Sunday 14 August 2016 17:44, UK
Younus Khan proved that class is permanent, according to Wasim Akram, who also believes that “there is only one winner” in the fourth Test between England and Pakistan.
Beginning the third day on 101, Younus eventually fell for 218 as Pakistan racked up 542 in their first innings before reducing England to 88-4, still 126 runs behind, at stumps.
Akram has been impressed by the character shown by the Pakistan team and was fulsome in his praise of their 38-year-old double century-maker.
"32 hundreds, his sixth double hundred and what a situation to get a double hundred," he told Sky Sports.
"The way Pakistan have come back in this series - winning the first Test, losing the second badly and then the third - and in this one they have come back with full force and I've been very impressed by their performance and their character as a team.
"There is the very famous saying that class is permanent and form is temporary and that is Younus Khan.
"Today after his hundred he played some magnificent shots: big shots, with the spin, reverse lap and everything outside off stump he punished. That shows his quality as a player, he's 38 but he's still the fittest person in the Pakistan team because he's is so focused, that is his quality."
After Younus had helped Pakistan establish a first innings lead of 214, the tourists' bowlers pressed home the advantage.
"I thought Pakistan bowled really well, Wahab Riaz came back well - he got the important wicket of Cook - and then Yasir Shah came on and got two wickets in two overs," added Akram.
"I think Vince and Hales are struggling against the spinner and the left-arm seamers, a bit due to technique but also due to some better bowling as well.
"Today again when Alex Hales got out, he was playing for spin when it was a straight delivery, Yasir hardly bowls the leg break. They played him well at Old Trafford and at Edgbaston but under pressure it's a different ball game altogether.
"Vince played a very, very, very casual shot. It's Test match, two days to go, you've got to block these bowlers. Four wickets down, only two days to go - it looks like there is only one winner here."
Watch live coverage of day four of the fourth Test between England and Pakistan from 10.30am on Sunday on Sky Sports 2 after Cricket Writers on TV.
