in Afghanistan, Ireland, Rwanda or Englands inner-cities, crickets ability to unite. This Test series is an opportunity to witness not just top-class cricket but to remind ourselves that England at its best, is a tolerant, multi-cultural nation that celebrates its sporting successes while respecting its opponents. On and off the pitch, the next few weeks have the potential to restore spirits.Nike Air Max Outlet Canada .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. Nike Air Max Mens Canada . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. http://www.canadaairmaxsale.com/ . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Nike Air Max Canada . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Nike Air Max Canada Sale . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency.Mohit Chhillar is 23 - a defender, the most expensive player at the Pro Kabaddi League, and the youngest member of the national kabaddi team.Dharmaraj Cheralathan is 41 - a defender, the captain of PKL 3 winners Patna Pirates, and the oldest member of the national kabaddi team.As they sit for a conversation together, Dharmaraj or Anna (elder brother), as Mohit fondly calls him, says, Madam, meri hindi kacchi(Madam, my hindi is a little weak). Mohits quick retort to this is: Arre Anna, mai hn na, mai samjha dunga (Dont worry, brother. Ill help you out).Despite their ages, Mohit and Dharmaraj say they have a lot in common, having been brought up in an environment where kabaddi brings them dignity and respect.You dont lk at age in a team, Mohit says. We are there for each other in gd times and in bad times, no matter what. You have to have an open mind. All that matters is the fact that all of us have been selected together to represent the country at such a big stage.?I have grown up playing the game. Kabaddi players were considered to be an inspiration in my hometown, Nizampura (in Punjab). Thats how I found my calling t.Echoing a similar feeling, Dharmaraj adds, I come from Tiruchanampundi in Tamil Nadu, where the game is extremely popular. People respect you for playing it. I fell in love with the game as sn as I started playing it.Both players have been involved in the game as far back as they can remember.dddddddddddd. Mohit begins to tell how kabaddi has been his game since the time he was 10, when he suddenly realizes that Dharmaraj has been playing the sport for close to 30 years.Whenever I see Anna, I feel inspired. Imagine how brilliant a feat it is to be a part of the Indian camp continuously since 1998. He has played with my uncle in the past, and now he is playing with me. Can you beat that kind of experience? You learn so much by getting to play with a team like this.So what have Mohit and Dharmaraj learnt from each other?I learnt how to not just love, but respect the game from him, Mohit says. He plays with so much spirit, having a sole agenda of fighting till you win the game.Dharmaraj, on the other hand, feels Mohits infectious energy has a positive effect on the entire team.?He is a very gd player with clear instincts. Also, he has a knack of making people comfortable around him. That is something that I admire a lot about him and would want to get better at, Dharmaraj says.?While Mohit feels that winning the World Cup final against Iran on Saturday is something the team will cherish the most, Dharmaraj has a slightly different outlk.?The game binds us together and winning this will be our tribute to it, he smiles. ' ' '