by alfie » Sun Oct 18, 2015 11:58 am
Don't you hate it when you spend ages crafting a post and then get logged out and lose the lot...
So , in brief , trying again ; after watching the match but not being on here for the last few days :
I actually quite enjoyed the match , even the slow early days , though I understand why many didn't. It was interesting to see how England's plan to deploy six bowlers worked : quite well I think - had a couple of straightforward catches stuck Pakistan might have been dismissed for a relatively modest score , despite the complete ineffectiveness of the England spinners. The England batting response then was a huge improvement on recent efforts when faced with a formidable opposition first innings ; and much credit must go - obviously to Cook and his wonderful epic of concentration - but also to Moeen ; who went some way to justifying his opening berth and helped to quell any possible nerves in the dressing room. Bell looked dreadful early - doubtless remembering his previous tour of UAE ! - but eventually settled to make ugly but valuable runs . Root did as we all expected and Stokes defied poor lead up form to play a good aggressive innings ...altogether a very fine response to the loss of the toss and two days baking in the field.
Once it was clear England were going to get near or over the Pakistan total , I always expected the home team to come under pressure in their second innings - was not at all surprised that England ended up with a late chase to try and win the match : not sure why so many were writing the match off as a bore draw almost until halfway through day five . Pitch was bound to give a little help to the spinners before the end ; and pressure does funny things to batsmen. At least those who tuned in had an excellent last day to savour , even if the result was denied by the light.
One that : cannot blame the umpires , as they followed the laws. I dislike those laws ; as they are just too inflexible. While it might be reasonable to take players off when batsmen are facing , say , a new ball attack in fading light on day three , it is surely a different matter to drag a batting side closing in on a deserved win off the field three overs from the finish , when said batsmen are - obviously - happy to take any attendant risks. Yet the law says the first reading is set in stone... If it were so dark that the fielding side were at risk , fair enough : but yesterday , for example , the fielders were scattered around the fence , so hardly in any danger! I don't , by the way , blame Pakistan for wasting a bit of time - all teams slow the game in these circumstances ; and it wasn't over the top - but at the same time I'd prefer the umpires to also be able to take such tactics into account when ruling on light . As Steve Bucknor memorably did at Karachi fifteen years ago...
Never mind ; a cracker of a finish , even if cut short.
As for that second innings , I was delighted to see Rashid bounce back from a chastening first innings experience to prove his worth doing what wrist spinners are supposed to do - take over as the pitch wears down. We shouldn't now expect him to take five every time ; but this display shows he has the ability to be a real asset to England on "Asian" pitches - and perhaps as he develops even on more familiar surfaces ? Also good to see Moeen playing his part with the ball. And those who thought it might be sensible to "rest" Anderson for this match might have cause to reconsider...
Next match I imagine Yasir will return for Pakistan , which will certainly strengthen them. But England will have taken much confidence from this game ... we shall see if they can carry it forward.
Cook needs to call correctly next Thursday too...
