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Pakistan's successful run in England LONDON: Pakistan have not lost a series in England since 1982, a record unmatched by any other other test-playing nation. Following is a brief summary of the four series played in England since Imran's Khan's 1982 side narrowly lost 2-1. 1987 Imran had brought discipline and order to a bunch of disparate individuals who often spent more time feuding with each other than fighting the opposition. After a career-threatening shin injury he had re-established himself as the world's premier all-rounder. An athletic and hostile fast bowler whose classical batsmanship had flourished under the responsibilities of captaincy. Both of the first two tests in a damp, cool summer were drawn with little more than 20 hours play possible over the 10 days. Imran, who had strained a stomach muscle early in the tour, did not bowl in the first test and did not push himself in the second. In the third at Headingley, he was back to his irresistible best, taking three for 37 and seven for 40 as Pakistan won by an innings. Imran took six for 129 in the first innings in another draw at Edgbaston then played a leading role as Pakistan batted England out of the fifth test at the Oval. Javed Miandad struck 260, Salim Malik 102 and Imran was run out for 118 in Pakistan's first innings of 708. England captain Mike Gatting, dropped five times, ensured the draw with 150 not out. Result: Pakistan 1 England 0 1992 Imran had played a decisive innings as Pakistan defeated England to win the World Cup in Melbourne before pulling out of the ensuing tour with a shoulder injury, ending the career of the greatest cricketer to represent his nation. His withdrawal mattered little. Imran's apprentices Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis had learned from the master and they devastated England with reverse swing at high pace. The series was acrimonious from start to finish. Pakistan were unhappy with the standard of the umpiring and elements in the British tabloid press accused the Pakistan bowlers of tampering with the ball. Their accusations were misplaced. Wasim was the finest left-arm pace bowler in history, generating high pace and violent movement in the air and off the seam from a short run with a high action. Such was his versatility that he could bowl with equal effect over or around the wicket. Waqar, a magnificent sight as he sprinted to the crease, unleashed lethal inswingers with a low-slung action. After a decade of short-pitched violence from the West Indies' pacemen Pakistan had brought a new dimension to test cricket. Miandad proved a shrewd and canny captain and averaged 60.66 with the bat while Malik topped the averages with 81.33. Result: Pakistan 2 England 0 1996 This time Wasim was in charge of another team of all the talents who again outplayed the hosts in a three-test series. Mushtaq Ahmed, a bouncy leg spinner topped the bowling averages, and wicketkeeper Moin Khan was the leading batsman with an average of 79.00. There were runs again from Salim Malik while Inzamam-ul-Haq, who had failed with the bat four years earlier after making such an impression at the World Cup, averaged 64.00. Result: Pakistan 2 England 0 2001 England under Nasser Hussain had given the all-conquering Australians something to think about at last by winning series in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. With the Australians due later in the summer, the home side made the perfect start in the first test against Pakistan when Darren Gough and Andy Caddick bowled them to an innings victory at Lord's with potent pace and movement. But in the second at Old Trafford, England's old insecurities resurfaced after they were set 370 to win in 112 overs following sumptuous innings of 114 and 85 from Inzamam. At the close of the fourth day the home team needed 285 from 90 overs with all their wickets still in hand. After Pakistan closed down the scoring rate a draw then seemed the likeliest option before the England batting crumbled under the pressure. The Australians took due note and went on to win their series 4-1. Result: Pakistan 1 England 1
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