Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq was adamant his unusual press-up celebrations at Lord’s were in no way aimed at England.
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Joe Root hit his 10th century as England continued to pile misery on Pakistan attack.
By contrast Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who took 10 wickets at Lord’s, had tea figures of none for 69 in 18 overs.
The team management wasn’t in uncertainty for the second Test beginning on Friday and insisted the spinner would be good. “We know their strengths and we have to really work hard in the next three Tests and we’re ready for that”.
“Yasir Shah, I reckon, is the best leg-spinner since Shane Warne”, Stokes told an Old Trafford press conference broadcast on Sky Sports.
Misbah is confident Pakistan have the skills to prosper again – especially Yasir, who is none the worse after taking a blow to the shoulder in net practice at Old Trafford on Wednesday. So we might have to change where you have to think “I can do this but no, I can’t do that”, if it’s spinning and bouncing.
Moeen Ali who was roped in after the retirement of Graeme Swan has in 27 Tests yielded 68 wickets at an expensive average of over 41 a piece but on the flip side, the 30-year-old Shah has taken 86 wickets in just 13 Tests at an average of 23.
Both Ali and James Vince, yet to make a fifty in his four-Test career, were guilty of reckless shots in the second innings.
“Every game (you) have to adjust, and that could sometimes be a challenge when you’re a little bit down and short on confidence – but global players can do that”.
“They can try to attack Yasir – it’s up to them what they want to do”, said Misbah.
“We know that England are a fine team”, said Misbah.
England’s bowling wasn’t their problem in the first test, but Anderson – the country’s all time leading wicket taker – returning will offer a huge boost and take some pressure off the likes of Stuart Broad and the in-form Woakes. “Because it was after the spot-fixing scandal at Lord’s that I was made Test captain and we started rebuilding the team”, Misbah said in an interview.
“I have been playing as a batsman for two weeks, it is something I definitely did need, to get myself back into match situations”.
The spin threat posed by Pakistan may yet increase as the tour goes on, with the tourists considering whether to submit their opening batsman, Mohammad Hafeez, for retesting on his bowling action between the second and third Tests.
“It’s all about how you apply yourself, (to) overcome mistakes of the previous Test”, he said.
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Cook had an early moment of fortune, edging the final ball of Amir’s first over at catchable height through a vacant fourth slip to double his score.
