Alastair Cook hails impressive Edgbaston victory

Alastair Cook was perhaps a delighted man in England at the time when his England side came from behind to surge ahead 2-1 in the series. Pakistan lost their last six wickets in 24 deliveries as they coasted to a 141-run win in the match. After conceding a 103-run lead in the first innings, five England batsmen smashed half-centuries in the innings as they came from behind to gain a massive lead, eventually setting a target of 343 for Pakistan to chase.

In the events following the end of the game, Alastair Cook stated that this was perhaps one of the most impressive wins in recent times by the England team.

“It (the win) could be right up there. Seemed behind for most of the game but we hung in there,” Cook said after the match. “The heavy roller took a bit out of the pitch. Great character from the bowlers to get something out of it. It was getting a little bit tight in the end. The ball just reversed enough; the square just made the ball do a tiny, tiny bit.”

“I knew that if you could bat them to survive, you can put them under pressure,” Cook confessed about England’s second innings declaration.

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After the horrific defeat, Misbah-ul-Haq gave credit to England stating that they bowled really well in the second innings. “I tried to play the situation and just reacted to the ball. Didn’t really think too much about it. They bowled really well. I didn’t mean to go out and play that well but it happened that way.”

“We lost a couple of wickets. I was unlucky to get out and Younis was caught down the leg side. We bowled a little undisciplined in the session where England took it away from us. Full credit to England – the way they bowled. The ball was reversing and they bowled good areas, taking four of our main batsmen.”

“Yesterday, they were five down but that Moeen Ali partnership (with Bairstow) took things away. That’s a problem for a long, long time (on not having an all-rounder for a five-man attack).

“This is what we have. We will obviously try to get someone ready for that. Our bowlers are just bowlers and need to contribute more (with the bat), like that Sohail-Rahat partnership,” he concluded.

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