Pakistan legend Waqar Younis has criticised England for playing too many "funky shots" in the first innings of the second Test in Multan, claiming they "should have shown some more restraint".
England were bowled out for 281 by Pakistan, with debutant Abrar Ahmed taking an impressive 7-114. Unsurprisingly, England continued with the ultra-positive approach that saw them go 1-0 up in the series with a thrilling win in the first Test and initially served them well as they reached 117-1 in the 19th over, scoring at more than a run a ball.
However, after Ben Duckett became Abrar's second victim for 63, England lost three more quick wickets before the end of the first session and were ultimately dismissed inside just 52 overs. And Younis was critical of England's approach, telling BBC Test Match Special: "England shouldn't have played as many funky shots.
"Yes you score quicker if you play all those reverse-sweeps but you also lose wickets quicker. On a pitch that's turning like this one, England should have shown some more restraint."
Former England spinner Vic Marks added: "England seem to be more interested in the rate they score at rather than their total. Likewise, when they're in the field, they're more interested in their strike-rate than the runs they're conceding. Pakistan raced along in that last session. I'd rather be in their shoes, I think they've just edged this day.
"The batsman that annoyed me the most today was Jack Leach playing that reverse-sweep first ball. I think he's trying to get into the feel of this new England setup and I reckon that doesn't really suit him."
However, Duckett insisted England were "happy" with both their total and approach and remain confident, telling Sky Sports : "I'd say [it's] level at the minute. We were a couple of quick wickets away from it being our day, so we'll have to see in the morning but we're pretty happy overall.
"Today was about assessing those conditions early and as soon as the seamer bowled that slower ball, that it was clear it was going to spin and I think the game is going to move forward pretty quick. If we can keep them to around our score, anything less is a bonus, then I think it should be really hard work in the fourth innings.
"We were actually really happy at lunch with the rate we scored. A lot of teams might have been quite tentative and you could easily have been 100-6 at lunch, but [Stokes and McCullum] are pretty happy with 281."
