Strauss - No need to panic

Andrew Strauss: England captain admits side have plenty to ponder

There are plenty of things to ponder but we are not going to press the panic button. We need to come back strong and show our character and resilience in the second game.

Andrew Strauss
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Andrew Strauss admitted England had been "caught off guard" by Pakistan after slipping to a three-day, 10-wicket defeat in the first Test in Dubai.

England were bowled out for 192 after Strauss chose to bat first and then sealed their fate by collapsing again second time around, this time bundled out for 160.

Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal finished with 10 wickets in the match despite the pitch offering him only moderate assistance.

"We are disappointed with the way we played," Strauss said on Sky Sports.

Ponder

"Losing five wickets in that first session when we shouldn't have done put us on the back foot and from there we were always behind in the game.

"There are plenty of things to ponder but we are not going to press the panic button. We need to come back strong and show our character and resilience in the second game.

"We got caught off-guard a little bit in that first session (but) all credit to Pakistan, they played exceptionally well and, once they got ahead, didn't allow us back in.

"Our bowlers did a pretty good job but in both innings but our batsmen should have done better. We need to learn the lessons from it."

Preparations

Strauss felt England's preparations - they won both practice matches - were not a factor in the batting collapses.

"I think our preparations been pretty good and we played some good cricket in the warm-up games," he added.

"We just didn't react well enough to the conditions, it wasn't turning a lot and to lose wickets early against the spinners put the new batsmen under pressure.

"We should have been better but we are not going to make any excuses or panic."

Strauss was at least happy with England's bowlers, who combined to dismiss Pakistan for 338 in their first innings with Nottinghamshire duo Graeme Swann (4-107) and Stuart Broad (3-84) accounting for seven wickets.

"I wouldn't fault what the bowlers did at all," Strauss said. "I thought they did exceptionally well. To bowl Pakistan out for 338 on that surface was a good effort."

The three-match series continues in Abu Dhabi on January 25.