“Our performance is a concern for everyone,” Abbas said. “Everyone is worried, including selection committee and the NCA. We’re not doing well, we accept that. We’re not batting, bowling or fielding well and we discuss this all the time in meetings. We’re all working on it and we need to be, too.”

England took a 180-run lead in the first innings, and from there, all Pakistan ultimately managed was damage control. Despite Abbas’ nine-wicket haul, England had simply scored too many runs in the first innings, especially through their lower order; once 222 for 8, they went on to add 68 runs, Pakistan’s inveterate inability to polish off the lower order persisting.

Part of it was, predictably, down to Pakistan’s fielding, which showed little improvement this Test. The catching, in particular, left plenty to be required. Despite Salman Agha’s blinder as a substitute in the slips, Pakistan dropped at least four at crucial stages in the first innings.

“We dropped catches and their key players scored 70-odd extra runs,” Abbas said. “That’s where the match changed because we could have bowled them out for 200. It’s disappointing.”

Cruelly, it comes in a phase of his career where Abbas is enjoying more success and adulation in Test cricket than perhaps he ever has. His last six Tests have seen him take 28 wickets at under 19, and as Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah’s Test stock has fallen, Abbas has emerged as the veteran leader of Pakistan’s seam attack.

He never resented the years he was snubbed, and his resurgence in the absence of victory appears to give him no pleasure. “Individual performances are important, but I try to perform to help the team win. It’s been many matches that I’ve been performing but the team hasn’t won.

“What was in my hands, I did. I played domestic cricket in Pakistan, and county cricket. What was in my hands, I did, and the management at the time did what they thought was best. It’s not in my control whether I get selected.”

There was fury back home after the limpness of the defeat at Headingley, which will invariably be amplified now Pakistan have lost the series; it is their 15th defeat in their last 20 Tests, and their 10th away defeat in 11 games. They sit bottom of the World Test Championship rankings, with few obvious avenues for a quick reversal of fortunes.

Abbas, however, dismissed the notion that any of that was down to want of effort. “This is Test cricket. Every run and wicket gets added to your career. Everybody understands that responsibility and everybody is trying. We’re getting bowled out in 35-50 overs, but this is [not a settled side].

“In Bangladesh, we had a different bowling combination to here. We won a Test in the West Indies. The guys are adjusting, but experience is very important in Test cricket. I’ve played 32 Test matches, but the fast bowlers playing with me are very new to Test cricket. But everybody is trying to improve.”

“Everyone has their own skill,” Abbas said. “I’ve never bowled 140 in my life, so I bowl according to my skill. The way there’s partnerships when you’re batting, there are partnerships when you’re bowling. In Leeds we didn’t bowl like that, but we were a lot better here. We’re assessing the conditions and getting used to them here, and there are improvements.”