Gough hopes England keep up good work

Faisalabad, Nov 27: Speedster Darren Gough Monday said he hopes his side will come as well as in the first Test and keep the good work intact in the Faisalabad Test.

"When we came here we were written off that we will lose 3-0 but we did well in the first Test and will like to come as well as last time," Gough told reporters after England team's practice at Bohranwala ground.

"Its not easy playing in Pakistan but we did well in the first Test," he said, referring to the drawn first Test in Lahore.

The 30-year-old Yorkshireman who went wicketless in the Lahore test said every match on Pakistan tour is an experience for the team.

"We keep on improving against spinners and seam bowlers get the experience to bowl in different conditions," he said.

When asked how disappointing it was to go blank in the first Test after spearheading England's 3-1 win over the West Indies with 25 wickets in five Test, Gough said: "obviously it was disappointing when you don't get a wicket but one mustn't give in."

"You tend to bowl straight, keep using different things and I bowled yorkers, hit the deck hard and at times bowled leg breaks but never gave in," he said.

"We had more reverse swing than Pakistani bowlers but it was slow and batsmen would lunge forward and play it easily and that's why Saqlain batted all through the fifth morning," adding," had it been a quick wicket he wouldn't have come that forward."

The most successful bowler in the team with 173 wickets in 44 Tests, Gough said pitch at Iqbal stadium looks similar to the one in Lahore.

"It looks similar to the one in Lahore, one you expect in Pakistan and probably in India. The only difference is that it may keep low in the second innings," he opined.

Gough said he was surprised with Pakistan's team combination.

"Pakistan surprised us with their team combination of four to five spinners in Lahore, they may play with three seamers this time," he said.