Pakistan finish Day 3 on 137/8 against England, lead by 244 runs

[watson367]

Pak just needs to be patient

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Azhar itching for a single to get off the dreaded pair

 

[Deewana Mastana]

lovely ball

 

[topspin]

Azhar ain't making double figures

 

[Mesozoic]

Azhar Ali is not going to last long

 

[Omer2002]

Azar doesnt know what day it is

 

[AdamM97]

Azhar’s Test career is on the line here.

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

they have 1000 wickets among them .... they are not gonna let us get off that easily.

 

[Firebat]

Need a captain's innings from Azhar. This is a difficult period for batting, show some mental toughness to get through it.

 

[Mesozoic]

Azar doesnt know what day it is

)

 

[Major]

azhar has to play off the new ball

 

[Yk313]

Don’t care how they come. The first 30-40 can be streaky for all I care. Just stay there.

 

[watson367]

3 maidens in a row. Need to stay calm

 

[Firebat]

Oooooh Abid lucky. Heart in my mouth there.

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

250 would be more than enough here.

 

[Major]

Oooooh Abid lucky. Heart in my mouth there.

on kee howa

 

[Yk313]

The only thing is, it would help if AA got off the mark. That might play on his mind given how tough he is mentally.

 

[darksher]

Azhar Ali "the tailender" finding it really hard to survive.

 

[angrypathan]

Dropped

 

[CricVet]

If Azhar can survive the new ball storm with zero to show even in the next 15 overs, that will be awesome for Pak - keep grafting boy

 

[castortroy]

Abid dropped

 

[Yk313]

Dropped. Abid really needs to realise what a lifeline he has been given. Not feeding back on his 1st innings pushes.

 

[shamaan]

Dropped that's a couple I seen stokes drop recently

 

[AdamM97]

Abid should keep the strike for a while I reckon.

And dropped!

 

[CricVet]

yes
we need luck and make it count

 

[Major]

dammit im 3 balls behind lol

 

[Yk313]

Abid dropped

His leaves invite edges. Hopefully YK can work with him. I know YK does not like giving too much feedback mid-game.

 

[angrypathan]

Four. Insult to Anderson's misery

 

[castortroy]

Anderson with the new ball in England for the first 10 overs is virtually unplayable

 

[AdamM97]

Root would’ve taken that easily.

 

[topspin]

Azhar’s Test career is on the line here.

Unfortunately not with Misbah in charge. He likes his shy obedient kids, so more likely he will ensure he's rewarded with a central contract for 2021.

 

[NauV]

I said it before and I will say it again. Abid's technique is very dopey! He is weak on both balls coming in and going out . . I will be shocked if he averages above 30 on this tour . .

 

[Yk313]

Good shot - lol looks like he will continue playing. All right then, I may get a few heart murmurs.

 

[last_knight]

His leaves invite edges. Hopefully YK can work with him. I know YK does not like giving too much feedback mid-game.

You know too much about YK

 

[IAJ]

Is Imam a better choice than Abid?

 

[AdamM97]

Unfortunately not with Misbah in charge. He likes his shy obedient kids, so more likely he will ensure he's rewarded with a central contract for 2021.

But for how long? I’m sure there are others in the management that are growing tired of Azhar’s poor performances.

 

[castortroy]

Azhar has to make a score here

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

250 would be more than enough here.

we need a lead of at least 350 here to put pressure on them. is that what you meant ..

 

[Yk313]

Root would’ve taken that easily.

Khuda bhala karay hamare pyaray British bhaiyon ka. Kitne bhalay log hain.

 

[Boycottisno2]

Abid ali need to be dropped in the next test match.... he is a walking wicket

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Abid Ali will go for his shots. Like Hafeez is a strokemaker. Can't stay quiet for long.

If Abid stays a hour Pak will reach 200 lead soon.

 

[IAJ]

Broad attacking Azhar’s pads here. Need better footwork from Azhar.

 

[Firebat]

Abid needs to calm down. This hard hand forceful pushes in the channel are absolutely not the right way to bat, in these conditions especially.

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

Abid is really poor but I hope he score some runs here.

 

[AdamM97]

Abid ali need to be dropped in the next test match.... he is a walking wicket

Very poor record outside Asia. Struggled in England last year as well.

 

[castortroy]

Abid Ali will go for his shots. Like Hafeez is a strokemaker. Can't stay quiet for long.

If Abid stays a hour Pak will reach 200 lead soon.

Technique is a bit flakey

 

[Yk313]

But for how long? I’m sure there are others in the management that are growing tired of Azhar’s poor performances.

If we win in ENG, think AA can sign off on a high. If we lose, then it may be harder but there is a chance BA might tour NZD as caltain - subject to Covid/tour going ahead etc.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Abid is really poor but I hope he score some runs here.

Grinding it out isn't his cup of tea. He has too many shots for that.

Will give you some quick runs though if he bats for another hour or so.

 

[angrypathan]

Shot.

 

[Yk313]

Very poor record outside Asia. Struggled in England last year as well.

What was last year? Sorry, maybe I missed something?

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

how is abid dealing in boundaries ...

 

[asifp]

Azhar is so lucky he has not faced one ball from Anderson . Would be out in five balls

 

[Yk313]

Grinding it out isn't his cup of tea. He has too many shots for that.

Will give you some quick runs though if he bats for another hour or so.

Yup, if he gets the length I think he trusts himself to go for it. Prefer back foot to front I think when I watch him.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Some nice shots from Abid Ali.

