December 5, 2005	Monday	Ziqa’ad 2, 1426

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LAHORE, Dec 4: England will need to reassess their approach to tours on the sub-continent before touring India next year after Pakistan exposed their weaknesses in a 2-0 series win.

Under Michael Vaughan, England have won six series in a row and recaptured the Ashes from Australia this year. But in the same period they have lost away series to Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

“We have got to go to India in February and March and make sure that the mistakes that were made here are not made again. It’s hard work playing in the subcontinent and players have to realise that,” Vaughan said.

Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who finished the three-match series with 17 wickets, said England’s body language has been nowhere near as aggressive as might have been expected after their Ashes triumph.

“They seemed to be going through the motions and not enjoying the tour. Every part of the world is different and if you are expecting the same in this country as back home you might not get it,” he said.

Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad agreed.

“It is also difficult for us adjusting to the different playing conditions, food and culture. But you have to make that extra bit of effort to come through,” he said.

England coach Duncan Fletcher admitted during the third Test that security considerations confining the squad to their hotels had affected the players.

However, adjusting to the changed security environment since Sept 11, 2001 should have been part of England’s preparations for Pakistan.

“Playing in Pakistan is never easy and I think England didn’t prepare mentally for this tour. Pakistan were better prepared,” Miandad said.

England also struggled with injuries to Vaughan and left-arm spinner Ashley Giles while Andrew Strauss missed the final Test after travelling home for the birth of his first child.

By contrast Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq and Shoaib enjoyed a purple patch in the series with Mohammad Yousuf also weighing in with a double century in Lahore.

No England batsman came close to Inzamam’s aggregate of 431 runs nor did any bowler look like matching Shoaib’s aggression as he rounded off the series with five for 71 to confirm his rebirth as a quality performer after a host of personal and fitness problems.

Against Australia, England had made just one change when Paul Collingwood replaced the injured Simon Jones in the final Test. In Pakistan they were forced to make changes in every Test.

More importantly, as former England opener Geoff Boycott observed, the aggressive batting style which had worked against Australia did not come off on Pakistan pitches.

England collapsed on the final days of all three Tests while Ashes heroes Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff failed to realise that patience rather than panache is required on slow pitches.

Pace bowlers Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard toiled hard but, with Giles injured, there was no spin-bowling support.—Reuters
 

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