Misbah's defiance frustrates England and Ball

The Nottinghamshire seamer snared Azhar Ali leg before to get off the mark in the Test arena on the opening day of the four-match series against Pakistan.

Ball admitted receiving his first cap from uncle and England wicketkeeping coach Bruce French proved the perfect pre-match boost, as the hosts limited Pakistan to 282-6 on the opening day.

Misbah-ul-Haq became the sixth-oldest century-maker of all time in Test matches with an unbeaten 110, but Chris Woakes’s four wickets swung the momentum back in England’s favour.

Ball, who ended the day with creditable figures of 1-51 from 19 overs, said: “People were texting me to give me advice. It was just to go out and enjoy it, and be myself and do what I’ve been doing all season.

“I think I’m quite a calm character, and I took that advice into the day and hopefully I did that and proved to people that I can play at Test level.”

Two late wickets from Woakes turned the early advantage back in England’s favour, leaving Ball to admit Trevor Bayliss’s men must capitalise today.

Proud to receive his debut cap from a family member, Ball said he will never forget the on-pitch embrace with French before the Test swung into action.

“That settled me down,” said Ball. “He just said how proud the whole family are of me.

“To receive it from my uncle was an extra-special moment. He was holding back the tears, so that was extra-special again.

“The two late wickets have given everybody a big lift, we said that up there in the dressing room.

“And we now know if we can come out in the morning, get a couple and try to restrict them to about 350 then we’re well in the game.”

England had braced themselves to contend with Mohammad Amir on day one at Lord’s but instead to their cost ran into Misbah, 42.

He marked his century with a celebration salute to the dressing room and a press-up for each of his centuries. The gestures were homage to Pakistan’s pre-tour preparation at an army boot camp.

Misbah did have some fortune but was a deserving case too as he brought much skilled determination to bear in his 62nd Test.

Only the great Yorkshire batsman Percy Holmes and veteran Sri Lanka leg-spinner Somachandra de Silva have been older by the time their admirable careers culminated in a maiden Lord’s Test.

He entered the stage in the second over of the afternoon, after Ball had opened his account with a yorker to Azhar Ali and lbw verdict which narrowly survived a DRS process simulating the ball would have clipped leg stump.

A gradual slow-grind domination followed from Misbah, as realisation of extended toil took hold for England.

They had their chances with Misbah, Joe Root missing a tough one low to his left at second slip when he drove at Finn on 16, and then when he was stranded mid-pitch on 58 after a mix-up with Asad Shafiq, only for Gary Ballance’s shy at the stumps to narrowly miss its target.

He made them pay by completing his 154-ball century, having hit 17 boundaries – including four in five balls with varieties of sweep and reverse-sweep off Moeen Ali.

The hosts’ day had begun more favourably, Woakes removing both openers before lunch.

Broad brought the first edge from Mohammad Hafeez – on 11, driving at a touch of movement down the slope – but James Vince could not hold on one-handed low to his left at third slip.

Woakes produced a little extra bounce to have Shan Masood caught behind; then Hafeez went 10 short of his 50 when he mistimed an attempted pull for Jonny Bairstow to run up to short square leg and hold a skier.

England’s hopes were raised, but not for long – until Woakes had a late say too, doubling his tally with the second new ball and almost levelling the day’s exchanges.

Younus Khan joined Azhar in the pavilion after a half-century stand when he chipped Broad to midwicket.

But the fifth-wicket partnership was not broken until Shafiq blotted and ended his innings by hanging his bat out at a wide one, and then nightwatchman Rahat Ali edged the final delivery of the day down on to his stumps.

Misbah said: “I rate this as my top innings in Test cricket and I’m really happy about that.

“It’s a dream to play in Lord’s and especially getting 100, and the name on the honours board is something special.

“Obviously when you are playing competitive cricket you just don’t think about your age.

“If you are there, you just take on the challenge that comes with playing the game.”

Yorkshire stalemate: Page 27.