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

[hopeforthebest]

Modern fans want their cake and eat it, exciting attacking batting and victories. The two things are occasionally mutually exclusive and the moaning begins. In white ball batsmen hate dot balls however, to play tests well you must learn to love them.

[hopeforthebest]

One thing to think about is that Shah has taken wickets here with much turn except now out of the rough, what will happen on grounds like Old Trafford and Edgbaston where spin often plays a part at this time of the year.

[shankycricket]

Moeen Ali as a Test cricketer is a bigger myth than Roy Hodgson being good enough to be an England manager.

[Making_Splinters]

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.

Vince looks like he''s not in the best form, before his selection he'd made a ton against Yorkshire, but that's pretty much it as far as I can tell off the top of my head. He's also not had the best transition up to Division 1. I feel that he probably needs some time back at Hampshire to get into form again. It's not a huge issue at present with Stoke coming back next Test, the main problem is Ballance looks no better than when he was dropped.

Ali needs some time back at Worcs to remember that playing for England is a huge privileged not a right.

[backfootpunch]

Still can't believe that shot from moeen

We are now in need of a miracle

[hopeforthebest]

It's a difficult situation for these two because they must score runs whilst not getting out. They certainly can't bat for the draw.

[greyblazer]

Bairstow is one of the most improved batsmen going around in the international circuit.

[backfootpunch]

Pakistan trying to orchestrate a draw

Very defensive bowling and very defensive fields

Surely Yasir should be trying to get woakes out

[greyblazer]

I can't say the same about Ballance and Vince. Any decent enough bowler will fancy his chances against the duo.

[ianp1970]

BBC 5 Live is my saviour today. Test match, Open, Davis Cup and Tour de France all covered impeccably

[budgetmeansbudget]

Run rate has dropped from over 4 an over to under 1 an over.

[ianp1970]

Cricket on muted TV

[budgetmeansbudget]

BBC 5 Live is my saviour today. Test match, Open, Davis Cup and Tour de France all covered impeccably

Comes into its own in the summer months as Talk Sport only really does football.

[Aidan11]

A big ask for these two to save it.

[backfootpunch]

A big ask for these two to save it.

They have a cunning plan

Block for long enough that wahab and rahat both get banned from bowling for running on the pitch