Pakistan v England, 3rd Twenty20, Dubai

Who can provide the strong finish?

The Preview by Andrew McGlashan

February 26, 2012

Match Facts

Monday, February 27, Abu Dhabi

Start time 2000 (1600 GMT)

The Big Picture

After two whitewashes we now have a series decider following England's slick victory in the second Twenty20 international in Dubai. Twenty20 matches can swing on the smallest of factors, but the intensity and sharpness of England's display on Saturday suggests they are the side finishing stronger.

A series victory will help consolidate England's position at the top of the rankings, although the bigger picture, and it applies to both teams, is putting in place plans for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka during September and October. Twenty20 internationals are few and far between - three-match series are a new breed in this format - so each game is important towards building a unit.

England learned quickly between the first and second matches in Dubai while Pakistan regressed quite significantly, especially with the bat. Jonny Bairstow showed that England's young players are soaking up their experiences while the incisiveness of the bowling attack is now consistent across all three formats.

Form guide

(Most recent first)

Pakistan LWWWW

England WLWLW

Watch out for...

Hammad Azam showed some spark in the second Twenty20 and while he was cutting loose, in a manner reminiscent of Abdul Razzaq, Pakistan were not out of the match. For a 20-year-old playing his first Twenty20 international innings it was a display of impressive confidence. It might be worth Misbah-ul-Haq giving him a bowl.

Graeme Swann was out-bowled in the Test series by Monty Panesar and often overshadowed by the quicks in the 50-over matches, but he has come into his own in the Twenty20s. His eight overs have brought figures of 5 for 30, which should provide him a nice rankings boost at the end of the series. And he still likes cracking the jokes.

Team news

The form of Shoaib Malik is causing Pakistan problems, which became even more acute when Misbah struggled to score in the second match. The middle order could do with some more kick and it may be worth promoting Azam. Imran Farhat is also in the squad if they decide Awais Zia has proved just too hit and miss.

Pakistan (probable) 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Awais Zia, 3 Asad Shafiq, 4 Umar Akmal (wk), 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Hammad Azam, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Aizaz Cheema

With the series on the line England won't be tinkering as they did in the last ODI, which means Tim Bresnan is unlikely to find a place.

England (probable) 1 Kevin Pietersen, 2 Craig Kieswetter (wk), 3 Ravi Bopara, 4 Eoin Morgan, 5 Jonny Bairstow, 6 Jos Buttler, 7 Samit Patel, 8 Stuart Broad (capt), 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Jade Dernbach, 11 Steven Finn

Pitch and conditions

In Dubai a score of around 140-150 proved defendable and the nature of the pitch at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi during the ODIs suggests something similar could be par for this final match. It will be another late finish for fans and players with an 8pm start.

Stats and trivia

Pakistan's defeat on Saturday was Misbah's first as captain in a Twenty20

In 16 innings on tour (including the warm-up matches) Eoin Morgan has made 190 runs with a top score of 31.

Quotes

"In this game we won last night, I thought Bairstow's innings was outstanding - very skilful, and very powerful as well. That's a very good combination to have."

Andy Flower offers his praise

Edited by Dustin Silgardo

Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo

 Feeds: Andrew McGlashan

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

England won by 38 runs

Pakistan v England, 2nd Twenty20, Dubai
Bairstow sets up series-levelling victory
The Report by David Hopps
February 25, 2012

Jonny Bairstow revived memories of his brilliant England one-day debut with a maiden international fifty to set up a resounding 38-run victory against Pakistan under the Dubai floodlights and level the Twenty20 series at 1-1 with one to play.

Bairstow's 41 from 21 balls against India in Cardiff on a rainy night last September identified him as a one-day cricketer of immense promise but it had remained his highest score in eight innings in ODIs and T20s as England awaited confirmation that he could follow up his flash of brilliance by proving that, at 22, he was ready for the international stage.

