FAISALABAD: A second final day collapse in successive Tests left England waving farewell to the success they have come to expect in the last couple of years. They managed a draw but Pakistan had the mastery and deserve to win the series. It is difficult to explain why England has suddenly lost its touch: a vastly-improved Pakistan side taking advantage of the coaching of Bob Woolmer, alien conditions, the absence of Graham Thorpe have all been partly responsible.

They also wave goodbye to Andrew Strauss who scored two centuries off the Australians in the summer but who has made no impression here. Perhaps that is, in part, due to his reason for going home. His first child is due on Monday and he wants to be at the birth.

England has not yet announced how they will feel the gap Strauss leaves but whoever takes up the partnership can hardly be less successful.

Strauss has made 9, 23, 12 and 0 in the two Tests and on Thursday he uncharacteristically dropped an easy catch off Inzamam. Becoming a dad is a stressful business.

England had hoped for an early breakthrough which it found when Steve Harmison had Naveed-ul-Hasan caught behind.

One-man show

But afterwards it was hard work as Inzamam-ul-Haq led a determined progress that ended when he declared in the middle of his celebration for his second century of the match 15 minutes before lunch. Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Danish Kaneria all gave him support of sorts but it was a one-man show once again, even thought he was limping after being struck by a throw.

No-one needs reminding what a great batsman he is but in this series he has made 53,72, 109 and 100, scored his 23rd and 24th centuries and gone to 7,957 Test runs. Perhaps Woolmer does Inzamam's thinking but leading a side and making 334 runs in two Tests is a considerable feat for any man and at 36, with barely a trot left in the old legs, worth an extra round of applause. The Pakistan board chairman Shaharyar Khan recognised the feat by awarding him Rs. 5,00,000 immediately.

There was just one over before lunch but that was enough for Akhtar to knock Marcus Trescothick's off stump down. It lay on the ground for a long time, and seemed to represent the state of the England mind.

The side had expected to capitalise on Andrew Flintoff's two wickets in an over late last night but nothing went right for it and even in such minor matters as keeping Inzamam away from the strike they appeared to lack ideas. Let's face it if Inzamam is quick enough to take two while young fielders are gathering the ball there indeed is something really wrong.

Symbol of failure

In the second over Strauss lost his off stump to Naveed; that also lay as a desolate symbol of failure. Ian Bell flicked a catch from a Shoaib ball to the keeper and Michael Vaughan was a convincing Naveed lbw victim: four down for 20 and we had visions of Trinidad 12 years ago and all out 47. Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen are hardly your first choice to bat for safety. But both did it with energy until, just before tea, Pietersen, who appeared more anxious to get a move on, was caught at short leg.

In theory, 30 overs remained when Flintoff hit three successive fours to go to his fifty; in truth only an hour of good light remained. Another 160 runs was out of the question even in a match when 19 sixes were hit, a world record for Tests. Small ground, an array of aggressive batsmen and the modern mode of play all account for that record. It may take a little longer to sort out England's faults.

Flintoff was out to Shoaib after a struggle lasting nearly two and a half hours for 56; by now Shoaib was flying in with seven catchers and Afridi, bowling his leg breaks at 82 miles an hour, had six but neither could take the wicket and England moved to a draw with the ease that ought to be automatic on a pitch with worth, or life, or a soul.

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