England v Pakistan Test Series 2026.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Acko still struggling for wickets. At least, compared with the others.

[sussexpob]

Got to conclude that Pakistan don't actually care at all. This is embarrassingly woeful....

Robinson the 7th best averaging bowler to 100 test wickets in history.... and the best for any player who debuted after the death of Queen Victoria.

Rob Key dropped him. A decision that has turned out in hindsight to be the worst one in English cricket history.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Acko still struggling for wickets. At least, compared with the others.

One wicket in the series when the others average under 20, suggests a problem.

Robinson averages 6.9 in the series to Tongue's 11.3. But JT has a much better SR (13 v 21).

[Arthur Crabtree]

133 all out. Pressure off for the England bats.

[sussexpob]

Duckett's horror show form contines

[Arthur Crabtree]

Gay, 4 runs in 45m. This is more like it. Take the shine off the ball. Tire the bowlers...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Root goes. Not having a good summer.

Maybe he's on the way out...

Razaullah's first Test wicket from his 4th ball.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Gay makes another typical score of about 50+, then is removed. England well placed though.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Lead spinner Noman isn't touring. It's not a series for spinners, but a decent bowler might have done ok on the dry surfaces.

Playing for Lancashire.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Pakistan must be demoralised, but no one making them pay with a ton. Yet.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Robbo takes a wicket with his first ball.

Maybe we're all living in his dream.

Two in four balls!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Cox is keeping wicket.

Pakistan haven't passed 200 yet in the series. Two day finish looks on...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bad light and rain. But looks like Pakistan would have clung on anyway.

Strange Archer got a second spell before Tongue had a bowl.

[alfie]

Rather underwhelming series I'm afraid : Pakistan just haven't turned up. They've been poor for a while , but this surely their nadir. The mass sacking mid tour hardly helping. Although they may have a new pace man with a bit of promise in Razaullah : he's been expensive and a bit erratic but taking wickets with some lively pace and aggression , shows an attitude that some of his teammates would do well to emulate. Unfortunately most of them seem to be mentally on the plane home already.

So what it all means for New England is impossible to judge. Useful runs for new boys in Cox and Gay , and the recycled Lawrence : but how much weight can be put on those runs ? Guess we will find out in SA. Meanwhile Duckett is deep in the horrors with bat and catching (or rather not catching) at slip. And Root's problems with leg before seem to be increasing , which is a worry. Brook and Smith did well without going big so the batting looks fairly settled , just Bethell to return ... whether that will constitute an effective top seven remains to be seen.

Bowling looks pretty good though again we have to consider the poor opposition and helpful English conditions. There is enough variety even without any left arm stuff (Curran still on the radar ?) to suit pitches that don't require a spinner - at least while they all stay fit ! But finding a spinner is another matter. Bess might be putting in a claim with runs as well as wickets for Yorkshire lately ? That's if they want batting depth rather than continuing to dream about Bashir suddenly fulfilling all their optimistic prayers I don't see the next Swann anywhere on the horizon ...

Anyway at least a win is a win and beats the alternative. Gave Root a not too stressful return to captaincy and settled the more rabid sections of the press for the moment.

Am assuming we will see this done before tea so at least an early night for me...

[andy]

Would like to see Tongue get an early go today....we know what archer and Robinson are gonna do but get tongue in early with that new ish ball and let him blast out some top order batsman...game is over etc let's have a look at different roles etc and see what happens..