Yasir was adjudged Man of the Match for taking a total of 10 wickets across two innings as England struggled to build partnerships and were eventually bundled out for 207 on the fourth day while chasing a target of 283 runs. This was Yasir’s first 10-wicket haul in Tests and he has now taken 86 wickets from just 13 Tests. Though some would call Pakistan’s win as an upset, or a win against odds, a closer look at England’s results at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in recent times reveals that England haven’t quite been as formidable a force at the venue as they once were.
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That fixture saw Pakistan left-arm quick Mohammad Amir, together with fellow paceman Mohammad Asif and then captain Salman Butt, given five-year bans and jail sentences for conspiring to deliberately bowl no-balls as part of a newspaper sting operation.
“I am really proud of the team, the way that they fought”, said Misbah, who made 114 in Pakistan’s first-innings 339 – in a match when only two other batsmen reached 50. Nevertheless his three wickets in the match represent an important first step back and possibly an ominous sign for England, that he has room to improve for the remainder of the series.
“I think we were 100 runs light in the first innings”, Cook said.
Pakistan now lead the four-Test series 1-0 but England, who are due to name their squad on Monday, could have both Anderson and Stokes available for Friday’s second Test at Old Trafford.
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif had also telephoned Pakistani test cricket captain Misbah-ul-Haq and congratulated him on winning the match against England. Chris Woakes, England’s standout player in their home summer, has vaulted 28 places up the bowlers’ rankings after his 11 for 102.
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In the meantime, Cook concedes it is England’s batsmen with issues to address.
