England duly completed an overwhelming innings-and-225-run victory over Pakistan, before lunch on the fourth day at Lord's, to take the series 3-1 but that faded into insignificance following the spot-fixing revelations which broke on Saturday evening and sent the game spiralling into another crisis. For the record, Graeme Swann claimed his ninth five-wicket haul, and his first at Lord's, while Umar Akmal biffed a late half-century.
A sombre atmosphere greeted the fourth morning with all the talk about the News of the World story which implicated a host of Pakistan players. There was a bizarre build-up to play starting as England warmed-up as normal while the visitors stayed in the dressing room having not arrived at the ground until 10am. Even the not-out batsmen, Azhar Ali and Umar Akmal, couldn't have a quick hit before resuming their innings and the contest was never going to last very long.
There may have been the possibility of a repeat of The Oval four years ago when Pakistan refused to take the field, but this time they lived up to their word and resumed play. However briefly that lasted. The MCC members allowed the batsmen a gentle hand as they came to the crease, but it was a formal acknowledgement at best.
Swann made the first breakthrough with his 10th ball of the day when he beat Azhar's outside edge with a lovely delivery that held its line and took off stump. However, even the normally exuberant Swann could only manage a muted celebration with the England players well aware that their performances in this match - and the series - will forever be tarnished.
But they remained professional and did what was required. James Anderson, who had quickly replaced Steven Finn at the Nursery End, found Kamran Akmal's outside edge to complete another miserable series for the wicketkeeper who ended with 24 runs in six innings. Mohammad Amir, a young man with plenty on his mind, was soon cleaned up by another wonderful ball from Swann that pitched middle and hit off and Wahab Riaz lobbed a simple catch to mid-on as Pakistan just caved in.
Saeed Ajmal was run out by a direct from Stuart Broad, but Pakistan avoided becoming the first side to be bowled out for less than a hundred twice in a Test in England since 1958 as Umar threw the bat in a 40-ball fifty which included two sixes off Swann, during a tenth-wicket stand of 50. However, Swann had the final say when he had Mohammad Asif caught at slip when a bottom edge rebounded off this boot and secured his place on the honours board. Honour, though, was in short supply elsewhere.
