Postpublished at 08:51 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022
Vic Marks
Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
Image source, Getty ImagesThere might be five after this match. After all that talk, how bold will England be?
Summary
England declare, setting Pakistan 343 to win
Babar caught behind off Stokes
Robinson removes Shafique, then forces Azhar to retire hurt with damaged finger
Tourists smash 264-7 off 35.5 overs to set up victory bid
Brooks clobbers brilliant 87 off 65 balls
Crawley hits 47-ball 50 before gloving behind; Root adds enterprising 73 off 69
Pakistan bowled out for 579 - England lead by 78 runs on first innings
Jacks picks up six-wicket haul on Test debut
Postpublished at 08:51 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022
Image source, Getty ImagesEng 146-3published at 22 overs
Lead by 224
That's a list most people would be terrified to join but I'm not sure Ben Stokes would care.
How's stat?!published at 08:49 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022
Andy Zaltzman
Cricket statistician on Test Match SpecialStokes has only ever declared once and that was against South Africa at Old Trafford.
There have only been four England captains that have declared in the third innings and then lost.
50 for Joe Rootpublished at 21.3 overs
You just knew he wasn't going miss out again.
Joe Root moves to 51 from 48 balls with a drive down the ground.
Eng 141-3published at 21 overs
Lead by 219
Image source, Getty ImagesAatif and Vic are debating declaration targets on TMS. Would setting Pakistan 330 with an hour to go tonight be too generous?
Eng 135-3published at 20.1 overs
No stopping this one. Brook, yet again, attacks leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood. This time the ball goes over the bowler's head before banging into the sightscreen.
Mahmood won't miss Brook in the few days between Tests. While I'm dreaming about whales, Mahmood will be having nightmares about England's new number three.
Eng 131-3published at 20 overs
Root 43, Brook 19
Does it count as an anagram if you don't use all of the letters? I'm asking the big questions this morning.
Pakistan are fielding a lot better today. A diving stop denies Brook another boundary. Root has been denied twos a few times by some speedy work.
get involved Cricketing 'achievements' in namespublished at 08:40 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022
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Not quite the same, but Marcus Trescothick is famously an anagram of “cricket shot”. Simon (Bicester)
Eng 127-3published at 19 overs
Poor Shane.
Ferocious power this time from Brook who thrashes a drive through the covers. He's dealing almost exclusively in boundaries. The lead nudges beyond 200.
get involved Cricketing 'achievements' in namespublished at 08:37 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022
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What about Shane Watson lbw? I believe that's his full name.
Brian, Leeds.
Eng 118-3published at 18 overs
Root 37, Brook 12
Zak Crawley has made a bit of history today. He was the first England player to reach fifty in both innings at better than a run a ball. Harry Brook might fancy his chances of joining him. England are going to bat the rest of this session and a bit of the final one at least, you'd think.
Postpublished at 08:31 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022
Waqar Younis
Former Pakistan pace bowler on TMS
Image source, Getty ImagesEngland are very blunt and open about what they want to achieve on this tour and in this game. They aren't looking for a draw.
Eng 117-3published at 17 overs
Lead by 195
Better.
On the pitch, this situation looks perfect for these two. Joe Root is taking singles at will. Harry Brook waits for the bad ball from Zahid and clobbers it again.
get involved Cricketing 'achievements' in namespublished at 08:28 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022
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David HOOKes Australian cricketer.
Mark. Basingstoke.
Wasim Jaffer? Pramodya Hitwicket-ramasinghe?
From Gordon in Bridport
Eng 111-3published at 16 overs
Lead by 189
I think we can do better.
get involved Cricketing 'achievements' in namespublished at 08:25 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022
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Colin COWdrey. Andrew FlintOFF. James AndersON. RoHIT Sharma. How are those?
Derek Legg (shame I'm terrible at cricket)
Eng 105-3published at 15 overs
Root 30, Brook 6
I'm not sure Harry Brook rates Zahid Mahmood. He gets off the mark off his third delivery by launching the leg-spinner for six.
Play yourself in? No chance.
Eng 96-3published at 14 overs
Lead by 174
Here's Harry Brook...
Postpublished at 08:17 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2022
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialCrawley looked confident he didn't get anything on that.
He's played extraordinarily well in this Test. A hundred in the last innings and a fifty in this.
WICKETpublished at 13.5 overs
Crawley c Rizwan b Ali 50 (Eng 96-3)
Image source, Getty ImagesThere's a spike...
Crawley was trying to pull away a bouncer but has just flicked one through to Rizwan down the leg side. He has to trudge off for 50 from 48 balls.
A useful knock in the circumstances.