ISLAMABAD – Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed said he felt both surprised andproud after his inexperienced side outplayed England during a dominantnine-wicket win in the first Test at Lord’s.
Victory, completed before lunch on the fourth day, put Pakistan 1-0 up in atwo-match series ahead of the second Test at Headingley that starts onFriday.
Pakistan’s batsmen and bowlers applied themselves to the demands of playingan early season Test in English conditions far more effectively than thehome side.
They caught better too, with England dropping several chances.
Man-of-the-match Mohammad Abbas led Pakistan’s attack with an overallreturn of eight for 64, while four Pakistan batsmen hit fifties in acompetitive first-innings 363.
“Yes, I am very surprised,” said Sarfraz.
“If you look at the England team they are very experienced but I am proudof my players.”
Wicketkeeper Sarfraz led from the front in the field, holding an excellentdiving catch to dismiss Dawid Malan on Saturday.
It was one example of the team’s much sharper performance after theirshoddy display during this month’s five-wicket win over Test debutantsIreland in Dublin, with Sarfraz saying it was a “credit” to the work ofPakistan fielding coach Steve Rixon, the former Australia wicketkeeper.
“Ireland gave us a tough time and that helped us prepare for this Test,”Sarfraz added.
“We thought that even if we lose we should learn.”
As for Pakistan’s batting, Sarfraz said: “The ball was moving, so no creditis enough for the batsmen.”
Meanwhile the modest Sarfraz, who led Pakistan to a brilliant victory overarch-rivals India in last year’s Champions Trophy one-day final acrossLondon at The Oval, played down his captaincy skills.
“I don’t have anything for self-analysis,” he said. “I shout and scream atmy players – everything is right in front of you.”
Sarfraz instead praised coach Mickey Arthur, who took charge two years agoand promptly guided Pakistan to a 2-2 draw in a four-Test series inEngland, for “taking the players along with him” -something he had alsotried to do as skipper.
Mohammad Amir has had both some of his best and worst days at Lord’s,getting on the honours board in 2010 in a Test where he was involved in aspot-fixing scandal that saw the Pakistan paceman jailed and banned fromcricket for five years.
He returned to help beat England at Lord’s two years ago and was involvedagain in this win, Pakistan’s fifth Test-match victory at the ‘home ofcricket’.
The responsibility of being the senior bowler appeared to weigh heavily onthe 26-year-old, however.
But after just one wicket in England’s first innings, the left-armer took4-36 in the second.
“There was pressure on him,” said Sarfraz.
“But we had that belief that he will come good. Inzi (Pakistan selectionchief and former Test batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq) talked to him one-on-one andthen Mickey talked to him, I spoke to him.
“The way he responded was great.
“He changed his length, he pitched up, which is key to getting wickets inEngland.”