LONDN, July 15: Pakistan's leg spinner Danish Kaneria was a tired man on Friday after his marathon bowling effort in England's first innings at Lord's but predicted more hard work ahead this summer.

He bowled 52 overs for his 3-119 as England declared on 528-9 on second day of first cricket Test at Lord's.Kaneria admitted it was hard work to get through so many overs, but believes his toils will continue throughout the series on English pitches.

“It was plenty of hard work and it's only the first Test match,” Kaneria said. “It's going to be similar wickets wherever we play this year because it's stayed very hot and I just pray I don't have to bowl so many overs and get wickets as quickly as possible.

“My hands are normally very bad for me because I am bowling so many overs. It's very difficult for me but I'm trying my best to stay fit and bowl as many overs as is required by the captain.

“It was a dream of mine to play over here at Lord's because I've never played and I've dreamed of getting my name on that board here. Unfortunately I've not done that because I only got three wickets but if we get England in for a second innings I'll try my best to do that.”

Kaneria said loss of fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was a big blow for him as the two men work well in tandem.

“Shoaib Akhtar is the fastest bowler and with him bowling it keeps batsmen under pressure with his pace getting wickets and my job becomes much easier with him.

“But cricket is a learning process and I'm still learning. Every match you play you are still earning.

“I've played county cricket over here but coming over for first time in a full Test squad I'm learning lots of things over here.”

Kaneria says tourists have still not given up hope of an unlikely first Test victory, but their main aim is to save game and then focus on winning series.

“We will try our best to win because cricket is a very funny game and anything can happen, especially as we have our captain and some very experienced players.

“We are thinking that we can save this game and then going on, we are always thinking positively. We are thinking of winning the series.”—Agencies