Close of play: Pakistan trail by 325 with nine wickets remaining
3rd over: Pakistan 3-1 (Azhar 0, Yasir 0) Anderson has four slips, a gully and an absurd mid-on for Azhar Ali, who survives the final over without alarm. That ends a superb day’s play: Pakistan took the first half and England the second, thanks primarily to Moeen Ali’s beautiful 108. Thanks for your company, night!
2nd over: Pakistan 3-1 (Azhar 0, Yasir 0) The nightwatchman Yasir Shah comes out at No3 and survives the last ball of the over. There will be time for one more over from Anderson.
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WICKET! Pakistan 3-1 (Sami Aslam LBW b Broad 3)
It was a good delivery, angling in from around the wicket as Sami pushed around his front pad, but it didn’t quite look right and it was a surprise when the finger went up. Well, that shows what I know because Hawkeye shows it was clearly out – four reds, hitting the top of middle and leg. Sami Aslam has gone for three.
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PAKISTAN REVIEW! Sami LBW b Broad 3
Bruce Oxenford gives Sami Aslam after a long delay, and an affronted Sami reviews it.
1st over: Pakistan 1-0 (Sami 1, Azhar 0) We’ll only have time for three overs tonight. Pakistan have yet another new opening partnership of Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali, who both played superbly at Edgbaston. Jimmy Anderson’s second delivery is a gorgeous seaming lifter that beats Sami’s defensive push, and then Sami gets off the mark with a push to leg.
WICKET! England 328 all out (Moeen c Yasir b Sohail 108)
Moeen takes one for Team England, hooking high to Yasir at deep square leg to give Sohail a second five-for in as many games. A lovely innings from Moeen, who receives a warm standing ovation as he walks off.
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76th over: England 328-9 (Moeen 108, Anderson 6) Anderson works the new bowler Amir to third man for four. We’re into the extra half-hour, with only 15 overs remaining. An Amir bouncer clears everyone and goes for five wides. Pakistan have been really ragged at times today.
Brother Moeen was on 9 at the time... apt that Pk's hopes are killed by their fielding. It was always so.
— Hassan Cheema (@mediagag) August 11, 2016
75th over: England 318-9 (Moeen 108, Anderson 2) No sign of a declaration, and Moeen happily hooks Sohail for a one-bounce four. There were moments of fortune early on – there often are with the way Moeen plays – but it has been a wonderful knock.
Ben Stokes: obviously, you’re not a darts fan
The beard that is feared.....what a knock @MoeenAli 👏
— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) August 11, 2016
A CENTURY FOR MOEEN!
74th over: England 314-9 (Moeen 104, Anderson 2) Misbah decides to tempt Moeen by introducing Yasir into the attack. A long hop is pulled for two – and then he gets to his ton in the grand manner, hoicking Yasir for a huge six over midwicket! That’s an outstanding hundred, his third in Test cricket, and he celebrates with a smile and a modest raise of the bat. He is such a likeable cricketer. Since that awful shot at Lord’s he has quietly, elegantly made 257 runs and been dismissed only once. There is more than one way to show character.
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73rd over: England 305-9 (Moeen 95, Anderson 2) Moeen continues to turn down singles – there are batsmen starving, you know – and then edges Sohail over slip for four. A drive down the ground off the penultimate delivery takes him to 95.
72nd over: England 299-9 (Moeen 90, Anderson 2) Moeen is farming the strike now and turns down singles off the second and fourth deliveries of Wahab’s over. But he is able to pull one off the sixth to keep the strike and move into the 90s.
“Hi Rob, can I suggest ‘Broadesque’ be added to the list of sporting clichés in the proposed glossary,” says Stuart MacKenzie. “As in ‘That was a Broadesque review…’ Does anyone keep stats on who has asked for the most reviews of decisions (whether for batting or bowling)? I’m guessing Broad is top of the tree on both lists.”
It feels like he has improved in recent years and, although today’s review looked silly at first, replays showed the ball was barely shaving leg stump. So I can understand why he did it. He used to be awful with DRS though.
71st over: England 298-9 (Moeen 89, Anderson 2) In other news, these are the highest Test averages at No7, with a qualification of 500 runs to weed out those pesky statistical freaks. Moeen averages 112; the next best is Sir Garry Sobers with 68. His average at No7 will eventually regress towards the Moeen, but it is still very impressive.
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WICKET! England 296-9 (Finn b Sohail 8)
Finn drops his bat in the middle of a run, so Moeen picks it up and takes both bats to his end. What a nice man he is. Finn, who looks like he enjoys his batting, then pulls Sohail meatily for three. He’s not enjoying it anymore - Sohail has cleaned him up with an inducker through the gate. England are nine down and Moeen is 11 short of his century.
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70th over: England 291-8 (Moeen 87, Finn 5) Moeen is content to take the singles on over, even early in the over, and is making no attempt to farm the strike. Wahab thinks he has Finn got down the leg side; Marais Erasmus and Misbah disagree. There did seem to be a spike on Snicko, and his best was away from his body, but nobody in the middle or the commentary box seems unduly fussed.
69th over: England 284-8 (Moeen 86, Finn 1) England might as well get a move on here. Pakistan would not want to bat for half an hour tonight. Sohail has an LBW appeal against Finn turned down; it was too high.
“You’re wrong Rob, and twice as ugly,” says Felix Wood. “I think Woakes’ improvement can only be put down to taking note of the criticism and responding to it by trying to prove every one wrong. I myself have written some extremely abusive and hurtful things about him, and despite his improvement he’s yet to bother to thank me, which I think just goes to show the character of the man. They were anonymous, natch, so a personalised gift may have been a stretch, but he could have at least given me a shout out in interviews.”
It can’t be long before an Oscar-winner dedicates the award to his haters.
68th over: England 282-8 (Moeen 85, Finn 1) “Following earlier discussion of sporting cliches,” begins Jim Hinks, “can I suggest an amendment to the cricket pundit’s glossary? ‘Gower-esque’ > ‘Moeen-esque’. Just like long-standing statistical records, aesthetic standards are eventually surpassed.” Really? Even Moeen is an ersatz Gower. But if you going to do ersatz in the aesthetic world, it’s better to pick Gower than, say, Chanderpaul.
67th over: England 282-8 (Moeen 84, Finn 0) “Considering how badly they fade in the evenings, maybe Pakistan should have concentrated on burpees rather than press-ups,” wrote Brian Jacks Andy Bradshaw, before those wickets
WICKET! England 282-8 (Broad LBW b Sohail 0)
Stuart Broad, who once scored 169 in a Test against Pakistan, goes second ball for 0. He was trapped in front by a very full inswinger and, though he reviewed it for larks, it was just clipping the outside of leg stump so the original decision was upheld. England have lost two wickets and two reviews in three balls.
