Pakistan, Second Test, Old Trafford

[Santino]

After tea, more likely. Might be a good turn-up for England... Pakistan a bit tired, facing a new ball in the afternoon light. Good chance of a wicket or three.

 

[Nemo]

Fifty for the man who replaced the rag on the end of a stick which broke down in training.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

A remarkable performance from Bell, coming in fourth wicket only about 160 ahead against a flagging attack. Bodes well for the Ashes.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's third wicket has now added something like 471.....

 

[Nemo]

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's third wicket has now added something like 471.....

Flat pitch?

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Not so flat that South Africa could make 170.

 

[Nemo]

Not so flat that South Africa could make 170.

I see they're still having problems with their openers though (although if 3 and 4 both make 220+ the problem isn't exactly acute I suppose).

 

[Nemo]

400 up.

 

[Nemo]

England now 300+ in front.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

According to Cricinfo, England now have a bigger lead than any side that has gone on to lose a Test.

Good - they can declare before Dickhead gets his hundred.

 

[Nemo]

Good - they can declare before Dickhead gets his hundred.

I think that's what they're waiting for. He has 100 now.

E2A apparently not - no declaration yet.

 

[Nemo]

Harmison getting a bit big for his boots there - out with an attempted reverse sweep.

 

[Nemo]

Decleration on 461-9. Now, at them!

 

[Nemo]

Looks like Harmison might be broken.

 

[muser]

Harmison getting a bit big for his boots there - out with an attempted reverse sweep.

He is quality, don't put him down - you knocker

 

[Nemo]

He is quality, don't put him down - you knocker

Not knocking him, just remarking on the fact.

 

[Nemo]

Harmy has Akmal caught behind.

 

[Santino]

Pakistan have yet to bowl England out in this series. That's got to be a huge psychological disadvantage for them.

 

[Nemo]

Pakistan have yet to bowl England out in this series. That's got to be a huge psychological disadvantage for them.

And unless they both bat and bowl better than they have hitherto in this match, they won't be starting now either. Although sadly no one's going for the world record like they are in Sri Lanka.

 

[Nemo]

Monty!

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Will he play in the Ashes? Seems to me like he's already a better bowler than Ashley Giles. It would be a positive move to use him IMO, even though Giles can bat a bit.

 

[Nemo]

Will he play in the Ashes? Seems to me like he's already a better bowler than Ashley Giles. It would be a positive move to use him IMO, even though Giles can bat a bit.

That's the problem; Panesar may well be a better spinner than Giles, but he can't bat or field nearly as well. We can't have too many rabbits against the Aussies. Plus which, can you imagine the sledging he'd get?

 

[Donna Ferentes]

He can take wickets. Giles only took ten when on the top of his form last summer.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

I don't think you can not take a player because of the sledging, plus Giles has all that 'wheelie bin' stuff anyway. Probably it depends on what the rest of the line up looks like with injuries and so on. If you can bat a bit down to ten a dodgy number 11 isn't that huge a problem. Glen McGrath has never been able to bat (although obviously Panesar isn't in his class.)

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Take the Steve Waugh line: what do the opposition not want you to do? Now does anybody think they'd worry about facing Ashley Giles?

 

[Nemo]

I don't think you can not take a player because of the sledging, plus Giles has all that 'wheelie bin' stuff anyway. Probably it depends on what the rest of the line up looks like with injuries and so on. If you can bat a bit down to ten a dodgy number 11 isn't that huge a problem. Glen McGrath has never been able to bat (although obviously Panesar isn't in his class.)

If they can take Flintoff it'll be much easier because they'll have a good batsman and bowler so limited batting at numbers 10 and 11 won't be such a problem. The problem is that atm, none of the bowlers in the team can be relied upon consistently to add fifteen or twenty to the total, whereas Giles probably can.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

I don't think he needs to take that many more wickets than Giles to be worth 15 runs an innings though. I'm listening to Test Match Special and it sounds like he's really turning the ball which Giles doesn't really do tbh. Also I think looking to the future Panesar could be playing for years which isn't going to be the case for Giles.

 

[Balbi]

Boris being interviewd

 

[Nemo]

Stumped.

 

[Balbi]

Stumped.

stupid net radio lag --- missed the stump for the buffering

 

[Nemo]

Possibly a catch too.