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. Postpublished at 12:49 British Summer Time 8 October

    It sounds like I went to the wrong university.

    Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed continues...

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:48 British Summer Time 8 October

    Via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    I was briefly a co-holder of the record for 'biggest pillow fight' while a student. We were gazumped by some college in the US shortly afterwards, before coming back to retake our title. And yes, I wielded my pillow that day pretending I was Graham Gooch...

    Ben, SW London

  3. Eng 43-1published at 10 overs

    Trail by 513

    Aamer Jamal is slower than Naseem and Shaheen but he looks to be accurate and lively enough to cause problems.

    Two come from his first over.

    Ben Duckett is sat up in the dressing room, by the way. He already has that thumb bandaged up. We have had not had any official word on the injury.

  4. Postpublished at 12:42 British Summer Time 8 October

    Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Zak Crawley is on the way back from injury as well. He was walking around in a brace last time I saw him, stood outside a pub somewhere in northwest London. He had his hand in this cast and was not allowed to move. It wasn't all that long ago.

  5. Postpublished at 12:41 British Summer Time 8 October

    That is not a thing, Mike.

    It's a double bowling change. Aamer Jamal, another seamer, is on.

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:41 British Summer Time 8 October

    Via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    I'm a former Welly Wanging World Record Holder (throwing a wellington boot the furthest distance)

    Mike from Cornwall

  7. Eng 42-1published at 9 overs

    Crawley 31, Root 10

    Zak Crawley plays a shotImage source, Reuters

    Former record holders certainly count, Charles. We can't be picky around here.

    Pakistan bring spin into the equation for the first time in this innings in the former of leggie Abrar Ahmed. Zak Crawley greets him by smacking two fours and edging a three.

  8. get involved

    Get Involved - world record holders reading the live textpublished at 12:37 British Summer Time 8 October

    Via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    No he isn’t (see 12:26)…. if former holders count. I was captain of one of the sides in Cheriton Fitzpaine CC record breaking marathon match that brought the record back to England (from France) in 2006. Mike Foan was the other Captain and is probably listening too.

    Charles

  9. Eng 30-1published at 8 overs

    Trail by 526

    Naseem Shah appealsImage source, Getty Images

    Naseem Shah's bouffant is sensational. He's a good bowler too. Joe Root has to defend.

  10. Postpublished at 12:32 British Summer Time 8 October

    Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    Shaheen Shah Afridi does not have too much margin for error on this surface. He's erred twice and punished twice.

  11. Eng 28-1published at 7 overs

    Crawley 20, Root 8

    Pakistan's fielders all go up in anticipation of an edge after another beauty to Zak Crawley, while Shaheen Afridi has his arms wide. The bowler asks if there was a snick but it seems the ball was too good.

    Crawley responds by twice driving classically for four.

    It's a good tussle.

  12. How's stat?!published at 12:28 British Summer Time 8 October

    Andy Zaltzman
    Statistician on Test Match Special

    Ollie Pope walks off after being dismissedImage source, Getty Images

    Ollie Pope is having a rather curious year with the bat for England. He's played 12 Tests scoring three centuries, but has also had three ducks and six other single-digit scores, averaging 35.4 runs.

    There's been 429 instances when a player has scored three 100s in a calendar year and Pope's average is currently the second-lowest of any of those players - fractionally ahead of Justin Langer who averaged 35.2 in 1999.

  13. Eng 20-1published at 6 overs

    Trail by 536

    There's plenty going on here but is Chris the only world record holder currently reading this page? That's what I want to know.

    The umpire turns down another passionate lbw shout from Pakistan. Naseem and Shaheen are still looking threatening.

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 8 October

    Via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    I once dislocated a finger, when keeping, on the last ball of the innings. Not to worry, as the opposition had a medical person on hand to relocate it...a vet!!

    Chris, Loughborough (former Cricket Marathon World Record)

  15. Eng 18-1published at 5.1 overs

    Pakistan appeal for an lbw against Joe RootImage source, Reuters

    Cheers Sam.

    I begin with a huge appeal for lbw against Joe Root but thankfully from England's perspective he has got his pad outside the line.

  16. Eng 18-1published at 5 overs

    Trail by 538

    Good, probing bowling from Shaheen Afridi.

    He's offering that bit of width he knows Zak Crawley is always keen to go after but just back of a drivable length.

    When he does get that bit fuller, Crawley can't beat mid-off.

    A fascinating start to the England innings and to see you through to the close, it's over to Matthew Henry.

  17. Postpublished at 12:17 British Summer Time 8 October

    Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    With the amount of runs they have on the board and a catch like that at the start of the innings, Pakistan will find even more energy and excitement around themselves.

    The thing for England here is to take that initial wind out of Pakistan's sails, but that early wicket would not have helped.

  18. Eng 18-1published at 4 overs

    Trail by 538

    Joe Root and Zak Crawley punch glovesImage source, Reuters

    Zak Crawley plays nicely through point for two from the first ball of the Naseem Shah over before dabbing for one through the same region next ball.

    Joe Root sees out the remainder of the over, having to get his bat down quickly to one that kept low.

    This has been a good start from Pakistan's seamers, no doubt buoyed by that early wicket.

  19. Postpublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 8 October

    Best of luck rolling your wrists on a short ball from someone as quick as Naseem Shah, Joe.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:14 British Summer Time 8 October

    Via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    Call me old fashioned, I was always taught to play down to avoid giving catches.

    Joe, Canterbury