While Michael Clarke led his baggy greens to a surprise 4-0 whitewash of India, Andrew Strauss led England to an humiliating 3-0 whitewash by Pakistan.
It was England’s first series defeat since the West Indies in 2009.
Said Strauss: “This is the most painful defeat of my career”.
The nomadic Pakistanis, who live out of suitcases with no home thanks to the threat of terrorism, have made the Emirates their “home”.
It’s the first time Pakistan has whitewashed England in a Test series. But it’s the enormity of the losses that has storm clouds hovering over the top-ranked team in world cricket.
Pakistan won the three Tests by 10 wickets, 72 runs, and 71. Comprehensive.
And they did it on the backs of two spinners: 34-year-old Saeed Ajmal, and 31-year-old Abdur Rehman.
Offie Ajmal captured 24 wickets in the three Tests at 14.70. Left-arm orthodox Rehman 19 at 16.73.
As a result, Ajmal is now number two ranked bowler in the world to South African speedster Dale Steyn, while Rehman has broken into the top 10 for the first time at nine.
Not since Abdul Qadir and Iqbal Qasim in 1988 have two Pakistani bowlers been ranked in the top 10.
The much-vaunted England batting array was reduced to rubble.
Jonathan Trott averaged 26.83 in the three Tests, Alastair Cook 26.50, Strauss 25, Kevin Pietersen 11.16, and Ian Bell 8.50.
England failed to score a century for the first time in a series since New Zealand in 1999. Cook was the top scorer against Pakistan with 94.
To add insult to injury, England’s team batting average was 19.06, the country’s lowest in a series since 1888.
And chasing a mere 145 to win the second Test at Abu Dhabi, England was dismissed for 72, their lowest score ever against Pakistan.
On the other side of the coin in the third Test at Dubai, Pakistan was dismissed for 99 in their first innings, but still won by 71 runs to become the first since 1907 to be dismissed for under 100 and win.
The downside? If South Africa beat New Zealand 3-0 in their upcoming series, the Proteas will take over as world number one.
Little wonder Andrew Strauss rates the thumping loss to Pakistan as the most painful of his career.
Russ
Guest
I wouldn't have said Swann had a poor series.13 wickets at 25 is perfectly respectable. His poor series come against decent batsmen in unhelpful conditions, he has averaged 39-40 in all four series against Australia or India, substantially less against the West Indies, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and 31 in South Africa. He is a decent spinner who does a job for them. He was never a star; his brilliant year included 8 tests against Bangladesh and a dire Pakistan. Otherwise you are quite correct though. England's threats will remain their bowling attack, and the weakness of both sides will be their batting. Strauss has struggled for some time now, Morgan has never quite got there. And as they showed in Perth and Brisbane out here, in the right circumstances they will collapse just as Australia will. Like in 2009, the side that wins will probably be the one that collapses less often.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
I think the worst thing for us would be to draw some kind of parallel between Australia winning 4-0 and England losing 3-0 and draw conclusions based on the overall quality of the teams. England's biggest problem in this series was spin, which is something they won't have to deal with next year against us, save for unusual English dustbowls and Nathan Lyon learning the doosra. Our batsmen still showed they are highly susceptible to swing bowling which James Anderson and Stuart Broad will exploit. And finally, people are making a big deal of Graeme Swann's first poor series. The fact is he has always been a better bowler to left handers. Pakistan only had two in Taufeeq Umar and Abdur Rehman, while the lefties who could take part in 2013 could include the likes of Warner, Cowan, Marsh, Khawaja, Mike Hussey, Wade, Starc, Johnson and Pattinson. The worst thing for us is to look at this series as some form of England losing their mojo. I'd argue that when it comes to playing on the subcontinent, they never had it. But when it comes to their conditions and ours, England will still be tough, and we got to be mindful of that...
