The first Test between Pakistan and England ended in a draw, but only after the latter pushed for a win in the final moments. Bad light won in the end. And as the teams move on to Dubai, here are five talking points ahead of the second Test.
THE PITCH
Given what has gone, all eyes will be on the surface at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Over the years, curator Tony Hemming has produced competitive surfaces, with some zip on the first day.
Six of the eight Tests have produced results. On the opening days, Pakistan have been bowled out for 99 twice and 165. England have fallen for 192 and Sri Lanka for 239.
Fast bowlers have taken advantage of bounce, but there has been enough for the spinners, too. In fact, Imran Tahir took five wickets on the first day a couple of years ago, even though that had little to do with the pitch or even his bowling — that was Pakistan’s batting as its worst.
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SELECTION HEADACHES
Pakistan have a few. They will happily welcome back Yasir Shah and pair him with Zulfiqar Babar. That will change the complexion of the next Test immediately.
Do they go for another spinner, perhaps the off-spinner Bilal Asif who they are likely to add to the squad? Wahab Riaz and Imran Khan bowled well in Abu Dhabi. But given Misbah-ul-Haq’s reliance on spin, he could just go with one of them.
Azhar Ali is also due to return, which will require another shuffle in the batting order. Even though he scored a hundred in his last Test, Shan Masood is likely to be dropped. Azhar will move up to open.
THE ENGLISH SPINNER
Pakistan have history with and against leg-spin. Adil Rashid endured a torrid first few days of Test cricket but he will not forget his performance on the final day of his debut easily.
Both Asad Shafiq and Younis Khan will blame themselves for their dismissals, but that should not take from the fact that Rashid was far better all day. He bowled tighter lines, had greater control of his lengths and, on a pitch that was finally responding, turned the ball.
The speed with which he ripped out Pakistan’s tail, in particular, will fill him and England with optimism. Three wickets in seven balls was reminiscent most of Shane Warne’s three quick wickets in Colombo in 1992, a performance which changed his career.
ENGLAND NOT SPUN
Given how England’s batsmen went against spin in 2012, it was natural for predictions pre-series to be especially gloomy.
They got fortunate with Yasir Shah’s injury, as well as with the pitch, but they will be feeling a lot better about spin after putting up nearly 600 in their first innings. Alastair Cook led the way, their best player in this part of the world, exhibiting the kind of patience and technique needed against spinners.
They will feel better also for having Joe Root here, who looked the least troubled of all the batsmen who played.
And the boost of a Ben Stokes fifty will not go unvalued either. He looked ill at ease against spin in the warm-up games but had some valuable time in the middle here.
It will be a different challenge in Dubai of course, but it helps going in with a bit of confidence.
MISBAH’S MOOD
It is almost impossible to tell, at any given moment, what kind of mood the Pakistan captain is in. But through this Test there has been a frustration about him.
It began with the withdrawal of Yasir Shah on the first day and increased with the realisation that he had no backup spinner to call upon for the Test.
A contentious dismissal in the first innings did not help and it culminated with a strange, ill-advised slog on the final day. After the Test he criticised both the selection of his squad and the pitch.
Depending on whether India agree to play in Pakistan, this could well be his retirement series so perhaps that also is weighing him down.
It cannot be having a healthy effect in the dressing room and he will have no option but to lighten up ahead of Dubai.
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