Summary

  • Third Test, day one, Rawalpindi - England win toss & bat

  • Series level at 1-1

  • Pakistan close on 73-3, trailing by 194

  • Bashir, Leach and Atkinson strike in final session

  • England 267: Smith 89, Duckett 52; Sajid 6-128

  1. Postpublished at 08:16 British Summer Time 24 October

    Sajid KhanImage source, Getty Images

    Not all bad news for England, then...

    But much like in Multan, it's just the two bowlers doing the damage for Pakistan.

    Sajid Khan and Noman Ali have bowled unchanged throughout that morning session, taking three and two wickets respectively.

    For all that the pitch has played a few tricks, it's the varying of pace from both spinners that has caused England problems.

    Spare a thought for Zahid Mahmood, the third spinner in the home side, who must be wondering if he'll even get a chance on a pitch that I'm sure he'd love to bowl on.

  2. Postpublished at 08:13 British Summer Time 24 October

    Soham Sarkhel
    CricViz analyst

    3.75 degrees of deviation in the first session today, that is the third-most in the first session of day one of a Test match. It is the second-highest at this stage of a Test involving England (after Sri Lanka v England, Galle, 2018). Interestingly, England were 113-5 at lunch on day one in that Test and went on to win by 211 runs.

  3. Postpublished at 08:09 British Summer Time 24 October

    Thanks, Matt. Well that escalated quickly, didn't it?

    After getting to 56-0 inside the first hour, England have lost 5-54 since.

    Poor batting? Poor pitch? Both? It's probably also worth giving the Pakistan spinners a bit of credit too.

  4. Postpublished at 08:06 British Summer Time 24 October

    I need a lie down and maybe some crisps after that. You'll be delighted to learn Sam Drury is here again to take over.

  5. Postpublished at 08:05 British Summer Time 24 October

    Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    This morning has been a rather intriguing session to watch. The Pakistani spinners varying their pace has really hurt England.

  6. Lunch - Eng 110-5published at 30 overs

    And that is lunch. Sajid Khan and Noman Ali bowled throughout that session, finding significant turn and uneven bounce.

    Remember 56-0? That feels a long time ago.

  7. Eng 108-5published at 29.3 overs

    Harry Brook and Ollie Pope played poor sweep shots. Conditions may be tough but there's no getting away from that. It's not easy to come down the pitch to spinners with such guile, however, especially when the ball is turning and can leave you stranded.

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 24 October

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

    Awful batting from England. To continuously sweep on a pitch that the ball is keeping low on is borderline negligible. Especially when the better option is to use your feet.

    Chris

  9. Eng 107-5published at 29 overs

    Jamie Smith has had a quiet series after a superb breakthrough summer. This would be a good place to change that and he gets off the mark with a well-timed four through the off side.

    There will be one more over before lunch.

  10. How's stat?!published at 07:57 British Summer Time 24 October

    Soham Sarkhel
    CricViz analyst

    PitchViz so far:

    First 10 overs: 4.0

    Overs 11-20: 7.0

    Overs 21-25: 8.3

    PitchViz gives a rating for the difficulty of a pitch out of 10. The higher the number the more difficult it is to bat.

  11. Eng 102-5published at 28 overs

    Stokes 3, Smith 0

    Ben Stokes is at least off the mark and England have nudged beyond 100. There are some glum-looking England supporters in the stands.

    I hope they haven't flown all of the way there just for this Test. It could be over tomorrow.

  12. Postpublished at 07:53 British Summer Time 24 October

    Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Harry Brook was frustrated by not getting started here. He looked to be aggressive but was foxed by the pace, he's gone.

  13. Eng 98-5published at 27 overs

    Stokes 0, Smith 0

    We mentioned PitchViz a lot in the previous two Tests.

    In the past five overs it is 8.3.

    In England's fourth innings in Multan it was 7.1.

    The higher the number, the more difficult it is to bat.

  14. Postpublished at 07:50 British Summer Time 24 October

    Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    Sajid Khan has another, this game is moving at a break-neck pace.

  15. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 26.4 overs

    Brook b Sajid 5 (Eng 98-5)

    This is all going horribly wrong for England. Conditions are tough but this is a bad shot.

    Much like Ollie Pope, Harry Brook has tried to sweep the quicker one off stumps. The only difference to Pope's dismissal is this one has missed pad and gone straight onto the timbers.

    England are in all sorts of trouble.

  16. How's stat?!published at 07:49 British Summer Time 24 October

    Andy Zaltzman
    Statistician on Test Match Special

    It took Ben Duckett 76 balls to reach 50 which is his second slowest, highlighting how aggressive he is.

  17. Eng 98-4published at 26 overs

    Brook 5, Stokes 0

    One thing I will say is if the ball is acting like that in the first session of day one then they might not be as far behind the game as I thought.

    They still need to get up to 300 to put the pressure on and take advantage of winning that toss, however.

    Ben Stokes is in and Pakistan's fielders are groaning after every ball.

  18. Postpublished at 07:46 British Summer Time 24 October

    Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    That's really disappointing for England, Ben Duckett has done so much good work for England here.

    Noman Ali fired a good length and has been mixing up the pace here, the pitch is starting to play a few tricks now.

  19. Postpublished at 07:45 British Summer Time 24 October

    Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    This could be a huge moment in this game for Pakistan.

  20. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 25.5 overs

    Duckett lbw b Noman 53 (Eng 98-4)

    Gone this time!

    What can you do? This has pretty much rolled along the ground and Ben Duckett almost has a wry smile on his face.

    The ball has pitched short, hit Duckett on the boot and trapped him lbw.