Pakistan vs England 2nd Test: Waqar hails Misbah after skipper's landmark ton

Pakistan's coach Waqir Younis paid tribute to skipper Misbah-ul-Haq after the 41-year-old became the oldest Test centurion since 1978 in making an unbeaten 102 on the first day of the second Test against England on Thursday.

Following a draw in the series opener, Misbah helped steady his side after two brilliant morning catches by the indomitable Jonny Bairstow and James Anderson's 418th Test wicket from the first ball of the afternoon had reduced Pakistan to 85-3.

At that moment, Misbah, 41, may have been regretting his decision to bat after winning the toss, but he and Younis Khan (56) put on 93 from 179 balls before Pakistan's record run scorer was caught behind by England wicketkeeper Joss Buttler off Mark Wood.

But an unperturbed Misbah put on 93 with Younis Khan before adding a further 104 runs in an unbeaten partnership with Asad Shafiq as Pakistan cantered to 282-4 by the close.

Asad Shafiq, 46 not out, joined Misbah at the crease. The skipper will resume on 102 after chalking up a ninth Test century by slogging Moeen Ali for 15 off the day's final over that included two sixes.

"I don't think age is a barrier if you're fit and can manage the modern way of cricket, why not?" Waqar told reporters.

Misbah has now made six Test centuries since the start of 2013, after just three in the preceding 11 years following his Test debut in 2001.

"It's the determination," said Waqar. "He wants to carry on playing. The knock he played today was very good, a captain's knock. He accelerated when it was required and when the wickets fell he was the one who was more responsible."

Misbah looked as though he would have to wait until Friday for a ninth Test century, but in Thursday's final over he slugged Moeen Ali for two sixes - the first over deep square leg, the second beyond long-on - before a reverse sweep gave him his ton.

"When you're near to an interval or the end of the game, people bring the fielders in and he feels more comfortable in hitting over the top. It's not the first time he's done it," said Waqar.

"You don't see many cricketers of his age still around. He wants it badly. There is nothing else to talk to him. He talks cricket all the time."

Waqar was unsure how long Misbah would remain a Test cricketer, saying the captain had hinted the series with England could be his last but also stating he wanted to carry on.

"The way he's batting of course Pakistan need him," added Waqar.

Tea

Pakistan overcame the loss of Shan Masood in the first ball of the afternoon session to reach 178-3 at tea on the opening day of the second Test against England in Dubai on Thursday as skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan found their stride.

After the series opener ended in a draw, the veteran pair steadied the ship after Pakistan had slumped to 85-3, Masood’s (54) slight nick off James Anderson nestling in wicketkeeper Jos Buttler’s gloves.

That followed two brilliant morning catches from Jonny Bairstow, which must have made Misbah question his decision to bat first after winning the toss.

Misbah had done likewise in Abu Dhabi a week ago and Pakistan sauntered to 286-4 by the first day close on a lifeless pitch.

A similar pattern looked possible on Thursday as Masood and opening partner Mohammad Hafeez added two runs in the first three overs before cutting loose.

The duo raced to 47-0 from 15 overs, with England captain Alastair Cook replacing seamers Anderson and Stuart Broad with spinner Moeen Ali and paceman Mark Wood.

Moeen then tricked Hafeez (19) into edging a turning ball onto his pads. The ball looped up for Bairstow to make a diving catch as Pakistan slipped to 51-1.

Next in was Shoaib Malik (2), who lasted nine balls before trudging back to the pavilion.

The all-rounder, who made a double century in Abu Dhabi, slogged at Ben Stokes and the ball cannoned off Bairstow’s midriff at short-leg.

The fielder's reactions were catlike as he sprang forward to snatch a one-handed catch as Pakistan reached 85-2 at lunch.

Anderson’s wicket proved to be England’s best moment of the afternoon session, with Rashid Ali – who veered between hopeless and mesmeric in the first test – again struggling.

The leg-spinner was clubbed around the Dubai International Stadium to be on 0-32 from seven overs.

Pakistan will resume with Misbah on 44 and Younis 56, the partnership of 93 coming off 161 balls.

Pakistan are 178-3 in 55 overs at tea on day one of the second Test against England in Dubai after losing Shan Masood (54) in the first ball after lunch.

Veterans Younis Khan (56) and Misbah ul Haq (46) have added 93 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket as Pakistan take the honours.

Lunch

England's Jonny Bairstow took two brilliant catches to help reduce Pakistan to 85-2 at lunch on the first day of the second test in Dubai on Thursday.

Just as in Abu Dhabi a week ago, Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and decided to bat, the skipper no doubt hoping for a repeat of the series opener in which Pakistan sauntered to 286-4 by the first day close on a lifeless pitch.

That plan initially appeared sound, Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood cautiously adding two runs in the first three overs before cutting loose.

The duo raced to 47-0 from 15 overs, with England captain Alastair Cook replacing seamers James Anderson and Stuart Broad with spinner Moeen Ali and paceman Mark Wood.

Moeen then tricked Hafeez (19) into edging a turning ball onto his pads. The ball looped up for Bairstow to make a diving catch as Pakistan slipped to 51-1.

Next in was Shoaib Malik (2), who lasted nine balls before trudging back to the pavilion.

The all-rounder, who made a double century in Abu Dhabi, slogged at Ben Stokes and the ball cannoned off Bairstow’s midriff at short-leg.

