English cricketers leave Pakistan in high spirits
England cricketers left Pakistan on Tuesday vowing to move further up the Test cricket ladder after a historic series win.
"We were in Pakistan to show that we want to rise up the Test cricket ladder and this win caps a good year for English cricket," captain Nasser Hussain said before the departure.
His team, which started the tour as underdogs, beat Pakistan by six wickets in the last minutes of the third and final Test at National stadium on Monday, clinching the series 1-0.
The tourists became the first English side to win a Test in Pakistan since Ted Dexter's side won in 1961-62. They also ruined Pakistan's 46-year unbeaten record in Karachi.
"We knew it's a great challenge for us when we arrived here but kept faith and kept our spirits high and achieved something very special for English cricket," Hussain said.
England's last away series win, a 2-0 victory against New Zealand, was back in 1996-97.
But with the tutelage of Duncan Fletcher, a former Zimbabwean coach, they have steamrolled Zimbabwe 1-0 and then achieved their first win over the West Indians for 31 years with a 3-1 win in five Tests.
"This series win in Pakistan is the icing on the cake and everyone associated with game should look back on it and be very proud of it," Hussain said.
Michael Atherton, with 341 runs in the series, was dominant with the bat, followed by Graham Thorpe who scored 118 in the first Test, 79 in the second and a match-winning 64 not out in the last.
Allrounder Craig White proved his ability with innings of 93, 45 and 31, as well as a useful bag of wickets. Left arm spinner Ashley Giles also boosted his reputation with 17 wickets in the series.
"Pakistan lost the series due to bad planning while England showed they are a united and fast improving side," former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam said.
"It is something extra special achieved by a side which started off as underdogs. I think that eased the pressure on them and put extra pressure on Pakistan," Alam said.
Pakistan lost its fourth home series in succession.
"The combinations with which Pakistan played were unbalanced," Alam said.
Pakistan never tried their most successful batsman of recent years, Ejaz Ahmed, and kept pacer Waqar Younis out in the first two Tests.
The home side started the series on the wrong foot when seven of its top players staged a revolt against coach Javed Miandad. The crisis was quickly resolved but it affected team spirit.
Ace pacer Wasim Akram was criticised for lack of form but his supporters pointed out that he was playing on wickets that did not suit his bowling.
Akram's controversial withdrawal from the final Test due to injury was interpreted as a broad hint that all was not well in the Pakistani camp.
Pakistani officials are now hoping Akram and pacer Shoaib Akhtar are fully fit for the tour to New Zealand in February and then to England in May.
Mail Cricket Editor
