England's Winter of Cricket 2022/23

First topic message reminder :

Of course we have the World T20 covered in a separate thread, but I thought we should have a new one for England's upcoming games this winter, which feature:

Three ODIs in Australia (17th-22nd November)
Three tests in Pakistan (1st-21st December)
Three ODIs in South Africa (27th January-1st February)
Two tests in New Zealand (16th-28th February)
Three ODIs in Bangladesh (March)

Looking forward to the tests, but I think the ODIs will be instantly forgettable!

Two run outs in a test innings is a bit embarrassing - not sure what Pope was doing there, never a single

Oh that's just careless ! Pope run out ...a fifth wicket down and England - for all their commendable positive play - are making a bit of a mess of the "keep your foot on their neck" part of the game.

155/5 and they'd want to push this lead a bit higher.

Like the way Brook is playing here. No silly stuff ; keeping it ticking over , good running between wickets. Just what you want at this stage.

Smashing tame bowling everywhere on a road is one thing ; taking responsibility in this (not quite safe yet) situation is another step in his development. Good signs

As the light fades in Multan , England pass the next step in the Guildford/Stewart Book of Tactical Moves...

Pakistan at least will need to make the Highest Score of the Match to win


Five wickets in hand. 281 ahead. Not a bad spot after two days

202-5 at close - lead by 281. Sensational day for England, fully in control of this match

As Guildford would love me to point out, Pakistan are already requiring the highest score of the game in the 4th innings to win, and you’d hope England can push that lead well into the 300s tomorrow morning.

Lovely knocks from Duckett and Brook. Telling you guys, this Brook looks the real real deal to me

Alfie you beat me to the Guildford-ism!

Also to note potentially importantly - approaching enough runs ahead where they’ll get a 2nd new ball if required in the 4th dig.

Brook putting the final touches on a pretty emphatic day for England as the light clings on. Batting has been a touch careless but it's fast gone away from Pakistan.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Alfie you beat me to the Guildford-ism!

Yes but awards to you both. 

Btw, Alfie, the only reason I didn't mention the doctrine of not declaring at tea during the last Test was because I took it to be so well enshrined. 

I saw the last session and the ball is still not turning sharply or jumping up like it does on Crumblers......there is just slow spin...that accords plenty of opportunity to construct innings and play proper cricket
Inspite of that Eng has an iron grip on the match.
Why?
One main reason
Eng's spin resources are weaker and yet they used their combined bowling resources more intelligently

bowled tight....created pressure from one end.....got....Leach to bowl good lines and choked / pressured Pak into a  collapse

Pak on the  other hand failed to bowl tight and did not build enuf pressure
Significantly under-used their SLA Nawaz......could not get their leggie to bowl one side of the wicket.
Did not use their seamer to try and get reverse or just block one end.
They are lucky to have 5 courtesy 2 run outs.......they don't know the art of creating test match wickets

I am afraid overall Pak just don't have mental disciple or smartness to overcome Eng.

Off we go again...not surprisingly Abrar takes the ball to start the day ; Mohammad Ali the other end for a bit of variety.

Stokes looks to be keen to get after him from the start. There isn't really any need to hurry , you'd think : but I guess he thinks he's best served by putting pressure on the bowlers from the off.

One ball scooted through a bit low - bowlers might be happier to see that than Pakistan bats.

Stokes getting told off by Aleem Dar for running down the pitch. Though he says most of his running was coming down the pitch to hit the ball

Now : Brook tries to sweep ; and has he touched that to the keeper ? Pakistan think so ...review called...but to no avail. Flat line , referral lost.

209/5

Brook moves to 97 with a brace of boundaries from Abrar - who is looking a bit disconsolate .

Young Harry is enjoying these Pakistan conditions , to which he looks well suited : quick hands , quick feet.

Nawaz on now at 241/5. ... And there's the hundred

Picked up and dumped over mid on ...101 not out

Stokes launching a six now to bring up the 250. Moving on...

Abrar still bowling some handy stuff and creating half chances , as Stokes edges through slip. Ball not carrying far , so slow and low is the surface.

But that will do for Abrar ! Stokes goes high and hard and a great outfield catch by Ali sees him off for 41.

256/6. Into the tail...

Short stay for Robinson...swing and a miss...stumps rearranged. Abrar has another wicket

259/7. Like to see someone stay with Brook for a while now...

Athers making the point that it actually seems to be spinning less than earlier in the match. But I suppose that might be partly due to Abrar being a little weary ? He has bowled some fifty overs now in two and a bit days...

I don't think the pitch is going to turn into a minefield : still going to be give the batsmen plenty to think about though. Especially the low bounce.

Eight down now though as Wood edges Mahmood to slip. Brook looks like being marooned at this rate.

270/8

Great knock from Brook - and lead over 350 as he departs. Good work from England on the whole, should be more than enough really

Ah now Brook is gone ...caught in the deep for 108. Top knock

Lead is 350. England haven't really been exactly clinical today...they seem fairly relaxed about it but perhaps they haven't quite closed the door on Pakistan ...

