Following a 330-run loss against England at Old Trafford, Manchester on Monday, keeping Alastair Cook and Joe Root from staying at the crease for long will be Pakistan’s top priority when they take on the Three Lions in the third encounter of the four-match series in Birmingham on Wednesday.

Cook, the England skipper, along with Root, amassed a total of 506 runs out of the hosts’ 762 runs over the two innings, playing a major role in damaging the confidence Pakistan gathered from their historic 75-run victory at Lord’s.

“This is foremost in our minds. These two are key batsmen for England and we will plan to take their wickets early so as to put pressure on the rest of the batting line-up,” said Pakistan wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed in an interview to Pakpassion.net.

“Rest assured that our coaching staff will be putting a lot of stress on this objective for the next games,” he added.

Alastair Cook’s 105 in the first innings — the southpaw’s 29th international ton and Root’s 254 — the right-hander’s second double century — frustrated the Pakistan bowlers who seemed at the top of their game in the Lord’s Test.

Cook and Root followed up with 76* and 71* respectively in the second innings to ensure a 565-run advantage over the visitors before they were bowled out for a mere 234 in the final innings.

Yasir Shah, who bagged his maiden 10-wicket haul in the first Test, was smashed by the England top-order duo all around Old Trafford and ended up as Pakistan’s worst-performing bowler in the match.

Sarfraz, who had not much to do behind the wickets in the second Test, believed Root, who is considered as one of the best batsmen in the world currently, was a major contributor in Pakistan’s defeat.

“It was his batting in the second Test which made the difference and took the game away from us,” said the Karachi-born cricketer.

“He must be appreciated as some of his shots against good balls even put doubts in the minds of our bowlers.

“He is a batsman with an excellent technique and when he plays those shots, any bowler would feel demoralized,” added Sarfraz.

Pakistan relying on Younis for comeback

The 30-year-old believed that the Pakistan batsmen have the potential to hurt England at Birmingham in a similar manner as Cook and Root and that the visitors are relying on the veterans, especially Younis Khan for Pakistan to regain lead in the series.

“Younis Khan not only works hard on his fitness and in the nets, he is also a great source of inspiration and strength for the team,” he said.

“I am convinced that he will make a comeback just like in the past when he’s come through for Pakistan with a big innings when his team needed it most.

“We have won games in the past with our batting and bowling with a similar combination. Not only has our batting succeeded in the past but our bowling has defended totals very well in the past as well,” said Sarfraz.

After the third Test at Edgbaston, Pakistan will take on England in the last match of the series at the Oval, which will be followed by a five-match ODI series and a one-off T20 fixture.