England v Pakistan Test series

[Admin]

Three tests first at Old Trafford tghe other two at the Ageas Bowl Southampton

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Pakistan's squad for the first England Test:

Azhar A (c), Babar A (vc), Abid A, Asad S, Fawad A, Imam, Kashif B, M Abbas, M Rizwan, Naseem S, Sarfaraz A, Shadab K, Shaheen A, Shan M, Sohail K and Yasir S.

England same 14 as last test against West Indies

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First Test, Emirates Old Trafford (day one of five)
Pakistan 139-2 (49 overs): Babar 69*, Masood 46*, Woakes 1-14
England: Yet to bat

England endured a difficult start to the first Test against Pakistan on a frustrating opening day at Emirates Old Trafford.

The visitors moved to 139-2 in between 41 overs being lost to rain and bad light.

They had been 43-2 before Babar Azam stroked a classy unbeaten 69 in a partnership of 96 with opener Shan Masood, who is 46 not out.

They scored increasingly freely against an England side who lost their way with the ball after lunch, while wicketkeeper Jos Buttler dropped an edge off Masood and missed a straightforward chance to stump the same man from the bowling of Dom Bess either side of a three-hour break for rain.

Following an inspection at 17:00 BST, there was the farcical sight of no play taking place in bright sunshine until the players returned at 17:45.

When they did, the light then deteriorated to such an extent England could only bowl spin for the majority of the time until the players left for the final time at 18:11.

Better weather is forecast for the next three days, with Pakistan having built a good platform after choosing to make first use of a surface that looks ideal for batting.

If they can post an imposing first-innings total, it would allow their pair of leg-spinners, Yasir Shah and Shadab Khan, more leeway on a pitch that seems likely to turn.

With Ben Stokes not yet fit to bowl, England are unchanged from last week's final Test against West Indies.

[Admin]

This has the makings of an excellent match properly Test batting from Pakistan's opener and some brilliant cricket at the start of the England innings, the 17 years old second ball to Olliue Pope was a ripper.

First Test, Emirates Old Trafford (day two of five)
Pakistan 326 (109.3 overs): Masood 156, Babar 69, Broad 3-54
England 92-4 (28 overs): Pope 46*, Abbas 2-24

England are already facing defeat in the first Test after a Shan Masood-inspired Pakistan dominated the second day at Emirates Old Trafford.

Opener Masood worked his way to 156, forming the basis of Pakistan's 326 all out.

He added 105 with Shadab Khan, who busied his way to 45 in a post-lunch period where England surrendered the initiative with some baffling tactics.

When they came to bat, the hosts were exposed to Pakistan's skilful, enthusiastic and dangerous attack and limped to 92-4.

Rory Burns was lbw to Shaheen Afridi in the first over and Dom Sibley fell in the same way to Mohammad Abbas. When Abbas bowled Ben Stokes, England were 12-3.

Joe Root and Ollie Pope managed to add 50, only for Root to be caught behind off the leg-spin of Yasir Shah for 14.

Pope ended unbeaten on 46 in the company of Jos Buttler, England 234 adrift and looking to the lower order to retrieve a dire situation.

Even if England can get somewhere near Pakistan's total, they face the prospect of batting last on a dry surface offering turn and showing signs of uneven bounce.

[chris]

Anyone else beginning to think that Broad will reach 600 wickets before Anderson?

[Admin]

First Test, Emirates Old Trafford (day three of five)
Pakistan 326 & 137-8: Shafiq 29, Stokes 2-11, Woakes 2-11
England 219: Pope 62, Buttler 38, Yasir 4-66

England are clinging on in the first Test against Pakistan after a Ben Stokes-led fightback on a fluctuating third day at Emirates Old Trafford.

The home side took four wickets for 27 runs, including two for Stokes, in the fading light to leave Pakistan 137-8, leading by 244.

Even now that represents a formidable target for England to chase on a surface spitting and biting for the spin bowlers.

History is not on their side, either. Only once before have more runs been chased in the fourth innings to win a Test on this ground.

Earlier, England, who were 92-4 overnight, salvaged something from their first innings by reaching 219.

Ollie Pope moved on to 62 and Jos Buttler came through a forensic examination from Mohammad Abbas to edge his way to 38.

Buttler was the first in a slump of three wickets for 11 runs, an overall final collapse of 5-60.

