Eng Test tour of Pak, Dec 1-21

[sussexpob]

As for BFL's comments concerning the strength of opposition....

Of course, Pakistan don't have a team full of experienced world class talent, but I think its a very tough place to tour traditionally from a conditions/cultural perspective. There is obvious reasons for why Pakistan was unable to host test matches, and I think its reasonable to say that the level of comfort for visiting teams is affected by that, and can play on your performance. England cancelled a tour fairly recently citing threats to player safety (last year??), so in my mind, it somewhat makes up the normal difficulty levels in comparison to playing a slightly or even marked better side. I'd much rather play a side with Akram and Younis bowling at me on a tour to somewhere where concerns about safety and what not are not problems, than tour a country where for the last 20 years it was deemed too much of a safety risk to tour.

I am a well travelled person too, and have been to places that people would think I was crazy to go to.... but even I would have some level of trepidation about playing in a country where only a few series ago in terms of cricket tours, a team got attacked by machine totting terrorists. I think for that reason you have to applaud England's efforts a little more. They have gone in, been professional, done the job.

More than anything, its the bowlers for me who had done brilliantly. On pitches with absolutely nothing in them, they have extracted everything possible out the surfaces. Day 5 on the fifth test for instance, they found movement with the ball on the flattest of pitches you could find.

[bigfluffylemon]

To be sure, Sussex. We often overlook the bowlers amid the batting crash bang, but taking 40 wickets on those pitches was a superb performance.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Probably the least Pakistan side since 1977, when Packer was happening. They still had Mudassar Nazar, Javed Miandad, Abdul Qadir and Sarfraz Nawaz though.

[Slipstream]

I just watched the highlights and the catch. I'm with Sussex on this one, surprised that was given out. Looked grounded for those couple of frames on the replay.

Me too.

Pope did a reasonable job considering he hadn't been keeping for a while and probably was stiff from the last Test. Think it is time for Foakes to come back, but I don't want to drop Jacks.

Will Jacks stay at 3 to give Pope time to recover or will be just be in the 2nd innings only? Pope has made 3 his own, average 42.60. All other positions under 30.00. Foakes must come back.

[GarlicJam]

I watched the replay of it this morning, several times, and I am stunned it was given out.

If I was a Pakistan fan, I would be really p!ssed off about that. Probably bitter for decades.

[Durhamfootman]

Rehnan Ahmed is to become the youngest man to play a test match for England. Aged 18 years and 126 days, usurping the 18 years and 149 days set by Brian Close in 1949

Foakes is back in, Jacks and Anderson are out

Presumably that means..... Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes, Foakes, Robinson, Wood, Leach, Ahmed

[Arthur Crabtree]

Risky for Wood to be in a two pace bowler attack, Stokes didn't bowl in the last game. Good luck to Rehan.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Last Test for Azhar Ali.

Rather ominously the path of English Test cricket is scattered with the wrecked careers of leg spinners.

[Durhamfootman]

is Azhar retiring?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yes, according to BBC.

[alfie]

Seems reasonable to rest Jimmy with the series won - guess Wood has pulled up OK , and presume Stokes is fit to bowl this week. And with Ahmed coming in , no need for Jacks as spare spinner so room for Foakes to resume the gloves and let Pope concentrate on his main job.

Talking point being the young wrist spinner. A risk , of course - he got massacred in the warm up game ; but if you are ever going to take a bit of a leap of faith on a young talent , this seems an opportune moment.

Given what has been happening lately , should all be worth a watch whatever the conditions are like in Karachi.

[bigfluffylemon]

I didn't realise Azhar Ali has been around that long or was 37, so that took me by surprise. He's had a very good career for Pakistan, at his peak was up there with the best. Well played.

[bigfluffylemon]

Risky for Wood to be in a two pace bowler attack, Stokes didn't bowl in the last game. Good luck to Rehan.

+1

[Durhamfootman]

100+runs for Pakistan in the first session, but England pick up 3 wickets

The new boy is getting a fair bit of tap... 37 runs off his first 5 overs

141-3 currently

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wonder if there are England fans in Karachi?