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!

Rehan's dismissal shot described by Gower as ''over ambitious''. Quite kind that, I thought.
Hopefully the lad will learn.

All my fault for leaving the telecast for twenty minutes...

Or maybe the Curse of 111 ?

Rehan couldn't do it with the bat , apparently ? Ah well at least they are getting close to the Pakistan total. Just need Wood to manage a few more of those lusty blows...

286/7

Pakistan 304 ao. England 288/7.

In what looks to be a tight contest for a first innings lead, credit (so far anyway) to Pakistan and Rizwan in particular who have only conceded 2 extras.
Thought England had done well in only conceding 9 but even better by the hosts!

Somewhat strange handling of their bowling attack , I've felt. The two spinners arguably over bowled ; and while Wasim has had a good workout in the latter part of the day , I'm left wondering why Faheem Ashraf is in the side ?

Even spinners get tired. Reckon the one dimensional approach perhaps made things a little easier for Brook and Foakes .

New ball in nine overs...

Leaving things in your hands now, Alfie.

My daughter and her husband have somehow conned Mrs Bat and me into minding our grandkids whilst they go to a pub lunch with friends. Going to be like bowling uphill into the wind with a dodgy back to see any more cricket or the World Cup Final! 

JDizzle wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Sorry but Brook not taking the review there (even if it is plumb) is dumb cricket - you have 3 left, who are you saving it for? Jack Leach? Just take it on the off chance

Beat me to it!

Beginning to be very concerned how in sync we are on some takes

guildfordbat wrote:Leaving things in your hands now, Alfie.

My daughter and her husband have somehow conned Mrs Bat and me into minding our grandkids whilst they go to a pub lunch with friends. Going to be like bowling uphill into the wind with a dodgy back to see any more cricket or the World Cup Final! 

Bigger rookie error today - Rehan's innings with the bat or agreeing to grandad duty on the day of the bloody World Cup final from Guildford? Close one

guildfordbat wrote:Leaving things in your hands now, Alfie.

My daughter and her husband have somehow conned Mrs Bat and me into minding our grandkids whilst they go to a pub lunch with friends. Going to be like bowling uphill into the wind with a dodgy back to see any more cricket or the World Cup Final! 

OK , Guildford...got it now

300 on the board - more than I feared they might manage when Pope got out ! Good to see they can do it with nothing from Root and a couple of others falling cheaply.

Level now ...and four ahead and counting ! Wood has his eye in...

Any runs they add now will start to really hurt Pakistan.

England into the lead with a good blow from Mark Wood - a sensible knock from him, gave himself some time to get his eye in and has then accelerated. Foakes happy to play supporting role for the moment, but if he's still there when Robinson/Leach get in, I'd like to see him push the accelerator.

Lets see if we can get this lead up to 50 odd!

Oh rats...I was enjoying the Mark Wood Show...

Good catch : and another wicket for Abrar .

Let's see how Robinson reacts to being shuffled down the order

Well that's ticked another one of guildford's boxes...350 up !

Very useful last wicket stand ...took the lead from miniscule to modest. All out 354 - well played Robinson

Lead of 50 - not match winning, but a handy one, nice work from Wood/Robinson along with Foakes to add those runs.

And Guildford, when he gets away from the grandkids, will be happy to see that England get a few overs at the openers tonight who only get the 10 minute turnaround time after a full day in the field!

Yes I imagine England will be quite pleased to have a few overs at Pakistan tonight. Be very handy if they can get a wicket or two...

Here we go.

Pakistan openers did well to get through unscathed ... wiped off 21 of the 50 deficit. Maybe makes it marginally their day but really nothing in it. Game very nicely poised - still.

Think they will be pleased anyway - because overnight I thought they were in danger of being batted out of it today ; and that didn't happen. Of course half way through the day they looked like having a lead so the game has been swinging about quite merrily !

I'm sure England will feel confident they can chase whatever Pakistan are able to set them - whether they will might have to wait for a day or two

Yet another "interesting" day in prospect tomorrow...

Hmm...nearly caught me out here - started five minutes early for some reason.

