A big cheer from the crowd as Cook flicks Amir for four off his pads, and it evades the tumbling Sohail at fine leg. The England skipper is moving up through the gears nicely, driving fluently through the off side for three and it takes him to 25 from 31 balls, with England passing 50. By Cook's standards, he's absolutely motoring.

And there's now a huge number of pigeons on the square. Sadly, Blowers is not on commentary duty on this Test. And neither is famous pigeon-fancier Bill Lawry.

Please remember to put your name on your texts. But let us know if you're still queuing outside - and if you've ever missed a crucial wicket while waiting to get into a game!

Sohail trundles in for his fifth over, three slips and a gully in, but he can't find Root's edge. Debutant Iftikhar Ahmed has done well - while the "junior batsman" is often consigned to short-leg duties in Test cricket, he's managed to get straight in as first slip!

But Root has the last laugh as he stands up and forces a four through point off the back foot. And there's nothing wrong with your computer/mobile/tablet - England are rattling along at more than four an over on the first morning of a Test!

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

Joe Root now has 454 runs in a series, which is the most by an England batsman in a series against Pakistan, beating Denis Compton’s record from 1954.

Compton made 0, 278, 93, 53 and 29 in four Tests against Pakistan in that series.  

Mohammad Amir begins a new over, Root isn't happy about something - not sure what. But fortune favours the England vice-captain as he edges one past the slips and away for four. He keeps the strike with a careful single. And that's a record as TMS's Andrew Samson will reveal...

Theo Bowyer: The vagaries of Test cricket - both infuriating and intriguing in the same breath!

David Leslie Bott: Hales never out in a month of Sundays. Shocking third-umpire decision again by Wilson!

James Waddington: For me, that's nothing short of guess work from all the umpires. What happened to giving the benefit of the doubt?

Ramiz Raja
Former Pakistan captain on BBC Test Match Special

This is where England have been smart. If there's been a performance from a Pakistan bowler, they seem to read them the second time round. Sohail Khan was good in the first innings of the last match but since then that advantage has been nullified. Similarly England have played the leggie Yasir Shah well.

Sohail's still struggling to find his radar, firing one past Cook's legs, keeper Sarfraz gets a paw on it but it shoots away for four byes. Fourth slip is taken out and moved into the covers, which are already being patrolled by a handful of pigeons. But you'd think Pakistan would know not to bowl to Cook on his pads - the England skipper helps himself to an easy two.

Joe Root is up and running with a two, while Pakistan then appeal for a strangle down the leg side, they think about reviewing it... but don't.

Francis Edwards: One of those where I think if it was the other way around, we'd be wanting it given out. Hales gone early again though!!!  

Scott Hunt: Alex Hales can shake his head all he likes. Technology can't always save you. Should question his own shot.

Chris Sheldon: Very poor third umpire decision. From the angle they have the ball clearly runs along the floor into Shah's hand.

Let's be fair here. Pakistan had the right to claim what they saw as a catch. Hales, if he wasn't sure, had the right to stay there until he was given out. The original on-field signal (dubbed the "soft signal") was out, and with no evidence to overturn it, Hales has to go.

Time for Joe Root.

Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Alastair Cook looks disbelieving. Hope this doesn't lead to any bad blood between the two sides who have played this series in the right spirit so far.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

The soft signal has done him there.

Third umpire Joel Wilson has a look. He's going to need a closer angle than the first one he's given, which is from very far away... he keeps asking for another angle, but this appears to be the only one they have available.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Hales shaking his head, with his hand on his hip. I think he could be struggling just by the reaction of Yasir.

Hales tries to force Amir off his legs, Yasir Shah dives forward at short mid-wicket and claims a catch. Hales stands his ground, and they're going to the third umpire, but the on-field decision appears to be out...

Sohail Khan made a great impression in the last Test at Edgbaston, but this morning he's not making the batsmen play enough. With England only needing a draw to take the series, they'll keep leaving the ball all day if need be. Hales, lagging behind his captain somewhat, presses a single into the covers. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq is sporting a rather natty pair of red-framed sunglasses, and a rather half-hearted lbw shout from Sohail against Cook gets a dismissive shake of the head from inscrutable umpire Marais Erasmus, as if to indicate it really wasn't worth appealing for.