England vs Pakistan: Alastair Cook and Michael Vaughan question Joe Root tactics in Razaullah onslaught – BBC Sport
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‘Out of control’ – Cook questions England tactics
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Figure caption: Razaullah stars as Pakistan fight back against England
By Stephan Shemilt, BBC Cricket Correspondent at Edgbaston
Published 16 minutes ago
England had "no plan" and were "out of control" in the face of Razaullah’s stunning hitting on the third day of the final Test against Pakistan, according to former captain Alastair Cook.
Razaullah, the 21-year-old batting at number nine on Test debut, clobbered 81 from 63 balls at Edgbaston. He shared a ninth-wicket partnership of 121 with Muhammad Abbas to drag the third Test into an unlikely fourth day, with England set 130 for victory.
Though the hosts are heavy favourites to earn a 3-0 clean sweep, the carnage of the final session was an alarming spell as Joe Root begins his second spell as captain.
Root’s tactics were often criticised in his first spell as skipper and there were further questions of the Yorkshireman when he stood in for former captain Ben Stokes earlier this summer.
"You can get done by the tail – it’s very hard when people have the license and ability to hit sixes," Cook told Test Match Special. "What I saw was no plan, it got out of control. That’s when you need the backroom staff and coaches to step up. I would loved to have seen a message and some real leadership from the coaches."
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Figure caption: ‘He’s become a star’ – Watch the best shots of Razaullah’s stunning innings
Razaullah introduces himself as Pakistan thrive in chaos
Published 29 minutes ago
England need 130 after thrilling Razaullah hitting
Published 1 hour ago
England are currently led by interim head coach Marcus Trescothick, with New Zealander Stephen Fleming due to take on the role from December’s tour of South Africa. Trescothick is assisted by bowling coach Tim Southee, who was seen on the boundary rope at times during the partnership.
England’s tactics were curious throughout the Razaullah-Abbas partnership. The seamers often stuck to a short-ball plan, with fielders back on the boundary. When their pace bowlers tried to hit the stumps, they could not find the target. More bizarre was Root giving the second new-ball to part-time off-spinner Dan Lawrence, who had barely bowled in the series to that point. In doing so, Root bowled Lawrence in front of seamer Ollie Robinson, who has had a sensational summer as England’s attack leader.
Former England fast bowler Jonathan Agnew called the tactics "appalling." "You cannot and should not bowl like that to tailenders as soon as they come in," he said. "You have to set the tone when you’re bowling against tailenders. Yes, you bowl aggressively, but in a controlled way. They are numbers nine and 10 for a reason. It was bitterly disappointing."
