Cook gets all
ALASTAIR COOK was happy to take criticism of his captaincy squarely on the chin after victory in the second Investec Test levelled the series.
Even more so after his decision to stick with Moeen Ali as sole spinner was vindicated with the key wickets as England charged to a 330-run victory that had never really been in serious doubt since the opening day.
The series now stands at 1-1 with two to play.
But if there was one dark cloud amongst the silver linings in Manchester, dark enough to wipe the smile of Cook’s face, it was the loss of Ben Stokes, who limped from proceedings with what an MRI scan today is expected to reveal as a low grade calf tear. Stokes, who had left the field after pulling up in his followthrough clutching his right calf in his third over and England’s sixth after lunch, later returned to the field to shake hands walking reasonably easily.
But with just eight days before the third Test at Edgbaston, he is a major doubt.
The continued emergence of Chris Woakes into the role of near equal, rather than Stokes-lite, will leave the home camp slightly less troubled.
As will the fact that this was a victory with roots in other parts of the dressing room, for all that Stokes bowled well in his comeback match after knee surgery.
The England captain winning the toss for the first time against his Pakistan counterpart Misbah-ul-Haq in five attempts stretching back to Abu Dhabi in October was one strand.
Joe Root’s sensational man-of-the-match display with the bat (254 and 71 not out) had England in complete control of the scoreboard from tea on day one.
And then there were was the continued good form of Woakes, who took another seven wickets here, and five from Moeen, who – like some artful pickpocket – continues to leave world-class batsmen wondering how he removes their valuables in front of their eyes without any noticeable guile.
Crucially England also worked out a strategy of how to play Yasir Shah, whose threat disintegrated so much from 10-141 at Lord’s to 1-266 here that it was tempting to think the dash had been put in the wrong place.
Lancashire also did their bit to help, providing not only a decent batting wicket but a lush square which refused to help Pakistan scuff the ball up like at Lord’s and get the ball reversing quite as much.
Edgbaston and the Oval will no doubt receive polite requests for more of the same if they haven’t already.
Criticism of Cook’s decision to not enforce the follow-on surprised the England captain, who said afterwards he was slightly taken aback when returning to the team hotel on Sunday night.
But it had not knocked him enough to prevent him from batting on stubbornly with a carefree Root for nine overs in the morning,