Pakistan v England 2nd Test, Dubai, Oct 22-26

[Aidan11]

21 overs and 7 bowlers used already.

[Aidan11]

Woody strikes again. 3 down.

[m@tt]

Vaughan suggesting Bell should be dropped. But after Cook and Strauss told him he was too good to retire, can they drop Bell two games later? And if they can't drop Bell, how can they leave out anyone else?

Most likely change is Taylor for Buttler. Hales hasn't played a substantial innings in months so difficult to see him coming in.

[hopeforthebest]

I remarked earlier that Buttler seems weker taking diving catches to his right and good to his left. We saw this happen early in this innings.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Vaughan suggesting Bell should be dropped. But after Cook and Strauss told him he was too good to retire, can they drop Bell two games later? And if they can't drop Bell, how can they leave out anyone else?

Most likely change is Taylor for Buttler. Hales hasn't played a substantial innings in months so difficult to see him coming in.

Vaughan commented that Buttler's technique isn't functional.

Fair point on Hales, which then asks the question, what use is a squad if it doesn't give you options.

But on the other hand, is there any purpose staying with players who aren't scoring and don't look like scoring?

But yes, I guess Taylor will come in for Buttler.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Only read the headline, but didn't Flintoff say this was the best England side ever!

Obviously that's rubbish, and a stupid thing to compare them against. This side can be said to date from the post Ashes whitewash, and has won 2, drawn 3 and lost 1 going into this series, against mostly average opposition. Clearly there's some potential, and they look more sane under the new coach, but they're still a side in transition.

[m@tt]

Vaughan suggesting Bell should be dropped. But after Cook and Strauss told him he was too good to retire, can they drop Bell two games later? And if they can't drop Bell, how can they leave out anyone else?

Most likely change is Taylor for Buttler. Hales hasn't played a substantial innings in months so difficult to see him coming in.

Vaughan commented that Buttler's technique isn't functional.

Fair point on Hales, which then asks the question, what use is a squad if it doesn't give you options.

But on the other hand, is there any purpose staying with players who aren't scoring and don't look like scoring?

But yes, I guess Taylor will come in for Buttler.

Had Ansari been fit, he could have been an option - he's an opener with a tremendous amount of patience.

Hales was chosen through lack of options and a reluctance to return to previous choices. Had he scored some runs in the Australia ODIs, I'd be more inclined to pick him. However that poor series followed by a nothing innings in the warm-ups means he last good innings was August in the RLODC, though he did make a big century a few days before. A pity, he was in brilliant form then lost it. A note on the previous choices - there's still a lot of clamour for Compton, but it would help if he opened rather than bat at 3 as he often did for Middlesex this season.

[hopeforthebest]

It's rare for a team to be really successful without a solid reliable player at 5 or 6, we had Collingwood and then Bell that did well there. If Taylor comes in that is surely where he should be given his chance.

[m@tt]

9,000 Test runs for Younis.

[hopeforthebest]

9,000 Test runs for Younis.

Botham believe he can get to 10,000 in 7 tests. Oh Yeah.

[Dr Cricket]

9,000 Test runs for Younis.

Botham believe he can get to 10,000 in 7 tests. Oh Yeah.

Botham been so terrible in this series.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'd bat Root and Taylor at 4&5 as hopefully long term options in those positions.

Buttler or Bairstow should contest one spot, though neither inspire confidence.

I hope they don't go back to Ballance in SA, I don't think that would make sense. Should play some Lions cricket first.

If Hales isn't an option because of his lack of scores in the summer, he really shouldn't be in this squad.

/But/, this series has had some good things in it. The attack hasn't been as good as last time, though persevering, but the batting has been better. A draw in the first game (close to a win) was better than could be expected.

[hopeforthebest]

Unless wickets start to fall soon we could see England facing close to a 500 total to survive. I must say I'm not sure Yasir is a demon bowler in the vein of Ajmal and Rehman were in 2012 so determined batsmen could survive.

[hopeforthebest]

Those shadows across the pitch created by the design of the stands are ridiculous.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Well done to YK.

How long will Pakistan bat, given the choice? I guess they're as much letting the pitch deteriorate as scoring runs now.