Broad unhappy with first day

Malik was unbeaten on 124 for his third Test hundred – his first against England – to guide Pakistan to 286/4 at close on the opening day at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Playing his first Test since 2010 and his first first-class match for nearly a year, 33-year-old Malik justified the selectors’ faith with his third Test century.

Pakistan’s young left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar lost out on a golden opportunity to make his Test debut for the national team in the first Test against England in Abu Dhabi when he succumbed to his beauty sleep on Monday night. The wicket took Anderson to joint 10th on the list of all time leading wicket takers in test cricket, level with Wasim Akram.

“We all know, having played a little bit of cricket over here, you can’t afford to have to try to take 26 or 27 wickets to win a Test match, you just need to take your 20”, said Broad, who finished the day with figures of 1-30.

Bell missed both chances off James Anderson, who on his comeback after his sidestrain was the pick of England’s bowlers for his accuracy and hint of reverse-swing.

Adhering to a rejuvenating break after gaining back the Ashes, England will certainly brace themselves for the Asian difficulty as they handle Pakistan in a three-Test series in the United Arab Emirates.

Shoaib Malik was the next to receive a lifeline as the number three batsman was caught off Broad, however the 29-year-old over-stepped the line for a no-ball.

Also, that last chance – when Bell dropped Asad Shafiq – came in almost the last over of the day, suggesting England’s bowlers have the fitness to keep making things happen late on under a punishing Sunday. I can’t think of many times I’ve had one chalked off, if at all. “I apologised at tea to all of the guys because it was disappointing”.

Credit to Mark Wood for summoning every ounce of energy in this sapping heat to bowl a surprise short-ball. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first on the track that has lots of runs in store for batsman, and begins to assist the spinners over the course of play.

“England bowled well with the older ball but hopefully we can push beyond 400 now”.

“I will try my best to maintain the performances I have given in T20s and one-day matches but Tests are different and more challenging”, he told reporters.

He ought to have gone past the Pakistan great too, soon afterwards – but Bell could not hold on as Hafeez survived on seven and Pakistan avoided the mini-crisis of 12 for two.