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

[greyblazer]

Hmm, James Anderson now averages some 30.87 or 30.97 in Asia. And that is mainly because since the start of 2010, he averages 25.88 in Asia. As a result, the average has come down.

[Aidan11]

Stokes has an illness so could be a doubt.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Taylor for him?

[Aidan11]

Possibly.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Sounds like Stokes will play. An upset stomach.

[bigfluffylemon]

In this game Cook will break Sunil Gavaskar's record for most innings played as an opener, and unless he has a complete disaster will probably surpass Graeme Smith to go into number 2 for most runs scored as an opener (behind Gavaskar). He's already taken the record for most runs scored in Asia by an overseas batsman. And he's still only 30!

Barring catastrophic loss of form, he's going to hold a heck of a lot of batting records when he retires.

His performance in tests since losing the ODI captaincy suggests that it was absolutely the right thing to drop him, not just for the ODI team but the test team as well. He was trying to become something he's not, to fit into the ODI team. Now he's been given freedom to bat as a test match batsman again, and it's paying off.

(watches as Cook gets a pair in Dubai )

[bigfluffylemon]

On the basis of four days of cricket that I watched, this is what I thought of England's pacers. On expected lines, Wood was largely unsuccessful. He rarely impresses me. Every time I see him bowl, he does a bit of almost everything. However, to succeed in Test cricket, you need to be very good at some skill. Sorry to say I just don't see what is so good about Wood.

I agree, I haven't seen him do anything particularly impressive. At least Finn has the pace and bounce to trouble good batsmen, even if he is inconsistent. But given that England have a couple of experienced seamers for him to learn from, he probably should have a decent run in the side. The third pacer has been an issue since Bresnan's form tapered off, and England keep chopping and changing without ever finding anyone who is an obvious fit. But both Broad and Anderson took a while to grow into the role (they both averaged high 30s early in their careers - it only really picked up around 2009 for both of them), so if we identify a talent, we need to give them time.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yasir for Rahat is the only change from either side. Pakistan bat, should be a good toss for them to win.

[shankycricket]

Make the new ball count, folks https://mobile.twitter.com/cricket_U/st ... 557888?p=v

[Arthur Crabtree]

It was supposed to be cooler in Dubai, but 36 degrees expected all this week.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Make the new ball count, folks https://mobile.twitter.com/cricket_U/st ... 557888?p=v

Totals seem to hold up well in second innings' too.

[Arthur Crabtree]

The side batting first more often loses at this ground.

[hopeforthebest]

The side batting first more often loses at this ground.

Even when it's Pakistan?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Pakistan have won twice and lost twice batting first. Given their UAE record, that's pretty bad. Of course, they were bowled out for 99 here by England, but that was one of the ones they won. Bowled out for 99 by SA, and lost. Lost batting first against SL.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Fewer England supporters there this time, if possible.

Bald looking pitch.