Root opened and conceded three boundaries - though the first of them was an uncontrolled slice which went wide of slip. Other two well hit by Shan Masood.

Wood to go from the other end...

Deficit getting run down pretty rapidly as Masood goes after Root...launched him for a straight six now...

41/0 off twelve. Twenty in three overs this morning... Anyone would think McCullum was coaching Pakistan

Nearly had Shafique then , as an attempted pull bounced off short leg's shoulder and just failed to carry to square leg ! Plenty of action.

Here's Leach replacing Root.

Pakistan into the lead...but losing Masood to a reverse sweep that was under edged onto his stumps...

And drama follows ! Azhar Ali almost emulates Bradman , as he is honour guarded to the wicket for his last Test innings : only to be clean bowled fourth ball by a superb Leach delivery !

53/2.

As an England supporter , I am glad to have the double break...but a bit sad for Azhar.

Took a special ball to do him though. Leach on song early today

And now Leach has Shafique as well ! Skids on , stone dead lbw for a well made but all too short innings of 26 and Pakistan in big trouble at 54/3...

Shakeel joins Babar and this really is the big stand for them. He saves the hat trick , at least. But has a lot to do , with fielders still clustered around the bat.

As they well might be ! Ball doing plenty now...Leach beats Shakeel and Foakes for four byes with another one that keeps low ...

Didn't expect much company on here this UK morning ,after all the football excitement ...but has been a significant watch...

Only twelve overs bowled , forty nine runs and three big wickets. Leach really bowling well...and Wood's energetic spell was a useful counterpoint. He has given way to Robinson now as Stokes continues the "varied" attack. No real reverse on show yet.

Shakeel has started with intent...couple of boundaries already. Pakistan can't just try to survive so good approach.

76/3 after 23.

Robinson might be finding a hint of reverse now. Bowling a good testing spell...has gone past Babar a couple of times , and not allowing runs.

Leach also being treated very watchfully. Shakeel got a bit frustrated then and lofted one over mid on , not entirely under control.

Good contest at the moment. 91/3.

Robinson short ball now clangs Shakeel on the helmet so a bit of a delay...

Oh this is not a smart review...too far down the track , surely ? Probably hitting but won't be given...

OK , was indeed too far down but they keep the review. So no harm done. Good bowling again :Babar very careful against Leach.

Wood's turn again now. Still no Rehan Ahmed this morning ...sorry Olly

The school kids are on the move into the grandstand , as lunch looms...

99/3 so the lead is up to 49. Has been a very hard fought session...this stand 45 ; with Babar very watchful , Shakeel rather more aggressive. One more over , perhaps ?

No , that's it for now. Just 24 overs bowled (blame the concussion check ?) but all quite fascinating. Back in forty...

alfie wrote:Didn't expect much company on here this UK morning ,after all the football excitement ...but has been a significant watch...

Only twelve overs bowled , forty nine runs and three big wickets. Leach really bowling well...and Wood's energetic spell was a useful counterpoint. He has given way to Robinson now as Stokes continues the "varied" attack. No real reverse on show yet.

Shakeel has started with intent...couple of boundaries already. Pakistan can't just try to survive so good approach.

76/3 after 23.

Ok, ok Alfie - with you now, Alfie, and oh yes it has been. Just watched the first session highlights. Pleased to have 3 down but, perhaps being greedy, disappointed not to have any in the last hour and a bit of play.

See Stokes is having a first bowl since T1 - right? No Rehan though, any reason given?

Btw, you did a good job yesterday getting us to 350+ whilst I was on grandad duties! Lead of 50 might well be influential.

Ha...didn't think we would make it until Robinson started teeing off .

A useful lead - looking more useful as those wickets fell this morning. Really don't want to chase too many with Abrar on the job.

Not sure why no Ahmed . Think Stokes wants to keep it fairly tight and prey on their nerves a bit . Leach was looking likely throughout so guess he didn't want to go all spin in case they got a bit of a release.

Good to see Stokes is fit to bowl anyway. This partnership very important for Pakistan so this session another big one...

This partnership seems to have bedded in nicely now though. Batting starting to look pretty comfortable - something it really wasn't before lunch. Older ball , I guess. And I suppose Leach might be just a little weary after bowling right through.

