Pakistan v England, 2nd Test, Dubai, 22-26 October, 2015

And then fark it up by losing 2 fer fark-all.

Another glorious chapter added to the legend of the Belf.

taipan wrote:Another glorious chapter added to the legend of the Belf.

Well, yeah - but what're the selectors going to think? He got an exceptionally convoluted 68 in the first innings last time (they'll care about the 68 [and maybe this time they're right]), they don't care about dropped catches, the 2nd innings was a tonk-a-lonk: absolved, 'unlucky' in this first innings.

Job done. Team working.

Little Joey Root.... he's like the nephew that you want to molest.

Jonny's like the clunky stepkid you want to slap.

Brass Monkey wrote:Little Joey Root.... he's like the nephew that you want to molest.

It's that happy go lucky aura that he has. You'd want to molest that out of him

spangler wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:Little Joey Root.... he's like the nephew that you want to molest.

It's that happy go lucky aura that he has. You'd want to molest that out of him

He'll never be able to look at a Werther's Original again. Ever.

taipan wrote:Another glorious chapter added to the legend of the Belf.

Shitinfo wrote:485 Test runs for Ian Bell in 2015, from 12 matches, at an average of 25.52. He started the year with 143 against West Indies in North Sound, but in his 20 innings since then he has managed only 342 runs at an average of 19.

Back that pedigree horse, Alastair.

"You're a slacker, McBelf."

Etc.

Why's Matt Prior in there?

Really Taylor time.

All tired Bails pissed-off anatomical jokes & character slagging aside, our #3 just does not demonstrate the basic batting competence for his place.

And is literally a liability to the team: jittering and failing time and again just shifts more of a burden on to the shoulders of Cook and Root - yet again. So that just about every England innings starts with a battle against adversity, where they must not fail.

And he hasn't demonstrated fundamental competence for months.

He makes Bairstow look secure by comparison.

I'm not even necessarily saying he has to retire. Just move aside until he has worked out a way to bat effectively.

All in all, a pretty good day for England. You get the feeling with Pakistan that their last four wickets will come quietly irrespective of the conditions.

Usual suspects getting runs for England though. Here's hoping for a Bairstow ton, if only to spread the heavy lifting around a bit more fairly.

Basil wrote:All in all, a pretty good day for England. You get the feeling with Pakistan that their last four wickets will come quietly irrespective of the conditions.

Usual suspects getting runs for England though. Here's hoping for a Bairstow ton, if only to spread the heavy lifting around a bit more fairly.

I'd say it was a very good day. 6 wickets for less a 1er then nigh on 200 for 3, with Shah in the side? I'd have taken that

Brass Monkey wrote:Little Joey Root.... he's like the nephew that you want to molest.

Jonny's like the clunky stepkid you want to slap.

And Belf is like the child you had in a vain attempt to resurrect the marriage. And every time you see him your heart just sinks that little bit further as you realise the gravity of your mistake.

Brass Monkey wrote:

spangler wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:Little Joey Root.... he's like the nephew that you want to molest.

It's that happy go lucky aura that he has. You'd want to molest that out of him

He'll never be able to look at a Werther's Original again. Ever.

Best name I ever heard for them 'Nonce nuggets' - courtesy of the 1st season of Phoneshop.

Lindsay no.2 wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:

spangler wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:Little Joey Root.... he's like the nephew that you want to molest.

It's that happy go lucky aura that he has. You'd want to molest that out of him

He'll never be able to look at a Werther's Original again. Ever.

Best name I ever heard for them 'Nonce nuggets' - courtesy of the 1st season of Phoneshop.

Apologies for the use of American English there - series is what I should've written.

Brass Monkey wrote:

Basil wrote:All in all, a pretty good day for England. You get the feeling with Pakistan that their last four wickets will come quietly irrespective of the conditions.

Usual suspects getting runs for England though. Here's hoping for a Bairstow ton, if only to spread the heavy lifting around a bit more fairly.

I'd say it was a very good day. 6 wickets for less a 1er then nigh on 200 for 3, with Shah in the side? I'd have taken that

Agree with both of you.

The interesting development was that we seemed intent on scoring at a decent clip against the spinners. In years past in these conditions we would have hunkered down tighter than Hitler and his coterie in the Berlin bunker - yet even Cook showed some aggression and intelligence against the spinners. As a consequence we are getting runs off them at a regular 3 to 4 an over mark.

Bairstow did look truly outmatched againt Shah when he first got to the crease but after a while even he began to appear relatively untroubled. However, I don't think we can rely on him to go big tomorrow, so as per your point above Basil, getting to a commanding position will more than likely rest in the hands of Root. Delicately poised.

Decent day for old England. Wrappedup the Wacky innings promptly then, after a shaky Belf-collapse, ended at a sound 3-180-0dd.

I think honours are pretty even at this point. England has done really well and I will say achieved beyond expectation. People were expecting them to roll over now that Pakistan have got their first choice spin attack.

Job well done, England.

Pakistan need to do what England has done today and have a good morning session. Match is very evenly poised, with England in a slightly better position than Pakistan.

and its been a pleasure to watch Root play today. This is the first time I have seen him play and loved it...

basit wrote:I think honours are pretty even at this point. England has done really well and I will say achieved beyond expectation. People were expecting them to roll over now that Pakistan have got their first choice spin attack.

Job well done, England.    

Pakistan need to do what England has done today and have a good morning session. Match is very evenly poised, with England in a slightly better position than Pakistan.

Yeah, the morning session will dictate where the game goes from here. England's batting's pretty feeble once you get through Cook and Root.

I wouldn't be surprised if Pakistan took a small lead into the second innings.

Game on.

I think England will take some lead. A lead of 40-50 runs will be very handy especially as they will be batting last and it will start to turn more as the game goes on.

However, with the resilience English batsmen have shown so far in this series, I won't put it beyond them to register a memorable win on a turner...

Welcome basit! I hadn't seen you before.

Always good to see people coming on board.

(Have you brought your own bailing equipment? )

Good day for England, and welcome back basit - good posts.

Thanks guys, I have never been a regular contributor (my bad) but I have been following since C4 days. Can still see quite a few people around from those days...

Bairstow is dropped twice, and Root falls.