Pakistan bowled out for 273 in the first innings on Day 3 as England opt to enforce follow-on

[MenInG]

Where we stand:

 

[jiduguravindra]

Deciding day of the test only if rain stays away

 

[watson367]

Loss by 1 innings and 400 runs coming up

 

[TrentDevil]

Time for Fawad double century

 

[dravidthewall]

Azhar and asad need to score big to save us from follow on

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

Going to be a do or die match for Azhar, Asad and Fawad today.. acid test really

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

All of these useless players Asad Azhar and that fawad will score some useless runs in this test

 

[JibranAnsari]

It would be great if anderson gets all 10.

In our top 6 we have 5 players over 30.

Shadab played well in one test he played but dropped , asad and azhar failed but no accountability.

Hafeez failed against steyn but shan is another level against anderson. That innings of 156 was great but after that he has totally looked clueless.

Babar azam gets set up essily , he needs to learn to survive in test cricket.

No two batsmen have failed for this long and survived in pakistan team , 3 long years of total failure for asad and azhar. When you are hell bent on mediocrity then thats what you have.


Pakistan should be ready lose matches when building a team , give chances to all the upcoming performers and mentally be ready to accept adverse results. But why should should we accept adverse results when average age of your top 6 is 30 plus?

 

[MenInG]

Jos Buttler says he had to find the belief to turn things around after thinking he was set to be dropped by England earlier this summer.

Buttler's place was in question during the first Test against Pakistan after a number of wicketkeeping mistakes.

But he played a match-winning innings at Emirates Old Trafford and followed that with 152 in the third Test.

"I've questioned myself in the last few weeks, but found a really good headspace to hang in there," he said.

It was not until the third Test against West Indies earlier in the summer that Buttler ended a run of seven matches without a half-century.

In the following Test, the first against Pakistan, he dropped two catches and missed a stumping, only to then pull off some fourth-innings heroics with the bat.

With England 117-5, Buttler made 75, combining with Chris Woakes to help the home side to their target of 277.

At the time he admitted his keeping had not been good enough, but his batting was taken to another level during the third Test at Ageas Bowl, when Buttler registered his second Test ton and highest first-class score.

The Lancashire man combined with Zak Crawley, who stroked a magnificent 267, in a partnership of 359, England's highest fifth-wicket stand of all time.

"A couple of games ago I was probably thinking I was about to get dropped," added Buttler.

"A positive outlook and a belief I can do good things has really served me well.

"You're never really that far away from good things or bad things happening. When it gets good you've got to stay very level and know you have to keep working hard because things can change fast."

Highest scores by an England batsman in Test cricket

1. 364 - Len Hutton (Eng v Aus, 1938) 6. 294 - Alastair Cook (Eng v Ind, 2011)
2. 336* - Wally Hammond (Eng v NZ, 1933) 7. 287 - Tip Foster (Eng v Aus, 1903)
3. 333 - Graham Gooch (Eng v Ind, 1990) 8. 285* - Peter May (Eng v WI, 1957)
4. 325 - Andy Sandham (Eng v WI, 1930) 9. 278 - Denis Compton (Eng v Pak, 1954)
5. 310* - John Edrich (Eng v NZ, 1965) 10. 267 - Zak Crawley (Eng v Pak, 2020)

Buttler, 29, and Crawley helped England to 583-8 declared, their highest Test total in more than four years.

James Anderson then bowled beautifully to reduce Pakistan to 24-3 after two days in Southampton.

"England have played the best two days of Test match cricket that I've seen for a long, long time," said former captain Michael Vaughan. "It's been high class and attritional.

"The past five or six years, England haven't had that mentality of grinding opposition into the dirt. This is the first time I have seen it, and that is a great sign."

Buttler is renowned for his devastating batting in limited-overs cricket, but his innings in Southampton was built on patience.

He played a supporting role to the elegant Crawley, at one stage going almost 38 overs without hitting a boundary.

"Jos Buttler played a pure Test-match innings," added Vaughan, who led England to their famous Ashes triumph of 2005.

"We're used to him crashing it around, but he was happy to let Crawley play the bigger strokes.

"That's a sign of a batsman maturing at this level. I liked the fact he got to a hundred and didn't give it away."


https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/53876636

 

[JibranAnsari]

Our next series is like after a million years and everything will be forgotten by then.

 

[Shafi]

The match may finish after tea

 

[TrentDevil]

Our next series is like after a million years and everything will be forgotten by then.

Not really, there's some cricket lined up for PCT in coming months

Zimbabwe series in Oct(LOIs only)
Bangla Test in November most probably
And then a 'proper' 2 match Test series & 3 T20Is against New Zealand away in Dec

 

[Shafi]

Our next series is like after a million years and everything will be forgotten by then.

