Was a complete cringe moment. Some of the press have been similar. Pope apparently has made the No3 spot his for as long as he wants it and Harry Brook is already a great of the game.
I like the way England are playing these days but it is far too early to be frapping on about how great we are.
Oh and back to the cricket. England’s lead is just over 200 with three wickets down. Brook hits a 6 with his first scoring shot. If that isn’t proof of greatness…
This test is an interesting case study for batting on a road. With a traditional first innings this match is a draw with the English openers scratching around after tea on day 5 waiting for the captains to agree a draw.
The risk is than you got bowled out cheaply and then have to bat with a bug deficit and massive pressure in the second innings, but if the pitch is a road that you trust to hold up for all five days then going hell for leather on day one is actually a pretty decent tactical innovation. Either you're bowled out for 300 odd and back yourself to get out of the hole when you bet again or you do what the poms did and basically make two days progress in a day.
It's all a bit academic though since this is a rubbish pitch that (thankfully) isn't the norm anymore so building tactics around it are relatively pointless. And if you try it on a proper pitch you'll get cooked. As a novelty test I'm actually finding it kind of fun but if it becomes the norm I'll lose interest.
Lots of runs in the first innings - check
A number of centuries - check
A 6fer - check
Test lasts 5 days - check
Both teams can still win - check
What’s not to like?
The England declaration looks brave now, Pakistan hitting out. Going to be a tasty finish ... plenty of drama to come I suspect
Jesus Christ. Geoffrey Boycott is turning in his grave at how this test is going.
Is Liam Livingstone a specialist number eight batsman ?
@nzzp said in England v Pakistan:
The England declaration looks brave now, Pakistan hitting out. Going to be a tasty finish ... plenty of drama to come I suspect
I felt the declaration was a bit too aggressive and gave Pakistan too much time on this track. We’re now in the likely position of losing a game where we’ve scored over 900 runs and one that we’ve pretty much been in control of from the word go.
@Catogrande 343 is a decent target.
That said, Pakistan scored at 3.7 in the first innings... so going at 3 or so isn't ridiculous. Also, the wicket doesn't seem to be really acting up.
But yeah, 110 overs (light aside) is plenty to bowl out a isde.
@MN5 said in England v Pakistan:
Geoffrey Boycott is turning in his grave at how this test is going.
Neat trick
@Catogrande fair. I actually read waht you said now - I agree, brave and aggressive declaration. Fair play to Stokes, though, live by the sword, die by the sword. They are staying aggressive with the field, and runs are coming. Feels like a couple of wickets though,a nd the game could be close to over.
@nzzp said in England v Pakistan:
@Catogrande fair. I actually read waht you said now - I agree, brave and aggressive declaration. Fair play to Stokes, though, live by the sword, die by the sword. They are staying aggressive with the field, and runs are coming. Feels like a couple of wickets though,a nd the game could be close to over.
I would have liked another 5 overs or so. A few more runs for us and a few less overs for them but still leaving all three results a possibility. I think they got a bit too bound up in the psychology of declaring at the last minute during the tea interval.
Here we go. Final session. 86 runs needed by Pakistan. 5 wickets for England
Win, loss, draw and even tie are all on.
@ACT-Crusader said in England v Pakistan:
It’s pace here on out for the Poms. The spin simply wasn’t getting it done.
28 overs left and tail to bowl to. Poms will get it done.
A very very good win for England. An aggressive batting approach and declaration. Pakistan batted pretty damn well in both innings all things considered. Ollie bowled brilliantly.
@ACT-Crusader said in England v Pakistan:
Here we go. Final session. 86 runs needed by Pakistan. 5 wickets for England
Win, loss, draw and even tie are all on.
great setup - pity Pakistan Pakistanned and fell in a heap.
Well done England. Pace was the answer all day
England rollicking along.
Fascinating call though - Dar gave English batsman out on the field - but the bat hit the ground a tthe same time the ball hit the pad. He was really not convinced - asked the TMO to go back and check again.
Genuinely ambiguous - but if given out on the field, how do you overturn?