And all out now , Anderson one boundary and gone...

275. Five wickets today for 73. Spinners did it all. Can't help thinking that Australia , say , would have made sure to push the lead over 400.

Pakistan need 355 to win.

Another enterprising declaration

Think England would've preferred a few more. But Pakistan will have to bat extremely well to get close

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Great knock from Brook - and lead over 350 as he departs. Good work from England on the whole, should be more than enough really

Yes really ought to be plenty. But they do have eight sessions to make them this time

Do think England were just a little "careless" - rather than over attacking - in this innings. The two run outs , couple of soft dismissals. Another fifty runs would surely have crushed Pakistan's spirit : this chase is not quite impossible if a couple of bats really play great knocks. If they get it , they'll have earned it !

Heard Imam has an injury concern so wonder will he open ?

Yes...I see Rizwan is opening. Wonder whether Imam will be seriously impaired when he does bat ? Hamstring , I gather.

So it's Leach opening up with Robinson ...and nearly got one already !

That really spat : Pope might be tested in this innings.

And I think Rizwan is going to be pro-active.

Hmm. Pakistan looking to make a virtue of necessity here... If no Imam - for now , anyway : then let Rizwan indulge his natural instinct and try and get a fast start...

Shafiique joinng in : they don't want to let Leach settle. Good intent

Pakistan rattling along briskly so far...good idea I reckon , to put some pressure back on England .

Have to see how they react when a wicket falls , of course ; but they've started well , and if they keep this scoring rate up England might have to come up with a different plan. Apart from that one ball from Leach , I haven't seen anything very threatening from him or Root.

Don't fancy this review ...yeah , pitched outside leg. Lost a possibly vital review ...very poor call.

Not happening for England at the moment ; and that is when you sometimes see these silly "hopeful" reviews.

Fifty up in twelve overs. This won't see day five that's for sure...bit of a change from Rawalpindi !

So lunch at 64/0 - very much Pakistan's session ! Bit early to call them favourites ; but if they only had a "nominal" chance at the start of the day , they have a real one now - albeit still a lot to do. Have to applaud their intent in this innings - giving England something to think about.

Have to say I have not been entirely happy with England's work since taking that somewhat unexpected first innings lead. Just a hint , perhaps , of complacency , following on from the success in Rawalpindi and healthy lead ? The commentators seemed to be almost assuming it was just about "job done" , I thought ; and maybe there was a bit of that in the dressing room. 355 is a stiff target ; but it could surely have been a bit more : last five wickets went down for 19 !

As for this innings : I wouldn't have been using Root so early. Leach , sure - but a bit of Jimmy the other end might have been a nice idea ?

Anyway ; time to regroup over lunch. And Pakistan have to start again. But it does appear they are not just going to roll over so we might be entertained a bit more than the recently concluded mis-match in Adelaide...

Pak stung by my criticism and write off of them it seems

350 is doable given that most of it would be done on D3......on a benign pitch.
and Pak has already knocked off 20% of it
BUT
I think Eng will win.........Pak will implode ...Its par to expect their last 5 to go down for 50 runs

KP_fan wrote:Pak stung by my criticism and write off of them it seems

350 is doable given that most of it would be done on D3......on a benign pitch.
and Pak has already knocked off 20% of it
BUT
I think Eng will win.........Pak will implode ...Its par to expect their last 5 to go down for 50 runs

I do suspect you are right , KP_fan. But after some of the recent surprise events in Tests (in England , Sri Lanka - and Pakistan) we should probably never assume anything.

alfie wrote:

KP_fan wrote:Pak stung by my criticism and write off of them it seems

350 is doable given that most of it would be done on D3......on a benign pitch.
and Pak has already knocked off 20% of it
BUT
I think Eng will win.........Pak will implode ...Its par to expect their last 5 to go down for 50 runs

I do suspect you are right , KP_fan.  But after some of the recent surprise events in Tests (in England , Sri Lanka - and Pakistan) we should probably never assume anything.

That's right.....nothing can be taken for granted yet except that there are only 2 results possible.
Another way of looking at it is....that neither team has played to get to par scores so far....for this pitch
Pak only need to play par cricket for D3 pitch and they will be close to winning it

That's a good start after lunch

Bit of Jimmy Anderson magic. Ends a very spirited Rizwan knock. Here's Babar ; and I reckon this partnership is absolute key to this chase.

Anderson produces an Akramsque peach

Bet England wish they could clone Jimmy Anderson. Forty years young and he produces a delivery like that... Rizwan did nothing wrong : just in the wrong place at the wrong time

Now it's Robinson's turn to produce an unplayable...

Babar nonplussed...stumps removed... All change since lunch. Enough of that spin nonsense

67/2.

