My dear old things, it's STW TMS!

It does make me wonder what Bradman would have averaged in this era.

On the negative side would be the general standard of bowling and fielding. But I am pretty sure that would be more than compensated for with balsa railway sleeper bats and covered wickets.

140?
150?

England team were allegedly looking at 1000 score on BBC! All out for 510 then!!

The leggie was getting plenty of turn already – just rarely landed it in decent spots! The bounce was variable too, plus it reversed after 30 overs. I’m

17 years without an England touring test team and barely anyone turns up to watch!

They fill up as the day goes on, after work. Most test grounds are empty around the world.

Leach should be well up for this. 650 odd on the board and an opportunity to work through some 5,6,7 ball set-ups if he’s accurate enough. Drag the line over to off stump ball by ball and loop the last one up a bit etc.

Well this is turning out to be a bit rubbish. Is the wicket ever going to get some life in it?

I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for ‘life’. It might get a bit spicy if it starts to break up, but from the sound of it, the sun isn’t hammering down on it, and it isn’t going to break up any time soon. So you’re relying on footmarks and general wear and tear.

In the bigger picture, I’m not all that bothered – it is great to be listening to England play cricket in Pakistan again. Rawalpindi, Multan – the names are just evocative. Faisalabd – the bowler’s graveyard where something always kicks off, probably because no one can move a ball off of straight. Gadaffi stadium, Yasir Arafat enclosre – a reminder that cricket is not just The Ashes or whatever the BCCI are trying to tell everyone it is.

You forget how long it is since we last played in Pakistan.

Todays innings was James Anderson’s first EVER ball in test cricket in Pakistan.

Just over a session to go and all results are still possible. Fair play to stokes for daring to lose, attempting the win.

warming up nicely, two quick wickets after tea!

This is very tight indeed.

Wow…just wow😁

Sir! Ben! Stokes!

Test Matches are just so boring……

Well thank the **** for that!

Out walking the dog early this morning and Pak were ticking over nicely. Fast forward to Eng taking 2 quick wickets after tea, then Pope’s acrobatics and we end up with the most remarkable finish. Seeing how we didn’t even know if we’d have a team fit enough to play until a couple of hours before the start, and 3 seamers having to toil away on the flattest of tracks… astonishing.

Only Test cricket can do this.

To force a victory in those circumstances is astonishing.

Got to be up there as one of the best test matches ever.

Both sides deserve immense credit, for giving us a match where >1600 runs were scored. 37 wickets were taken and all four results were possible at tea on day five.

Crazy. You have to hand it to Stokes to have the guts for that declaration.

And, what this whole revolution is all about – Full crowds on day 5 of a test, completely enthralled.

It’s almost impossible to criticise England selection after last week, but leaving out Foakes tomorrow feels odd? Pope managed, but Foakes is an outstanding keeper and no slouch with the bat himself.

Glad to see Wood fit and back in, but a shame for Livingstone to get injured.

Pope managed where half the overs were bowled by seamers on an absolute road

Assuming the pitches are a bit more typical, lower, slower, dusty turners on days 4 and 5 he may get found out there, and Foakes would be the better call. Plus as a member of the KU, ALWAYS play the specialist keeper.

Have Pakistan unearthed a mystery spinner from nowhere? I love cricket for this sort of thing.

He could take all ten!

Well, we’re halfway through Day 1 and Eng have been bamboozled by this new kid on the block who could find himself picking up all 10 wickets on debut. Yes, we smashed the ball around at a rate similar to the first session in the first Test, but we’re now down to ‘just’ 5 an over on a wicket that looks to be benefiting the bowlers we’ve opted not to select.

Going to be an interesting challenge this.

I had a sneaky watch of an over from Abrar – he’s a front of the hand leggie, but he’s accurate which makes up for the lack of huge rip. He also seems to get good dip late in the flight which is unusual for this kind of bowler.

He’ll have to set his sights lower now – the best he can do is only an eight-fer on debut!

Wood bowling wheels here.

Needs to get a wicket, though. It is brilliant to have a proper strike bowler, but that confers a requirement to get a result from busting a gut in short spells.

Well, that score was a pleasant one to wake up to 😎

So many memories of waking up to Ashes matches in hope, and being grumpy for the rest of the day!!

This series is turning into a classic!!!

Those 2 quick wickets for Wood look to have turned things Englands way, but is there still a twist???

Jimmy’s just had a look of bemusement on his face, as a #9 on debut charges down the wicket at him…. do you KNOW who I am?

4 boundaries in one Wood over, and out.

Test match cricket is so dull.

We’re quite good at this cricket lark aren’t we? Both men’s and women’s teams.

I feel a bit for Pakistan – losing 2 tight games. All their fast bowlers are unavailable which doesn’t help.

I’m loving the Pakistani crowds though – real cricket fans appreciating great matches, as opposed to the one-eyed support of their neighbours.

That was a great result after looking a bit tenuous yesterday at the close.

some glowing praise from Aggers

very proud Dad on the radio at the moment 🙂

great take!

got a bit lucky with only one bail being dislodged as he went to take the ball, but after that was excellent work.

Always pick your best keeper!

ripper of a googly!

Well played mr brook, quite the start to a test career (averaging 115! at the moment)