“We are all aware of how he’s been out in the last few Test matches [caught driving in the slips] and they bowled wide not just to James but to all of our batters”.
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Vince hurt himself fielding in the slips on the last day of the third Test, which England won by 141 runs to go 2-1 up in the four-match series.
If other bowlers brought necessary improvement to England’s fine all-round performance in Birmingham, linchpin James Anderson merely needed to retain his existing world-class standards to return to the top of the ICC’s individual rankings.
In the present, however, he was impressed that they did not panic when – to many eyes – Pakistan had taken control in Birmingham.
England: A 3-1 series win against Pakistan will give them the No. 1 ranking provided India don’t win by a margin of 3-0 against West Indies.
“We were never leading it – but then, when we got our chance yesterday afternoon, Mo and “Bluey” [Jonny Bairstow] put the pressure on them”.
“Then he was probably our best pace bowler in South Africa for the one or two Tests that he played there”.
It proved to Cook that England can still be successful even if they do not take charge from the outset.
“I think having a leg-spinner will help when the wicket is turning and it will help us knock over the tail”. We had spoken about it and that’s how it panned out.
As for impending number one status, Cook will be prepared to play the long game again if necessary.
“I thought after lunch the way Mo bowled, into that rough, he tested Pakistan’s technique and bowled fantastically well after being under pressure for a while”, Cook added.
England needed Root to excel himself too, in his stand of 95 with Vince after Hales and Cook fell early.
‘Everyone in the dressing room can be very proud to be part of the team in which everyone contributed – and that doesn’t always happen.
“I thought previous year he bowled extremely well against Australia”.
“If he slightly touched the line or went over the line, we fixed it up pretty quickly – and everything was sweet with the umpires”.
“That makes it harder to run down the wicket and hit over the top or play reverse sweeps and orthodox sweeps”.
“I’m sure Cookie will want a night to mull it over and think what’s going to be best. but we’ve just got to rock up tomorrow with the right mentality to take 10 wickets”. “We were behind, hanging in there for most of the game, (but) we fought really”.
The third Investec Test between Pakistan and England seem to be destined more towards ending in a draw; however, England can steal the show if they manage to bowl out Pakistan on Sunday.
“It’s incredible what pressure can do”.
Bayliss said: “The difference in that spell was his discipline of length”. We were trying to cope with it, but we could not handle it.
Meanwhile Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq, one of the quartet of batsmen who succumbed in the pre-tea collapse, said: “Until lunch it was easy, nothing happening”.
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Batsmen can get some idea of what to expect if they can see which is the shiny side of the ball, as this will offer a clue as to whether the swing will be away from or towards their stumps. Ali had faced just 96 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes, when Cook declared just four overs into Sunday’s play.