Slow Asian pitches have forced some self-analysis for Bairstow but the Yorkshireman indicated it had been time well spent as he came alive against a high-class Pakistan attack. If Cardiff had brought excitement, Dubai, with the ring of fire blazing down, confirmed that it was not misplaced. An immensely watchable series will be decided in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

A dead surface made it a demanding night for batting and Pakistan, who had successfully defended 144 for 6 on the same ground two days earlier, floundered against one of the most skilful and intelligent England T20 bowling displays of recent memory. They never got close, even if while Shahid Afridi is around a distant target is seen as if through binoculars. Afridi was last out for 25, hacking Stuart Broad into the offside, kept off strike so successfully that he faced only 23 balls of the 58 delivered while he was at the crease.

Pakistan lost half their side for 50 by the ninth over, leaving their captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, to try to remedy a situation that he is not really designed to address. In both matches, slower balls have not as much deceived him as stripped him bare. He has done much to stabilise Pakistan in Test cricket, but the argument for a new one-day captain is a persuasive one. Bairstow had a say in his dismissal, too, a brilliant diving catch at long-on as Misbah charged at Graeme Swann.

Consolation for Pakistan came in the promise of Hammad Azam. Misbah has yet to allow him a bowl in this series, which is short-termism at its worst with World Twenty20 approaching, but even at more than 10 an over he posed a threat until a steepling blow was held at long-on by Jos Buttler, who had been off the field with an injured hand sustained when he dropped Umar Akmal at short midwicket, and who in one moment proved his fitness.

But the night belonged to Bairstow. Against an excellent Pakistan attack, his unbeaten 60 from 46 balls were runs well earned. He is that rare commodity for England, a power hitter, and after he squirted Umar Gul into the leg side to secure his half-century four balls from the end of the innings, he emphasised the fact it by slapping a slow ball from Gul, a shot he did not really middle, over long-on for six.

He was determined to provide impetus from the outset. A flat six into the sightscreen bolstered his confidence; in his examination by Pakistan's spinners, he had at least gained pass marks on the subject of Afridi's googly. His most exceptional stroke, though, was reserved for Saeed Ajmal with slick footwork to make room followed by a regal off drive. There were muscular sweeps against the spinners and there was fun, too, as he grinned at Ajmal after daring a reverse sweep. He relishes a challenge and it will serve him well.

For another England batsman, life is not so grand. Eoin Morgan's tortured tour continued. He has yet to manage a half-century and, although he briefly hinted at better with two successive cover boundaries against Gul, he poked forward to Mohammad Hafeez and was lbw. He should have been lbw the previous ball, when he was defeated on the cut, but the umpire Ahsan Raza, unsure whether the ball had hit bat before pad, gave him the benefit of the doubt. Morgan insists that playing spin is a strength of his game, but the evidence that he is deluding himself is irrefutable.

When Craig Kieswetter, who had looked more threatening than at any time on tour, holed out at long-off for 31, with four wickets lost by the 10th over, England split their two greenhorns, Bairstow and Buttler, with Samit Patel, himself a veteran of only seven Twenty20s but more proven in these conditions and with a solid T20 record at Nottinghamshire behind him. Patel's run out, eschewing a dive to the crease as Ajmal hit direct with a throw from long leg will not find favour with England's management. It was careless from a player whose athleticism is forever in focus and whose fielding has shown signs of improvement.

Gul at the death - predominantly bowling yorkers with a hint of reverse swing - was again excellent and it did nothing for the reputation of Buttler's trademark shot, the step to leg and horizontal-bat shovel over his left shoulder. As Gul hit the stumps with a low full toss, the shot had got Buttler out on two successive occasions.

England again exposed the fragility of Pakistan's batting line-up and this time they did it with the aid of excellent catches. Hafeez made nought as a tall fast bowler, Steve Finn, was backed up by a tall first slip, Kevin Pietersen, who had received a rare invitation to the catching cordon. Jade Dernbach's reflexes were in good order, too, as he held Asad Shafiq's return drive and Morgan's catch was the best of the lot, intercepted at backward point to silence the dangerous Akmal.

But nothing was more impressive than the way they unravelled Awais Zia, mini Boom Boom, who had briefly flared in the first Twenty20. Zia faced 12 balls and managed only one scoring shot - a straight, length ball from Finn, just the delivery he feasts upon, which he clobbered over midwicket for six.

