Eoin Morgan passed his latest Test match trial with flying colours on day one of the first Test against Pakistan yesterday, but claimed he has proved nothing yet.
Morgan hit an unbeaten 125, his first hundred in only his third outing, in a match he was playing due to Ian Bell's injury.
His knock was the key score in an imposing stumps total of 331 for four, Paul Collingwood chipping in with 81 not out in a match-turning fifth-wicket stand of 213.
But despite going a long way to showing he is not merely a one-day player and booking his seat on the plane to Australia later this year, Morgan refused to say it was mission accomplished.
"Absolutely not," he told Sky Sports 1. "I'm far from a Test match player and I have a lot to improve. I have to score runs consistently and I have to do that over a long period of time.
"I have learned [from the two previous Tests] to score more runs and be more greedy. But for me and Colly to come and get a partnership like that, we're really happy with today's play. In the circumstances [at 118 for four] the ball was in Pakistan's court."
Morgan was retained in the team, following two underwhelming innings against Bangladesh at the start of the season, only because of the broken toe Bell suffered in a mid-summer one-day international.
But the Irishman made no mistake in his third attempt to underline his Test credentials, dominating a record unbroken double-century stand with Collingwood after England had appeared in trouble on 118 for four following three quick wickets either side of lunch.
The fifth-wicket pair held firm against the threat of Mohammad Aamer, who finished with figures of three for 39, and Mohammad Asif, both exploiting the cloud cover for Pakistan, before taking to their toll on the back-up bowlers who could not exert necessary control.
Morgan had two moments of fortune, edging Aamer just short of wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal on five and then 73 runs later surviving via the decision review system (DRS) when Danish Kaneria, the luckless leg-spinner, at last won an lbw decision from Asoka de Silva, only to be informed by third umpire Marais Erasmus that the ball was spinning past the leg-stump from round the wicket.
The left-hander, who has become such a lynchpin for England in limited-overs cricket and even before yesterday was being touted by some as a "must" for next winter's Ashes, demonstrated unequivocally he can translate his talents to the longer format.
There was just one reverse-sweep, expertly executed off Kaneria, among his 16 boundaries in a 151-ball century which arrived in the grand manner with a straight six off Shoaib Malik's off-spin.
Collingwood was rarely fluent but at his best in terms of dependability, to ensure a telling England recovery and provide vindication for Andrew Strauss's borderline decision to bat first under cloudy skies.
England's cause was helped too by Pakistani frailties, notably Kamran behind the stumps and their poor use of DRS. Strauss lost his opening partner Alastair Cook in the first hour but looked set himself until he flapped an edge behind off Aamer to go five runs short of his 50. There had already been one stroke of luck for the England captain on 15 thanks to a dropped catch by Kamran off Aamer, and the hosts also soon profited from the first use of the DRS in this country.
Jonathan Trott, in at No 3, was the man reprieved on 13 when Erasmus had to tell De Silva his lbw verdict was wrong - because the batsman had inside-edged a forward-defensive at Kaneria.
Strauss escaped when the thinnest of edges behind on a perfect outswinger brought only frustration for the tourists, because of Kamran.
But there was to be no second chance for Cook, edging to slip in back-foot defence, and Strauss departed to only the fourth ball of Aamer's second spell.
Trott soon had more luck on his side when Tony Hill turned down an Aamer lbw appeal from a ball angling in from round the wicket. Pakistan chose not to invoke DRS, and doubtless discovered at lunch that the verdict would have been overturned had they done so.
Their response was to go into DRS overdrive - to no avail, as they used up their two permissible failures in successive Asif overs.
Kevin Pietersen survived an lbw on one, then a caught-behind on five, only to fall anyway for just nine when Asif got a ball to snake on to off-stump via a front-foot inside edge. Trott soon followed, his second review failing to get him off an lbw charge - shouldering arms at Aamer.
Collingwood completed his 114-ball 50 in the same Kaneria over and by stumps, after England had posted their best fifth-wicket stand against Pakistan, the visitors mostly had themselves to blame for failing to convert early gains.
* PA
At the close of the first day of the first Test between England and Pakistan at Trent Bridge.
England first innings
Strauss c Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Aamer 45
Cook c Imran Farhat b Mohammad Aamer 8
Trott lbw b Mohammad Aamer 38
Pietersen b Mohammad Asif 9
Collingwood not out 81
Morgan not out 125
Extras: (b-5, lb-8, w-5, nb-7) 25
Total (four wickets; 90 overs) 331
Fall of wickets: 1-42 2-93 3-116 4-118
Still to bat: M.Prior, G.Swann, S.Broad, J.Anderson, S.Finn.
Bowling: Aamer 19-4-39-3 (1w), Asif 20-6-65-1, Gul 16-4-58-0
(2nb), Kaneria 21-0-100-0 (2nb), Malik 11-2-39-0, Ali 1-0-9-0,
Amin 1-0-3-0, Farhat 1-0-5-0.
Pakistan: Salman Butt (captain), Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali,
Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad
Aamer, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif.
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
What should do investors do now?
What does the S&P 500's new all-time high mean for the average investor?
