England’s Ben Stokes, centre, holds is leg after a delivery and before going off injured during day four of the second test against Pakistan at Old Trafford, Manchester England Monday July 25, 2016.
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But Misbah warned that Pakistan could yet exploit England’s dependence on the runs of Cook and Root, who scored 503 between them in this game.
The criticism surrounding England captain Alastair Cook opting to not enforce follow-on after taking a 391-run lead in the first innings was somewhat drowned as the clinical English pace brigade helped the hosts romp to a huge win.
England’s Joe Root, who made a Test-best 254 in a mammoth first innings 589 for eight declared, was named man-of-the-match.
England 2nd innings: 173 for 1 dec (Alastair Cook 76*, Joe Root 71*).
“We’d bowled 60 odd overs, had a couple of guys coming back from injury and thought we’d just pile on a few more runs – then go hard again today”.
That was only six more than Ian Botham’s fastest English Test 50, and Root upped the ante to put himself on course to better Stokes’ national record 85-ball hundred.
“It will be a little bit of a gut feel and if there’s someone else that warrants a place to replace a player like that, I’m sure it will be discussed”.
“Clearly it was a good toss to win”.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq: “We have to improve in every department”.
England’s margin of victory represented their fifth biggest Test win in terms of runs and was a far cry from the ignominy of their 75-run defeat in the opening clash of the series at Lord’s.
The all-rounder had to walk off the field with a calf injury while bowling his sixth over, but it didn’t cost England much as Anderson and Woakes spliced through Pakistan’s batting.
The spokesman added the 25-year-old would also undergo a scan on Tuesday to determine the full extent of the injury.
“Their spirit was broken”, said former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott.
Yasir Shah (10), missing with a careless pull, was plumb lbw to Ali.
Pakistan were then 208 for nine.
Mohammad Amir was last man out, removed by Woakes for 29.
Both Anderson and Woakes took 3 for 41, with Moeen bagging 3 for 88. “Muhammad Hafeez threw his wicket after looking good and Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq also self destructed”, he said.
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The latest was a tame edge to Cook at slip after pushing forward to one slanted across him.
