Sir Ian Botham has defended the first-innings performance of England leg-spinner Adil Rashid in the first Test against Pakistan.
Rashid recorded the worst first-innings bowling figures (0-163) for any debutant in the history of the longest form of the game as Misbah ul-Haq's men posted 523-8.
However, England battled back to take a narrow lead into the final day thanks to a fine display from captain Alastair Cook, who scored 263, which has given the Three Lions a chance to force a victory.
Botham has revealed that he would give Rashid the chance to make amends for his performance in the first innings to rebuild his confidence for the rest of the series.
He told Sky Sports News: "England will bat on in the morning, get another quick 60 or 70 and then look to put Pakistan under the cosh.
"I'd certainly get Rashid on quickly. There was just a hint of turn out there today. Let's put Rashid's first-innings performance in context - he bowled on the first two days when this pitch was at its flattest. I don't think he did that badly.
"He'll play the rest of the series and only get better as it goes on. But hopefully tomorrow he'll get a first wicket that gives him just that little bit of encouragement."
England hold a 46-run lead, with two first-innings wickets intact going into the final day at Abu Dhabi.
Simon Sinclair
