The summer of cricket 2020

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A very strong position for England with runs on the board and a series lead in hand.

Pakistan going to have to produce something special from here to rescue the series

Still 68 overs left in the day, and 90 minutes till tea. Thin chance of rain around 4ish, otherwise it looks clear. If the light remains good and it stays dry, England should be targeting another 7-8 wickets before stumps.

Duty281 wrote:Still 68 overs left in the day, and 90 minutes till tea. Thin chance of rain around 4ish, otherwise it looks clear. If the light remains good and it stays dry, England should be targeting another 7-8 wickets before stumps.

Given the dire forecasts for the next two days , you'd think they really need to have at least two or three second innings wickets by the close tonight ; so I hope you're right !

This partnership really is the key because that Pakistan tail is not what you'd call solid , even if it did wag a bit last week.

Root will want to rotate his pace men with a second innings in mind , so important Bess bowls a good spell. At least he doesn't have to worry about the odd loose ball with 500 runs up their sleeve so can afford to attack...

Would be nice Duty but its ambitious. The wicket Bess did get was the left hander, although hes still flighting it a bit more than he has for most of the summer.

Pakistan do have a tail, but how about this one from England ...
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/15816/scorecard/63842/england-vs-new-zealand-2nd-test-new-zealand-tour-of-england-1999
Test averages from 5 on ..
27, 8, 10, 8, 5, 5

Ambitious, yet possible if we get all the overs in. A pretty rubbish tail, followed by the new ball at the openers again.

But I do think the light will curtail things early, and there's some dark clouds about to come over the ground.

Rizwan's started off well. Good defence.

Rizwan is one Pakistan player whose stock has risen in this series. Been good with bat and gloves.

England having to work to get this next wicket : but you'd think once they do the last four might go down pretty quickly.

I see dark clouds , but also intermittent sunshine...weird weather . Who knows what it will actually do tomorrow ?

Gooseberry wrote:

alfie wrote:And Bess has the breakthrough...nice piece of bowling

And to everyone's relief , Buttler managed to hang on to that catch

Pressure back on Pskistan...

Before Guilford gets on and mentions it Foakes took 3 catches for Surrey

And Foakes is batting well (brilliantly well by current Surrey standards). Currently 11 not out against Kent and the mighty Darren Stevens.

Just back and catching up. Handy bowling by Bess and decent snaffle by Buttler.

PS Good paragraph breaks.

50 for Azhar Ali. He's finally shown up this summer with a very polished and defiant innings, keeping Pakistan's hopes of a draw alive.

Not that its really an issue but the runs are flowing now. It takes some pressure of Azhar but in context of the game at least means they are playing shots. Wickets is everything from here.

These two have done really well...have just about seen off the Anderson/Archer twin attack without any real alarms so Root will have some thinking to do. Azhar hasn't been great in England ; but he's played well today
Think we should see Bess and one of the seamers now , unless the skipper fancies giving his own golden arm a try.

It's Woakes ...

Big 15 minutes for these two to see out. If they manage it, England will be rather deflated at the interval, with only two wickets to show for their efforts today.

Those wasted reviews nearly cost them then...that was very close. Umpires call on height so they wouldn't have won it , but would have kept the review.

Bess on as expected. Think we are also seeing some similarity with the England innings ...that this is a bit of a "new ball" pitch , which doesn't offer the bowlers a lot as gets softer. Patience on all sides the key now...

Yes, agree with that. A pretty lifeless pitch, but the new ball does plenty of damage. After that it's tough for the bowlers. Not much evidence of deterioration either.

England 23 overs away from another new ball in this innings, if they need it. They'll still hope to have it wrapped up by then!

alfie wrote:Those wasted reviews nearly cost them then...that was very close. Umpires call on height so they wouldn't have won it , but would have kept the review.

Bess on as expected.  Think we are also seeing some similarity with the England innings ...that this is a bit of a "new ball" pitch , which doesn't offer the bowlers a lot as gets softer.  Patience on all sides the key now...

I thought that was out in real time. Sounds like we've mucked up our reviews - poor doing that, especially with 3 this summer.

