Pakistan vs England; 3rd Test - Sunday 1st November to Thursday 5th

England Team:

Cook, Ali, Bell, root, Taylor, Stokes, Bairstow, Rashid, Broad, TBC, Anderson


Pakistan Team:

TBC

So, mirroring the Ashes series in Australia the incumbent keeper is dropped for the last match. no word yet on who replaces Mark Wood.

Imran Khan ruled out for Pakistan. Rahat ali surely favourite to replace him - though some suggestions Pakistan may go for another spinner. Would be tough on Wahab to be the only seamer.

As I said on the other thread - selectors had to make changes. Buttler dropped and Bairstow will take over wicket-keeping duties with Taylor coming in to bat at number five with Bairstow moving down to number seven. Wood is rested and I reckon Plunkett should come in. Patel is being touted but for me there is enough spin options in the side and in any case the seamers have done a decent job so far.

Taylor was a move that had to happen. The question was Bell or Buttler, both equally deserving of watching this match from the stands on form.

This may yet be Bells swansong.

Azhar Ali returns to the Pakistani batting line up. Don't know who misses out. Don't care. I love me some Azhar Ali.

This is such a balanced Pakistani team. To me, they've been robbed of a chance to announce themselves as possibly the greatest Pakistani side ever by touring to greener pitches and being given a chance to see how they fare. Okay, so their opening act is slightly dodgy, but Ali, Khan, and Misbah make probably the best middle order in the world. Then you've got Wahab, who can do some serious damage. Shah can as well. Babar is a capable back up. Other Pakistani sides have had more golden tickets. Imran had Wasim and Qadir as well as himself for example. Inzi had himself, Younus, Yousuf, Asif, Kaneira. But I don't think they've put out a better team ever.

kingraf wrote:Azhar Ali returns to the Pakistani batting line up. Don't know who misses out. Don't care. I love me some Azhar Ali.

Most likely to drop out is the opener who has struggled with the short ball, but then who opens?

Samit Patel and James Taylor in for England. Bell keeps his place but Buttler is dropped, and Wood is rested. 3 spinners might look an overkill from England, but Ali is turning a few like Murali, Rashid hasn't even bowled yet. Patel has so far kept the runs down too. Pak 61-2.
Rahat Ali in for Pak for the injured Imran Khan, Azhar Ali in for Masood. Ali didn't last long as Anderson did him in, and Hafeez got out to Ali after he managed a start.

Really don't agree with the selection of Patel. He just isn't very good. Would've gone for Plunkett

Oh and it's pretty awful luck to lose all three tosses

For me Plunkett is not an international quality bowler.

cook has now captained england 20 times away (only time he calls remember) and won the toss just 5 times. He always calls the same way. If you knew that wouldn't you as the opposition look at using a weighted coin

Not a terrible first session for England. Pakistan winning the toss and batting are 87 for 2 at lunch. You'd feel that England have to bowl Pakistan out for a lot less than 400 to be in with a shout as the pitch is already looking receptive to spin so it is only going to get tougher to bat on.

LondonTiger wrote:For me Plunkett is not an international quality bowler.

cook has now captained england 20 times away (only time he calls remember) and won the toss just 5 times. He always calls the same way. If you knew that wouldn't you as the opposition look at using a weighted coin

Haven't seen much of Plunkett in recent times but my inclination is to agree with Tiger. He played just 5 CC games for Yorks last season and took 14 wickets at near to 33 each. Tiger - why only 5 games?

I don't know if Cook changed from his usual call on the toss but read on cricinfo that Cook asked his bowlers for this Test what he should call!

Usual skillful knack / luck from Ali in nabbing a wicket but too many release balls from the spinners.

Broad strikes early after lunch. Pakistan are 88 for 3. England from here should be looking to bowl Pakistan out for around 300 at the most.

A mightily impressive combined analysis from Anderson and Broad of 13-9-7-2.

Other bowlers not quite at the same mark.

A bonus wicket for England. A full toss from Anderson traps Younus lbw. Pakistan 103 for 4.

Anderson picks up Younis with a full toss - great start to this session for England

guildfordbat wrote:A mightily impressive combined analysis from Anderson and Broad of 13-9-7-2.

Other bowlers not quite at the same mark.