That apart, his limitations as a legside hitter were intelligently exposed as England nullified him with width and changes of pace. It is doubtful whether he has ever gone so many balls without scoring in his life. His last shot, which fell to Dernbach at mid-off, told of his desperation. It will be intriguing to see how he responds.

Innings Dot balls 4s 6s PP 16-20 overs NB/Wides England 36 14 3 46/2 34/3 0/3 Pakistan 51 9 5 33/4 15/4 1/4

David Hopps is the UK editor of ESPNcricinfo

 

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

Umar Gul's 3 for 18 played a major part in Pakistan's victory

Umar Gul's 3 for 18 played a major part in Pakistan's victory, Pakistan v England, 1st T20, Dubai, February, 23, 2012

©Getty Images

Umar Gul's 3 for 18 played a major part in Pakistan's victory, Pakistan v England, 1st T20, Dubai, February, 23, 2012©Getty Images

Shoaib Malik hit five boundaries in his innings

Shoaib Malik hit five boundaries in his innings, Pakistan v England, 1st T20, Dubai, February, 23, 2012

© Getty Images

Shoaib Malik hit five boundaries in his innings, Pakistan v England, 1st T20, Dubai, February, 23, 2012 © Getty Images

Awais Zia provided a swashbuckling opening

Awais Zia provided a swashbuckling opening, Pakistan v England, 1st T20, Dubai, February, 23, 2012

© Getty Images

Awais Zia provided a swashbuckling opening, Pakistan v England, 1st T20, Dubai, February, 23, 2012 © Getty Images

England won by 4 wickets

Pakistan v England, 4th ODI, Dubai

Pietersen key after spinners strike

The Report by Andrew McGlashan

February 21, 2012

Pakistan's spinners gave their team a chance of avoiding a whitewash by taking advantage of a wearing surface to leave England's pursuit of 238 in the balance. Two wickets in three balls for Saeed Ajmal gave Pakistan the edge and left Kevin Pietersen, unbeaten with a half-century, needing to produce another matchwinning innings

After two quiet games Ajmal was back at the forefront of England's problems as one of five spin options for Misbah-ul-Haq. In his third over he removed Eoin Morgan lbw when the left hander missed a sweep. Morgan, who had move briskly to 15, considered using a review but, as replays soon showed, wisely headed straight for the dressing room as the ball struck him in line with off stump.

Two balls later and Jos Buttler's first innings in ODIs was ended via an inside edge onto the pad that looped to short leg. Buttler's appearance had been eagerly anticipated following an impressive Lions tour in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, but Ajmal is a class apart from the spinners he'll have faced on those trips. He'll get plenty more chances.

For the first time in this series England's innings didn't get a solid base. Alastair Cook, having made 319 runs in the previous three innings, was lbw second ball having cut the opening delivery of the chase from Junaid Khan through point. Junaid, the lone quick in Pakistan's team, successfully lobbied to use the DRS after Cook had initially been given not out although Misbah's request was half-hearted at best.

The early boundaries of the chase came from Jonathan Trott as he drove Junaid and clipped Abdur Rehman who had been given the new ball against Pietersen. Soon, though, Pietersen made his mark as he advanced down the pitch at Rehman and twice drove Ajmal exquisitely through the covers.

Trott had eased to 11 off 13 balls but could only managed four from his next 17, which was threatening to put the pressure back on Pietersen, before he top-edged a pull against Rehman. Ajmal's impact then left England needing a period of consolidation to keep the target within sight.

Craig Kieswetter, still settling into his new home in the middle order, wasn't convincing against spin but between the edges, jabs and appeals began to find the boundary. Pietersen, riding on the confidence of his hundred three days ago, continued to play the lead role as he reached fifty from 66 balls. Both sides knew his presence was crucial to the outcome.

Pakistan 237 (Shafiq 65, Azhar 58, Dernbach 4-45) v England

Pakistan's brittle line-up failed to make the most of a solid base provided by Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq during the final ODI in Dubai to leave England well-place for a whitewash. Azhar and Shafiq, the future of Pakistan's batting, added 111 for the second wicket but England's reshuffled bowling attack, including debutant Danny Briggs and the recalled Jade Dernbach, stifled the middle order with Misbah-ul-Haq left to gather what he could.

