England face Test series defeat, says Fletcher by AFP

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Ground:	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Event:	England in Pakistan 2005/06

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DateLine: 2nd December 2005

 

England cricket coach Duncan Fletcher conceded Thursday his Ashes-winning team was in danger of losing the Test series on "a mentally tough tour of Pakistan."

 

"It's mentally a tough tour as most of the time we are stuck in our hotels and it has got to the players a little bit," Fletcher said after England conceded a big lead on the third day of the third and final Test here.

 

"But at the end of the day we have to come here if we want to progress in our rankings."

 

England are currently ranked second behind Australia in the ICC (International Cricket Council) Test rankings.

 

Pakistan posted a massive 446-5 in their first innings at stumps in reply to England's 288. They are now 158 runs ahead with five wickets in hand.

 

The hosts are leading 1-0 in the series following their 22-run win in the first Test at Multan. The second match ended in a draw at Faisalabad.

 

"We had a difficult day today and realistically we can't win it (the match). Now we just have to make sure to go out and get stuck in and bat out whatever time is left for us," Fletcher said.

 

"We didn't knuckle down and show the patience that was required in the first Test and then lost the toss in the second. From there on we realised we are not firing on all cylinders."

 

It was a frustrating day for England who could grab just one wicket, that of nightwatchman Shoaib Akhtar.

 

Middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf (183 not out) and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal (115 not out) then added a record 199 for the unfinished sixth wicket to leave Pakistan almost certain to win the series.

 

Fletcher said his team had squandered the advantage on the first day itself after winning the toss on a good batting pitch.

 

"They (Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan) gave us a fantastic start in the first two hours when the ball swung a lot. We should have taken the advantage and posted 450-500," said the England coach.

 

England were 101 without loss before being bowled out for a modest 288 in the first innings.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)