*Official* Pakistan in England 2020

[wpdavid]

What will really interest me is how well they bowl in the next test. This is brilliant stuff, but will they repeat it in the next?

Our guys were brilliant in Southampton and off the pace in Manchester. England played the same attack for the first time in this test and to me they looked jaded.

Could be that Pakistan's youth gives them an advantage in this covid affected series.

Interesting point about Pakistan's younger bowlers; I guess we'll find out.

England's problem now is that if they do decide to rest any of their bowlers, they will be replacing them with significant downgrades.

 

[91Jmay]

Friendship with Mohammad Asif cancelled. Mohammad Abbas is my new best friend.

What was the basis of your friendship with Asif, did you need some performance enhancers off him or something?

 

[Daemon]

Just saw Abbas using sweat and rubbing the seam of the ball. Looked very intentional. What's that about, aren't you supposed to keep the seam as dry as possible?

 

[honestbharani]

^^ That's a massive stretch. They choked in that match against Australia but they lost earlier in the tournament to Kenya FFS.

But Lara hit a different level post that game though. IIRC he smashed Australia around in their group game too, which was after Kenya, IIRC.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Naseem shining the ball there, got some solid hams on him. 17 ffs?...come on

 

[honestbharani]

Pak age is usually what is said + 3 though.

 

[wpdavid]

I'm following this on cricinfo, so how does the TV umpire calling the no-balls work? Is there a significant delay before the on-field umpire announces them? I'm guessing the TV ump doesn't call them via the tannoy.

 

[honestbharani]

Its a few seconds but not that bad, considering the pacing of tests.

 

[Spark]

I'm following this on cricinfo, so how does the TV umpire calling the no-balls work? Is there a significant delay before the on-field umpire announces them?

Shouldn't be that big, about 10 seconds at most.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Impressed with how full these two have bowled. Don't think there have been more than a handful of short of length balls. Naseem would be a good bet now to get the batsmen jumping around a little.

 

[honestbharani]

Good to see Pope being pro-active and positive. Only way to face this attack IMO.

 

[wpdavid]

I only just realised that Root's playing his 95th test. Depending on covid-affected schedules, he may play his 100th before his 30th birthday. Maybe Alastair Cook did that too, but there can't have been many.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Now the keeper standing up to Abbas to counter the batting outside the crease ploy. Pakistan have been very impressive!

 

[trundler]

Shades of DKL in that

 

[honestbharani]

high?

 

[trundler]

I mean he's not 17 but almost 90 MPH at a good length in his first over is pretty good. Doesn't look older than 21.

 

[honestbharani]

Abbas and Afridi are a bigger threat right now but this boy is special.

 

[vcs]

Pakistan team celebration screams are the most annoying thing ever.

 

[honestbharani]

Like how Pope is shaping up tbh.

 

[vcs]

I only just realised that Root's playing his 95th test. Depending on covid-affected schedules, he may play his 100th before his 30th birthday. Maybe Alastair Cook did that too, but there can't have been many.

Only English players have a realistic chance of racking up numbers like that.