My heart goes out to Nasser

With the stakes getting higher and higher, these decisions are crucial.

Over the years, umpiring decisions have made the difference between a career taking off or one that is snuffed out before it has started.

At the start of my England career, I feared this could have happened to me.

In my first Test at Melbourne, I bowled to David Boon, who attempted to cut one of my first balls for four. He nicked - well, actually middled - the ball into Jack Russell's gloves. The team - and one ridiculously excited debutant - went up in unison, only for umpire Peter McConnell to shake his head and give Boon not out.

I couldn't believe it. Now maybe I didn't show quite the same self-control as Nasser did the other day but I didn't think my huffing and puffing deserved what followed.

Two balls later, I asked Mr McConnell how many balls remained in the over, to which he replied in his strongest Aussie accent: "Count them yourself, you Pommie bastard."

None of it hindered my early England career and it was probably a good eye-opener of things to come.

If a third umpire could have been called on, though, who knows how my first Test would have turned out?

Still, it's all forgiven. If Mr McConnell happens to read this, no hard feelings, mate.

I'm sure England will put these things to one side and concentrate on getting everything right in tomorrow's Third Test.

They put on an impressive display last week and refused to surrender to the tireless spin attack. I think this actually got to the Pakistanis.

It was evident with Saqlain Mushtaq, who was put right off his stride, and it now seems we have turned Pakistan's game plan on its head.

I bet Moin Khan and the other senior players can hardly believe the English batsmen can actually play spin bowling.

With regards to our spin attack, I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon about my mate Ian Salisbury because I haven't always had success in Tests.

All I shall say on the matter is that, as first reserve, I am keeping my eye in and if the decision is made that three spinners are required for Sri Lanka in the New Year, then count me in.

For me, tomorrow's game in Karachi is all down to who can put the most pressure on the opposition first.

With Pakistan's recent record of losing four of their past five home Test series, the way we have extinguished their spin threat and England's continued confidence, it must mean we now have the upper hand.

Finally, a piece of advice for Nasser. Strap a couple of bats to your legs and go out to bat with a pad.

Then you're sure to have the decisions go your way.