Mohammad Amir makes his long-awaited and controversial return to Test cricket for the first Test between England and Pakistan at Lords on Thursday, live on Sky Sports. Weve collated the views on Amirs return from inside the Sky Sports cricket commentary team, from England players past and present, as well as one or two other greats of the game...Michael Atherton He made a bad mistake and he deserved some punishment, there is no getting away from that.Five years out of the game and going to jail is a pretty heavy punishment - I think it was a six-month sentence of which he served three.But I do think there were some mitigating factors and thats why Ive had some sympathy for him and why I believe he deserves a second chance.The first circumstance is the nature of the sting. Its important to understand that this was not a betting scam, there could be no bets made.This was a sting set up to show that players were corruptible. It is perfectly fair to argue, I think, that the newspaper was creating a crime and enticing people into crime, although the justification was that the journalist had been given a tip-off.They turned to the youngest and most vulnerable player in that team and put him under pressure to bowl those no-balls. So, I think on those two mitigating factors a ban for life would be unbelievably harsh. A five-year ban - thats fine. Sky pundits Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain both agree that Mohammad Amir has served his punishment and should be allowed to move on Nasser HussainI am less sympathetic than Michael, because although it was a sting operation, Amir still knew what he was doing was wrong. He has said himself; I was cheating the game and the public.He is not a naive young man, he is well educated. They would have been told about the dangers of match-fixing, like we all were as players over the years - thats the wrong side, and why I believe he should have got the ban he did.But dont judge a person until youve walked in their shoes. Put yourself in that position - 18 years old, your hero Salman Butt, who has captained you most of your career says; do this, and if you dont, youll be in big trouble, and in a culture where youre told to look up to and respect senior players. Amir (L) pictured with his then captain, Salman Butt (R) during the 2010 tour of England Given that situation he made one wrong decision in his life, and should he pay for that for the rest of his career? I dont think so. He made an error and has paid for his error. I think were a very cruel society if we tell a young 18-year-old that hes made one error, and thats it for his life.It will be very tough for him at Lords, he will get booed and have no-ball shouted at him, but that comes with the mistake he made.David LloydIts nothing to do with the individual, but for me, match-fixers, spot-fixers, should be banned for life. My opinion on that has never changed.I dont buy the excuse that he was young. Amir had played international cricket, and every international cricketer would know full well what you do when you get an approach. He chose not to.Im quite happy for him to play cricket at club level in Pakistan, but my view is that he shouldnt play international cricket for Pakistan. That happens to be my opinion, other people have theirs which Im very relaxed about. The decision has been made, I dont agree with it but life goes on.Michael HoldingPeople have made mistakes in life, and been given second chances. People have committed murder, served their term, and found themselves back in society. What Amir did is minor in comparison.If people arent willing to forget the past, then certainly it might affect him. But what he has to try to do, is move on. If he goes out there and anyone boos or tries to heckle him, he has to just ignore them.I am happy to see that he is back. When the incident occurred, I think he was pressured into doing what he did and I dont think it was naturally what he wanted to do.Hopefully its all upward going forward for him now and he will get back to showing us the ability he already displayed when he was a teenager. Amir is looking forward to bowling at England’s captain and ‘backbone’ Alastair Cook when he makes his return to Test cricket Bob WillisIm very pleased indeed that he is back. I felt very sorry for him at the time and understood the predicament he found himself in.He wasnt an innocent young man, but a naive one, and just a teenager. He had a captain he obviously revered who told him to do something wrong. It would take a very strong-willed teenager to turn round and say no to the captain. He was easy prey.He has served his time - went through a very difficult period in his life - and has rehabilitated himself.He is still a young, and very fine bowler. I hope he goes well and I hope that the English crowds are kind to him. Im sure there will be a few idiots who might voice their protests, but hopefully not at Lords.Kevin PietersenAny sportsman or woman caught match fixing, spot fixing or taking drugs should be banned for life, Pietersen told The Telegraph. They have broken the rules, should pay the price and not be given a second chance.People always deserve a second chance in life but sport is different. We are paid to play a sport we love and are damn lucky to lead the life of a professional cricketer. To try and gain an advantage by taking drugs or devaluing your sport by being bribed is breaking the 11th and 12th commandments. There can be no way back. Kevin Pietersen faced Mohammad Amir when Pakistan last toured England in 2010 Sachin TendulkarI think those that decided to penalise him, have already done so. He has served his sentence, and now he is able to pay.He is a good bowler, has a huge amount of skill, and if he gets his rhythm right he can hopefully do something special.Charlotte EdwardsI dont condone in any way what he did. He made a huge mistake, but at a very young age. It would be sad for a talent like him not to be given a second chance. We all make mistakes.In the Pakistan system, seniority really counts, I just felt that he was pressured into it, and youre very impressionable at that age.I certainly wont be booing him at Lords. You never want to see anyone booed on a cricket field but I cant be certain that its not going to happen, although if theres any ground in the world that would be quite lenient, it would be Lords. Amir collects his man-of-the-series award during the Lords Test in 2010, his last for Pakistan He is a fine cricketer, and lets hope now that his cricket will do the talking. Although, hopefully he wont be too successful against England.Dominic CorkI think if youve been found guilty