Exactly!!!! We have Zimbabwe touring us soon with new set of players and both Azhar and Shafiq will seal the place for another 3-4 years and possible extension of contract for Misbah and Waqar.

 

[Infinitee786]

Rain will be the saving grace for Pakistan from what could be a potentially embarrassing loss.
It will make it harder to bat.

Will be curious to see whether it takes 3 hours to dry the outfield this time around.
Pakistani batsmen need to play out the day and forget about scoring.

 

[Bhaijaan]

4 proper batsmen still to so.

Two of them should score big.

Need one partnership stand of 200+

 

[Zeshan547]

[MENTION=65183]freelance_cricketer[/MENTION] Re bhai itni umeed tu khud hm Pakistaniun ko b nahi hmka batsman se, jitni umeed tum lgawat ho, Ye khuch zyada he bol diye ho bhai, It will be miracle if they can score 200 in two inns combined.

 

[Mueez]

Hoping against hope.

Really want Fawad to score today!

 

[Bhaijaan]

[MENTION=65183]freelance_cricketer[/MENTION] Re bhai itni umeed tu khud hm Pakistaniun ko b nahi hmka batsman se, jitni umeed tum lgawat ho, Ye khuch zyada he bol diye ho bhai, It will be miracle if they can score 200 in two inns combined.

Zeshan brother, in my mind this test is already lost and I believe this is a good mindset.

All 4 batsmen should already acknowledge that this is a lost case already so they can get rid off the pressure.

Just go out there and play positive cricket. Hit the bad balls, pile on the runs. This is still a good batting wicket.

Years of watching cricket, I know pressure does funny things.

There's a reason why second best teams suddenly start performing in dead rubbers.

 

[Afhan Ali]

Hope Azhar, Asad and Fawad will score 30 runs combine.

 

[gibsyhesperis]

It would be great if anderson gets all 10.

In our top 6 we have 5 players over 30.

Shadab played well in one test he played but dropped , asad and azhar failed but no accountability.

Hafeez failed against steyn but shan is another level against anderson. That innings of 156 was great but after that he has totally looked clueless.

Babar azam gets set up essily , he needs to learn to survive in test cricket.

No two batsmen have failed for this long and survived in pakistan team , 3 long yetars of total failure for asad and azhar. When you are hell bent on mediocrity then thats what you have.


Pakistan should be ready lose matches when building a team , give chances to all the upcoming performers and mentally be ready to accept adverse results. But why should should we accept adverse results when average age of your top 6 is 30 plus?

Exactly so. The pace bowlers are inexperienced (even Abbas hasn’t played a lot of tests) but the batsmen are all seasoned campaigners. The rebuilding excuse can’t be used here.
Get in a group of younger batsmen, picked for character, under a captain they would fight for and stick with them. We will still lose but we might head in the right direction. It’s what Aus did under Border (with Simpson as coach)

 

[Afhan Ali]

Sami Aslam
Imran Butt
Abdullah Shafiq
Babar Azam
Haider Ali/ Saud Shakeel
Muhammad Rizwan
Shadab Khan
Zafar Gohar
Ehsan Adil
Shaheen Afridi
Sameen Gul/Naseem Shah.

All player are less than 30.
Most of the PP will be happy.

 

[Mueez]

Sami Aslam
Imran Butt
Abdullah Shafiq
Babar Azam
Haider Ali/ Saud Shakeel
Muhammad Rizwan
Shadab Khan
Zafar Gohar
Ehsan Adil
Shaheen Afridi
Sameen Gul/Naseem Shah.

All player are less than 30.
Most of the PP will be happy.

I agree. This is a good XI.

 

[Mamoon]

Sami Aslam
Imran Butt
Abdullah Shafiq
Babar Azam
Haider Ali/ Saud Shakeel
Muhammad Rizwan
Shadab Khan
Zafar Gohar
Ehsan Adil
Shaheen Afridi
Sameen Gul/Naseem Shah.

All player are less than 30.
Most of the PP will be happy.

Most of the PP would have been happy indeed, but when this lot would have been humiliated, PPers would have told us that we should have picked Masood, Abid, Fawad and Abbas etc. who would have delivered.

This is what happens when fans cannot digest the fact that we are rubbish. It doesn’t matter who gets picked. There is not enough quality and talent in the country to make us a formidable side.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Most of the PP would have been happy indeed, but when this lot would have been humiliated, PPers would have told us that we should have picked Masood, Abid, Fawad and Abbas etc. who would have delivered.

This is what happens when fans cannot digest the fact that we are rubbish. It doesn’t matter who gets picked. There is not enough quality and talent in the country to make us a formidable side.

