Thanks Sam. It has been good stuff, hasn't it?

On TMS during the interval you can listen to a dive into the troubles impacting Pakistan cricket on and off the field.

Ramiz Raja is ready to charge off his long run.

Worth a listen, I reckon.

An interesting first session, in which this used pitch has been under plenty of scrutiny.

There are signs it could get a little spicy later in the match but since the ball has softened, it has not looked hugely challenging for the batters.

For further pitch chat (it feels inevitable this week) and plenty more, it's time for me to hand over to Matthew Henry.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

The two batting have showed how to play on this wicket.

Their partnership has only had two boundaries, but they're still scoring at a healthy rate.

Pakistan winning the toss will be happy with their first session.

It's time for lunch after an intriguing first session in Multan.

Matthews Potts did nearly end it with a wicket as UltraEdge showed Saim Ayub got a tickle on an attempted pull shot.

The ball didn't quite carry to Jamie Smith, though.

Jack Leach's two early wickets remain England's only reward on a used surface that has offered a bit of turn.

Pakistan have recovered from those setbacks with Saim Ayub and debutant Kamran Ghulam putting on an unbroken 60-run stand for the third wicket.

Andy Zaltzman
Statistician on Test Match Special

The partnership is now 57 from 19.5 overs.

They haven't played out a maiden since the start of this partnership. They've kept the scoreboard moving.

Double bowling change with Brydon Carse on as England continue to hunt reverse swing.

Still nothing much but Carse does beat Saim Ayub, who tried to cut the last ball of the over.

Maiden.

Image source, Getty Images

As we have said, Pakistan have opted to play this match on last week's pitch to potentially bring their spinners into the game.

They have picked seven frontline and part-time spin options after all.

But the data from our friends as CricViz suggests that may not necessarily be playing to their strengths.

Since cricket returned to Pakistan in 2019 their spinners average 45.8 compared 37.3 by the seamers.

In fact, Pakistan's spin record at home is the second worst of all of the Test-playing hosts in that time.

There isn't as much spin bowled in Pakistan domestic cricket as you might expect either.

37.4% of overs in Pakistan's first-class domestic cricket have been bowled by spinners in the past 10 years.

That number is far higher in Sri Lanka (67.6%) and Bangladesh, Afghanistan and West Indies too who more than half of the overs are bowled by spinners.

The figure is 42.9% in India.

Just as I was writing that there was no discernible sign of reverse swing, Matthew Potts gets one to tail back in ever so slightly to Saim Ayub.

The left-hander has to hurriedly adjust and manages to get a thick inside edge down to long leg for a single.

Not much but something for the seamers to work with maybe?

After 21 straight overs of spin, we're going to see some pace bowling again.

Matthew Potts returns to the attack as England look to see if there is any reverse swing for them to work with.

Image source, Reuters

England turned their spinners around but clearly they each preferred their original end as, after another buffer over from Joe Root, they have switched back.

Jack Leach gets another one to stay low as Saim Ayub plays off the back foot but the left-hander, not for the first time, watched it all the way onto his bat.

Just two singles from the over.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

I'm slightly surprised that England haven't turned to a seamer in the last hour.

The seamers bowled five overs at the start and we saw a couple scuttle low to the ground.

Ben Stokes who is normally proactive and forward thinking hasn't turned back to either of his seamers.

Srinivas Vijaykumar
Cricviz analyst

Bashir has bowled a lot tighter today compared to the first Test, especially to right-handers.

In the first Test, 58% of his deliveries to right-handers ended up down the leg, while today it's far lower at 20%.

Tossed up outside off by Shoaib Bashir to entice the drive and Kamran Ghulam obliges.

The right-hander gets an outside edge but the ball goes well wide of slip and the batters scamper through for three.

A little under 20 minutes until lunch. Can England break this stand before then?

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Good fielding from Zak Crawley.

He was off balance when he sent the ball back in. That's why he couldn't get enough power on the throw.

The last thing Pakistan need is a run out so they'll be very relieved that Saim Ayub managed to scramble back after a mix-up.

He pushed the ball into the covers, wanted a single that was never on, Kamran Ghulam rightly sent him back and Ayub dived to make his ground.

Shoaib Bashir is back on, by the way, as Ben Stokes continues to change things up with his bowlers.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

We have seen a couple of balls misbehave, but nothing too extravagant.

England are searching for that lateral movement.

Pak 69-2published at 24 overs

24 overs

Another bowling change as Joe Root is back on for England.

Ben Stokes is content to go with his third spinner rather than have a look at his seamers again, not tempted to see if the ball is reversing just yet.

Meanwhile, a single from Saim Ayub brings up the fifty partnership for the third wicket.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Saim Ayub and Kamran Ghulam have played really well.

England started well with the ball and they're trying to find the right pace. Ben Stokes is chopping and changing the bowlers from different ends.

This partnership is building nicely and they've rotated the strike well.

Smoked over mid-wicket on the sweep.

Top shot from Saim Ayub to end the Jack Leach over.

Having had to work hard following those two early wickets, both Pakistan batters are beginning to look much more confident at the crease.

Ben Stokes clearly thinks otherwise. Shoaib Bashir is back on so that Joe Root over was just so England could switch their spinners around.

Just varying things slightly to make the Pakistan batters think.

On that theme, Bashir ends the over with a couple of deliveries from round the wicket to Kamran Ghulam, who swept with intent for two early in the over.