Tour Match: England A v Pakistan [Updates & Post Match]

[Amjid Javed]

Match starts today. should be a good work out for pakistan before start of 1st test @ lords.

[zMario]

Full Pakistan team playing, almost half of England team playing.

Should be a good contest!

Hope BBC doesn't block commentary this time to just UK only, but I won't get my hopes high.

[Saqib]

This should be a good game for Pakistan, I hope we win the toss and bat first out there. The Pakistani batsman need some sort of early form before start of the first test. We hope some good parterships going in this practice game

these teams will be likely cricinfo.

England A Robert Key (capt), Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Owais Shah, Ravinder Bopara, Jamie Dalrymple, Alex Loudon, Chris Read (wk), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Matthew Hoggard

Pakistanis (probable) Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria

[Usman Chadda]

Last chance for Salman to impress. He gets another single figure here, thats it for him I guess

[pak4life]

morning all big day today...ranas fitness test first inshallah he will pass and play.

[Momo]

This probable team is my very Pakistan team. Lets hope they use it as such!

[Amoeba]

Very muggy here in London. If it is the same in Canterbury then I expect the ball to move around.
Could be an interesting day with Hoggard and Asif amongst others playing.

[Afridi_Fan]

Well I guess whoever plays today for Pakistan Elevan has a good chance to play in lords

[Afridi_Fan]

Well I guess whoever plays today for Pakistan Elevan has a good chance to play in lords provided he scores some runs or gets some wickets

[Amoeba]

Would be surprised if Butt plays as they want to pick their first XI. Maybe they are trying to hide Farhat a bit so that we don't go in with both openers low in confidence if they do not do well in this game.

[Easa]

Farhat will play ahead of Butt.

He played very well last match.

[Easa]

Full Pakistan team playing, almost half of England team playing.

Should be a good contest!

Hope BBC doesn't block commentary this time to just UK only, but I won't get my hopes high.

Same here, hoping to get some BBC commentary.

[Osman]

what time does the match start ?

[161]

Pakistan in England, 2006

Rana ruled out of Lord's Test

Cricinfo staff

July 6, 2006



Naved-ul-Hasan has been preserved for the remainder of the series © Getty Images

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, the Pakistan fast bowler, will miss the first Test against England at Lord's after his coach Bob Woolmer confirmed that he wasn't ready to submit the player to a proposed fitness test in Canterbury.

He reasoned that though Rana showed encouraging signs in his recovery from a groin injury, it would be a risk to rush him into the squad this early, especially since he is yet to regain his full pace at the nets. He added that the fitness test has been postponed by a few days to gauge his recovery.

"Rana's fitness test has been put back a few days as he is recovering well and we are prepared to give him more time", said Woolmer. "He won't be available for the first Test match but could certainly be available after that. We were going to see how fit he really was and put him through it. But we have just knocked that back two or three days because the groin is getting better and we don't want to rush it too much."

The absence of Rana and Shoaib Akhtar gives Mohammad Asif the chance to shoulder the responsibility. Asif had a rewarding tour of Sri Lanka recently picking up 17 wickets in two Tests. His swing and cut prompted Younis Khan, the Pakistan vice-captain, to draw comparions with Australian Glenn McGrath.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Asif made a big impression on this England tour", Younis told bigstarcricket.com. " We are obviously missing Shoaib (Akhtar) and also probably Rana Naved for the first Test at least but Asif will make an impression, I'm sure. He is looking like a young Glenn McGrath at the moment. He is not very fast but he's accurate, knows about line and length and has a good, mature cricket brain for a youngster."

Asif is one of the six fast bowlers in the Pakistan squad, and Younis remained upbeat after the performances of Umar Gul and Mohammad Sami in the tour match against Leicestershire. "Umar Gul and Mohammad Sami are also looking very good, fit and confident", he said. "It shows that our squad is becoming stronger and that we can cope when key players are missing."

