The two-match series between Pakistan and England starts with the first test at Lord's on May 17. The second and the final test will be played at Old Trafford, Manchester from May 31. In the nine previous trips to the mother country, Pakistan have only managed to win 7 tests. Three each of these victories were recorded at the Oval in 1954, 1992 and 1996 and at Lord's in 1982, 1992 and 1996, the remaining one coming at Leeds 1987.

Here is a brief review of the seven victories Pakistan achieved on its previous tours to England.

The Oval: August 12 – 17, 1954
Babes of international cricket then, Pakistan achieved the unprecedented feat on their first tour to England by winning the fourth Test at the Oval, and squaring the four-test rubber. Late AH Kardar won the toss. Frank Tyson, who was nick named `Typhoon' and Peter Loader made debuts for England. Statham (2/26), Tyson (4/35) and Loader (3/35) bundled out Pakistan for a paltry 133. Only skipper Kardar played a resolute innings of 36. Fazal Mahmood (6/53) and Mahmood Hussain (4/58) replied aptly, as England fell 3 runs short of Pakistan's first innings total, despite Denis Compton's magnificent 53. Pakistan could only manage 164 in the second innings. Wazir Mohammad the eldest of four test playing brothers – Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq the other three – was the principal contributor with 42 not out. This time Johnny Wardle was their chief tormentor with 7 for 56. Set to score 168 runs for victory, England was cruising towards victory at 109 for 2, when suddenly, the match turned around and 8 wickets tumbled for the addition of only 34 runs. Fazal Mahmood claimed a match haul of 12 for 99 and Pakistan recorded a surprising and exciting 24-run victory. Peter May made 53 for England in the second innings. This victory put Pakistan firmly on the cricket map.

Lord's: August 12 – 16, 1982
The drought of not being able to beat England for 28 years, since the victory at the Oval in1954, was finally broken at Lords in 1982. Imran Khan won the toss. Mohsin Khan scored a superb 200 in Pakistan's first innings score of 428 declared. Robin Jackman claimed 4 for 110. But when England batted, Abdul Qadir's magical spin (4/39) completely mesmerized them and the 46 extras were the principal contribution in England's total of 227. Following on, England's second innings was largely held up by one of the slowest fifties by CJ Tavare (82). Such was the slow pattern of scoring that twice he took an hour to add to his score. England, however, scored 276 in the second innings. Mudassar Nazar, the man with golden arm, claimed 6 for 32 to completely wreck the England innings. Left with 76 runs to win, Pakistan reached the target in 14 overs and won this historic Test by 10 wickets.

Headingley: July 2 - 6, 1987
England won the toss and opted to bat, but soon lost the initiative by losing five wickets for 31 within an hour. Though debutante DJ Capel reached fifty, England hardly managed to surpass their previous lowest total against Pakistan by six runs, after getting to 136. Supported by Saleem Malik (99), Ijaz Ahmed (50) and Wasim Akram (43) Pakistan gained a lead of 217 runs. Neil Foster returned with a career best of 8 for 107 from 46.2 overs. Only David Gower (55) provided substance to England's second innings of 199 runs. Skipper Imran Khan, in a devastating spell of 19.1 overs claimed 7 for 40, including his 300th wicket in Test Cricket, becoming only the 8th bowler in history to do so. Pakistan convincingly won by an innings and 18 runs.

Lord's: June 18 – 21, 1992
England won the toss and scored 255. Graham Gooch scored 69 and Alec Stewart 74. Waqar Younis claimed 5 for 91. In reply Pakistan took a slender lead of 38 runs. Aamer Sohail (73), Asif Mujtaba (59) and Saleem Malik (55) were the main scorers. Devon Malcolm claimed 4/70 and Phil DeFreitas 3 for 58. England, in their second innings, fell more cheaply for 175, with only Alec Stewart (69) standing against a strong Pakistan attack. This time Wasim Akram (4 for 66) was their wrecker-in-chief. The match hung in balance at one stage, but Wasim Akram (45 not out) and Waqar Younis (20 not out) ensured Pakistan a victory by two wickets.

The Oval: August 6 – 9, 1992
Pakistan comfortably won the fifth and final Test at the Oval by ten wickets. England batting first after winning the toss could only muster 207 runs (Mike Atherton 60 and Robin Smith 33). Wasim Akram claimed 6 for 67. Pakistan hammered 380 (Javed Miandad 59, Shoaib Mohammad 55, Asif Mujtaba 50, Rashid Latif 50). Devon Malcolm took 5 for 94. Despite Robin Smith's 84 not out, England surrendered to Waqar Younis (5 for 52) and Wasim Akram (3 for 36) and were dismissed for 174 in their second innings. They just escaped an innings defeat by asking Pakistan to score 2 runs to win the match.

Lord's: July 25-29, 1996
Pakistan scored 340 runs with principal contributions from Inzamam-ul-Haq 148 and Saeed Anwar 74, and Rashid Latif 45. England, in their turn scored 285 (Graham Thorpe 77, Nick Knight 51). Waqar Younis claimed 4 for 69 and Ata-ur-Rehman took 4 for 50. Pakistan posted 352 for 5 declared in the second innings (Saeed Anwar 88, Ijaz Ahmed 76 and Inzamam-ul-Haq 70). Dominic Cork took 3 for 86. England again failed in the second innings, despite Atherton's 64 and Stewart's 89 they could only reach 243. Mushtaq Ahmed spun a web to give him 5 for 57 and Waqar Younis claimed 4 for 85. Pakistan outplayed England by 164 runs.

The Oval: August 22-26, 1996
John Crawley (106), Graham Thorpe (54) and Alec Stewart (44) enabled England reach a respectable total of 326 in the first innings. Waqar Younis (4/95) and Wasim Akram (3/83) were again a thorn in England's side. Helped with a superb 176 by Saeed Anwar, 100 not out by Saleem Malik, 61 by Ijaz Ahmed, 46 by Aamer Sohail, 40 by Wasim Akram, Pakistan posted an imposing 521 for 8 declared. England were never comfortable against a lethal Pakistan attack and again surrendered tamely, especially to Mushtaq Ahmed (6/78) and Wasim Akram (3/67). Their total of 242 (Stewart 54, Hussain 51, Atherton 43) was far from anything that could save England from a 9-wicket defeat.

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