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

[Arthur Crabtree]

Mo succeeds where all the pace bowlers have failed... Hafeez goes for a game changing 150.

[Gingerfinch]

Hafeez finally goes. Well done Moen. Need these next four asap, to state the obvious.

[yuppie]

England should feel comfortable chasing 220.

Not seen the pitch change to much to suggest it is not possible.

[budgetmeansbudget]

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

[hopeforthebest]

Before this test Cork, on the Verdict, said Bell would get a century in this test, good prophecy.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Pakistan will want England to have to score 3 runs an over, so England's positive intent will become their downfall. But I can see England bowling Pakistan out today anyway.

Maybe it's time to visit specsavers AC. They apparently only take cash though.

Oi!

[hopeforthebest]

Pakistan will want England to have to score 3 runs an over, so England's positive intent will become their downfall. But I can see England bowling Pakistan out today anyway.

Maybe it's time to visit specsavers AC. They apparently only take cash though.

Oi!

It's a comment I hope to regret.

[backfootpunch]

Bairstow was very slow to get the bails off then

[Arthur Crabtree]

No, they are not. Wood is averaging 28 in this series at a pretty good economy rate. He was better than Broad at least in the 2nd Test. Stokes, who has a reputation of being a run leaker has adapted to the conditions much better and whilst he has not run through lineups, he has kept it tight and maintained a very good economy rate even though his bowling was considered much less important than those of spinners. Thats the least a Test spinner could've been expected to do. There is Finn too, who has had success in the subcontinent in the past. He was a key member of the team that won at Kolkata & Colombo in 2012. Clearly, its not just Anderson & Broad. They might be the best (though IMO an in form Finn is better than Broad on flat tracks) but the back up seamers are still MILES better than any spinning options available.

That's too simplistic.

What would the seamers have averaged in the overs bowled by the spinners? They wouldn't have had a new ball for those overs. It took England until Sharjah to get a bit of reverse swing. The spinners went into this game having taken wickets at the same rate as the seamers. Would more overs by the seamers have matched that? That's a big guess.

Though clearly, the spinners have been disappointing.

Bairstow a bit slow on that stumping.

And another goes through JT.

[hopeforthebest]

Taylor lets a catch go wanting.

[hopeforthebest]

Whenever Cook has put two spinners on in tandem the runs have flowed steadily. Surely the system of bowling Anderson and Broad in short 1 or 2 over spells at one end would be a better option.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Supposing England are set 320 to win, should they try and score the runs, or block out for a draw?

[Gingerfinch]

Supposing England are set 320 to win, should they try and score the runs, or block out for a draw?

Got to go for it.

[Arthur Crabtree]

The alternative is to accept it would be impossible, and to settle for the best possible outcome.

Next wicket might be all out anyway, so 320 is long way off.

[backfootpunch]

Supposing England are set 320 to win, should they try and score the runs, or block out for a draw?

I would much rather they lost trying to win than lose trying to draw

What a beauty from Samit

Hopefully we can skittle the tail and 275 is the most we are chasing