Pakistan's embarrassing defeat at Headingley in the third Test by 167 runs was essentially due to its own inadequacies of bowling, poor fielding and pathetic batting on the fifth day of the match.
It seems that now the visitors' morale has been shaken and it will take time to build up their overall strength, whatever may be the result of the ongoing fourth Test.
England romped home mainly because of more toughness of mind and determination. Four run-outs in the Pakistan band were nothing less than stupidity when intelligence and zest were needed in a Test, in which through concentration and skill they had passed England's first innings score of 515 to knock up 538 - a high total of 1053 was recorded on the completion of the first ventures of the two combatants. The fans of the game had hoped of a repeated defiance from the Pakistan side, which sadly never came.
Neutral observers are of the view that Pakistan's aerial fielding solecisms and a series of errors by the combination of umpires, Billy Doctrove of the West Indies and Darrell Hair of Australia led to the capitulation of the visiting formation.
Kevin Pietersen was caught off Shahid Nazir's good bouncing delivery only for Darrell to deny the appeal. He was two then and went on to hit a crucial 135 that laid the foundation of his team's 515 - a tall total.
Doctrove helped the English captain, Andrew Strauss, reach three figures when he did not think a confident lbw appeal by Danish Kaneria should have been upheld. He was 29 then and strolled to make a stylish 116. England's total thus soared to 345 setting a target of 323 for Pakistan to win on the fourth innings.
If Trescothick had been held early England openers may not have hammered 158 which later became 345. The out-of-form opener got another life. Perhaps if the umpires would have been fair enough the victory target given to Pakistan would have been much below. The umpiring decisions also let off Alastair Cook and Paul Collingwood in the second venture.
Pakistan had been considerably handicapped by the run-outs of Salman Butt and Younus Khan, well set at 173, in the first knock and the sorrowful run-out of Mohammad Yousuf and Mohammad Sami in the second innings. Yousuf had made a wondrous 192 in Pakistan's first knock and he was supposed to be the hope of Pakistan to show his batting capability. Yet the run-out on the risky call of Younus was a big blow for Pakistan.
Inzamamul Haq, the captain, though went lower down yet his bid to hit out Monty Panesar and being stumped was saddening. That was the end of Pakistan's fight and their innings, handing over victory in the Test and series to England in a traumatic fashion.
Inzamam's dismissal in the first visit to the crease was rather amusing when facing Panesar he hit the wicket. The captain was well set and was playing in an assured vein and yet he jumped over the stumps, dislodging the bails.
The whole England outfit played as a unit and every member contributed his bit for the success of the side. In the first innings Pietersen and Ian Bell hit tons to help raise England's score to over 500.
Pakistan was without a match-winning bowler. Only Umar Gul proved effective with a bag of five wickets. It was surprising that unlike Panesar, the Pakistani leg-breaker, Danish Kaneria, could not wheel up enough spin on a flat strip to harass the English willow-wielders.
In England's second innings, despite the fielding lapses, the 158 put up by Trescothick and Strauss proved decisive for except the 55 runs scored by newly-installed wicket keeper-batsman, Chris Read, no other player could counter the Pakistani attack confidently and even Sami, who is usually criticised for his deteriorating form, had a subtle length and line, bothered the batsmen to pick up three wickets. Kaneria in the second England knock exploited the wearing wicket to have a haul of two wickets.
Yet the England target of 323 proved a tall order. The Pakistani batsmen panicked against the medium pace, this time, of Sajid Mahmood and the left-arm spin of Panesar. Whatever praise may be showered by the English critics both are ordinary bowlers, helped at Headingley by rapid fielding and umpiring bloomers tilting against Pakistan.
Yet the confused batting display by the Pakistani players led to their fall. How on the same strip of Leeds Yousuf and Younis had demonstrated sledge-hammer strokes against the same bowlers in the first venture. However, in the second knock the batsmen fell from the heights to earth.
Undoubtedly a team that was pinned down in Pakistan and was blown out by the Sri Lankans, had now become a world beater. England had a glorious summer and their display at Headingley was truly stupendid. Pakistan's fielding lapses, their batting and bowling deficiencies have cost them a series in England after 1982.
Younus showed the perfect technology to face the spin attack and was duly given Man of the Match award.
Coach Woolmer has admitted that his side played loosely and England showed more commitment and sturdiness. Let us wait for the outcome of the final Test.
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