*Official* Pakistan in England and Ireland 2016

[grecian]

Yeah Pakistan are no way out of this. 2 early wickets and we are essentially 30-2.

Or even 23-2.

 

[91Jmay]

As I said yesterday, two quick wickets and Pakistan back on top. Hales another knick off, fishing again. Totally predictable

 

[Adders]

****ing hell...seriously??

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Well, the game has changed. Could be a great test from here.

 

[wpdavid]

And obviously what you do then is chase another one to hand them the 2nd wicket straight away. ****ing dimwit.

 

[morgieb]

Pakistan probably favourites now you'd think with those two quick wickets.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Excellent start this

 

[91Jmay]

Hales is too brain dead to be an opener, however I don't see him as a middle order bat either. Ball is over 30 overs old and he still massive knick off merchant

 

[fredfertang]

Root is going to score a century today

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Wow, knock over Root before lunch and it is down to Bairstow and the allrounders

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Pakistan probably favourites now you'd think with those two quick wickets.

Get Root before drinks they are. If England bat till tea they will have a total to bowl at and any time they bat after that enhances our chances.

 

[Black_Warrior]

When did Steyn last play a Test though?

Not denying he's probably still the best quick in the world (and the reason I say 'probably' is because I don't think you can 100% say that with confidence about a bowler in his 30s who hasn't played for a year IIRC and who's had recent injury woes, regardless of how good his record is) but it really depends how strict your definition of current is. Starc was trending upwards in England last year, excellent against New Zealand and seems to be the only Aussie enhancing his reputation in Sri Lanka currently.

First test against England last year and he was still as deadly and threatening as ever.

 

[91Jmay]

Wow, knock over Root before lunch and it is down to Bairstow and the allrounders

And the top scorer in the first dig to be fair

 

[LegionOfBrad]

2 wickets in 3 overs Root hits one boundary and you take a slip out and post a deep point.

Really?

 

[MW1304]

Never change England openers. Remember Strauss being equally useless at starting again overnight.

 

[fredfertang]

I can see fear in Vince's eyes

 

[grecian]

First test against England last year and he was still as deadly and threatening as ever.

Indeed, and that series rather shows what nonsense picking Morkel over Broad is too.

Well, this is Test cricket Vince, make or break in the cruelest most inhospitable cauldron, or Birmingham as it's known by the locals.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

And the top scorer in the first dig to be fair

True, but Ballance doesn't inspire me

 

[grecian]

True, but Ballance doesn't inspire me

He's never going to be inspiring, but he's looked okay so far in this series, generally hasn't got himself out, which can't be said for anyone else.

 

[91Jmay]

Warne/Holding are always moaning about captains not attacking enough but have to say agree here. Point man on the boundary to Vince is odd.