Flat pitches made Ind-SL series dull: Akram

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram feels apart from Sachin Tendulkar's tremendous form the just-concluded Test series between India and Sri Lanka turned out to be a rather "dull" affair due to placid tracks.

Akram was especially disappointed with the way the fast bowlers were hammered during the three-match series in the island nation.

"Fast bowlers got murdered and it was not fun at all, believe me. The 1-1 draw is a fair result but it has to be said that apart from two or three brilliant performances, it was a dull series," Akram told 'ESPN-STAR'.

But the former left-arm pacer praised Tendulkar for his performance in the series, during which he also became the most capped Test player in the world.

"Sachin was tremendous in the series. He scored those runs (at third Test) in the hour of need. Also, his double ton in the second game at the SSC, that helped India save the Test, was one of the highlights of the series," Akram said.

"(VVS) Laxman got an amazing hundred under pressure, India were struggling at 62 for four and his contribution went a long way towards the successful Indian chase. Experience is very important in Test cricket and Laxman executed it by staying right there till the end," he added.

Akram was felt a strong batting line-up gave India the decisive edge in the series.

"India have got a very strong batting attack with Rahul Dravid and Sachin coming in at three and four, Laxman comes at five, Suresh Raina at six and Mahendra Singh Dhoni at seven.

So this experienced line-up augers well for them," he said.

Besides, Akram said dashing opener Virender Sehwag once again redefined aggressive batting in the series.

"Sehwag is a phenomenal player. It does not matter whether he is playing Twenty20s or ODIs or Tests, he never changes his game and that's where his strength lies. He has such strong and quick reflexes.. He judges the line and length of the ball to perfection and plays positive attacking strokes," he said.

"He has almost single-handedly changed the approach of an opening batsman. Instead of the conventional thinking that openers have to weather the new-ball storm, Sehwag takes to the attack and forces the bowlers on the backfoot," he added.

2nd Test: Eng on top despite Pak resistance

Pakistan reached 150-6 at tea on the third day of the second Test, frustrating England's hopes of a quick victory at Edgbaston on Sunday.

Zulqarnain Haider (33) and Mohammad Aamer (14) were undefeated, while Graeme Swann, with figures of 4-23, took the only wicket of the afternoon session after Pakistan resumed on 94-5 after lunch.

Pakistan still needs another 29 to make England bat again.

The tourists began the day on 19-1, needing another 161 runs to avoid an innings defeat but it was a difficult start to the session for England's Stuart Broad, who celebrated as if he'd taken Azhar Ali's wicket in his first over.

Without appealing to the umpire Broad high-fived his teammates, but England didn't ask for a review when Ali was subsequently given not out. Replays showed the ball had clearly missed Ali's bat.

Imran Farhat was dropped by Paul Collingwood at third slip off a ball from James Anderson and then hit on the helmet by a delivery from Broad.

Pakistan resisted for 54 minutes but the breakthrough came when Swann, who hadn't bowled in the first innings, replaced Anderson for the 30th over.

Swann's third ball turned sharply to bowl Farhat for 29 and in his next over the spinner bowled Ali for 19.

Shoaib Malik didn't ask for a review when he was given out for 3, caught behind to Finn off his glove in the 39th over, even though replays proved inconclusive.

In the next over Umar Akmal was lbw to Swann for 20, this time after an unsuccessful review. Haider, who was out first ball in the first innings, was given out lbw to the next ball, but this time the review showed Swann's delivery was missing leg stump.

Umar Amin (14) was out in the third over of the afternoon session, stumped by Matt Prior off Swann after an umpire review.

Swann bowled 11 consecutive maidens and 67 dot balls in a row, but Haider and Aamer showed admirable resistance.

Aamer took 24 balls to get off the mark and was on 1 when Swann found his edge in the 56th over, only for the ball to fly off the tip of Prior's glove before Collingwood dropped his second catch of the innings.

Haider advanced to 18 in the 61st over when he was given not out caught behind to Broad, prompting England to waste its final review.

England's frustration grew and, in the 63rd over, Broad appeared to hurl the ball at Haider, hitting him in the midriff.

That prompted both the umpires to warn England captain Andrew Strauss about Broad's conduct and in the next over a poor throw from Broad cost England the chance of a run out.

Alastair Cook dropped a difficult chance from Aamer off Collingwood in the 71st over and the next ball found Aamer's edge and flew through the slips, leaving Pakistan 29 runs behind at tea.

2nd Test: Eng on top despite Pak resistance

Pakistan reached 150-6 at tea on the third day of the second Test, frustrating England's hopes of a quick victory at Edgbaston on Sunday.

Zulqarnain Haider (33) and Mohammad Aamer (14) were undefeated, while Graeme Swann, with figures of 4-23, took the only wicket of the afternoon session after Pakistan resumed on 94-5 after lunch.

Pakistan still needs another 29 to make England bat again.

The tourists began the day on 19-1, needing another 161 runs to avoid an innings defeat but it was a difficult start to the session for England's Stuart Broad, who celebrated as if he'd taken Azhar Ali's wicket in his first over.

Without appealing to the umpire Broad high-fived his teammates, but England didn't ask for a review when Ali was subsequently given not out. Replays showed the ball had clearly missed Ali's bat.

Imran Farhat was dropped by Paul Collingwood at third slip off a ball from James Anderson and then hit on the helmet by a delivery from Broad.

Pakistan resisted for 54 minutes but the breakthrough came when Swann, who hadn't bowled in the first innings, replaced Anderson for the 30th over.

Swann's third ball turned sharply to bowl Farhat for 29 and in his next over the spinner bowled Ali for 19.

Shoaib Malik didn't ask for a review when he was given out for 3, caught behind to Finn off his glove in the 39th over, even though replays proved inconclusive.

In the next over Umar Akmal was lbw to Swann for 20, this time after an unsuccessful review. Haider, who was out first ball in the first innings, was given out lbw to the next ball, but this time the review showed Swann's delivery was missing leg stump.

Umar Amin (14) was out in the third over of the afternoon session, stumped by Matt Prior off Swann after an umpire review.

Swann bowled 11 consecutive maidens and 67 dot balls in a row, but Haider and Aamer showed admirable resistance.

Aamer took 24 balls to get off the mark and was on 1 when Swann found his edge in the 56th over, only for the ball to fly off the tip of Prior's glove before Collingwood dropped his second catch of the innings.

Haider advanced to 18 in the 61st over when he was given not out caught behind to Broad, prompting England to waste its final review.

England's frustration grew and, in the 63rd over, Broad appeared to hurl the ball at Haider, hitting him in the midriff.

That prompted both the umpires to warn England captain Andrew Strauss about Broad's conduct and in the next over a poor throw from Broad cost England the chance of a run out.

Alastair Cook dropped a difficult chance from Aamer off Collingwood in the 71st over and the next ball found Aamer's edge and flew through the slips, leaving Pakistan 29 runs behind at tea.