Shoaib Malik double century puts Pakistan on top in Abu Dhabi as England face an uphill struggle

England face a daunting task to save the first Test against Pakistan after a batting masterclass piled the pressure on the tourists following day two in Abu Dhabi. Shoaib Malik finished with a career-best 245 and Asad Shafiq (107), dropped by Ian Bell on six on day one, scored his eighth hundred in the longer-form of the game as the designated home side declared on 523 for 8.

Adil Rashid finished the first innings with the worst bowling figures for a Test debutant of 0 for 163 but Ben Stokes did make inroads with 4 for 57, including the dismissal of Malik that forced an early declaration from Pakistan. In reply, England saw off the new ball as Alastair Cook (39 not) and Moeen Ali (15 not out), opening for the first time in a Test match, meandered their way to 56 for 0 at the close. However there remains plenty of work to do, with 467 runs separating them from parity in a match that continues to be dominated by the bat.

It would also be another day where Ian Bell's failures in the slip cordon were highlighted as Shafiq put on 248 for the fifth wicket with Malik, errors that allowed Pakistan to add 393 runs to their total. Furthermore, with England's spin pair of Rashid and Moeen Ali wicketless while conceding 284 runs, there is little room for optimism ahead of the remainder of the series.

The problems facing England were accentuated on day two by the news that Steven Finn will miss the remainder of the tour with a bone injury in his left foot. Chris Jordan has been called up as a replacement for Finn in the Test and one-day squad for the remainder of the winter.