All of those wickets fell to leg-spin, Yasir Shah ending with 4-66 and Shadab Khan picking up 2-13.


Stokes gets Rizman wicket nine balls into bowling return

This was a fascinating and entertaining day, containing the fall of 14 wickets and, for long periods, the feeling that England were fatally damaged by their previous errors.

Lives given by wicketkeeper Buttler to Shan Masood, who made 156, captain Joe Root's tactics and finding themselves 12-3 on Thursday evening left England in an almost hopeless situation.

That they are not entirely out of the contest is thanks to the way they battled in the face of some relentless pace bowling in the morning session, and a late flurry of wickets when Pakistan were on the brink of moving out of sight.

At 101-4, the tourists were 208 ahead, gathering runs quickly and heaping frustration on an increasingly dejected home side.

England's inspiration first came from a direct-hit run-out from Dom Sibley, then the introduction of the irrepressible Stokes, who was not thought to be fit to bowl in this match.

He had Mohammad Rizwan lbw and bounced out Shaheen Afridi either side of Stuart Broad trapping Shadab leg before to give England an outside chance of victory in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion.

[Admin]

First Test, Emirates Old Trafford (day four of five)
Pakistan 326 & 169: Yasir 33, Stokes 2-11, Woakes 2-11
England 219 & 277-7: Woakes 84*, Buttler 75
England won by three wickets
Scorecard
England snatched a riveting three-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford thanks to a daring partnership between Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler.

Chasing 277 on a snakepit of a pitch, England looked all but beaten at 117-5, only for Woakes and Buttler to counter-attack in a partnership of 139.

Buttler was lbw reverse-sweeping Yasir Shah for 75 with 21 still required and the second new ball due.

The promoted Stuart Broad took England to within four, which Woakes got from an outside edge to end 84 not out.

It was Woakes who said on Friday night that England would draw on their experience on recent unlikely victories, and this latest success follows the drama of the World Cup final and the Headingley Ashes Test.

Not only were they second favourites for most of this fourth day, but also after conceding a 107-run first-innings lead after errors in the field, poor tactics and a top-order collapse.

They gradually battled back over the final two days, yet it was only when Buttler and Woakes were together that Pakistan's energy was replaced by trepidation.

England win the opening match for the first time in six series and can earn their first success over Pakistan in 10 years if they win the second Test in Southampton, which starts on Thursday.

England pull one out of the fire
This was a classic finish to a gripping Test, one that in another time would have had an empty Emirates Old Trafford bouncing in Saturday revelry.

England were rightly criticised for their performance over the first two days - wicketkeeper Buttler's pair of reprieves that allowed Shan Masood to make 156, captain Joe Root's tactics, some feeble batting.

But the way they battled in the second half of their first innings was brave, their bowling in Pakistan's second innings was tenacious and the match-winning Buttler-Woakes partnership was nerveless.

They made light of a surface that was turning, spitting and rearing to help England to the second highest run-chase ever completed to win a Test on this ground.

Buttler could barely watch as the third umpire took an age to confirm his dismissal, but that only led to the bold promotion of Broad.

However, it was fitting that Woakes, so often an unsung hero, hit the winning runs, celebrating with a roar that echoed around the empty stadium.

Woakes and Buttler take England home
Buttler famously has an irreverent slogan written on the handle of his bat. It is an approach that served him well in a situation where he may have been playing for his place after the keeping errors and a lean run with the bat.

What made the sixth-wicket stand all the more remarkable is what had gone before. England had lost 3-20 after Naseem Shah got one to lift at Joe Root, Yasir's fizzing googly took the glove of Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope had no chance in the face of an unplayable lifter from Shaheen Afridi.

Buttler and Woakes decided that attack was the best form of defence. Buttler went after leg-spinner Yasir with drives, sweeps and reverse-sweeps. Woakes slapped the pace bowlers through the covers.

The 50 partnership came in 49 balls. Pakistan retreated and the pitch went to sleep. The metronomic Mohammad Abbas was ineffective.

The strokeplay gave way to steady accumulation, tension rising as the scoring slowed. Buttler freed the shackles by heaving Shadab Khan for six, but was out in the following over.

Broad swiped seven useful runs, then Woakes' edge to third man sealed victory in the glorious evening sunshine.

