Pakistan won the toss for choice of ball before the game and chose a Reader one. After their victory, Atherton said: ``The Dukes ball is better for us, the Reader for them.''

Problems with the Reader ball led to it being changed six times during the game and to David Lloyd's comment: ``I shouldn't think they [the makers] will be very happy.''

Atherton was similarly lukewarm about the pitch. ``It was a nice one for them - conditions they are used to - but not so ideal for us. It offered turn but not much help for the seamers. We can only hope for a user-friendly wicket at Headingley for the next Test.''

Lloyd said thought was being given to how tailenders could play Waqar Younis and the swinging ball. ``We have chatted about how to combat it . . . but I'm not going to tell you how. I won't go as far as to say there is a plan.''

Atherton said England had been in a positive frame of mind at lunch and were going on ``with half an eye on the scoreboard''. Then he pleaded guilty to ``a poor shot'' which started the collapse.