BBC SPORT | Special Events | 2001 | England v Pakistan

In his latest column for BBC Sport Online, former England captain Graham Gooch believes England missed the chance to throw down the gauntlet to Australia.

The fact that England lost should not detract from the quality of the Test.

It really was a fantastic game and much credit must go to Peter Marron, the Lancashire groundsman. He did so well to produce such a good pitch given all the problems they have had with the weather.

But for England it was an opportunity missed.

Of course it is easy to be wise after the event, but by Sunday night England had played themselves into a position to go for a win.

It was a large score to chase - not many teams have managed to achieve such a target - but England were in a good position.

When by lunch they were only one wicket down they should have shown more resolve and confidence to go forward and nail the game.

Graham Thorpe is bowled at Old Trafford
Batting collapses happen to every team

Pakistan did bowl well in the afternoon and you cannot take anything away from them, but England should have gone out not just thinking of surviving, especially after Atherton and Trescothick's positive start on Sunday evening.

Losing this Test is not the end of the world but if England had pushed on and managed to win it would have sent all the right vibes to the Australians.

I have no doubt Australia would have gone all the way for a win and if England had done it it would have said 'we are on a run, we are capable of scoring 370 to win a game, we can compete with you'.

Batting collapses happen to every team, but the manner of the defeat will have given encouragement to the Australians.

It is a worry that England did not go the extra mile to win the game.

To England's credit has been their response to the umpiring decisions - they have not harped on about them.

They are not first, nor will they be the last no balls to be missed, but it does concern me.

I do not understand why umpires do not consult one another more.

Michael Vaughan
Vaughan: First hundred

I admire the way Pakistan hung in and pinched the game from almost an impossible position.

Wasim got the farewell he wanted and proved that he can still cut it. If he was disappointing at Lord's, he made amends at Old Trafford.

As for England now, one defeat does not mean we cannot beat Australia.

England have chinks - the Australians will have watched gleefully - and some questions have to be asked in the camp.

England need to be bold and aggressive against Australia. A win at Old Trafford would have nailed our colours to the mast.

The one-day series could be to England's advantage as by the time the Ashes come around, Old Trafford will be in the past and hopefully put to one side.

Nasser will be back. He can regroup the squad and sit down and work out what went wrong.

England missed Craig White at Old Trafford - the conditions would have suited him - and hopefully he will be back for Australia. He brings balance to the attack - at Old Trafford it did look a bit samey, although Matthew Hoggard did impress me.

As did another Yorkshireman.

Wasim Akram
Wasim made amends

Michael Vaughan batted very well and now he has his first Test century he could prove even more effective.

Scoring that first hundred does make an enormous difference to a player. It settles nerves and helps you relax and concentrate more easily. He can go from strength to strength from here.

Australia play a particular brand of cricket - they are strong and aggressive both mentally and physically.

They are always looking to force the game, always looking to grab the initiative no matter the stage of the game.

England can compete with them but they will have to improve by 25-30% on Old Trafford.

They will have to match them both mentally and physically and gain their respect.

Old Trafford was a golden opportunity for England to make a statement of intent and unfortunately they did not take it.

Graham Gooch will be writing for BBC Sport Online throughout the Ashes.