Amir likely to cut down on Tests to prolong career

Mohammad Amir is considering shortening his Test career in a bid to extend his international playing days. The fast bowler has come to an agreement in principle with Pakistan's head coach, Mickey Arthur, which will see Amir's workload being managed in the future, and it is likely that it will reduce the number of Tests he appears in.

Amir, 25, has played 30 Tests since his debut nearly nine years ago, but he didn't play any cricket for five of those years when he was serving a ban for his part in the Lord's spot-fix in 2010. He was 18 at the time, had played 14 Tests and become the youngest bowler to take 50 Test wickets. Had he not taken part in the fix and been banned it is likely he would have played a majority of Pakistan's 43 Tests in the interim.

Since his international return at the start of 2016, he has added 16 Tests and though his record may not stand out - 44 wickets at 37.25 - he has been a regular for Pakistan in all three formats. Added to stints in county cricket and T20 leagues and it is no surprise he is starting to feel the toll. He has bowled the most international overs for any Pakistan bowler since his return (864.3 overs) across all formats, sixth among fast bowlers worldwide - none of the others returned, however, from five years out of top-flight sport.