All Imran's men

The Pakistan team that won its first Test series in England in 1987 was probably the finest in the country's history

Pakistan began Test cricket in stunning fashion. When they lost their first ever series, against India in 1952, it was by a respectable margin of 2-1. When they toured England in 1954, they managed a 1-1 draw. There can be arguments about whether the England selectors chose the strongest possible XI for all Tests that season, but nonetheless it appeared clear that Pakistan would be a legitimate force to reckon with on the world stage.

However, this initial promise did not lead to a series victory over England - in the following ten series, both home and away over nearly three decades, there were six series wins for England and four drawn ones. While Pakistan had been allocated a full five-match series by England in 1962, the substantial margin of victory by England (4-0) meant that subsequent series between the two teams were reduced to three matches each.

Pakistan had managed to develop a few world-class performers like Hanif Mohammad and Fazal Mahmood, but they struggled to build a side with sufficient depth to consistently beat the top Test nations. By the 1980s, this was starting to change. A close 2-1 loss in England in 1982 was followed by a 1-0 victory at home in 1984, and within a few years there was a genuine belief that Pakistan were the side most likely to challenge the West Indies teams of that era. This was reflected in the 1986 series against West Indies in Pakistan that ended in a thrilling 1-1 draw. This improvement was recognised by England, and Pakistan were invited for a five-Test series for the first time in 25 years.

Pakistan were led by Imran Khan. He was 34, and considered by many commentators to be in the twilight of his brilliant career. He had first been named captain in 1982, but serious injury issues associated with shin splints meant that he hadn't remained captain continuously from that point. Javed Miandad led the team for six Tests in 1985, before Imran returned as captain to lead his side to a 1-0 series win in India in early 1987. The side arrived in England that summer quietly confident of causing an upset. In addition to the considerable all-round skills of Imran and batting genius of Miandad, Pakistan also had a strong support cast that blended both youth and experience, including a young Wasim Akram and spinners Abdul Qadir and Tauseef Ahmed. The batting line-up also looked less shaky than in previous times, with a top order including Ramiz Raja, Shoaib Mohammad, Mudassar Nazar, Mansoor Akhtar and Saleem Malik.

 

However, Pakistan were not at full strength for the first Test at Old Trafford. Imran led the team, but he had strained a stomach muscle just before the game and played purely as a batsman. Qadir was still in Pakistan with his wife, who was battling illness, and Miandad was short of match practice as he had joined the touring party late due to the birth of his son. As it happened, these disruptions did not influence the final result as poor weather meant that less than 15 hours' play was possible across the five days.

England batted first after Imran won the toss, and compiled 447, highlighted by a patient 166 from opener Tim Robinson. Playing in his 16th Test (he had turned 21 the day before the Test started), Akram took 4 for 111. Pakistan responded with a slightly shaky 140 for 5 before persistent rain forced a draw.

The second Test at Lord's, a bit over a week later, was also affected by rain, and England were the only side to bat. They made 368; Bill Athey rewarded the selectors' faith in him after a lean period by making 123. However, the rain interruptions meant that England did not finish their innings until the end of day three, and with bad weather persisting on day four, Pakistan didn't even get a chance to bat. There were some positives for them, though, ,with both Imran and Qadir - who had now joined the tour - getting an opportunity for a good bowling workout.