It was another tale of Pakistan's batsmen failing to build on starts as four of them passed 20 but none bettered Shafiq's confident 65. On a surface being used for the second time in three days it was difficult for new batsmen to force the pace straight away, demonstrated by the way the innings fell away. England's bowling effort wasn't quite as slick as the previous three games, but without the resting James Anderson and Stuart Broad it was a performance that further demonstrated the depth available. Briggs claimed a commendable 2 for 39 and Dernbach 4 for 45 as he cleaned up the lower order with Pakistan losing their last six wickets for 35 runs.

There were plenty of team changes for both sides; England due to injury and rotation, Pakistan largely because of form and an illness sweeping through the team. Briggs and Jos Buttler, the Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman, were handed ODI debuts and Tim Bresnan was given his first outing of the tour. Pakistan shuffled their pack again, opting for just one quick bowler, the left-armer Junaid Khan, on a surface being used for the second time and expected to aid the spinners, of which Pakistan played five.

Dernbach made an immediate impact on his return to England colours when he struck second ball to have Mohammad Hafeez caught behind. Dernbach had a difficult tour of India, where his obsession with variation worked against him, and then had a tough experience in Australia's Big Bash League where he was dropped after two games for Melbourne Stars.

Consistency still proved Dernbach an occasional problem as a wide delivery was driven through the covers by Shafiq and in the same over he was flicked through square leg. He returned in the bowling Powerplay and two further overs cost 12 during which time Shafiq went to his half-century from 59 balls, but also maintained the happy knack of picking up wickets when he had Azhar athletically caught at point by Eoin Morgan.

Bresnan was also a touch expensive in his first international spell of the tour following the elbow injury which kept him out of the Test series. Azhar, promoted to open in place of Imran Farhat, who has a groin strain, latched on to two short deliveries and Bresnan's three-over burst cost 20 runs.

Both batsmen allied the solid defence that they had shown during the Test series with an aggressive intent which put the pressure back on to England's bowlers. Shafiq had the perfect opportunity, against a weakened attack, to score his maiden ODI hundred but chopped on against Bresnan in the 23rd over. From there life became much tougher for Pakistan.

As Misbah had hinted at the toss, Umar Akmal was promoted to No. 4 with the chance to build an innings. However, he never gathered momentum and provided Briggs with his first international wicket when he lofted a catch to long-off. Briggs showed calmness and control in his first appearance, quickly recovering himself from a couple of loose deliveries against Azhar.

The scoring rate had seized up as Azhar approached his maiden ODI fifty and Shoaib Malik struggled to time the ball. The sense with Azhar, albeit in the very early stages of his career, is that he doesn't have a range of gears to move through in the one-day game. Malik does not have the excuse of inexperience to fall back on and his return to Pakistan colours has not been a happy one in this series. Having used up 33 deliveries for 23 he missed a sweep against Briggs in the left-armers last over.

Again the hope of late acceleration was in the hands of Shahid Afridi but he couldn't ignite and fell to a superb running catch at deep midwicket from Bresnan. Misbah remained solid, launching Samit Patel over long-on, and Abdur Rehman connected with a couple of swings but didn't do serious damage to England.

© ESPN EMEA Ltd

Alastair Cook became the first England captain to make consecutive ODI hundreds

Alastair Cook became the first England captain to make consecutive ODI hundreds, Pakistan v England, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi, February 15, 2012

©AFP

Alastair Cook

AFP, first England captain, consecutive ODI hundreds, Pakistan v England, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi, February 15, 2012, Alastair Cook, Alastair Cook 102, wicket of Alastair Cook, 

Sheikh Zayed Stadium filled up in the second innings

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium filled up in the second innings, Pakistan v England, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi, February 15, 2012

©Getty Images

Sheikh Zayed Stadium

Stadium filled up, The Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, second innings, Pakistan v England, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi, February 15, 2012

Shahid Afridi eventually dismissed Alastair Cook for 102

Shahid Afridi eventually dismissed Alastair Cook for 102, Pakistan v England, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi, February 15, 2012

©AFP

Shahid Afridi catch

Shahid Afridi catches, Shahid Afridi catch, Shahid Afridi, Alastair Cook 102, Pakistan v England, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi, February 15, 2012

England won the toss and decided to bat First

Pakistan v England, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi

Pakistan make three changes, England bat first

The Report by Andrew McGlashan

February 15, 2012

England won the toss and decided to bat against Pakistan

If the opening one-day international was any indication, Alastair Cook made a significant early call by winning the toss in Abu Dhabi and again batting first. Under lights on Monday, England's pace bowlers, especially Steven Finn, proved too much for Pakistan as the ball zipped around.

