TO grind the other side down in the ground, it is important to occupy the crease and take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way. In a longer format such as a Test match, it is even of greater importance.

Record breaking innings by great men, a huge total or a victory by an impressive margin all depends on how well any side has been able to make the best use of the available situation.

For this, the key is not only concentration for a longer period for survival in the middle but also with it goes the ability keep in check ones own discipline to cope with varied bowling attacks on offer, be it menacing pace or the magic of spin .

The longest innings ever in Test cricket by our own Hanif Mohammad, who made 337 in a Test at Barbados against the West Indies in the 1957-58 series, may not have been possible if he had not put himself to the test of temperament and skill and with it the concentration to last more than three days to stay at the crease and then achieve a drawn Test.

That is only one prime example of a batsman of quality who knew well the advantages of crease occupation.

Those who succeed at this level have those qualities and it comes from being focused on a task to turn the game in your favour.

Pakistan, at Lord’s for the last two days, have shown with their discipline in play that they have the potential to elevate themselves to a higher level in both bowling and batting by playing within their limits, which they have done and with a marked and in a noticeable manner.

Azhar Ali, Pakistan’s senior batsman, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail and Babar Azam have played their part with solid and unflinching determination to take Pakistan past England’s unimpressive outing with the bat on the first day of this Test.

Partnership between them developed as the innings progressed giving me and the rest a kind of impression that if you put your head down and play every ball on merit then things start to come your way as it did when Azhar, Asad and Babar managed a score of fifty each despite the pressure that was on them since the start of the days play.

It was noticeable how Azhar changed his technique for this Test when negotiating James Anderson or Stuart Broad — and for that matter Ben Stokes.

Going out and across on using the popping crease, Azhar killed the seaming deliveries and using his feet played the spinner with as much ease before missing the line off Anderson.

Asad Shafiq is a lot more compact than Azhar and plays mostly from within the crease without much movement of his body.

He keeps still till he launches into a stroke whether attacking or in defence. A brute of a delivery from Ben Stokes ended his vigil at the crease

No wonder then with such experienced men around, people like Haris Sohail and Babar Azam would learn a thing or two to occupy the crease longer and the process consolidating their team’s chances as well.

Babar’s injury when he was hit by Stokes is a matter of great worry because he was batting so well at 68.

On another full day and an uninterrupted one too the capacity crowd at Lord’s once again I am sure have had an absorbing contest between ball and bat with Pakistan leading the way in every respect.

A lead of a hundred and more from now on will have a huge bearing on how this game finishes in the end. At this stage things look quite encouraging for Sarfraz and his men.

For this, the all-rounders in the making, both Shadab Khan and Faheem have to make their presence felt.

The pitch has an even bounce with a bit of pace and a slow turn.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2018