[Admin]

Family issues means Stokes is out of the rest of the series

[Admin]

2nd Test Southampton 13/8/2020 to 17/8/2020

[Admin]

England's bowlers grabbed the upper hand in the second Test against Pakistan on a rain-affected first day at the Ageas Bowl.

James Anderson claimed two wickets and Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran one each as Pakistan closed on 126-5 with only 45.4 overs possible.

Abid Ali was dropped twice on the way to 60, with Pakistan looking well placed on 78-1.

But after a lengthy rain break, the hosts capitalised on humid conditions suited to seam bowling by taking 3-18 during an hour-long session.

Rain forced the players off again at 17:00 BST and bad light prevented them from returning.

More stormy weather is forecast for the remainder of the match but if conditions stay the same both sides will be confident of winning.

Pakistan have a bowling attack that could easily utilise conditions as England have done, while they will look to star batsman Babar Azam to extend their score on day two. He ended unbeaten on 25.

After last week's superb victory at Emirates Old Trafford, victory in Southampton would give England a first series win over Pakistan in 10 years.

[Admin]

Pakistan 223-9 truncated day

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Second Test, Ageas Bowl, Southampton (day four of five)
Pakistan 223-9: Rizwan 72, Abid 60, Broad 4-56, Anderson 3-48
England 7-1: Shaheen 1-5

The second Test between England and Pakistan is set to end in a draw after more rain meant there was only an hour's play on day four at the Ageas Bowl.

Just 96.2 overs have been bowled in the match from a possible 360 because of rain and bad light.

Play resumed at 11:00 BST on Sunday and England finally bowled Pakistan out for 236 when Mohammad Rizwan fell to Stuart Broad for 72.

Rory Burns was dismissed by the fourth ball of England's reply but rain stopped play with the hosts 7-1.

[Admin]

Second Test, Ageas Bowl, Southampton (day five of five)
Pakistan 226: Rizwan 72, Abid 60, Broad 4-56
England 110-4 dec: Crawley 53, Abbas 2-28
Match drawn; England lead 1-0 in series
Scorecard
England and Pakistan played out a draw in the second Test at the Ageas Bowl.

The result was already all but confirmed with bad weather decimating the Test.

More rain prevented play starting until 15:20 BST, after which England reached 110-4 in reply to Pakistan's 236 before the captains agreed to a draw at 18:05.

Zak Crawley made 53 and Dom Sibley 32 before falling in consecutive Mohammad Abbas overs. Ollie Pope was out for nine 15 minutes before the close.

England v Pakistan - clips, radio & text
Only 135.3 overs - a day and a half's play - were possible in the match, the shortest Test in England since 1987.

England will take a 1-0 lead into the third and final Test, which begins on Friday at the same ground.

The low-key final day's play was played in perfect, sunny conditions that were a far cry from the previous four.

Frustrations have been voiced that there has not been more play - the players left the field on the first two days for bad light when it did not feel overly dangerous, and when the entire third day was lost there was a two-hour period when it felt like there could have been action.

The Test ends with a strong feeling that cricket must do more. That said, this was only the third draw in the past 43 Tests in the UK.

[Admin]

Back at Southampton again 3rd Test 21/8/2020 to 25/8/2020

[Admin]

Flexible start times for England's third Test against Pakistan have been agreed after the second Test was ruined by rain and bad light.

If time is lost on a particular day at the Ageas Bowl, officials will have the option of starting play 30 minutes earlier on the following day.

That means action could begin at 10:30 BST, rather than the usual 11:00.

Only a day and a half's play was possible over the five days of the second Test in Southampton.

England lead the series 1-0 and are looking for a first success over Pakistan in 10 years.

Test matches in England usually make up any lost time at the end of a day, meaning play can sometimes go on as late as 19:00 or 19:30.

Earlier start times had previously been avoided partly to allow spectators time to travel to the venue.

With matches being played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic, that is not a consideration for matches this summer.

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board says the earlier starts will also be considered for future series in this country.

England coach Chris Silverwood had previously said he would support earlier starts.

"It makes sense to me," he said. "We have a period at the start of the day we could use, but we try to lump it at the end when light is an issue."

[Admin]

England 332-4

Crawley 171
Buttler 87

200 plus unbroken partnership by the two