In a matter of 10 minutes rhe backbone of Pak batting broken as after Rizwan, now Babar gone
Game might be over today

What a bowler Robinson is! People were rightly worried about Broad and Anderson replacements, but it's fair to say we can do without Broad, Robinson is far better than Broad. I am not writing off Pakistan yet, but this is perfect after lunch so far

This was like an Off break...an Off cutter
This Robinson delivery had more to do with pitch , hitting a crack unlike Anderson that was pure skill

VTR wrote:What a bowler Robinson is! People were rightly worried about Broad and Anderson replacements, but it's fair to say we can do without Broad, Robinson is far better than Broad. I am not writing off Pakistan yet, but this is perfect after lunch so far

Well I'm not writing Broad off yet either ! Although I think he has a future in the commentary box...

Quite a different atmosphere after lunch. Two key bats gone , Imam injured ; and really only the inexperienced Salman after these two who could be rated a genuine Test batsman. Makes the next wicket a big moment.

Scoring almost slowed to a stop. Shafique solid but seemed to be frozen since lunch. Now as Leach comes back into the attack we may see a more active approach ?

Anderson continuing the other end , which I prefer to the two spinner plan. Time for that later.

76/2

And it is Mark Wood who makes the break ...yet another ball moving off the seam and bowling a set batsman. Kept a bit low ? Shafique had battled hard but he's gone at 45 ...and at 83/3 that 355 target is starting to look more Alpha Centauri than the Moon...

Wood joins the party and that may be one too many for Pakistan

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Great knock from Brook - and lead over 350 as he departs. Good work from England on the whole, should be more than enough really

Despite Alfie’s mini wobble at lunch (long day Alfie?), England have way way too many here. 350+ in the 4th dig on a pitch which saw 30 wickets fall in 6 and a bit sessions (probably less with time lost for light) - basically a 1% chance of chasing that and that might be generous.

Leach hasn’t bowled particularly well so far though

Funny old game in that Pakistan took wickets exclusively through spin ; and even England yesterday relied mainly on Leach and Root : but here on day three their seamers are doing all the damage.

Some felt England may have erred by going with three specialist pace bowlers in this game : reckon they are feeling quite good about that choice at the moment !

Imam back from hospital and out batting so that's one good thing for Pakistan.

England probably did select the wrong team balance, but they now have this very New Zealand-like tendency to get the absolute most out of what they've got. Surely got to give Baz some credit for that as well as the blazing batting

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Great knock from Brook - and lead over 350 as he departs. Good work from England on the whole, should be more than enough really

Despite Alfie’s mini wobble at lunch (long day Alfie?), England have way way too many here. 350+ in the 4th dig on a pitch which saw 30 wickets fall in 6 and a bit sessions (probably less with time lost for light) - basically a 1% chance of chasing that and that might be generous.

Leach hasn’t bowled particularly well so far though

Haha...has been a bit of a long day , one way or another . Should clarify that I wasn't exactly "wobbling" at lunch : just making the point that Pakistan's positive approach had turned this from a walkover into a true contest. At least until a break came...

And that England don't seem to believe in completely crushing the life out of their opponents once they get on top , in the manner Australia general employ.

Which always makes for more fun anyway

You can see now spinners are undoubtedly less effective than seamers
And Pak didn't use their seamers...and didn't look like even knowing how to use them

On another note:
I like hearing  David Gower's commentary  ...he sounds least partisan of any global commentators, knowledgeable and with an old world charm

Still no joy for the spinners. Leach did beat the bat a few times earlier , but hasn't exactly looked as if he is going to do a Taunton massacre here...

And they don't look too bothered about Root or Jacks.

Might be those poor hard working seamers are going to have a bit more to do. Maybe time for Stokes to come on with his golden arm ? Wood it is for now...

The problem.. with these part time spinners is that while they can flight and get spin, they lack the dropping loop and fizz and ability to bowl 2 tight overs in a row
Consequently it's easier to jump down the track to such spinners with minimal risk of getting stumped.
In any case they offer a pressure release delivery every 10 odd balls they bowl

All spin again after tea...and the batsmen seem pretty comfortable with that. Judging from the first innings , one may bring several - when the "one" comes. But at the moment , there is almost a sense of a phoney war until the seamers come back on.

147/3. Still 208 to get which is quite a lot ...but while these two are together , Pakistan will hope...

Leach 0/76 from 17 ; which is pretty grisly ! He's really not bowled too well ; and you have to wonder if he's struggling with the perceived responsibility of bowling his team to a win in the fourth innings ?

It is a problem for Stokes. Long way to go ; but at some point you have to start thinking about how long you can afford to concede four and a half per over...

18-0-84-0 from Leach so far isn't going to cut the mustard I'm afraid - can't just be all the seamers doing the work

I am puzzled as to why he's been so poor today.(Leach , that is ) Especially the number of rubbish short balls he's sent down - money for old rope to these two left handers.

Wood back now and a bit of urgency about breaking this stand because the spinners are neither threatening nor offering any control. This stand worth 88 at 4.5 per over so at this rate you wouldn't want to be waiting for the second new ball.

Still rather be in the England dressing room. But it's far from a done deal at the moment , with just 183 to go.