of spot-fixing or any sort of cheating in sport - life ban. That would be my way of stopping it.He has not been given that; hes back in, so now we have to support him. He has been accepted back in by the ICC and we will see what he does.He is a talent; he has got pace, late swing and will cause England batsmen a lot of problems. Just ask Marcus Trescothick. Amir poses major threat Marcus Trescothick predicts Englands batsmen will struggle to cope with Mohammad Amir this summer. Stuart BroadIt is a huge story, back for his first Test at Lords since the controversy six years ago, a massive story. But, as a team, it is a dangerous place to get waylaid by that, because we could find ourselves in a lot of trouble.Having seen the way Amir has bowled at Taunton, we need to get in the right frame of mind, because he can do us some damage.We need to just look at him as a cricketer and a bowler, and how we can negate that. Amir can do damage Stuart Broad says England must forget Pakistans Mohammad Amirs past and just prepare to face him. Joe RootThe decision has been made for him to play, so theres nothing further to say on it really.Its a great opportunity for me to face him, Ive not played him before, so Im looking forward to that challenge and seeing how we go against him throughout this series.Gary BallanceHe has served his time. I think he deserves a second chance. He is obviously a quality bowler so it is going to be tough facing him, but were going to be up for it.He showed when he was last here in 2010 how skillful he is and we know how tough it will be - especially with the ball swinging and seaming - its not going to be easy but we play in these conditions a lot. So hopefully well be ready for him.Wahab Riaz Wahab Riaz told Sky Sports that he believes Mohammad Amir can handle the pressure when he makes his return to Lords for the first Test against England Everybody is supporting Amir, nobody is reluctant. Everyone is taking to him as our young brother, he is a part of our family. We are all behind him.He is a very talented bowler; is a very strong lad with good vision. He is eager to perform. What has happened in the past has gone now. I truly want him to perform well, to take five wickets in this Test - get his name and his image back and win this first Test for Pakistan.You cannot stop what people are going to say; it doesnt matter what people think. We are not here to answer the people, we just want to play good cricket, a competitive series with England. They are a good team in their own home conditions, and our focus is on playing as well as we can at Lords.Watch the first Investec Test between England and Pakistan from Lords live on Sky Sports 2 from 10am on Thursday, July 14. Also See: Pakistan v England: Story of 2015 Pakistan fixtures/results Live cricket on Sky Cricket videos Cheap Utah Jazz Jerseys .com) - The Carolina Hurricanes hope to remain perfect at home in January on Friday night as they welcome the Vancouver Canucks to PNC Arena. Cheap Jazz Jerseys Authentic . City has reached new heights under manager Manuel Pellegrini as they transition from big spending/immediate impact to perennial contender. Yaya Toures seeming discontent Tuesday may complicate that, as does the little issue of Financial Fair Play. http://www.cheapjazzjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-karl-malone-jersey . Marcus Olsson, 23, joins Blackburn on a free transfer from Swedens Halmstads. He made 139 appearances and scored 17 goals in his four years with the club. He earned his first caps for Sweden this month, featuring against Bahrain and Qatar. Wholesale Jazz Jerseys . - Maynor Figueroa headed in a late goal to give Honduras a 1-1 draw with the United States in an international friendly Tuesday. John Stockton Jersey . Yahoo! Sports columnist Marc Spears says that the Boogie Smooth album may have been an elaborate April Fools prank.West Lafayette, IN (SportsNetwork.com) - Melvin Gordon rushed for 205 yards and a touchdown and No. 25 Wisconsin beat Purdue 34-16 on Saturday. Joel Stave passed for 219 yards and two touchdowns in the win, most of it in the first half as the Badgers (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) played their first game as a ranked team in over a month. They overcame a shaky start to the second half, which included Gordons fumble and failed fourth-down run and a near-onside kick recovery by the Boilermakers after Austin Applebys 79-yard touchdown pass to Akeem Hunt got them within 24-16. Appleby passed for 204 yards for Purdue (3-7, 1-5), which has lost three in a row. Paul Griggs kicked three field goals in the loss, including two over 50 yards. The Badgers have beaten Purdue nine straight times, including six in a row in West Lafayette. After dropping out of the ranking following a loss to Northwestern on Oct. 4, Wisconsin held Maryland to a season-low seven points and handed Rutgers its first shutout in 12 years, moving to No. 2 in the nation in scoring defense. The offense nearly coughed up the lead in this one when a fumble and failed fourth-down conversion led to 10 points for Purdue early in the third quarter, trimming the Badgers 24-6 halftime lead. Gordon lost the ball on the first play from scrimmage, leading to Griggs 52- yard field goal. Gordon was then stopped on a 4th-and-1 try at the Purrdue 16 and Appleby connected with Hunt on a 79-yard touchdown three plays later to get the Boilermakers within 24-16.dddddddddddd It nearly got worse for Wisconsin when a surprise onside kick was recovered near the sideline by Purdues Raheem Mostert. But the play was reversed after a replay review. Boilermakers safety Landon Feichter later intercepted Stave at the Purdue 15, but they punted and Tanner McEvoy gave Wisconsin a 31-16 lead with a 13-yard touchdown run to cap a four-play drive. Rafael Gaglianones 31-yard field goal capped a 12-play drive to open the fourth quarter and made it 34-16 Wisconsin. Earlier, Griggs kicked a 40-yard field goal on Purdues first drive, but Gordons 14-yard touchdown run later in the first put the Badgers on top for good. After Griggs nailed a 53-yarder on the first play of the second quarter, Gaglianone made a 24-yarder for Wisconsin. Staves 27-yard touchdown pass to Gordon later in the second made it 17-6 and his 9-yard throw to Alex Erickson gave the Badgers a 24-6 lead at halftime. Game Notes Stave passed for 190 yards in the first half ... Wisconsin faces current No. 15 Nebraska next week ... After a bye week, Purdue plays Northwestern on Nov. 22 ... Purdues last win against Wisconsin was Oct. 18, 2003. It hasnt beaten the Badgers at Ross-Ade Stadium since Oct. 18, 1997. ' ' '