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Inzamam salutes battling Pakistan

LONDON: Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was full of praise for the way his young team fought out a draw with England.

Inzamam led the way with a fifty but he was quick to salute his colleagues as they earned parity in the first Test.

"It was a good day for us - it's not easy batting on the last day but Faisal Iqbal and Mohammad Yousuf played well.

"Yousuf was tremendous throughout the game. It's mostly a young team and they were under pressure after the first day but they got better," Inzamam said.

"Our bowling is not very experienced but in the first innings if we had taken our catches we had a chance.

"And then with the batting our openers are not experienced in these conditions but hopefully they will do well in the coming games."

Coach Bob Woolmer was not entirely satisfied, however, and believes his team will have to go up a gear in time for the second Test at Old Trafford next week.

"I think we played some reasonably good cricket but we have to develop as a team and play better than we did," the Englishman explained.

Woolmer admitted he was surprised England delayed their declaration but refused to criticise the decision.

"It's not for me to comment on their tactics but you can argue they should have knocked a few more runs up on Sunday evening.

"I would want two new balls when trying to bowl a side out but England didn't see it that way and they bowled pretty well.

"Maybe they could have played it differently but I'm happy with a draw."

Yousuf was man of the match after his double century in the first innings, which continued his fine run of form against England - he achieved the same feat in the previous Test against them in Lahore last winter.

"I am in good form and hopefully I can see the series through in the same way," he said.

"I've made a few runs against England but that does not mean they are not a good bowling side - they are one of the best.