Postpublished at 18:36 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
At 314-4 with power to come, England are in a terrific position.
Summary
Root 141*, Cook 105
Cook's 29th century, level with Bradman
Cook & Root add 185 for second wicket
Hales 10, Vince 18, Ballance 23
Second Test, Old Trafford; Pak 1-0 up
Postpublished at 18:36 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Postpublished at 18:35
Yep, Sir G will cast his eye over today's play and we'll bring you the video highlights. Stick with us for the next half hour or so for the best of the day's action.
Postpublished at 18:34 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Postpublished at 18:33
Root gets handshakes from the Pakistan players, a nice touch. He removes his helmet and mops his brow at the end of six hours in the middle. He waves his bat to a crowd that chants "Roooooooot". He has the chance for a really big one tomorrow.
Close of play - Eng 314-4published at 18:32
That will do, the end of what has been England's day. Alastair Cook gobbled up the chance to bat first when Misbah-ul-Haq called incorrectly, with the skipper and his vice then tonning up. Cook 105, Joe Root still there on 141. England sleep on 314-4, on top in this second Test.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 18:29 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
#bbccricket
Huw Thomas: Woakes in as a nightwatchman to protect Stokes. Woakes has a higher first class average. Strange game, cricket.
Eng 313-4published at 18:27
Woakes, by the way, has a Test batting average that is only 0.6 runs off that of Stokes, the man he is protecting. (Woakes' bowling average is nearly 10 runs better). Rahat tests out the middle of the pitch, Woakes ducking and bobbing. We're almost done for the day.
Postpublished at 18:25 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match SpecialWhat we've seen today is what we knew already: there's a huge imbalance in the England line-up - a gulf between Cook and Root and the other specialist batsmen.
Eng 313-4published at 18:23
87 overs
It gets a touch brighter - we'll get to 18:30, but we won't fit 90 overs in. Amir round the wicket to Root, a man who has been at the crease for all but 20 minutes of the day's play. As some fans sing Hey Jude, but with the words change to Joe Root, Amir hangs the ball outside the off stump. We'll probably fit two more overs in.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 18:20 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
#bbccricket
Brent Bentley: When your nightwatchman has 9 first class hundreds you officially have a long batting line-up!!!
Hannah Dixie: Woakes to bat 4 instead of Vince. No brainer!
Eng 313-4published at 18:19
Rahat 19-2-69-2
Looking again, it was a pretty average delivery from Rahat, He's making a habit of taking wickets with bad balls. Imagine what might happen when he bowls some good ones. Woakes is off the mark with a punch through point for a couple.
Postpublished at 18:18 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match SpecialChris Woakes is the best player I've seen come out as a nigthwatchman for England for a very long time.
Postpublished at 18:18 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match SpecialIs Chris Woakes too good to be a nightwatchman?
Eng 311-4published at 18:17
Chris Woakes, with a career batting average of 32, is England's nightwatchman. He might see this as a chance to get a big score, rather than just to protect Stokes, Bairstow et al. Moeen Ali now pushed down to nine....
Postpublished at 18:16 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match SpecialHe tried to cut a ball that was far too close for him. It came back in, took the bottom edge and cannoned into the stumps. I'm fascinated to see a) if England have a nigthwatchman, and b) his name.
WICKETpublished at 18:14
Ballance b Rahat 23 (Eng 311-4)
From nowhere, Gary Ballance has given Pakistan a Friday evening gift. A short delivery from Rahat Ali is too straight to cut, but that's exactly what Ballance tries to do. He only succeeds in getting an under edge down on to his stumps. When he was looking well set, Ballance falls. One more tonight and Pakistan will be very chipper.
Postpublished at 18:14 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match SpecialJoe Root is wonderfully relaxed. That's one thing you notice about the top players - in between balls they're in their natural habitat.
Eng 311-3published at 18:13
A sign that this new ball hasn't really worked for Pakistan is this change of plan. Amir to Ballance, short leg and two men on the hook. Bumpers, rather than looking for some wobble in the air. Amir, shirt untucked, sends down one bouncer so high that it's called wide. England coasting towards the close.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 18:08 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Text 81111
Following from a bar in Cannes waiting for the rest of the family to arrive. Hoping Joe gets to 150 before I have to make conversation.
Graham in Cannes, France
Eng 309-3published at 18:07
Root 140, Ballance 21
Even with the new ball in hand, Pakistan are quite defensive to Root. I suppose that makes sense for the man who has batted like Sachin today. More aggressive for Ballance, three slips, with the left-hander only playing when he really has to. He looks like he might have lost a bit of weight, Ballance. He might be going easy on the lager.