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Ross: This all just feels a little pointless to be honest. There’s not going to be 20 wickets on this pitch. Hopefully Pakistan will be put under pressure to produce a competitive pitch next time?

Ooh, Ollie Robinson has found an bit of extra bounce and beaten the outside edge. We have not seen that very often this innings - and we are unlikely to see it much again, so we should treasure it while we can.

Ben Stokes, complete with beaming smile, gives his bowler a big clap.

That's the thing, pre-Bazball (sorry) clocking up 600+ runs would take two days, so there is still so much time left in this game.

You can look at this the other way as well. England take two quick wickets here they will have exposed the Pakistan lower order and they are still more than 300 runs behind.

Two singles taken from the latest James Anderson over. A typically sedate post-lunch session so far.

Vic Marks
Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Because England scored so quickly there are still possibilities.

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Saud Shakeel gets off the mark with a single down to third man. With a pitch this flat England will be focusing on the new batter to try and force an early mistake.

Babar Azam nudges another single much to the delight of the crowd, who cheer his every move.

Spoken like a true England fan, that. In fact I apply that approach to most sports teams I support.

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Piemontemio: Anyone else think Pakistan can win this? If they bat another 80 overs, they'll be around 600. England then try to put their foot down to set a target with enough time to bowl them out, fall for 150 and Pakistan need, say, 220 with a day to get them. Hope I'm wrong...

After spinners took the new ball before lunch it is time for some seam as James Anderson opens the bowling after lunch.

Babar Azam clips off his toes to run two and bring up the Pakistan 300.

Ollie Robinson will bowl from the other end. He is deep in conversation with Ben Stokes as they try to come up with a plan.

Some interesting comments from Richard Thompson there.

Anyway, time for some more cricket. The players are out and ready to go.

ECB chair Richard Thompson on the reported £400m bid from a private equity firm for the Hundred: "The reality is the Hundred has created an awful lot of interest in private equity markets.

"There is a feeding frenzy around world cricket and private equity so I'm not surprised we had an offer. It was an unsolicited offer but I won't be drawn on what that is.

"But what it does show is the interest that the Hundred and English cricket is generating so I would expect more unsolicited offers as well."

Is it worth £400m: "The latest IPL franchise sold for a billion so I would say a tournament is worth a lot more."

More from ECB Chair Richard Thompson speaking to BBC TMS: “The Strauss review was called when we had a very challenging Ashes and it is almost written in stone at Lord’s that if you have a bad Ashes you need a review.

"This review is about sustaining success as much as anything. You can’t take for granted that we are playing a very exciting brand of cricket, but it is how you can ensure that is isn’t a flash in the pan.

"And anyone who follows domestic cricket knows the schedule is very, very challenging/unworkable.It is the one issue that causes the most tension and we have to find a way to ensure all formats can breathe around a very congested international programme.

"The review's aim is that within five years England are number one in all formats. That may happen sooner know. It is sustaining it as the tectonic plates of global cricket change. Players are facing the extraordinary decisions on whether to sign a central contract with England or a contract with the owner of four franchises and follow the sun. It is an existential threat to the game.

"Our key assets are the players and the player pathway. We have to guard that very carefully and ensure we don’t lose control of our key assets as their options and choice of what they do with their careers are changing rapidly and the money available lifechanging."

ECB Chair Richard Thompson speaking to BBC TMS: “I’m very fortunate to have inherited a resurgent England side in red and white ball cricket. To have won the T20 World Cup is extraordinary considering the depth of the player who weren’t playing.

"And the brand of cricket Baz and Stokesy have brought to Test side having come through the summer. They have reinvented and redefined Test cricket.

"I look at the player pathway, the quality of cricketer coming through the system and it feels the strongest for a generation, in both forms of the game, particularly in white ball.

"And you can sense the anticipation with the type of cricket we are trying to play going into the Ashes next year. Australia are clearly the number one red ball nation. So if we win that we could be the number one Test side in the world and hold both World Cups. That could be an extraordinary moment in just 12 months.

"So cricket on the field is in a very strong place.”

Cheers, Matthew.

England can be satisfied with their morning's work. Taking one wicket on this surface is tough so three in one session is a decent effort.

The ECB's new boss Richard Thompson is already in the chair on TMS. There's plenty for him to talk about. Have a listen if you can.

Here's Tom Mallows to take you through the next period. Speak later.

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Wickets are really hard to come by so England will be really happy with that.

No further breakthrough before the interval but England will still be pretty pleased as they head off.

Our TV broke during an England game in Euro 2000. It was probably for the best.

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