England back to their most pathetic

Andrew Strauss's England side played a bit like the one that was mauled in the 2006-07 Ashes whitewash, Ted Corbett writes in the Hindu of England's loss to Pakistan in Dubai. England got their tactics wrong, Corbett says, which was reflected by the way their attacking batsmen went into their shells.

England's top batsmen submitted passively, stroke-less and without an attempt at assertion, for two totals that were not worthy of world dominance. It may be winner in its comfort zones of home and Australia, but as soon as it flies east of the Suez it collapses as if it was batting in a sandstorm.