Summary

  • England reach 96-1 at stumps in reply to Pakistan's 556 all out

  • Zak Crawley unbeaten on 64 and Joe Root on 32

  • Root needs 39 more runs to become England's all-time leading Test run-scorer

  • Ollie Pope superbly caught at mid-wicket for two-ball duck to leave England 4-1

  • Pope was promoted to opener after Ben Duckett takes blow to left thumb while taking catch

  • England hope Duckett's injury will settle down overnight and no scan is planned currently

  • First Test, day two, Multan

  • Listen to Test Match Special commentary at top of page, on BBC Sounds or overseas, external

  1. England battle hard as Pakistan pile on runspublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 8 October

    Zak CrawleyImage source, Getty Images

    England have hung in there today but there remains a long way to go. They have to bat long tomorrow or Pakistan will be very much on top.

    We'll be back tomorrow morning from 05:45 for live coverage of day three.

    In the meantime there's a crucial game in the Women's T20 World Cup at 15:00 BST while you can read all about today's play in Multan in Stephan Shemilt's match report.

    Scroll down for all of the best reaction from day two.

  2. How's stat?!published at 13:59 British Summer Time 8 October

    Andy Zaltzman
    Statistician on Test Match Special

    Zak CrawleyImage source, Getty Images

    Zak Crawley in his last 15 Tests, 10 50-plus scores - only one hundred - but he's averaging 46.

    His previous 25 Tests, only six 50-plus scores and an average of 22 so more evidence of his huge improvement since the start of the 2023 summer.

  3. 'A special feeling'published at 13:56 British Summer Time 8 October

    More from England bowler Brydon Carse, speaking to Sky Sports: "I had a conversation with Woakesy and Gus near the end [of Pakistan's innings] and both those boys' legs were hanging on.

    "But we got there and the lads will rest up tonight and hopefully have a good batting day tomorrow.

    "There are ice baths, testing our hydration. I haven't been in the red these last two days with the continued consumption of water, fluids and tonight we'll get food down us, get a good night's sleep and come again tomorrow."

    On his first Test wicket: "I thought [the overturned lbw yesterday] was stone dead!

    "Popey said to me after the fourth over, 'do you want to go one more?' and I said definitely because I felt like in that spell today I was close to getting the breakthrough that we needed.

    "It came and it was a special feeling out there. Probably not the celebrations that you expect but yeah."

    On state of the game: "I think we spoke last night and to have them 330-4, if you had that score back in England you're probably behind the game a bit.

    "But in that first session they only got 60 or 70 runs and we scored 100 in 20 overs tonight.

    "If we can come back tomorrow and back positively and really put their attack under pressure, let's see where we're at at the end of the day with two full days cricket to go."

  4. 'Tough but good two days'published at 13:54 British Summer Time 8 October

    Brydon CarseImage source, Getty Images

    England bowler Brydon Carse speaking to Sky Sports after taking his first Test wickets: "It's been hard work, hard toil for the last two days but I've thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of being out there with this group of lads. It's been a tough but good two days.

    "I've had loads of messages over the last two days from friends and family, people who have suported me over the last 10 years since I moved to England. It's very much appreciated.

    "Stokesy said to me after we came in after we fielded, 'feel proud, it's not going to get as tough as this over the last two days' - he reassured me.

    "There were times out there where the heat was probably the biggest challenge and obviously the wicket. But I think as a group of bowlers, everyone kept coming back. Short bursts for the seamers but yeah, it was challenging at times."

  5. Postpublished at 13:53 British Summer Time 8 October

    Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    This game has developed. When we first saw the pitch the day before the game, we thought the ball might nip around. Then they shaved that grass off and we see the cracks underneath.

    They are trying to hold it together and not letting the cracks open up too early and it's definitely a tactical decision from England to use that light roller. If you are worried about the pitch, you don't want too much weight on it.

