Pakistan vs. England, 1st Test, Day 1: Shoaib Malik Shines, Ian Bell Slips Up
It didn't quite have the same level of suspense as the 2015 Ashes, but the opening day of the series between Pakistan and England was still absorbing stuff at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Pakistan, playing at their home from home, reached the close on 284 for four after choosing to bat first.
Shoaib Malik was the star turn with the bat, as he marked his first Test appearance since 2010 by making an unbeaten 124.
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Mohammad Hafeez weighed in with 98, while Younis Khan created a piece of history for Pakistan cricket during his knock of 39.
James Anderson was the pick of the England attack, claiming figures of two for 29, but the tourists toiled on a long, hot day in Abu Dhabi.
Here Bleacher Report breaks down the major talking points from the action, starting with a classy comeback by a player who might finally be ready to fulfil his obvious potential.
Malik's Masterful Return
Malik had not played a Test match in five years, yet batted on Day 1 like he had been a regular for all of his career.
Recalled to bat at three in the order, taking the place of the the injured Azhar Ali, the experienced all-rounder found himself walking to the crease to face the 18th ball of the match.
From the outset, though, he looked at ease, hardly surprising considering he had come into the Test off the back of a one-day series against Zimbabwe that saw him average 161.
He was given a reprieve on 40, caught off a no-ball from Stuart Broad, but cashed in to register his third Test century and first since 2009.
Malik shared in a stand of 168 for the second wicket with Hafeez, who fell narrowly short of a century when he paid the price for walking across his stumps against Ben Stokes, as he was trapped leg before wicket.
By the close, however, Malik was still going strong. After a long break from the Test XI, he showed a desire to make up for lost time.
England's Errors
A seriously flat pitch in Abu Dhabi made it tough work for the bowlers. However, their task was made even tougher by a number of careless errors on Day 1.
Hafeez had just seven runs to his name when Anderson found his outside edge. However, Ian Bell spilled the relatively straightforward chance at second slip. While the early opportunity did come at a low height, Bell could offer nothing as a defence for dropping Asad Shafiq in the penultimate over of the day.
Worryingly, England had even spoken about their catching issues prior to the match.
After missing several opportunities in their final warm-up fixture against Pakistan A, assistant coach Paul Farbrace said, via Paul Newman of the Mail, "We’ve still got a good few days to go, so there will be plenty of catching practice over the next few days."
Bell’s drops suggest there is still plenty work to do when it comes to England's fielding.
Joe Root did hang on to a chance at a wide third slip off the edge of Malik’s bat, only for replays to reveal that bowler Broad had failed to get any part of his foot behind the crease.
It is not the first time this year that England have had a wicket chalked off for a no-ball, as journalist Mark Hobson revealed on Twitter:
While the visitors can point to being rusty, as they had only had four days of cricket in preparation for the series, the errors could come back to bite them later on in the contest.
Contrasting Fortunes
Anderson claimed two of the four wickets to fall on Tuesday, taking his career tally to 415.
He is already England’s leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, but now the Lancastrian has also crept into the all-time top 10.
The seamer was perhaps fortunate to dismiss Misbah-ul-Haq, who was adjudged to have edged behind on review, despite the third umpire not having the aid of Snicko or hot-spot technology to help him overturn the initial not-out decision.
Anderson didn’t care—the wicket of the Pakistan captain moved him past the great Wasim Akram on the all-time list. Had it not been for Bell's bad case of butter fingers, he could have had a couple more.
"Jimmy Anderson is now the 10th highest Test wicket-taker of all-time. Fantastic achievement #PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/KAWIBHe8Ol
— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) October 13, 2015"
While Anderson is well into his Test career now, Adil Rashid finally got the chance to get his underway in the United Arab Emirates.
The Yorkshire leg-spinner—who had been in every Test squad during the Ashes summer without making an appearance—sent down 17 wicketless overs at a cost of 76 runs on debut.
There was, though, some turn (albeit slow) for him. He saved his best for last, with his final spell helping repair some earlier damage to his figures inflicted by Hafeez.
England has to be patient with Rashid. He should at least get plenty of opportunities to grow into his role on a benign surface.
Milestone Moment
"Younis Khan becomes Pakistan's leading Test run-scorer ❤ #Pakistan #Cricket #PCB pic.twitter.com/whiLDHcGVN
— PCB Official (@CricketofPK) October 13, 2015"
Younis only made 38 on Day 1. Most of us would be happy with that effort in a club match at the weekend, but Pakistan's former captain averages 52.67 in his Test career.
A man used to making huge scores, he had laid the foundation for another one before falling into England’s trap of setting two fielders at short mid-on.
However, the 37-year-old still had the chance to raise his bat to the crowd before his departure.
When he launched spinner Moeen Ali over deep mid-wicket for six, Younis moved from 15 to 21. The maximum also meant he moved from second to first on Pakistan’s all-time run-scoring list.
"Historical six by Younis Khan! Congratulations. pic.twitter.com/Dx4iOIcRRZ
— T. (@iDoosra) October 13, 2015"
By reaching 19, the batsman went past Javed Miandad’s record total of 8,832 runs. Younis achieved the feat in his 102nd Test—Miandad, in comparison, played in 124.
He already held the record for most Test centuries by a Pakistan batsman (30), as pointed out by ESPN Cricinfo's S Rajesh.
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