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WICKET! England 282-7 (Woakes c Sarfraz b Sohail 45)
Woakes has gone, caught behind off a beauty from Sohail. It was the thinnest of edges – so thin that Woakes reviewed it after discussions with Moeen. Nothing came up on Hotspot but there was a spike on Real Time Snicko and that was enough to support the on-field decision. Sohail gave him a bit of a send-off, which didn’t seem to impress Woakes too much, and would have been quite amusing had the decision been overturned. It wasn’t. An excellent innings from Woakes, who raced to 45 from 57 balls with some belting drives.
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66th over: England 277-6 (Ali 83, Woakes 45) In his short Test career, Chris Woakes averages 37 with the bat and 26 with the ball. That’s not Bothamesque – it’s even better. He’s a great advert for not listening to a single thing anyone ever says on social media.
“Even though I was a sports journalist for a national paper for three years, mainly covering cricket and rugby, I will admit that I was also wholly incorrect about Woakes’s Test potential (and Bairstow’s batting nous, and Cook’s ability for self-criticism (2014-2015)),” says James Debens. “I was never really an expert, however much cricket I watched, but Selvey remains one - I hope he has a hale and hearty future after this last Test for the Guardian.”
Amen to that. With more time I could go on and on about Selve’s greatness, and if you ply me with booze that’s exactly what I’ll do, but in the meantime just read these profiles of Sir Vivian Richards and Malcolm Marshall. It’s awesome sports writing.
65th over: England 277-6 (Ali 83, Woakes 45) Sohail Khan returns to the attack. Moeen leans into a lazy drive and inside edge is it for four. Even his Chinese cuts are elegant. It’s fascinating how quickly things turn round, and also how the injuries to Stokes have inadvertently helped both Woakes and Moeen this summer.
“Can I ask,” asks Nick Brookes, “if Ballance and Vince are dropped in favour of Stokes and Rashid - who the hell bats at 4? Would it really be Bairstow and Ali at 4 and 5, then Stokes and Woakes at 6 and 7? That’s a lot of attacking, lower-middle order type batsmen.” I doubt they’ll do that – they’ll have a No4, probably Ballance, then I’d imagine Bairstow at No5, Stokes, Moeen, Woakes, Rashid, Broad and Anderson.
64th over: England 269-6 (Ali 78, Woakes 42) Pakistan are haemorrhaging runs. Moeen helps Yasir round the corner for the fifth boundary in seven deliveries.
“Moeen and Woakes,” is the subject of Gary Naylor’s email. “The volume and frequency of the sighing in the Oval crowd is reminiscent of, well, anyone who has lived in student accommodation with thin walls will know what I mean.” They’re grunting live cavemen and thumping the walls?
63rd over: England 264-6 (Ali 73, Woakes 42) Moeen drives Wahab deliciously through mid-on for four. He is so beautiful to watch and looks so much better at No7. Woakes then plays another storming square-drive for four to bring up the fifty partnership in just 62 balls, and follows that with another terrific drive to the fence. A terrible over for Pakistan - 17 from it - ends with a deliberate steer for another boundary. This has been a glorious cameo from Woakes, who has 42 from 44 balls, and these are dangerous times for Pakistan. They are losing control of the game in the evening session again.
62nd over: England 247-6 (Ali 68, Woakes 30) Woakes leans into a full delivery from Yasir and drives it sweetly for four. He is playing extremely well here. Let’s be honest, he’s made a few of us look like idiots this summer, with bat and ball.
“Do you get fined for not commenting on an over?” says Ian Copestake. “The 58th over wasn’t the same without you.” Are you telling me the haiku didn’t appear on your webpage?
61st over: England 240-6 (Ali 66, Woakes 24) Wahab Riaz is back on for Amir. He tends to make things happen, and Misbah knows that one wicket will blow the bloody doors off. After the obligatory no-ball, he sends down a poor delivery that it smashed through point for four by Woakes. That was a helluva stroke.
“So Ballance and Vince should be dropped - one to make way for Stokes - so can I again make a case for Ian Bell to be reinstated at 5?” says Alex McGillivray. “Please? Too late? Give him the two Tests against Bangladesh and see how he goes.” He’s only scored one century all summer hasn’t he? He deserved far better than such a muted farewell, but it’s almost certainly over.
60th over: England 232-6 (Ali 65, Woakes 19) Pakistan are in danger of suffering from the last-session blues again here. “I’m having a little bet with myself for how many Woakes can score before anyone notices,” says John Starbuck. “Thirty at least, I reckon, but fifty is possible.” That’s a bit premature John, he’s not even at the crease yet.
59th over: England 229-6 (Ali 63, Woakes 18) Woakes wants to bat No6 in Tests, and these are the kind of innings that give him the chance to state his case - there’s no hurry at all, at least not while Moeen is there, and he can build an innings as he pleases. When Amir overpitches, Woakes times a lovely extra-cover drive for four.
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58th over: England 223-6 (Ali 62, Woakes 13)
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57th over: England 219-6 (Ali 61, Woakes 10) The Sky wagon wheel shows that 35 per cent of England’s runs today have come to third man. That’s a ridiculous amount, and Misbah has finally put somebody there. Amir, meanwhile, beats Woakes with a good delivery angled across from over the wicket. He has bowled beautifully today.
56th over: England 218-6 (Ali 61, Woakes 10) Moeen will be very important in India, such is his ability against spin. He looks in total control against Yasir now, and clips a lazy drive to long on for a single. He is batting better than at any stage in his Test career.
55th over: England 217-6 (Ali 60, Woakes 9) Woakes gets two boundaries to third man off Amir, the first off the edge and the second played deliberately.
“Do captains not get fined for slow over rates any more?” asks Richard Bates. “If not, why not? This is pathetic. I don’t see why the fielding side couldn’t be fined 5 runs for each lost over (with some allowances for if there are lots of holdups out of their control, or if lots of wickets fall quickly).”
Over rates are just one of those things society has quietly stopped bothering with, like replying to emails and modesty.
54th over: England 203-6 (Ali 60, Woakes 1) A few weeks ago, Moeen was batted awfully. Now he is batting quite beautifully, as he demonstrates again with an emphatic sweep for four off Yasir.
53rd over: England 203-6 (Ali 55, Woakes 0) “Much has been made of England’s ability to fight back from early losses,” says Nabeel Younas. “But it would be key to mention that Pakistan struggle to go for the killer blow and finish teams off (dropped catches notwithstanding). I think its a mental difference. That England are able to dig deep and keep pushing, whereas when Pakistan feel some pressure (like a counter attack) they struggle to keep their own pressure on (cue defensive field changes). I know Pakistan MAY get to become world number 1 after this game, but they don’t really feel like a ruthless all-conquering side...”
