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

[yuppie]

Never in doubt

[Dr Cricket]

Why don't you make a big effort and try to say something positive about England. We have beaten India on the last three occasions we've played them and just maybe we'll find a way to do it again.

history not on their side is it.
Haven't won a test in Asia since 2012 and haven't won 2 back to back series in india ever in the history of the game the closest they been to achieving it was winning a series and then winning an one of test a year or so later in the jubilee test.
and last time England won in the India in 1984 they got destroyed in the next tour to India 1992/3 3-0 whitewash.

If england do find a way well done to them but not sure history is on England side.

[Dr Cricket]

Anyway Cook last form in India mean nothing either, Amla averaged 100 in india before, barely touched 10 or looked like scoring in india last time around.
Any player averaging more than 30 would have had some special series in November/December.

[backfootpunch]

Anyway back on topic

The england bowlerd were incredible today in that middle session

All 5 of them bowled a spell of the highest quality

Including moeen who was much more accurate today and along with broad set the tone for the session which was nailed home by jimmy, Finn and Woakes

Good to see finn bowling faster and getting the ball to move in the air, certainly bodes well for his future as a test bowler

[backfootpunch]

After this a 3-1 seems likely but would be a tad unfair on pakistan who have made it very competitive and a good series to watch

After the first few days this feels very much like a bonus win

[Dr Cricket]

After this a 3-1 seems likely but would be a tad unfair on pakistan who have made it very competitive and a good series to watch

After the first few days this feels very much like a bonus win

TBH pakistan could still win at oval, they do still have the bowler to win game or give england a scare and they batting have been good at times.
difference between the sides been england all round play and pakistan lack of depth in the batting.

[Dr Cricket]

Anyway when did I even predict england to lose in this test match for all 5 day especially I only was on this thread on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. don''t even remember making one claim that england were going to lose the test.
just because the fact I didn't agree with many people statement that this was a bowling deck or pakistan will be skittered out cheaply in the first ininngs it makes me anti english lol.

[KipperJohn]

So the absence of Stokes didn't ultimately affect a fine team performance - despite what was being said halfway through the game by at least one pundit.

Interesting that the side with the only centurion and 5-fer lost.

All in all an excellent game of cricket. Whilst England will take the plaudits both teams deserve a lot of credit.

[backfootpunch]

So the absence of Stokes didn't ultimately affect a fine team performance - despite what was being said halfway through the game by at least one pundit.

Interesting that the side with the only centurion and 5-fer lost.

All in all an excellent game of cricket. Whilst England will take the plaudits both teams deserve a lot of credit.

They will be happy to have found an opener as well

Which will be more important for them than the admittedly dissapointing result to this game

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wickets taken by England bowlers in series v Pakistan.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... iew=series

Amazed that Woakes is level with Anderson with most wickets in a series v Pakistan. Anderson in 2010 was deadly, and conditions were very bowler friendly.

Kudos to Gilo and Monty, who share the record away from home.

[Dr Cricket]

well for one bit odd calling me anti english after I was proven right about pakistan first innings and the pitch.
just posted what I thought at the time, wasn't being anti english or posting that to get at english fans.
thought at the time enlish fans and media were writing or saying what their wanted to happen and not what will happen or most likely to happen. bit like Swann claiming today Moeen will take 5 wicket although he did have the last laugh since moeen did win man of the match and bowled ok in the end.

And anyway at the post about india series I even said that would be a good team and could push the india team, never gave the impression that england were going to lose 5-0 all I stated the batting is a bit weak which is true.
I even said england had hope for the india series since the pace men outside Anderson/Broad got reverse swing.
I really wanna know where the negativity is, do you honestly believe i am going to post England going to beat india or something doubt any of you will post india will beat England in england or Austrlalia going to win the Ashes in the same way I am never actually going to say England going to beat india.

Doesn't make any of you anti english or Anti india does it.
Well it only makes you anti india if you think scoring runs or wickets in india don't count lol.
Got blocked by some sun/guardian journalist for calling Laxman/Ganguly a flat track bully lol the funny part was he was basing the fact on an 1980 or something series where the series ended 1-0 or 0-0 out of 6 test.

Thankfully the days of those pitches are over.

[Dr Cricket]

So the absence of Stokes didn't ultimately affect a fine team performance - despite what was being said halfway through the game by at least one pundit.

Interesting that the side with the only centurion and 5-fer lost.

All in all an excellent game of cricket. Whilst England will take the plaudits both teams deserve a lot of credit.

They will be happy to have found an opener as well

Which will be more important for them than the admittedly dissapointing result to this game

TBH Pakistan got a lot to gain than negatives.
found an opener, can compete in alien conditions and got some decent players in the side.
Think they got a good support group at the moment, mickey arthur done good work in the short time he been in charge.
think Misbah and the coach are in the same wavelength which is important for harmony and the team gelling together.
Think the australian players didn't like Mickey Arthur methods or them being told what to improve at etc.

So far the only negatives have been younis khan and Hafeez plus lack of bowling being able to bat.

they played far better away from home than many other sides in the world.

[Dr Cricket]

Wickets taken by England bowlers in series v Pakistan.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... iew=series

Amazed that Woakes is level with Anderson with most wickets in a series v Pakistan. Anderson in 2010 was deadly, and conditions were very bowler friendly.

Kudos to Gilo and Monty, who share the record away from home.

Wonder if they still have the 2010 ball in stock, believe Anderson or Broad said those ball swang more and so they actually told ECB to use them for the india series since the 2011-13 batch didn't swing much.
TBH it was probably in the mind since Anderson/Broad were at their peak at that time.

but yes 2010 was crazy for swing don't remember any green deck either but then again both team had some gun player. Asif, Anderson etc.

[backfootpunch]

Wickets taken by England bowlers in series v Pakistan.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... iew=series

Amazed that Woakes is level with Anderson with most wickets in a series v Pakistan. Anderson in 2010 was deadly, and conditions were very bowler friendly.

Kudos to Gilo and Monty, who share the record away from home.

Swanns strike rate is amazing for a series in england against an Asian team

He bowled some rippers in that series, probably him at his peak

[Arthur Crabtree]

They used the 2010 ball in 2011, but it was reported that they weren't used afterwards as the stock ran out.

Yes, Swanny was at a peak around then. He struggled to get hold of the ball because there was so much swing, but still took a lot of wickets. Same against SL the following year.