England named an unchanged team as they search for a 2-0 lead with Tim Bresnan remaining on the sidelines. Pakistan, though, have shuffled their pack with three alterations to their eleven. Azhar Ali, who had an impressive Test series, replaces Asad Shafiq, Abdur Rehman comes in for Shoaib Malik and Wahab Riaz, after an expensive display two days ago, misses out in favour of Aizaz Cheema.

The presence of Rehman will rekindle memories of the Test series where he caused the England batsmen plenty of problems. That was especially the case for Kevin Pietersen who is under pressure to make a major contribution opening the batting.

Umar Akmal has been passed fit to continue the wicketkeeping role after suffering a back problem during the opening game, but Pakistan do have quite a lengthy lower order with Shahid Afridi now pencilled in to bat at No. 7. Misbah-ul-Haq didn't hide the fact he wanted to bat first and his batsmen will be under pressure to atone in the evening run chase.

Pakistan 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Umar Akmal (wk) 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Abdur Rehman, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Aizaz Cheema

England 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Kevin Pietersen, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Ravi Bopara, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Craig Kieswetter (wk), 7 Samit Patel, 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson 11 Steven Finn

Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo

Abdur Rehman has been recalled as Pakistan try to level the one-day series © Getty Images

Pakistan v England 2011-12

Pakistan ride on spin success

ESPNcricinfo looks back at the players who helped Pakistan to a famous whitewash over England with the spin bowlers and a fine captain to the fore

George Dobell

February 7, 2012

Mohammad Hafeez 7/10
Technically correct, patient and disciplined, Hafeez dealt calmly with a testing England seam attack - they dismissed him only once in the series - but was troubled more by Monty Panesar's left-arm spin. He made a polished 88 in the first Test to give his side a strong platform and weighed in with useful contributions in a low-scoring game at Abu Dhabi. He also claimed five wickets - all of them left-handers - at an average of just 16 with his miserly offspin. England could barely hit him off the square and he conceded fewer than two runs an over.

Taufeeq Umar 3
A series of diminishing returns. Looked disciplined and solid in making 58 in his first innings of the series, but was subsequently unsettled by James Anderson's inswinger and drawn into a series of unwise pokes outside the off stump. He only made only 29 runs in his next five innings.

Azhar Ali 8.5
A breakthrough series for a 26-year-old who could go on to be Pakistan's Test captain. Certainly Azhar demonstrated a temperament that might have been tailor-made for Test cricket. He also showed a tight technique and a welcome aptitude to shine under pressure. The highlight was his marathon effort in Dubai, but he also produced a match-turning innings of 68 in Abu Dhabi. No-one on either side batted for longer or came within ten of his series average of 50.2.

Younis Khan 7.5
He may only have contributed one innings of substance to the series, but what an innings it was. Dripping with quality and class, Younis' century in Dubai changed the course of a game that Pakistan - bowled out for 99 in their first innings - might easily have lost. He looked in decent touch for the rest of the series, but never went on to register a significant score.

Misbah-ul-Haq 8.5
How can we evaluate Misbah's influence on the team? It clearly extends far beyond making runs; important as they often were. Misbah sets the tone for Pakistan, on and off the pitch, coaxing the best from his team and ensuring calm professionalism pervades whether winning or losing. It would be easy to characterise him purely as a dour, obdurate batsman - and there were certainly periods during his vital half-century in the first Test where those qualities stuck out - but he also showed his selfless, intelligent side with his calculated attacking at Abu Dhabi that brought him four sixes. He may have to watch one weakness with the bat, however, as England soon worked out that, for all his discipline outside off stump, he is a likely lbw victim. He fell that way in all five innings. Despite all the team's success, some still dislike Misbah. They accuse him of being boring. Maybe, though, after everything that has happened in Pakistan cricket over the last few years, a little bit of boredom is not such a bad thing?