They don’t. Mind you, nor do the other contenders. I think that given how little they have played outside Asia, Pakistan have done really well in this series. Misbah, though not perfect, is generally is an excellent cloth-cutter.
WICKET! England 203-6 (Bairstow c Sarfraz b Amir 55)
Amir gets some just deserts. Bairstow launched into a big drive and got an inside edge that was smartly taken by the keeper Sarfraz, moving back to his left. After all the near misses in the series and especially the afternoon session, Amir roared with relief at that wicket.
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52nd over: England 203-5 (Bairstow 55, Ali 55) A maiden from Yasir. The balance of England’s team is no problem in Asia this winter: Vince drops out and everyone moves up so that they can play Adil Rashid. But what do you do in England and Australia, when you only need one spinner? It makes sense to bat as deep as possible if the lower order are in the team as bowlers – Moeen 8, Woakes 9 – but it’s not quite as simple as that, especially when you have a player like Moeen who appears to be so much better at No7. Given how demanding Australia can be, and how ineffective off-spin tends to be over there, maybe it’s worth giving some thought to playing five seamers - provided two of them are Stokes and Woakes.
51st over: England 203-5 (Bairstow 55, Ali 55) Let us play. Mohammad Amir begins the evening session to Moeen, who tries to leave and unwittingly deflects the ball on the bounce to third slip. A quiet over to start; three from it.
It is happening again. Five days after Edgbaston, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali are again threatening to take the game away from Pakistan with a counter-attacking sixth-wicket partnership. The days of England being five out, all out are long gone. The sixth-wicket partnership is arguably the most dangerous in the modern game, and England’s average of 44 for that wicket since the start of the decade is second only to New Zealand.
They had moments of luck - Moeen was dropped, Bairstow caught off a no-ball - but they have played some cracking strokes in a partnership of 90 in 22.4 overs. Moeen looks so much more comfortable at No7, a position where he averages a mighty 105 as compared to 24 when he bats anywhere else. (It’s a small statistical sample, but when the discrepancy is that great it is clearly telling.) That’s something for England to think about when Ben Stokes is fit again. For now this extended session, with up to 40 overs remaining, is of some importance.
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So after losing Gary Ballance early and finding themselves in the mire, England are indebted to this unbeaten 90-run partnership from Bairstow and Moeen that has set them up with a chance of a good score here. They’re not entirely safe yet by a long old way, but this pair are looking good.
Rob Smyth is yer OBOer until the close. Apologies for all the emails I couldn’t use. Bye!
Tea
50th over: England 200-5 (Bairstow 55, Moeen 52) Wahab it is to bowl, with Moeen on strike a single away from 50 of his own. Wahab bangs it in, Moeen gives it the short-arm jab into a flock of grazing pigeons and through they go for two to bring up a 77-ball half-century. That’s three on the spin for Mo after a dodgy start to the series. A push out to the point boundary makes it 200 for England – if they could play out a couple of dots now it would mean we go into the break with a lovely, well-rounded little score on the board. And that they do.
@DanLucas86 I can't argue with Moeen's numbers nor his sigh-inducing grace, but if the slip cordon could catch...
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) August 11, 2016
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49th over: England 197-5 (Bairstow 55, Moeen 49) It looks like Misbah has decided that Iftikhar isn’t deserving of a short-leg as he’s taken the man out of that position. Probably not a bad assessment, actually, as Moeen takes a step and lifts a full one high over midwicket for the first six of the innings. Bugger playing for tea. A single takes them to seven from the over and nudges the run rate back above four. One more over before tea.
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48th over: England 190-5 (Bairstow 55, Moeen 42) Wahab gets a thick outside edge when Mo goes for a drive but it stays low and goes through the vacant third slip position for four more. Thanks to that, allied to an earlier single from Bairstow, the partnership is up to 75.
47th over: England 184-5 (Bairstow 54, Moeen 37) On for a debut bowl is the offie Iftikhar. According to Sky, any wicket from him would probably be seen as a bonus for Pakistan although his First Class bowling average of 26.37 is hardly an embarrassment. Moeen likes the look of him though and lifts him aerially over square-leg for four.
46th over: England 179-5 (Bairstow 53, Moeen 33) I was about to write that this was a maiden, but it appears Bairstow got a run that I missed. Sorry.
“Moeen’s now averaging 65 across seven Tests this summer,” notes Tom Bowtell. “Judging from our shaky middle order, is he close to keeping his place on merit as a batsman, off-spin success notwithstanding?”
Yes I’d say so, although it does feel ridiculous that he should need to prove himself with a series of good scores after making a Test-winning 155 in May.
45th over: England 178-5 (Bairstow 52, Moeen 33) For the first time today it feels like we’re at a bit of a stalemate, which will make England happier than Pakistan you’d imagine. Ah and as if he’s reading this before I’ve published it, Moeen comes down the track and thumps one back past the bowler for four.
44th over: England 172-5 (Bairstow 51, Moeen 29) Wahab looks to be blowing a bit now. Just two singles from the first two balls of the over though.
While we’re on a day of shameless plugs, if you fancy reading me being sweary about Oasis then you can do so right here.
43rd over: England 170-5 (Bairstow 50, Moeen 28) It’s just a change of ends for Yasir, who comes back for Sohail. Bairstow gets four of his less convincing runs today, slashing outside off and sending it skimming behind point and zipping off to the rope. That takes him to 49 and he moves to another half-century, the ninth of his career and this one from 73 balls with seven fours, with a push to cover.
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42nd over: England 165-5 (Bairstow 45, Moeen 28) Wahab replaces Yasir and gets knocked out to point for a single first up, before the umpires miss another big overstep from the paceman. After that he sends down another, smaller this time and missed once again, which Bairstow works out to deep square-leg. Two from the over but it should have been four.
“Since the rugby 7s, with its fast pace and quick match times, have been so exciting at the Olympics, what are the chances of the cricketing Hong Kong 6’s making it to the future games?” asks Tom vd Gucht. I’d say slimmer than T20 making it in, although it’s not the worst idea.
41st over: England 163-5 (Bairstow 44, Moeen 27) Moeen looks in lovely touch out there: he times one perfectly back past Sohail for a plum-straight three. That takes the partnership, the biggest of the innings now, to 46. And it moves to 50 when Sohail wangs down a wild bouncer that flies over Bairstow, over Sarfraz and down to fine-leg for four byes. That could easily have been wides, but it is what it is.
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40th over: England 156-5 (Bairstow 44, Moeen 24) After some interminable field shuffling, Yasir finally deigns to bowl his over and Moeen drills him beautifully through mid-on for four. When the next ball is played back to the bowler, an apparently riled Yasir hurls it back down the wicket at the stumps.
