Pakistan vs England: Jamie Smith has the right mode and method to highlight 'great talent', says Nasser Hussain | Cricket News

Jamie Smith is a great talent.

If anything, his first innings was the epitome of what Rob Key and Brendon McCullum talk about.

When England had to relieve pressure at 98-5, he soaked it up, fought it off and got used to the low bounce.

You have to put pressure on the bowlers when they tire, you have to go after them – that's exactly what Smith did.

A lot of people will talk about England's pace, that they should play harder or not so hard. What Smith did so well was getting the mode and method right.

A lot of straight hits with the bat until he got in, and once he got in he was a cross hitter with sweeps and slogs.

The first part of that innings, which prepared him for entry, consisted entirely of straight hits with the bat. And when he got used to the low bounce, he put his foot on the ground.

The rule was: the more you hit, the more aggressive you could be.

Spinner Sajid showcases the depth of Pakistan

You have to love Sajid Khan's character.

He has the mentality of a fast bowler – he is aggressive – and that reflects in the way he bowls. He has an aggressive action, an aggressive mindset.

I don't think he had the same success because of the pitches, quite the opposite. When you see him bowling, he actually gets a lot of action and spins the ball.

Sajid was really positive and also shows the depth of domestic cricket in Pakistan.

He's bowled really well since he's been here, and not just because the pitches turned – he actually made them turn.

Low-scoring thriller to decide the series?

England had a record of 120-6 because I don't think they adapted to Multan. In the second test it spun hard, while in Rawalpindi it spun a bit but stayed low.

It spun a little, and it will spin some more. It's quite dusty and crumbly at the ends. But what is the case with most batters today is the lack of bounce.

I don't mind a spinning pitch. I mind if the pitch stays low. On a Test match pitch, you shouldn't get the ball that Ben Duckett got in the first session.

It's pretty even at the moment. One would say Pakistan has to bat last and will keep turning.

It's like arm wrestling. Slowly it goes one way and then the other. After an eventful day, it's still in limbo.

I think it's going to be a great three days. The pitch can certainly turn and roll across the ground, who knows, in Pakistan you never know. It could be that a low-scoring thriller is the deciding factor for this series.

First test: Multan – 7th-11th October – England won by an innings and 47 runs

Second test: Multan – 15th-19th October – Pakistan won by 152 runs

Third test: Rawalpindi – 24-28 October

Watch the second day of the second Test between Pakistan and England in Rawalpindi, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event on Friday from 5.50am, pre-match from 6am. Stream with NOW