Babar (61*) takes Pakistan to 107/2 after Abrar’s 7-114 helps restrict England to 281 all out

[adi_62941]

What is this taleeghi aleem upto???

 

[volcyz]

Abrar should've been playing long ago

 

[ExpressPacer]

Wow. That was a damn good ball.

I thought you said he is very average and mediocre and that he will not have a good career.

However, he seems to be the only one holding it together for Pakistan in this match.

No offence but I think you should admit that you spoke way too soon.

 

[James]

The turn, variable bounce all point to a short test match.

I agree.

Result pitch and a team would not want to be batting last on it.

 

[Mamoon]

Aleem Dar was finished as an umpire years ago. He is carrying on based on his reputation only. He is a very average umpire these days.

 

[daytrader]

Good to see Babar supporting the youngster by taking the reviews

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

What the hell is wrong with Dar? Is he trying to compensate by giving decisions against Pakistan so he doesn't look biased???

To be honest looked pitching outside leg side in real time. But Dar should have judged it.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Gotta say England won a crucial toss.

 

[Ahmed216]

And Abrar didn't play the first test because he could not impress babar and saqlain in the nets

 

[jnaveen1980]

Stokes talked about declaring the innings without scoring anything lol So he will consider any run they get here is a bonus.

 

[Sarwar89]

Aleem Dar is unable to do his job, he is relying on Technology to bail him out.

 

[James]

400 will be a very good first innings total here. No need to score 650

Even 300 might be decent.

 

[Mamoon]

Joe Root’s remarkable run has come to an end. He was poor against South Africa as well but no one talked about it.

Still a world class player & top 3 in the format, but the 2021-22 run was not going to last forever.

 

[jnaveen1980]

I have not seen Nawaz turning this much in other formats. So it is very tricky.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Gotta say England won a crucial toss.

Even last match, they won a crucial toss. That ball was offering some sharp reverse swing in the last 2 sessions or so after barely moving for the first 13.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Joe Root’s remarkable run has come to an end. He was poor against South Africa as well but no one talked about it.

Still a world class player & top 3 in the format, but the 2021-22 run was not going to last forever.

He si trying to fit himself in this aggressive line up.

 

[James]

So pleased with England’s approach here.

In the old days we would have been 50-3.

Instead it’s 150-3.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I thought you said he is very average and mediocre and that he will not have a good career.

However, he seems to be the only one holding it together for Pakistan in this match.

No offence but I think you should admit that you spoke way too soon.

I still don't think he will have anything other than an ordinary career. I'll stick to that. Gimmicky bowlers don't last in Test cricket. If he proves to be an outlier which continued success after 20-30 tests, I'll admit I was wrong.

 

[Ahmed216]

Abrars bowled excellently with hardly any support from the other end

 

[Mamoon]

He si trying to fit himself in this aggressive line up.

Yeah, this Bazball stuff could work against him.

 

[ExpressPacer]

I still don't think he will have anything other than an ordinary career. I'll stick to that. Gimmicky bowlers don't last in Test cricket. If he proves to be an outlier which continued success after 20-30 tests, I'll admit I was wrong.

You will be proved wrong. But it will just take a long time because with the amount of Tests Pakistan plays, it'll be 6-7 years until he plays 30 tests.

 

[Smudger]

He si trying to fit himself in this aggressive line up.

Root was always a fast scorer in tests. Just recently he had a good series vs nz and ind. He got out defending

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Session timings adjusted because its Friday?

 

[Ahmed216]

Session timings adjusted because its Friday?

Yes

 

[jnaveen1980]

This Brooks is so far looking like a smart cricketer.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

You will be proved wrong. But it will just take a long time because with the amount of Tests Pakistan plays, it'll be 6-7 years until he plays 30 tests.

OK. We will see

 

[jnaveen1980]

Root was always a fast scorer in tests. Just recently he had a good series vs nz and ind. He got out defending

But going at 6 or 7 an over is still too much of an ask for a big innings player like him

 

[shah_1]

Out pope

 

[Ahmed216]

But going at 6 or 7 an over is still too much of an ask for a big innings player like him

True

 

[jnaveen1980]

England is on a suicide mission. They try to go after the only threatening bowler and gifting their wickets.

 

[Asif321]

Abrar with 4

 

[ExpressPacer]

Single-handedly turned the match in Pakistan's favour. Foolish captaincy by Babar to not play him the first Test.

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

Single-handedly turned the match in Pakistan's favour. Foolish captaincy by Babar to not play him the first Test.

Couldn't have done much on "Airport Runway".

 

[jnaveen1980]

Never seen a Test match where one see this many reverse sweeps. Probably last test? They are making a mockery of Test cricket

 

[shah_1]

Nawaz is giving much needed control

Zahid shouldn't be bowling anymore

 

[Ahmed216]

Couldn't have done much on "Airport Runway".

His style of bowling is suited to the way England trying to play. Variation in turn and speed and clever changes of angle as well
Pak lost the first test by not playing him

 

[shah_1]

Fiver

 

[sindhiboy]

Finally, a turning pitch and not a highway.

Abrar looks much better than sajid, Nauman, zahid.

