Pakistan v England, 3rd Test, Rawalpindi, 24-28 October, 2024

One would expect a turner at Rawalpindi.

If it's like the normal true deck it might be a high scoring bore-Draw.

I wonder if Stokes might sit this one out.

It's more likely that one of the other seamers will sit this one out and that Rehan Ahmed will play. Always assuming that the pitch is as much of a landfill tip as is being suggested.

Actually Pindi is supposedly a new pitch but Masood asked them to make it as dry as poss in the hope it will turn. Seems the groundstaff are doing their best, see pic, some patches on the bowlers footmarks already evident though.

Rehan Ahmed and Atkinson in for Potts and Carse. Seems a tremendous gamble. if Stokes doesnt win the toss this time, they will be screwed with just 1 fit seamer. Stokes didnt seem upto it in the last match to bowl much. And if they bat like did the last time they will just make it easy for pakistan.

Yeah, 3 specialist spinners seems excessive when Root can do a more than competent job to give the specialists a rest.

Sounds like Atkinson and Stokes will bowl about three new ball overs each before England turns to spin (and maybe a few overs of reverse swing with an old ball) ... does Atkinson bowl a bit of spin as well?

If Harry Brook is bowling b4 tea on the first day, we'll know that things have gone horribly wrong

Pitch looks like its had an agricultural rake pulled over it to get rid of any remaining moisture.

England warmed up for a 5 day test by having a 6 hitting comp. McCullum beat stokes, but Ahmed beat Brook in the final. They really are nuts.

Poms batting, and they've included 3 spinners.

Very low slow deck. Pak spinners causing trouble.

Eng 3-89.

Duckett, after a good 50, gets a rubber that traps him plumb.

You can't play back on this wicket.

And now Brook is bowled. Eng. 5-98.

Keeper Smith brings up a very good and valuable 50.

Excellent 7th wkt stand between Smith and Atkinson. They've just taken it past 100.

Once the ball got soft it's done very little.

Spiny gets Gus for a valuable 39.

What's England's 9, 10, Jack got left?

Smith looking to give it some humpty. Now on 87*.

Smith throws away a ton, skying one on 91.

Quality knock.

Eng 8-244 at Tea.

Game’s got interesting.

Amazing difference from the period that saw 6 fall for 120. The ball was keeping low and turning.

But Smith and Gus made it look pretty easy. Time will tell whether the England total is competitive or not.

Eng AO 267.

Sajid 6-128.

Whatever the talents of this side, we can’t win a spin-off on a turning pitch. So it needs a strategy other than trying to play the home team at their own game.

skully wrote:Smith throws away a ton, skying one on 91.

Quality knock.

He was 91 not out and then fell for 89!

I'd like to see SS get out for 101 in an ashes test and then see 2 runs get taken off

But England wasted the advantage of the toss; it wasnt a minefield, but Crawley, Pope, Brook Stokes of the main batters all gifted their wkts and were outdone by Sajid, and then just as it looked bad for Pak, Smith, Gus and AHmed [what a clown] did the same. Stokes took Gus off just after he'd got Kamrun, and really we needed Carse more than Ahmed with the low bounce. Pak will hope to get 350 and then chase a target under 200.

mike

Norfolk Ian Goode wrote:

skully wrote:Smith throws away a ton, skying one on 91.

Quality knock.

He was 91 not out and then fell for 89!

Really? 2 runs later removed?

A six reviewed and classified as a 4?