So they came, saw and nearly conquered. Despite some fantastic displays, Pakistan's cricket team were just not able to beat a classy England side.

At Old Trafford under the lights England made a solid start but the Pakistani bowling attack (minus the Rawalpinidi Express) pulled them backed and eventually restricting England to 204. Particularly impressive was fast bowler Mohammed Sami (pictured right), who bowled with a great deal of pace and control.

Pakistan managed to scramble to victory with four balls to spare.

At the Oval, Pakistan batted first and on a good wicket contrived to throw away wickets cheaply and eventually were all out for 185.

If the batting was poor then the bowling was pathetic, particularly Shoiab Akhar who was smashed to all parts of the ground by Marcus Trescothick. England reached their target of just 22 overs.

At Lords Pakistan struggled and at one point were 64-4. However superb innings from Younis Khan and Abdur Razzaq propelled Pakistan up to a respectable 229.

The Pakistani bowlers fought well but Trescothick was having none of it and England reached 230 with 10 balls to spare.

So an enthralling series between two well matched teams. Both teams blooded youngsters and they showed that the future is bright, England just about deserved to win the series as at the key moments they kept their nerve and seem to have found in Jimmy Anderson a bowler of huge potential.

Pakistan should also be pleased with the series, especially the young player such as Shoaib Malik, Mohammed Hafeez and Mohammad Sami who showed that they could 'cut it' at this level.

What will concern the Pakistan selectors is the erratic form of Shoiab Akhtar, at the Oval he bowled really poorly, yes he was fast but also very wayward. At 28 he should now be at his peak, but it seems that he is obsessed with speed and lacks rhythm and control.

This has also prompted former captain Waqar Younis to launch a scathing attach "It's ridiculous Shoaib coming out in the papers saying he's going to do this or do that," said Waqar.

"He's been doing it for a few years now and he never lives up to it and it looks pretty ugly. He performs to his ability once a year - and then he has the nerve to compare himself with Glenn McGrath.

"He was saying last week that if he'd been born Australian, he'd have taken more wickets.

"It might have been better for Pakistan if he had been born in Australia."

However coach Javed Miandad defended his man. "The past is past, he looked like a team man. He was encouraging all the youngsters, he was fighting and trying his best."