*Official* Pakistan in England and Ireland 2016

[wpdavid]

Finn bowling absolute gash here. We have 3 bowlers at the moment.

Yup. Before long, they're going to have a score that is at least competitive against our batting, especially if Amir is bowling as well as we've read.

 

[smash84]

England in the driver's seat. **** batting

 

[91Jmay]

Pakistan need 150 more and they are in a solid position. This England batting line up should scare no one, especially against a balance Pakistan attack.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Hmm I wonder if there's an argument for England playing 5 seamers as opposed to 4 seamers and a crap spinner?

 

[91Jmay]

Edges dying a bit already. Going to be a slow, low one by day 3 at latest.

 

[wpdavid]

Hmm I wonder if there's an argument for England playing 5 seamers as opposed to 4 seamers and a crap spinner?

It would be if we thought we could find five decent seamers. Based on today, we don't even have four.

Whilst I don't particularly rate Moeen, I can believe that a spinner could have something to offer after Day 3.

 

[Howe_zat]

Dropping Misbah is looking very very costly here. Two even sessions so far but the evening session on the first day is when good middle order players cash in.

 

[91Jmay]

Think Pakistan are in a really good position here.

 

[Scaly piscine]

It would be if we thought we could find five decent seamers. Based on today, we don't even have four.

Whilst I don't particularly rate Moeen, I can believe that a spinner could have something to offer after Day 3.

Well there's 3 playing. Anderson, Stokes and Wood to come back.

I can't see any of the spinners being useful. Although next Test is at Old Trafford and spinners usually have a lot of overs there.

 

[Compton]

Ballance had much, much more time than he used there.

 

[StephenZA]

Fielding has not been impressive today from England...

(Maybe bring Jordan in as a 5th bowler )

 

[Watson33]

Has Finn been as a bad as his figures suggest? Haven't really seen much of todays play...

 

[Niall]

well did pakistan bring any other opener? I mean Hafeez and Shan Masood won't be able to score anything.

Its very tricky, Hafeez to be fair has done everything you could want in Asia and most specifically the UAE. He was excellent in the last series against England and his knock in the third test was absolute top class.

So he deserves the right to fail in this series I think.

Shan?

Mediocre as hell, who is lucky he actually is not an idiot unlike Shezhad who really should never have been dropped from the test side.

However, Pakistan simply not blessed with many opening options, they do have an A tour going on in England, so worst case scenario they may pull someone from their for the fourth test.

Credit where its due, this is a good partnership.

 

[Niall]

Anyone doing any pre series betting for this?

Tempted by Asad Shafiq at 10/1 top Pakistan batsman myself

England Pakistan Test Series Top Pakistan Batsman Betting Odds | Cricket | Oddschecker

I hope someone took my advise.

stopped clock etc

 

[91Jmay]

Not been impressed with Cook's captaincy at all this test. 1 slip to Broad? Idiocy.

 

[Nauq]

Its very tricky, Hafeez to be fair has done everything you could want in Asia and most specifically the UAE. He was excellent in the last series against England and his knock in the third test was absolute top class.

So he deserves the right to fail in this series I think.

Shan?

Mediocre as hell, who is lucky he actually is not an idiot unlike Shezhad who really should never have been dropped from the test side.

However, Pakistan simply not blessed with many opening options, they do have an A tour going on in England, so worst case scenario they may pull someone from their for the fourth test.

Credit where its due, this is a good partnership.

I honestly haven't watched a lot of cricket in last few years. I personally think, Shan Masood looks a lot better than Ahmed Shehzad.
Ahmed Shahzad used to be ok before he tried to look like Virat Kohli and copy everything Kohli does except for his batting.

 

[91Jmay]

Pakistan could be 280/4 by the new ball here.

 

[Niall]

I honestly haven't watched a lot of cricket in last few years. I personally think, Shan Masood looks a lot better than Ahmed Shehzad.
Ahmed Shahzad used to be ok before he tried to look like Virat Kohli and copy everything Kohli does except for his batting.

Shezhad is a clown yes. He is also a very bad limited overs cricketer who has been given numerous chances and failed. He eats up dot balls and is absolute death in a chase.

However in test cricket he never did enough to warrant been dropped whatsoever.

Although who knows, no guarantee he would do well in England as its probably the toughest country to open in.

Pakistan don't have a Chris Rogers type experienced county championship batsman they can draft in for this series, so they have to hope that Shan somehow improves this Summer and Jimmy doesn't open the bowling

I

 

[Niall]

Pakistan could be 280/4 by the new ball here.

Maybe, but the new ball will be a real test of Misbah, didn't hang around long against Sussex when he had to deal with it.

This is a fine partnership from Pakistan, but still don't think its time for England to totally panic.

 

[Compton]

Has Finn been as a bad as his figures suggest? Haven't really seen much of todays play...

He's been how he always is when he's out of sorts. Bowls some good balls, but a lot of **** outside leg.