England beat Pakistan by 3 wickets in the first Test at Manchester in a close encounter

[Bewal Express]

That’s what I mean. We get to find out whether our spinners are quality enough to make good of strategies.

We will see. None our spinners are World class anymore and these guys are 2 of the better ones.

 

[Sarwar89]

This test is replica of Lord’s 2016 Test.
Chennai 1999 Wicket was more dry and pitch was actually cracked.

This wicket does not have demons in it yet. But mid way post lunch session is where we will witness pitch behaving bit odd and from that point onwards yasir/shadab can take control of this match.
I think Eng ll be comfortable for another 30-40 mins only.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Pakistan need 2 quick wickets or its game over.

This is it pretty much

 

[Bewal Express]

Pakistan need 2 quick wickets or its game over.

This is going to be tight even if we get the 2 wickets quickly.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

222 more runs to win for England meanwhile Pakistan need 9 wickets.

You sound like Wasim Akram. Congratulations.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Pakistan somehow need to string some maidens together and create chances

 

[Shafi]

Also, today we get to find out whether our selection smarts (2 spinners) is a good selection on paper or good enough to actually action and execute the plans for which they were picked.

Its not the spinners. They did their job with both bat and ball. Its the batsmen who failed miserably.
Shafiq, Azhar and Abid.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Just tuned in...wow...test cricket at its best...shold be an awesome sesson - good attack vs some good bats....i'd still back pak to put it over eng...get past root, butler and stokes the rest aint that hot...saw some highlights, the ball is seaming and spinning as well as bounce -i'd back YS to win it of pak..letseee

 

[sharmaji]

Oh yes, that's a shame. He could have played a very crucial role now.

Amir has retired

 

[azimiqbal]

Weirdly pitch looks like flatten out a bit, but Pakistan still have a very good chance, need to get root and stokes with England still requiring more then 100

 

[sharmaji]

True. And once the ball gets old, maybe he can bowl some reverse swing and get wickets.

He bowled pretty well actually, beaten the bat multiple times and an edge as well which fell short.

 

[Thomaskutty]

Pakistanis should start sweating .. 50/1 is already a lot of runs conceded, Stokes especially will not give his wicket away in a pressure situation .. he's a changed man since last year.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

You sound like Wasim Akram. Congratulations.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

People always misjudge how hard chasing in 4th innings is. Keep it tight still favourites.

 

[Shafi]

Azhar should learn from Root how to lead from the front the team instead of being too timid and block.

 

[watson367]

need a wicket come on lads

 

[ScotRaz]

Not sure about the Sky commentators but the the ones on bbc radio seem to have an issue with Abbas and his constant "chirping".

Are they just making an issue out of nothing?

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

LOL so so poor umpiring

 

[Hasan123]

That was a horrendous decision.

 

[Yk313]

Its not the spinners. They did their job with both bat and ball. Its the batsmen who failed miserably.
Shafiq, Azhar and Abid.

Agree and disagree. You are talking about putting the game out of ENG’s reach altogether - agree here.

Separate point (assume ENG and PAK had made same first innings scores and PAK scored 276 in 2nd innings). Still back our attack and spinners to defend it - this is my point.

 

[watson367]

lets go yasir

 

[Sanzcool]

One of the worst ever decisions made by an umpire

 

[watson367]

never mind

 

[Hasan123]

Root is looking in good form.

 

[topspin]

Who is still optimistic for Pakistan?

 

[castortroy]

Root has got away here.

Just needs an 80 or so by him or stokes and it's Englands game

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

Joe root seems untroubled so far

 

[Titan24]

Lol what a poor decision that was.

 

[Yk313]

We will see. None our spinners are World class anymore and these guys are 2 of the better ones.

Well, I mean, that’s the whole argument, no? If we are to play a player in a certain role/position then we need them to be good enough for that job at least. The point about no other spinners will derail the thread - not for today.

 

[ARK Rafay]

I predict England will win this by 6 wickets.

 

[Afhan Ali]

This innings will show that why Root is still better than Babar.

 

[castortroy]

Man another no ball

 

[Hasan123]

Abbas is our only bowler who is looking threatening.

 

[Savak]

Poor batting by Pakistan is going to potentially cost them this game, the only the pitch isn't as bad as our batters made it out to be

 

[watson367]

Root leading from the front

 

[castortroy]

Stokes is also due runs and I think he will attack the spinners

 

[jiduguravindra]

I predict England will win this by 6 wickets.

Nah..Pakistan will win by atleast 50 runs

 

[Hasan123]

If these are still batting in about 50 runs time I would start panicking. Right now , I am still confident.

 

[castortroy]

Abbas is our only bowler who is looking threatening.

Naseem and shaheen have looked average so far

Maybe give Naseem a break in the next test

 

[Smudger]

This innings will show that why Root is still better than Babar.

Root is better regardless. He has 7000 runs wheras Babar has just started scoring consistently

 

[watson367]

if only naseem's edge carried to babar

 

[castortroy]

Is Amir in the test squad?

