Chris Woakes says England believe they can come back and complete 'huge win' over Pakistan
Chris Woakes said that England believed they could complete a “huge win” by coming back from a first-innings deficit of 107 runs to beat Pakistan in the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford.
A brilliant fightback at the end of the third day from England reduced Pakistan to 137 for eight in their second innings, a lead of 244.
“It’ll be a huge win if we were able to go and do it – I still feel there’s a hell of a lot of cricket to be played,” the England all-rounder said.
Woakes, who dismissed Azhar Ali and Babar Azam, said that England would draw on their turnaround victories last summer – including in the World Cup final and in the Headingley Test against Australia – as they tried to chase down their fourth-innings target.
“We’ll definitely draw on those experiences – we’ve definitely got the ability to go and get a win here,” Woakes said. “There’s always believe. You have to believe. It would be stupid us rocking up and thinking if we lose three quick wickets then it’s done.
“Records are there to be broken. You have to believe.”
After their disappointing first-innings total of 219 all out, Woakes said that England were delighted with how they had bowled in Pakistan’s second innings.
Four English bowlers – Woakes, Stuart Broad, Dom Bess and Ben Stokes, who took two wickets in his first bowling spell of the match in a vital late spell – took wickets, while Dominic Sibley ran out Asad Shafiq, Pakistan’s top scorer with 29, with a direct hit.
“We couldn’t have bowled much better really,” Woakes said. “As far as the session could go we’re really pleased with how it went.”
With Pakistan’s attack including two leg-spinners, who claimed combined figures of six for 79 in England’s first innings, Woakes said that England would need to be attacking with the bat if they are to hunt down the target on a wicket showing signs of uneven bouncer.
“We’ve got to try and be a bit proactive and take the positive approach, rather than sit in and go about it the long way,” he said. “The longer you’re there at the crease, the more you probably feel like there’s one with your name on it.
“We need to be brave and try and put the pressure back on them. There is always that pressure for spinners in the fourth innings – there is pressure on them as well. So we’ll try and remember that. If we can put them under pressure a little bit then that will hopefully work in our favour.”
