England's Winter of Cricket 2022/23

First topic message reminder :

Of course we have the World T20 covered in a separate thread, but I thought we should have a new one for England's upcoming games this winter, which feature:

Three ODIs in Australia (17th-22nd November)
Three tests in Pakistan (1st-21st December)
Three ODIs in South Africa (27th January-1st February)
Two tests in New Zealand (16th-28th February)
Three ODIs in Bangladesh (March)

Looking forward to the tests, but I think the ODIs will be instantly forgettable!

Azhar Ali ..."beware the injured batsman" is a bit of a saying ...

Jimmy will have his tail up after that big wicket. Few more catchers gathering around...

All class from Anderson to get Rizwan, but clearly England playing with the time element in mind - just 6 overs in 30 minutes since the resumption.

Robinson strikes and Shakeel gone ...great catch by Jennings

Smart bowling change too. England getting right back into this now as the tail looms...

alfie wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:Pakistan playing for the draw now which is a shame given the opportunity that was presented them.

I don't think they are just looking for the draw though. Sure they have been very careful ; but I think they fancy their chances of scoring briskly enough against the England spinners so weren't too worried about a slow first hour.

The way they've attacked Jacks in particular here suggests they are far from giving up on the chase just yet.

Good day all,

With the benefit of some/total [delete one as you consider] hindsight, Pakistan astutely recognised that England's spinners can bowl all day if they're on top but the seamers can't. 

Backing that up, Jimmy has done wonderfully well - stifling the batsmen and getting amongst the wickets. 2/21 off 15 but how many more can he bowl today?

... And with those rather pessimistic thoughts, Robinson changes the look of things and swings the game England's way with the wicket of Shakeel!! Good take by sub Jennings.

A lot on Salman now - with Azhar a bit handicapped. He played well in the first innings so who knows how he will handle this ...but there is certainly a different order of pressure today.

Only another 140 required , which isn't a lot while these two are together but starts to look imposing if another wicket were to fall.

I like the all pace attack since lunch but at some point Stokes will have to go to his spinners again : he would love to have one of these out before he does so !

Bloody good game this has turned into - right in the balance.

Azhar has actually picked up a few quick runs - all nudged down to third man. Maybe need to bowl straighter to him ?

But Robinson seems resolved to dangle the ball outside off - with the odd "surprise " inducker. They are on the attack.

Ooh that's a ripper from Stokes to Salman ! Did well not to nick it...

Well now, i could not have been more wrong. Pakistan still going for the win. Right in the balance this one.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Bloody good game this has turned into - right in the balance.

Hasn't it ! I think I recall you were suggesting shaking hands on a draw after a couple of days , Olly . Reckon we might all want to revise our posts from earlier !

Drink break with the game still very much in the balance.

alfie wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Bloody good game this has turned into - right in the balance.

Hasn't it ! I think I recall you were suggesting shaking hands on a draw after a couple of days , Olly . Reckon we might all want to revise our posts from earlier !

Drink break with the game still very much in the balance.

That's what usually happens on pitches like these Alfie! I didn't fancy watching a re-run of the final two days from Aus/Pak last year, but England have really turned this into a belting contest

Seems Stokes has zero faith in the spinners. No spin since the resumption and the three seamers, including himself, being bowled into the ground.

alfie wrote:Imam gone !  Glanced Anderson behind and well taken by a diving Pope

Just what the doctor ordered...

89/3 and Rizwan joins us so Azhar Ali is padded up as the next man in.  England would like to get Rizwan quickly as he can score at a good rate.

Just finished catching up on today's highlights (so far). Yep, fine catch by Pope. Up until today at least, Jacks has taken the headlines as the star stand in. That's understandably correct but Pope also merits a shout for more than competently deputising for Foakes. He's already kept for more than 230 overs and his name features in six of the fifteen Pakistan dismissals.

Still Stokes as the ball is clearly reversing at the moment ... but he might be getting a bit weary. Maybe Jimmy again for a few overs : yes , here he is again...can he produce some more magic ? Break this stand and I think England would fancy this...

Real battle here with Azhar , using all his experience , injured hand or no.

Duty281 wrote:Seems Stokes has zero faith in the spinners. No spin since the resumption and the three seamers, including himself, being bowled into the ground.

Can see why though. Ball is reversing , which it won't do forever. And if they can break this pair we are looking at tailenders who are a lot less likely to carve up the spinners. Neither Leach nor Jacks offered much threat or control earlier so his reluctance to re- introduce them is understandable,

Of course it may be harder for Azhar to get after the spinners , given his injury. Imagine we will see sooner or later in any case as Jimmy can't bowl all day...

If we take my earlier estimate of 50 overs play left after lunch as correct, then there are 31 overs remaining, so the required rate is still below 4. But the over rate has been slow, so might be fewer than 31 left.

