Cricket-England elect to bat in third test v Pakistan

LEEDS, England, Aug 4 (Reuters) England won the toss and opted to bat in the third test against Pakistan at Headingley today.

England made one change, replacing wicketkeeper Geraint Jones with Chris Read.

Jones had played for the past 31 tests in a row since April 2004 but was dropped after a poor run with the bat.

Pakistan made three changes, bringing in a new batting opening combination of Salman Butt and Taufeeq Umar as well as fast-medium bowler Shahid Nazir.

Opening batsman Imran Farhat was left out after fracturing a finger at Old Trafford while all rounders Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi were axed.

The 28-year-old Nazir played the last of his eight tests in 1999.

England lead the four-match series 1-0. Victory at Headingley would give them their first home series win over Pakistan since 1982.

Teams: England - Andrew Strauss (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Chris Read, Matthew Hoggard, Sajid Mahmood, Steve Harmison, Monty Panesar Pakistan - Taufeeq Umar, Salman Butt, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Shahid Nazir, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria.

REUTERS DH HT1535