England's seamers on this tour have done more than the spin (that includes Wood and Stokes) so I would have went for another seamer rather than Patel - would have went for Plunkett. He has proven he can take wickets at test level.

guildfordbat wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:For me Plunkett is not an international quality bowler.

cook has now captained england 20 times away (only time he calls remember) and won the toss just 5 times. He always calls the same way. If you knew that wouldn't you as the opposition look at using a weighted coin

Haven't seen much of Plunkett in recent times but my inclination is to agree with Tiger. He played just 5 CC games for Yorks last season and took 14 wickets at near to 33 each. Tiger - why only 5 games?

Missed the first 4 matches as he was in the Caribbean with England.

Missed what would have been his first match for disciplinary reasons (was late for a team photocall).

Missed a few because of ODI series against NZ and getting injured in that series.

Missed some more due to ODI series with Aus.




Anderson and Broad have done well today by bowling with control. From Yorkshire Sidebottom and yer man Patterson could have done well today, but not imo Plunkett.

Having chosen Patel for this tour (albeit as a replacement for the injured Ansari), I can understand the selectors picking him for this Test if they believed the wicket was going to take turn early on. Particularly in view of the possibility always being there that either of the two other England spinners could be hit out of the attack. Patel also strengthens the batting (at least on paper).

Cheers, Tiger. Other than the disciplinary (I remember that), Plunkett was always picked by Yorks when he was available then - yeah? I was wondering if he was sometimes surplus to your requirements.

''Pakistan have dropped anchor. The ship's going nowhere.'' - Lloyd on Sky. Liked that.

guildfordbat wrote:Cheers, Tiger. Other than the disciplinary (I remember that), Plunkett was always picked by Yorks when he was available then - yeah? I was wondering if he was sometimes surplus to your requirements.

I cannot remember him being left out when available. However with Sidebottom and Brookes usually taking the new ball, and Bresnan and Patterson doing sterling work as 1st and 2nd change he really felt like a bit of an added bonus. He has enough pace and bounce to scare CC batsmen - but he is well down on Wahab pace in the main.

LondonTiger wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:Cheers, Tiger. Other than the disciplinary (I remember that), Plunkett was always picked by Yorks when he was available then - yeah? I was wondering if he was sometimes surplus to your requirements.

I cannot remember him being left out when available. However with Sidebottom and Brookes usually taking the new ball, and Bresnan and Patterson doing sterling work as 1st and 2nd change he really felt like a bit of an added bonus. He has enough pace and bounce to scare CC batsmen - but he is well down on Wahab pace in the main.

Cheers again, Tiger. Bit off topic but it still has an England connection - having signed Willey and when he's not with England, do you see Yorks rotating their bowlers more next season with Sidebottom particularly being given more rest?

England's session that. Pakistan go into tea on 148 for 5 so 3 wickets falling and run rte just 2 runs an over. However, you feel this could slip away with this dangerous pair in danger of forming a partnership as they have a habit of doing. Still England will be the happier team at the moment.

Evening all.

Couldn't get on this site earlier on ...some international issues...

Good from England so far. Excellent bowling from Anderson and Broad ; Patel (who wouldn't have been in my team ) is actually doing a very good job , except for a few pies just before lunch. Perhaps he was sending a hint to the cook
And the much maligned Bairstow has been impeccable behind the stumps so far.

Need to break this dangerous pair and get stuck into that tail though : pitch taking so much spin this early that you don't want to be conceding much over 200 in the first knock.

guildfordbat wrote:Having chosen Patel for this tour (albeit as a replacement for the injured Ansari), I can understand the selectors picking him for this Test if they believed the wicket was going to take turn early on. Particularly in view of the possibility always being there that either of the two other England spinners could be hit out of the attack. Patel also strengthens the batting (at least on paper).

On what we've seen so far , the selectors are being proven correct on all counts ! Let us hope the batting part turns out to be true also.

Though in fairness , Rashid hasn't really gone round the park either. Must confess I am always afraid he is going to concede a string of boundaries...but he's going at a little under four per over so far.
Reckon if he can get one he might be the man to torment the bunnies on this...

Hard to call that a chance for Anderson

Nearly ! Cut shot off Rashid ... Anderson unable to cling on at slip. Very difficult ; initially unsighted and that pretty well hit his wrists , not able to actually get his hands on it.
Handy partnership this ; but still feel one now might yet see the last five fall for very little...

Sarfraz has done a fine job for Pakistan here : their innings was practically stalled until he arrived and started to play his shots. Had some fortune ; but as they say , it favours the bold...
Drinks at 188/5. New ball in six .

alfie wrote:...
Handy partnership this ; but still feel one now might yet see the last five fall for very little...

