**Official** Pakistan and England in the UAE 2015/16

[OverratedSanity]

The so-called "Clouderson" now averages below 30 in the Pak/SL/India/UAE.

 

[harsh.ag]

 

[Prince EWS]

Are Moeen, Rashid, and Patel really the three best spinners England have?

Worrying if that is the case.

There's no way Samit is better than Batty on bowling alone. Patel's been picked because he's a different sort of spinner to the other two and (like the other two) is a frontline batsman in domestic cricket. He's scarcely more of a bowler than Joe Root though, really. Ansari is definitely a better bowler even by that criteria and he was picked head of Samit originally but got injured.

Comparing someone like Batty, Kerrigan or Riley to Moeen and Rashid is difficult, but I think the best way to describe the Moeen/Rashid situation is that there is definitely no-one conclusively better as a bowler alone, and the two in possession have other things going for them. Batty, Kerrigan and Riley are probably around the same standard, but Moeen and Rashid are much better batsmen than any of them, have much more experience than Riley and have much more scope for improvement than Batty. Kerrigan takes lots of wickets in domestic cricket but just doesn't look as much of a bowler as these two, even when he actually is taking wickets and not getting the yips on Test debut.

 

[Athlai]

Yeah Cribbs right, Jeetan Patel is England's top spinner.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah Cribbs right, Jeetan Patel is England's top spinner.

Yeah this is no joke. I think Moeen's got a lot to work with in his bowling if he sticks at it, but Jeets is far better than all their eligible options at the moment.

 

[Howe_zat]

The so-called "Clouderson" now averages below 30 in the Pak/SL/India/UAE.

Has he played in Pakistan?

 

[Athlai]

Yeah this is no joke. I think Moeen's got a lot to work with in his bowling if he sticks at it, but Jeets is far better than all their eligible options at the moment.

 

[fredfertang]

If Samit is bowling for 16 overs surely Root is worth a go?

 

[OverratedSanity]

Has he played in Pakistan?

I think so. They had a tour in 07 where he did well didn't he?

Edit: Nah, got him mixed up with Steyn, who had a gun series in 07.

I just didn't want to use the term subcontinent since UAE technically isn't in the SC

 

[fredfertang]

I claim the credit for that

 

[Howe_zat]

Lovely. Two catches so far for Bluey, he's done well

 

[flibbertyjibber]

That will do.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Lovely. Two catches so far for Bluey, he's done well

Yeah, not noticed him which is a good sign.

 

[Woodster]

Well perseverance with Patel has paid off!! A wicket-taking delivery seemingly out of nowhere, decent nut from Patel.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Good stuff from England. Gotta get Anderson/Broad in tandem vs Sarfraz imo.

 

[Howe_zat]

I think so. They had a tour in 07 where he did well didn't he?

Nah England haven't played in Pakistan since 2005-6 when the attack was Hoggard, Harmison, Jones/Plunkett. Reckon Anderson might have played a few ODIs then but that's all

 

[fredfertang]

Pakistani supporters making a decent amount of noise - hoping it doesn't inspire their team

 

[Cabinet96]

Tbf to Samit he's kept it much tighter than either Moeen or Adil have in first innings this series.

 

[Howe_zat]

Anyone know which end is the Pavilion and which is the 'Sharjah club end'? I want to make a post about the number if runs scored from this end in the session.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Tbf to Samit he's kept it much tighter than either Moeen or Adil have in first innings this series.

Not hard really given how Moeen and Rashid have bowled on days 1-4 of both the previous tests.