England in the UAE

First topic message reminder :

Fixtures

Mon Oct 5 - Tue Oct 6
England XI v Pakistan A
Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Thu Oct 8 - Fri Oct 9
England XI v Pakistan A
Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Tue Oct 13 - Sat Oct 17
1st Test - England v Pakistan
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Thu Oct 22 - Mon Oct 26
2nd Test - England v Pakistan
Dubai International Cricket Stadium

Sun Nov 1 - Thu Nov 5
3rd Test - England v Pakistan
Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Sun Nov 8 (50 ovs)
England XI v TBC
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Wed Nov 11
1st ODI - England v Pakistan
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Fri Nov 13
2nd ODI - England v Pakistan
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Tue Nov 17
3rd ODI - England v Pakistan
Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Fri Nov 20 (
4th ODI - England v Pakistan
Dubai International Cricket Stadium

Mon Nov 23
England XI v United Arab Emirates
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Thu Nov 26
1st T20I - England v Pakistan
Dubai International Cricket Stadium

Fri Nov 27
2nd T20I - England v Pakistan
Dubai International Cricket Stadium

Mon Nov 30
3rd T20I - England v Pakistan
Sharjah Cricket Stadium



Squads

Test squad:
Alastair Cook (Essex, capt), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Zafar Ansari (Surrey), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire, wk), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire, wk), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), James Taylor (Nottinghamshire), Mark Wood (Durham).


ODI squad:
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, capt), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire, wk), Sam Billings (Kent, wk), Jos Buttler (Lancashire, wk), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), James Taylor (Nottinghamshire), Reece Topley (Hampshire), David Willey (Yorkshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).


Twenty20 squad:
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, capt), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Sam Billings (Kent, wk), Jos Buttler (Lancashire, wk), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Stephen Parry (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Reece Topley (Hampshire), James Vince (Hampshire), David Willey (Yorkshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).

Happy for Rashid, he's bowled well today

Olly wrote:Happy for Rashid, he's bowled well today

Only came in late : but yes , he's been much more economical - probably helps that they aren't looking to force the scoring - still he's looking happier all round. Love to see him grab a couple more now...if he can the tail will be exposed.

Is Wood the best option t'other end ? I'd be inclined to use Moeen right now...

If only Alastair Cook listened to me and declared from behind

Rashid another wicket ! Good low catch Buttler...

Game not yet quite dead ; though they'd need to rattle through the tail.

Rashid will be delighted with this contracting experience .

A result still unlikely but we should stay out there as long as possible to help Rashid build some confidence.

kingraf wrote:If only Alastair Cook listened to me and declared from behind

Maybe. But without having to make up 75 the pressure wouldn't have been the same.

Hard to force a result on this - still not like an Indian fifth day dust bowl. Not that I'm complaining as much as many : I don't mind the odd high scoring draw , as long as teams play with intent.

I've actually quite enjoyed this match. Though I hope the pitch for the next one has a bit more in it....

Genuinely good stuff from Adil today. Some promising signs

If England can get Misbah out in the next five overs, they might have a chance.

Might!

Yes. Get Misbah and a bit of panic might set in.

Easier said than done

He looks pretty well set. Still I'm happy with the way England have attacked this game after conceding that huge first innings score.

alfie wrote:Quite striking , isn't it , hammersmith ?

They say they used to get 120 overs in a day - without overtime !

Shorter run ups , maybe. Certainly less drink breaks ; even I remember before this automatic break every hour started - used to be only in seriously hot conditions.  And probably less messing about with the field.

Progress...

At a test match earlier this year. Struck by how long the "Harrogate Spring Hydration Break" took!   I don't mind them having a quick break. I'm not sure that runups are longer of recent times. I think it's time that bowler takes to start going back to his mark that causes much of the delay.

Moeen strikes !

Loose from Sarfraz.  Pakistan nearlysafe ; but...

Oops ...it was Misbah ! Seriously surprised.

Yes, Moeen! It might be on now.

Well, thats the thing though. I don't think Pakistan have had a mini collapse (to be fair, they're probably already safe, so it's more of a controlled collapse) because they were 70-odd runs in arrears. They've had it because, well, it'd what they do. I'd have declared with ten to go yesterday and really reared at them. Might not have worked, but I believe you've always got to be looking at the way most likely to get you a victory, while minimising your chances of defeat.

Thought it's been an alright test, but I generally enjoy the UAE Test matches. Pity about the crowds

One more wicket now and I'll start calculating overs and runs...right now still clearly possible ; but need to wrap the innings up fairly smartly.

