England Cricket vs Pakistan (in UAE)

Pedro45 said:

North Lower Neil said:

On for the stattos, has anyone ever been on field for the full 5 days?

Don't think so, but our Geoffrey did bat on all five days of a test match once! Not sure that anyone else has ever done that?

I think Boycs did it in the same series. He was last man out for 191 and we either won by an innings or he was not out in the run chase.

Addick Addict said:

And that is why I questioned why we sent Wood in. All it means is that we have given them a cheap wicket on a track that isn't doing a thing.

If we can't trust our front line batsmen on this then we never will.

I put this on the general things that annoy you thread a long long time ago.

For me the only time to bring in a night watchman is at the end of Day 4 if you are intending to save the match by batting out Day 5. Not 2 wickets down in the first innings.

I'm certainly no expert but I can't see any other reason? Wood coming in and getting out is also another reason not to bother.

Cook dropped by the keeper off an inside edge off Wahab. When it's going for you........

Root gets his 14th Test 50 (83)

358-3 & 165 behind

Cook 189* (368)

382-3

400-3 at lunch & 123 behind

Cook 204* (407)
Root 76* (124)

Wood must be gutted he's missed out here.

Big opportunity for Bairstow to make a big score, conversely there's pressure as you really DON'T want to miss out!

Here's a question for everyone. With Warne, Murali, Swann and Vettori all gone and so many others with "special" balls currently serving bans for illegal actions (or in the case of Narine severely restricted for fear of incurring a lifetime ban) what is going to really inspire kids, especially in this country, to bowl spin?

With pitches being produced that do nothing for the art of spin, there really is very little incentive - bar a batsman becoming a decent run stopping bowler in one day cricket and thereby adding it to their value as a cricketer.

...........but still out for 8.

443-5 & 80 behind

Cook 230* (460)

killerandflash said:

There's a bit of pressure on many England players, Bairstow who's trying to re-establish himself, while both Stokes and Buttler need runs. You can see how Bell struggled, knowing that he had to get runs

And that us what makes the back to his best Cook and Root world class - albeit one a slow and lengthy torturer of the opposition bowling attack and the other a "stand up and give it to them" type batsman.

A couple more batsmen of that ilk and a top spinner and we would be a force to reckon with - away from, as well as, at home.

SantaClaus said:

SantaClaus said:

Addickforlife said:

Rashid now has the worst figures for a debutant

What are the odds on Pakistan's spinners bowling us out in 3 sessions? This is embarrassing.

Too many England collapses have obvioudly jaded me. Great knock from Cook.

It would have been "interesting" though to see what would have happened if Cook had gone early.

Callumcafc said:

Could Cook go for 400?

Possibly. With the pitch still not doing much & only a few days between the end of the 1st test & the start of the 2nd, England may decide to just bat out and keep Pakistan in the field for the rest of the test

500-5

Cook 246* (485)
Stokes 39* (64)