*Official* Pakistan in England and Ireland 2016

[smash84]

Time for Amir to step up, not been good enough so far this series and now that has batting has gone, if he fails here, Imran should come in the next test.

yes, tbf it was stupid to expect him to come back after 6 years of test cricket and run through sides, but he's been poor even if we take that into account. He is looking useless and definitely not very fit.

 

[Niall]

yes, tbf it was stupid to expect him to come back after 6 years of test cricket and run through sides, but he's been poor even if we take that into account. He is looking useless and definitely not very fit.

Not much swing either.

Reminding me a lot of the current Junaid Khan rather than the Amir of 2010.

 

[mr_mister]

I think he's doing okay. Not like Pakistan have ever had good tailenders so I dunno why you bring up his form with the bat

But he's averaging 35 since coming back and he's versing the quality of Cook and Root at home so I say he deserves a full series. Had a few crucial catches dropped off him too

 

[Cabinet96]

Massive issue for Pakistan that they've had Cook scoring at over five an over this series. Their lines have been awful.

 

[91Jmay]

Feel like that has made him a bit looser though. He has played lines he would normally leave when he is in great form.

 

[Dan]

Massive issue for Pakistan that they've had Cook scoring at over five an over this series. Their lines have been awful.

Sohail's 7 (8) aside, Cook has the highest strike rate of any batsman on either side this series. Striking at 74.

 

[Furball]

god cook's catching technique looks ugly

He's not a natural athlete in the slightest.

 

[Cabinet96]

Has great natural fitness tbf.

 

[Furball]

Not much swing either.

Reminding me a lot of the current Junaid Khan rather than the Amir of 2010.

Conditions this time around are much less friendly for bowling than in 2010.

 

[Cabinet96]

Sohail's 7 (8) aside, Cook has the highest strike rate of any batsman on either side this series. Striking at 74.

Maybe he's our new Warner and Hales our new Cook.

 

[Furball]

I think he's doing okay. Not like Pakistan have ever had good tailenders so I dunno why you bring up his form with the bat

But he's averaging 35 since coming back and he's versing the quality of Cook and Root at home so I say he deserves a full series. Had a few crucial catches dropped off him too

I've been been quite impressed with him given he was out the game officially for 5 years. You can still see the raw talent there, he just looks rusty as ****.

Leaving aside the debate of whether or not he should be playing (funnily enough I've mellowed a bit since he's come back) I think in an ideal world he would have had a bit more time in First Class cricket before making a Test return.

 

[mr_mister]

Hales really looks like he can't handle pace above 140km

 

[Cabinet96]

Cook has been in incredible form since April. Really disappointing he only has one test ton this year.

 

[smash84]

great start for England

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Cook has been in incredible form since April. Really disappointing he only has one test ton this year.

I'd take 99 here and a ton next week.

 

[Furball]

Hales really looks like he can't handle pace above 140km

Probably because you don't get that in County cricket.

 

[Cabinet96]

I'd take 99 here and a ton next week.

Nah. Need a daddy today.

 

[nightprowler10]

We really needed early breakthroughs but it's looking like they'll wipe the deficit without losing a wicket.

 

[Niall]

England strong favourites with the bookies right now, understandable this bowling looks pretty tepid, anything over 175 will be very hard to chase when you consider useless Younis and the tail of Pakistan.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Nah. Need a daddy today.

99 here and a few contributions from others means we are in this game on day 5. Obviously a big hundred tomorrow from him will be ideal but if we can bat till after tea tomorrow we have great chance of turning this round.