This is where they would be hoping Archers pace would be the key difference, but although they havent always been comfortable with it, and been close including one of those dodgy reviews, it hasn't bought results. Feel a bit for Woakes who doesnt get a sniff of the new ball but hasn't bowled his best with the old one.
A leggie or a left armer might have a bit more threat than Bess in these circumstances but whoever it is I guess we just have to try and tighten things up a bit and put the pressure back on the batsmen. They are scoring far too easily against all the bowlers now.

Duty281 wrote:Yes, agree with that. A pretty lifeless pitch, but the new ball does plenty of damage. After that it's tough for the bowlers. Not much evidence of deterioration either.

England 23 overs away from another new ball in this innings, if they need it. They'll still hope to have it wrapped up by then!

Might need that new ball ! Not a lot happening at present. Bess not really threatening ; and Woakes seems to me to be showing the effects of four successive games without a rest - he's looked a bit innocuous in this innings.

Still one wicket could easily bring five. Nearly got one last ball before tea as that sneaks past the bat...but Pakistan go to tea with five still in hand. Well played Azhar and Rizwan

Nearly the breakthrough for Bess on the last ball of the session, but Azhar Ali survives.

Excellent application from these two batsmen. Rizwan coming out of this series with great credit.

Final session could last up to 195 minutes with 47 overs remaining (minus two if Pakistan get bowled out). England need those last five wickets promptly.

This next scalp proving elusive. Archer having a go after tea ; but despite the commentators talking up his threat with extra pace - and the excitement he often generates - he doesn't actually have a notable record as a partnership breaker. Even in his very good Ashes last year his wickets were generally taken either in a bunch at the top of the innings or in the decapitation of the tail. Right now I'd be saving his energy to go at this tail - if they can get past these two !

Broad came close last over. Warne wants Bess back on...not sure what goose thinks

Broad bowled a decent few overs, but it's so lifeless out there for the bowlers. Bess coming on again. 14 overs till the new ball, just starting to get the sense that England are waiting for that.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Root turning his arm over soon.

Really missing Stokes out there. He's a great partnership breaker. Lead under 400 now.

Foakes watch. 50 not out. No real significance as regards England but should keep Soul cheering his man.

Duty281 wrote:Broad bowled a decent few overs, but it's so lifeless out there for the bowlers. Bess coming on again. 14 overs till the new ball, just starting to get the sense that England are waiting for that.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Root turning his arm over soon.

Really missing Stokes out there. He's a great partnership breaker. Lead under 400 now.

Was just thinking that myself. He seems to have the knack of getting a bouncer in the right place , or suddenly finding an edge.
Don't see much point in having Archer pounding the back half of the pitch as they mostly just go over the batsman's heads. They ain't going to hook.

If something doesn't give soon Pakistan will be well on the way to securing a draw (provided the weather forecast is reasonably accurate).

93 now for Azhar. Deserves a century.

This is the type of pitch that if this game were being played in the UAE we’d be calling it “bad for the game”. 13 wickets through the best part of three days, and 3/4 of them were gifted to part timers with the first innings score well past 500...

Might do something by day five - weather will probably deprive us of seeing that though

guildfordbat wrote:Foakes watch. 50 not out.  No real significance as regards England but should keep Soul cheering his man.

Haha... Maybe not immediate interest to England ; but Foakes really needed to get some runs after his pretty thin returns last season for Surrey. Will help his confidence - and a good effort coming off a prolonged period of nothing but nets

Fifty for Rizwan , with a six ! Well played.

But Bess shouldn't mind seeing him do that. Keep tossing it up and maybe he might miscue one...

All things considered, I would be inclined to try a couple of overs of leg spin from Sibley. Something different, unexpected and not as if it's going to do any harm.

Meanwhile, a deserved fifty for Rizwan. He's a gutsy competitor which you have to like.

Rizwan brings up 50 in a confident manner...and it suddenly looks an awful lot darker again.

Sibley ? Hmm...might be worth a try - we don't have Denly , alas

But it's the Lesser Spotted Chris Woakes with ball in hand now...

Eight more to the new ball.

Fine fighting innings from Azhar Ali who brings up his century. First test ton abroad for him in just over three years.

Given his side every chance of saving this one.

Splendid hundred for Azhar

Real captain's knock...brought Pakistan back from looming disaster to this promising position.

