Edgbaston: Alastair Cook sees the nature of England’s 141-run win over Pakistan as proof of his team having toughened up over the past year, with contributions throughout the side, as opposed to individual brilliance, auguring well for their stated mission to reach the top of the Test rankings.
Sitting 103 runs behind Pakistan after the first innings — a deficit that would have been greater but for a disciplined bowling performance on the third day — England went on to make 445 for six next time around, setting the tourists 343 to win before rolling them for 201 in 70.5 overs.
While Moeen Ali was named man of the match, having made scores of 63 and 86 not out and claiming two for 49, none of England’s players made a century or claimed a five-wicket haul in the Test.
Cook, therefore, saw the win as being “right up” there with the best during his 51 Tests as captain.
He said: “Everyone in the dressing room will be proud to be part of the team and feeling like they’ve contributed. That doesn’t always happen. I thought there were hundreds left out there and it put the next man in under pressure but every time the guys responded. Maybe from last year, I thought this side might have toughened up a little bit. Everyone dug in.
“I just think we’ve been very good when we’ve been ahead — once we’ve got ahead we’ve managed to dominate sides. But this is the first one in a while we’ve been behind and fought back. I saw the guys really determined to do what we’d spoken about, and that’s pleasing as a captain.”
Sitting 2-1 up going into Thursday’s fourth and final Test at the Oval, England could in theory achieve their goal of going top of the rankings earlier than expected provided they avoid defeat in south London and India fail to secure a 3-0 win during their continuing series against West Indies in the Caribbean.
Cook said: “If we become No1 [by the end of the summer], that’s fantastic — but it will be a bit of an irrelevance, because this side has still got much further to go. I thought that might come in a couple of years’ time.”
While all five of his frontline bowlers picked up two wickets apiece in the fourth innings — Chris Woakes moved to 23 wickets for the series, equal best for an English bowler against Pakistan after Jimmy Anderson in 2010 — Cook picked out Steven Finn for praise given the seamer’s struggle for rhythm this summer. Finn had sent down 429 deliveries without luck before claiming two quick victims as the Pakistan captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, feathered behind for 10 and opener Sami Aslam was bowled shouldering arms on 70, with England striking six times in the afternoon session, including four for just one run in the space of 23 balls.
Cook said: “He bowled nicely and quickly. He didn’t get a wicket in the first innings, which was my fault for dropping a catch, but he bowled fast after that, up in the high 80s, low 90s. When Steven does that he is a hard bowler to face and he got two important wickets and it should be great for his confidence.”
Moeen, who wrapped up the victory by removing No. 10 Sohail Khan caught and bowled to end 45 minutes of frustration bowling at the final pair, said: “It’s one of the best spells I have bowled for ages. I felt like the work I did with [coaching consultant] Saqlain Mushtaq last week was paying off. It was nice to bowl in that situation where they are defending. I felt good.”
England have named an unchanged 13-man squad for the Oval Test after James Vince received positive news over the dislocated ring finger on his left hand he suffered when dropping a tough chance at slip on the fifth day. A scan on Sunday evening showed no fracture, with the 25-year-old batsman cleared to play in the series finale.