@DanLucas86 re: Sri Lanka, John might be best off asking his driver/a local to get the tickets... They definitely charge visitors more...
— Ian Truman (@IanTruman22) August 11, 2016
@DanLucas86 our driver got our tickets for the Kandy test (keeping us out of sight) and we paid £1.20 each!
— Ian Truman (@IanTruman22) August 11, 2016
39th over: England 151-5 (Bairstow 44, Moeen 19) Mo clips to mid-on and sets haring off for a single. He makes it comfortably. Ooh and then Bairstow is beaten outside off by one that doesn’t get up at all. It was a slight variation in bounce that did for Cook earlier so, while still a decent pitch, this isn’t quite the batting paradise Alec Stewart was suggesting before play. If England get bowled out cheaply then questions will be asked of Cook’s decisions to bat first. Bairstow cuts and runs well for two.
38th over: England 148-5 (Bairstow 42, Moeen 18) Three to Bairstow with a very nice cushioned shot through midwicket, where it’s reeled in from the boundary. That takes him into the 40s. He’s only the second batsman to get a real start since Cook – Root looked pretty scratchy after all – so it’s important for England that he gets a score.
Sam Martensz writes: “Re: The question about tickets in Sri Lanka, a lot of matches aren’t that well attended so you could well be lucky. Note the ticket office is by the SSC ground but 30 min tuk tuk from the Premadasa Stadium. Colombo is a nice place to spend a day anyway!”
37th over: England 144-5 (Bairstow 39, Moeen 17) Cheers Rob. This is all a bit good, isn’t it? England have lost half their wickets but Bairstow looks solid and these two are keeping them ticking along at four an over. With so many overs left they could yet get to 280+ by the end of the day or they could be bowled out for 200. It’s Sohail after the drinks break and he’s still finding swing away from the right-handed Bairstow, who clips the second ball away for a single to fine leg then Moeen gets away with a play and miss. By Botham’s reckoning, we would theoretically get through 90 overs by about 7.40pm tonight.
After rattling through 36 overs in three hours, the players get a well-deserved drinks break...
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) August 11, 2016
Hey Pakistan, in light of Hales' mea culpa, you going to give me 25% of my ticket price back today?
— Carrie Dunn (@carriesparkle) August 11, 2016
36th over: England 143-5 (Bairstow 38, Ali 17) Moeen flicks Yasir straight into the arm of the man at short leg, Azhar Ali I think.Technically that’s another dropped catch, but it doesn’t really register on Ramiz Raja’s patheticometer. It’s time for drinks; Dan Lucas will see you through to tea.
35th over: England 141-5 (Bairstow 38, Ali 15) Sohail Khan replaces the luckless Amir. Six balls, three runs, nothing for the grandchildren.
“Hoping for some advice from readers,” says John Davis. “What are the chances of rocking up to an international match in Sri Lanka (one day international in Colombo between Sri Lanka and Australia) and being able to buy tickets on the gate? It’s on my penultimate day here and I can change my train up from Galle if we are likely to get tickets. If not, Galle sounds a great place to spend more time. I’ve asked around but official websites don’t seem too clear. Hoping some of your readers have been in a similar situation.” You’ll be fine to buy on the day won’t you? (Disclaimer: Guardian.com is not legally responsible for completely ruining your holiday with erroneous absent-minded advice.)
Actually, although this is an old page, it might be worth reading.
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34th over: England 140-5 (Bairstow 36, Ali 14) Bairstow tries to cut Yasir, the danger shot that got him out at Lord’s, and is beaten outside off stump. He’s had a really solid series, Bairstow: 29, 48, 58, 12, 83 and 36 not out, and is on course to smash Andy Flower’s record for the most Test runs in a calendar yet by a wicketkeeper.
33rd over: England 136-5 (Bairstow 35, Ali 13) Amir continues his quest for just deserts. Moeen drives him sweetly through point for four. It’s quite rare to see a period of Test cricket like this in which both sides are so committed to attack, and it’s making for great entertainment.
32nd over: England 131-5 (Bairstow 34, Ali 9) Yasir Shah comes into the attack to replace Wahab (10-0-45-3). An exploratory first over – is there any other kind for a spinner – costs just a single.
“A shout for Ed Smith’s brilliant interview with Eddie Jones at lunchtime on TMS,” says Graham O’Reilly. “As a summary of coaching and motivating in any sport, or indeed in any walk of life, it should be inscribed in stone alongside Brearley’s Art of captaincy. An inspiration.” Somebody really needs to invent a mechanism whereby these interviews can be heard by those who miss them the first time round.
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31st over: England 130-5 (Bairstow 33, Ali 9) Bairstow waves a short ball from Amir deliberately wide of the slips for four. Then a defensive shot from Moeen bounces up and just misses the off stump; Moeen was looking around for the ball on the off side, unaware that it was behind him. And now he’s been dropped! Oh my goodness, how unlucky is Mohammad Amir?
It was another beautiful outswinger that lifted sharply and took Moeen’s edge before flying to third slip, where Azhar Ali put down a pretty straightforward chance. “That,” says Ramiz Raja on Sky, “is just pathetic ... I’m lost for words.”
“Pathetic will do,” replies Bumble.
30th over: England 125-5 (Bairstow 28, Ali 9) “OVER THE LINE!” shouts Marais Erasmus, possibly, as Wahab bowls another ball. Moeen then flicks for four with gorgeous timing. These two won’t just try to see off Amir and Wahab; counter-attacking is in their genes.
“In the old days the Oval Test was where players booked their place on the winter tour (unless you were David Gower of course),” says David Horn. “Do we think that Hales & Vince are playing for their places in India / Bangladesh, or is it too much of a squad thing these days - i.e. they’ll go regardless, and we’ll bring Roy and Bell-Drummond along for the craic.” Vince won’t go if he fails in the second innings. Hales might; that’s a tough call, and might also depend on whether the Bangladesh tour goes ahead. If it does they have two Tests to potentially blood a new opener. I think they will stick with Hales.
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29th over: England 118-5 (Bairstow 27, Ali 4) Bairstow offers no stroke to a huge inswinger from Amir that hits him flush in front of off stump! The LBW appeal is turned down, presumably because of height, but Misbah decides to review it. Actually, it wasn’t as close as we height - it was going over the top of the stums so he survives. The next ball is another big inswinger that takes the inside edge and slips away for two. This is terrific bowling from Amir and Wahab. If they get one more in this spell, it might ultimately win the match.
“Who are the only team to win the Ashes 5-0?” says Leon Wylie. “I reckon you should ask Ian Copestake?
28th over: England 114-5 (Bairstow 23, Ali 4) Wahab’s first ball to bouncer is a vicious bouncer that clatters off the helmet as Moeen tries and fails to get out of the way. Wahab took a first-day five-for on this ground in 2010, on his Test debut, and he’s two away from another. Moeen then gets off the mark with a pleasant flick through square leg for four.