England in hindsight should've picked Parkinson for this tour,, would've been useful on this pitch

 

[jnaveen1980]

Ball is gripping and turning. Stokes has huge weakness against off spin. Ashwin owns him 11 dismissals. So Abrar is in with a chance against Stokes too

 

[jnaveen1980]

Wow this is a very tough pitch to play bazball cricket.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Pakistan can bat for 3 days and bat England out of the game.

 

[Ahmed216]

Justice saqlain hahahaha
Clown coach

 

[Desi Don]

Abrar Ahmed should take 10wkt

 

[Usman Chadda]

Poor shot selection, this is why you can’t go Bazball on every pitch in Test cricket.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Lost 5 wickets for 50 runs.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Poor shot selection, this is why you can’t go Bazball on every pitch in Test cricket.

In a different era this would have received severe criticism.

 

[Aviator]

Abrar's first outing is better than sajid, nauman and zahid's whole career..

 

[ExpressPacer]

Poor shot selection, this is why you can’t go Bazball on every pitch in Test cricket.

Rather, you can't go Baseball against every bowler. The rest of our lot are incredibly pathetic. Abrar is a welcome change, brother.

 

[Ahmed216]

Wow this is a very tough pitch to play bazball cricket.

England have targeted the wrong bowler here. This is not a raging turner like we see sometimes in India. The pitch has played well so far

 

[Sarwar89]

Bazball bites the dust.

It might be Abrar’s Bhajji moment 2001

When Bazball Aussies roll over India in first test then follow on at Eden Gardens & rest is history

 

[alone1213]

Take the review man.

 

[jnaveen1980]

England have targeted the wrong bowler here. This is not a raging turner like we see sometimes in India. The pitch has played well so far

Enough bite to create doubts as Nawaz is also turning the ball.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Spinning Asian pitch. Needed Root to stay long here . Only he has the skill for such wickets

 

[jnaveen1980]

Impact is clearly outside anyway.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Still reverse sweep lol Anyway this is how they want to play.

 

[alone1213]

This is a decent pitch not a minefield.
England's brand of cricket is like that.
It's exciting to watch but very risky as well.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Turn and bounce for Nawaz

 

[jnaveen1980]

Ridiculous amount of sweep shots today.

 

[alone1213]

Abrar doesn't turn the ball.He just varies it.
I don't know if he is gonna have a long career.

 

[Mean&Green]

"I can't discern whether it is pad first or bat first" Joel Wilson who is so confident that he does not go through with the procedure - does not check for ball-tracking, it is striking Stokes outside off but Wilson let that part go - hmmm!

This is pathetic umpiring even with technology if you can’t do your job you should quit or be fired. It’s high time ICC start umpiring rankings and start dropping umpires based on their performance. Aleem dar has been atrocious for a good 4 years I don’t understand why he is so loved by the ICC.

 

[imshally81]

Good comeback by Pakistan

 

[zaidihusain]

Team management's poor policies and Babar's captaincy are getting exposed. Why they didn't play Abrar & Nawaz in Rawalpindi? In this test Nawaz has been brought in the end once the Babar tried all available options and bowled 5 useless overs with Zahid. At least runs are being controlled now

 

[alone1213]

Only England can play this kind of cricket.
They are revolutionizing test cricket.

 

[daytrader]

Stokes living up the talk and taking on Abrar

 

[jnaveen1980]

180 runs in one session wow

 

[imshally81]

Pakistan's session

 

[daytrader]

ENG 180/5 (33) CRR: 5.45
Day 1: Lunch Break

 

[Sarwar89]

Was this guy Abrar ever discussed in pp forum ? Or he is a total new face for us

 

[James]

Im fine with that from England. 180 runs in a session is rapid progress and this is a genuine turning pitch. Get the runs quickly, get above 250 (maybe even hit through to 300?) and England are in this game. There is assistance for the bowlers.

 

[Savak]

Yasir Shah should replace Zahid Mehmood in the last test.

 

[Marooned]

Yasir Shah should replace Zahid Mehmood in the last test.

No need to play 3 spinners on any wicket.

Abrar and Nawaz is enough.

 

[Shariq7]

Is Shaheen out of the whole series, or can he play the last match?

 

[Amjid Javed]

Pakistan need to get stokes early in next session and go through the tail for less than 300 or even 250. The batting looks weak especially with a top 5 containing Agha and nawaz at 7

 

[jnaveen1980]

Mark butcher is already criticizing England's approach. He says what i said. This gives Pakistan too much time to turn this into a one innings Test match for them.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Playing pie thrower zahid again, does babar ever learn, no need for 3 spinners here.

 

[IAJ]

Stuart Broad looking like a young priest in the Sky Studio.

 

[Shariq7]

Abrar looks better than any spinners played in the last 3 or 4 years.

 

[Shariq7]

I qualified my above statement with Pakistan.

 

[James]

Mark butcher is already criticizing England's approach. He says what i said. This gives Pakistan too much time to turn this into a one innings Test match for them.

Butcher always does. An interminable bore. He’s been wrong all year about England and slammed them in every match, and England have won almost every time. Bodes well for us.

 

[Robert]

Bazball FAIL.

Well done young Abrar, who must think test cricket easy indeed!