text: 'Loose' England bowlers urged to hit their stride after allowing Pakistan to recover in first Test at Old Trafford | Yorkshire Evening Post
  'Loose' England bowlers urged to hit their stride after allowing Pakistan to recover in first Test at Old Trafford
  Wednesday, 5th August 2020, 8:56 pm
  LEADING ROLE: Pakistan's Babar Azam drives on the up through the covers on day one at Old Trafford. Picture: Dan Mullan/NMC Pool/PA.
  The tourists opted to bat first at Emirates Old Trafford but were kept on a tight leash before lunch, reaching the interval at 53-2.
  By the time stumps were finally pulled, following a three-hour rain delay and bad light, that had stretched to 139-2 with Babar Azam boasting a free-flowing unbeaten 69 and Shan Masood twice reprieved by Jos Buttler on his closing score of 46 not out.
  Babar's impeccable timing, which saw him knit together an enviable highlights reel of 11 boundaries, stole the show but Silverwood felt his attack was complicit during a 16-over period which leaked 68 runs.
  Pakistan's Abid Ali (right) is bowled by England's Jofra Archer on day one at Old Trafford. Picture: Dan Mullan/NMC Pool/PA
  "We started off very well, we asked a lot of good questions and beat the bat a lot, but after lunch we weren't so good," he conceded. "We bowled too many four balls and gave the momentum back to Pakistan. They capitalised.
  "We weren't quite on the money when we went back out there and the challenge I've thrown out there in the dressing room to the boys is, if that happens again – and it will do because not everything goes our way all of the time – how do we wrestle things back?
  FRUSTRATING: England's Stuart Broad (left) and James Anderson have a chat during day one of the first Test match at Emirates Old Trafford. Picture: Dan Mullan/NMC Pool/PA
  Concerns over Stokes's quad injury meant both played, with Woakes dismissing captain Azhar Ali during a brilliant eight-over spell worth 1-14, while Anderson was somewhat short of his considerable best.
  "As a bowler I've felt that before, it happens, but what I've said to Jimmy is you're only ever one ball from finding that rhythm again.
  "When he does, we know how devastating he is."
  Pakistan's Shan Masood drives through the off side on day one of the Test match at Old Trafford. Picture: Dan Mullan/NMC Pool/PA.
  "This game is pretty funny...you get an element of fortune every now and then and there are times when the tide goes the other way. You just try to stay in and whatever chances you get, you try to capitalise. England has always been a place for world cricketers to prove their mettle."