England vs. Pakistan: Starts tomorrow

[Rik E Boy]

First test at Lords with England having plenty of players out. It's moments like these I'm glad I've got Fox. Go the Pakis.

regards,

REB

[Maddogmike]

I dont think I could ever support the stinkies!!

[Rik E Boy]

The only time I'd barrack for the Poms would be if they were playing Port.

regards,

REB

[Booney]

The only time I'd barrack for the Poms would be if they were playing Port.

regards,

REB

Now c'mon mate,enough is enough,no need to go that far.

[MightyEagles]

Go Pakistan. I wouldn't go for the Poms if the were playing Port, but I wouldn't go for Port either. I just hope that they hit each other stupid.

[blink]

No Flintoff - No England.

You can pencil in this series to Pakistan now. Apparently if the Paki's win it 3-0, they will only be 2 points behind Australia in the Test rankings!

[Rik E Boy]

Day one to the Poms.

England 3/303 at stumps.

England won the toss and Strauss took a pretty big risk by electing to bat first in overcast conditions. Umar Gull and Mohammed Sami wasted the new ball and England were 0/60 soon after the half hour and on top. Inziman erred by removing the third slip early doors and Struass promptly mistimed a drive just wide of second slip who grassed the catch.

Soon after this though, Pakistan hit back by getting rid of Trescothick, then Struass. The introduction of Abdul Razzaq altered the course of the game. After he had scored 16 runs, Trescothick nicked one from Gul to the keeper. With the score still on 60, Razzaq trapped Strauss lbw for 30, the super slow mo cruelly capturing the faintest of edges but a good decision by Tuefell nethertheless. Pieterson came to the crease and played in his usual aggressive manner before copping a shocker and was lbw to Razzaq for 21.

The clanger of the day was when Allaistar Cook was grassed when he was in single figures (I think he was on 7). The same bloke who dropped Strauss earlier in the day (can't remember his name, one of the newer blokes) dived in front of Inzi (who was poised to take the regulation catch) and failed to pouch the pill.

The pill turned out to be a large suppository for the Pakistanis as Cook and Collingwood both scored centuries to put England on top after the first day with Strauss a happy chappy. The Pakistani spin bowlers got a bit of turn but could not capture the vital wicket.

regards,

REB

[blink]

Cheers for that REB!

Wow, I wouldn't have predicted that happening. I wonder if Flintoff, Jones & Co. had been in the side, would they have elected to field first maybe? Seems like Straussy made a great choice here.

I haven't seen much of this Alistair Cook play, seems like he goes alright? I have heard him as being touted as the next big thing in English cricket.

[Rik E Boy]

He looked really limited but not too many players come out and dominate from the word go (altough Pieterson did). Drives well and is keen on the pull stroke, very correct. Obviously can play as he has now racked up two tons although the first one was during the second test of the England vs. Pakistan (forget the venue) on a flaming road. This knock came when his team needed it and might have set the tone for the series.

Interesting to note Beefy's comments about England having a bit of a problem with the white ball (the game itself rather than the variances of the white ball). They will be a good opponent in the real stuff but we'll make mincemeat out of them in the pretend cricket.

regards,

REB

[Jimmy]

Day one to the Poms.

England 3/303 at stumps.

England won the toss and Strauss took a pretty big risk by electing to bat first in overcast conditions. Umar Gull and Mohammed Sami wasted the new ball and England were 0/60 soon after the half hour and on top. Inziman erred by removing the third slip early doors and Struass promptly mistimed a drive just wide of second slip who grassed the catch.

Soon after this though, Pakistan hit back by getting rid of Trescothick, then Struass. The introduction of Abdul Razzaq altered the course of the game. After he had scored 16 runs, Trescothick nicked one from Gul to the keeper. With the score still on 60, Razzaq trapped Strauss lbw for 30, the super slow mo cruelly capturing the faintest of edges but a good decision by Tuefell nethertheless. Pieterson came to the crease and played in his usual aggressive manner before copping a shocker and was lbw to Razzaq for 21.

The clanger of the day was when Allaistar Cook was grassed when he was in single figures (I think he was on 7). The same bloke who dropped Strauss earlier in the day (can't remember his name, one of the newer blokes) dived in front of Inzi (who was poised to take the regulation catch) and failed to pouch the pill.

