Root and Woakes turn the screw on Pakistan

A exhausted but satisfied Joe Root revealed some words from England’s bowling coach, Ottis Gibson, on the first day at Old Trafford were the inspiration behind the highest and longest of his 10 Test hundreds.

Pakistan opener Shan Masood looks a little short at this level and he had already been unsettled by Anderson when he fenced at one and was caught at second slip by Joe Root, who made 254 in England’s first innings.

Root (184no) and captain Alastair Cook did much of the hardest work with their hundreds on day one, and the Yorkshireman’s reward on the resumption was an obvious opportunity to scale the list of England’s highest individual scores. Pakistan lead the four-match series 1-0 after their 75-run win in the first Test at Lord’s.

Root began day two of the second Investec Test with an unbeaten 141 already, but was far from satisfied yet and proved the point by helping England to a mammoth 589 for eight declared.

Pakistan will now have to re-write history if they are to prevent England levelling the four-match series at 1-1.

However, Misbah was a stubborn presence, and amassed 52 runs before he fell with Pakistan on 179, and Wahab RIaz’s dismissal at the hands of Ali saw the visitors finish on 198 all out, giving England a lead of 198, who then chose to bat again rather than enforce the follow-on. More signficantly, this was Cook’s first century in 20 Test innings since his monumental 263 against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in October. Left-arm quick Wahab was hit on the forearm by Woakes when batting and did not bowl in England’s second innings.

In between Woakes’ strikes, Younis glanced Stokes behind the wicket as Pakistan’s top order crumbled on a wicket where England appeared hardly troubled in five sessions.

Pakistan were now 71 for five, their total at the rain break.

There was enough time left on the second day for England to put Pakistan through 24 overs and they would be very happy with the results in that period, felling four wickets – three of them coming through Woakes – before stumps.

Asad Shafiq did not last long as Stuart Broad dismissed him for just four with opener Alex Hales taking the catch.

Woakes, who took 11 wickets in defeat at Lord’s, saw his first over Sunday cost 11 runs as Sarfraz hit two well-struck boundaries.

England has spiced up its bowling attack with the return of fast bowler James Anderson and all-rounder Ben Stokes after both missed the first test due to injuries and replaced Steven Finn and Jake Ball.

Misbah went on to complete his fifty but he was soon caught at short fine leg off Moeen Ali (2-43) trying to slog sweep in the 60th over.