Seven down! Vicious delivery. Pakistan in trouble.

kingraf wrote:Well, thats the thing though. I don't think Pakistan have had a mini collapse (to be fair, they're probably already safe, so it's more of a controlled collapse) because they were 70-odd runs in arrears. They've had it because, well, it'd what they do. I'd have declared with ten to go yesterday and really reared at them. Might not have worked, but I believe you've always got to be looking at the way most likely to get you a victory, while minimising your chances of defeat.

Thought it's been an alright test, but I generally enjoy the UAE Test matches. Pity about the crowds

No , I take your point. A shot at them last night might have worked. They'd have been tired , short spell...but on balance I think this method had the better chance . Agree it's debatable.

Now Moeen has another ! Seven down and a result is definitely possible...

Sarfraz is the one needed - fear not declaring over night has left us with not enough overs

Well : 93 on , 24 overs left .

If England can take 3/20 , say : how many overs do they need to make 114 ?

Interesting...

Eight gone ! Nice catch Jimmy

Rashid has three and the Dream lives on...

The lead is past 72. England have no chance

RASHENIUS

Didn't realize they were still debating that ....clear catch. Justice done eventually.

Pressure on the Pakistan tail.

This could lead to the old, 'do you open with Cook?' debate.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:This could lead to the old, 'do you open with Cook?' debate.

Why not ? Scored quicker than all but Root and Stokes when he batted with them ...

The rest of the team have the ability to up their run rate if needed, he however does not.

Brilliant. Safraz gone, another excellent catch by Anderson.

Atherton raising the spectre of Bad Light...

Would be a pain if the umpires halted play with England on the verge of a dramatic victory . Always disliked the taking them off when the batsmen want to continue...

Anderson snaffled another one off Rashid ! Nine gone and still not 100 on...

How gentle is that?

Absolutely brilliant from Rashid, Ali and Anderson.

A famous victory is on the cards.

Olly wrote:RASHENIUS

WHAT A MAN

Rashid has produced three beauties to wrap things up there, top slip catching from Jimmy too.

Would be a good day to answer the age old
question: Is an easy T20 chase an easy chase on
weary pitch? Pakistan would have dearly loved
Shah out there with the pitch so responsive for
Rashid. Without him, they're not looking likely for
the win

It really is Adelaide in reverse! You would think England have enough time, light and overs to get the 99 runs, no matter how negative the Pakistani bowling.

Rashid has become a bit of an expert at bowling out the tail the last few years. Fair play to him, that's a terrific response to his 1st innings.

All out

Rashid with a Michelle ! Made his point , I think !

England should win now : [b]unless [b] they are hauled off early for light.

Great last day , eh ?

99 from 19 offers, or about an hours light.

Send out Stokes with Moeen to open

Interesting goings on. The light was taken yesterday at 5.37, and it looks pretty much the same as it did yesterday so there should be about 45-50 minutes of play. Which is what? 10-12 overs? Bit of a slogathon needed

There's about 40-50 minutes to go, say Sky. England probably have 8-12 overs to get 99, so hell for leather is the only way.

Top effort from Rashid . Suggests a lot more promise than days one and two

Anderson excellent at slip to the spinner too : who needs Jordan ?

Moeen played his part there too. Very good from England .

Now can they top it off with a t20 style chase ? If they had the full nineteen overs , probably straightforward. But considering a probable truncated programme , better go quickly ...

Jos Buttler.

Wow,incredible turnaround, very nice from Rashid! Wonder if there is time left to win?

what a performance from Adil Rashid, very happy for him

Referee will have to get the yellow card out quickly to dissuade the Mourinho-esque timewasting.

Umpires need to be strong here too

Ten , twelve overs ? OK ; Moeen and Buttler , fair enough.

Reminiscent of Karachi , all those years ago : but then Steve Buckner kept them on the pitch as Pakistan were blatantly wasting time. Finished in the dark...

Reverse-sweep by Buttler. Beautiful.

The England fans sound very p!ssed considering the lack of alcohol.

kingraf wrote:Would be a good day to answer the age old
question: Is an easy T20 chase an easy chase on
weary pitch? Pakistan would have dearly loved
Shah out there with the pitch so responsive for
Rashid. Without him, they're not looking likely for
the win

Bowl who you like - cant bowl a Test Team out in twelve- fifteen overs.

Surprised Pakistan are bowling spin. Seamers surely take up more time and the light factor

Misbah is going for the win, Olly!!

Why waste time on a review, just get on with it.

DON'T REVIEW IT FFS