Lead up to 80 so England probably won't be getting the simple short stroll to victory that was briefly looking possible this morning.

Wonder if we will see Rehan soon ?

Thought we might see this - Foakes standing up to the seamers. Really nothing in the pitch for them at present.

Well - he stood up to Stokes ; probably won't do so for Wood

Still holding off on Rehan. Lot of work for the seamers , hoping for that elusive reverse.

This has been really good from Shakeel - who has had a good series. Babar looks pretty solid too , and this stand has settled a lot of Pakistan nerves.

Rehan given the nod for next over , I think ? Time for Olly to log on...

Babar and Shakeel both looking well set and advancing towards 50.

Hoping Rehan can do something but have to feel it would have been easier for him and probably better for England if he had come on when Pakistan were floundering at 54/3. Like to feel I would have thought that at the time - I was kipping then - rather than just hindsight.

Beginning to look like a decent chase batting last on this I think. Pakistan probably slightly ahead?

The Rehan / Pope combo gets another wicket but, fair to say, it was better bowling in the first dig. That said, they all count!

Rehan does the trick ! Hope Olly is watching...

Not a great ball but who cares ? Getting wickets with rubbish is part of the wrist spinner's art

Babar was cruising , catching up Shakeel after giving him a start .A big wicket .

Pope again catching for Rehan ...think he should buy him a glass or two

Poor Ollie really has been put through it in the field this series

Good fifty for Shakeel - again. Got stuck there for a while but on to the milestone now

Now will Rizwan take the bowlers on straight away ? Lead of 117 getting healthier ; but a bit of a tail not too far off...

But that is a really great bit of spin bowling ! Rizwan caught behind the ball after being apparently dropped at short cover ...reckon Rehan would prefer this dismissal anyway

Crawley will feel better now.

Tide turns again ... 176/5

...nearly another one as he beats Salman all ends up first ball...

Young spinner has come on at the perfect time , eh ?

Rehan spinning England to victory one way or another. Really has turned the game on its head now

Three now for Rehan the Wrecker...and it's Shakeel this time ! Ill judged sweep goes aerial , easy catch at square leg and Pakistan slump to 177/6...

Golden arm Root joins the party. 7 down for effective 128

All 7 wickets going to spinners will give Abrar some hope. But think Pakistan would want to defend 200 at least

I can't believe work has got in the way of me seeing a Rehan masterclass. Tears in my eyes watching the highlights tonight

After Root got Faheem so quickly after tea it appeared the innings could be over rapidly...but Nauman Ali and Salman are not going down without a fight.

Added 28 in eight overs. They'd need a few more to get anything defendable , you'd think. Wickets have fallen in clumps.

Wood for a change up...

Here's Wood - good call ... ok, well it would have been mine. 

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:I can't believe work has got in the way of me seeing a Rehan masterclass. Tears in my eyes watching the highlights tonight

Ha...you will need a boxed set of highlights today , Olly

Excellent review ! Well bowled Mark Wood ...and well done to convince Stokes to take the call

Have to say I liked it , live...much better than Atherton did

A wicket for Wood - gets Nauman lbw on review which they didn't seem too keen to take! Obvious but so valuable having his pace to bowl at this tail. Can't leave it all to spin, sorry Olly! 

Reckon Wood has been really good today . Nothing doing for him off the pitch , but he's just kept hammering away , giving it everything each over. Has been a big factor in pressuring the bats , great assistance to the spinners at the other end.

He has grown in stature this year , for mine. Like a few of his teammates , I guess. Hasn't generally done as well at home so will be interesting to see how he performs this coming summer...

...and four for Rehan ! Tempted Wasim...easy catch mid off. Good bowling to the tail...

Nearly done.

Will be a bit of work for England still to do but this has been rather tame from Pakistan since the Babar Shakeel partnership was broken. Some good balls in there but on the whole they've rather thrown a good position away

Yesssss

Five on debut for Rehan Ahmed

Olly will be buying for the bar...

165 to win.

167 , actually . But you'd think they'll fancy that.

Won't be going five days this time .

Tricky target but it should be well below par for England to chase