Pakistan v England 3rd Test, Sharjah, Nov 1-5

[shankycricket]

Wood and Finn are injured and Stokes is playing so what's your point Shankycricket?

I wasn't criticising the selection for this test. Apart from the non-selection of Taylor for the first 2 tests, the selection has been fine on this tour. They've tried all possible options, which is good. They've been flexible. Sadly, these spinners haven't looked anywhere near good enough so I'd go back to a pace heavy attack when those 2 are back. Unless of course a genuinely good spinner comes along or they go back to a reliable guy like Tredwell.

[Alviro Patterson]

I think I'll have to get up for the start tomorrow. Otherwise we could have half the side gone after an hour.

The NZvAus game runs straight into it. Probably watch the first session of that, then the PakvEng after lunch.

Reckon Rich will pull an all nighter and watch both

[backfootpunch]

I think I'll have to get up for the start tomorrow. Otherwise we could have half the side gone after an hour.

The NZvAus game runs straight into it. Probably watch the first session of that, then the PakvEng after lunch.

thats what i was planning on doing, always have the option then of staying in bed if england are already out

[Aidan11]

Just wish I didn't have to go to work. I could have stayed up.

[The Professor]

Only three times before have England chased down over 200 in Asia....and the highest was 209.

[budgetmeansbudget]

I'll wait until I get into to work to tune in. I normally arrive at 8am so it'll be lunch, hoping we're only 3 or 4 down, but I'm expecting 6.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Caught a glimpse of Butcher on The Verdict. He seems to think England will win.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Anderson is saying the spinners have to learn quickly or they'll be out. I'm sure they do, but didn't it take him six years to pay off on early promise?

[The Professor]

Some interesting stats I just picked up from an article.

The proportion of overs bowled by spinners in the county championship has been allowed to sink from half shortly after the Second World War to one-fifth.

The last stumping made by an England Test wicketkeeper was by Matt Prior in the Mumbai Test of 2012, when Swann and Panesar were rampant, 37 Tests ago.

[Arthur Crabtree]

A few have been missed.

Prior missed a few. He seems to have been recast as a glove specialist since he retired.

[Gingerfinch]

A few have been missed.

Prior missed a few. He seems to have been recast as a glove specialist since he retired.

He was no Jack Russell

[Arthur Crabtree]

No. Can't paint anywhere near as well!

[Gingerfinch]

No. Can't paint anywhere near as well!

Nice comeback.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I thought Prior was a good keeper, and would have always taken his runs (just to restate, before the but) but, he did miss a lot of chances off Swann. Even the best keepers miss chances off the spinners, (again) but it was a surprise to hear Swann say what a great keeper he was to him. I can believe Matt had plenty of good advise, and until the end, he missed nothing off the fast bowlers, but he must have cost Swann 40 wickets. Those misses were the price paid for his 40+ average.

[bigfluffylemon]

238 with 8 wickets in hand is just low enough to give England and its supporters some home, but on a last day pitch under pressure, this is only going to end one way. I foresee some stubborn resistance from at least one partnership, just enough to give hope, and some brave batting from the tail, but it won't be enough and they'll succumb to the spinners shortly after tea, probably over 100 runs still adrift.

On paper it will be 2-0 with two comfortable victories for Pakistan, but that won't be IMO a fair reflection on what has been a pretty close-fought series for the most part. In the final analysis, it'll be the difference in spin that won it.