Pakistan vs. England: Winners and Losers from 1st Test
Can you hear that sound? It's the noise of cricket journalists and writers hastily rewriting their copy after the insane last day and last session of the Test between Pakistan and England.
Who would have guessed such a dramatic finish was on the cards after what was, for the most part, four attritional days of cricket.
Euphoria and desperation aside, which individuals put their names in lights during this often bizarre contest?
And which players will be nervously awaiting the team sheet ahead of the 2nd Test that begins in Dubai on the 22 October?
Here are Bleacher Report's three winners and three losers from the 1st Test.
Winner: Shoaib Malik
1 of 6
Performance: 245 runs and four wickets
If Azhar Ali had been fit, Shoaib Malik might not have even played here, but the former missing out with a toe injury allowed the latter to emphatically resume his Test career after a five-year absence.
Coming in first-wicket down, the 33-year-old batted for over 10 hours and faced 420 balls, smiting 28 of them to the boundary, to register a huge double century and put his country in the driving seat.
The innings was a masterclass in pacing, with Malik keeping the scoreboard ticking over before methodically increasing the tempo as fatigue and desperation set in for the opposition.
The all-rounder also delivered nearly 40 overs of economical off-spin, picking up four scalps in the process, and he seems set for a sustained run in the Pakistan side.
Loser: Zulfiqar Babar
2 of 6
Performance: Three wickets for 210
Coming into this game as something of an Ernie Wise to Yasir Shah's Eric Morecambe, the absence of his spin partner gave Zulfiqar Babar the stage to himself for once.
However, while it was far from a nightmare performance, the 36-year-old ploughed through 72 economical but unthreatening overs of leg spin for a return of just one wicket in the first innings.
Sure, the pitch yielded very little for any bowler until the final day, but it was still a missed opportunity for Babar to establish himself as one of cricket's premium spin bowlers.
Winner: Alastair Cook
3 of 6
Performance: 263 runs
Getting sacked as England's ODI skipper in 2014 obviously hurt Alastair Cook, but as evidenced by his performances this year, the move has clearly resulted in an upsurge in form.
In the face of a mammoth Pakistan total, the left-hander batted for more than 863 minutes—the third- longest innings in Test history—and consumed 528 balls to register the third double century of his career and lead his side to parity.
While the pitch seemed as flat as a pancake, if Cook had fallen early, the pressure would have been piled on England's inexperienced middle order, potentially leading to a completely different game.
The ton was the 28th of the 30-year-old's international career and ties him with Michael Clarke in 14th place on the all-time century-makers' list.
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Loser: Misbah-ul-Haq
4 of 6
Performance: 54 runs
It may seem harsh to award Misbah-ul-Haq this "award" given he scored a half-century, but a moment of madness almost handed England a dramatic victory in what was, up to that point, a dead Test.
Having helped negotiate Pakistan to 103 for three and then to 159 for five in the final session of the last day, all that was required from the experienced skipper was a few overs of crease occupation.
Instead, Misbah uncharacteristically danced down the track to swing wildly at Moeen Ali's delivery and was bowled through the gate, exposing his side's fragile tail.
Fortunately for the 41-year-old, the depreciating light came to his rescue in the nick of time.
Winner: Adil Rashid
5 of 6
Performance: Five wickets for 237
A game of two halves is a classic football cliche, but it can be succinctly applied to Adil Rashid's performance in this extraordinary Test match.
During Pakistan's first innings, a road-like track and a succession of on-song batsmen led to the 27-year-old recording the worst figures by a bowler who has gone wicketless in his Test debut.
However, while the leg-spinner was already being consigned to the dustbin by some, Rashid showed great character and skill to fight back in the second innings by ripping through Pakistan's order, taking five wickets and setting up an unlikely England victory.
This performance will surely earn the Yorkshire-man a few more starts over the next couple of months, and it will be interesting to see how he performs on more conducive decks.
Loser: Shan Masood
6 of 6
Performance: Three runs
While most batsmen made the Abu Dhabi pitch seem an innocuously flat track, for Pakistan's opener Shan Masood it was a veritable minefield.
The left-handed opener found Jimmy Anderson's new ball skills too much to handle, managing to survive for just 10 balls across two innings, falling for scores of just one and two after being bowled twice.
With the likes of Azhar Ali and Yasir Shah potentially returning for the 2nd Test next week, it could be wise for Masood to practice his drink-carrying skills.
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