'Ben Stokes is improving all the time with the ball'
Thursday 22 October 2015 17:06, UK
David Lloyd praised England's industry after Pakistan compiled 282-4 on day one of the second Test in Dubai.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq (102no) posted his ninth Test ton, while Younus Khan (56) and Shan Masood (54) notched half-centuries on a pretty unhelpful track for bowlers.
But Sky Sports expert Lloyd saluted England's fitness - and captain - on a day in which the wickets were shared between Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Ben Stokes and Mark Wood.
"The effort from England was outstanding," said Bumble. "They look fit lads in the field and the bowlers stuck to their task, with Wood excellent.
"They are not going to get too much out of the pitch with swing or movement but they start again on Friday with resolve and a pretty new ball.
"I thought Alastair Cook was excellent again, too - he bought Moeen on first change, and he got a bit of joy, and having six bowlers means he can use Anderson and Stuart Broad lightly.
"Stokes is also getting better with every game that he plays.
"You can see he wants to be a genuine all-rounder but he is coming to the fore as a bowler, bowling a good line just outside off-stump and got some gentle reverse [swing]."
Masood - who registered just three runs across two innings during the drawn first Test in Abu Dhabi - feathered Anderson behind the ball after lunch as Pakistan slipped to a precarious 85-3.
But Misbah and Younus added 93 for the fourth wicket before the skipper and Asad Shafiq (46no) amassed an unbeaten stand of 104 as Misbah went berserk in the final over.
The 41-year-old smacked Moeen for two sixes and moved into three figures with a reverse sweep having played much of his innings at a sedate pace.
"It's Pakistan's day," added Bumble.
"I thought they played really well to get into the position they are in and Misbah was extraordinary, blocking for a while and then springing into life.
"England were giving him heaps so I think he said to himself 'I don't have to block this way, I can hit boundaries'."
Catch highlights of day one in Dubai at 5pm on Sky Sports 2, followed by expert analysis in The Verdict from 6pm. Day two of the second Test between Pakistan and England begins at 6.30am, Friday, Sky Sports 2.
