The monotony is broken! All hail Moeen, who whips a shot through mid-wicket off Yasir for four. It was a fuller delivery and dispatched effectively by Moeen from near his feet. The crowd wake up briefly to applaud the effort. Then it's back to the gentle murmur. 

Look, Younus, I know I said this a dull phase of play and all that. So you know, by all means nip out for a massage, a few extra energy drinks, or even a short nap. But I'm not sure clipping your finger nails on the outfield is a wise idea, no matter how dull it's getting. Our veteran batsman seems to have a custom wallet to keep his nail clipper, in fact. Whips it out no problem during a break in this Sohail Khan over and chops away. There were some runs scored I guess, but Younus nail clipping is my story of the day.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"The leg-spinner Yasir Shah hasn't turned it much today. Shane Warne could turn it anywhere."

Rex, if you want to get down and try your luck at a refund, that would be some feat. Yasir keeps things tidy.. ish giving four away. As for the bus that could swim, I'm having second thoughts on this last-minute trip to Italy.

Rex Vinorum: Which one of the Pakistani players will be my best bet for getting a refund from for the unbowled overs today?

It's been pointed out that by the drinks break, they had bowled 36 overs in three hours.

I assume The Oval is directly underneath a flight path in and out of Heathrow which is why I can hear an aircraft in the background - what with the crowd still in its afternoon vocal slumber. Sohail comes over the wicket to Moeen Ali, each time grunting like Rafael Nadal deep in the fifth set on Centre Court. Moeen is happy to leave the wide ones alone.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

If you asked the England bowlers, they'd like more carry than some of the pitches they've played on recently. But there's not been much movement today, the batsmen have played poor shots. Alastair Cook has been pretty honest in his press conferences when they've not played well.

Moeen dropped on 15published at 14:44 British Summer Time 11 August 2016

14:44 BST 11 August 2016

Eng 143-5

Oh no! Azhar Ali is having a bit of a mixed day. More bad than good, I'm afraid as well. He drops another one, although in his defence, short leg is the toughest spot to take a catch I think. Moeen defends forward to Yasir Shah and flicks one in the air, Azhar's body just not reacting in time. Based on the fielding position, I'll spare Yasir our dropped catch icon. He might reach for a really stiff drink at this break.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

This isn't the time for Moeen to come haring down the pitch. These two are just developing a partnership, though Moeen's hit some lovely shots.

Alex, that is mighty fancy my good man. Mind if I join you at the tea break? When's the next bus to the continent? What do you mean buses can't swim? 

Sohail Khan grunts in for his new spell, replacing Mohammad Amir. Just the one, with Moeen trying another flowing shot only for it to be stopped inside the circle.

England, since the first Test at Lord's, have looked largely comfortable against Yasir Shah. In fact, and I may be wrong on this, the only wickets to fall to Yasir since Lord's have been bad shots rather than anything magical on Yasir's part, yes? The leggie gives away four in that over and England's shoots of recovery are now worth 30 runs.

Bertie IP: Hanif Mohammad was a true master. When he made his 499 he was RUN OUT! Imagine being run out going for the 500th run!

Mike Bell: Aug 1967, Lancs v Pakistan,Old Trafford. Hanif Mohammed, bowled Shuttleworth,10. Signed my scorecard as walked off, green ink. RIP.

If cover drives could be songs Moeen brings out the equivalent of Santana's 'Smooth' to move into double figures. It's a flowing drive from high to low to attack a full delivery from Amir and it races away for four. Like the ocean under a moon.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"When someone drops a catch like Azhar Ali did, as a bowler you're entitled to have a bit of a strop and kick the dirt. Great sides have always had great catchers."

I must apologise to my fellow In the Night Garden fans. It's been rightly pointed out that I got confused between the Ninky Nonk and the Pinky Ponk. In all honesty though, I'm more drowsy than my little one when we watch it so they both kind of merge into one noisy contraption at times.

Pakistan try to turn the screws a bit more, and appropriately bring on leg-spinner Yasir Shah for his first over. He concedes one.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"A dolly, just below waist height. You're looking for those at that height when you're a slip fielder, you're not looking for them going over your head. Pakistan have dropped some crucial catches."