Pakistan v England 2nd Test

First topic message reminder :

England team:
AJ Strauss(c), AN Cook, IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, IR Bell, EJG Morgan, MJ Prior(w), SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, MS Panesar

Pakistan team:
Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq(c), Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal(w), Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid
Khan


Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat

Rehman has actually been the pick of the Pakistan bowlers today, by the sound of things.

4 for KP off Rehman.

KP looks a lot better when he uses his feet, then when he prods at it.

Problem is, PSW, if you ask KP to simply go out there and defend his wicket until stumps, you will find that KP will get frustrated.

I think KP wants to attack and believe that he will.

Case in point, fine shot from him

Cook into the nervous 90's

cook's gone

Ok, so Cook has not scored at a blistering pace, what he has done is get valuable runs and settled into a nice rythem. I think that he has played very well today after he got over the initial wobbles.


Bugger, i should stop writing compliments

KP has always looked better when using his feet, you're right, cf. Any of the top players of spin in the world all have one common thing, and that is their foot movement.

Remember him against Warne in 2005 and against Murali? Used his feet, had success. Those prods just do not suit his style, technique or size.

Go on Cooky, get a ton.

Oh damn, I spoke too soon.

We need another big partnership otherwise we aren't going to find ourselves in the driving seat of this game.

Time for an ENgland batting collapse?

I think that any sort of lead will be good for England. If by lunch tomorrow England have a 30 or 40 lead with a few wickets still in hand then they will be in the driving seat.

No hundred for Cook

Still he's done a fine job for England. Up to the rest of them to kick on now...

I am really worried about Bell right now. I would have promoted Prior up the order myself..

Hmm even with a batting collpase unless its truely spectatcular England would be level.

Theres still 4 good batsmen left.

198/3 is a cracking score, we are just spoilt by the number of 700/1 (dec) England have had over the last few years.

Totallky agree with Billy, if we arent down to the tail by lunch tomorrow then England have bossed Pkaistan.

We are due to bat last, remember. Personally, I think we need a lead of at least 100, preferably 150.

4 for Bell off Ajmal. Off the mark.

eirebilly wrote:I am really worried about Bell right now. I would have promoted Prior up the order myself..

Why?

Well on course for that FOF

Gutted for Cook, he really deserved the hundred. Will give him and Trott confidence for the next test though. Hopefully we won't lose another wicket before the close.

eirebilly wrote:I am really worried about Bell right now. I would have promoted Prior up the order myself..

Why so? He's arguabley been the best batsmen in the world these last 12 months or so.

Prediction for the close? I'm going with 230/4.

100 - 150 would be ideal Fists but it is a tough ask out there. Some late slogging from the tail enders may prove very important come the last day of this test match. Key is to get a lead and get to lunch tomorrow with at least 4 wickets in hand to put Pakistan really under some pressure.

Broad always bats well after having a good spell with the ball

Why? Because i feel that Bell has struggled with the spin whereas Prior has looked very confident playing the spin. just my views though and hope to be proven wrong.

Getting to lunch tomorrow with 4 wickets in hand would be some achievement, and if we can do so then we will be cruising in this Test.

eirebilly wrote:Why? Because i feel that Bell has struggled with the spin whereas Prior has looked very confident playing the spin. just my views though and hope to be proven wrong.

Worrying that he was undone by the doosra twice, which it looked like he didn't read, but technically Bell is the best player in this England side, and is the best against spin in my book. If he picks the doosra he will be fine, hopefully done some work on it.

Fists of Fury wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Why? Because i feel that Bell has struggled with the spin whereas Prior has looked very confident playing the spin. just my views though and hope to be proven wrong.

Worrying that he was undone by the doosra twice, which it looked like he didn't read, but technically Bell is the best player in this England side, and is the best against spin in my book. If he picks the doosra he will be fine, hopefully done some work on it.

Yes, that has worried me. With 10 overs left in the day, yes i would have promoted Prior. If it was much earlier the definitely Bell.

KP gone. Damn it.

Bugger. KP gone.

Some fine bowling from Rehman

Nervous times for Bell.

... and now Pietersen goes ... danger of frittering away a strong position here...

Not good for England this. A very difficult pitch for new batsmen to come in on, but a good one once you're set. The key is to ride your luck, play properly and get yourself in.

Sounds like KP was a little unlucky there.

OK now you can start moaning FOF

From the BBC page it looks like KP played another rash shot

England must focus here, Cook and Pietersen gone in a space of a few overs. They must be a little more circumspect with their batting otherwise they may not have a good first innings lead.

Good catch though, it has to be said.

Come on Mogs, prove me wrong and show us you can be a good test player

Nah, cricinfo tells it more how it is. BBC are always a bit OTT.

PSW, I am about to start moaning, my friend. If we lose another I'm going to be apoplectic!

Haven't seen any of Morgan in the last test, does he still duck down when batting?

That really worries me, you're taught as a kid to keep the head still, it can't help him focus on the ball with that much movement.

Remember Pakistan were in a similar position to this in their innings...

I would have taken 220/4 at the start of the day so England have still done very well. Massive credit to Cook and Trott for that.

New ball time.

Yuhuh ...just when you want two knew batsmen who are struggling for form to come in, especially when one of them is spin speacilist.

Come on lads, see it to stumps......

Arent they both supposedly spin specialists PSW?

New ball available but they won't be taking it : trial by spin here , runs have dried up - tense period.

Cook got out at an inconvenient time - if he'd stayed in another five or seven overs or so Jimmy would have come in and Bell might not be going through all this torture ...

These two will shut up shop. I would'nt be suprised to see maiden overs until stumps.

Its not pretty but it has to be done. Hang in their lads

Let's hope so, certainly don't want to see any wickets!

Okey, maybe the odd run then as well

Interesting Paksitan didnt take the new ball.

For England it wouldve been a no brainer. Guess they just dont have Broad and Anderson in the side.

3 more overs : hate it when they try to play like this. Always seems next ball could be it ...

Don't get me wrong , they have to hang on at all costs tonight, so understandable play , but it isn't natural for them , and the bowlers are encouraged... heart in mouth there, inside edge saves Bell !

2 to go ...