*Official* Pakistan in England and Ireland 2016

[Black_Warrior]

I guess Cook is a far too defensive a captain to declare overnight. 311 is already enough and they might probably need the second new ball to finish Pakistan off. Would be absolutely hilarious if Pakistan hangs on with only Sohail and Rahat left after Cook takes too long to declare, only for England to be spun out by Yasir in an Oval bunsen. The salt levels would reach critical mass.

The word i would use is cautious. Both captains are cautious have been very cautious and given that this is a series between number 3 and number 4, with both sides having a brittle batting line up, this is expected and reasonable.

What the likes of Warne or Holding don't get is this. They talk from the point of view of a dominant side, clearly head and shoulders above the rest. Neither England nor Pakistan are that side.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Decent review this, kills time at least.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Wonder if any of the commentators know this happened. 3rd Test: Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Pallekele, Jul 3-7, 2015 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

Edit: This is even more relevant perhaps. 3rd Test: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Sharjah, Jan 16-20, 2014 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

Flat pitches, crap bowling, doesn't count.

 

[Jono]

Cook in being a boring ***** shocker.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Cook in being a boring ***** shocker.

Jono in being a whinging **** shocker.

 

[Cabinet96]

Does Warne not remember that Cook declared with himself and Root in the 70s last game???

 

[Cabinet96]

Flat pitches, crap bowling, doesn't count.

This pitch is flat and our spin options are worse than Sri Lanka's...

 

[Compton]

Batting 5-10 overs this morning in T20 mode was always the right call. Although I'd have been tempted to declare after that single Yasir over just for a laugh.

 

[Niall]

Wonder if any of the commentators know this happened. 3rd Test: Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Pallekele, Jul 3-7, 2015 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

Edit: This is even more relevant perhaps. 3rd Test: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Sharjah, Jan 16-20, 2014 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

Very poor bowling attacks to be fair.

Don't forget in the first example you posted it was the very average Shan Masood batting like a boss which highlights even more the mediocrity of that attack.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Jono in being a whinging **** shocker.

They keep saying the pitch is flat but he should declare, its a gettable target on a pitch like this.

 

[Daemon]

rahat

 

[Furball]

Why would Cook risk a defeat when there's still 1 Test to go?

 

[grecian]

This pitch is flat and our spin options are worse than Sri Lanka's...

This is an incredibly flat pitch it needs to be stressed again and again how ridiculously flat it is.

It's flatter than a flat pancake that has been flattened by a steam-roller, in summary it's flat, no spin, very little uneven bounce, no reverse, no conventional swing, all makes it really, really flat.

So in summary it's flat.

 

[Starfighter]

Quality fielding that

 

[Niall]

This pitch is flat and our spin options are worse than Sri Lanka's...

England's seaming attack a little better though

 

[fredfertang]

ffs declare

 

[Jono]

Jono in being a whinging **** shocker.

Nah come on this is ****.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Why would Cook risk a defeat when there's still 1 Test to go?

Exactly, may as well be 350-360 ahead and no defeat possible.

 

[hendrix]

Rahat should've been banished for dropping that catch from Wahab's spell in the WC. Worst fielder amongst a bunch of terrible fielders.

 

[Scaly piscine]

FFS just get some bat on it Woakes.