Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

The pitch doesn't look like it is going to break up. There are cracks there but the amount of grass on the pitch will hold it together. It is worrying times as a bowler if you turn up and see that.

Scott, maintenance @ Leicester Square Theatre, London

Soham Sarkhel
CricViz analyst

England have attempted 14 bouncers in the morning session, out of which eight have been left alone by the Pakistan batters and only one false shot coming off them.

For Pakistan, things could not have gone much better.

Captain Shan Masood was under a bit of pressure coming into this match but has batted superbly, taking the attack to the England bowlers, particularly off-spinner Shoaib Bashir.

He is unbeaten on 61 from 59 balls and his stand with Abdullah Shafique, who is 53 not out, is now worth 114.

Image source, Getty Images

Pakistan have been largely untroubled since then, though.

The closest England came to a second wicket came when debutant Brydon Carse hit Shan Masood on the pads with a very full delivery.

It was given out on the field but the Pakistan skipper reviewed, the ball was shown to have pitched outside leg and Carse was stripped of his maiden Test wicket.

Image source, Getty Images

Having been asked to bowl, England did manage to pick up a wicket early on.

Gus Atkinson, in his first overseas Test, struck in the fourth over. A strangle down leg doing for Saim Ayub.

Image source, Getty Images

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Pakistan have done everything right. It has been all Pakistan since the early wicket. They have asserted pressure at the right times and done that intelligently and not recklessly.

They have set up the possibility of England wilting in the afternoon sun.

Thanks, Matt.

England did get the boost of an early wicket when Gus Atkinson had Saim Ayub caught behind down the leg side.

But since then, it has been obvious to see why both captains were so keen to bat first.

Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood have both passed 50, Pakistan are scoring at a fraction under five an over and the pitch looks flat.

Satisfactory indeed.

Sam Drury will give you a quick recap, take you through lunch and then afternoon session.

Enjoy.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

That is a very satisfactory first session for Pakistan.

No joy for Leach and that is indeed lunch.

It has undoubtedly been Pakistan's session after the early wicket for Gus Atkinson. Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood have made the most of a flat pitch and England's inexperienced bowling attack.

Jack Leach is on for his first over. It will probably be the last of the session.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

I suspect Pakistan have discussed how consistent that Shoaib Bashir can be with his length. He doesn't bowl many bad balls and Pakistan won't want to let him settle on a line and length so that will be why they are using their feet.

Andy Zaltzman
Statistician on Test Match Special

That is the century partnership in 19.3 overs.

England will probably be happy lunch is coming in a couple of minutes.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

That is a fine stroke.

Shoaib Bashir is struggling to control the scoring rate.

50 for Abdullah Shafiquepublished at 24 overs

24 overs

Abdullah Shafique joins the attack of England spinner Shoaib Bashir!

From nowhere, two fours and a powerful six take the Pakistan opener to fifty from 77 balls. He's been patient so far but that was aggressive batting at its best.

Soham Sarkhel
CricViz analyst

Image source, Reuters

In the first hour, 45% of England's deliveries were either wide of the off stump or down the leg side with only 16% on the stump line.

For comparison, during England's last Test series in Pakistan in 2022, their pacers bowled 30% of their deliveries on the stump line and it brought them great success, going at just 1.73 runs per over while averaging 17.7 on that particular line.

Gus Atkinson doesn't look thrilled in his latest over but, in fairness, he rarely does. England haven't done a lot wrong. The bowling may have been a touch wayward but this is a very flat pitch and this attack is having to learn on the job.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

When I saw the pitch this morning it just looked like freshly laid carpet in a living room. When you see that as a bowler you just expect it to skip on nicely and that is how it has played.