It’s nice to meet Jose... nowit’s back to reality

AFTER THE ASHES...

Last summer’s Ashes win was very special because we weren’t favourites and were still growing as a team. We smiled our way through the series and we want to continue doing that. Since then I’ve been doing things like going to the GQ and Pride of Britain awards which has all been great fun.

I’ve met people like Jose Mourinho and Lionel Richie and it was great to speak to Jose in particular. He told me he knew a bit about cricket because Sir Bobby Robson made him learn about the game when they worked together so they would have something to talk about!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The extreme heat took us all by surprise and we talked about trying not to let it distract us too much. We didn’t want to walk past each other all the time saying ‘Wow, it’s hot’ and instead we just want to cope with it. I’ve had to order more sweatbands because I’ve been going through them like they’re going out of fashion. But we should remember it’s just as hot for the Pakistan players, too! Whoever loses this series will be the team that break first.

DIFFERENT TIMES

There’s a huge difference from when we last toured here, in 2012. We’d reached No 1 in the world and we’d thrashed India and I don’t know what happened here. I’m not saying the motivation wasn’t there but for whatever reason we didn’t succeed in this part of the world. This team have just won the Ashes but we want that to be a stepping stone and we’ve got guys who are developing every day. Yes, we can be inconsistent but we’re also playing exciting cricket.

INDIVIDUAL THINKING

The message from the top has been to do things our own way. If that means sweeping, defending or scoring quickly, so be it but find your way and stick to it. Then no one will, say, get out sweeping and then say ‘I was told to do that.’

OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE

Mahela Jayawardene has been a fascinating addition to our coaching ranks and it can’t do any harm bringing his amount of runs into our thinking. He was a great player of spin and the batsmen have used him a lot. He’s great fun to have around.

OPEN OPTIONS

It looks as if we’ll have plenty of bowling options and that means we can bowl three- or four-over spells three or four times a day, really charge in. We’ve certainly got wicket-taking options. On top of the main bowlers, don’t underestimate Joe Root. Meanwhile, Moeen Ali is looking Graeme Swannlike in the pace he’s bowling, the way he’s bringing the stumps into play and beating the left-handers.

HOW TO GET WICKETS

I took my wickets here last time at just over 20 and got a lot of lbws and that means bowling straight. That doesn’t mean middle stump because world-class batsmen don’t miss them, it means bowling fourth stump line (outside off) and trying to run it back in to the stumps. I’ll continue with my round the wicket policy but my best attacking option is bringing the stumps into play.

THE TASK AHEAD

The fact nobody has beaten Pakistan here in a Test series says everything about the challenge. It’s a huge one but there’s a good feeling about the camp and we have a good balance between those who can bat long and others who can take the game away from the opposition. And with six or seven bowling options we can take 20 wickets. Winning in India in 2012 was an enormous achievement but other teams have won there. To come to a place where no other Test team have won and be the first to defeat Pakistan would be something. That’s our goal.