Gough proved a handful for Pakistan

It will be interesting to see if Pakistan's bowlers learn from the example they have set here when the second Test begins in Old Trafford next week.

Bowlers need support in the field and this is where England now excels.

The catching was breathtaking today with Graham Thorpe leading the way in the slips. Mike Atherton, too, held two lovely low chances and the only blemish was the drop by Michael Vaughan at deep square leg when the ball went to him like a rocket.

The ground fielding, too, was excellent and when a team is on a roll, as England now certainly is, the standard is raised still further. The contrast, for instance, with a downhearted Pakistan was there for all to see.

Stewart was impeccable behind the stumps

Gough completed his first five-wicket haul at Lord's when he polished off Pakistan's first innings shortly after lunch.

They lost their last five wickets for 88 on the day and the moment they failed to avoid the follow-on, Pakistan would have known that they were facing the prospect of defeat.

When both openers had been dismissed with only 30 runs on the board in the second innings, that possibility had become a certainty.

Razzaq stood firm, but he lost two partners in unfortunate circumstances. Inzamam-ul-Haq seemed to be unlucky to be given out caught behind by Umpire Willey when the ball brushed the batsman's pad rather than the bat, and Willey also gave Younis Khan out lbw when the batsman seemed to have hit the ball first.

Thorpe pulled off a series of stunning catches

The force was now with England and although Stewart gave Sidebottom every chance to claim his first Test wicket, it was the recall of Caddick and Gough that did the trick.

Razzaq finally fell to Caddick for a fine 53 and Gough removed a hopelessly tentative Wasim Akram for 12 leaving Cork to finish the job by ending Waqar's resistance via another catch by Stewart.

Pakistan have five days of cricket before the second Test - a one-day game and a four-day match both at Leicester.

On the evidence of this encounter, their main players need all the practice they can get and they would be foolish indeed to contemplate resting any of them.