Funnily I've got a meeting in Abu Dhabi tomorrow so going to drop by for afternoon session, hopefully it'll be better viewing than last weeks debacle..!
Pakistan vs England (in UAE) 2012
- Thread starter Sassy Colin
- Start date
Bore draw.
Really good second hour by England, maybe with it spinning our batsmen will miss the ball instead of keep getting trapped in front 
England to skittle Pakistan out for under 300 which is below par on this track. England will win in the fifth day with a run chase.
Two quick wickets for Broad. He's bowling a great spell here.
103-4, all bowled so far. Very good bowling performance, but the amount of spin available on day 1 is scary!
Well in Broad. Good aggression.
I wouldnt worry. Ajmal bowls better when there is less spin and not more. Pakistan are an average side at best playing well. Their batting is woeful but their bowlers once they get going can be devastating. However Pakistan has always been hamstrung by a weak batting lineup.
England to win and draw the series.
Pakistan are not an average side, they're probably a side filled with the most matchwinners. England are a better side, however in these conditions and with England's problem in facing spinners Ajmal could be devastating.
Well that's England's series lost. If your predictions during the first test is anything to go by.
6 down, getting interesting perhaps?
243-7.
I would say all depends on how England bat. This could be a very competitive total Pakistan are posting.
I would say all depends on how England bat. This could be a very competitive total Pakistan are posting.
So Misbah's repetoire is the forward defensive, nurdles for one and massive six hits. A very strange yet very effective innings! On 82 now.
Minus those dropped catches (costly drops Misbah off Panesar, when he was on almost nothing)a good day for England.
Pakistan will probably be a bit disappointed, but if they get to 300, they'll be satisfied.
Pakistan will probably be a bit disappointed, but if they get to 300, they'll be satisfied.
Good day for England, 2 of Broad's wickets were superb deliveries. No suprises England went with the second spinner but interesting Panesar bowled almost twice as much as Swann, was that due to an injury?
England have the edge at the moment.
England have the edge at the moment.
You stupid choota
If Pakistan batsmen can get to a score of 260-300 then England's batsmen can definitely make 400 on this pitch. After all batting is England's strength.
Conversely, if England bowlers are able to get some turn and take 7 wickets in one day then Pakistan's should be able to take the same or more. After all bowling is Pakistan's strength.
Finely balanced as they say.
Pakistan match winners are there bowlers in particular Ajmal and Gul. England has the better batters and match winners in Swann and Broad.
Confident we will win.
Confident we will win.
In 14 Tests as captain, Misbah-ul-Haq has batted 22 times, passing 50 on 13 occasions, while he has only been dismissed for less than 20 twice.
He now averages 80 with the bat as captain, compared to only 33.60 while he was in the ranks
He now averages 80 with the bat as captain, compared to only 33.60 while he was in the ranks
Pak folded too early.. England should win this now
He's not wrong. The bowling's good, but the best bowlers are in jail. The batting's very ordinary.
Away from home, they'll get bundled out very easily.
Cracking session for England - 30 overs, 84 runs, no wickets. 132/1 at tea.
From the Guardian: "These two are masters of the dying art of batting time"
Cannot disagree with that. Enthralling cricket so far.
From the Guardian: "These two are masters of the dying art of batting time"
Cannot disagree with that. Enthralling cricket so far.
Sultan hates Trott.
Just saving him some time typing it out.
Just saving him some time typing it out.
It's a dead batting track and Pakistan made 257 when a par score would be 350 plus. England will win this one. Pakistan is an average side.
205/4. Good spell from Ajmal has brought us back into this, need to get this pair soon.
Ajmal!!!!!!!!!
Big wicket to end the day, late wickets make it a more balanced game after England had dominated. 207/5.
Big wicket to end the day, late wickets make it a more balanced game after England had dominated. 207/5.
England shading it, but Pakistan right back in it if they bowl us out for less than 300.
Morgan is so shit...stick to playing the shorter stuff.
Said it before, I don't rate Morgan as a test player. Fantastic limited overs player, but I think he lacks a lot of things to be a test level batsman.
Shhhhhh....don't tell Commadus....Pieterson, Bell and Morgan scare the f*ck out of us 'cos they're world class batsmen innit. They're not average, oh no, specially not against spin...no no no no.
I so wish we had better batsmen...like Pieterson, Bell and Morgan. Oh yes.
zing, you of all people should know how well or badly we play away. All depends on the location and money being offered for you know what.
How many more NOTW stories will you need to understand that?
Pakistan dropped a clanger at the end of their innings. If they had made 50 more runs they would be in the drivers seat. As it is now I expect England to post a lead of about 50 and Pakistan to crumble leaving us needing less than 200 to win which we will do.
Agree with us messing it up by not getting 280-300. Would have been good enough for a draw. Was well p***ed off when I got up this morning.
England slowing it right down has helped a little. All down to what Pak batsmen can score in the 2nd innings like you say. And how slowly Younis and Misbah can do it. So far in this series the Pak batsmen have posted bigger totals than England so calling them average is a bit premature (considering you have the lowest scoring soft middle order).
England slowing it right down has helped a little. All down to what Pak batsmen can score in the 2nd innings like you say. And how slowly Younis and Misbah can do it. So far in this series the Pak batsmen have posted bigger totals than England so calling them average is a bit premature (considering you have the lowest scoring soft middle order).
If Pakistan post a lead of 220 plus then England will have it all to do. I think the match will hinge on whoever gets the lead at the end of the first innings for both teams.
Pakistan can bat better but I dont see them as a cohesive batting unit. England has far the better batsmen but the middle order has had issues with spin but it only takes a rapid innings by one of them to take the game away as it looks to be a low scorer. Also don't discount our tail which wags unlike Pakistans which is pathetic.
Still confident England will win.
I thought it was England's game at 130 odd for 1. But those three wickets may've swayed it Pakistan's way.
Nonsense.. Pakistan can't play swing.
It's easy for you to say great win when you win, but match fixing when you lose. Sometimes you need to admit your team's mediocre.
Pakistan are putting up barely par scores and are being kept in the game by England's inability to play spin and occasional brain fades. A proper team would've batted Pakistan out of both the tests.
SA played Pakistan in Dubai and we barely got a 2nd innings out of each team. This has just been poor application from England.
I simply do not understand howe England with a top 7 averaging over 40, Cook and Peterson just around 50 with Trott near 60 can struggle to play spin on a surface which isn't exactly a problem pitch and its only the 2nd day of the test match.
Pakistan take 3 wickets this morning but England add 116 runs.
323/8 at lunch, a lead of 66. Broad 58*
Very interesting match this!
323/8 at lunch, a lead of 66. Broad 58*
Very interesting match this!
After 42 Tests (this is Broad's 43rd) he has 1360 runs @ 28.33 (Flintoff had 2107 @ 32.92) and 135 wickets @ 31.97 (Flintoff had 95 @ 36.60)
The runs by tail-enders will probe to be the difference. Pak lost last 3 wickets for a run on day 2, while Eng have piled on here.