Stand-in England captain Marcus Trescothick said on Wednesday that a lack of application was one of the main reasons for his team's defeat in the opening Test against Pakistan here.
"There were a couple of reasons, probably we needed a bit more application," said Trescothick, after his team suffered a 22-run defeat on the fifth and final day.
Chasing 198 to win, England were bowled out for 175 in their second innings after resuming on 24 for one. At the start of the day they needed 174 more runs with nine wickets in hand on a wearing last-day track which offered spin and bounce.
Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was Pakistan's hero as he finished with four for 62. His victims included Ian Bell (31), Andrew Strauss (23), Andrew Flintoff (11) and debutant Shaun Udal (18).
"Pakistan bowled well on a turning wicket and Kaneria is a world-class spinner, but had we occupied the crease runs would have come pretty easily," said Trescothick, leading the side in the absence of injured Michael Vaughan.
Trescothick said he had expected his team to win. "I thought we would knock them off pretty comfortably," he said.
"Obviously, there would be a struggle here and there against the leg-spinner on a fifth-day wicket, but I still expected us to win. All we needed was one partnership and suddenly things would have changed."
England's chances receded sharply with the dismissals of Ashes stars Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen (19), who fell in the space of eight runs.
But the England captain did not blame the duo for defeat.
"Pietersen and Flintoff rein in natural instincts. This is the reason they have become the players they are," said Trescothick.
Flintoff was caught at deep mid-wicket by Younis Khan while sweeping Kaneria and Pietersen was caught behind driving an awaygoing ball from fast bowler Mohammad Sami.
"Nine out of ten it (the shots) would have come off and that's the reason we win games. If they see the ball they hit it hard but it did not come off today," said Trescothick.
Trescothick, who scored a solid 193 in the first innings, said he was disappointed with the result but his team could fight back in the remaining two Tests.
"It is not going to knock us down," he said.
"There are still two matches to go. We played four-and-a-half days and dominated probably four of them. We should have finished it off as we have done previously."
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