Asad Shafiq 6.5
Played a large part in the victory in Abu Dhabi - in a low-scoring game his contribution of 101 runs in total was highly significant - and top-scored with 45 in the first innings rout in Dubai. He showed with his dismissal in the first innings in Abu Dhabi - heaving across the line due to a lapse in concentration - that he is not the finished article, but he displayed enough talent to suggest he should have a long future at this level.

Adnan Akmal 6.5
An accomplished keeper who, but for one out of character mistake on the last day of the series, kept neatly to spin and seam alike. He still has some work to do on his batting - he contributed only one meaningful innings as a batsman and may be a place or two high at No. 7 - but this is a man who could represent Pakistan for much of the next decade.

Abdur Rehman 8.5
A vastly underrated cricketer. Rehman may not have much mystery, but he has excellent control and a wonderful ability to change his pace quite extravagantly without any obvious change in his action. He finished the series with 19 wickets at 16.73, including his first two five-wicket hauls in Tests. Ajmal ended with more wickets, but how many came partially as a result of the pressure built by Rehman who simply hardly bowled a poor ball? It is hard to think of a better spin partnership in contemporary world cricket. His problems with the bat - and he struggled horribly against Graeme Swann - will be over-looked if he continues to bowl like this.

Saeed Ajmal 9
Masterful. With 24 wickets at 14.7 apiece, Ajmal tortured the England batsmen. As if his doosra was not enough - and it was more than enough for Ian Bell, who fell to it four times - he also displayed superb control and a host of other, subtle variations. Sometimes it was the ball that spun that caused England problems; sometimes it was the ball that went straight on. His 7 for 55 in the first Test set the tone for the series and unsettled several England batsmen. He may even have ruined a couple of illustrious careers.

Umar Gul 8
An unsung hero in a side built around spin, Gul still enjoyed an excellent series. Wholehearted, strong and fit, Gul gave his side an edge with his committed seam bowling and at times troubled the England batsmen as much with his pace as his consistent line and length. Fully deserved his last day burst of four wickets.

Aizaz Cheema 4
In years to come, the identity of the second seamer in the famous victory in the third Test might make a searching quiz question. With just one wicket in his two Tests, it could seem that Cheema was almost an irrelevance. He actually bowled pretty well without much fortune and supported Gul and the spinners better than the figures suggests. He beat the England openers frequently.

Junaid Khan 2
On the face of things, Junaid had a shocker: he made a pair in his only Test and dropped an easy catch. He actually bowled very well in his limited opportunities - he beat Trott on several occasions -and, on more helpful pitches, will surely enjoy better games. His fielding does have to improve, though.

George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo

Glum faces in the England side following the whitewash

Glum faces in the England side following the whitewash, Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day, February 6, 2012 ©AFP

Glum faces in the England side following the whitewash, Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day, February 6, 2012 ©AFP

England side Crying, whitewash, England side, whitewash, Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day, February 6, 2012 , Glum faces, Glum faces Of England Cricket Team

Kevin Pietersen walks back after another failure, Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day, February 6, 2012

Kevin Pietersen walks back after another failure, Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day, February 6, 2012 

©Getty Images

Kevin Pietersen crying

Kevin Pietersen walks back after another failure, Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day, February 6, 2012 ©Getty Images

Eoin Morgan made a brisk 31, Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day, February 6, 2012

Eoin Morgan made a brisk 31, Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day, February 6, 2012 

©Getty Images

Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan made a brisk 31, Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day, February 6, 2012 ©Getty Images

Umar Gul celebrates the wicket of Ian Bell, Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day, February 6, 2012

Umar Gul celebrates the wicket of Ian Bell, Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day, February 6, 2012

©Getty Images

Umar Gul.jpg

Umar Gul celebrates the wicket of Ian Bell, Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day, February 6, 2012 ©Getty Images

Saeed Ajmal is ecstatic after getting rid of Jonathan Trott, Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day, February 6, 2012

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal is ecstatic after getting rid of Jonathan Trott, Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day, February 6, 2012 ©Getty Images

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal is ecstatic after getting rid of Jonathan Trott, Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day, February 6, 2012 ©Getty Images

first whitewash of 2012

first whitewash of 2012

Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Dubai, 4th day

Pakistan secure series whitewash

The Report by David Hopps

February 6, 2012

Ajmal, spinning the ball both ways, not extravagantly but often, dismissed Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook in the afternoon session, to add to Jonathan Trott before lunch. Rehman counted Andrew Strauss as his sole success as he bowled unchanged for two sessions, 30 overs sent down with unerring accuracy. He is the sort of spin bowler who looks slightly weary from the outset, but never noticeably tires after that.

