***Official*** Pakistan in England

[Scaly piscine]

That's irrelevant.

As for the fact that they got the 3rd wicket an over or so from the end (an over that more than likely wouldn't have happened if they'd messed around any longer) - well that doesn't matter because some people like to moan regardless.

A wicket they'd have taken the day after anyway (the top 3 aren't exactly the problem) or they might well have bowled better to start with, it's impossible to say anyway because it's all hypothetical but to say it makes a difference to bowl 20 instead of 15 overs at the end of the day is ridiculous. Still some people like to moan regardless.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

I have a feeling Plunkett, and once Hoggard is out, Harmison may have a slog tomorrow morning, and look to push the lead onto 350+ in the first half-hour. That would give Pakistan about 80 overs to score 350 - game on.

I think the Sky commentators had a valid point with reference to Nagpur. If Pakistan were to push along at about 3-3.5 an over, even until a fair way into the evening session, then England could be in trouble. Channel in the Afridi factor and England should be scared.

Having said that if Butt, Farhat and Iqbal all go within the first 20 overs, and Inzamam/Yousuf fall fairly early on, England will be confident of victory.

In other words, the whole fate of the Test lies on the performances of the Pakistani top three vs Harmison, Hoggard and Plunkett.

 

[superkingdave]

I just think it was another extremely frustrating day to be an England supporter. It seems there are only one or two players in the side that can control the pace of the game and most of the side don't have a clue how to score runs against spin when the opposition are mildly defensive. If they do then England must have been playing for a draw because there seemed to be absolutely no intent once KP got out to even maintain a reasonable run rate. Perhaps the management has decided that a draw is good enough?

Anyway as i said, extremely frustrating.

 

[FRAZ]

A lame draw ......... May be, but dont quote me if it is not ........

 

[Pothas]

Total waste of a last session. Geriant Jones is really becoming a problem now. Although I have never been a fan of his i thought he could be relied upon to score a quick 20 or 30 or at the very least get out trying. Scoring usefull quick runs at the end of the inigns is pretty much the only thing he is good at. But no he plods arounds for hours and then gets out. total waste of time.

 

[steds]

Tbf to Geraint, I think some people are underrating Kaneria's and Afridi's efforts.

 

[Goughy]

I must agree with most of the comments posted here.

The last session was very frustrating and those 2 hours could ultimately be the difference between winning and losing the series.

It was imperitive to score quick runs and declare overnight. Now if they do that Pakistan have a chance of chasing the total down and if they bat on tomorrow England have no chance of winning.

Instead of taking the initiative it looks like England have settled for trying to secure the draw and hope for something special from Hoggard or Harmisson tomorrow.

I'm very disappointed and it is not how I believe Test cricket should be played. 3 an over in the last session before a declaration when you need quick runs is just not good enough.

 

[wpdavid]

Well even with that moronic run out, gotta give credit to Straus. Great 100. A good Captain's innings.

I'm glad someone's given him some credit. Strauss does have the handy knack of producing utterly crucial 100's, and hopefully our bowlers can capitalise. Woolmer thinks Harmison is crucial, and I reckon he's right. If the big man can be persuaded to put enough deliveries in the right areas, then we should be in business. If not, expect a spectacular Pakistan win.

 

[Xuhaib]

I still think England has a much greater chance of winning then Pakistan with draw another likely outcome. Our bat did not look confident facing Harmy in the first innings and with the increasing uneven bounce he could be an even more potent threat.

 

[wpdavid]

Well, this is exciting. Pakistan bowling wide & England not good enough to make any meaningful contact.

Oh, and on TMS, CMJ seems to think that Multan is in India.

 

[Xuhaib]

Why is Ingerlund batting?

 

[Xuhaib]

Well, this is exciting. Pakistan bowling wide & England not good enough to make any meaningful contact.

Oh, and on TMS, CMJ seems to think that Multan is in India.

 

[Goughy]

Why is Ingerlund batting?

They are not just batting but playing clown cricket.

The reason they are batting is due to how poorly they played in the last session yesterday. They were not aggressive enough and were not in a position to delare overnight.

Its rubbish really and is driving me a little crazy.

 

[Xuhaib]

Plunkett on fire.

Btw this strategy may not be that bad, by giving Pakistan an unattainable target England can have men around the bat and thus create more pressure.

 

[wpdavid]

The joy of TMS - Blowers & Gatting discussing whether England are 379 or 389 ahead, agreeing on 389, and no-one having the heart to tell them that they're both wrong.

Still, that's the declaration, so here comes the interesting bit, hopefully.

 

[steds]

The joy of TMS - Blowers & Gatting discussing whether England are 379 or 389 ahead, agreeing on 389, and no-one having the heart to tell them that they're both wrong.

Oi! Get teaching, you.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Salman Butt lbw b Hoggard 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Oops.

 

[wpdavid]

Oi! Get teaching, you.

Won't happen today - all my classes were Year 11 & 13 after period 1 on a Monday, and they're long gone.

Anyway, fair start by Hoggard.

 

[SJS]

I just cant understand why Inzamam insists on sticking to his number five batting order. He should be at number three ALL the time but he wont do it even for an emergency.

I have tried to think why.

If I have to forget being polite I would say he bats at number five because in all forms of cricket its the safest batting spot.

If I was to be polite, I would say he is plain stupid.

 

[Steulen]

Nasser: those four deliveries were rubbish

(discussing Hoggard's first over while looking at the Hawkeye pitch map)