On Pakistan's chances, he observed that unlike their previous tour this time they would be playing during the second-half of the English summer, which would help his side acclimatise faster. He added that the dry wickets would assist his spinners.

"The conditions are very good for us at the moment, which wasn't the case back in 2001 when we were confronted with a moist pitch at Lord's in the middle of May and were beaten by an innings after failing to come to terms with England's seamers."

© Cricinfo

[Easa]

what time does the match start ?

In about an hour.

[CHANDTARA]

starts at 11

[Afridi_Fan]

Go to the main page of pakpassion.net and there is a clock which will tell you when it will start about in half hours time

[pak4life]

any audio link?

[kayanni]

No Malik, YK or Afridi in the team

[pak4life]

No Malik, YK or Afridi in the team

they all performed well in the last match giving a few others some match practise

[mulan]

England A team:
*RWT Key, AN Cook, IR Bell, OA Shah, RS Bopara, JWM Dalrymple,
AGR Louden, +CMW Read, TT Bresnan, MJ Hoggard, SCJ Broad.

Pakistanis team:
Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Faisal Iqbal, Mohammad Yousuf,
*Inzamam -ul-Haq, +Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami,
Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria.

England A won the toss and elected to bat. IS this the line-up Pakistan will opt for for the Lords test?

No Afridi and no Malik :D

[CHANDTARA]

England A won the toss and elected to bat first

[sehban]

they should have played atleast one of them..all the good fielders in the pak team not playin this match

[MIG]

Would be very interesting if Salman scores a big hundred here !

[Easa]

No Afridi?!?!?!

Damn... he better play at Lords.

[UJ]

It would be a shame not to see Malik in the side for the 1st test...he has earned his spot!

[Easa]

Would be very interesting if Salman scores a big hundred here !

'If' being the key word here. :P

[Asim2Good]

It's OK to give rest to Malik and YK, but Afridi should had played as he didn't perform yet in previous matches

[MIG]

'If' being the key word here. :P

well, SHOULD he put in a decent performance, BW will have a dilemma on his hands - not that easy a choice but Malik may give Pak an extra bowling option

[sehban]

did the match start

[UJ]

did the match start

yes, Asif bowling the first over

[UJ]

Sami to share the new ball

Just the wide of the first over by Asif

[Easa]

1-0 (2.2)

Good start by both, Sami started with a maiden.

[Usman Chadda]

Sami starts off with a maiden

[pak4life]

malik is the david becham of pak cricket whether he performs or not Bob will never drop him ;-)

[sehban]

we have quite a long tail in this match 4-0

[sehban]

sami strikes cook gone

[sy]

Cook out, caught behind of the bowling of Sami!

[Saqib]

Mohammed Sami takes the wicket of the day and Kamran Akmal has taken an catch

England A 4/1

c Akmal b Sami

[CHANDTARA]

Sami!!!!!!!!!!!

[Usman Chadda]

Cook goes caught behind off Sami for 3

England A 4/1

[Luton Bad Boy]

Sami took the wicket not Asif

[pak4life]

i like the look of the new sami hope it continues.

[Nauman]

Who took the wicket? Sami or Asif.

[Usman Chadda]

Who took the wicket? Sami or Asif.

Sami

[Usman Chadda]

Anyone got the audio commentary to work?

[Saqib]

No, I don't there will be live audio because last time it was the county team who had everything set up.

[CHANDTARA]

Cook is a huge wicket, I was thinking he'd be more dangerous. Now Bell is in though, he can be frustrating.. patient player with a good technique

[Saqib]

Robert Key just hit 2 FOURS of Mohammed Asif, maybe and outside ege ?

[CHANDTARA]

Asif Been A Bit Expensive So Far

[Usman Chadda]

Asif hit for two fours by Robert Key

[Nauman]

Asid seems to be going for quite a few runs, which is usually Sami's job.

