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Younis Khan: pride of Pakistan

Veteran becomes Pakistan's leading Test run-scorer, but he's not done yet

The banner hanging in the vast Pavilion End of Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium said it all: “King Khan Younis Khan – pride of Pakistan.”

Heading into the opening day of this first Test against England Younis, now aged 37, was 19 short of becoming Pakistan’s all-time leading runscorer in the longest form of the game.

Quick Single: Pakistan v England, day one scorecard 

The record, set 22 years previously by Javed Miandad, was 8832 runs. It took Younis 29 balls to overhaul the mark on Tuesday, reaching the landmark in style as he sashayed down the track and launched Moeen Ali’s off-spin high over the deep midwicket boundary for six.

And even though Younis’ innings of 38, terminated when he drove Stuart Broad into the hands of Alastair Cook at short mid-on, was a mere footnote in the wider context of this first day his achievement is worth celebrating.

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Test ton No.30 // Getty Images

For while it is without question Younis is venerated in his homeland, he is arguably the most underrated batsman of the modern era.

Ask most cricket fans, especially in Australia and England, to name the finest batsmen of the last 20 years and they are likely to reel of a list of familiar names – among them most likely Brian Lara, Mahela Jayawardene, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid and Graeme Smith.

Younis, though, deserves his place alongside those greats as his record is comparable.

In this, his 101st Test, Younis now has 8852 runs, including 30 centuries, at an average of 53.97. That average is higher than all of those listed above, including Tendulkar. Indeed, of the top 15 all-time leading runscorers in Test history only two average higher – Jacques Kallis (55.37) and Kumar Sangakkara (57.40).

After receiving a standing ovation from Pakistani journalists as he arrived at the post-match press conference in Abu Dhabi yesterday, Younis gave no indication of quitting anytime soon despite his advancing years.

Indeed, he is now targeting a new landmark.

"Reaching 8,832 was a huge target for me,” he said.

"When I had around 8,000, I thought if I push myself I can reach the great Javed Miandad or pass him.

"Now, my wish is that I become the first Pakistani to reach 10,000 runs for his country.

"I believe if I work hard, like I have over the last two or three years, I will achieve that goal."

Australian fans probably need no reminding of Younis’ powers given he scored an astonishing 468 runs in the two-Test series against Darren Lehmann’s side this time last year.

It was here in Abu Dhabi where he hit 231 to set up a crushing 356-run victory for his side in the first Test. He then went on to make twin centuries in the second Test as Pakistan wrapped up a 2-0 series success with a 221-run win in Dubai.

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Younis saluting the fans after scoring another ton against Australia last year // Getty Images

England risk suffering a similar fate over the coming weeks unless they can address the sloppiness in the field that saw them pass up three golden opportunities on the first day of this series.

Shoaib Malik, playing his first Test for five years, made the most of the life he was given by Broad on 40, going on to score his third Test century after the England bowler overstepped on what should have been a wicket-taking delivery.

Ian Bell also dropped two catches at second slip, reprieving Mohammad Hafeez on seven early in the day and then shelling another simple chance late in the evening session to spare Asad Shafiq on 10.

In all England’s errors cost them 176 runs, Hafeez scoring 98 and Shoaib ending the day unbeaten on 124. Pakistan reached stumps on 286 for four, not yet a match-winning total but a strong position nonetheless.

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Anderson was shattered after Bell's second spill // Getty Images

Trevor Bayliss, England’s Australian coach whose attention to improving his new side’s fielding played a key role in the recent Ashes series win, would not have been impressed.

Broad revealed afterwards he had apologised to his team-mates at the tea interval.

He said: "We can’t afford to have to try to take 26 or 27 wickets - you need to just have to take your 20, to win a Test match over here.

"I have to hold my hand up for that no-ball, which is unacceptable - certainly in these conditions. There’s no real excuses for it. I said sorry at tea to the guys."

Broad and James Anderson, whose two wickets saw him overtake another Pakistan legend in Wasim Akram to jump to 10th on the all-time list with 415 Test scalps, will have key roles to play on the second morning to get their side back into this game.

However, nothing that happens over the coming days will be able to diminish the achievement of Younis – the pride of Pakistan.