'Tourists can still improve batting in ODIs'
Saturday 14 November 2015 11:14, UK
Nick Knight praised England's 'intelligent' batting as they eased to victory over Pakistan in the second one-day international in Abu Dhabi.
Alex Hales hit a maiden hundred as the tourists scored 283-5 in their fifty overs, a vast improvement from the 216 they managed in defeat in the opening game of the four-match series.
"It was hugely heartening, especially after failing so badly in the first game," said Sky Sports pundit Knight.
"England looked rusty then but the way they constructed this innings was so impressive. They had to refine their approach a little bit in these conditions, not go as gung-ho way as they did in the summer.
"Hales almost defied his natural instincts - he got going but then just knocked it around in those middle overs.
"You go back to the last time England were here and the four hundreds by Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen almost counted for double because there is not the pace on the ball to get your innings going for new batsmen."
"During the summer he'd have kept going for it and probably wouldn't have got that hundred, an innings of real substance that got them up to a good score.
"In these conditions, you need an innings of real substance - you go back to the last time England were here and the four hundreds by Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen almost counted for double because there is not the pace on the ball to get your innings going for new batsmen.
"It was really intelligent batting and it set up the victory up."
England scored only 56 runs in the final 10 overs of their innings, and Knight added there was still room for improvement, but felt they should have targeted the five overs preceding the last 10.
"The only area I'd be slightly critical of England is between 35 and 40 overs with the partnership between Hales and Root having developed, they didn't kick on," added Knight.
"I know Hales was trying to get his hundred and knocking it around, but with the new regulations as they are, knowing that the extra fielder goes out in the final 10 and things will become a little more tricky, England missed a trick there and it's one area they can still improve on."
Catch the third ODI between Pakistan and England from 10.30am, Tuesday, Sky Sports 2. You can also watch via NOW TV.