“It wasn’t, you will be surprised to hear, in a Test, but I once put my side into bat first, and we were bowled out for 17,” says Mac Millings. “The important things to remember here are that my nine-ball duck was the second longest knock of the innings, and the joint-fourth top score.”
WICKET! England 110-5 (Ballance c Azhar Ali c Wahab Riaz 8)
If it’s the hope that kills you, then Ballance is the deadliest batsman in the world. His awkward technique must make bowlers feel they are going to get him at any point. But this time they have got him! Ballance felt for a fullish delivery with no foot movement and edged it low to second slip, where Azhar took the catch at the second attempt as he rolled over.
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27th over: England 110-4 (Ballance 8, Bairstow 23) Amir swerves a ripper past Ballance, who is squared up and stuck on the crease. The next ball takes a very thick edge, all along the ground for four, and then he gets a leading edge into the off side for a single. He’s in trouble against Amir, though looking in all sorts of bother has rarely been a barrier to making Test runs. Bairstow makes it an expensive over by deflecting another boundary to third man.
“Can we make it a rule that any quiz questions suggesting ignominy have Australia as the answer, says Ian Copestake. “Sri Lanka presented us with a gift and it should be built on.”
Bairstow caught off a Wahab no-ball!
26th over: England 101-4 (Ballance 3, Bairstow 19) Oh madon. Bairstow sliced a drive straight to cover point, and Pakistan were off in celebration before it become apparent the umpire had called no-ball. It was a clear no-ball. “That’s not very bright,” says Nasser Hussain, and it really isn’t: he had been pushing the front line and had multiple warnings from the umpire. Indeed the previous delivery was a no-ball Bairstow bleaches the wound by slamming the next ball through extra cover for four.
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Rest In Peace Little Master. The Legendary batsmen Hanif Mohammad will be missed but never forgotten.My Love to Shoaib & family at this time
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) August 11, 2016
25th over: England 93-4 (Ballance 3, Bairstow 13) Mohammad Amir starts after lunch, and bowls his first no-ball of the series. I don’t think it registered with the crowd; certainly there were no cheers. The swing will encourage Amir, and Pakistan will really fancy their chances of dismissing England before the close.
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It’s been confirmed that the great Hanif Mohammad has died at the age of 81. That’s such sad news. Between Bradman and Lara, he was your man if you wanted monumental hundreds: 499 in first-class cricket, the highest before Lara’s 501, and a match-saving 337 not out in Tests, an innings that lasted 970 minutes. Nine hundred and seventy minutes. He was the original Little Master and unquestionably Pakistan’s first great batsman.
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Afternoon folks. Let’s play a lunchtime game. No, not the JD Wetherspoon Challenge; we’ll do that at tea. This is the patented Guardian Cricket Nerd Challenge. Your first task is to name three captains who infamously chose to field first in a Test match. Easy: Nasser Hussain (Brisbane 2002), Ricky Ponting (Edgbaston 2005), Mohammad Azharuddin (Lord’s 1990) and tens of others.
Your second task is name three captains who infamously chose to bat first n a Test. Not such a smart guy now, are ya? Batting first was normative behaviour for so long that, short of choosing to bat in Johannesburg ’99 conditions, a captain is never really criticised for having first dig. Michael Clarke’s series-turning decision to bat at Edgbaston last summer is nowhere near as notorious as Ponting’s on the same ground in 2005.
It is what it is what it is, but it is changing ever so slowly and there has been a relative outcry about Alastair Cook’s decision to bat first on an Oval greentop. It was a conservative if understandable decision, the kind you make when you a 2-1 up with one to play. England went to lunch on 92 for four, a consequence of some sloppy strokes as much as the pitch, and have plenty of work to do. Early impression are that this fine series, probably the best we’ve seen in this country since 2005, is going to end with a cracker.
Well that was fun, wasn’t it? England made all the early running, going at over four an over despite the slightly unfortunate loss of Hales, before Wahab Riaz came on and forced them on to the back foot with a ferocious spell of fast, wicket-taking bowling. Despite the run-rate that’s Pakistan’s session.
Rob Smyth is your man up until the afternoon drinks break. **** Salad here is off to think of an anagram of his name.
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Lunch
24th over: England 92-4 (Bairstow 13, Ballance 3) Wahab will have one final over before lunch then and he looks to force it a bit too much once again, bowling his third no-ball of the spell. Oddly, Misbah has taken a slip out, which seems a bit of an overreaction to Bairstow’s pair of boundaries in the last over given the venom with which Wahab has been bowling. Of course no sooner have I written all that than Wahab gets a slower ball wrong and gives Bairstow a full-toss outside off, which the batsman crashes through the covers for the session’s final four runs.
23rd over: England 86-4 (Bairstow 9, Ballance 2) There will probably be one more over after this one before lunch – the over rate has been poor although Pakistan can claim the length of the review for the Hales wicket as partial mitigation, not to mention that they’ve knocked over four batsmen in the session. Sohail overpitches and Bairstow times him nicely through mid-off for a lovely four. Shot of the morning, that. In fact it’s back-to-back boundaries for the right-hander, as Sohail goes too straight and Bairstow times him through midwicket.
Readers who also watch this on the telly will no doubt know what I mean when I say my biggest hope for this match is that Easton finally gets his century.
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22nd over: England 78-4 (Bairstow 1, Ballance 2) Ooh close for Ballance: Bairstow drops and runs to get off the mark as Yasir Shah swoops in and throws from short cover. The ball is wide of the stumps but Ballance was struggling if it hit. Wahab gets up to 92.2mph for the fastest ball of the series, beating the record he set a couple of overs ago.
21st over: England 77-4 (Bairstow 0, Ballance 2) Without wanting to state the obvious, England need to be careful here as that clutter of wickets has rendered them strokeless. Ballance is beaten by a full one that passes the outside edge by little and off-stump by little more. The pitch is getting quicker with the sun on it, I reckon. Ballance is off a blob with a push to square-leg for two.
Good cause dept.
Harry Lang writes: “Hi Dan, thanks for the commentary and distracting stories as ever. Hugely frustrating that I can see the Oval from my office but am strapped to a laptop. Anyway, I’d like to get a shout out for this chap – Will Hodson AKA Super Cycling Man @SuperCyclingMan
“Will is currently cycling 100,000km around the world in a superhero costume over 5 years and hopes to raise £100,000+ for charity while inspiring 100,000 children with school visits. You and your generous readers can track his progress and support him here.”
