[Cricket] England v Pakistan, 1st Investec Test at Lord's, Jul 14-18, 2016

[Titanic]

The first of the four Test Match series, followed by 5 ODIs and one T20.

England Squad: AN Cook*, MM Ali, JM Bairstow, JT Ball, GS Ballance, SCJ Broad, ST Finn, AD Hales, TS Roland-Jones, JE Root, JM Vince, CR Woakes

Pakistan Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq*, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imran Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez,Mohammad Rizwan, Rahat Ali, Sami Aslam, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah,Younis Khan, Zulfiqar Babar

I am really looking forward to what I expect to be a competitive series. The debut of Jake Ball and return of Gary Ballance will give us some pointers to the shape of the England team to come.

 

[Taybha]

Got a feeling we may struggle but really hope the new boys come good Finn's inclusion slightly puzzling as he seems to be low on confidence , we shall see will not be betting on any outcome in this series that's for sure .

 

[pasty]

Think you could be right. Certainly expecting more from Pakistan than Sri Lanka. Be interesting to see how Amir is treated by the crowds. Guess he will probably be ok for this test at stuffy old Lords, but Old Trafford and Edgbaston could get tasty.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Finn on his home ground should be okay. Big toss to win this morning at a batting ground.

 

[spring hall convert]

Really looking forward to this series.

Bat first and bat long at Lords.

 

[pasty]

Pakistan win toss and BAT

 

[Titanic]

Cook is a useless tosser.

 

[pasty]

Always prefer watching England bowl, but think today could be a long day

 

[crodonilson]

Poor tossing from Cook, always a big one to win at Lords on the Pakistanis will be absolutely delighted.

 

[Titanic]

Ball from the Pavilion End... 87.3 mph first up... big shout 2nd ball... exciting prospect!

 

[Titanic]

and they are reviewing it... but it pitched outside leg. Crikey. Review gone.

 

[Machiavelli]

Got a feeling we may struggle but really hope the new boys come good Finn's inclusion slightly puzzling as he seems to be low on confidence , we shall see will not be betting on any outcome in this series that's for sure .

Already mentioned by [MENTION=13]CHAPPERS[/MENTION], but:
-- home ground
-- and, one that suits his bowling style.

 

[pasty]

Nice first over in international cricket for Ball

 

[Titanic]

Disappointing drop. Hafiz driving, Vince low down at 2nd slip drops a one handed chance off Broad

15-0 (7 overs)

 

[pasty]

Yes. Woakes strikes

Masood c Bairstow b Woakes 7

Pak 38/1

 

[Titanic]

Nice bit of pace and bounce from Woakes.

 

[Machiavelli]

When are due to be Anderson and Stokes fit for selection?

 

[pasty]

Anderson for second test. He wanted to play today but selectors said no. Not sure about Stokes.

 

[pasty]

Another for Woakes

Hafeez c Bairstow b Woakes 40

Pak 51/2

That went a long way up and Bairstow did well to get round to it.

 

[jakarta]

Woakes is a revelation this season, remember seeing him at Horsham a few years ago and I thought he was the worst England Bowler I had ever seen - oh all right maybe second worst to Jane Dirtyarms.