Cook and Root were at the crease for only nine overs on Monday before the declaration but both scored at a rapid rate with the captain 76 not out and Root unbeaten on 71.
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The key to it was wanting to bat while the wicket is still good.
“Our cricket is suffering a lot because of no global cricket at home since last six years”, he said. “We think we’ve made the right decision and hopefully tomorrow that will be proved the right thing to have done”.
A bigger blow still was to follow for Pakistan when their captain Misbah-ul-Haq, the only substance in their misfiring first innings, succumbed to a slower full-length ball from Chris Woakes which he contrived to squeeze back on to his stumps from outside off. He then sprinted off the field to put on his pads after claiming the final catch of the innings at deep midwicket.
It was in his right leg – he returned for this match after knee surgery in his left – but nonetheless a worrying turn of events which seems sure to rule him out of the rest of this match, and possibly beyond.
Brief spells of showers had halted play thrice on Day 3, but bright sunshine welcomed the two sides on Monday (July 25).
Former England captain Michael Vaughan was one of the most vocal critics, as he said on BBC Test Match Special: “They were 391 runs ahead – 391 runs! Win the game today – why delay it?” he said. “Why delay it? What happens if it rains again?”
Pakistan must still contemplate batting for at least five sessions to survive, Manchester weather permitting.
England opted against enforcing the follow-on at Old Trafford and finished a rain-hit day three at Old Trafford on 98-1 in their second innings, an advantage of 489. With the skies still overcast and the floodlights on the former Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne said: “It is flawless bowling conditions with the ball nipping around and, if you walked out to toss the coin now, you would bowl first, which is why everyone is surprised”. “I expected players of the calibre of Younus Khan and Asad Shafiq to get hundreds here”, he said. The pitch isn’t going to become a minefield, like it can in places like Kolkata.
Farbrace, who was sanguine about the largely negative reaction, responded: “It is all about opinion. That’s the nature of it, we all love the game of cricket and opinions vary”.
Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur said the tourists simply had to bat better in their second innings-whenever that came.
“Alastair Cook has his reasons”, Arthur said.
“Full credit to England – they won a good toss and Cook and Root took the game away from us”.
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Earlier, Pakistan put an ordinary batting performance in the first innings where they were bowled out for 198 in comparison to England’s 589-run score in the first innings.
