England v Pakistan A Warm Ups.

[Red Devil]

I'd keep Stokes (just). I'd say if we're going to lose anyone we should lose Buttler...especially now Bairstow is around to keep wicket.

I don't know about Hales. If we are looking for an opener for the SA test I genuinely don't see Hales being the best choice.

Who do you see as the choice?

That's the problem.....there generally isn't anyone at the moment. I think they're genuinely toying with Ali.

yeah, I'd think Ali is nailed on to open, and Rashid will be batting in the lower order - so with Buttler or Bairstow as keeper and 5 batters that gives a pretty deep batting line up down to number 8 already.

Stokes feels like a real risk as the third seamer as his bowling can be very expensive, but then again the third seamer really may not have much bowling to do. Plunkett is pretty useful with the bat as well (certainly better than most number 9's!) and a much safer third seamer option, but I think they'll want to stick with Stokes as an investment for the future over playing Plunkett. I'm not sure how much Finn would get out of the pitches, but they do seem to like Wood so it's difficult to be sure about what they'll do.

[hopeforthebest]

I see the last wicket was caught behind by Bairstow so he's keeping wicket at the moment.

[Aidan11]

Must be nearly over now.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wicket for Anderson with the new ball, a strangle down the leg side. Nothing for Rashid, but I see him as a second innings bowler.

Will Plunkett, Samit, Taylor, Finn and Hales come in for the second game, or will the likely Test XI get another game?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Shoaib Malik has been added to the Pakistan Test squad. Maybe a response to the extreme heat in which the bowlers will operate?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Main positives for England? Runs for Bairstow, wickets for Moeen.

[Aidan11]

90 overs gone. That must be it.

[Aidan11]

Yep. Match drawn.

[Slipstream]

Two drops - Cook in the slips to Broad and Anderson in slip to Rashid. What is Anderson doing at slip? If Buttler is keeping then surely Bairstow should be slip to the spinners. Or even Stokes would be better than Anderson.

[Arthur Crabtree]

It was Lyth for the spinners wasn't it. Didn't Root slot in as very occasional second slip? Maybe he could do it.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe they want Anderson to preserve his energy.

[Slipstream]

Reading there were two more drops, Cook and Ali of his own bowling. Root wouldn't be good as he has a bad back. It doesn't save much energy fielding at slip to the spinners as you are up and down all day (knees and back) and have to concentrate on every ball.

[Aidan11]

Hopefully a few cobwebs have been blown off.

Hard work ahead but we can do it.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yes, fair enough Slipstream.

[Aidan11]

They're so short of bowlers they've had to resort to Bairstow.

Someone at cricinfo couldn't tell the difference between Bairstow & Stokes.