Image source, Getty Images

Bruce Oxenford, you may remember, is the man who introduced the umpire's 'shield' to the cricketing world.

There's been no sign of it in this match, but did you know it is bullet-proof? Oxenford has been talking to BBC World Service's Stumped programme about how he hopes his invention can help prevent injury and even death - have a listen.

Leaving James Vince and Gary Ballance, two men in need of a score, to shoulder the burden. Plenty more needed from this pair in the afternoon.

But even the skipper would fall before lunch.

Still, Alastair Cook looked in good order...

Just joining us? You've missed a decent morning in Birmingham, one where England were rather surprisingly asked to bat first. It was going well, until...

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Most of the bowling this morning was good. It was a strange decision not to bat first. Maybe they were frightened of Jimmy Anderson. Pakistan have got three wickets with good bowling, but England have still scored at four an over.

Luncheon, the end of a very interesting morning's cricket. Misbah sprung a surprise when elected to bowl on winning the toss, but he'll be pretty pleased with the three wickets he has in his back pocket. 100-3 - honours about even? Mind you, it will be easier for the tourists to grab this game by the scruff of the neck this afternoon. One or two more and they are on top. England have some batting to do.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

It's a wonderful cricket morning. All those that have come they like the challenge of bat and ball. Pakistan whether rightly or wrongly chose to bowl. I feel they were a bit frightened of Jimmy Anderson bowling them out.

Back comes Mohammad Amir, hunting the outside edge of Gary Ballance's bat, tormenting the uncertain left-hander. One big drive gets nothing but fresh air, Ballance doing little to convince he has solved his problems against the swinging ball. One over to go before lunch.

Leg-spin for the first time, Yasir Shah perhaps expecting some assistance on a surface that is pretty dry. Towel poking out the back of his trousers, fizzing run into a whippy action. Single each from Vince and Ballance, a flea in Yasir's ear from umpire Oxenford for running on the pitch. 

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

It's a big nick, it caught him on the crease. But it's the nick in the end.

Rahat Ali has an appeal against Ballance turned down and starts asking around for support of a review. Misbah, the master negotiator, convinces his bowler there's nothing doing, proved correct by a big inside edge. So far, Ballance has gone from scratchy to sublime and continues with a drive through mid-on for four.

Four for Ballance, but nowhere near where he wanted it to be. The ball angled in from Amir, Ballance looking to work through the leg side, but instead a leading edge goes through point. Two men not only battling for runs, but also their Test futures, against an attack with its tail up. Tough times, the sort Adele drones on about. That's better from the leftie, through mid-off for four more.

Image source, Reuters

Carl: Helped Nasser Hussain and family into a cable car going up table mountain in South Africa.

CS: I regularly loan my Lord's cuff links to Alastair Cook, I also keep spare ties/bow ties for Long Room dinners.

Five slips for Gary Ballance, whose back-and-across shuffle is moving him so far that leg stump can be seen by the time he plays the ball. Some obvious idiosyncrasies for this England pair, and not all of them entirely helpful. Single to Ballance off Amir. It's a different game to the first half hour. Twenty minutes or so until lunch.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

I'm slightly worried about Vince. We've seen that he can't stop himself driving at wide balls outside off stump. I'm not looking for  his talent, but for how his brain works - have they got a cricket brain?