Brendon McCullum does not believe England were missing James Anderson's coaching during a difficult start to the first Test against Pakistan. (Highlights| Streaming | More Cricket News)
Gus Atkinson got England an early wicket, but they soon struggled as Shan Masood, whose 43-ball half-century is the second-fastest by a Pakistan skipper in Tests, and Abdullah Sha𒐪fique both struck𝕴 centuries.
However, they made a s🅘trong finish to the first day, taking three wickets 𝓀in the final session, with Pakistan reaching stumps on 328-4.
Anderson, who has been acting as England's fast-bowling consultant since his retirement, was not in Multan on Monday but is set to join up with the te🃏am on day two.
After a tough day in🀅 the field, McCullum insisted Anderson was still on hand to coach the players despite not being present, and believes this shows the impact he has already had on the side.
"Two months ago, you guys were saying that he didn't deserve to 💟be a coach just yওet," McCullum told Sky Sports.
"Now, it's like, 'We're missing him' - and I think that's a great affirmation of how good an impact Jimmy Anderson has 𓂃made in a short period of time.
"He's got [WhatsApp] groups set up with the bowlers and is always feeding information through Jeetan Patel. We live in a world where you can still communicate without being face-to-face… I don't♏ have any qualms whatsoever.
"I'm absolutely delighted for him that 🐭he gets the opportunity to do something he loves doing and when he gets heꦿre, he'll be right in the thick of it as he has done as bowling coach since he came in."
Masood and Shafique added a 253-run partner🉐ship for the second wicket but fell softly to Atkinson and Jack Leach before Chris Woak💖es had Babar Azam lbw as England gave themselves some hope in the closing stages.
Assistant coach Jeetan Patel, who was working with the fast b𝕴owlers in Anderson's absence, was particularly proud of how they kept pushing despite the heat.
"I couldn't commend them any more," Patel said. "I think the toil they put in today was high-end: the way they tried d⛎ifferent things to take wickets, the different fields they had, the way they fielded.
"To take those three wickets tonight was a testament to the work they'd done in the first two sessio💦ns. We're pretty happy with how it's ended up, with them four down."
