Summary

  1. Postpublished at 09:12 British Summer Time

    Ramiz Raja
    Former Pakistan captain on Test Match Special on BBC Sounds

    Shan Masood plays the pull shot well and he's backing himself, but he has to be careful - this is the danger period.

    I don't think he's looking for a six, but he still got it.

  2. 6 runs

    Pak 150-1published at 32 overs

    Change of bowling for England but no change of approach as Gus Atkinson replaces Brydon Carse.

    Short ball after short ball with the field spread. Shan Masood is very comfortable, though, and lifts the last ball of the over for six over fine leg.

    Little more than a third of the way through the day and this already looks like being a gruelling day for the bowlers.

  3. Postpublished at 09:08 British Summer Time

    Ramiz Raja
    Former Pakistan captain on Test Match Special on BBC Sounds

    England have tried bowling length and it hasn't worked. So far the spinners have been flat - there's no remedy in the side.

  4. Pak 142-1published at 31 overs

    Abdullah 58, Masood 76

    Jack Leach has largely kept things tight so far but there has been pretty much no variation in terms of flight or pace.

    That means Shan Masood knows what's coming and as soon as he sees his chance, he's down quickly to sweep powerfully behind square for four.

  5. How's stat?!published at 09:05 British Summer Time

    Andy Zaltzman
    Statistician on Test Match Special

    It is Shan Masood's highest score since he made that century at Old Trafford in the first Test in the 2020 series.

    He has played 14 Tests since then getting four half-centuries. Two of them against Australia at the MCG last year.

  6. Postpublished at 09:03 British Summer Time

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    Imperious stroke from Abdullah Shafique.

  7. Pak 137-1published at 30 overs

    Brydon Carse bowlsImage source, Reuters

    It's definitely going to be a big test of a pretty inexperienced bowling attack, Simon.

    I would just say that Rehan Ahmed only played the third Test in that series, Jack Leach and Will Jacks were the main spin options in the first two.

    But yes, reverse swing is sure to be vital. Who knows? Perhaps Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse will prove brilliant exponents of it.

    Carse isn't giving the ball much chance to swing at the moment, though, sticking with the bouncer barrage and being pulled superbly to the fence by Abdullah Shafique.

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:59 British Summer Time

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    Last time around England had 2 seamers in Anderson and Robinson who were able to bowl dry on a flat deck and expertly deploy reverse swing when it came into play - those 2 have been cast aside. We also had the express pace of Wood (injured) and the leggies of Rehan (not selected) as 'X factors' to take the pitch out of the equation. I'm not sure this is a side capable of winning on this kind of surface.

    Simon, Chesterfield

  9. Pak 132-1published at 29 overs

    Jack Leach prepares to bowlImage source, Reuters

    Abdullah Shafique gets his first run of the session as he defends Jack Leach into the covers and scampers through for a single.

    One of just two from the over, steady stuff again from Leach but there is precious little for the bowler to work with.

  10. Postpublished at 08:54 British Summer Time

    Ramiz Raja
    Former Pakistan captain on Test Match Special on BBC Sounds

    Shan Masood almost had an head start as he knew what was on offer - he was ready for it.

  11. Pak 130-1published at 28 overs

    Banged in by Brydon Carse from round the wicket and slapped away through mid-wicket by Shan Masood.

    Super shot, nailed to the boundary. It's not going to change England's tactics but it shows again just how placid a pitch this is.

  12. Pak 124-1published at 27 overs

    Short stuff at one end, spin at the other as Jack Leach continues into his second over.

    Tidy stuff from the left-armer, darting the ball in consistently and conceding just a single.

  13. Postpublished at 08:47 British Summer Time

    Ramiz Raja
    Former Pakistan captain on Test Match Special on BBC Sounds

    Shoaib Bashir takes a drinkImage source, Getty Images

    This is going to be a tough gig for the next hour.

    England will pursue this as they're in desperate need of a wicket - Pakistan had a great first session.

  14. Pak 123-1published at 26 overs

    The short ploy nearly works for England.

    Last ball of the over, another bumper from Brydon Carse and Abdullah Shafique gloves it on the pull.

    The ball hangs in the air for a moment but drops short of the fielder at backward square leg.

  15. Pak 122-1published at 25.2 overs

    Two balls, two bouncers to start the session. England have made their intentions clear early.

  16. Postpublished at 08:42 British Summer Time

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    Shoaib Bashir wipes his face with a towelImage source, Getty Images

    Pakistan is a tough place to come and we have seen that in the morning session.

  17. Postpublished at 08:41 British Summer Time

    It's a long way from a sell out, Colin, but it's probably that bit fuller than it looks.

    It's just that those in attendance are largely keeping themselves in the shaded parts of the ground on what is apparently a sweltering day in Multan.

    And, I as type that, the players emerge back into that sweltering heat ready for the afternoon session. Brydon Carse will bowl the first over after lunch.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:39 British Summer Time

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    Can't be easy playing in an empty stadium! Where is everyone? Did they not know we were coming?

    Colin, Hampshire

  19. How's stat?!published at 08:37 British Summer Time

    Soham Sarkhel
    CricViz analyst

    There was only 2.51 degrees of turn in that morning session which is the third-lowest (out of 13 occasions) in the first session of the first day of a Test in Pakistan since the start of 2021.

    This pitch currently has a PitchViz rating of 2.1 which is again the third-lowest in the first session of the first day for any Test in Pakistan since the start of 2021. England's previous Test in Multan in 2022 was 2.0 at this stage of the match.

  20. Postpublished at 08:35 British Summer Time

    It's certainly been a tough morning for what is a very inexperienced bowling attack outside of England.

    Things aren't likely to get any easier in the afternoon session, which is not far away now, so they are really going to have to dig deep.

    They may also have to get a bit creative and hope Pakistan's batters give them a helping hand if they are to make further inroads on a very flat surface.