[Cricket] 3rd Investec Test: England v Pakistan at Edgbaston, Aug 3-7, 2016

[Titanic]

Series level 1-1 after England's massive 330 run victory at Old Trafford.

England look certain to replace the injured Ben Stokes with okey-cokey paceman Steven Finn.

Pakistan must have a severe question mark against opener Shan Masood.

 

[Titanic]

Pakistan have won the toss and inserted.

 

[Titanic]

Useless tosser Captain Cook seems happy with batting first, overhead conditions and a little early moisture in the wicket, but he seems to think it will be a decent batting wicket on a bright, blustery day in Birmingham.

 

[Titanic]

Sami Aslam does indeed come in for his third Test appearance, replacing Masood, while Wahab Riaz also misses out for Sohail Khan.

England: 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Alex Hales, 3 Joe Root, 4 James Vince, 5 Gary Ballance, 6 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Steven Finn, 11 James Anderson

Pakistan: 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Sami Aslam, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Yasir Shah, Sohail Khan, 10 Mohammad Amir, 11 Rahat Ali

 

[Franks Wild Years]

I'm going on friday so am constantly doing negative rain dances.

Feel free to join in.

 

[Titanic]

I will not cease from mental fight... in Englands green and pleasant land

*Note to Edgbaston... use the bloke not the waily sporano - much more stirring!

 

[Eeyore]

Pakistan have won the toss and inserted.

Matron...

 

[Titanic]

England 17-0 (5 overs)

No real alarms for Cook and Hales...

perhaps Misbah-ul-Haq should have listened to the old adage... 9-10 time when you win the toss, you bat... the 10th time, you think about it for a minute... and then bat!

 

[Titanic]

Phew... close one for Alastair Cook... inside edge off Rahat Ali, chopped over middle and leg stumps... four down to fine leg.

getting a bit spicy out there...

36-0 (9 overs)

 

[Titanic]

Hales gone... poking outside off... no foot movement... c Safraz b Sohail 17

England 36-1 (9.2 overs)

Sohail's 2nd wicket in Test match cricket

 

[studio150]

Time for another big partnership from Cook and Root

 

[Titanic]

Time for another big partnership from Cook and Root

Not this time

England 48-2 (11.4 overs)

Root gone, back foot fending one to 1st slip

JE Root c Mohammad Hafeez b Sohail Khan 3 (6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

Third Test wicket for Sohail.. average down to 88 now (from 274 at the start of the match). Career best figures of 2-19

Vince in and under pressure.

 

[studio150]

Time for another big partnership from Cook and Root

Whoops that didnt happen Root gone

 

[BensGrandad]

What a surprise Hales gone cheaply again. Root is a turn up but no doubt will do well 2nd innings.

 

[Titanic]

Drinks... England 51-2 (13 overs), Cook 28* Vince 3*

After a steady start, the ball started talking and Hales and Root both perished to edges from right arm over bowler Sohail Khan.

Misbah-ul-Haq will be relieved, and hopeful.

 

[vegster]

Interesting choice of TMS commentator as a replacement for Aggers.... Step up Dan Norcross!

 

[Titanic]

Alastair Cook out. LBW to Rahat Ali 45

being reviewed... but looked good to me

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Oooh, that's out

 

[Titanic]

It is OUT, England 75-3 (18.2 overs)

This is turning into a good session for Pakistan.

Vince and Ballance both under pressure here... nasty 30 mins up to lunch.

 

[Triggaaar]

Time for another big partnership from Cook and Root

Thanks for that.