Should I be euphoric?
No. It's fine to be pleased about hearty returns on your investments. But it's not a good idea to tie your emotions closely to the ups and downs of the stock market. You'll get tired fast. This market moment comes on the heels of last year's nosedive. And it's not the first or last time the stock market will make a dramatic move.
So what happened?
It's more about what happened last year. Many of the concerns that triggered that plunge towards the end of last have largely been quelled. The US and China are slowly moving toward a trade agreement. The Federal Reserve has indicated it likely will not raise rates at all in 2019 after seven recent increases. And those changes, along with some strong earnings reports and broader healthy economic indicators, have fueled some optimism in stock markets.
"The panic in the fourth quarter was based mostly on fears," says Brent Schutte, chief investment strategist for Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. "The fundamentals have mostly held up, while the fears have gone away and the fears were based mostly on emotion."
Should I buy? Should I sell?
Maybe. It depends on what your long-term investment plan is. The best advice is usually the same no matter the day — determine your financial goals, make a plan to reach them and stick to it.
"I would encourage (investors) not to overreact to highs, just as I would encourage them not to overreact to the lows of December," Mr Schutte says.
All the same, there are some situations in which you should consider taking action. If you think you can't live through another low like last year, the time to get out is now. If the balance of assets in your portfolio is out of whack thanks to the rise of the stock market, make adjustments. And if you need your money in the next five to 10 years, it shouldn't be in stocks anyhow. But for most people, it's also a good time to just leave things be.
Resist the urge to abandon the diversification of your portfolio, Mr Schutte cautions. It may be tempting to shed other investments that aren't performing as well, such as some international stocks, but diversification is designed to help steady your performance over time.
Will the rally last?
No one knows for sure. But David Bailin, chief investment officer at Citi Private Bank, expects the US market could move up 5 per cent to 7 per cent more over the next nine to 12 months, provided the Fed doesn't raise rates and earnings growth exceeds current expectations. We are in a late cycle market, a period when US equities have historically done very well, but volatility also rises, he says.
"This phase can last six months to several years, but it's important clients remain invested and not try to prematurely position for a contraction of the market," Mr Bailin says. "Doing so would risk missing out on important portfolio returns."
The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT auto
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Price: Dh122,900
The biog
Name: Salvador Toriano Jr
Age: 59
From: Laguna, The Philippines
Favourite dish: Seabass or Fish and Chips
Hobbies: When he’s not in the restaurant, he still likes to cook, along with walking and meeting up with friends.
SCHEDULE
December 8: UAE v USA (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
December 9: USA v Scotland (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
December 11: UAE v Scotland (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
December 12: UAE v USA (ICC Academy Oval 1)
December 14: USA v Scotland (ICC Academy Oval 1)
December 15: UAE v Scotland (ICC Academy Oval 1)
All matches start at 10am
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
SQUADS
India
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur
New Zealand
Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, George Worker, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult
Fixtures
50-over match
UAE v Lancashire, starts at 10am
Champion County match
MCC v Surrey, four-day match, starting on Sunday, March 24, play starts at 10am
Both matches are at ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City. Admission is free.
25-MAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi
Midfielders: John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu
Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, Odion Ighalo, Alexander Iwobi, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze
On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai, Bryan Idowu, Ikouwem Utin, Mikel Agu, Junior Ajayi, Valentine Ozornwafor
2020 Oscars winners: in numbers
- Parasite – 4
- 1917– 3
- Ford v Ferrari – 2
- Joker – 2
- Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood – 2
- American Factory – 1
- Bombshell – 1
- Hair Love – 1
- Jojo Rabbit – 1
- Judy – 1
- Little Women – 1
- Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) – 1
- Marriage Story – 1
- Rocketman – 1
- The Neighbors' Window – 1
- Toy Story 4 – 1
ABU DHABI ORDER OF PLAY
Starting at 10am:
Daria Kasatkina v Qiang Wang
Veronika Kudermetova v Annet Kontaveit (10)
Maria Sakkari (9) v Anastasia Potapova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Ons Jabeur (15)
Donna Vekic (16) v Bernarda Pera
Ekaterina Alexandrova v Zarina Diyas
The%20Iron%20Claw
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sean%20Durkin%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Zac%20Efron%2C%20Jeremy%20Allen%20White%2C%20Harris%20Dickinson%2C%20Maura%20Tierney%2C%20Holt%20McCallany%2C%20Lily%20James%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
World Cup League Two
Results
Oman beat Nepal by 18 runs
Oman beat United States by six wickets
Nepal beat United States by 35 runs
Oman beat Nepal by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Oman v United States
Wednesday, Nepal v United States
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Cologne v Union Berlin (5.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Hertha Berlin v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Freiburg (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Borussia Monchengladbach (8.30pm)
Sunday
Mainz v Augsburg (5.30pm)
Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (8pm)
Results
ATP Dubai Championships on Monday (x indicates seed):
First round
Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) bt Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 6-1, 7-6 (7/5)
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) bt Karen Khachanov (RUS x4) 6-4, 6-1
Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) bt Milos Raonic (CAN x7) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4