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Image Credit - Cricbuzz[/caption]Chris Silverwood, the head coach of England, set his side with a challenge at the end of the first day at the Emirates Old Trafford. The four-pronged pace attack of England bowled very well in the opening season as they had only one wicket to show but it was after lunch control was lost as Babar Azam and Shan Masood in the 16 overs before rain intervention scored 66 runs. It has been a disappointing passage of play for a team that takes pride in keeping the run rate of the opposition under three.
Silverwood spoke to Sky Sports at the end of the play and said that England bowled very well in the morning session and also said that credit must go to Pakistan. The second session after the lunch interval has not been very good. England bowlers have not been on the money as the standards were not maintained in the second session.
He added that too many easy balls were given as the momentum has been lost along with the concentration and it has been addressed to the players. The momentum has swung to the batting side with a couple of loose balls and it was very difficult to wrestle back. This has turned quite challenging as it has snowballed. He felt that this should be addressed to the players to get the momentum back in favor as quickly as possible.
One of the principles of England under Silverwood is to keep the run rates down but it is not possible to do it in the middle of sessions. The English bowlers were off-color, particularly James Anderson who conceded as many as 16 runs in the three overs. Their other bowlers also fared badly with the first five overs of Dom Bess cost 22 Jofra Archer conceded 15 runs from the 3.1 overs. The only exception in the dismal performance was Stuart Broad who was economical and the economy rate was a tad bit over three runs per over in the session. Only three maidens were managed by England in that particular 16 overs in comparison to the seven in the first 25 overs as some control was kept then.
Silverwood was very disappointed with the number of poor balls that was put away by Babar Azam during his knock. Between lunch and the wet weather, 12 boundaries were conceded by England in those 16 overs as nine of them were put away by the number four of Pakistan. During that particular phase of the game, no semblance of pressure was put on the Pakistani batsmen by England. Every spell of several dot balls was followed by a boundary as the English bowler lost control of the pressure that was build up.
Although challenges were set down by Silverwood for his players, the problems have been identified by them on their way back to the dressing room at the culmination of the second session. He said that there is no dearth of experience as well as leadership qualities in the team. He added that the situations have to be recognized and to get better, one has to wrestle back strongly.
In the opening session, England was hoping for greater rewards. Pakistan opted to bat first, with two leg spinners Shahdab Khan and Yasir Shah after they won the toss on a pitch that has been confirmed by Silverwood had a dry surface more than the surfaces that were used during the series against West Indies. In the first session, there was enough movement on offer, as a chance was given to the England bowlers to make inroads. Both Azhar Ali and Abid Ali were removed and on numerous occasions passed the edge but in the first couple of hours of play, could not find a way through Babar and Masood.
Silverwood added that the edge comes sometimes and sometimes it does not come. Good questions are asked to the batsman and the ball has to be kept in good areas when bowling with a new ball. Chances were created by England during the 96 runs unbeaten partnership between Babar and Masood. Masood has been dropped by Jos Butler badly off the bowling of Bess just before the rain break. At that time, he was batting at 45, and then a stumping chance was missed by the English wicketkeeper of the same bowler in the final session.
The complexion of the game would have changed, had those chances been taken. As of now, Pakistan is very much on top. The inclement weather at Manchester stopped play after 49 overs as a lot of cricket is still left in the game. England has to live up to the challenges.