Guess the only logical solution to it is pick players on merit based on domestic performances. When they fall, you have a logical explaination to their selection and if it continues then obviously you would have to dig deeper and see whatever is going on in domestic circuit

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

Seems like we are going to have a delayed start due to Rain

 

[Omer2002]

There is no talent thats a fact..we have done well recently in tests people expect miracles . i must say disappointed with asad and azar as they had to stand up in these conditions.

Also we should have won the first test no doubt so less slack should be given

 

[gibsyhesperis]

Cloudy overcast conditions. Broad, Anderson, Woakes, Archer.
Oh my....

 

[Mueez]

We are getting out under 100

 

[Zeshan547]

Here we go, Deja Vu,,,

 

[castortroy]

Could thins match be finished today?

 

[MMHS]

Beautiful placement by Asad to start the account. He saw Jimmy swinging it late and away, decided to bluff the fielders and put the bat face to mid wicket, then placed the ball to point with the edge.

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

This Asad worst player ever shafiq will score useless runs here.

 

[castortroy]

Still can't believe pak decided to play 2 rookies pace bowlers in 3 matcheback to back

 

[Mueez]

I just don’t get why Shafiq is a mental midget.

You have all the shots in your arsenal.

But still you underperform.

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

Chal Nikal Asad useless shafiq I m happy

 

[castortroy]

Should be the end of shafiq

 

[Mueez]

)

Oh yes oh yes.

 

[castortroy]

So who were the fans that predicted pak would walk this series?

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

There it is... the last nail in Asads coffin

 

[angrypathan]

Goodbye Shafiq. Hope that's the last time he's seen in a Pakistan shirt

 

[Mueez]

Match winner falls 195 runs short for his double century.

 

[Junaids]

Azhar
Shafiq
Fawad

35 years old.
34 years old.
34 years old.

What a ridiculous selector Misbah is. Absolute joke.

 

[Omer2002]

Lets all blame babz everybody ...anderson making us look like bunnys but he is kohli isnt he...i fear for poor faddy here too...

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

Asad could not even last until the rain... what a pity..

 

[castortroy]

Anderson going to get 10 wickets here

 

[Gullycricket]

Hope last time we see these players. Khoon garam kar dia. I hope I don't murder anyone

 

[Zeshan547]

this time not even the customery one good but innings in last test of series from Asad. Maybe in the second innings, he should be retained but as coach for slip practicing, no one is better for this job in while world.

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

Azhar
Shafiq
Fawad

35 years old.
34 years old.
34 years old.

What a ridiculous selector Misbah is. Absolute joke.

Age shouldn’t matter as long as there are performances. However Asad and Azhar both deserve to go out.. Fawad still needs to be there

 

[Ahmed216]

There it is... the last nail in Asads coffin

Are u sure?

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

Oh man I wanted to see that comedy act by number 6 Batsman.

 

[gibsyhesperis]

I wonder if England will regret batting for so long. On Monday and Tuesday there will be a lot of rain

 

[Mueez]

Big big revamp needed.

 

[adil79]

Asad Shafiq will be the great of game just because he will play 100 test matches

 

[sindhiboy]

Paks most important player gone. Anderson looks like taking all 20 wickets for England

 

[castortroy]

Some fans also had the nerve to think pak had a better bowling attack than England

 

[adil79]

There it is... the last nail in Asads coffin

Bruh? Do you even remember his 100 against Australia in Australia 4 years ago? How can you let go this experience?

 

[MMHS]

Azhar
Shafiq
Fawad

35 years old.
34 years old.
34 years old.

What a ridiculous selector Misbah is. Absolute joke.

Once again - they are in poor form, never was that good and now in decline. So, should be replaced - but that has nothing to do with age. You might haven’t noticed here that the guy robbing PAK here including the two “youngsters” in the line-up is 38 years old fast bowler.

It’s the skill first - age, height, colour, beard..... comes later.

 

[Ahmed216]

Big big revamp needed.

Time to bring back imran farhat

 

[Junaids]

Still can't believe pak decided to play 2 rookies pace bowlers in 3 matcheback to back

Who?
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] said to only pick 3 quicks!

 

[adil79]

Some fans also had the nerve to think pak had a better bowling attack than England

I still remember when Naseem Shah hyped himself up before touring England. Must have been good over confidence.

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

Last ball before close yesterday pakistan lost a wkt. Last ball before rain delay pakistan loose a wkt. Luck defo not going Pakistans way. I wonder if this is more a mental thing than a pitch thing. Surely Pakistan cant be 30-4 on a pitch wer England made almost 600
.

 

[adil79]

Time to bring back imran farhat

Can Miandad still play?

 

[Fahdi]

Once again - they are in poor form, never was that good and now in decline. So, should be replaced - but that has nothing to do with age. You might haven’t noticed here that the guy robbing PAK here including the two “youngsters” in the line-up is 38 years old fast bowler.

