1st Test England v Pakistan, Lord's 14-18 July

[braveneutral]

Turned quite a bit.

[backfootpunch]

That's probably that

Unless moeen can actually stick around for once

[hopeforthebest]

Oh dear Balance got carried away with his boundary against that long hop and is clean bowled. Pity he looked very secure.

[backfootpunch]

It was quite short

Ironicly ballance lost his balance and missed it

[hopeforthebest]

It was quite short

Ironicly ballance lost his balance and missed it

He played it badly, I wouldn't be surprised if both feet were outside his off stump when he tried to play it. Been watching Younis bat.

[backfootpunch]

To chase this someone was going to have to make 75+

Down to these two and Woakes now

Wouldn't back broad with shah bowling into the rough

[backfootpunch]

Moeen should never play for England again

Disgraceful shot

[braveneutral]

Poor.

[Dr Cricket]

Ali just get out of the team.

[budgetmeansbudget]

If Rashid doesn't come in for Ali in the next test, he'll never be picked.

[hopeforthebest]

The run rates pretty good though.

[budgetmeansbudget]

You can see these two taking us home.

The image is a bit blurred mind.

[backfootpunch]

Woakes did make 90 odd in an odi

There is always hope

[sussexpob]

How do you judge the innings of Vince if you're a selector? Do you say hey he made more runs than others managed or do you look at his technique and say he was fortunate to make those runs?

Maybe were about to see the reason why Balance has such a high batting average, he certainly has grit.

Well indeed. Vince never looked in control at any stage. He played a lot of loose strokes that could have meant the end, edged a few wildly.

Does James Vince look like a player capable at the top level of sticking around for long innings? I dont think he does, I think as a bowler id fancy to pick him up if I got a decent spell in.

One thing though, Vince has got out playing aggressive strokes too. He loses marks on defensive technique and application in aggression.

You have to stick with him to the end of the summer, hope this is just nerves or something, but Ive said it tonnes of times over the last few days..... anyone who plays that much on the back foot to a spinner in hope to read the spin off the pitch has zero chance of making it in the sub continent.

[sussexpob]

I guess what I have seen from this test, if England do win from here it will be through proper grit and application, and if they lose it will be the lack of it.

At times when England started to get into Pakistan, Pakistan have fought better for their wickets, shown better technique in fact. When England's players are under pressure, they either consistently technically fail, or go into "charge of the light brigade" mode and get out.

Its worrying how little technical quality the cream of county cricket have at the moment. And I cant remember many innings in the last few years where an England player really had to fight for a big score, all of the successes are risky, stroke filled type innings where they ride their luck