Pakistan v England 1st test, Abu Dhabi Oct 13-17

[sussexpob]

Johnatan Trott is out in the UAE, I wonder if he's popped in to say hello to Riaz.

Indeed. They had a drink at a local bar, threw some pads at each other, and then Trott chokeslammed him through a table.

[backfootpunch]

probably the easiest 39 runs cook has ever made

he should be eyeing up a double ton on this pitch against what looks like some average bowlers

the only real threat i can see is wahabs pace, but that wont last long if we can get him bowling a few overs

i would imagine though that babar will cause more problems to the right handers than to moeen and cook

[hopeforthebest]

Good job done by Cook and Moeen, very few times in trouble.

[Aidan11]

Thankfully we got through the day without losing a wicket.

[KipperJohn]

He's not going to be dropped for his slip catching.

Catches do go down. Justing saying to the press that catches are crucial doesn't change that.

It's tempting to look for a unifying cause, the drops (missed some in the summer, and took some) and the diminishing run scoring. Is he fading as a batter, losing his reactions and his eyes? Has he been worn down by Flower and Moores? Would he prefer just to be playing out his time with his county, road weary with England?

Reasonable thoughts there Arthur, especially as the word retirement cropped up after the Ashes. Bell has been an outstanding outfielder/short leg for a decade but I thought it a well known fact that he once asked Strauss to remove him from the slips because he disliked fielding there. He's only come in to second slip since the whitewash because of a lack of specialist fielders in that position. If you shove that into your mix and the possibility he won't do that great with the bat, this could well be his last tour.

[Durhamfootman]

who did Bell drop when the score was 12-1? was it the guy who scored 98, or the one who scored 200 and plenty?

[backfootpunch]

who did Bell drop when the score was 12-1? was it the guy who scored 98, or the one who scored 200 and plenty?

bell dropped hafeez who made 98 and shafiq who made a century both very early on

malik who made the double hundred was dismissed by broad on 40 but it was a no ball

how to turn 200 all out into 550

[The Professor]

I'd say the biggest problem was not the Bell drops but the Broad no-ball.

That would have changed the complexion of the game much more.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Biggest problem was that they couldn't create another chance, when an opportunity went begging.

[yuppie]

Looks like this is headed for a draw.

Pakistan need to take 20 wickets in 3 days in some pretty intense heat. England need to make 700 runs and take 10 wickets in the same heat.

Time for batsman to build on their averages.

[Arthur Crabtree]

That'd be a handy outcome for England. But if Pakistan take ten wickets in the next four sessions, they can win. The pitch is supposed to be very dry, even more than usual,so it might be hard to bat later on.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I took the middle session off, and couldn't get back into it later on. So I missed all the wickets falling. Good that Ben made a contribution, and hopefully it will give him confidence for his innings tomorrow.

[Aidan11]

If we keep batting today like we did yesterday we could be all right.

[Aidan11]

50 for Cook.

[Aidan11]

100 partnership.