*Official* Pakistan in England and Ireland 2016

[smash84]

Root probably thought it was a bump

 

[91Jmay]

Still a very ordinary catching side. Shelled chances in UAE, SA, against Sri Lanka.

Will cost us series.

 

[wpdavid]

Superb from these two. 6 overs 3 maidens 6 runs 1 wicket

Exactly what we needed to heap pressure on Pakistan.

And then we drop the catch. Again.

 

[MW1304]

I've never been Stokes' biggest fan, but is Stokes really a certainty in the team? Sky keep saying that there's one spare spot which Woakes, Finn and Ball are fighting for because Anderson, Broad and Stokes are certainties, but in my opinion Woakes is more of a certainty than Stokes.

Yes he's a certainty. More for his batting than his bowling.

Joe was very late in reacting to that. Two very similar drops today, not ones you can be too hard on. Decent comeback from Finn. I still think we shouldn't be discussing his place yet.

 

[weldone]

Asad Shafiq is lucky. The way things are going, he's likely to face a lot of overs from Moeen.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

I've never been Stokes' biggest fan, but is Stokes really a certainty in the team? Sky keep saying that there's one spare spot which Woakes, Finn and Ball are fighting for because Anderson, Broad and Stokes are certainties, but in my opinion Woakes is more of a certainty than Stokes.

Yes he is, can change a game with bat and ball and we have seen today how we miss someone who will catch the bloody thing which Stokes does.

 

[Howe_zat]

I've never been Stokes' biggest fan, but is Stokes really a certainty in the team? Sky keep saying that there's one spare spot which Woakes, Finn and Ball are fighting for because Anderson, Broad and Stokes are certainties, but in my opinion Woakes is more of a certainty than Stokes.

When Woakes smashes a good Test attack all over the park we'll talk, until then he's competing as a bowler.

 

[glosfan94]

Yes he is, can change a game with bat and ball and we have seen today how we miss someone who will catch the bloody thing which Stokes does.

Stokes isn't consistent enough with the bat for a top 6 batsman, I genuinely think that Woakes is a better batsman and would score runs on a more consistent basis than Stokes. And catching should be a given, you don't pick someone cos they can take a slip catch.

 

[smash84]

Stokes isn't consistent enough with the bat for a top 6 batsman, I genuinely think that Woakes is a better batsman and would score runs on a more consistent basis than Stokes. And catching should be a given, you don't pick someone cos they can take a slip catch.

tell that to kyear2.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Yes England's fielding goes down a notch or two without Stokes and Anderson, which is sort of thing that often goes under the radar.

Borthwick a good, regular slip fielder as well.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Stokes isn't consistent enough with the bat for a top 6 batsman, I genuinely think that Woakes is a better batsman and would score runs on a more consistent basis than Stokes. And catching should be a given, you don't pick someone cos they can take a slip catch.

Stokes averages 40 at 6.

Woakes has once scored above 26.

 

[smash84]

Fielding has cost Pakistan so many matches its not even funny. If Pakistan even had average international level fielding their win/loss ratio would have been significantly better

 

[smash84]

misbah, relax

 

[weldone]

Woakes is being under-bowled, and Finn over-bowled.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Moeen seems to be bowling quite fast for a spinner, high 50s. Don't remember him bowling that quick so often when he wasn't averaging 40+

 

[weldone]

soft

 

[StephenZA]

Poor shot from Younis....

 

[smash84]

****

 

[Niall]

This is nearly over, Shafiq or bust.

When the hell will we get a competitive and interesting test series ?

 

[smash84]

134/4 on this belter of a pitch is really, really bad