Michael Vaughan may be recalled for the next Test

At least Hussain had reason to smile at England's overall performance: Pakistan were on the back foot for most of the match.

Craig White enjoyed a superb game - his third in a row - and England will also be heartened by Graham Thorpe's century and Ashley Giles' four-wicket haul.

However, before England supporters become too confident, I must stress the importance of winning the toss and batting first on these pitches.

Giles, who is not known for spinning the ball vast distances, was making it leap about on the last couple of days and although England took the points here, it might have been a different story had Pakistan batted first and posted a score of 500.

England know that and must decide over the next few days whether or not to retain Ian Salisbury - who was ineffective - or play Michael Vaughan as the extra batsman-cum-off spinner.

There is a three-day game here in Lahore this week, but I am off to Dubai, via Karachi this evening. The Asian Cricket Council Trophy is being staged in Sharjah, so I will be reporting on the semi finals and final of what are the next generation of test-playing countries.

Watch this space!