Top order collapse was extremely damaging: Grant Flower

Pakistan’s batting coach, Grant Flower is disappointed with his team’s miserable batting performance after England posted a mammoth total of 589 on the board in the first innings of the second Test match at Manchester.

A lot of credit for the huge total will go to the England skipper Alastair Cook and the Joe Root, who is considered to be the future of England cricket. Cook scored a century, whereas Root went on to score 254 with two hundred-run partnerships with Chris Woakes and Jonny Bairstow.

Steady ahead of the storm:

Pakistan openers showed good determination at the start of the play, strongly defending deliveries from the English opening duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. But the whole plot changed, once Chris Woakes was brought into the attack in the 13th over of the innings.

Woakes struck with the last ball of his first over to send Mohammad Hafeez back to the pavilion. Azhar Ali was the next to go, who gave an easy return catch to Woakes and Younis Khan glanced at a delivery outside leg to the wicket-keeper.

Also read – England v Pakistan 2nd Test, Day 2 – Statistical Highlights

Rahat Ali was sent in as the nightwatchman, but the ploy didn’t work well as he found himself in no position to play a short-pitch delivery from Woakes and offered Gary Ballance an easy chance.

“That was extremely damaging,” Grant flower said at the end of day’s play. “It wasn’t good enough, but we still have good players to come in and we will have to bat better second time around. There was weariness, and a huge score like that plays mind tricks. But that’s what happens in Test cricket, so it’s no excuse,” he added.

Pakistan are falling behind: Shoaib Mohammad:

At stumps on Day 2, Pakistan are at 57 for the loss of 4 wickets and still trialing by 532 runs. Shoaib Mohammad, former Pakistan player, told the Express Tribune, “For the first time on this tour, Pakistan are falling behind instead of ascending, so their determination will be sternly tested.

Also read – ENG v PAK, 2nd Test Day 2 Review: Joe Root steals the show

“It will be really important for Pakistan for the top three batsmen to fire in the first innings, which will set the tone for others. When the middle-order sees that the top-order has put some runs on board, they will be motivated to fight to stay alive,” he added.