Pakistan moved into full command of the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday as Shoaib Malik’s remarkable resurgence continued, putting England to the sword with a superb innings of 245.
Malik, playing his first Test match in five years, oozed class as he moved from 124* overnight to the first double century of his career.
His fluency flowed through the 420-ball, 10-hour vigil and not once did he look uncomfortable from the moment he was caught off a Stuart Broad no-ball on day one.
It continues Malik’s superb return to international cricket, having re-announced himself in May with 112 against Zimbabwe in his first ODI in two years.
Alongside Malik, Asad Shafiq registered the eighth Test century of his career as England went wicketless for 70 gruelling overs before Pakistan declared on 523-8 with 23 overs left in the day to bowl at England.
England captain Alastair Cook and new opening partner Moeen Ali managed to see the day out without loss, the visitors closing on 56-0, 467 runs adrift of their hosts.
Malik carried on where he left off on day one, coasting past 150 inside the first hour with effortless control before acknowledging the crowd with his double ton in the afternoon session.
At the other end, Asad Shafiq was the aggressor for the most part, taking the game to England’s spin duo of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid en route to his 12th Test fifty.
The pair’s partnership was worth 248 by the time Shafiq departed, a record stand for the fifth wicket in Tests at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.
It was another tough day at the office for England, particularly debutant Rashid, the Yorkshire leg-spinner struggling to come to terms with needing to bowl a flatter, skiddier style than his aggressive, flighted norm.
He did begin to pose a greater threat from around the wicket, but ended up with the unattractive record for most expensive figures on Test debut.
When Shafiq went to fifty, he became the latest Pakistan batsman to raise his bat in what is already becoming a worrying routine for England players and supporters.
England went wicketless throughout the morning and afternoon sessions and despite attempts to manoeuvre the field and force Pakistan’s hand, the wicket column for the day remained as barren as the Zayed Cricket Stadium’s surroundings.
One thing that cannot be said of Cook is that the England captain has not thought outside the box.
From four close catchers on the leg side on day one to Jos Buttler standing up to Stuart Broad and Anderson bowling to a field consisting of short-leg, short midwicket, short mid on, three catchers in cover and a silly point.
While they painstakingly searched for a breakthrough, it was all to no avail.
And just before tea, England’s desperation was summed up by Ben Stokes coming on to bowl an over of off spin before the break.
The all-rounder is making a real case for himself as England’s ‘impact’ player with both bat and ball, but most certainly not as a spinner.
Finally, England’s breakthrough came in the first over after tea, as Shafiq fell for 107, lbw to Mark Wood a whole 69.5 overs after England’s previous breakthrough.
By then, Pakistan were 499-5 with plenty on the board and every minute at the crease putting the game further beyond England’s reach.
Sarfraz Ahmed quickly came and went for just two, shortly followed by Malik and Zulfiwar Babar as Ben Stokes picked up all three wickets, with his seamers rather than offies.
A rare positive note for England was that Cook and Ali were able to safely negotiate the final 23 overs of the day unscathed.
For England to take anything from this game, you imagine they will need a few more sessions equally as uneventful when they have bats in their hands.
