Moin amazed at England's batting strength

Lahore, Nov 19: Giving his views about the drawn Test Pakistan captain Moin Khan said: "I was really surprised with the way the Englishmen batted against us. They never showed that they were uncomfortable against our spinners."

Nasser Hussain observed: "I am glad that we have shown the world that we can play the spinners as good as the fast bowlers. People had given us no hope in this match but we proved to them that we are good enough to play any spinner anywhere in the world.

"But of course we are learning."

Three England batsmen scored half centuries and Graham Thorpe hit a century against a Saqlain Mushtaq-led four-pronged spin attack. Saqlain only managed to pick wickets when he snapped up nine in the match while Mushtaq Ahmad could get only one.

Moin Khan said the wicket was slow which neutralized the effectiveness of his spinners. But he refused to drawn in argument if quicker tracks or result-oriented wickets should be prepared.

"The groundsmen are incharge of preparing the wickets. I neither advise them nor give my requirement. But this wicket was certainly not a result-oriented one," Moin said.

Moin dismissed impression that his team would travel to Faisalabad under pressure. "Not at all. If England scored 480, we replied with 401. In fact, we have left them something to think about after picking up four wickets in the second innings."

Moin said it was upto the public to decide if he led the team well. But when asked about Qaisar Abbas, Moin said: "Graham Gooch had a lacklustre start to his career before he matured into a great player. Qaisar is a promising teenager and if he didn't score runs, that doesn't mean he is not worth playing at the top level."

Moin praised the England batsmen saying they batted with confidence and determination. "I think they had

done their home work pretty well."

Nasser Hussain said he had thought that it would be a good pitch and will take turn, specially after his team made over 400 runs. "But it didn't.

"It was our first Test match in the subcontinent in 13 years and I am happy that the team performed well."

He, however, conceded that it was hard to play Saqlain Mushtaq on this surface because he had variety.

On Craig White's performance, he said the Yorkshire player has come out nicely. "He is eager to bowl and batted positively. He has good six months of this year."