England vs Pakistan | 1st Test | Lord's, London | May 24-28, 2018 | Day 2 | Match Thread

[Titan24]

Cmon Azhar. He’s a rookie off spinner. Not like this

Yes bro he is a rookie but is a good one as he is playing test cricket and his FC stats till now are exceptional considering other English spinners.

 

[shaaik]

The way England took on Shadab, Pakistan need to look to do the same against Bess.

That’s a good first over bowled by him.. both azar and shafeeq are poor against spin.. I hope they don’t just give away all the hard work done so far..

 

[letme alone]

these two are pure test cricketer

 

[Titan24]

The problem with hazir is that he is sometimes too keen to work the ball around and in the process plays the ball early. Needs to wait for the ball in seamers friendly conditions.

You are right but he should realize that its test cricket and when you have the ability to put away the lose balls why to take that extra risk for strike rotation in tests. He also has got problem of playing the loose balls in the air which has caused him a lot of harm in Tests as well as ODIs.

He needs to be choosy in his shot selection, Sangakara is an exceptional role model to follow for lefties in tests.

 

[Asch Ali]

Maybe they are saving their sixes for after lunch. Even then, Asad will be attacking while Azhar will save his wicket rotating strike. They need to get to 150/2 before they start going quick.

 

[babajee]

Well played Azhar

Needs to convert

 

[Abdul]

Fifty Azhar.

 

[Amjid Javed]

50 for Azhar, decent inns so far. Job not done yet.

Need to milk the spinner here nothing fancy

118/2

 

[Super Santi]

Is Faheem a batting all-rounder or bowling all-rounder (or equally good in both disciplines)?

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Well played Azhar. Needs to keep going now

 

[Asch Ali]

Moeen Ali will be proud of Azhar Ali.

Well played!

Now we just need Saad Ali to debut.

 

[On_the_up]

Athers on sky sports "Azhar Ali showing the England batsmen how to bat in England."

 

[Markhor]

Azhar may not be the most exciting batsman to watch but his grittiness and patience in these testing English conditions are exactly what you need from an opener.

There were concerns about his form especially after the Ireland Test but this is a great response. Need him to kick on to a hundred now.

 

[babajee]

Is Faheem a batting all-rounder or bowling all-rounder (or equally good in both disciplines)?

Equally good.

 

[On_the_up]

Why are they trying to smash the spinner, just milk him for 3 an over would be the order of the day.

 

[Boi]

Play straight Asad man

 

[immubhai]

Azhar may not be the most exciting batsman to watch but his grittiness and patience in these testing English conditions are exactly what you need from an opener.

There were concerns about his form especially after the Ireland Test but this is a great response. Need him to kick on to a hundred now.

well said! totally agree

 

[another drop catch]

Is Faheem a batting all-rounder or bowling all-rounder (or equally good in both disciplines)?

bowling allrounder
more than handy with bat
he is like mitchell marsh

 

[shaaik]

Azhar may not be the most exciting batsman to watch but his grittiness and patience in these testing English conditions are exactly what you need from an opener.

There were concerns about his form especially after the Ireland Test but this is a great response. Need him to kick on to a hundred now.

Tell this to Mamoon...

 

[Amjid Javed]

Aim of the batting should be to bat all day, wicket will slowly dry out as day goes on.

 

[babajee]

Yaar

 

[Amjid Javed]

Azhar gone, huge blow in this session, Has usually got out LBW on most occasions in england.

 

[Markhor]

Makes you wonder why Anderson didn't bowl at that end from the beginning.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Damn. Big wicket...

 

[Amjid Javed]

Really shouldnt be getting out LBW when well set

 

[Asif321]

collapse coming

 

[Asch Ali]

Azhar being Azhar..

Getting OUT right before the end of a session!!

 

[the Great Khan]

Aim of the batting should be to bat all day, wicket will slowly dry out as day goes on.

not sure thats going to happen..england will probably be batting at some point..

 

[Asif321]

exact 50

 

[Amjid Javed]

65 behind still with a lot of untested/unproven batting to come.

Asad needs to step up now.

 

[Amjid Javed]

not sure thats going to happen..england will probably be batting at some point..

Was trying to be optimistic

 

[Square Drive]

Today has to be Babar's day.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Time for Babar to prove he can hack it at this level as a test player.

 

[babajee]

Today has to be Babar's day.

It will be

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Azhar 50 at a SR of 35 and OUT! Lovely!

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Asad has to bat long now. Lots of responsibility on him

 

[idrizzy]

Azhar rip

 

[Amjid Javed]

Babar always worry me when playing the spinners

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Surprised to see Shafiq going at over 60 SR that too early in his innings otherwise he does not go over 20-30.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Asad has to bat long now. Lots of responsibility on him

Needs to score a 100 really and rest bat around him.

 

[On_the_up]

Babar didn't look comfortable negotiating that Bess over.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Pakistan should look to get at least 250 if not more.

 

[idrizzy]

If only 1 wicket fell in the morning session and not 2, then I’d have been a lot more happier. Ah well, still in a good position to get 300+.

 

[babajee]

Babar didn't look comfortable negotiating that Bess over.

He is a bunny against off spin for some reason.

 

[Fahdi]

Asad was pretty proactive up till now and he needs to keep that up. Dot balls are exactly what England want right after a big wicket

 

[Asch Ali]

Babar looking ready to get OUT already.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Probably 3 more overs till lunch. Just need to see them off

 

[Robert]

Really tough cricket this.

 

[NeVerMind]

Really tough cricket this.

Test cricket at its best...nerve shredding this is...