20th over: England 75-4 (Bairstow 0, Ballance 0) England are back in that ignominious situation I mentioned before and all of a sudden they’re in a bit of a tight spot. Wahab is called for a no-ball and, in signalling, Marais Erasmus very nearly slaps Mohammad Amir in the face. Wahab is up above 90mph pretty regularly now – if we’re being impartial, it’s great to watch.
Wicket! Vince c Sarfraz b Wahab
What a ball this is: no blame attached to Vince here. It’s quick at 88mph, pitched on middle on a good length, getting big on the batsman and swinging away, just taking the outside edge of Vince’s back-foot defence. That’s a beauty.
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19th over: England 74-3 (Vince 1, Ballance 0) Vince takes a single to get England out of the ignominious situation of having two batsman on nought at the crease. There’s a final-ball appeal against Ballance as he’s beaten on the outside edge – there’s a noise but that’s bat on pad and Misbah wisely declines to review.
No comment needed when it comes to Ravi’s tweet below.
@DanLucas86 Don't you just get that warm, secure feeling with Vince and Ballance at the crease?
— (((Ravi Nair))) (@palfreyman1414) August 11, 2016
Maybe not?
Meanwhile Dave Rush sends over highlights of Phil Tuffnell’s efforts agains the West Indies 25 years ago.
18th over: England 73-3 (Vince 0, Ballance 0) Root keeps things ticking over with another boundary, this one guided down to backward point, but he goes next ball when Wahab just pulls his length back a bit. The shot was on for Root but he didn’t pull it off and suddenly, after a rubbish start to the day and with the run-rate still above four, this is Pakistan’s session after they were asked to field.
Wicket! Root c Sarfraz b Wahab 26
Root tries a punch through cover off the back foot – a shot that has worked so well for him in this series – but this time can only feather it through to the keeper.
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Why the heck not: another shameless reader plug
Ben Dunn this time: “I liked Richard Smyth’s shameless plug. I also have a new novel out. Crowdfunded by the money I saved when giving up the booze two years ago, and written on the weekend nights that had suddenly and inexplicably become utterly dull. It is free to download on thislink at amazon kindle all day today. I feel more scared of the ridicule than when I was best man in a marquee half-full of drunk rugby twots.”
17th over: England 69-2 (Vince 0, Root 22) Considering their profligacy with the ball and the fact that’s the only thing close to a chance Cook has offered up so far, you fear that could be a hugely damaging drop in the last over for Pakistan.
Oh.
Wicket! Cook b Sohail 35
Short and slow from Sohail, who looks to have fed Cook’s pull shot again. It doesn’t get up quite as much as the England captain expected though and a thick bottom edge sends the ball crashing into the stumps.
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Reader request No2
From Sam Smith: “So it’s 25 years since Phil Tufnell took 6/25 v the West Indies at this ground, I’ve been trying to find some video highlights of this remarkable performance but unfortunately the only clips of Tufnell on the internet are prefaced by the words ‘Hilarious’ and ‘Ridiculous’. I wondered if any OBOers could provide a link for highlights of the match which I can’t believe could actually have happened.”
16th over: England 69-1 (Cook 35, Root 22) Shot(!) from Root, who stands tall to a straight, back-of-a-length delivery and punches it off the back-foot to the point boundary. That induces a fielding change from Misbah, who puts a man back on the fence and he keeps Root’s next shot, a mistimed cut, to one. Then Cook is dropped by the debutant Iftikhar at first slip! It’s a thick edge that drops down towards the fielder’s ankles and he can’t crouch in time to hold on – not the easiest one but you expect a Test match slip to take that.
@DanLucas86 I'm meeting Ian Copestake for a drink tonight in lovely Cleaver Square where we will discuss the Collected Works of Mac Millings
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) August 11, 2016
And you guys didn’t invite me?
15th over: England 63-1 (Cook 34, Root 17) Back into the attack comes Sohail for Amir, Misbah clearly not ready to trust spin this early on a good batting deck. Incidentally if you’re close to a radio, TMS will be interviewing the England rugby coach Eddie Jones during the lunch break, which should be well worth a listen. Just a single from Sohail’s second coming.
“Drop the hapless Vince and move everyone up a slot to get Rashid in,” reckons Neil Harris. I’d consider that if England needed to win, but given a draw would be enough I can understand them sticking with the specialist batsman.
14th over: England 62-1 (Cook 34, Root 16) Speaking of feeding Cook’s strengths, Wahab begins with a short, wide bit of dross that the captain thumps to the cover point fence for his fourth boundary. To be honest with you I’m surprised to discover it’s only his fourth. A couple of singles and it’s another easy six runs from the over.
“Would English commentators have been so critical of the catch by Yasir, if it had been a Pakistan batsman caught by an England player in a similar situation?” asks Charles Hart. “I think not. I cannot stand such a jingoist approach. The umpire’s decision is final.”
I think you’re creating a straw man argument there, to be honest. At least on the TV and on here not one person has criticised Yasir, only noted that the speed at which the ball was travelling meant the TV replays proved to be blurry uselessness.
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13th over: England 56-1 (Cook 29, Root 15) Yet again Pakistan feed Alastair Cook a delicious leg-stump half-volley and the England captain clips to deep square-leg for two before hooking the inevitable short follow-up for a single.
If you fancy a longer read at some point, this comes highly recommended from the aforementioned Nightwatchman.
12th over: England 53-1 (Cook 26, Root 15) Wahab Riaz replaces the disappointing Sohail Khan. Wahab is in for Rahat Ali who, incidentally, has a bit of a knee-ouch. He’s up at a good pace from the off – his first ball is around 85mph – but then he’s incorrectly called for a front-foot no-ball. Ian Botham is unimpressed with the bowler despite the fact it was a perfectly legal delivery. That’s drinks.
“I can’t believe you’ve allowed Mac Millings to make the same joke at your expense twice,” writes Stephen Brown’s impressive memory. He made it in an OBO three years ago. And thus learnt your middle initial. Incidentally, I thought the anagram was going to be the marginally less offensive Anal Ducts.
“On a more cricket related note; why haven’t they gone with Rashid? Surely he will have performed better in the winter tests if he got a bit more test match practice in and given both captains wanted to bowl 4th it implies there will be something there for the spinners.”
There might well be, but it would be pretty harsh on Finn to show an improvement twice in the series and get dropped on both occasions.
11th over: England 51-1 (Cook 25, Root 15) This is very poor from Pakistan: Amir puts a full one on Cook’s ankles and Sohail tumbles inelegantly over it at long-leg, allowing the ball through for four. Amir then overcorrects outside off and Cook guides him nicely through extra-cover for three more. Not to take anything away from Yasir’s excellent reaction catch, but a slightly freak wicket aside this is a bit too easy for England and they’ve been vindicated in their decision to bat first, which was (to answer a question from Ian Copestake) perhaps predicated on the fact the sun is likely to make an appearance fairly soon.