Hi Alfie - agree with that but I'm keen to get another wicket soon. If we do, we could have 'em around 220/9 at stumps with us in the box seats. If we don't, 240 odd/5 doesn't seem nearly so good.

Been an interesting day and looks like the last hour could be the same.

Btw, Patel now into his 20th over. For those who wanted us to go into this Test without a sixth main bowler, it would be interesting to know how those 20 would have been made up and shared around.

Stokes now off injured - so any more overs he would have bowled today and perhaps in the rest of this Test will need to be made up - gulp, but let's await a medical update before worrying too much there!

So Moeen tempts Sarfraz into one hit too many...

Good break with the new ball almost due

Say what you like about Moeen ; but he has the knack of taking wickets.

alfie wrote:So Moeen tempts Sarfraz into one hit too many...

Good break with the new ball almost due

Say what you like about Moeen ; but he has the knack of taking wickets.

Alfie - I've been saying that for a while and recently as I trust my cyber friend msp will confirm.

Hi guildford.

Really shouldn't need Stokes to bowl again . Think the new ball and the spinners ought to be able to clean up the rest

Patel bowls Wahab for a duck !

Hoping to have them out for under 220...

Lovely ball from Patel to bowl Wahab and get us further into the tail.

Patel's earned his corn (and pies) today.

alfie wrote:Hi guildford.

Really shouldn't need Stokes to bowl again .  Think the new ball and the spinners ought to be able to clean up the rest

Patel bowls Wahab for a duck !

Hoping to have them out for under 220...

Agreed, Alfie, although Sarfraz wasn't out when I was typing - he might have been when I finished and posted!

Patel has had a good day ; but a few too many full tosses have marred his figures.
This seems to have been one over too many

So new ball is taken - one over late. Cook might be regretting that over ! Though it seemed reasonable enough to persevere with spin before he started
Could be important runs , those.

I'd be gobsmacked if Ben Stokes plays any further part in this test. That being the case it is imperative that England mop up the tail to bowl Pakistan out for closer to 250 than 300.

I stepped out of the room for a few minutes and actually didn't see the Stokes injury. But it doesn't sound good

Broad gets Yasir : surely Babar and Rahat won't detain us long ?

Anderson has Misbah

England need to wrap this up asap. Because as good a performance as having Pak 224-9 is, Pakistan won't bowl as poorly as our spinners and it is turning a lot! Could be a struggle...

CaledonianCraig wrote:I'd be gobsmacked if Ben Stokes plays any further part in this test. That being the case it is imperative that England mop up the tail to bowl Pakistan out for closer to 250 than 300.

Under 230 would be good , eh ? Last pair together...

alfie wrote:I stepped out of the room for a few minutes and actually didn't see the Stokes injury.  But it doesn't sound good

Likewise I never saw it but dislocated shoulders (unless able to pop straight back in) do not heal overnight. They take weeks.

alfie wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:I'd be gobsmacked if Ben Stokes plays any further part in this test. That being the case it is imperative that England mop up the tail to bowl Pakistan out for closer to 250 than 300.

Under 230 would be good , eh ?  Last pair together...

That would mark an excellent day for England. However, it is always wise to see how things lie once both teams have batted.

JDizzle wrote:England need to wrap this up asap. Because as good a performance as having Pak 224-9 is, Pakistan won't bowl as poorly as our spinners and it is turning a lot! Could be a struggle...

Pakistan certainly have better spinners. But after losing the toss , getting them out for around 230 would be a pretty good job...
Batting will be a challenge : but if England can grind out a decent lead then they will have a good shot at leveling the series.

Guess Rahat is a better bat than Imran

(Well I think my cat is a better bat than Imran ) ; but surely he isn't about to lead a last wicket stand of any substance ?

And Pakistan are bowled out for 234. Now it is up to England's batsmen to deliver (probably minus Ben Stokes).

Looked like stokes dislocated his shoulder to me - if so that would probably keep him out the south Africa series too.

IT'S CHRIS WOAKES TIME PEOPLE #hulluvaplaar

Jimmy wraps it up

Terrific from him and Broad. Spinners pitch ; but those two have been brilliant today.

234 may be twenty more than they should have got , in the end. But it is a hell of a lot less than you'd have expected after the coin came down the way it did.

Over to the batsmen...

This is the crucial innings of the test. England need to go big, don't fancy them chasing anything above 150 in the 4th innings against yasir

Jimmy Anderson now leading wicket taker in the series.

Remember he's only good in swinging conditions tho folks