ABU DHABI // Alastair Cook expressed his frustration after bad light brought to an end an incredible late surge to victory on the final day of the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.
The Test having sleepwalked its way through the first four days and two sessions, it suddenly sprung to life in a remarkable passage of play post-tea.
Pakistan contrived to lose seven wickets for 71 runs and the last five for 14, to leave England with 99 to win. The problem was the time and with only 11 of the last 19 overs bowled, the umpires called play off.
England had only 25 to get at the time. “It is frustrating,” he said. “Look, we came off pretty much the same time as yesterday.
“The only query I have is in the letter of the law — is it unsafe to play? That’s what I am always told at match referee meetings — is it unsafe to play?”
In time the frustration might be overcome by the positives of how England performed. Having conceded 523 in the first innings, the Test could have been a disaster.
“I am just proud the guys have hung in there for five days really,” Cook said. “You can see 520 in front of you at the start and right at the end of the game, you are the only side that could win with 20 odd runs to score and six wickets left.
“Obviously, we have done a number of things right over the last three and a half days.”
Pakistan did not do too much wrong until the post-tea session but it brought an end a Test that has not really gone the way they had wanted.
Misbah-ul-Haq has been a tetchy presence through the Test and he took aim at the squad selection — again — as well as the surface after.
“I think you should ask this question to the selectors or somebody back home, because I had to pick the eleven from whatever I have in the 16 so they may know better that why there was no replacement,” he said, when asked why they had no cover for the injured Yasir Shah.
And he was unhappy at not getting the surface he wanted either. “I think the message was clear, even a kid knows what kind of pitch you need when you are playing against England,” he said.
“You need a spinning track, the message was clear. Now if the pitch was not prepared like that then I am as surprised as you are.”
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