Pakistan v England LIVE, third Test, day one, Karachi - score, commentary & updates

Summary

Crawley out without scoring in first over
Four wickets for Leach as Pakistan bowled out for 304
Leg-spinner Ahmed, 18, takes two wickets on debut
Babar makes 78 before being run out by Foakes' smart work

Live Reporting

Matthew Henry, Um-E-Aymen Babar and Mike Peter

Gower plots playing return...published at 05:17 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Breaking
... Only joking, but here's the great man in the nets!
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Pak 17-0published at 3 overs
Shafique 8, Masood 8
There's something very Christmassy about the sense of anticipation waking up to check the Test score from Australia and the subsequent groan that follows.
Right-hander Abdullah Shafique leans onto the front foot again to ease Robinson's easy pace for a fourth boundary in three overs.
Australia dismiss South Africa on day one in Brisbanepublished at 05:10 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Image source, Getty Images
The Test in Karachi isn't the only match getting under way today, with Australia and South Africa kicking off their three-match series in Brisbane.
It's been a fantastic opening day for the hosts with the touring side bowled out for 152 just before tea. After losing the toss, South Africa were reduced to 27-4 before Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne offered some resistance, putting on a partnership of 98.
Mitchell Starc made the breakthrough, bowling Bavuma, and the Proteas collapsed, losing their last six wickets for 27 runs.
You can follow the scorecard here.
Pak 12-0published at 2 overs
Shan Masood has come to Bazball! He's into this game in place of the injured Imam-ul-Haq and, after watching the first two Tests from the sidelines, biffs Jack Leach for two fours in his opening over.
Postpublished at 05:06 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator
Jack Leach is going to be opening the bowling. That's everything you need to know about the surface.
Pak 4-0published at 1 over
Jerusalem echoes around the empty stands of this famous ground in Karachi, courtesy of a small group of England fans down in the shade. There are not many others in the ground at the minute.
Unsurprisingly, there's no swing or serious bounce for Ollie Robinson. You weren't expecting anything else, were you?
Abdullah Shafique guides one down through gully for four at the end of the over.
Pak 0-0published at 05:01 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Here we go then.
In the absence of the rested Jimmy Anderson, Ollie Robinson will bowl the first over.
Postpublished at 05:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special
Ahmed is ultra aggressive with the bat so they've seen something that is slightly different.
They want that mystery spinner.
Postpublished at 04:58 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Rehan Ahmed was presented his cap by former England skipper Nasser Hussain a little earlier.
His dad was in the huddle too.
A lovely moment.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 04:56 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special
Image source, Getty Images
I am Interested to see Mohammad Wasim Jnr. In the T20 World Cup he bowled fantastically. He is a quick bowler. A good bowler.
Postpublished at 04:54 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special
They talk that Ahmed's googly spins more than his leg-spinner.
Postpublished at 04:53 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Vic Marks
Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
Rehan Ahmed is quite a quick leg-spinner from what I have seen. He should be used a bit like a fast bowler, as an attacking bowling, rather than trying to keep things quiet at one end.
Who is Rehan Ahmed?published at 04:48 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Image source, Getty Images
With England bowling first we should see Rehan Ahmed bowling for the first time nice and early.
The 18-year-old becomes the youngest man to play a Test for England, beating a record held by the legendary Brian Close since 1949.
Ahmed has only played three first-class matches but has taken a five-wicket haul and hit a hundred.
He caught the eye in the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year as England reached the final while aged just 11 he bowled during an England net and dismissed Ben Stokes and Alastair Cook.
The teamspublished at 04:45 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Rehan Ahmed with his dad, Naeem
Pakistan XI: Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Nauman Ali, Abrar Ahmed.
England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood, Jack Leach
Postpublished at 04:42 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
England captain Ben Stokes: "We would've batted too. Rehan is coming in to make his debut. Very exciting times for his family and English cricket. We hope he can feel like he can express himself and it's the start of something exciting.
On Jimmy Anderson not playing: "It was an easy decision with everything coming up with Australia and New Zealand. He's put in an amazing effort so we thought it would be good to give him a break.
"Looking at the wicket, we could get a good chance and get the game going early. We'd love to win and leave here 3-0 but the biggest and important thing is how we want to play and we're thankful for that opportunity."
Postpublished at 04:40 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Pakistan captain Babar Azam: "The pitch looks dry. We will try to put runs on the board.
On the retiring Azhar Ali: "He has done a lot for Pakistan. All the best for the rest of his life and the match."
Postpublished at 04:37 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Pakistan have rung the changes again. It's four changes for them, including seamer Mohammad Wasim.
England's XI confirms what we knew yesterday.
18-year-old Rehan Ahmed becomes their youngest Test cricketer.
Image source, Getty Images
Pakistan win the toss and batpublished at 04:33 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Breaking
First things first...
Pakistan have won the toss for the first time in the series.
They're going to have a bat.
Postpublished at 04:31 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Good morning. It has been quite the ride.
With the series secure, England's band of thrillseekers have rocked up in Karachi for one final show in 2022.
They have already made history with their thrilling performances in this series.
Can they now go all the way and do something no team has done before? A 3-0 clean sweep in Pakistan would be historic...
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 04:30 Greenwich Mean Time 17 December 2022
Can they now end their year on a high in Karachi?
Image source, Getty Images