[Luton Bad Boy]

14/1 at the moment of 5 overs

[Saqib]

You can buy live Audio and Video streaming via official ECB channels

http://www.ecbtv.co.uk/

[Luton Bad Boy]

RR of 2.40 so far, i think that is disciplined bowling so far

[Usman Chadda]

England A finding it really hard to get both of these bowlers away

[Saqib]

WOW Robert Key just hit Mohammed Asif for SIXXXXXXX

22/1

RR 3.07

[Usman Chadda]

Asif getting a little stick from Key

[Saqib]

OKEY mohammed sami now has been hit for FOUR by Robert Key

[Amoeba]

Obviously with the muggy conditions Pak wanted to pick as many seamers as possible but Afridi should have played. Does this mean that Faisal, if he does well here, will bat at 6 at lords?

[Saqib]

If Robert Key is playing like this and scores an 100 orso he will will start against Pakistan in the first.

[Saqib]

Obviously with the muggy conditions Pak wanted to pick as many seamers as possible but Afridi should have played. Does this mean that Faisal, if he does well here, will bat at 6 at lords?

they don't want to play Shahid Afridi in the first test instead maybe with an extra batsman or a bowler in place of Afridi :O

[Usman Chadda]

OKEY mohammed sami now has been hit for FOUR by Robert Key

Uh no Saqib bhai. Key has 2 fours and both of them were off Asif

[Easa]

Sami bowling well:

Bowlers: O M R W Econ
Mohammad Asif 4.5 0 18 0 3.72 (0nb, 1w)
Mohammad Sami 4 1 9 1 2.25 (0nb, 0w)

[CHANDTARA]

Sami is quick, he dosent need to try and do too much just put it on a good line and length and he wil get wickets... its when he tries to hard and feels he is in Shoaibs shadow that he dissappoints...

[Saqib]

Uh no Saqib bhai. Key has 2 fours and both of them were off Asif

No he has been hit for FOUR because how did the batsman run 4 runs than ?

[mulan]

Another maiden for Sami.

Gul into the attack now replacing Asif.

[Usman Chadda]

No he has been hit for FOUR because how did the batsman run 4 runs than ?

Key hit two fours off Asif before. Then he hit a six off the same bowler. Adds upto 14 doesnt it? He got a single somewhere...

Maybe 4 runs came off Sami's full over

[Usman Chadda]

Gul into the attack now

[Saqib]

Key hit two fours off Asif before. Then he hit a six off the same bowler. Adds upto 14 doesnt it? He got a single somewhere...

Maybe 4 runs came off Sami's full over

Long Live CricInfo or Cr@pinfo :))

[Nauman]

Eng 28/1 Gul into the attack.

[Rana]

27-1 after 10 overs

[Saqib]

I wonder how the conditions are over there ?

[Usman Chadda]

Long Live CricInfo or Cr@pinfo :))

:19:

[Rana]

28-1 after 11, gul gives away only 1 run in his over

[Usman Chadda]

Gul's fist over costs just a single run. Good disciplined bowling so far by the bowlers

[Rana]

mo Sami bowling very well here

[Rana]

i think another has gone, bbc isnt refreshing!

[Rana]

na it was just slow there,

29-1

[Rana]

sami has 1-10 after 6 overs!

brilliant!!

[Usman Chadda]

England A RR: 2.32

29/1 in 12.3 overs

[sehban]

30-1 13.1

[mulan]

I believe Asif will do a great deal better when he's brought back a little later.

He was probably over-extending himself... Inzi doing the right thing...Get the man down to third man and let him get rid of the buffy's.

[Luton Bad Boy]

Sami and Gul are bowling well, Asif slightly expensive but, we should not worry about his bowling form he is too good to criticise. Apparently this will be the team for the Lord's test according to BBC Sport, the team is missing Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik.

[Rana]

40-1 after 15 overs

[CHANDTARA]

razzaq relacing sami

[Has]

Imran Farhat
Salman Butt
Faisal Iqbal
Mohammad Yousuf
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Kamran Akmal
Abdul Razzaq
Mohammad Sami
Umar Gul
Mohammad Asif
Danish Kaneria.