Luke of GC
Guest
England have a few problems that they may not want to face up to. Strauss is 34 and has been ordinary for 2 years now. But because he's the all conquering Ashes winning captain they won't dump him. Pietersen imo is also fading. His form has been very patchy of late and he's 32 (which is traditionally the age where a Cricketer starts to wane). Swann also is getting on and his returns of late haven't been that great. The Poms like to talk up their amazing depth but is their that much depth? Tremlett is 30 and has injury issues. Bresnan is an average trundler made to look like Malcolm Marshall last year by the worst Aussie side of all time. Graham Onions is an honest toiler and nothing more and Ajmal Shazhad has a long way to go to become a quality international bowler. Steve Finn is ok but doesn't swing the ball at all which is a huge detriment. And the batting depth looks pretty dire (though so is Australia's). Eoin Morgan is floundering at 6 but there is nobody to replace him other than the proven failure at international level Ravi Bopara. I still think England will be hard to beat as they still have world class players in their side. But if we can sort out our own issues before 2013 and plan for the series like England did last year then I think we have a chance.
jameswm
Guest
Watching England capitulate in that series almost jusitified the 15% chucking law. Almost.
dc
Guest
I would not bet on the South Africans taking this series v NZ 3-nil. The NZ batsmen will have to step up majorly to win a test, but if Dougie Bracewell, Southee, and Chris Martin can put together an inspired spell, well who knows....ok I am being a little hopeful. As for England, well, they were tripe. I didnt like all the LBW's but Sir Botham is in favour of DRS. It will be very interesting to see how KP and others perform in Sri Lanka in March. The Ajmal doosra totally befuddled them. Credit to Umar Gul - he is a top top bowler.
Russ
Guest
Australia will be above India by August regardless of results (well, barring a WI clean-sweep). India's ranking is propped up by an exceptional 08/09, and decent 09/10 and 10/11, whereas those are poor years for Australia. When they get halved/removed India's ranking will drop to around 104-106. It is a flaw in the system, it over-corrects in cycles.
Brett McKay
Expert
As an aside, I did some playing around on the ICC Test Rankings predictor (http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/match_zone/test_predictor.php) earlier this morning, and it's not that inconcievable that Australia could be third after the Caribbean tour. David rightly points that a 3-0 South African clean-sweep of NZ could see then join England in the rankings, and a Sri Lankan series win or draw with England would mean SAf would be ranked no.1 outright. And should all that happen, Australia would only need to beat the West Indies 2-0 to jump ahead of India.. (England then have home series against the Windies and Sth Africa to follow)
Brett McKay
Expert
don't forget Pietersen, Kev, finished the series averaging 11...
Samuel Candido
Roar Rookie
The spot fixing scandal may have been the best thing to happen in Pakistani cricket in ages.
Red Kev
Guest
It is nice to see Cook, Bell and Trott suffer a dose of the Husseys - averaging massive numbers for a few series then crashing to figures even tail-enders would be ashamed of.
Will Sinclair
Guest
Brendon - I agree with you on Swann. England's batsmen struggled, but I think the abject performance of their main spinner - recently rated the best in the world - will be of even more concern to them. He has been such an important part of the balance of their team, and he really struggled. As you say, he was clearly the worst spinner on show in this series, and if he struggles again in Sri Lanka... it'll be big trouble for the Poms.
Brendon
Guest
"First dent appearing in the armour of the all conquering Poms. Losing a match after rolling a team in the first digs for under 100 is unheard of." Funny how all the English cricket fans that laughed at Australia for the Cape Town fiasco are quiet about this.
Brendon
Guest
Despite Ajmal's action and turning pitches this is bad stuff by England. A series loss is one thing but a whitewash? Who would have picked India going down 4-0 and England 3-0? Good news for 2013 Ashes but without quality spinners in our team and playing in England this series things aren't that simple. While Lyon has done well he has no range of deliveries. Swann, who like Swann has little variation or range of deliveries, was easily the worst out of the 4 spinners in this series confirming he is one of the most overrated bowlers in the history of test cricket. Not only did the Pakistani bowlers do better but so did Monty Panesar who must be close to replacing Swann in England's team. Swann's superior fielding and batting might keep him in here.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
They were darned good games of Test cricket. Its amazing what not playing on a fixed pitch will do.
Purple Shag
Roar Guru
As a neutral, or in fact more accurately as an Australian, it's safe to say I reather enjoyed that little test series. 43/60 Wickets coming from the two finger spinners - fantastic. Was amazing to see them chucked the pill on the first day of a test match as early as the 5th over. Pakistan knew their strengths & England's top order 'tweaknesses' and they played to them. First dent appearing in the armour of the all conquering Poms. Losing a match after rolling a team in the first digs for under 100 is unheard of. Their confidence must be shot. I thought the extra year or so of development would do our chances some good, but maybe Sprio was right - the Ashes as the next test series would be pretty compelling stuff & I dare say we'd have a real shot at the urn.