If he survives a hour Pak will get 200 lead. He loves his shots.

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

we need a lead of at least 350 here to put pressure on them. is that what you meant ..

Target of 250 would be more than enough.England is not chasing that total.

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

All we need is 40 - 50 runs from him.

 

[AdamM97]

If we win in ENG, think AA can sign off on a high. If we lose, then it may be harder but there is a chance BA might tour NZD as caltain - subject to Covid/tour going ahead etc.

Yes. Misbah will keep Azhar in the team despite his poor form.
I think he should retire if he fails this series. He has been decent in his captaincy but it doesn’t justify his position considering his batting form.

 

[Firebat]

Last over before tea? Already dropped at slip 2 overs ago? Up against a fired up Jimmy Anderson? Abid will still play his shots lol

 

[Syed1]

Takes alot of heart to watch Pakistan bat. I don't need this kind of negativity in my life.

 

[AdamM97]

What was last year? Sorry, maybe I missed something?

ODI series against England before the World Cup.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Yup, if he gets the length I think he trusts himself to go for it. Prefer back foot to front I think when I watch him.

The reason he has had it tough in the UK. Needs to adjust his technique here and get more forward.

He would have been ideal in Australia though.

 

[Major]

lol and abid hits a 4 to anderson haha

 

[James]

Anderson unlucky, absolute mare from Stokes in the slips there.... stupidly launched himself at a catch which would have gone easily to Root.

 

[Titan24]

Did India only win the toss once in five games? In 2018? Genuinely curious....

India didnt win any toss but they lost not because of that rather because of poor cricket they play in Eng. They won one test despite loosing a toss in which they played good cricket.

Pak despite loosing the toss won a test in Eng in 2016 (2-2 drawn) as well as in 2018 (1-1 drawn).

Toss is important in test cricket anywhere in the world, batting first gives you a slightly better chance in most conditions but only if you have capability to play good cricket. You can win tests despite loosing a toss as well and that too anywhere in the world if you perform well.

Any Indian fan saying that toss makes a difference in Eng and you cant win without winning a toss is just making an excuse and nothing else.

 

[Syed1]

LOL so Stokes can't bowl, scored a duck and now dropped a catch.


Greatest alrounder in the world

 

[darksher]

To this day I fail to realize how come Azhar having scored the runs he has. The guy is literally all over the place and gives you a clear impression of a tailender batting.

 

[Forum363]

Bud, I agree. But just want to keep ENG on the backfoot overall. Team wise and individually too.

Yeah, me too.

However I still worry about his batting, and as a Pakistan fan, I would much rather see Foakes come out to bat, even if it means less dropped catches.

 

[shamaan]

LOL so Stokes can't bowl, scored a duck and now dropped a catch.


Greatest alrounder in the world

Hes ganna bowl I fink

 

[Firebat]

Day 3 - Tea: Pakistan lead by 127 runs

PAK 20/1 (9.0), CRR: 2.22

Abid 15* (26)
Azhar 0* (18)

Min. Overs Remaining: 44.0

 

[owais1]

Target of 250 would be more than enough.England is not chasing that total.

You are underestimating ENG. Pak will need a lead of 320 at least, nothing less

 

[Syed1]

India didnt win any toss but they lost not because of that rather because of poor cricket they play in Eng. They won one test despite loosing a toss in which they played good cricket.

Pak despite loosing the toss won a test in Eng in 2016 as well as in 2018.

Toss is important in test cricket anywhere in the world, batting first gives you a slightly better chance in most conditions but only if you have capability to play good cricket. You can win tests despite loosing a toss as well and that too anywhere in the world if you perform well.

Any Indian fan saying that toss makes a difference in Eng and you cant win without winning a toss is just making an excuse and nothing else.

The same people would have been crying had Pakistan lost a buckets of wickets in the first session to Broad and Anderson on a seaming pitch with overcast conditions. They would be saying "why did Pakistan win toss and bat first to give England such helpful conditions"

 

[Thunderbolt14]

LOL so Stokes can't bowl, scored a duck and now dropped a catch.


Greatest alrounder in the world

I made him my fantasy captain assuming he’d be doing all 3 )

 

[Mueez]

I made him my fantasy captain assuming he’d be doing all 3 )

Lol same )

 

[Titan24]

To this day I fail to realize how come Azhar having scored the runs he has. The guy is literally all over the place and gives you a clear impression of a tailender batting.

Most batsmen struggle early in their innings in test matches. Azhar when he was in his peak used to play really well after he was set. Even now just like any batsmen if he somehow can survive for sometime, get his eye set he can score but obviously with age reflexes go down so that initial settlement phase becomes difficult.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Another 173 runs needed here from pakistan.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

127-1 at tea. I’ll take it

 

[Yk313]

Yeah, me too.

However I still worry about his batting, and as a Pakistan fan, I would much rather see Foakes come out to bat, even if it means less dropped catches.

Actually that’s quite true. Buttler can take it away in half a session.

 

[Rana]

Batting becoming easier

England heads are down

 

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan need to score at little more brisk pace , 127 runs ahead now.

 

[Yk313]

You know too much about YK

Yup, and I don’t think it shows from my username, does it?

At the risk of derailing the thread, was my role model growing up and feel like he was/is a more aggressive and astute tactician. But I know this, because of an interview I watched of Fawad or someone where they said that when YK was their captain in department cricket, and if they got out playing a bad shot, he would never bring it up or even talk about it. If they did well, he would be all praise about them alone and in front of them when they were in front of others.