10th over: England 44-1 (Cook 18, Root 15) Another edge – this time off the bottom as tries to chop – but another boundary for Root as he sends it past Sarfraz and down to fine leg for four. That and a much more convincing back-foot cut to the fence means that after 10 overs England have pushed their run-rate above four.
Away from rude anagrams, Christopher Dale writes: “Not something I have the time to confirm, but I get the sense, looking at Hales, that he scores a far greater percentage of his runs from boundaries than is typical for an opener, and has a low frequency of singles and twos. Not sure whether this drives his difficulties converting starts, and converting 50s to 100s, or is just a product of being an aggressive opener in an era where first-class batting is influenced by T20 and Hales’ personal style, but the contrast with Root (and even Cook, in a less fluent style) is striking.”
I haven’t checked the others, but Hales has scored 57% of his Test runs in boundaries. I know that in the second Test he attempted to recreate Root’s footwork but didn’t feel comfortable in doing so.
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9th over: England 36-1 (Cook 18, Root 7) Appropriately for the way Pakistan have started this morning, someone has brought free pies into the Guardian office. And I’ve missed out, unlike Root who gets four with a thick edge along the ground and through the slips to third man. I tell you, at moments like this the OBO writes itself. Amir comes back at Root with a short one, that hits the batsman on the arm when he misses out on a pull.
8th over: England 31-1 (Cook 18, Root 2) Ah no, it was me who miscounted that last over. For the record, the ball hit Root’s thigh pad on its way to the keeper from the last ball. Sohail begins the eighth with a wild ball down the leg-side that flies past the outstretched Sarfraz and away for four byes. The bowler is just struggling with his line from round the wicket a touch and Cook tucks him out to square leg for a couple more.
“Don’t get us regulars on the County Cricket Live! Blog started on cricket jargon, Dan,” writes Phil Sawyer. “At times I fear we are impenetrable to newcomers. So, for example, Somerset are known as Stingray, due to the fact the BTL regular SonOfTheDesert’s phone used to autocorrect it as such, Hampshire batter Will Smith is of course the Fresh Prince, and 2.0 is Lancashire bowler Kyle Jarvis, who after an undistinguished first season in the county championship suddenly discovered how to take wickets. I could go on, but I can feel your eyes glazing over.”
You know my friend Marc Burrows, who used to be a community moderator here, once edited a book collating some of the best comments BTL. He couldn’t believe how lovely you lot on the County Cricket Live(!) blog are.
@DanLucas86 At Christmas do you turn into Santa Clud?
— (((Ravi Nair))) (@palfreyman1414) August 11, 2016
7th over: England 25-1 (Cook 16, Root 2) Ooh a bit of luck for Hales, I reckon, as he looked to be trying to leave Amir’s first delivery and the ball deflects off his raised bat to gully. That’s all his luck used up though, as he goes next ball and walks off to absolute silence. In fairness, Oxenford had the best view of the catch and Yasir went up in celebration straight way. Hales looks furious but his replacement, Joe Root, gets away with a stylish flick to deep square for two. Pakistan think they might have Root caught behind from the fifth ball, but Misbah eventually declines the review. Er, and then it looks like Sky have cut away a ball early.
“Mac Millings’ Dan T Lucas anagram could actually have been a bit more agressive, had he started it with Lad’s A,” notes David Hopkins, kindly.
Wicket! Hales c Yasir b Amir 6
It’s not a no-ball. The ball has flown barely six inches off the ground and the stooping Yasir picks it up off his toes, but it’s impossible to tell if the catch is clean because the only camera angle available – for some unknown reason – is, quite frankly, pants. We get another angle, this one showing only a blurry Yasir tumbling to his right after taking it. The soft signal from Bruce Oxenford was out though, so Hales is gone! What a strange wicket that was.
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Wicket?
Hales clips to Yasir at square leg and the fielder goes up. Hales is standing his ground – if he’s caught this it’s a stunning catch given how low and fast the ball was travelling.
6th over: England 23-0 (Cook 16, Hales 6) Hales ruins Sohail’s chance of a needed maiden over with a drop-and-run single to short cover. The bowler responds by thumping a full one into Cook’s pad, but it’s swinging down leg and the bowler quickly realises this.
“Mac Millings’ anagram is not the only amusing one you can get from Dan T. Lucas,” reckons Richard Reed Parry from Arcade Fire . The one I’ve come up with is also two words, second word “ducts”.”
5th over: England 22-0 (Cook 16, Hales 5) “You can see straight through to Paris,” says Bumble as the camera focusses on the radio tower thing at Crystal Palace. He’s nabbed that joke from my girlfriend. Four of the easiest runs going to Cook, who waits on a short, wide-ish slow one and guides it down to a vacant third man.
4th over: England 18-0 (Cook 12, Hales 5) Hales hasn’t quite got his eye in, yet. He has a half-hearted go at cutting/chopping a short, wide one but is beaten past the outside edge. Both Amir and Sohail are getting a decent enough amount of swing with the new ball. Hales gets off strike with a nudge into the leg-side for one then Cook, generous and selfless chap that he is, ensures he’ll retain it for the next over with a tapped single off the last.
I can’t actually publish the answer to Mac Millings’ anagram. But the second of two words is “salad”. He does add: “Don’t be coy, Copestake - do what’s in your heart and ask Naylor for a free ticket and a ride to the Oval on the back of his moped.”
3rd over: England 16-0 (Cook 11, Hales 4) A first boundary for Cook: after pushing to cover for two he clips a stray one round the corner to fine-leg for four. England are rollocking along here.
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Shameless plug request
Rob Richard Smyth writes: “Hi Dan. Full credentials: I have been a keen OBO follower as long as OBO has existed, AND a short story of mine, mostly about cricket, will appear in the next Nightwatchman.
“I therefore feel unimpeachably qualified to seek an OBO plug for my new novel, which is being crowdfunded on Unbound and has LITERALLY NOTHING to do with cricket (despite being set in the year that Jack Hobbs set a new record for first-class centuries). It’s really good, though.
“One of the Rewards on offer for sponsors is a visit from me to talk to a book-group. It doesn’t specify what I’ll talk about, though, so if anyone wants me to visit them and chat about cricket for a bit, I’m there. Looking forward to your OBO over the next few days, anyway.”
2nd over: England 10-0 (Cook 5, Hales 4) Three to Cook from Sohail’s first ball, clipped off the ankles through midwicket but getting held up in what I would think is a wet outfield. Hales, after being struck on the pad by a slower ball, gets off the mark with a nice back-foot punch to the cover boundary. A leg-bye and a single to Cook make it a good over for England.