  6. Postpublished at 13:51 British Summer Time 8 October

    Ben DuckettImage source, Getty Images

    We are still waiting to hear more from England on Ben Duckett's injury. He hurt his thumb taking the final catch of Pakistan's innings and was unable to open the batting.

    Word is he is not going for a scan. The hope will be it was a simple dislocation that has been put back in.

    In his absence skipper Ollie Pope went right in as opener and was brilliantly caught one-handed at mid-wicket for a two-ball duck.

  7. Postpublished at 13:48 British Summer Time 8 October

    Gus AtkinsonImage source, Getty Images

    All of England's bowlers contributed. Jack Leach ended up with three wickets from 40 tiring overs. Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson returned two each.

    It wasn't until the very end that England looked started to look ragged.

    There was a missed stumping by Jamie Smith and a poor dropped catch by Gus Atkinson.

  8. Postpublished at 13:46 British Summer Time 8 October

    This page has gone in unexpected directions today.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:45 British Summer Time 8 October

    Via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    Coconut orchestra here also! 5874 to go.

    Rahul now in Vancouver

  10. Postpublished at 13:43 British Summer Time 8 October

    Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    I found today a lot more interesting than yesterday. Pakistan will once again go to bed the happier of the two teams.

    But there were signs for England to not be disheartened. Having lost that wicket early, Pakistan could have capitalised but they have repelled that through Joe Root who has rotated the strike well and managed a good 32 with just two boundaries.

    But it's Zak Crawley who has really pushed back against Pakistan bowlers, negating that new ball when they could have done a lot of damage.

  11. Postpublished at 13:41 British Summer Time 8 October

    Salman Ali AghaImage source, Getty Images

    It was more tough work for England in the field.

    Crucially, nightwatch Naseem Shah hung around for 90 minutes this morning which ended any suggestion England could run through the batting while the ball was still new.

    Saud Shakeel crept along while Salman Ali Agha batted very well for his third Test hundred.

    Pakistan, who started the day328-4, ended up being dismissed for 556.

  12. Postpublished at 13:39 British Summer Time 8 October

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    England will be pretty happy, but they would have wanted to dismiss Pakistan a lot sooner than they did today.

    But nightwatchman Naseem Shah did his job early and there were runs all over for Pakistan.

    This pitch is easy to bat on, but it's getting a little bit tricky to bat on with the ball starting to stay low. But England have weathered a storm through Zak Crawley and Joe Root.

  13. Postpublished at 13:37 British Summer Time 8 October

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    Zak Crawley has imposed himself here and Joe Root is playing like himself. It's been positive and they are shoring up England's position as well.

    But they've still got a lot of batting to do tomorrow. They're still 261 behind to avoid the follow-on.

  14. Postpublished at 13:35 British Summer Time 8 October

    Zak Crawley and Joe RootImage source, Getty Images

    Joe Root walks off on 32 not out. He needs another 39 to overtake Alastair Cook as England's leading run-scorer in Tests.

    Zak Crawley has a very impressive 64 not out from 64 balls.

  15. Close of play - Eng 96-1published at 20 overs

    Trail by 460

    Joe Root defends the final delivery.

    There's a long way to go but England have made a decent start as they look to work their way back into this match.

  16. Eng 95-1published at 19.3 overs

    BBC Sport bringing people together since 1988...

    Zak Crawley knocks another single. That could be his final delivery of the day.

  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:30 British Summer Time 8 October

    Via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    Following Rich at 13.17, I am another of the 5877 who made up the largest coconut orchestra. Only 5875 away from a full reunion.

    Al

  18. Eng 94-1published at 19.1 overs

    Naseem Shah begins the final over of the day...

  19. Eng 92-1published at 19 overs

    Crawley 61, Root 31

    That sounds like hell, John.

    The penultimate over ends with two more to Zak Crawley. There was an lbw shout in the middle but Pakistan rightly decide not to review because the ball was bouncing over.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 8 October

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Former record holder checking in. Longest distance doing the conga. We did just over 11 miles. 5 hours listening to Black Lace while we danced. Never again!

    John, Essex