'The dawn of a new era' - Moin Khan

Former Pakistan players were hailing the birth of a new era after the side's first Test win over Australia in 15 years. Salman Butt's men claimed a nervous, three-wicket triumph at Headingley to level the two-match series and provide hope for the future.

"I can see the dawn of a new era in Pakistan cricket with this victory," the former Test captain Moin Khan told The Associated Press. "Young players showed they can perform in the tough conditions of Headingley where the ball swung and seamed. The way the team has gelled under the new captain, it shows that we are now on the right track."

The win earned the players a US$6000 bonus and there were people dancing in the streets in Lahore and Peshawar to celebrate the success. Abdul Qadir, the former legspinner and chief selector, said the team should learn from the victory. "The chapter of Yousuf and Younis should be closed and even the rest of the senior players should be warned to either perform or be left out," he said.

Rashid Latif, another former captain, compared the bowling performances of Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif in the match with Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. "It is only after Wasim and Waqar that I have seen such a lethal bowling attack of Pakistan," Latif said. "Aamer has injected a new life in the attack with his pace, while Asif's line and length could tie down any world-class batsman."

There were words of caution, however, from Javed Miandad, who warned that the team should not get "carried away" by this success. "I congratulate the Pakistan team for their memorable victory. I also congratulate Salman Butt as he led the side to equalise the series. However, I would advise them that they should not get carried away and instead concentrate on the upcoming series against hosts England," Miandad told PPI. "They [the batsmen] need to learn how to respond to different situations and learn from this match."