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

[Cabinet96]

Thing is the only real alternative would've just been moving Bell or Root to open and that would've meant we'd have 4 non specialist bats in a row in a the middle order.

 

[Pothas]

I think Moeen would have scored more runs at 7 than he did opening though, and while obviously we don't know for sure but I suspect Bell would managed similar results opening to what he did at 3. Then there is the question of the possible negative impact on his bowling.

 

[Furball]

Just watching the highlights and I've seen the failed review of Rashid's googly to Wahab.

Seriously, someone explain the rationale of umpire's call when you're judging whether a batsman has been struck in line. You're tracking a known event, either a batsman is outside the line or he isn't.

 

[Cabinet96]

We know that umpires call isn't just about the technologies error margins. It's about maintaining the status quo of batsmen getting the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Furball]

When it comes to impact it's bollocks though. Where the batsman's hit is a "yes/no" question.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Broad was pictured scratching the ball and Hafeez mentioned in his presser that he has never seen reverse swing at this degree in his career. I reckon PCB should have an official word with the referee just like ECB did in the second test.

 

[cnerd123]

Just watching the highlights and I've seen the failed review of Rashid's googly to Wahab.

Seriously, someone explain the rationale of umpire's call when you're judging whether a batsman has been struck in line. You're tracking a known event, either a batsman is outside the line or he isn't.

We know that umpires call isn't just about the technologies error margins. It's about maintaining the status quo of batsmen getting the benefit of the doubt.

I think it's just that an extra addendum onto the rules that say 'Umpires call only applies to seeing if the ball would hit the stumps, but not where it pitches' would have made it too complicated. You would have people going 'Oh half the ball is outside of the line, surely it's umpires call!'

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Well we are goosed.

Not sure why Root was playing back to be honest. He doesn't like tests as number 1 so at least he won't be when we get to SA.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Will we reach 100?

 

[cnerd123]

And this Test was shaping up so well

England bat deep so there is still hope...

 

[wpdavid]

Remember how awful we were last time though, with a much better team? I think Bairstow and Stokes have both shown some good things this series. Really it has been a very good team effort let down by the spin. Rashid had pretty much gone exactly as I would have expected, I really hoped Moeen would have bowled better, so desperately want him to do well and he is probably still the best we have got but we will need to see improvement or we will have to try something else.

You are right about Bell of course, he can do the SA tour, then Vince can get a load of runs for Hampshire at the start of the season and he can replace him.

I think your main points are undeniable. They've come out of the tour with far more credit than in 2012, and the reason we'll probably lose 2-0 is the dire standard of our spinners. Maybe I'm the only one who expected Rashid to average something better than 60+, which is sort of ironic given by preference for not expecting too much from English cricket, but it's a minor point of course.

As we speak, four down. Let's hope they can manage not to completely embarrass themselves this morning.

 

[wpdavid]

And this Test was shaping up so well

England bat deep so there is still hope...

Not that it matters, but you may have forgotten that Stokes isn't fit. After these two we're into 3 bowlers who can bat a bit and then Anderson.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Terrible shot

 

[Prince EWS]

Called England losing by 150+ back after Misbah got set. A massive second innings collapse always seemed on the cards.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

smali: pakistan have their nose ahead

 

[SeamUp]

Pakistan heading for number 2 in the rankings ! Without playing any cricket at home.

For England, huge decisions to be made ahead of SA tour ?

 

[Black_Warrior]

Ok this is like the 2nd test in 2012 chasing 140.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Haha, this was not predictable at all.

 

[Black_Warrior]

smali: pakistan have their nose ahead

Must be a tiny nose that.

 

[smash84]

Woah. Pakistan, not bad