creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[BWFC_Insane]

It’s a superb position to be in. On a pitch like this anything around 250 batting last should be a real challenge. Obviously there is loads of time in the game. England need to bat smart like Duckett has been doing so far and see what score they can get. They won’t bat Pakistan out of it I don’t think so it’s another exciting final innings.

[TANGODANCER]

With talk of Joe Root and Captain Fantastic, my silent toast is for the bespectacled quiet chap at the back who seems to figure prominently so often for us. I'm meaning of course, Jack Leach. Here's to you mate..

[Worthy4England]

Didn't see Pope's run out, Crawley's was a shocker on his own call. Only point I'm making is there's probably more runs in the pitch than we've actually scored, trying to bat "intelligently." I'd much rather 300 than 250 lead given there's likely to be 4/5 sessions left...

[BWFC_Insane]

Didn't see Pope's run out, Crawley's was a shocker on his own call. Only point I'm making is there's probably more runs in the pitch than we've actually scored, trying to bat "intelligently." I'd much rather 300 than 250 lead given there's likely to be 4/5 sessions left...

There is 3 days left. We aren’t batting them out of it. Still already batting last whilst they could chase 265 England would be favourites. Can’t really complain with how we are playing. We are batting more cautiously this innings to ensure we get a score. Gone down a few gears. That’s good.

[Worthy4England]

Didn't see Pope's run out, Crawley's was a shocker on his own call. Only point I'm making is there's probably more runs in the pitch than we've actually scored, trying to bat "intelligently." I'd much rather 300 than 250 lead given there's likely to be 4/5 sessions left...

There is 3 days left. We aren’t batting them out of it. Still already batting last whilst they could chase 265 England would be favourites. Can’t really complain with how we are playing. We are batting more cautiously this innings to ensure we get a score. Gone down a few gears. That’s good.

You're generally favourites in the 4th with 250...but pitch looks pretty benign...so I'll have as many as we can get

[BWFC_Insane]

Didn't see Pope's run out, Crawley's was a shocker on his own call. Only point I'm making is there's probably more runs in the pitch than we've actually scored, trying to bat "intelligently." I'd much rather 300 than 250 lead given there's likely to be 4/5 sessions left...

There is 3 days left. We aren’t batting them out of it. Still already batting last whilst they could chase 265 England would be favourites. Can’t really complain with how we are playing. We are batting more cautiously this innings to ensure we get a score. Gone down a few gears. That’s good.

You're generally favourites in the 4th with 250...but pitch looks pretty benign...so I'll have as many as we can get

It’s obviously fairly tricky to bat on. They will need highest score of the match to win. I will take that.

Add some tomorrow. No rush either we can bat at 2 or 3 an over if we choose.

[Worthy4England]

The wickets in our innings (Only saw first 4) were all more "batsman error" than demon bowling...Duckett batted fairly sensibly then hoicked all round one...

[jimbo]

Good finish ahead I expect. We’re strong favourites but a bit of a collpase at the end has left the door slightly open for Pakistan. Well played Harry Brook again. Brilliant start to his test career.

[Worthy4England]

Yeah. Still very few demons in the pitch and not doing much for seam or spin (odd one here n there). I'd have felt short of runs with 250 lead (although we often see 4th innings sides not get 250.) 355 should see us through but still need to bowl tidily on a pitch with nowt in it.

[Worthy4England]

Waste of a review from Rooty. Wouldn't have pitched in line with a second set. Pope should've called it...

[jimbo]

Curious why we didn’t open up with Anderson today and waited so long to bring him on. Anyway, he’s bowled Rizwan straight away.

[BWFC_Insane]

Nothing in the pitch? Doesn’t explain the scores. This isn’t like the last test. There is enough in here for bowlers imo.

[BWFC_Insane]

Curious why we didn’t open up with Anderson today and waited so long to bring him on. Anyway, he’s bowled Rizwan straight away.

Waiting for it to start reversing I think.

[jimbo]

Curious why we didn’t open up with Anderson today and waited so long to bring him on. Anyway, he’s bowled Rizwan straight away.

Waiting for it to start reversing I think.

Yeah I get that. Just expected him to have a couple with the new ball at least just in case there was a touch of movement there early on.

[Worthy4England]

At this point (and we're still favourites), I'm happier with the 350 lead than I would have been with 250.

[Bruce Rioja]

At this point (and we're still favourites), I'm happier with the 350 lead than I would have been with 250.

Are we? How? They've got two days to pick off 157.

[Worthy4England]

At this point (and we're still favourites), I'm happier with the 350 lead than I would have been with 250.

Are we? How? They've got two days to pick off 157.

Well had the lead only been 250, they'd have had two days to pick off a hundred less...

Edit: I see on re-reading the question was likely about the still favourites bit Seems to me like they've got a pretty long tail. Couple of wickets and the complexion changes

[TANGODANCER]

Nothing in the pitch? Doesn’t explain the scores. This isn’t like the last test. There is enough in here for bowlers imo.

A view from far away? A pretty bold statement Insaney; what are you basing that on? Izwan said quote..
" but everyone has hope because the pitch is slow and we have good depth in our batting"

[Worthy4England]

Nothing in the pitch? Doesn’t explain the scores. This isn’t like the last test. There is enough in here for bowlers imo.

A view from far away? A pretty bold statement Insaney; what are you basing that on? Izwan said quote..
" but everyone has hope because the pitch is slow and we have good depth in our batting"

There has been very little in the pitch. At all. That's not to say the odd one doesn't do a bit, but you expect that world class bowlers will occasionally get one to do a bit, even when there's almost zero assistance.

I'm certainly happier we push past a 250 lead...

[BWFC_Insane]

Nothing in the pitch? Doesn’t explain the scores. This isn’t like the last test. There is enough in here for bowlers imo.

A view from far away? A pretty bold statement Insaney; what are you basing that on? Izwan said quote..
" but everyone has hope because the pitch is slow and we have good depth in our batting"

This is Pakistan. You aren’t ever going to see it jagging round corners.

But the last test broke a record for runs scored. This isn’t coming close to that. It’s not a square turning or explosive of course. But look at the scores. It’s not a pitch with nowt in it.

Anderson, Robinson, Wood all showed that. You won’t skittle a side out. But it’s not as benign as the last one.

It’s an absolutely belting test again. Could go either way. England are favourites just but a good first hour from Pakistan tomorrow and that changes.

No complaints at all it’s a great test. If England had a real top line spinner they’d win comfortably but that’s the one thing we just don’t have.