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

[Dr Cricket]

Arthur and Backfootpunch I believed thought England would get a good/decent lead.

[Arthur Crabtree]

We'll see. The commentators I heard said there was some bounce in the pitch. It's hard to be that confident in the Pakistani batters in English conditions, especially with the top three offering some potential for an early collapse. But if the sun is out, I expect they'll get a lead. If it's overcast, I wouldn't be surprised if they get bowled out for less than 200.

Hardly.

[Gingerfinch]

People are seriously misunderstanding me, anyway why isn't England dismissing Pakistan cheaply like people assumed would happen yesterday.

I haven't seen one ball of this match, but in general I would say swing is harder to face than seam.

[Dr Cricket]

Apologies then thought you expected England to get a big lead.

[alfie]

Shouldn't be forgotten I made that quote when people were exaggerating the movement yesterday,

Still stand by the claim swing alone can't dismiss teams below 200.
Their needs to be something with it either bounce or some lateral movement.

Did anyone suggest there was extravagant movement yesterday ? I didn't see anything along those lines. There was a bit of wobble at times ; but generally it was a case of the bowlers - well Sohail in particular - persisting with the ball in the right places and leading batsmen into temptation.
This is certainly not a pitch on which any decent team ought to be bowled out under 200 . It is a fairly typical Edgbaston offering - some help for the pace bowlers early , settling into a better batting strip over the next couple of days but basically giving opportunities for good bowling or good batting to gain rewards.Right now these two batsmen have it...

Good fifty Azhar

[Dr Cricket]

Although one thing that is apparent is the media been exaggerating about the bowling conditions when England were batting it turned to a batting flat deck to a minefield to again a batting deck.
Certain they even mentioned the pitch had good pace and bounce which they changed today by saying it has low bouce and low pace and very UAE like.

[sussexpob]

Played Azhar Ali

[budgetmeansbudget]

More sloppy fielding.

[Dr Cricket]

Some poor out shots now and then but I think it was a good day for England, 300 was a good target and if we bowl anywhere near well I reckon that's worth at least a 50 run lead. Woakes won't be daunted he's used to having low scores to bowl against for Warwickshire.

seriously a good day, wouldn't be confident on a 50 run lead.

should be a close game but England would have to bowl well to get pakistan all out before 230.

Here.

[Dr Cricket]

Yes, if it's cloudy, I think England will get a big lead.

Here.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Are we back in the playground?

LOL.

[Aidan11]

This is going badly.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Might be best just to let this go, rather than dig up old predictions. No one knows what will happen. No one knows what the conditions will be. It's just chat. People on the tv have played a hundred Tests and they're just guessing.

[Gingerfinch]

Are we back in the playground?

LOL.

He started it

[Dr Cricket]

Well played Azhar Ali.