England v Pakistan

England up against it again after a top-order failure. (Not quite a collapse, but not what you want from your top batsmen. Cook and Root carrying the rest again.

Bales doesn't convince; Vince even less so, and why bring back Ballance?

I think we're going to see the difference between a world-class wrist spinner and Moeen.

And could someone please shoot Geoffrey Boycott before his next spell in the commentary box? He's a patronising, arrogant "I-know-everything-there-is-to-know-about-creeckitt" bloody ..... Yorkshireman!

Bring back KP :greengrin

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Originally Posted by Haymaker

Bring back KP :greengrin

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He wouldn't come back.

Really enjoyed watching Yasir today. Can't wait to see him in the fourth innings on a turner.

Regardless of how the result ends, it's been refreshing to see an even contest which we didn't get with the recent Sri Lanka series

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Originally Posted by Finn2015

Regardless of how the result ends, it's been refreshing to see an even contest which we didn't get with the recent Sri Lanka series

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Yup. This developing into a really good match.

England bowling well right now. Could go either way.

Azhar just gone lbw Woakes for 23. Pakistan 3 down for 59. Lead of 126.

Misbah gone for 0 - Moeen, caught Hales.

60-4. Pakistan rocking - maybe not as balanced as we thought?

Younus gets a life on an appeal. Very close.

England are bowling very very well.

England maybe getting on top here. Scoring rate very slow and bowlers look threatening

Been an entertaining match so far, proper Test cricket and nicely poised too. This isn't going to be a draw but you could see how either side could find the win.

Pakistan have got to be favourites but it would be silly to write England off at this stage.

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Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye

Been an entertaining match so far, proper Test cricket and nicely poised too. This isn't going to be a draw but you could see how either side could find the win.

Pakistan have got to be favourites but it would be silly to write England off at this stage.

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True. England have got some world class batsmen so not over by any means

Pakistan end up winning comfortably.

Poor result for England.

This is why I love Test cricket.

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Originally Posted by Doddie

This is why I love Test cricket.

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It was the kind of match that you would want to show someone who hadn't seen Test cricket before. So they could see :greengrin

Gem of a Test.

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Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye

It was the kind of match that you would want to show someone who hadn't seen Test cricket before. So they could see :greengrin

Gem of a Test.

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Aye. Alistair Cook said the batting was "naive". I would say "stupid".

Thing is, they had all the time in the world to make the runs. If just TWO more of the "top order" had screwed the nut and stayed long enough to make 40 each, the likelihood is that England would probably have won sometime this morning.

Is it impossible for guys like Root and Hales and Moeen to remember what kind of cricket they're playing and adjust their attitude and technique accordingly? If they had each made 30-40 runs ....

A batsman or two digging in and grafting for a while to take the shine off the ball and some of the steam out of the bowlers - too much to ask?

Surely Moeen has to be dropped? Anderson and Stokes back?

And send to the Wizard of Oz for brains for some of the England batsmen?

Cook scores his 29th Test century as England get off to a flier in the 2nd Test, score currently sitting at 190-1.

Cook out for 105, Vince out yet again driving at a wide one and Root moves into the 100s, England currently 255-3.

England 314-4 at close of play on day 1 with Root unbeaten on 141.

Root reaches 150 for the 5th time in his test career, Woakes going along nicely in the mid 30s in his nightwatchman role.

427-5 @ lunch, Woakes out for 58, Root 185 no.

Play resumes after rain with Pakistan 518 behind on 71-5.

Pakistan 119-8 @ lunch.

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Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY

Pakistan 119-8 @ lunch.

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All out for 198. Lead of 391.

Cook doesn't enforce the follow-on.

Now 11-0 lead 402, and it's raining .... :confused:

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Originally Posted by Doddie

All out for 198. Lead of 391.

Cook doesn't enforce the follow-on.

Now 11-0 lead 402, and it's raining .... :confused:

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Why didn't he enforce the follow on? The forecast isn't great and his bowlers were still relatively fresh.

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Originally Posted by lord bunberry

Why didn't he enforce the follow on? The forecast isn't great and his bowlers were still relatively fresh.

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THAT is what everyone on telly is asking.

The best guess seems to be he was concerned that Stokes and Anderson were just back form injury and might need a wee rest.

Damp conditions and an interrupted session breaking the batsmen's concentration - what's not to like?

46-0 - 437 ahead. How many more does he want?

489 ahead at close of play and still no sign of him putting Pakistan back in. England are about 70 runs past the highest ever total scored in the 4th innings to win a match in test match history, most odd!

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Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY

489 ahead at close of play and still no sign of him putting Pakistan back in. England are about 70 runs past the highest ever total scored in the 4th innings to win a match in test match history, most odd!

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I don't understand it. If he was thinking about giving Bales and Vince a chance of making a few runs, why did he open the innings himself, and why did Root come in at 3?

It must be about giving Ben Stokes and Jimmy Anderson a full night's rest before bowling tomorrow. That's about the only thing I can think of.

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Originally Posted by Doddie

I don't understand it. If he was thinking about giving Bales and Vince a chance of making a few runs, why did he open the innings himself, and why did Root come in at 3?

It must be about giving Ben Stokes and Jimmy Anderson a full night's rest before bowling tomorrow. That's about the only thing I can think of.

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I'm sure I heard Hussein say that he expected England to bat for the first hour or so tomorrow, what the point of that would be I have no idea.

England continue to bat, most odd! Cook makes his fastest test match half century.

England declare on 173-1 setting Pakistan a target of 565 for the win. That 40 mins of batting was almost cruel so, might well serve its purpose in the matches to come. Root matches his fastest test match 50. 325 runs in total for Root.