 

[Markhor]

Ideally don't want to lose any more wickets before reaching parity.

Somebody needs to go big, we all saw how YK would make his starts count. Seems like our batsmen get in and get out.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

I would reiterate once again that Pakistan started off the day well with 30 runs in 8 overs but after that it is all been England.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Probably an over and half left before lunch, Nothing Silly here.

 

[Markhor]

First SIX of the innings.

 

[DeadBall]

; by Shafiq

 

[Big Mac]

Pakistani middle order batsman belting a spinner into the stands just before the end of the session...

 

[Boi]

Hopefully the sun is out when they come out to bat after lunch.

 

[Asch Ali]

Younis type of shot!

 

[Amjid Javed]

Even 1st session - 86/2 for pakistan overall in session.

Need a really strong session with bat after lunch and some of our batsmen need to look to score some big runs

136/3 at lunch

 

[KingKhanWC]

Shame to lose Azhar but good session for Pakistan. Just need one big 70-100 partnership and the match will be under control.

 

[Markhor]

An okay session for Pakistan, disappointing we lost Azhar who looked set.

Got to try and bat another three sessions at least and build a sizeable lead.

 

[hur rizvi]

Pretty even session. Our lower order is shaky and inexperienced. Though Pakistan still ahead but This pair needs to add something substantial to regain advantage lost in this session

 

[NeVerMind]

Lunch....two wickets fallen but at least they out a price on their wickets...need the same from the rest of the batsmen left...40 to 50s from the likes of Asad, Babar, Faheem and Shadab with the odd 10 to 20 from the tailenders will do nicely...

 

[hur rizvi]

A bare minimum lead of 100 is required. Means they need to add 150 odd more with last 7 wickets.

 

[Fahdi]

Pakistan need to look for a lead of 150.

 

[hur rizvi]

Pakistan need to look for a lead of 150.

Ideally yes but I am not sure how. Somebody will have to play really well for that to happen

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Both Harry and Ajju looked good and got out after playing the difficult part Got good ones.

 

[IAJ]

Still no «when should Pakistan declare»-thread created yet?

 

[Sarwar89]

The 2nd session will be the last one with old ball, 29 overs left for the new ball to come.
Another 70-75 runs are need in 2nd session with no more loss of 2 wickets.

By Tea time if Pakistanis around 210/5 or maximum 210/6 then our tail enders can slog and get additional crucial 40-50 runs.

 

[hur rizvi]

The 2nd session will be the last one with old ball, 29 overs left for the new ball to come.
Another 70-75 runs are need in 2nd session with no more loss of 2 wickets.

By Tea time if Pakistanis around 210/5 or maximum 210/6 then our tail enders can slog and get additional crucial 40-50 runs.

That won’t be enough lead and tomorrow would be the best day to bat

 

[Sarwar89]

On this pitch and with uncertainty in Poms Batting technique, even a lead of 70-75 will be enough, I am quite confident that Pakistan can chase down 160-170 to win the Test Match.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

We won't chase more than 120 here.

Need to get to 350 at least to stay in control.

 

[Khan12]

Both Harry and Ajju looked good and got out after playing the difficult part Got good ones.

No they played poor shots according to some experts here.

 

[Sarwar89]

That won’t be enough lead and tomorrow would be the best day to bat

England can not bat under pressure, there is no Moeen Ali as well neither Chris Woakes.

 

[Fahdi]

Ideally yes but I am not sure how. Somebody will have to play really well for that to happen

Ideally the lead should be 200 but Pakistan shouldn't settle for anything under 140. The last time we lost a test despite having a 100 run lead. We can't have a repeat of that, need to effectively finish off the match in this innings.

Onus is on Asad, Babar and Sarfraz to step up. The 3 of them need to put up 120 runs combined. Faheem, Shadab and the tail should look to put on 80+ runs. Not easy but definitely achievable.

 

[James]

Wood legitimately got Haris out with a quality spell, but Azhar’s dimissal was a bit lazy for an experienced player IMO. He should have been looking at a big hundred to seal the match, and instead he was pinned in front by one of Anderson’s oldest bread-and-butter tactics.

Pakistan still on top though. A 100 lead would be super handy here.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Yar Babar this is the best time to bat. Atleast a 50 plzzz. Its in his head, technically he is quite capable.

 

[hur rizvi]

Ideally the lead should be 200 but Pakistan shouldn't settle for anything under 140. The last time we lost a test despite having a 100 run lead. We can't have a repeat of that, need to effectively finish off the match in this innings.

Onus is on Asad, Babar and Sarfraz to step up. The 3 of them need to put up 120 runs combined. Faheem, Shadab and the tail should look to put on 80+ runs. Not easy but definitely achievable.

I am not to confident about Sarfraz, Shadab and faheem on this pitch 350 would be a massive achievement I feel

 

[Amjid Javed]

A 100 lead would be crucial here, But it means that Asad and Babar need to score big here. Also like of shadab, Fahim and Sarfaraz need to contribute more then just little cameo scores/inns.

If we want to get big team totals then our batsmen need to score big individually.

 

[Syed1]

Salam PP'ers




A good start to the day for Pakistan. I would have preferred atleast one of Azhar or Harry to be still out there. However, this isn't a bad situation either.


I hope by the end of next session we have added another 100 runs and lost max 2 more wickets. Which would put us around 240/5 and the lead would be 50 odd with half our side remaining. We can then really go hell to leather and push the lead to 150+

 

[Amjid Javed]

Time to get through a broad/Anderson spell again at start of a session. This will be tough.