Pietersen was bent upon playing enterprisingly. The first ball of the afternoon provided a reminder of his vulnerability when a bat-pad against Rehman flew high past short leg, but he had the fleeting satisfaction of striking him straight for six before Ajmal, from around the wicket, spun one through the gate and beamed at further bounty.

Cook put up statuesque resistance. Along the way he became the second youngest person, at 27 years and 43 days, to reach 6,000 Test runs. Only Sachin Tendulkar has reached the landmark at a younger age. His most attacking shot of the morning, a loft into the leg side against Rehman, caused the bowler to taunt him with applause. He lived on scraps, combating the turning ball with thoughtful defence and numerous works to the leg side and that proved his undoing as a leading edge was brilliantly held by Younis Khan, diving to his left at first slip.

The emphasis has been upon spin, but Umar Gul reminded England that the quicker bowlers should not be entirely discounted as he got the old ball to reverse swing as much as at any time in the series. Ian Bell's state of mind is such that a long hop is quite enough. He averaged more than 100 last summer, less than 10 in this series, and when Gul offered up a gift he mistimed it wide of point. The ball that dismissed Eoin Morgan, caught by the wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal, who embarked upon a merry dance, was of higher quality.

England, 36 runs banked the previous evening, needed a further 288 at the start of play. Strauss fell in the sixth over of the morning, lbw on the back foot to Rehman. That was lbw No. 42 in this three-Test series, one short of the all-time record for a series of any length. Strauss reviewed it, although it smacked of a captain's review and he would have been better to head smartly for the dressing room. But when it comes to captain's reviews Strauss cannot match Misbah-ul-Haq. Misbah has been lbw on five occasions in this series and he has taken a review every time. It must be a captain's prerogative.

Without lapses in the field, Pakistan could have been in a stronger position. They had dropped Cook the previous evening, a relatively simple chance to Taufeeq Umar at third slip and Gul's drop in the shadows of the stand at deep square gave him another reprieve as Pakistan lost the efficiency that has characterised their cricket throughout this series. Rehman made his frustration clear when he caught Trott at deep square as he flung the ball into the turf with feeling at the errors that had gone before.

Adnan's fumble behind the stumps to reprieve Strauss, although not costly as the England captain was out in the next over, was the worst miss of all. Adnan has had a good series behind the stumps and has the opportunity to be Pakistan's first-choice keeper for many years to come but his excitable chatter had reached a peak. As Pakistan press for victory, it is in danger of becoming counterproductive. Strauss' edge flew to him at comfortable height but he put it down. For a few minutes he was quiet and you could hear your ears ringing.

Adnan's cacophony of cries often rent the air for inexplicable reasons. As do parrots, Adnan vocalises for many reasons. He may be excitedly greeting the day or summoning his family at sunset. He may be screeching when he is excited or when he is merely trying it on. He may screech when he thinks things have got too quiet or when he thinks it is his duty to scream. He just likes screeching. At one point he burst out coughing as if in sore need of a lozenge and Trott looked at him in deadpan fashion.

Adnan is also incorrigibly optimistic about reviewing umpiring decisions. "Do it, do it, yes, yes, all good," you can sense him saying. Misbah has learned not to take his evidence into consideration and looks askance at him. But Pakistan challenged umpire Steve Davis' not-out ruling when Ajmal beat Cook on the sweep. Hawk-Eye showed that the ball pitched outside leg. There again, disturbingly, it seems that Hawk-Eye also cannot read Ajmal's doosra, probably because it is English.

Kevin Pietersen was again bamboozled by Saeed Ajmal © AFP

David Hopps is the UK editor of ESPNcricinfo