Year Review: England team's performance in 2015

6. Scorching heat and enormous hope:

A slow-burning contest in the first Test match saw 1,121 runs and 17 wickets in the first two innings. England came close to a remarkable win but fading light had the final say. Pakistan went on to win the next game, courtesy brilliant centuries from Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik and a fine spell of bowling from Wahab Riaz.

James Anderson bowled beautifully in the third Test, and it looked like England are on course for a win. He picked up four wickets for 17 runs but Mohammad Hafeez’s 151 ensured Pakistan get to bend their backs against a desperate England side that looked “gung ho” for a match. Captain Cook batted for 241 minutes but that wasn’t enough to clinch a win, as England went down for 156, chasing 284.

Coming to the ODI series, Pakistan were tagged as the favourites, as England had just lost a series against Australia. But a spirited English side fought till the last drop. Pakistan won the first game convincingly by six wickets but the visitors came back to win the next three games to clinch the series in style.

Alex Hales century guided England to level the series at 1-1 while Chris Woakes’ second four-wicket haul in the series ensured a lead. Pakistan’s hopes of making a comeback was put to rest by an impressive century by Jason Roy. But the icing on the cake was the 3-0 whitewash in the shortest format that gave England enough reasons to cherish the Christmas.