It’s the skill first - age, height, colour, beard..... comes later.

Well to be fair Anderson is exceptional to be bowling like this at 38.

 

[adil79]

Last ball before close yesterday pakistan lost a wkt. Last ball before rain delay pakistan loose a wkt. Luck defo not going Pakistans way. I wonder if this is more a mental thing than a pitch thing. Surely Pakistan cant be 30-4 on a pitch wer England made almost 600
.

Luck? Lol. There is no thing such as luck in cricket, mate. It's about technique. & Execution. If it were up to luck & prayers, Pakistan would have been the best team in the world

 

[MMHS]

Bruh? Do you even remember his 100 against Australia in Australia 4 years ago? How can you let go this experience?

He has got a wicket as well - average of 24 with ball..... another 45 in second innings, that makes a bowling a a vestige of 24 and batting average of 25........ good enough for that all important all-rounder spot.

 

[Dantheone]

Goodbye Shafiq. Hope that's the last time he's seen in a Pakistan shirt

There is second innings of this match still.

 

[Junaids]

Once again - they are in poor form, never was that good and now in decline. So, should be replaced - but that has nothing to do with age. You might haven’t noticed here that the guy robbing PAK here including the two “youngsters” in the line-up is 38 years old fast bowler.

It’s the skill first - age, height, colour, beard..... comes later.

Pakistan did fine against Anderson, Broad and Woakes the last two tours.

But this time they have 3 guys aged 34+, who were never any good in the first place.

They have lost their ability, not their form.

 

[sa88]

Age shouldn’t matter as long as there are performances. However Asad and Azhar both deserve to go out.. Fawad still needs to be there

Age does matter. Hand eye coordination and reaction times nose dive after early 30s are over. Can’t survive in English conditions or against decent bowlers if your reactions are rubbish.

Misbah and Younis were exceptional. But they played mostly in the slow UAE dust bowls post age 35. They mostly failed outside of UAE in those years.

Also from a team building perspective to only have 1 batsman in mid 20s is criminal. Most of these babajis need to go grab a tasbi and stop hogging up space that should go to guys who can play for at least 5+ years at the top level.

Terrible selections by misbah.

 

[IMMY69]

Asad Shafiq

Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results

 

[Mueez]

Ask Imran Khan, Waqar and Wasim to play again.

I’m sure they wouldn’t do any worse than this lot.

 

[Energy]

Nothing shot, one which Asad has been playing all through his career.

Let's not forget Asad has played 50 ODIs too at a glorious batting average of below 30.

Never seen someone get these many chances and a handsome salary pack for 10 years doing nothing.

 

[Gullycricket]

I don't see us winning anything in Tests even at home or UAE against top teams after few years. We don't have the players anymore who can grind it out in tests

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Age shouldn’t matter as long as there are performances. However Asad and Azhar both deserve to go out.. Fawad still needs to be there

Exactly asad and azhar have been milking the system for too long but Fawad deserves a bit of a run until you can drop him. The amount of chances asad and azhar have gotten is unbelievable, both are highly mediocre.

 

[Firebat]

I wonder if England will regret batting for so long. On Monday and Tuesday there will be a lot of rain

That's what confused me last night. Had they declared much earlier, they could have nearly bowled us out before close of play. They seriously think the extra 100 runs from 450 to 550 is going to make a big difference against this batting lineup.

 

[castortroy]

I still remember when Naseem Shah hyped himself up before touring England. Must have been good over confidence.

Might have high speed on the speed gun but he looks a lot slower. Anderson bowling 80s looks nippier

 

[fight_club]

Asad is a Fixed deposit with Zero returns. What a tame dismissal not saying how
beautifully Jimmy set him up here. Couple of in dippers and they the stock away
swinger and our Experienced undroppable almighty Shafiq was sitting dodo's

 

[adil79]

Might have high speed on the speed gun but he looks a lot slower. Anderson bowling 80s looks nippier

I think the generator would have get us more wickets than this lad who should play first class rather than being part of test cricket

 

[MMHS]

Who?
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] said to only pick 3 quicks!

No, MMHS said, all-rounder for the sake of playing doesn’t work - those 10-12 over that Shadab bowls can be managed by batsmen (now which batsmen that can be debated) and that is proven with stats here - Asad & Fawad has a match figure (so far) of 19-0-70-3.

MMHS rather telling after 1st Test that PAK won’t compete with bat, no matter how many they pick - better play five specialist bowlers and try to get 20 wickets at lower cost.

 

[castortroy]

England might have to start inviting pak for only 2 Test

One of the worst pak teams I can remember for the last 20 years

 

[Bhaijaan]

Asad got out under unfavourable conditions. Not easy it was for anyone. Even Lara would have got.out like that