“Hi Dan, begins Mac Millings. “One of my many limited ambitions has been to write an OBO email amusing enough to make Lord Selve smile. My track record suggests it’s not happening, so I’ll have to settle for reminding myself that ‘Dan T. Lucas’ is one of history’s great anagrams.”
Go on then Mac: I can’t figure this one out. Nor can I figure out how you know my middle initial.
1st over: England 1-0 (Cook 1, Hales 0) The sun has just come out at the start of Mohammad Amir’s first over, although this could still be the proverbial Tricky First Hour (there’s your first entry, Patrick Duce). He gets a wee bit of swing away from the left-hander but Cook follows it nicely to get off the mark with a push to cover. Amir has a shout first ball against Hales, with a lovely inswinger that cuts the batsman in two, but the noise is bat clipping pad. What an absolute beauty that was, barely missing the top of off.
“I was actually at Edgbaston for the Friday of the last Test,” begins Ian Copestake, “but as I am incompetent I could not work out who to pay for wireless coverage and so could not email the OBO to show off that I was in the heart of the heart of the matter. Now I am in London, on the day of a Test I did not realise was on this week in London, and have all the free wireless coverage I need. But I am in a library. Hello Mum!”
We did all wonder where you were.
After a minute’s silence for the victims of the hospital bomb blast in Qetta, the players are out and on the field.
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Patrick Duce writes: “Never one to enjoy bringing in praise of our brothers from across the divide (football), but I did enjoy Guardian’s piece around “How to Speak the Language of Football” by Adam Hurrey. Surely with threat of covers looming over us, we can bring together a pretty good list of the quirkiest cricket-isms from fellow OBOers?”
“Hi Dan.” Hi, Graham O’Reilly. “Hoping for a cracking day here on the OBO. To that end, can I make a request ? That we forget entirely about the Test rankings ? That if x beats y but q draws with k and b beats z then x might creep above q by 0.25 of a ranking whisker .... I DON’T CARE ! There’s a Test on here. Two fine sides going toe to toe. It’s going to be a great contest. Isn’t that enough?”
That’s a fair enough point – all Test series are essentially friendlies so should be enjoyed in isolation. But a lot of people will feel there’s some kudos in being officially and ostensibly better than everyone else. Personally I think holding all the bilateral belts would be a greater achievement.
Apparently there is some other sport happening today. Huh, who knew? The OBO’s own Adam Collins is available to guide you through all the latest from Rio.
Misbah says he would also have batted first, saying the moisture might have helped their spinners later on. Hafeez is replaced by Iftikhar Ahmed, the off-spinning debutant, and Wahab Riaz returns in favour of Rahat Ali. That means Pakistan, needing to win the match, go with five bowlers for the first time. I imagine Azhar Ali will open.
Toss and team news
Alastair Cook wins the toss and England will bat despite the grass and overcast conditions (it looks to me like the covers are off). England are unchanged and Cook says there was no temptation to bring Adil Rashid into the side.
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More sad news to report: Hanif Mohammad, whom I mentioned in the preamble written last night by pure coincidence, is reported to be in ill health with breathing difficulties. Best wishes that he can make it through this.
“Evening Dan,” writes Phil Withall, presumably from another timezone. “It certainly is a sad and strange day. The departure of Lord Selve seems almost unreal. A fine writer, wit and not a bad cricketer too. Whatever his future holds I hope he continues to be haunted by the sound of Adele being played in airports.” Why would you wish Adele on someone?! You’re a harsh man, Phil.
Selve
He’d hate it, I’m sure, if I made this all about him so apologies for the following.
For those of you who don’t know this is, sad to say, Mike Selvey’s final Test match for the Guardian. I think I’m right in saying he has 31 years and 360-odd Tests under his belt here – the kind of longevity a) not really seen in newspapers these days and b) that a Hanif Mohammad-Gary Kirsten-Alastair Cook hybrid would gawp at in amazement.
Here’s to a hell of an innings then from one of the men that made me want to write about cricket (and bowl Roy Fredericks, Viv Richards and Alvin Kallicharran on Test debut, but one out of two ain’t bad). The fondest farewell, then, Lord Selve.
Bah.
Covers on at the Oval. This was not part of the plan.
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) August 11, 2016
There is a bit of rain and cloud around this morning, but it shouldn’t be too disruptive we don’t think.
Preamble
Good morning everyone. The London skies were expected to be bleaker than a Sylvia Plath-loving goth with depression, but for the moment we have sunshine at the Oval. The Met Office doesn’t expect it to last, and nor do the bookies: they have England at 3-1, Pakistan at 6-1, and the draw at 4-6. Incidentally, I interviewed all-round top bloke David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd the other day (click on the link to read the interview). There’s a nice Geoffrey Boycott anecdote along the way, and his thoughts on how England should line up against Australia in the first Ashes Test also make interesting reading.
This is how, 10 years ago next week, an unsuspecting Sean Ingle began the OBO of the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at the Oval (and just look at that old-skool formatting).
Poor Sean. Such bright-eyed optimism, the breeziness that comes with being 10 years younger. How could he have known that England would gloriously overturn a 321-run first-innings deficit for the greatest turnaround victory in history to seal a 3-0 series win the match would turn out to be one of this century’s most ignominious cricketing messes.
This was neither the first nor the last time that relationships between these two sides would descend into acrimony. The second entry in the retro OBO mentions Mohammad Asif as some kind of portent for what would happen in 2010. You can add these to a catalogue that already included Mike Gatting v Shakoor Rana, Pakistan v Roy Palmer and Moin Khan dallying in the dark in Karachi at the turn of the millennium. Why, we could do a whole Joy of Six on this very relationsh- oh what’s that?
So let’s celebrate as we enter the final leg of a cracking Test series. Let’s celebrate that we’ve had four matches between the oft-shafted Pakistan, Test cricket’s most interesting sides, and one of it’s most exciting young teams in England. Let’s celebrate how good Pakistan were in the first Test, how good England were in the second and how the hosts put in a brilliant team performance to come from behind and beat a very very good Test side in the third. Let’s celebrate Joe Root’s 254, Yasir Shah’s 10-fer, Steve Finn’s return to form and the discovery of Sami Aslam as an opener of prodigious promise. And, y’know, let’s celebrate that the teams haven’t started punching each other yet and have largely played this series in cracking spirit.
Pakistan need to win this match to draw the series but you could argue England want to wrap up the win even more. Australia’s hilarious capitulation to Rangana Herath and co in Sri Lanka means victory here would send them top of the Test rankings (as long as India don’t win both of their remaining two Tests in the West Indies). Not only that, but a series win would mean they hold every single bilateral series belt, which is some going.
Play begins at 11am BST, or 3pm in Pakistan, so toss and team news will be in half an hour or so before that. Forget the Olympics, Euro 2016 was crap: this is the sporting event of the summer.
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