 

[PakFan2010]

England will be 100-4, keep calm.

 

[Yk313]

I think Abbas’ spell is crucial here. Hold and contain, Rizwan finally up (probably 20 posts from me since the morning about this lol - hope he does not drop any up close but got to rein them in).

YS needs to ON here.

 

[watson367]

Is Amir in the test squad?

he's a retired dhokabaaz

 

[pratiktc]

Need one breakthrough and dam will burst.

 

[Cricket lover 27]

Getting nervous now!!!

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

I predict England will win this by 6 wickets.

wow....bhai...its spinning like a top...i think yasir kha jayega...

 

[castortroy]

We need another batter in the squad for the next test.

Is Sarfraz good enough to play as a batter?

 

[Hasan123]

Atherton,Warne,and Wasim have all said the field should be up when Yasir is bowling to Sibley. Really questionable captaincy by Azhar Ali.

 

[Yk313]

Root is better regardless. He has 7000 runs wheras Babar has just started scoring consistently

Do people not appreciate that a 5-6 year gap is a generation? Why do we even compare?

 

[Hasan123]

Naseem and shaheen have looked average so far

Maybe give Naseem a break in the next test

I doubt he will play all 3 games.

 

[Yk313]

Lol, look at that Poll now on Sky. I would say Pakistan will be bri****g it in 20-30 minutes. Knowing us...

 

[topspin]

We need another batter in the squad for the next test.

Is Sarfraz good enough to play as a batter?

Hell no lol. Have you seen his test stats over the last two years?

 

[Yk313]

Atherton,Warne,and Wasim have all said the field should be up when Yasir is bowling to Sibley. Really questionable captaincy by Azhar Ali.

Even if they had not said it... is not common sensical? Got some very astute people on this forum.

 

[Junaids]

Its not the spinners. They did their job with both bat and ball. Its the batsmen who failed miserably.
Shafiq, Azhar and Abid.

3 geriatric batsmen with a combined age of 101, where you’d hope it would be in the range 75-78.

 

[castortroy]

Hell no lol. Have you seen his test stats over the last two years?

Hasn't he been scoring runs domestically?

 

[Hasan123]

10 times 250 has been scored in the 4the innings at Old Trafford.

 

[Major]

Lol, look at that Poll now on Sky. I would say Pakistan will be bri****g it in 20-30 minutes. Knowing us...

Missed it. What it said

 

[sweep_shot]

England are doing well. Is the pitch better for batting now?

 

[Hasan123]

The worrying thing is we don't even look like getting a wicket.

 

[Shafi]

Hell no lol. Have you seen his test stats over the last two years?

I think Fawad should replace Shafiq.

 

[topspin]

Missed it. What it said

55% in Pakistan's favour

 

[JibranAnsari]

Losing this series will be more beneficial for pakistan , we may finally get rid of azhar and asad.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Will Pakistan get any reverse swing? They didn’t in the first innings. Who in the team can reverse?

 

[castortroy]

Problem is we have a very brittle line up and the worst tail in cricket with bowlers that can't bat

Need to beef up the batting

 

[sweep_shot]

211 more are needed.

 

[ARK Rafay]

England cashing in now.

 

[castortroy]

Overall Yasir hasn't really looked that great in this test considering the pitch he has been given

 

[Yk313]

Missed it. What it said

55-44 Pak favour, 1% draw

 

[PakFan2010]

Kaneria would be doing a lot better.

 

[Yk313]

I agree but it will never happen under Misbah. He has a soft spot for him (and Azhar) because he has a thing for old men.

Haha doesn’t really sound creepy at all. But seriously Fawad for Shafiq and Imam for Azhar.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Need a wicket before 100 otherwise looks tough. These 2 are set now

 

[PakFan2010]

55-44 Pak favour, 1% draw[/QUOTE

Ignore Winviz.

Markets have England as 1/2 on to win. They have a 67 percent chance of winning.

 

[Major]

Betting sites give a better odds than winiz

 

[Cricket lover 27]

I agree but it will never happen under Misbah. He has a soft spot for him (and Azhar) because he has a thing for old men.

To be honest Azhar and Asad at the end of this series should retire of their own accord, otherwise they will eventually get booted out disgracefully and lol at Misbah has a thing for old men

 

[topspin]

Haha doesn’t really sound creepy at all. But seriously Fawad for Shafiq and Imam for Azhar.

Agreed. Good suggestions here for the batting replacements needed.

I'm not a fan of Imam but no one can be worse than Azhar right now.

 

[topspin]

Betting sites give a better odds than winiz

What is your understanding of the relationship between odds and probability?

 

[Yk313]

55-44 Pak favour, 1% draw

Ignore Winviz.

Markets have England as 1/2 on to win. They have a 67 percent chance of winning.

Yup, it’s an uphill battle but ENG are fighting. And it’s 207 more to get with 9 in hand.

 

[Yk313]

Good take by Shafiq.