Pakistan v England

[LeadBelly]

Telling stats this am on BBC website, looking at the odds on the match end result at the start of each day
Pakistan win: England win: Draw

Day1 61:34:5
Day2 74:14:12
Day3 67:11:18
Day4 3:46:4
Day5 0:96;4

[RVclaret]

Phenomenal performance by England. Yes Pakistan also ‘lost’ the game but that’s still an incredible win. Impressed by Carse and Atkinson. Add Archer, Stokes and Wood to that seam attack (minus one for rotation) in Australia and it could be looking promising.

[ClaretTony]

No matter what Pakistan have done or haven’t done, to come back from conceding over 550 in the first innings to win by an innings is astonishing. Brilliant from England.

[Quickenthetempo]

It's a mammoth win for England.

But English people don't do winning very well. It's always the opposition are poor.
When Root and Brook were scoring heavily, it was a flat pitch. It didn't look it for 15 other batters.

[Quicknick]

Unbelievable turnaround. What a performance.

[ClaretTony]

It's a mammoth win for England.

But English people don't do winning very well. It's always the opposition are poor.
When Root and Brook were scoring heavily, it was a flat pitch. It didn't look it for 15 other batters.

It’s all media led this building up and knocking down. This was so much about England doing well and some of the team doing unbelievably well.

Regarding Root & Brook, those were difficult conditions to bat in with the heat.

[Burnley1989]

It's a mammoth win for England.

But English people don't do winning very well. It's always the opposition are poor.
When Root and Brook were scoring heavily, it was a flat pitch. It didn't look it for 15 other batters.

Great post, you only have to read this board after we win ''ahhh but it was only .....'' ''we only had 2 shots, we didnt deserve it''
Is it an English mentality? I've no idea but its annoying

[Quickenthetempo]

Great post, you only have to read this board after we win ''ahhh but it was only .....'' ''we only had 2 shots, we didnt deserve it''
Is it an English mentality? I've no idea but its annoying

I think it is. We love an underdog and hate winners.

[Burnley1989]

I think it is. We love an underdog and hate winners.

Very true, and celebrating success is seen as not being humble because it's not fair on the losers.
It's really got me thinking has this

[FCBurnley]

Polar opposite to our football team. Fantastic record breaking effort

[Bigvince]

Polar opposite to our football team. Fantastic record breaking effort

fishing ?

[IanMcL]

Unbelievable Jeff!

[dandeclaret]

Reasonable win, but they keep giving away wickets with their overly aggressive approach. They'll not progress whilst they keep scoring too fast

(May contain traces of sarcasm)

[Bosscat]

Reasonable win, but they keep giving away wickets with their overly aggressive approach. They'll not progress whilst they keep scoring too fast

(May contain traces of sarcasm)

Most unlike you Dan to be sarcastic

[MrTopTier]

No matter what Pakistan have done or haven’t done, to come back from conceding over 550 in the first innings to win by an innings is astonishing. Brilliant from England.

There have been 109 games in India, Pakistan, SriLanka and Bangladesh in the history of cricket, where the batting team has scored over 500 in the first innings. The is the first time the team batting second has won. Amazing achievement.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Root has given him a chance of breaking the record for most Test Match runs in a calendar year.
Currently on 1248, he needs another 540 in five matches.

With the next game on the same ground I wouldn’t rule it out. But then I wouldn’t rule out a duck in the next innings either.

[CoolClaret]

Wow!! I had no idea this was going to be a game with a result.

I thought Pakistan would easily bat the remaining out, smashing it around for fun when they could be bothered.

This has to be one of the greatest Test match results of all time? Haven't seen anything like it!

[Taffy on the wing]

Just finished watching the Root/Brook highlights.......some wonderful cover drives.
This Harry Brook is an immense talent, i can't think of anyone better at his age.

[TheFamilyCat]

Reasonable win, but they keep giving away wickets with their overly aggressive approach. They'll not progress whilst they keep scoring too fast

(May contain traces of sarcasm)

Or alternatively, look what can be achieved when they don't give their wickets away.

[Quickenthetempo]

The stats men are loving this today.

Just seen the Pakistan total of runs for both innings is the highest ever in a loss.
And they lost by an innings. Crazy.

[dandeclaret]

Or alternatively, look what can be achieved when they don't give their wickets away.

I agree.... nothing less than 800 will suffice in future. Score loads of runs ridiculously quickly (they batted for the same amount of time as Pakistan) and don't get out. Sometimes, these coaches they just over complicate the game.

[Quickenthetempo]

Looks like Pakistan have decided to use the same wicket for the 2nd Test in an attempt for it to break up and get the spinners involved.
Many joked about it but nobody thought they would do it.

Pakistan have brought 5 new players into their squad and released Babar Azam.

I thought Stokes would come in for Bashir, but news of the pitch could change that. Probably Woakes now.

