England began Joe Root's second spell as full-time Test captain with a totally dominant innings and 103-run win over Pakistan at his Yorkshire home ground of Headingley on Friday. Three talking points that emerged from what was just England's third win in their last 11 Tests.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cox looks the part<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Any assessment of England's form at Headingley has to take account of arguably one of the weakest Pakistan teams in decades.<\/p>\r\n\r\n But the manner in which Jordan Cox made a maiden Test fifty while batting in what has often been a problem position of number three for England was an encouraging sign for Root's men.<\/p>\r\n\r\n It seemed as if Jacob Bethell was making the role his own only for the talented 22-year-old left-hander to be ruled out of the entire three-match series against Pakistan with a knee injury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Cox, however, made 73 in just 100 balls, including 14 fours, at Headingley, but without the kind of extravagant, and indeed reckless, shot-making that characterised England's ultra-aggressive Bazball approach under now retired captain Ben Stokes and sacked Test coach Brendon McCullum.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Former England captain Michael Vaughan -- himself an elegant top-order batsman -- was among those impressed by the 25-year-old Cox.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "He just looked a player" Vaughan told the BBC. "He looks like he's got all the time and he played two or three shots that reminded me of (South Africa great) AB de Villiers."<\/p>\r\n\r\n Pakistan's comical fielding no joke<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n One of cricket's oldest truisms is if you want to know the state of a team, look at their fielding for this is the one aspect of the game, unlike batting or bowling, which can be improved as much by sheer hard work as raw talent.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Pakistan's fielding at Headingley, however, was woeful, with one particularly farcical incident summing up their performance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Ali Usman lured Dan Lawrence down the pitch only for the ball to deflect off the England batsman's pad.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, fielding at slip, seemed more concerned by appealing for lbw than running out Lawrence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n By the time Agha realised the chance was on, he let fly with a panicked throw straight into the rear of wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan, who was blocking the stumps.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Pakistan then failed with an ensuing review of the lbw decision as Lawrence had been struck outside off stump.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Several Pakistan fielders, meanwhile, tried to stop eventual boundaries by sticking out a boot rather than bending down, including left-arm spinner Usman whose five-wicket haul was a rare highlight for his side.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "There's no excuse for it," Usman admitted. "We should put in more effort. There were lapses in the field today and it cost us runs."<\/p>\r\n\r\n England's love affair with Leeds goes on<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n England have now won seven Tests in a row at Headingley -- their longest current winning streak at any ground in the world.<\/p>\r\n\r\n That sequence includes two wins over Australia yet, remarkably, Yorkshire's headquarters will not stage a Test when England's oldest rivals arrive for next year's Ashes series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The Leeds ground has effectively lost out to Hampshire's Rose Bowl, which will be making its Ashes debut.<\/p>\r\n\r\n This is despite Headingley, one of world cricket's most storied venues, providing a pitch that is often favourable to England's seamers, with the crowd -- particularly on the old Western Terrace -- giving raucous support to the home side.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "I would love to play as many games as possible here," said local hero Root. "It's a great Test match venue and a surface that provides brilliant Test cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n It is hard to imagine Australia doing without a home Ashes Test at their Gabba fortress in Brisbane.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "As a player, you want to play at the grounds you have most success at as a team," said Root. "I love playing here –- as a Yorkshireman I have to say that from birth, so I'm glad it's the case."Also Read: <\/b> Special Cricket Stories<\/a><\/h5>
\r\n <\/p>\r\n",
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