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Alastair Cook and Joe Root key to England's victory chances, says Michael Atherton

England captain Alastair Cook bats
Image: Alastair Cook (middle) may have a key role to play in England's run chase

Michael Atherton insists Alastair Cook and Joe Root will be key to England's chances of beating Pakistan and winning the first Test on day four at Lord's.

Pakistan reached stumps on day three on 214-8 in their second innings to build a commanding lead of 281 after bowling England out for 272 earlier in the day.

England still have two wickets to pick up before they can even start thinking of batting, but Atherton says Cook and Root are key to setting up a match-winning chase at Lord's.

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"The game is in the balance," Atherton told Sky Sports. "It's been a brilliant Test match so far and if I was Pakistan's captain with about 300 on the board and that attack, I'd be reasonably confident of defending because it's a wicket-taking attack.

"However, England have got some excellent players and a lot will rest on Cook and Root.

England captain Alastair Cook plays the ball between Azhar Ali and Younis Khan
Image: Cook plays the ball between Azhar Ali and Younus Khan

"If they go early England have got little chance of chasing 300 but if they set it up we could be in for a cracking Test match."

"It's a perfectly good pitch," he added. "The odd ball has kept a little low and there will be some spin for Yasir Shah, but it's not a minefield by any stretch of the imagination."

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Watch a pick of the action from the third day of the first Test between England and Pakistan

England all-rounder Chris Woakes was once again key to England's success on day three, taking 5-31 to take 10 wickets in a Test match for the first time in his career.

Captain Cook turned to Woakes late in the day and he grabbed the wickets of Sarfraz Ahmed and Wahab Riaz to help limit Pakistan's lead.

Chris Woakes celebrates taking the wicket of Shan Masood for 24 runs
Image: Chris Woakes took 10 wickets for the first time in a Test

Atherton was full of praise for the Warwickshire all-rounder after the close of play on day three.

"He's just full of confidence at the moment," Atherton said. "He came back in for the Durham Test match just after he'd taken nine wickets in an innings for Warwickshire.

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Pakistan closed day three of the first Test 281 ahead despite Chris Woakes' maiden 10-wicket match haul

"Before that Test we did a piece as to why he hadn't been a success in Test cricket and it was very hard to come up with any reasons why because we recognised he had a very solid action, he was bowling as quickly as anybody in the team, he bowls an excellent line and gets enough lateral movement in the air and off the pitch.

"It was just a case of a matter of time and also stringing together a number of games so he could feel confident and part of the team.

"He is part of it now and looks strong, fit and confident."

Watch highlights of day three's play and The Verdict on the red button on Sky Sports 2 on Saturday at 8pm and 9pm respectively.

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