3rd Test England v Pakistan, Edgbaston, Aug 3-7.

[sussexpob]

Great start for Pakistan, Ballance and Vince.

I suppose it's too early to say (and GB has scored Test runs and hundreds), but I'm wondering, did Ian Ward and Aftab Habib ever bat together in England's middle order? I've got a feeling they did in the 2001 Ashes.

No Aftab Habib got one series in 1999 when Daniel Vettori massacred him in a couple of tests, and his test career was over.

Oops, rather embarrassing case of mistaken identity, it was Usman Afzaal Ward batted with in the Edgbaston Ashes (which they lost by an innings). Then Afzaal was dropped to give Ramps another go. Ward was picked as a number seven bat for his debut, but was batting at six when dropped after five Tests, average 17.

I do remember Afzaal scoring a 50 in that series? But generally he looked out of his depth.

[Arthur Crabtree]

If Pakistan win here they will be doing something no other team from Asia has achieved and with the Oval to come where drawn games are not rare Trev may be having a lot of questions to answer.

Shouldn't have. England were awful when he took over. He has an unexpected Ashes win, a win in SA, an improved performance in UAE, and a boshing of SL that could only have been more one sided if it had rained less. He's saved Cook by making him look a better captain on the field. Considering how flame proof Flower and Moores were in the eyes of the ECB and a friendly media, it would suggest an ulterior motive if they all stuck their teeth into Bayliss' ankle after a loss in this series. Still, I think England will not lose the series.

[sussexpob]

Amir has been so unlucky this series

[Aidan11]

Jeez just caught up with the score.


Pakistan's session.


I hope Bairstow and Woakes are on form.

[backfootpunch]

Trouble is, even if Vince does fortuitously get to 40, you still know he'll get out. He's never in at this level.

What he does having going for him, is his main weakness is identifiable and very preventable. Generally his technique isnt a disaster. A bit of fortune and a big score, some confidence and he might hit some form.

He's looked solid defensively to straight balls much more so than hales

He just needs to stop driving at wide balls

[hopeforthebest]

If Pakistan win here they will be doing something no other team from Asia has achieved and with the Oval to come where drawn games are not rare Trev may be having a lot of questions to answer.

Shouldn't have. England were awful when he took over. He has an unexpected Ashes win, a win in SA, an improved performance in UAE, and a boshing of SL that could only have been more one sided if it had rained less. He's saved Cook by making him look a better captain on the field. Considering how flame proof Flower and Moores were in the eyes of the ECB and a friendly media, it would suggest an ulterior motive if they all stuck their teeth into Bayliss' ankle after a loss in this series. Still, I think England will not lose the series.

I think losing at home to Pakistan would be a great failure even a drawn series would be bad enough.

[backfootpunch]

Jeez just caught up with the score.


Pakistan's session.


I hope Bairstow and Woakes are on form.

If it stays overcast

Anything near 300 will be a good score

Just have to hope someone can make a substantial score to get us there

[Arthur Crabtree]

Great start for Pakistan, Ballance and Vince.

I suppose it's too early to say (and GB has scored Test runs and hundreds), but I'm wondering, did Ian Ward and Aftab Habib ever bat together in England's middle order? I've got a feeling they did in the 2001 Ashes.

No Aftab Habib got one series in 1999 when Daniel Vettori massacred him in a couple of tests, and his test career was over.

Oops, rather embarrassing case of mistaken identity, it was Usman Afzaal Ward batted with in the Edgbaston Ashes (which they lost by an innings). Then Afzaal was dropped to give Ramps another go. Ward was picked as a number seven bat for his debut, but was batting at six when dropped after five Tests, average 17.

I do remember Afzaal scoring a 50 in that series? But generally he looked out of his depth.

Got a fifty batting with Ramps (who made a hundred) at the Oval in another innings defeat. Also got out Gilchrist in Australia's 640-4 (Waugh memorably made an angry, determined 157* after being jeered while carried off injured at TB). Joined the club of players whose last Test was at the Oval (often their first Test as well).

[Aidan11]

Only 26 overs bowled in the session.

I've not followed much of the morning session but if there hasn't been any stoppages that is poor.

[hopeforthebest]

Jeez just caught up with the score.


Pakistan's session.


I hope Bairstow and Woakes are on form.

If it stays overcast

Anything near 300 will be a good score

Just have to hope someone can make a substantial score to get us there

You will know better than me bfb but it seems to me from memory that first innings scores have been pretty low in this years CC.

[backfootpunch]

Lovely drive from vince off Yasir, he's played some nice shots post lunch

Flying along at 4.3 rpo

[sussexpob]

Ballance might have got away with one. No one appeals but Snicko has a sound as it passes the bat

[Arthur Crabtree]

Of the last seven games at Edgbaston, five have been won by the side batting second, and the two no results were rain offs. The last time the side batting first won was in 2005 (so only just).


But... England have tended to win, with SA providing the only exception in 2008 in the fifteen years since Ian Ward's England lost by an innings to Australia in 2001.

[Aidan11]

Just caught the end of a feature on Bob Willis during the lunch interval.

Shame, I'd have liked to have seen that.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I hate the clipping lbw.

Not a proper wicket for me.

Give me a good nick to slip or bowled every day of the week.

It was given out live though. It just wasn't demonstrated to be a wrong decision. Given the margin of error, it might well have been hitting the stump square on, in reality.