The fielder's reactions were catlike as he sprang forward to snatch a one-handed catch and reduce Pakistan to 58-2.

The hosts, playing in their adopted home of the UAE, reached lunch with Masood unbeaten on 54 and Pakistan’s record run scorer Younis Khan 10 not out.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah, the fastest man to 50 test wickets in Pakistan history, returned to the hosts’ line-up after missing the first test with a back injury, Rahat Ali making way. England are unchanged.

Pakistan made 85 for two in 28 overs at lunch on the first day of the second Test against England at Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.

Hafeez and Malik departed in quick succession while Masood remained unbeaten on 54 having faced 86 balls and hits seven boundaries and a six.

WICKET! Bairstow takes a brilliant catch on the second attempt at short leg to remove Abu Dhabi double centurion Malik. Pak 58-2, 18.4 overs.

Shoaib Malik c Bairstow b Stokes 2 (9b)

WICKET! Ali draws first blood after the drinks break as Hafeez is caught at short leg off an inside ege. Pak 51-1, 15.2 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez c Bairstow b Ali 19 (44b 4x4)

Masood has pulled a short ball from Wood to square leg for a boundary as Pakistan make a steady start. Pak 47-0, 15 overs

Spin introduced with Moeen Ali coming into the attack. Pak 32-0, 9 overs.

Masood cracks consecutive boundaries off Broad, edging to third man and a more confident to square leg. Pak 24-0, 6 overs.

FOUR! Masood hits the first boundary of the match tickling Broad to fine leg while Hafeez follows suit to open his account by pushing through the covers for a boundary. Pak 11-0, 4 overs.

Hafeez and Masood walk out to the middle while Anderson has the new ball and begins with a maiden.

Pakistan skipper Misbah ul Haq has won the toss and has no hesitation in batting first.

Teams

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Imran Khan

England: Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson

Preview

Skipper Alastair Cook on Wednesday said he wanted England to become the first team to beat Pakistan in their adopted home of United Arab Emirates, comparing it to beating India in India.

Cook captained England to a remarkable come-from-behind 2-1 win over India in India a few months after watching a team led by his predecessor Andrew Strauss routed 3-0 by Pakistan in the UAE in 2012.

Cook said India and Pakistan posed the same challenge.

"Two good sides in their home conditions. No-one has beaten Pakistan here yet and I would be great to be the first side to do it," he said ahead of the second Test against Pakistan starting on Thursday.

Pakistan have not lost any of the previous seven series in the UAE where they were forced to play after international cricket was suspended on their home grounds following the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore.

They have beaten Sri Lanka (2011), England (2012) and Australia (2014) while squaring two series against South Africa (2010 and 2013) and one each against Sri Lanka and New Zealand - both in 2014.

England came close to taking a 1-0 lead in the series in the first Test in Abu Dhabi last week when they fell short by just 25 of the 99-run target with bad light forcing umpires to call off the match.

Cook hinted they may opt to change tactics from the team's last visit to Dubai and go with three spinners.

The last time England played a Test match in Dubai in 2012, their seamers wrecked the Pakistan first innings and bowled them out for 99.

But even without having a first look at the wicket, Cook appeared sure it would assist the spinners more this time.

"I think it will turn more here and a little bit quicker than Abu Dhabi. The last time we were here, there was something for the seamers early on," Cook said.

"We are prepared to play three spinners if the wicket is a really dry one. I have said it before that with this squad, we have the option of doing that and it doesn't affect the balance of the side so much. All three spinners bat very well as well."

"It will turn more and a bit quicker - last time (2012) there was more for the seamers. It's a unique stadium, the shadow is still there at 10am and that allows for dampness in the wicket and movement. It should be a better cricket wicket," said Cook.

Misbah said he would never be guilty of taking England lightly.

"I am saying this from the first day that they are a professional team and are very determined," the skipper said.

"They have learnt from their mistakes of the past and are a totally different team and that they have shown (in Abu Dhabi) so we have to lift our performance if we want to win."

Pakistan is also set to welcome back Yasir Shah, a leg-spinner who has never played against England in the longest format of the game.

Shah was ruled out with a back injury for the first Test in Abu Dhabi last week.

Pakistan has also included off-spinner Bilal Asif in the Test squad after he underwent a test of his bowling action in Chennai.

"Bilal's action is not an issue for us. If it was, we would not have selected him in the squad," Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq. "If he is here, it means we are confident of him playing the Test. We will have a think of the combination we want to use, and if he fits in, he will play the Test."

There were a couple of selection issues for both the teams. England all-rounder Ben Stokes was reportedly recovering from a viral fever after the Abu Dhabi Test, but took part in the nets session on Wednesday.

"Ben did not look too good yesterday apparently, but he is here for training. He should be fine, but we will see," Cook said. "You've got to be careful in these conditions . five days in this heat, you need to be 100 percent before you start. We will play it by the ear and make a decision tomorrow morning."

Pakistan will miss the services of dependable Azhar Ali at No. 3 for the second straight Test. Ali has recovered from his toe injury, but had to return to Pakistan after his mother-in-law passed away on Monday.

The third and final Test will be played in Sharjah from November 1.

Teams:

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Fawad Alam, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan, Rahat Ali, Junaid Khan, Bilal Asif.

England: Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Samit Patel, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, Mark Wood, Chris Jordan.

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