Anderson still beating the bat...has been an epic bowling effort on this dead strip but he will need to rest soon...as will Stokes , surely.

This pair edging the advantage back towards the home team but the way this has swung around today you'd be mad trying to predict .

New ball in another seven overs by the way.

Missing?! That's a complete joke. There's barely any bounce in this wicket.

Hard to believe that so much bounce was in this strip...but I did fear it when I saw how far from the stumps he was. Didn't think that high though !

And now a (tough) dropped catch by Pope ...

Cricket Gods have deserted England I fear. Still some 86 runs needed. But it's looking pretty good for the home team- and to be fair these two have played rather well.

Wonder how late we will be able to play in the last session ?

Incredibly sluggish session. Just 25 overs in about two and a quarter hours, slowed up by the overs being almost entirely seam and those three third umpire checks at the end. Safe to say England weren't exactly rushing through either.

Maybe about 20 overs left?

If the light fades as it has on the other days , twenty overs might be stretching it...though if the spinners are bowling a bit maybe they'll get through a few more.

I can't see Stokes risking Jacks with these two batting , to be honest. Yes he got six in the first innings , but he was just going for too many runs and to salvage this now I think they can't afford quick scoring with minimal risk.

Pakistan can happily push for a win with these two together : what will they do if one falls though ?

Still all to play for.

Going to have to be spin from at least one end for the duration, I think.

alfie wrote:If the light fades as it has on the other days , twenty overs might be stretching it...though if the spinners are bowling a bit maybe they'll get through a few more.

I can't see Stokes risking Jacks with these two batting , to be honest. Yes he got six in the first innings , but he was just going for too many runs and to salvage this now I think they can't afford quick scoring with minimal risk.

Pakistan can happily push for a win with these two together : what will they do if one falls though ?

Still all to play for.

With the risk that Jacks would be more likely than others to go for 20+ in an over, IF he were to bowl again I think it should be about now with more than 80 still needed rather than 50 or 60.

Got him this time ! Good review ...damned if I know how it wasn't given out in the first place ? Never mind : Robinson has broken the stubborn stand and hope springs ...

That has whacked off stump! It’s deviated miles!

Don't know how the bail didn't dislodge there.

The wicket has probably meant that Pakistan will aim to block it out now and time is England's enemy. An hour left?

Now : what will Azhar do ? Close up or push on ?

As Naseem survives his first ball from Robinson actually clipping the stumps but the bails are glued on !

Robinson has been superb - what a bowler

Go on lads!

Robinson strikes again...and it is Azhar !!!

Seven down and just the rabbits left. What a turnaround since tea...

Now : three to get. Or 83 runs...

That declaration looking a bit better

alfie wrote:Robinson strikes again...and it is Azhar !!!

Seven down and just the rabbits left. What a turnaround since tea...

Now : three to get. Or 83 runs...

That declaration looking a bit better

England batted too long in the third innings…!

Looks as if Pakistan have abandoned the chase - understandably. Question now becomes whether England can winkle out the last three before nightfall...

Might now be a case for some loopy spin from one end ? Imagine we will see pace for a few more yet first.

I would get Root on, he is handy at picking up the wickets in these situations

I’d struggle to go away from the seamers the way it is reversing at the moment. With the movement on show, you could go bang bang.

Oh Jimmy

Outstanding catch by Pope.

Mahmood had a good defence, but tickles one down the leg side. Great take from Pope.

30-45 minutes left? Seamers may not have much longer.

What a blinder by Pope

Jimmy on the charge///

And he's on a hat trick now !

Oh Jimmy again

WOAH JIMMY JIMMY!

That was a harsh call, but England on the verge.

Duty281 wrote:Mahmood had a good defence, but tickles one down the leg side. Great take from Pope.

30-45 minutes left? Seamers may not have much longer.

Might not need much longer

It's coming home

Not sure how Naseem survived that Stokes over!

Oh dear ... Pope and Root have caught so well today but let that one go ... ouch.

Drinks with half an hour left ?

Ah no, chance not gone for by Pope off Stokes - that might have been it!

Perfect time for drinks for Pakistan. In fairness, if they were going for the win then England would have welcomed a drinks break.

Have to praise these two tail enders ...resisting like Jimmy and Monty at Cardiff !

Time for spin...

Getting tight now...light is usually gone about twenty minutes from now.

New ball time ? It should bounce a bit more which could help Leach as well as the pace men .

Stokes seems to be rushing a bit too much. Better to stick to the proper rhythm.

Talk about tense.

alfie wrote:Have to praise these two tail enders ...resisting like Jimmy and Monty at Cardiff !

Time for spin...

Turns out its less fun when you're playing the part of the Aussies

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Ah no, chance not gone for by Pope off Stokes - that might have been it!

Will be cruel if that is the last chance they get...but it isn't ....

Leach has his man ... Surely that is dead ? Yes....no bat , must be out ...

England win !