The pill turned out to be a large suppository for the Pakistanis as Cook and Collingwood both scored centuries to put England on top after the first day with Strauss a happy chappy. The Pakistani spin bowlers got a bit of turn but could not capture the vital wicket.

regards,

REB

REB??? he hit it, its not out....hwo cna it be a good decision?

[Gun AhChee]

This series will be good to see where England are at as a team and how they can play for each other. It will also tell us how we might see the Ashes go.

[noone]

REB??? he hit it, its not out....hwo cna it be a good decision?

when it results in an english dismissal its always a good decision

[Rik E Boy]

Jimmy. It was a good decision because it took about seven slow motion replays to pick up the feather..you can't seriously expect an umpire to notice that. OK, a fair decison maybe..if not a good one!

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

After day two of the first test at Lords the Poms have the Pakis under the cosh after decalaring at 9/528 and having the Pakis in deep diggery do at 3/66 at stumps.

Allaistar Cook was bowled when Inzi belatedly took the new ball and then Collingwood was given not out after nicking one to the keeper. Pakistan became very dispirited and Inzi didn't seem to know whether to attack or defend and this allowed the monumentally mediocre Collingwood to reach 186 and Bell who is even worse managed to knock up a ton as well, 100 not out at the close.

The England attack tore through the Pakistan top order with Harmison bagging a couple of wickets, Pakistan reduced to 2/28. They appeared to recover somewhat late in the day but lost their third wicket when Farhat was bowled by Plunkett for 33. Inziman the cunning old bugger sent out Mohammed Sami as nightwatchman and will bat today with the Pakistan team facing an uphill battle to save the test. They have been thoroughly outplayed so far and are missing their absentees more than England are at this stage.

regards,

REB

[Jimmy]

Jimmy. It was a good decision because it took about seven slow motion replays to pick up the feather..you can't seriously expect an umpire to notice that. OK, a fair decison maybe..if not a good one!

regards,

REB

fair enough...but being a batsman, it pisses me off when we get the rough end...but it all evens out...

[mal]

Nice reporting REB

REB= RithchiE Benaud ?

[spell_check]

6/355 Pakistan are now.

[Rik E Boy]

Nice reporting REB

REB= RithchiE Benaud ?

The pronounciation of the Pakistani team's names has been atrocious all season!!

Typical stinking hot day here in Bombay

2/222

What shall it be love? The White, Off White, Ivory or the Bone?

Marvellous toast that!

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

A much better day for Pakistan but because they are batting that comes as no surprise. With the sun beating down at Lords, this track has been a batting wicket all the way and the fast outfield has added to the bowlers woes as the batsmen pile on the agony. For the record, at stumps Pakistan had reached 7 for 409, 119 runs behind England.

Earlier in the day Mohammed Sami only lasted long enough for him to do his job as Hoggard claimed his 67th nightwatchman of his career*. Then Inzi joined Mohammed Yousef in a useful partnership that rescued Pakistan from a precarious 4/68. The partnership realised 173 runs and put the Pakis back in the match, Inzi the man out for 69 when he was bowled and his stumps went PLUNKett.

Mohammed Yousef was in complete command all day and is currently on 185 not out, receiving useful support from Abul Razzaq (22) and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal who scored 58 - the kid can bat. Every bowler from both sides must be absolutely spewing because Keven Pieterson came on and in two overs dismissed Akmal and any bowler who comes on after Paul Collingwood must be pretty rank. I can't even remember what Pieterson bowls he is that part time. In the end though, a key wicket for England.

Despite Pieterson's late jag, this match has draw written all over it. Pakistan can't win it as I believe England will claim a lead of about 60. This means that England would have to bat for most of day four to set 300 and maybe bat into the fifth day to set 350. On this wicket, and looking at the less than imposing English spin option of Panesar (did Inzi say 'what are doing playing with this mob?' to him??) would not inspire much hope of an English victory. Nope, this test is batting practice and it will be zip-zip (as opposed to zip zap) with three to play.

regards,

REB

*bogus REBstat alert!!

[Maddogmike]

he bowls right arm off-spin REB. Not the worst going around by far!