England v Pakistan 2020.

[sussexpob]

ask Ed!

I heard of a story recently where the footballer Phil Neville was coaching at Everton when David Moyes went to Manchester United; the Chairman had decided once Moyes left that he would give the managers job to Neville as he was popular at the club and always touted as a young managerial prospect. The next morning he arrived at the training ground to offer him the job, pulled up in his car, and as he got out he seen Neville across the car park, went to wave him over, but before he could put his hand up Neville shouted to him "morning you fat c888".....

Roberto Martinez was offered the job in the afternoon.

In 10 years time I expect to hear a similar story about a time Ben Foakes saying a similar "hello" to Ed Smith

[sussexpob]

Although at this point, as Ed Smith pretty much admitted that Buttlers original recall was made on nothing but a total punt, and totally went against his stated data analytical speciality that was sold as the reason he got a job, Buttler will have to go out and murder someone on the field before Smith will drop him. To drop Buttler would be to uncover the muddled mind of an idiot who doesnt have a clue about what he is doing. As long as Buttler is in the team, he can at least claim the first year he came back he performed well (when he was dropped 4 times in every innings).... and claim he is continuing to pick a player good enough, but out of form. That at least doesnt admit his failure²

[mikesiva]

Babar out to Anderson for 69.

Masood gets his half century.

[Arthur Crabtree]

England back on top I think.

[Arthur Crabtree]

New ball soon. Could be over quite quickly.

[mikesiva]

Masood gets his century!

[sussexpob]

Game keeps on twisting and turning. Pakistan handy partnership to bring them back in charge atm

[mikesiva]

Buttler really doesn't like Bess, does he?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Masood survives Anderson and Broad with a new ball twice. Fine effort.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Looks like he's going to bat through.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Starting to look a halfway score. Probably a bit disappointing for Pakistan, but better than it looked like a couple of hours ago.

[alfie]

Think they'll be happy with 326

The sort of score that often produces a good Test Match. But I'm a bit wary of England batting second , even on a good pitch. Sometimes they seem to crumble under scoreboard pressure.

If they can get parity , or a bit of a lead - presumably that would be late tomorrow or early day four - we could see an interesting last couple of days. Weather seems OK this week from my reading of the BBC forecasts .

If they have a bad collapse we will all be talking about another First Match of the Series disaster

[sussexpob]

I think they will be happier now with it. 2-12

[sussexpob]

Or 3-12

[Arthur Crabtree]

Interested to see Shaheen on the highlights.