Pakistan are set to tone down captain Misbah-ul-Haq’s press-up celebrations even if they win the second Test at Old Trafford.
The tourists’ 42-year-old skipper marked his first-innings hundred, in what was his maiden Test at Lord’s last week, by saluting his team-mates and then performing 10 press-ups.
It was a gesture repeated by the whole team in front of the Lord’s Pavilion after they wrapped up a 75-run win, with more than a day to spare, to go 1-0 up in the four-match series.
The press-up routine has become the squad’s way of thanking army staff who put them through a pre-tour boot camp.
Fielding coach Steve Rixon said the military training had been beneficial.
But speaking to reporters at Old Trafford on Wednesday two days out from the start of the game, he suggested a repeat celebration was unlikely.
“It probably won’t be seen again,” he said.
“It was something that was initiated through the captain he made a little pledge to himself. We didn’t know it was coming. It was spontaneous.”
The former Australia wicket-keeper added: “It’s something you see in all sports a one-off thing.
“It’s done and dusted, and we move on.”
Rixon said what mattered more than how Misbah chose to mark a century was the unity he had forged within the squad.
“The spirit is very high, and belief is high,” Rixon explained. “[The win at Lord’s] was reward for a lot of hard work the boot camp back in Pakistan, and a lot of hard work in [two weeks’ additional training in] Hampshire.”
