Pakistan v England 2nd Test

First topic message reminder :

England team:
AJ Strauss(c), AN Cook, IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, IR Bell, EJG Morgan, MJ Prior(w), SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, MS Panesar

Pakistan team:
Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq(c), Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal(w), Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid
Khan


Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat

Morning all. I must say this it is a nice sight that scorecard at the mo. Glad they got rid of Younis, as he seemed to be the one that was going after Monty. It all seems set up for a Misbah special (a good innings off an infinite number of balls). Still, here's hoping the wickets continue to fall!

This reverse psychology works both ways you know, guys!! You say they aren't scoring and Misbah goes and pings a six!

Two sixes!!

My habit of predicting the exact opposite event stays at a 100% success rate!!

Oh dear, to 6's in a row from Misbah against Panesar. Panesar has had along spell bowling, might be time to change him for Swan

Yeah time for Swanny now, Monty was due a rest anyway, regardless of going for a couple of sixes.

Hope Misbah attacks Swann, not many people get the better of Swanny in such duels, he is a canny operator.

Panesar gets another over - wrong move in my book, need to keep the pressure on now, change things up.

Bowling change, Anderson back for Broad.

I wonder if the reason Panesar got another over was because Shafiq was on strike.

Anyhows, Anderson comes back now.

Now time for Jimmy and Swann?

I'd say so, Billy. Not sure how much threat Jimmy will bring though, this track really doesn't suit him at all.

Keep up the good work Fists

Panesar has bowled way too long now. Swann must replace him...

Ha! Monty still bowling, a mammoth spell! Surely must be his last before Swanny gets back in to the fray?

Wow.

Have to say Misbah, if I were Paksitani, would be my favourite player. What he has done as capatin building this side is pretty special. Sure they are still some way behind the very top sides but heds bought dignity and application back to them.
Its ridiculous that he has so few test caps. He clearly can play as well as lead yet has constantly been in and out the side till the last year. Was he injured for the tour of England, or was he just not willing to join the right betting club to buy his place? When you consider how much Pakistan have struggled to find anything resembling proper batsmen ( exspecially when they ditched Khan over politics) this guy really shouldve been given longer spells in the team.

Monty's now bowling his 20 over, while he kept his end well, and bowled tidely surely time for a change, something new for the Pakistan batsmen to think about.

I guess they have a theory about Misbah and Panessar, it appears to be wrong.

Its quite possibel though that they were happy he was willing to hit him, and wont let him bully Pannesar out the attck. Playing four bwolers means they cant afford that tho ever happen, and envcouraging Misbah to take risks may be the way to get him out of his comfort zone.
He seems to have Shafiq tied up nicely anyway.

I think that we will see Swann replace him now, i would be amazed if he didnt.

Still Monty :O C'mon Straussy, change it up!

Six for Shafiq now..

Sorry but i dont get this ploy of keeping Panesar on now. Surely it is time to rest him a little and give Swann a bowl. Swann didnt bowl badly so what signal is this sending to him?

The downside as well is if Panesar gets taken out after yet another 6, he (and the Pakistani batsmen) will feel he has been hit out of the attack.

Bad move by Strauss

Continued to be amazed Billy. Looks like PAkistan have decided they can rock Panessar, but honestly England should be happy about this.
Anderson is keeping the otehr end tight in tandem with Broad, let them throw their wickets away with rash shots. Sooner or later one of them will screw up doing this. England can afford to leak a few runs here.

If youre going to pick attacking spinners then you have to let them attack.

I have no problems with letting spinners attack PSW but Monty has bowled 21 overs in a row, Swann should have relieved him earlier...

I think the Cricinfo website is now on the same wavelength as us. They want Swann on as well!

It also seems like the batsmen are playing Panesar quite well now. There's been no edges or sticky moments for them. Sounds like GPS time!

At last, Panesar out of the attack for Swann.

Swann is back on. Another 'Swann wicket in his first over' would be nice.

Finally Swann. 1 over too late but the change has been made.

These two are starting to take control of this session for Pakistan. Massive credit to them. Jimmy has to keep it tight, build the pressure and hope the other bowlers get the wickets as the pitch is offering him very little.

Yeah all looking a bit too easy at the moment, milking plenty of singles.

The singles need to dry up in order to build more pressure.

Another bowling change Trott for Swann? Really don't understand that.

Yeah we were doing that very well earlier, but they've started rotating the strike almost at will in the last five overs. We need a moment of inspiration from somewhere.

Trott is on...don't see the point of that when Swann has only had two overs in his latest spell, unless he is changing ends.

Oooh Misbah just escapes, edging Trott short of the slips.

I am struggeling to understand Strauss' decisions right now.

Maybe the Broad Panesar combination was the best and most dangerous?

150 up now.

See thats exactly why them hitting Panessar wasnt a problem. Seems they have no trouble taking low risk shots and milking runs without endargering their wickets form Swann. I honestly think Panessar was taken off because he was getting tired not because Pakistan had hit 3 6s off him.So we see Trott sent in to try and encourage them to hit again.

150 up for Pakistan. England still on top as one or two wickets would give us a very good chance of skittling them out cheaply, but worrying signs as this partnership looks well embedded now. They may prove difficult to dislodge.

Swann and Monty earlier where doing a fine job, have they bowled in tandum yet this session? Hate being in work when there's a test match on!

They have this theory on TMS, that Broad, Anderson & Swann all want to bowl from the end that the fast bowlers are bowling from. This is why Panesar has bowled so many overs, and Trotts now in the attack.

No, haven't bowled in tandem in this session. They looked very threatening in tandem earlier, you're right.

Right, two overs and the Trott experiment is just gifting them runs. Get back to your frontline bowlers, 57 overs have gone, not 157. Making life far too easy for the Pakistani's.

You have to give credit to these two though, they were under alot of pressure but the has been a fine 50 partnership

Swann not bowling anywhere near as well as he did this morning. All looking rather toothless now.

Its hardly a disaster yet but this was always going to be the probelm with the type of attack they ahve. Ultimatley on a picth like this they are relying on the batsmen making misatkes, and offering them the chance to do that.
These two are batting really well and not making the mistakes, theres not much England can do about that.
Its still quite possible to bowl Pakistan out for 300, and on this pitch that would be excellent.

So after 4 overs off, Panesar is back in the attack. Really don't understand this.

Another 5 easy runs from a Swann over. Disappointing spell this has been, though Shafiq did get a slice of luck when just inside edging past the stumps.

How deep does Pakistan bat?

Surely if two more wickets go down, their tail will be exposed.

I do tiger, Monty was attacking and causing problems. I was concerned about the amount of overs he was bowling but as a spin bowler he can bowl more than the pace bowlers. i would be even tempted to bring Broad back....

Bad drop that, Jimmy should have taken it.....

Anderson drops Misbah - disaster!

This started out being Englands session but these two have fought back well and i would give this session to Pakistan.