But instead of coming under more pressure, all the criticism acted as a catalyst for Moeen, who hit a valuable ton for England on the opening day of their fourth and final Test at The Oval on Thursday.
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Alex Hales, on six, was caught by Shah at mid-wicket off Mohammad Amir while Cook, on 35, bottom-edged a short ball from Sohail Khan on to his stumps.
Amir had Bairstow caught behind soon after tea, but Woakes played aggressively and hit eight fours that included four in one over off an erring Riaz as his seventh-wicket stand with Moeen yielded another 79 runs. Coming in at 110 for five, staying until England’s score was nearly tripled, and scoring so quickly there was still time to take Pakistan’s first wicket, England’s left-hander was as rollicking as if he had been David Gower after a night on the tiles.
The Worcestershire stalwart earned another reprieve when the same man spurned a hard chance that spun up off Yasir at short leg and he took advantage of that to bring up a third consecutive 50 to help a recovering England to post 200-5 at tea.
6 Centuries by England’s No. 6 and No. 7 in Tests this year – the most by a team in a calendar year, including two from Ali, including today.
Hales believed the ball had bounced before he picked out Yasir Shah at midwicket – but Farbrace says that was no excuse for the right-hander to vent his frustrations so vigorously.
The home team has looked really good in their summer campaign where, earlier they thrashed Sri Lanka and now, they will look to conquer the Pakistan team.
The Nottinghamshire batsman held his ground but the umpires went upstairs and with no clear evidence to overturn their soft verdict of an out, he was forced to leave.
England recovered their composure in a second-wicket stand of 46 until Cook – five balls after being dropped at slip by debutant Iftikhar Ahmed off Wahab – under-edged a pull at Sohail Khan down on to his stumps.
Hales grassed a sitter at gully to reprieve nightwatchman Yasir on 21, while Finn failed to cling on to a pushed drive in his follow-through when Azhar had made 34. Not long after Root’s dismissal, Wahab made one seam away to get rid of Vince.
After lunch, it was confirmed that Pakistan’s Hanif Mohammad, one of cricket’s greatest batsmen, had died aged 81 after a prolonged illness.
Riaz then removed Gary Ballance in the second over after lunch to reduce England to 110-5 before Bairstow and Moeen profited from Pakistan’s fielding lapses.
Their bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed admits an opportunity has been missed – after Moeen was dropped twice early in his innings, and Bairstow was caught off a no-ball.
The touring side reached three for one in reply at the close, leaving the match finely poised with England 2-1 up in the series.
Sohail, taking his second five-wicket haul in Tests, eventually dismissed Moeen for 108, Yasir the catcher in the deep, to conclude England’s innings.
But Broad’s late wicket capped off a sterling recovery from the hosts, who hold the ascendancy, not to mention a 2-1 series lead, going into day two.
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Misbah spread the field to Moeen as he neared his century batting with Steven Finn, who became Sohail’s fourth victim when he was bowled for seven.
