The only real negative for England came when Ben Stokes went down with a torn calf while bowling his sixth over.
Advertisement
Ben Stokes will miss the third Test against Pakistan after injuring his calf during England’s victory at Old Trafford on Monday.
Set a steep 565-run target to win, Pakistan succumbed to 234 all-out in their second innings, after being bowled out for a meagre 198 in their first essay.
England 3rd-Test squad: Alastair Cook (C), Alex Hales, Joe Root, James Vince, Gary Ballance, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Jake Ball and Adil Rashid.
Anderson, returning to Test cricket after missing Pakistan’s 75-run win in the series opener at Lord’s with a shoulder injury, then had Azhar plumb lbw as the batsman aimed across the line to leave Pakistan 25 for two.
Pakistan’s batting coach, Grant Flower does not believe that the national team is struggling to avoid defeat in the second Test against England at Old Trafford because of any over-confidence after winning the first test at Lord’s.
Stokes will undergo an MRI scan on Tuesday and Cook said that a treatment plan will be chalked out after the results are available.
Root’s starring role was ably supported by skipper Alastair Cook, who hit 105 and 76*, and Chris Woakes, who followed up his Lord’s heroics with seven wickets in the match and 58 in the first innings.
On Anderson’s fitness, Cook said: “I think Jimmy (Anderson) is fine, I think naturally your first Test match back he will be a little bit sore but he’s fine”.
The attention now turns to Edgbaston, where the tourists will hope to put this loss behind them heading into the next match, and third in the series.
With the lead at 564, Cook chose to declare and England’s bowlers were quickly in the groove and Pakistan never threatened as another poor batting display saw them humbled in Manchester.
However, Ali regained his composure to dismiss both Hafeez (42) and Younis Khan (28) in a spell of two for 13 in 19 balls. I’d say he’d be a fairly big doubt for Edgbaston, that’s fairly obvious.
Advertisement
ENGLAND moved relentlessly towards a series-levelling victory over Pakistan on a rain-disrupted third day of the second Test in Manchester yesterday.