Maybe he will go on to 260 and Rizwan 150 and England will be battling out the last day...

alfie wrote:Splendid hundred for Azhar

Real captain's knock...brought Pakistan back from looming disaster to this promising position.

Maybe he will go on to 260 and Rizwan 150 and England will be battling out the last day...

We might start thinking that if they see off the new ball!

A big 100 under no small amount of pressure.

Should probably bang it in short, it’s really working

alfie wrote:Sibley ? Hmm...might be worth a try -  we don't have Denly , alas  

But it's the Lesser Spotted Chris Woakes with ball in hand now...

Eight more to the new ball.

Yeah, I was thinking of Sibley as a substitute for the departed Denly. Just something different. Again Root doesn't take my advice. Mind you, he didn't do badly with his declaration last night.

As you, Alfie, and Duty have said, we're desperately missing Stokes at this point.

Came out of nowhere that one. Good grab from Buttler.

Tail exposed just before the new ball is available.

Aha...the old Leg Side Strangle

Woakes will take it ! Fine catch by Buttler...and the desperately needed break is made !

Rizwan did a great job...but he's gone at an inopportune time for his team : New ball in four overs won't be what Yasir was hoping for...

Don't imagine we'll be playing until 19:30 with how gloomy it looks out there, but England should be confident of getting at least the final four wickets before stumps tonight.

That was a fine catch. Some way down legside and travelling. Someone else would have been proud of that one.

All rounders usually see a boost in one discipline when they excel in the other

GSC wrote:All rounders usually see a boost in one discipline when they excel in the other

True, Alam lasted a bit longer with the bat after his bowling heroics

Needs a bit of magic from someone with the new ball. And then again with the next new one. Light is probably going to end today early, and tomorrow is not looking good. Think draw is becoming the favourite, and the overs with the new balls will be Englands last chance.

Here's the new ball and here's James Anderson with it on 597 wickets.

Hopefully, England can take the last four wickets inside 10 overs and inject some life into the game.

New ball arrives...and taken immediately . Let us see if Jimmy can do some magic with it...

If they don't wrap this innings soonish the draw will indeed look the likely result . Which would be a disappointment from the position after a few minutes this morning !

Not Anderson, but Broad who delivers.

Sharp from Root in the slips. Now into the proper tailenders.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:This is the type of pitch that if this game were being played in the UAE we’d be calling it “bad for the game”. 13 wickets through the best part of three days, and 3/4 of them were gifted to part timers with the first innings score well past 500...

Might do something by day five - weather will probably deprive us of seeing that though

Touch unfair Olly, at least we have a ball with a seam that lasts more than 10 overs and some humidity to help with movement. Not slow by any means either, and if England had picked the left armer he'd be bowling into some rough., Its not quite as flat as what Aus have been playing on, or some of the lasercut puddings from the UAE. The problem England are facing is they only have one bowler who's really got much for the dead period, their spinner really is on a hiding to nothing bowling at right handers. We are seeing why they wanted to pick two quicks, just maybe they did it for the wrong test! Archers been a bit unlucky and caused a fair bit of drama through the day, hit the batsmen a lot. Probably should've mixed it up a bit more but deserves a W. Indeed its hard to understand how Broad avoided getting a wicket so far too.

England do need to learn to play in these conditions, so from a development point of view its not a bad thing, and if we don't get a result its down to the weather not the pitch.

And as I say it Broad does get a wicket!

Actually Broad with the magic ball

Excellent catch Joe Root and now the three number elevens are all that Azhar will have in support...

Well I thought that was out in real time...maybe a slight deflection from the bat? Yes. Another superb decision from Gough.

Oh that's stupendous from Buttler. What a test match he's having. England are two away.

Buttler's having a good match

That was a terrific catch ! Eight down now...

Paging Guilford....how many has Foakes got?

What a take, Jos!

Duty281 wrote:Oh that's stupendous from Buttler. What a test match he's having. England are two away.

Definitely. Did so well to get to the ball one handed and then hold on as he hit the deck.

Gooseberry wrote:Paging Guilford....how many has Foakes got?

87 and still going. Just lost your man Rikki Clarke, so he's shepherding a poor tail.