The spinners take flight while fans unite
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the the fourth day of the second Test between Pakistan and England in Abu Dhabi
George Dobell in Abu Dhabi
28-Jan-2012
Abdur Rehman was the star for Pakistan on day four • AFP
Moment of the day
Many great bowlers have represented Pakistan but with the wicket of Matt Prior, Saeed Ajmal became the fastest Pakistan bowler to 100 Test wickets. To make his achievement more remarkable, he has not played a single one of his 19 Tests at home. It was surely fitting that Prior was deceived by Ajmal's doosra.
Many great bowlers have represented Pakistan but with the wicket of Matt Prior, Saeed Ajmal became the fastest Pakistan bowler to 100 Test wickets. To make his achievement more remarkable, he has not played a single one of his 19 Tests at home. It was surely fitting that Prior was deceived by Ajmal's doosra.
Dismissal of the day
Abdur Rehman, gaining turn and wicked dip, kept convincing batsmen to play back when they should have been forward. Several England batsmen looked hapless against the spin but none more so than Eoin Morgan. Back when he should have been forward and with the bat at an angle when it should have been straight, Morgan left a gap so wide Inzamam-ul-Haq could have squeezed through.
Abdur Rehman, gaining turn and wicked dip, kept convincing batsmen to play back when they should have been forward. Several England batsmen looked hapless against the spin but none more so than Eoin Morgan. Back when he should have been forward and with the bat at an angle when it should have been straight, Morgan left a gap so wide Inzamam-ul-Haq could have squeezed through.
Puzzling decision of the day
Andrew Strauss was on 16 when he played back to a delivery from Abdur Rehman only to edge the ball onto to his thigh and then, seemingly, into the hands of Azhar Ali at short leg. It looked to most observers as if the catch was clean but the umpire, Bruce Oxenford, wanted to make sure and the third umpire, Billy Bowden, felt he could not be certain. Strauss, who later admitted that he hit the ball, survived. It seemed a remarkable escape for Strauss, though it was to make little difference in the grand scheme of things.
Andrew Strauss was on 16 when he played back to a delivery from Abdur Rehman only to edge the ball onto to his thigh and then, seemingly, into the hands of Azhar Ali at short leg. It looked to most observers as if the catch was clean but the umpire, Bruce Oxenford, wanted to make sure and the third umpire, Billy Bowden, felt he could not be certain. Strauss, who later admitted that he hit the ball, survived. It seemed a remarkable escape for Strauss, though it was to make little difference in the grand scheme of things.
England's high-water mark of the day
It does not matter which side you support, it is hard not to warm to the unaffected joy of a man who is relishing every moment of his career. Monty Panesar's leapt upon dismissing Saeed Ajmal, caught at slip to bring up his fifth wicket. It was understandable: he has spent nearly three years in the international wilderness and confessed during this match that he thought he may never win a recall. This was his ninth five-wicket haul in Tests but his first since May 2008. It clearly meant the world to him and was due reward for a skilful and persistent performance.
It does not matter which side you support, it is hard not to warm to the unaffected joy of a man who is relishing every moment of his career. Monty Panesar's leapt upon dismissing Saeed Ajmal, caught at slip to bring up his fifth wicket. It was understandable: he has spent nearly three years in the international wilderness and confessed during this match that he thought he may never win a recall. This was his ninth five-wicket haul in Tests but his first since May 2008. It clearly meant the world to him and was due reward for a skilful and persistent performance.
Image of the day
There were stories - stories that were vehemently denied by the authorities - after the third day that England and Pakistan supporters had been segregated in the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. There was little evidence of such issues on the fourth day - or the third, if truth be told - as this picture of members of the Barmy Army and Pakistan supporters swapping caps shows. Cricket has many issues but tension between spectators, thankfully, is very rarely one of them.
There were stories - stories that were vehemently denied by the authorities - after the third day that England and Pakistan supporters had been segregated in the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. There was little evidence of such issues on the fourth day - or the third, if truth be told - as this picture of members of the Barmy Army and Pakistan supporters swapping caps shows. Cricket has many issues but tension between spectators, thankfully, is very rarely one of them.
Quote of the day
"It is a struggle to think of a loss that has hurt more than this," Andrew Strauss, the England captain.
"It is a struggle to think of a loss that has hurt more than this," Andrew Strauss, the England captain.
George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo