View Full Version : 3nd nPower Test: England vs Pakistan @ (Fri-Tue)
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Headingley, Leeds
8:00pm AEST Friday August 4-Tuesday August 8
Inzi is the only player remaining from the teams who met here 10 years ago, Pakistan have won here just once in eight attempts - in 1987 when Imran Khan destroyed the top order twice in an innings victory - hard to see a quick from either side doing that here. Geraint Jones is gone, Sajid Mahmood may follow him but will probably stay in ahead of Jon Lewis. Pakistan will have to make changes after being flogged in the second test - Sami's struggled with the new ball, Younis, Yousuf and Inzi have had the usual lack of support with the bat, with Yousuf's double in the first test the only 3-figure score in the 5 matches of the tour, while Strauss, Cook (twice), Collingwood, Bell (twice) and Read have all scored tons against them. Farhat very unlikely after Pietersen broke his finger - they might drop him for that :D
England XII: Marcus Trescothick, *Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, +Chris Read, Sajid Mahmood, Jon Lewis, Matthew Hoggard, Stephen Harmison, Monty Panesar
Pakistan XVI: Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Taufeeq Umar, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, *Inzamam-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, +Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul, Mohammad Sami, Shahid Nazir, Iftikhar Anjum, Danish Kaneria, Samiullah Khan (Test debut)
Umpires: Billy Doctrove (Dominica), Darrell Hair (Australia)
Weather:
Friday: Mix of sun and clouds. High 21. Chance of rain 20%.
Saturday: Considerable cloudiness. High 24. Chance of rain 20%.
Sunday: Chance of showers. High 21. Chance of rain 60%
Monday: Partly cloudy. High 20. Chance of rain 20%.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High 21.
Session Times (AEST):
Session 1 - 8:00-10:00pm
Lunch - 10:00-10:40pm
Session 2 - 10:40pm-12:40am
Tea - 12:40-1:00am
Session 3 - 1:00-3:00am
Coverage:
http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/3306/fs26bh.jpg - live at 7:30pm AEST Fri/Mon/Tue, 10:45pm Saturday
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9148/fs17yy.jpg - live at 7:30pm AEST Sunday
Browney2006
3 Aug 2006, 17:39
Cant wait should be good as usual, a bit bummed the first two days are on a Friday and saturday night (our time), so i doubt i will see much if any of them. Hopefully Pakistan put up a fight this test so i can see days 3-5.
Pieterson to hit a big ton, Read will fail with the bat once again, and Bell to continue his impressive form with the tail.
Grimwood
3 Aug 2006, 18:36
Pakistan have to win this one so I think they'll put in a good performance. In fact I wouldn't be too surprised to see them win.
Well it seems that Trescothick's patchy form hasn't gone unnoticed. Some posters the other day suggested that he doesn't deserve to come down under for the Ashes because of his poor technique. He needs to start making runs.
Tresco looking for runs ahead of Headingley
Marcus Trescothick hopes Headingley's homely feel can reinvigorate his best form for England as they close on Test series victory over Pakistan.
England have churned out half-a-dozen hundreds in opening up a 1-0 lead in the four-match npower campaign, although opener Trescothick's name has been conspicuous by its absence from that list.
The 30-year-old has mustered only 39 runs in three innings, in fact, but has fond recent memories of matches in Leeds, having struck consecutive one-day international hundreds there as well as a Test ton on his last visit, against New Zealand in 2004.
"Of course I want to get runs every time I go out to bat so it is not an ideal situation," said Trescothick. "I have not seen it as I would have liked to over the last couple of games or played as well as I can do - hopefully it will kick back in this week.
"Some grounds you pick the ball up better, whether this is one of those grounds I don't know but it always seems to work for me here.
"It's always nice when you turn up at a ground knowing the last time you were here you did well."
Ironically Trescothick stood out in the 5-0 one-day whitewashing by Sri Lanka earlier this summer as the one batsman capable of reaching three figures. Since then Alastair Cook and Ian Bell have both struck two hundreds while Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood have done it once each.
"We harped on about it during the one-day series and we know it's important whatever format of the game you play in," Trescothick said.
"It is a mental thing to keep converting scores because that is what really makes the difference, big totals and winning games. It gives your bowlers time to rest and allows them to bowl with men around the bat."
England have undoubtedly dominated the encounters to date, shrugging off their limited-overs limitations and cantering to a three-day victory at Old Trafford last week.
"We always knew we didn't need much to get back, we just needed a couple of performances from someone with bat or ball and it would turn around quickly," said Trescothick.
"Moving back into Test cricket where our record is a hell of a lot better than in one-dayers made it come back as quickly as we hoped.
"We have to be clinical and tough this week and get straight back into them.
"We've played really well against them twice now and we have got to do the same again.
"You have to be careful when people are wounded because they can bounce back quickly so we will concentrate on what we have done well in the last two games and replicate it in this one."
Pakistan are contemplating playing their third opening pair of the series this week with Imran Farhat almost certainly out.
Left-hander Farhat has so far shared first-wicket alliances with Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal but a fractured ring finger in his right hand means a rethink.
Butt, dropped for the innings defeat at Old Trafford, could earn a recall while Shahid Afridi will also be considered at the top of the order along with wicketkeeper Akmal.
"Imran Farhat is struggling to field so he's unlikely to come into contention for selection," confirmed Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer. "We will consider the opening partnership in general as well."
England have won the toss and will bat.
2/86 with Pietersen and Cook at the wicket.
Both batsmen have been given not out in the past few overs when they were caught behind.
Pietersen's was bat onto pad and it is understandable how it could have been missed - visually at least (although there were two sounds).
Cook is very lucky, clear inside edge, no idea how Doctrove thought it could not be out, given how far it deflected.
Looks like it could well be England's day. :D
Browney2006
4 Aug 2006, 22:39
Paks just take the edge in the first session, unlucky not to have a another wicket as Pieterson was out caught behind but not given same with Cook but it didnt cost them much as he was removed in the last over before lunch.
England - 3/110
Browney2006
5 Aug 2006, 01:19
Cant wait should be good as usual, a bit bummed the first two days are on a Friday and saturday night (our time), so i doubt i will see much if any of them. Hopefully Pakistan put up a fight this test so i can see days 3-5.
Pieterson to hit a big ton, Read will fail with the bat once again, and Bell to continue his impressive form with the tail.
:D 123 Balls
eddiesmith
5 Aug 2006, 01:39
Skunk dropped and then retired hurt
259/4
Ding Dong and Read in
Grimwood
5 Aug 2006, 03:45
2/86 with Pietersen and Cook at the wicket.
Both batsmen have been given not out in the past few overs when they were caught behind.
Pietersen's was bat onto pad and it is understandable how it could have been missed - visually at least (although there were two sounds).
Cook is very lucky, clear inside edge, no idea how Doctrove thought it could not be out, given how far it deflected.
I'd agree with that.
The Cook one was a shocker but luckily for Pakistan he didn't make too many more runs. The KP was tough on Pakistan but you can see why Hair wasn't sure about giving it.
Not that that would really have mattered if Nazir had managed to keep his foot behind the line when he had Pietersen caught behind.
347/6 at stoomps.
Pietersen 104*
Bell 66*
Sounds like Pakistan's fielding woes have contined. Their biggest problem however is that they are putting onto the field a sub-standard attack without the strikepower they need to break through on a consistent basis.
Pietersen ton dents luckless Pakistan
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
August 4, 2006
[I]England 347 for 6 (Pietersen 104 ret hurt, Bell 66*) v [B]
Kevin Pietersen doesn't like being overshadowed for very long so after two relatively quiet Tests he chose the opening day at Headingley to make his first major impact on this series. His century was far from chanceless - he had three clear lives - but his biggest inconvenience came when cramp forced him to retire. However, with Ian Bell supplying another composed innings, and Pietersen ready to resume in the morning, England's Manchester momentum has transferred nicely across the Pennines.
All the main batsmen contributed something to the cause and England's only gripe will be that four of the top six played themselves in without going on. But that is the nature of Headingley; batsmen often say how they rarely feel 'in' at Leeds and the fact it was only a batsman of Pietersen's class who could really dominate suggests batting is not a cakewalk. That shouldn't take anything away from Bell, who was again faultless, and also Chris Read who was under immense pressure on his return to Test cricket.
When Pietersen retired hurt with the total on 259 for 4, if Read had fallen early a decision would have needed to be made as to whether Pietersen returned or the tail was exposed. An inside edge (the bane of Pakistan's day) opened Read's account but then he played confidently with Bell, although it helped that there were six overs of loopy part-time spin.
On another day, though, the outcome would have been very different for Pakistan, who probably won't be exchanging pleasantries with Darrell Hair in the near future. When Pietersen was on 2, he got an inside edge via his pad through to Kamran Akmal but Hair declined the appeal. Pakistan could feel rightly aggrieved with that decision but when Pietersen was 29 they could have no complaints as Shahid Nazir overstepped. They will also feel Pietersen escaped two very close lbw appeals early in his innings, but the fact that he was shelled at midwicket the ball before he retired shows Pakistan didn't help themselves.
The height of Pakistan's frustrations came in the first session despite three wickets before lunch. Shortly after Pietersen's first let-off, Alastair Cook was the beneficiary of a missed inside-edge. Cook couldn't take his second chance and popped a catch back to Umar Gul off the last ball before lunch, but Pakistan would have still been stewing about Pietersen, well aware of the damage he is capable of.
Pietersen wasn't quite at his best in Pakistan during the winter - despite a century at Faisalabad - with his impetuosity often getting the better of him. However, this summer he has added another level of responsibility to his play and that was on show here as he played himself in, albeit with his moments of fortune.
The first half of his innings was about steadying England from 110 for 3 and the recovery began with Paul Collingwood for company, before he disappointingly picked out deep square-leg after a stand of 82 in 22 overs. But, by then, Pietersen had already lit the blue touch paper. One shot, on the up through midwicket with a straight bat, signalled the start of his onslaught. Danish Kaneria soon ended up in the stands and, 44 balls after reaching fifty, Pietersen's now trademark leap accompanied his fifth Test century and third of the summer.
When Salman Butt grassed Pietersen at midwicket on 104 Inzamam just chewed his finger nails but the frustration must have been immense. He will have a sensed a moment of relief when Pietersen's cramp, which had troubled him from when he was in the 90s, forced him off the field for treatment. The problem for Inzamam, as has been throughout the series, is that he had no strike bowler to turn to.
Nazir, in his first Test since March 1999, deserved more than Strauss's wicket but Mohammad Sami was again a major disappointment. However, during the final session Umar Gul backed up his hardwork from Old Trafford with a fine new-ball burst. There was enough in the pitch to keep the seamers interested and Read's late dismissal to one that didn't bounce much indicates that batting won't become any easier.
Pakistan ended with a touch of momentum as Gul squeezed one through Matthew Hoggard's defences. But the thought that will keep them awake tonight is that although Pietersen has left the field once he'll be back in the morning with the serene-looking Bell. Inzamam could be forgiven if he has the odd nightmare
Grimwood
5 Aug 2006, 21:02
Bell reaches his century.
His third from four innings in this series.
Browney2006
5 Aug 2006, 21:04
Pieterson to hit a big ton, Read will fail with the bat once again, and Bell to continue his impressive form with the tail.
Couldnt have predicted it much better :p I suppose Read did alright with the bat.
England - 6/406
Bell - 102*
Pieterson - 124*
Read - 38
Umar Gul - 4/100
Grimwood
5 Aug 2006, 21:13
Pietersen rather throws it away on 135.
Browney2006
5 Aug 2006, 22:00
Harmison & Mahmood are doing some big hitting here.
Grimwood
5 Aug 2006, 22:27
114.5 Nazir to Harmison, SIX!!, short of length delivery, Harmison goes back and pulls it over backward square leg, bowling that length is like committing hara-kiri
114.6 Nazir to Harmison, SIX!!, and again, same ball, same shot and same result, short of length delivery, Harmison pulls it over backward square leg
eddiesmith
5 Aug 2006, 22:43
Oh ****ing hell, get this **** off :mad:
eddiesmith
5 Aug 2006, 22:53
Yay we finally get some play and a wicket falls
I am getting sick of their weekly, 'we are arriving later than usual'
How often can you arrive late before its the norm?
Browney2006
5 Aug 2006, 23:09
Damn Monty misses out again on his chance to shine with the bat, im still convinced that he isnt a bunny.
eddiesmith
6 Aug 2006, 00:22
The Skunk!!!!!!!!!!!! No1 fielder in the world :D
Gee, giving up on the Slopster already, ed? Your boys can only hope to cower in the shadows cast by Punter and Roy
Good to see Bell rack up another ton- clearly giving the selectors something to think about. Mind you, the Pakistani attack is pretty weak.
England need a wicket or two before stumps tonight- probably an hour of play left tonight.
Excellent to see TMS getting on England about excessive use of substitutes. Going off for a drink or a change of shirt or boots is in the laws of the game- BUT WITHOUT A SUBSTITUTE FIELDER.
Let's see how they go when they hit the heat of Brisbane in a few months.....
Collingwood's fluffed chance may prove costly for the poms.
Browney2006
6 Aug 2006, 16:54
Excellent to see TMS getting on England about excessive use of substitutes. Going off for a drink or a change of shirt or boots is in the laws of the game- BUT WITHOUT A SUBSTITUTE FIELDER.
Let's see how they go when they hit the heat of Brisbane in a few months.....
Well look who turns up as soon as England are on the back foot, almost on cue. I'm sure in Brisbane they will be cooled off by a nice thunder storm.
Collingwood's fluffed chance may prove costly for the poms.
Surely the 'best fielder in the world' wouldn't drop a catch?? :eek:
Mind you he's bowling now which usually indicates that England have given up...
Well look who turns up as soon as England are on the back foot, almost on cue. I'm sure in Brisbane they will be cooled off by a nice thunder storm.
Ever hear about people being out of town for a few days? Back home about tea yesterday- I'm not like the Pom fans who disappear when they don't have a wicket suited to their bowlers.
A cool Brisbane is a hell of a lot hotter than anything the Poms get in the UK
eddiesmith
6 Aug 2006, 21:48
Blind Billy in fine form :rolleyes:
eddiesmith
6 Aug 2006, 21:49
And then Cookie takes a huge hit in the outfield, ouch thats gotta hurt smashing into the steel and concrete behind the advertising boards
Blind Billy in fine form :rolleyes:
Pakistan have been well and truly smashed by the umpires....
Englande can have no complaints.
Cooldude
6 Aug 2006, 21:55
Yousuf and Younis Khan are batting so beautifully, people should tape this
TMS now taking my idea of putting a Portaloo on the field for the Poms...great stuff
Lunch
2 for 332
295 run partnership
Didn't realise there was a "Dickie Bird clock" at Headingley....excellent
Surely the 'best fielder in the world' wouldn't drop a catch?? :eek:
Mind you he's bowling now which usually indicates that England have given up...
Well dropping Yousuf on 5 is a cardinal sin. Eddie would not have been amused.
eddiesmith
6 Aug 2006, 23:06
Guess thats the problem when you set the bar so high everyone expects you to take every impossible catch
My first reaction was it fell short, not always easy coming forward at 3rd slip
partnership 330 and still going (paks 2/366)...are they eyeing off sanga/jayawardene's 624 :eek:
Theres some insipid bowling being delivered.
Regulation edge to 2nd slip.....except Strauss has a 1st slip and a 3rd slip...hmmm
Guess thats the problem when you set the bar so high everyone expects you to take every impossible catch
My first reaction was it fell short, not always easy coming forward at 3rd slip
Just saw the replay of the Collingwood drop. Any test cricketer would be expected to take it....it was low but really.
eddiesmith
6 Aug 2006, 23:39
About ****ing time...
Just saw the replay of the Collingwood drop. Any test cricketer would be expected to take it....it was low but really.
But remember, Jaymin- in eddie's eyes, everything involving his boys are tough, and anything the opposition misses are sitters.
Harmisson finally gets one- worse than Lee-esque figures for the guy supposedly back....
eddiesmith
6 Aug 2006, 23:55
No they are not worse than Lee esque, Lee esque is 201 off less than 40 overs
Atleast he has a wicket, even if this guy was a little bit less expensive
Kasprowicz 35 6 139 0
Kasprowicz 34 122 1
Although the 2nd one is alot more respectable for the QLD hack
No they are not worse than Lee esque, Lee esque is 201 off less than 40 overs
Atleast he has a wicket, even if this guy was a little bit less expensive
Kasprowicz 35 6 139 0
Kasprowicz 34 122 1
Although the 2nd one is alot more respectable for the QLD hack
Or:
15.5 7 wickets for 36
or
18 5 for 28 when he did open
Not bad for a chap who doesn't open the bowling for his country, eh, eddie?
What, no comment about the great harmi? I'm shocked- he IS back, isn't he? Or was that a wicket thay prepared for him?
eddiesmith
7 Aug 2006, 00:33
Yay, finally :D
A runout with Inzi at the crease, wow you dont see that too often :p
eddiesmith
7 Aug 2006, 00:34
GOD! GOD! GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 HAS STRUCK ATLAST!
PLUMB PLUMB PLUMB EVEN THE BLIND WINDIAN COULDNT SAY NOT OUT
COLLAPSE!
Yahoooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Slopster finally gets a Test wicket
Amazing stuff at Headingley
eddiesmith
7 Aug 2006, 00:37
GOD is such a sensational swing bowler, double wicket over, ball swinging a mile, just missing the outside edge from the last 2, only Hoggy swings it more in the world
eddiesmith
7 Aug 2006, 00:39
The Fat Prick with the most embarassing dismissal in cricket history, and to think these prick commentators were talking of the Pakis winning by an innings
Comedic stuff with Inzi hitting his wicket
Pakistan truly in collapse now
eddiesmith
7 Aug 2006, 00:41
Pakis are one team who you never really feel out of the game if you have batted first and made a good score as they never have more than 1 decent partnership
Cooldude
7 Aug 2006, 00:42
Inzy falls over his own weight and crushes the stumps. The single most bizarre dismissal I think I've ever seen, apart from Tendulkar getting lbwed when he ducked into a bouncer and the ball hit his helmet, of course
The Fat Prick with the most embarassing dismissal in cricket history, and to think these prick commentators were talking of the Pakis winning by an innings
Yeah, but until 15 minutes ago, it looked like Pakistan were heading for a decent lead on their batting- and England could have been under pressure batting on day four and five.
Now it looks like all options are back on the table.
TMS saying there may be rain through later this afternoon. But no problems right now
Cooldude
7 Aug 2006, 00:50
This looks more like a draw
eddiesmith
7 Aug 2006, 01:15
Yeah, but until 15 minutes ago, it looked like Pakistan were heading for a decent lead on their batting- and England could have been under pressure batting on day four and five.
Now it looks like all options are back on the table.
TMS saying there may be rain through later this afternoon. But no problems right now
But when the side has a fairly weak batting lineup with only a couple of decent batsman and they have conceded 515 in the 1st innings they are never heading for a big win untill they are 150-200 in front with 7 wickets in hand
Funny stuff from the commentary on baggygreen
Tea
And that's tea... Pakistan will be grateful of the interlude as they set about trying to regroup after losing three quick wickets, while England have something of a spring in their step at last. Something for you to chew over, meanwhile, is the report from the fact-tastic Andrew Miller who tells us that yesterday Pietersen was reported to have said to Faisal Iqbal : "Get yourself to 100 first then you can open your mouth and say something. No, wait, try and get even a 50." And there might be something in that, too, as Pietersen was seen to be giving Faisal a little bit of chat as the batsman strode in. There's no telling, however, whether that unsettled the batsman, but he was soon on his way.
TV talking heads- have to say something to justify existence- and with the Pommy pace attack not producing this match, what else do they have to say?
eddiesmith
7 Aug 2006, 01:38
Even the hack picks up a wicket now with Akmal gone
eddiesmith
7 Aug 2006, 01:39
TV talking heads- have to say something to justify existence- and with the Pommy pace attack not producing this match, what else do they have to say?
Only 1 wicket away from swinging this game well back into Englands favour, thats what
eddiesmith
7 Aug 2006, 01:50
Yay another wicket down
Only 1 wicket away from swinging this game well back into Englands favour, thats what
Really?
With the bowling attacks of both teams, I'd have to agree with Cooldude that a draw is the most likely result.
8 for 489
Trail by 26
Even if England go completely bonkers tomorrow, going to be tough to get a lead of more than about 350- and Strauss won't declare with that tomorrow.
Cooldude
7 Aug 2006, 02:11
MONTY! He took a catch!!! :D
Stick that up your ass Fat Dunc :D That catch just ended Ashley Giles' international career
130.4 Mahmood to Umar Gul, OUT, what a catch off a hook which wasn't quite timed properly and sailed high. Great take from Panesar at long leg, tumbling forward and he held it low. That should temporarily silence the critics of Panesar's fielding; he watched that right into his hands, although it must be said he looked mighty relieved when he held it
Umar Gul c Panesar b Mahmood 7 (14b 1x4 0x6) sr: 50.00
Panesar gets a huge reception for his second Test catch and he accepts the applause modestly, with a little smile to himself
Ah Monty. :D
eddiesmith
7 Aug 2006, 02:45
Yay its finally over thanks to some Monty and Trescothick Magic
Now lets hope Marcus and Andrew can last the day...
eddiesmith
7 Aug 2006, 02:53
Interesting to note that with all the whingeing about over rates that if it wasnt for the change in innings then more than 90 overs may have been bowled today
Well, when Monty bowls 48 overs, and the Slopster gets a few....you won't waste a lot of time
5 minutes left- could get one extra over
eddiesmith
7 Aug 2006, 02:56
Yet Australia with Warne bowling most of the time still are probably the slowest in the world
Aggers and Boycott on Five Live radio immediately after close of play today
606 dealing with the cricket today
Cooldude
7 Aug 2006, 03:12
Over rate today is a credit to England, well done on that
Monty was their best bowler by far, Harmison was a mess. Sajid Mahmood also did very well for himself without much reward.
Interesting match now, if England bats the whole day tomorrow, Pakistan might be in a little bit of trouble unless they bat out the last day for the draw. As is shown already, there are notable variation of bounce that's becoming more and more evident as the day went on and will deteroriate as the match goes on.
Pakis are one team who you never really feel out of the game if you have batted first and made a good score as they never have more than 1 decent partnership
Agree, they can fall like a pack of cards and don't seem to fight like other nations. Apart from their 3 gun batsmen their batting is fragile. Without Razzaq and Afridi their lower order was really weak, though the latter is hit and miss anyway. Those umpiring errors on day one could prove costly for Pakistan.
Browney2006
7 Aug 2006, 13:53
Another Road another draw, Boring high scoring matches.
Yet Australia with Warne bowling most of the time still are probably the slowest in the world
lol it always comes down to Australia
Cooldude
7 Aug 2006, 18:40
BTW, hopefully the England 12th man gets paid for what he does. He gets rotated on more than the Freo bench
Disgrace, that **** shouldn't be allowed
eddiesmith
7 Aug 2006, 20:01
Anyone hear whats wrong with Fatty and why wont he be fielding?
Grimwood
7 Aug 2006, 20:05
Anyone hear whats wrong with Fatty and why wont he be fielding?
Abdominal pains apparently.
Abdominal pains apparently.
i think he was hit in the abdoman with a wooden stump.....:D
eddiesmith
7 Aug 2006, 20:15
Abdominal pains apparently.
Cheers, so many jokes, so little time :p
Cheers, so many jokes, so little time :p
The real joke is Kamran Akmal......dear god, he's almost as bad as Geraint...
eddiesmith
7 Aug 2006, 20:24
The real joke is Kamran Akmal......dear god, he's almost as bad as Geraint...
But neither are quite as bad as Gilly is these days :p
But neither are quite as bad as Gilly is these days :p
This bait is poor and of a low quality, i'm swimming away....
Another Road another draw, Boring high scoring matches.
Couldn't be that the bowlers on both sides simply aren't good enough, could it?
embleygirl
7 Aug 2006, 21:08
I really like Will Luke's commentary on cricinfo, he adds some real wit to it. Only reason I still use cricinfo for scores...
Browney2006
7 Aug 2006, 21:09
Couldn't be that the bowlers on both sides simply aren't good enough, could it?
No, its a Road, the ball has hardly done anything, the conditions so far have been suited to batting, the pitch is pretty flat.
Jeese this Umpire is ****ing rubbish, almost as bad as Akmal's keeping has been this series.
Browney2006
7 Aug 2006, 21:11
The real joke is Kamran Akmal......dear god, he's almost as bad as Geraint...
You actually think Kamran Akmal has been better than Jones has been in the first two tests? Which series have you been watching, Akmal has been appauling and Jones has imprvoed out of site behind the stumps and has actually kept well the first two tests, it was his batting that let him down.
ALwaysNorth
7 Aug 2006, 21:57
Yawn !!!!!!!!!!!!
Cooldude
7 Aug 2006, 22:10
Bowling's been fantastic, fielding's been **** ****ing poor
What's happening with Kamran Akmal? Up until this Test series, whenever I've seen him kept he's been excellent behind the stumps, but at the moment he can't catch a cold even if he stand nude in the middle of Antarctica
The only thing he's caught is the Geraint Jones syndrome
funkyfreo
7 Aug 2006, 22:13
Why the yawns? DO we all think TMs should finish in 3.5 days?
3 days gone, 2 innings over, and 5th day pitch maybe still to come.
At least it means you actually have to play well to win a match, not just batter than the opponent.
Why the yawns? DO we all think TMs should finish in 3.5 days?
3 days gone, 2 innings over, and 5th day pitch maybe still to come.
At least it means you actually have to play well to win a match, not just batter than the opponent.
True, but neither side has threatening bowling...Pakistan could lose with their careless batting, but that's the only way a result comes about- not because the Poms actually have a decent attack. Of course, the way they are batting, they won't declare before lunch tomorrow in any case
Inzi has been taken to the hospital for x-rays on his ribs, apparently
True, but neither side has threatening bowling...Pakistan could lose with their careless batting, but that's the only way a result comes about- not because the Poms actually have a decent attack. Of course, the way they are batting, they won't declare before lunch tomorrow in any case
Inzi has been taken to the hospital for x-rays on his ribs, apparently
Finally an opener falls. Strauss and Cook at the crease with former closing in on his ton.
Cook gone to Kaneria
England 2 for 196 with a bit over a half hour to tea
Lead of 173
If England can keep batting, a lead of about 330 probably on the cards by stumps- probably no declaration until at least 380 in front with the ineffective bowling this Test. Wouldn't be surprised if Strauss chose to continue batting tomorrow, rather than go for the win.
Browney2006
8 Aug 2006, 00:12
True, but neither side has threatening bowling...Pakistan could lose with their careless batting, but that's the only way a result comes about- not because the Poms actually have a decent attack. Of course, the way they are batting, they won't declare before lunch tomorrow in any case
Inzi has been taken to the hospital for x-rays on his ribs, apparently
Arnt they batting fast enough? - 200 + Runs at 4.1 an over? Seems like a decent enough pace to me.
Arnt they batting fast enough? - 200 + Runs at 4.1 an over? Seems like a decent enough pace to me.
Well, any hope of truly quick runs just ended with Butterfingers being bowled. As I said in a post above, a lead of 320 to 330 by stumps won't be enough for Strauss. But as I've correctly argued on numerous occassions, England do not have the killer instinct to put away teams- and with the bowling attack in this match, Strauss would be an idiot to declare too early.
Strauss rings up a century- well done to the skipper
eddiesmith
8 Aug 2006, 00:31
Strauss brings up his 10th century in his 30th match, if he keeps up that average he would probably have the best average of hundreds/game of all current batsman
Sidey_87
8 Aug 2006, 00:33
They will declare around halfway through the 1st session tomorrow, leaving Pakistan to chase down 360 at 5 per over.
Another draw.
Strauss goes just before tea
4 for 237, lead of 214
England need to be careful or they could be out before stumps. Slopster needs to get his head down.
Browney2006
8 Aug 2006, 00:51
Strauss goes just before tea
4 for 237, lead of 214
England need to be careful or they could be out before stumps. Slopster needs to get his head down.
Who is slopster? Bell or Collingwood?
Who is slopster? Bell or Collingwood?
Collingwood- bowls slop
Bell doing very well this series and is quite capable of keeping England safe
England will have one edge if they collapse tonight- Inzi still not around apparently, so he would not be able to bat until #7.
Slopster almost gone lbw to Kaneria
5 for 281, lead of 258
Inzi's ribs have been checked out- he has inflammation of the rib joints.
Read doing nicely with the bat here- looks like Jones will continue to ride the pine for the Poms
Match referee has stated that Inzi's injury is an external injury, and that he may therefore bat where he wishes to when Pakistan come in to bat.
Not sure I get that ruling....
eddiesmith
8 Aug 2006, 01:52
Match referee has stated that Inzi's injury is an external injury, and that he may therefore bat where he wishes to when Pakistan come in to bat.
Not sure I get that ruling....
They were discussing it when KP was injured the other day, apparently if its an injury that you can see occur out on the field then they dont get penalised, but if not then the standard rules apply of batting at 7, not bowling for such and such time
So if you get smashed with the ball and go off to get scans and treatment you can still bat in your normal position or if you fall on your stumps and break your ribs :p
eddiesmith
8 Aug 2006, 02:31
And now finally common sense prevails and he is back to no7
They were discussing it when KP was injured the other day, apparently if its an injury that you can see occur out on the field then they dont get penalised, but if not then the standard rules apply of batting at 7, not bowling for such and such time
So if you get smashed with the ball and go off to get scans and treatment you can still bat in your normal position or if you fall on your stumps and break your ribs :p
TMS now reporting the Inzi injury is being called internal now- he will not be able to bat until #7 or after the tea interval. Wonder if this is how it will stay overnight?
Lead closing in on 300
New ball about to be taken
Hoggard gone
8 down, lead of 300
Could be a fascinating day tomorrow. Every run is precious for England. Read is doing very well getting the runs for the Poms after the middle order collapsed like a house of cards.