Pakistan, already leading 1-0 in the four match series against England, realises the importance of keeping the pressure on.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said on Thursday that the press-up celebrations were a one-off thing and was a tribute to the army boot camp. ‘The focus is on the task ahead again and that is what we have now in mind prior to this match’ Misbah emphasized.

Gamesmanship does play its part in a tough series like this to release pressure but what really matters in the end is a victory and to maintain supremacy. Press-ups may come in later.

Ambitious as this Pakistan squad is, and also hungry to prove to their critics wrong, they would indeed make sure to tighten their grip even further to retain their lead and prove to Alistair Cook’s men that their two series wins in the last few years in the UAE were no flash in the pan but well earned results through some brilliant all round cricket.

Misbah, no doubt, as leader of the pack wields a kind of influence which in every way possible leaves a huge impression on his charges who take him as a role model. And the skipper does carry that mantle seriously and with authority to lead his men to success.

Old Trafford, the venue of the second Test, is a different place now than it ever was. One of the oldest Test grounds of England, it was here that I watched famous Australian Bobby Simpson score a triple century in an Ashes match in 1964.

And the most famous performance here was by off spinner Jim Laker who destroyed the 1956 Australians by taking 19 wickets in the match. Ten in one innings and nine in the second, a feat yet to be surpassed.

And it is here that Sachin Tendulkar made first of his 51 Test centuries in 1990. Brian Statham, the great England fast bowler, excelled here as did Wasim Akram in later years to even finish as the captain of the Lancashire county.

It was here that I watched Indian batsman Sandeep Patil once hit England fast bowler Bob Willis for six fours in an over. Aamir Sohail’s double century here too in 1992 was an unforgettable innings

The pitch has the tendency to help the seamers and also spinners. I have seen that happen time and again. The bounce too at times is as much exaggerated.The Australians having won an Ashes Test at Lord’s four years ago found to their peril the movement of the ball too disturbing to lose the match and also the series.

Same thing happened with the Indians who toured here last time and had come to the venue bathed in glory after beating England at Lord’s only to succumb to a defeat and eventually a series loss. Even a batsman of Virat Kholi’s calibre was unable leave much impression.

Pakistan attack is potent enough I feel to exploit the conditions here. What worries me most about them is their opening pair of Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood who looked clueless in the first Test and this one here could be their most important game.

James Anderson, Ben Stokes are back after injuries and so is leg-spinner Adil Rashid who has been named in the final eleven and will play his first Test at his home ground. All his Tests have so far been against Pakistan in the UAE.

While the Pakistanis play the spinners well, it will be Anderson and Stuart Broad who will be their major concern.

A lot will depend on how well Pakistan batsmen including Azhar Ali and Younis Khan face up to them.Younis Khan’s hop and skip play at Lord’s is a cause for concern because he is one of our top batsmen with most runs and most centuries for his country. His contribution to this batting side is most vital.

Hopefully with the experience he has had in England over the years, he will settle down to score lot of runs and that is what everyone would want from him.

Pakistan have lost only once here in the five outings. What matters most for them now is to make sure to hang on to their lead and that could only be possible if they show as much sense in their overall make-up as they did at Lord’s.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2016