[Andreshotboots]

Looks like Pakistan have decided to use the same wicket for the 2nd Test in an attempt for it to break up and get the spinners involved.
Many joked about it but nobody thought they would do it.

Pakistan have brought 5 new players into their squad and released Babar Azam.

I thought Stokes would come in for Bashir, but news of the pitch could change that. Probably Woakes now.

I would have been amazed if the skipper came back in for Bashir and not Woakes regardless of the pitch. You don't need 4 seamers, and one out and out spinner, with only Root as a back up out there.

You need a minimum of 2 genuine spinners, as much for the heat and to give your quicks a break as much as anything else.

[Colburn_Claret]

I thought the venues for test matches were predetermined.
I don't see how they are allowed to change venue to stay at Multan.
I can see that the hope of the pitch breaking up helps a test match, but fail to see how it will benefit Pakistan, other than throwing a curveball that Pakistan will also have to overcome.
It made for an unbelievable test match, but if it wasn't for the result, the complaints about how flat that wicket was would still be ongoing.

[Quickenthetempo]

I would have been amazed if the skipper came back in for Bashir and not Woakes regardless of the pitch. You don't need 4 seamers, and one out and out spinner, with only Root as a back up out there.

You need a minimum of 2 genuine spinners, as much for the heat and to give your quicks a break as much as anything else.

In normal circumstances yeah. But Stokes isn't guaranteed to bowl the overs the 3rd seamer needs to and Bashir hasn't got much out of the flat wicket. Only bowling 6 overs in the 2nd innings while Leach performed.
Root could cover more overs of spin.

[dsr]

I thought the venues for test matches were predetermined.
I don't see how they are allowed to change venue to stay at Multan.
I can see that the hope of the pitch breaking up helps a test match, but fail to see how it will benefit Pakistan, other than throwing a curveball that Pakistan will also have to overcome.
It made for an unbelievable test match, but if it wasn't for the result, the complaints about how flat that wicket was would still be ongoing.

They were already going to play the second test at Multan; the suggestion now is that it will be the same patch of earth for the wicket, when normally it would be a different patch of earth on the same square.

[Burnley1989]

2nd test started 16/1, pitch looks like it will become difficult to bat on if it reaches day 4-5.

Leach with the first

[Burnley1989]

19/2 Leach again

[DAVETHEVICAR]

Playing on same wicket as last Test
Seems ridiculous
168 for 2 now

[CleggHall]

Test cricket is sadly dying, only Australia, India and England now regard this form of the game important.

[Quickenthetempo]

Test cricket is sadly dying, only Australia, India and England now regard this form of the game important.

I think it's more that the big three have all the finances like the Premier league.

Share the wealth and it will thrive.

[CleggHall]

I think it's more that the big three have all the finances like the Premier league.
Share the wealth and it will thrive.

Sharing wealth/income is not something that humans often agree to or do!

[bfcmik]

New Zealand seem to put a lot into it too, though Rugby Union is their main deal, same with South Africa.

[Stalbansclaret]

Test cricket is sadly dying, only Australia, India and England now regard this form of the game important.

The almost total absence of any spectators really is extreme. Does anyone have any knowledge of cricket in Pakistan to the extent of knowing whether any form of the game pulls a crowd nowadays ? The stadium in Multan is massive for instance. Very sad, and baffling really, to see it so empty.

[Buxtonclaret]

All out for 366.

[Buxtonclaret]

69/0 off 10.

[MrTopTier]

The almost total absence of any spectators really is extreme. Does anyone have any knowledge of cricket in Pakistan to the extent of knowing whether any form of the game pulls a crowd nowadays ? The stadium in Multan is massive for instance. Very sad, and baffling really, to see it so empty.

No real knowledge of the game in Pakistan, but the stadium in Multan is hard to get to. Lahore and Rawalpindi get decent crowds, seems strange to persist with this venue, although from a safety point of view( which has been an issue previously) is a good venue as there are more security staff than supporters.

[Hbclaret007]

Crawley out having survived a missed run out and lbw. He seems to have a cast iron place in the team, despite a poor average?

[FCBurnley]

Why is the ground virtually empty ? Strange

[MrTopTier]

Nice to hear David Gower back on Comms.

[MrTopTier]

125-2 Pope gone for 29.

[Quickenthetempo]

Fingers crossed Duckett gets his ton.

[Buxtonclaret]

Duckett racing along with 93 off 99
Come on, lad.
Ton this over, please.

[Buxtonclaret]

Quietest he's been all day this!

[MrTopTier]

Nice one Duckett, faffed about in the 90’s though!

[Buxtonclaret]

'Bout time!
Brilliant stuff Ben.

[Quickenthetempo]

Great stuff for Duckett with his ton, he was getting into a habit of not converting.
You don't want the media picking up on it like happened with Root.

[Buxtonclaret]

That's a shame,
Expected Joe to knock up a big score.

[Buxtonclaret]

224/4
They're back in it.

[MrTopTier]

225-5 Brook gone. Doing a bit now.