ROOT THROWS IT AWAY... AND ENGLAND FLOP
It was meant to be another fresh start with Joe Root finally stamping his authority on an under-performing test side. Instead it was the most worrying indication yet that England are going backwards.
this was a truly miserable performance from an England side who had been making all the right noises in the early stages of a summer where they simply must prove they have not taken their eye off the red ball.
they were not able to back up their words with deeds on the first day of the first test, as all the fragility and recklessness of a winter in which they failed to win any of their seven tests returned with a vengeance at Lord’s.
It is all very well picking a bold, exciting-looking team, but it is pointless if all that attacking flair is not married to application. that is lacking in an England test side who have stagnated, or perhaps got worse, over the last two years.
they can just about get away with losing abroad because so few test sides win away series these days, but if England start losing on the green grass of home then that is an altogether more serious matter.
the decline may well have begun in 2016 when Pakistan held England to a 2-2 draw here with two wins in London under the inspirational captaincy of Misbahul-Haq and briefly went to the top of the world rankings.
Yet it is a very different and vastly less experienced Pakistan side who turned up yesterday and performed like Lord’s veterans to bowl England out for a paltry 184 — the last five wickets crashing for 16 runs in just 27 balls.
there will be those who blame Root, who needs to start winning after a mediocre first year in charge, for deciding to bat on a cloudy day after overnight rain in conditions that were screaming ‘bowl first!’
But there was logic behind Root’s call because Mick Hunt’s pitch still seemed dry and England sensed their chance to put a big total on the board and dictate terms against a side who have tumbled to No 7 in the ICC rankings.
Not a bit of it. Instead, England collapsed as only they seem able to do with only the under-pressure alastair Cook providing any sort of solidity and substance against intelligent and highly skilled bowling.
Mohammad amir, who lost little of his precocious ability during five long years out of the game in disgrace over the spot-fixing scandal, was perceived as the biggest threat to England, certainly in the absence of the injured master leg-spinner Yasir shah.
But amir’s contribution was restricted to the beauty that bowled Cook after he had eased worries that he is in decline with an impressive 70, notable for much better footwork and a number of fluent off and cover drives. Cook has been feast or famine since giving up the captaincy, making two double hundreds in the last year but scoring just 23 runs in four innings in New Zealand in what became the worst series of his distinguished career. this was neither and Cook will be angry with himself for failing to convert such a good start, but how England needed him on a day when no- one else suggested permanence against two lesserknown Pakistan bowlers. Mohammad abbas is in only his seventh test but impressed in Pakistan’s victory in Ireland’s debut test with nine wickets and now proved himself perfect in English conditions with his lively seam bowling to take four England scalps. and the even less experienced Hasan ali, who starred in last year’s Champions trophy success but is playing only his third test, was not far behind with four wickets of his own, each celebrated with wild enthusiasm.
Nothing summed up England’s plight more than the way Root (below), back where he belongs at No 3, gave away his wicket with what must be one of the worst shots he has played in test cricket.
England had already lost Mark stoneman, lucky to retain his place here and now given a thorough working over by abbas before he was bowled.
so, there was no possible reason for Root to aim the loosest of drives at a wide ball from Hasan and edge through to a disbelieving Pakistan captain sarfraz ahmed, who saw his side bowl and field with aplomb throughout the day.
Root ended a chastening ashes exhausted, ill and out on his feet, then saw his side lose in New Zealand after they collapsed to 27 for nine on the first morning in auckland in an even more spectacular collapse.
He has started this summer demanding greater levels of fitness and intensity from his side, but has to remember that his greatest value to England is as the best batsman. this was irresponsible leadership by example.
the tone was set and England came tumbling down, the only glimmer of hope coming when Ben stokes made his way to 38 before falling to a reviewed lbw shout when the delivery was proved to have pitched just in line.
Conditions remained perfect for bowling, but England could not replicate Pakistan’s skill, failing to follow the basics of pitching the ball up. and the visitors had made 50 by the close for the loss of Imam-ul-Haq to another reviewed leg-before appeal.
England’s day was epitomised by stokes diving across second slip to drop Haris sohail on 16 when it would have been a dolly for Dawid Malan.
all is not lost for England but they have made it mightily hard for themselves yet again.