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

[Making_Splinters]

Can't help but feeling that England would have been better served having a third seamer instead of a third spinner. Anderson and Broad have been exceptional.

The spinner who would've been left out in that case has been the best one though.

The pacers have taken 5 for 20. The spinners 4 for 204. Patel has bowled well, but that is more a reflection on how poorly Ali and Rashid have bowled.

[Aidan11]

That boundary damaged Broad's bowling figures.

[Aidan11]

All out and we now have a tricky couple of overs to face tonight.

[Aidan11]

We play three spinners but it's the quicks who have taken the spoils.

[m@tt]

Moeen with a catch at fourth slip, promoted into the cordon with Stokes off the field.

2 overs for our openers to face.

[backfootpunch]

That might just be the best anderson and broad have ever bowled in tandem

6-30 between them In 28 overs

[Making_Splinters]

All done and dusted. Anderson and Broad took 6 for 30, the spinners between them took 4 for 204. While it may be a dust bowl, you have to play to your strengths and I really can't help feeling that another 10 overs of front line pace rather than part time spin would have done the job better.

Just have to hope Rashid, Patel and Ali make up that 170 run deficit with the bat.

[Making_Splinters]

Stokes has outbowled Broad on this tour and Broad has an awful record in the subcontinent. How about dropping Broad and playing Jimmy, Wood and Stokes as your seamers?

Just for a bit of gentle ribbing, not a bad prediction from old Shanks.

[Aidan11]

The spinners will be key as the match heads into the 4th & 5th days (if it gets that far) when the pitch breaks up even more.

[Aidan11]

I see we have still gone over the allocated time despite all those overs of spin.

[Aidan11]

Wow, Moeen.




Ah bugger, it was only a four.

[Aidan11]

31 more needed to avoid the follow on.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Game isn't over yet. Should England have gone in with the attack they did in Ahmedabad?

The three seamers they picked took the wickets (I think the seamers stats posted don't include Stokes'). Would a worse seamer, bowling overs with the old ball, have improved things for England, given there's still the second innings to go?

Issues: Pakistan's tactic of playing no shots against A&B; England's spin selection.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Should be allowed to substitute a player who has been seriously injured during the game.

[Aidan11]

Should be allowed to substitute a player who has been seriously injured during the game.

I'm not in favour of that. I didn't like it when they started doing it in ODI's, even though that could be done for tactical reasons as well as injury. I don't even like it in the County Championship when a squad player is released from duty to go into a CC game once it has started.


Much prefer the nominated XI to stay like that even if they lose a player or two.