***Official*** England in Pakistan

[superkingdave]

In that case why wasn't he subbed for Plunkett? Is he able to bowl?

he'll be able to bowl - he had his ankle strapped and is on now, its more a long term worry

 

[aussie]

this pitch is a real belter, england better had get their lines & lengths right or else pakistan will get this total

 

[Jamee999]

Jimmy!

 

[Barney Rubble]

he'll be able to bowl - he had his ankle strapped and is on now, its more a long term worry

Sounds a lot like the injury that nearly caused him to miss the Ashes, to me. Uh-oh.

 

[aussie]

wonderful Fred has the ball, time for some sanity

 

[Jamee999]

Damn doubt, as Pickup would say "Muffins, Muffins, Cupcakes"

 

[shaka]

10 off the over so far is sanity?

 

[Josh]

Haha Flintoff you tool!! SLAPPED!!

 

[Scaly piscine]

I wish England would rest Flintoff from bowling, anyway seems like another overly batsman friendly pitch.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Flintoff is clearly injured/knackered/both, he wouldn't be going at ten an over if he wasn't. Get him off, even if we end up losing because of it then saving him from injury is worth the sacrifice.

 

[PY]

Agreed, use Collingwood if you need to. Maybe medium pacers will be harder to go hard at?

 

[Barney Rubble]

Agreed, use Collingwood if you need to. Maybe medium pacers will be harder to go hard at?

Worrying thing is, past Blackwell and Collingwood, we have no other options. Not even Vaughan, Bell or Pietersen - the closest thing we have is Trescothick or Solanki. Strauss and Prior certainly aren't going to be contributing.

 

[Nate]

Flintoff is clearly injured/knackered/both, he wouldn't be going at ten an over if he wasn't.

Or maybe he`s just not bowling very well?

England did very well to get such a large total, but it looks like Pakistan are set to chase it down.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Or maybe he`s just not bowling very well?

I considered that, but the fact is he hasn't bowled badly at any point in the last two years, so it's simply a less likely scenario than the injury/tiredness excuses! Sounds bizarre, but he just never seems to have off day at the moment.

 

[shaka]

Flintoff was fine to score 72* though.

 

[ClownSymonds]

Great 50 from Younis Khan. The running has been crazy - 3 or 4 calls for the 3rd umpire so far, and all have been close decisions.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Bit of turn for Blackwell. Got his first ball past Younis's outside edge & it'd pitched outside leg. Solanki might have a bit of a trundle later. Fred looks well down on pace for me, it isn't worth flogging him into the ground for this. That said Salman's straight six for his fifty was a gem of a shot. I like the look of the lad more & more.

 

[Beleg]

Err, no. There just isn't any help on the pitch for a bowler like Flintoff. And once the slow ball becomes your stock ball, it is far more easier to negotiate.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Bit of turn for Blackwell. Got his first ball past Younis's outside edge & it'd pitched outside leg. Solanki might have a bit of a trundle later. Fred looks well down on pace for me, it isn't worth flogging him into the ground for this. That said Salman's straight six for his fifty was a gem of a shot. I like the look of the lad more & more.

Bets on Solanki dismissing Inzy, anyone?

 

[Scaly piscine]

Flintoff was fine to score 72* though.

Big difference between batting and bowling with a dodgy ankle.