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Yasir enjoying Warne's spin counsel

Test legend continuing to mentor Pakistan legspinner ahead of crucial final stages of third Test

Yasir Shah’s task of spinning Pakistan towards victory against England at Edgbaston could well be aided by some pointers from Shane Warne, who says the pair have kept in touch during the tourists' time in the United Kingdom.

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Warne, the second highest wicket-taker in Test history, says he’s been in regular contact with the 30-year-old Shah during the current Test series, which is level at 1-1 midway through the third Test, after they worked together during England’s tour of the UAE last year.

Yasir snared 10 wickets in a man-of-the-match performance in Pakistan's first Test victory at Lord’s to continue a remarkable beginning to his Test career that has seen him take 88 victims in 15 Tests (including the ongoing match in Birmingham).

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And Warne, who has watched on at Edgbaston in his role as a commentator for host broadcaster Sky Sports, has high praise for his fellow leg-spinner.

"He’s had a wonderful start to his career," Warne said in a Facebook Live chat on Thursday.

"As I’ve said plenty of times, he’s definitely got the best leg-break that I’ve ever worked with.

"I think he’s a wonderful bowler and I’ve enjoyed our little sessions together. I had another chat to him this morning (on day two) about a few different things."

In the lead-up to this series, Yasir said he observed how Warne bowled in England by watching footage of him, in addition to receiving some tips from the Australian great on bowling with the English Dukes ball.

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"Yes, we do stay in touch on Twitter, Messenger and WhatsApp,” he told ESPNCricinfo last month. "We were in touch before the Lord's match.

"He's been asking me how my bowling is going, how I was coping with the Dukes ball.

"I worked first on my grip, since the Dukes ball is a little more slippery than a Kookaburra. It's the first time I've played a Test match with a Dukes.

"When we met in Sharjah during the England series he did give me advice, including about how to use the crease.

"I tried to do as he said and it's been very helpful to me, especially in English conditions."

Warne’s advice clearly had the desired effect as Yasir ran rampant in the series opener at Lord’s.

The energetic tweaker, playing in his first Test outside Asia, evoked memories of the King of Spin with his delivery to remove Gary Ballance in England’s second-innings. The wonder-ball was strikingly similar to Warne’s stunning leg-break to Andrew Strauss in the 2005 Ashes.

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Although his performance at Old Trafford didn’t scale those same heights, Yasir looked back to his best in England’s first-innings at Edgbaston. 

The wrist-spinner only took the one wicket but he provided captain Misbah-ul-Haq the ultimate defensive weapon, sending down 27 overs for just 64 runs, as seamer Sohail Khan claimed a five-wicket haul to help bowl England out for 297.

"I thought he was excellent in the first-innings, he was outstanding," Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur said after play on day three.

"He allowed Misbah to rotate the quick bowlers from the other end. He held the game up and controlled the run-rate for us and he did a great job.

"That’s something he’s developing. There are times in conditions like this where he has to do that holding role. 

"He wasn’t that successful at Old Trafford but he learnt a hell of a lot from that."

Yasir looms as the key man for Pakistan heading into the final two days of the third Test after England quickly erased the tourists’ lead in the final session of day three, finishing 17 runs ahead with all 10 wickets in hand.

While the pitch hasn’t showed many signs of breaking up and offering anymore turn than it did in England’s first-innings, Warne believes the dry nature of the Edgbaston track could play into Yasir’s hands.

"If Pakistan can post a big first-innings score then he’s definitely got a big role to play," Warne said of his protégé before the tourists went on to make 400 in their first dig.

"He’ll definitely have a big say in this match in the third-innings with the wicket getting a bit drier."