[Luton Bad Boy]

Razzaq after 5 balls has not conceded a run yet.

[Luton Bad Boy]

46/1 of 17 overs

[Nauman]

Maiden by Razzaq.

[James]

Key looks to have intent, a place in the squad for Lords isn't out of reach if he builds a big score today.

[Rana]

53-1 after 19

[Nauman]

Time to bring Asif back in place of Gul.

[Azam6380]

Maiden by Razzaq.

:O

[Momo]

This is bad. I can picture it. A new aerodynamic (post haircut) Sami gets some wickets and on that basis gets selected and then gets thrashed in the Test match! Normally I am one who most often sees the glass half full but when it comes to Sami, I cant help being a pessimist!

[Rana]

55-1 after 20

[Rana]

they shud give dani boy a chance now!

[pacman]

You can buy live Audio and Video streaming via official ECB channels

http://www.ecbtv.co.uk/

hmmm, just went to that site. The schedule does not mention England A vs Pakistan. I don't want to pay for something I won't get. Are you sure they are showing it live?

[MIG]

Bland pitches due to the heat - Pak batsman will prosper here - unless Kaneria will do something big

[James]

73/1, Bell and Key taking advantage of a weakened Pakistani attack and a good wicket/nice day. These are definitely conditions for big scores.

[CHANDTARA]

No Afridi, and four number 11s. what will be the team for the first test?

[Muyazzim Khan]

Overall it would seem the Pak bowlers have bowled today with better control than the previous match, that is reflected in the extras we haven't conceded on this occaision and also the Eng A run rate.

Good to see Sami bowl a decent opening burst and Razzaq being miserly. Its long day and a lot of play is still left.

[Rana]

80-1

[Nauman]

Is it lunch right now?

[Easa]

Yes, Lunch it is.

[Easa]

Bowling O M R W
Mohammad Asif 7 1 21 0 (1w)
Mohammad Sami 7 2 15 1
Umar Gul 8 2 24 0
Abdul Razzaq 6 2 8 0
Danish Kaneria 1 0 2 0

Sami has been the best bowler by far.

[Easa]

Apparently, Akmal is carrying a minor injury.

Alastair Cook was the only casualty before lunch on the first day of England A's four-day match against Pakistan at Canterbury.

Cook, expected to play in the first Test at Lord's starting on 13 July, was dismissed in the fourth over of the morning after the hosts won the toss.

The left-hander nicked a delivery from Mohammad Sami and was well held low down by wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.

But, under Rob Key and Ian Bell, England's second string reached 80-1.

Bell, aiming to return to the Test squad in the absence of Andrew Flintoff, drove fluently through the off-side during a partnership of 76.

Key settled in at his county headquarters with a cover-driven four to get off the mark and a pull to the boundary, both off Mohammad Asif.

When Asif dropped short again, Key's response was emphatic as a pull cleared the rope at fine leg.

There was one moment of discomfort for Key when, on 20, edged just short of second slip off Umar Gul.

And he survived a genuine chance moments before the interval when a delivery of extra bounce from Asif found the edge only for gloveman Akmal to spill the ball.

Akmal was troubled by an injury to his left index finger, incurred in just the fifth over of the morning, and it was clearly affecting his performance behind the stumps.

As expected, Pakistan fielded a strong line-up for their final warm-up match before the big international at Lord's.

Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq returned to action after he missed the warm-up match at Leicester.

But Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has been ruled out of the first of the four-match series, while he works his way back from a groin injury.

England A have several young players hopeful of forcing their way into contention for the senior side.

Essex batsman Ravinder Bopara and Leicestershire paceman Stuart Broad are regarded as two of the brightest prospects in county cricket.

Middlesex all-rounder Jamie Dalrymple impressed for England in the one-day series against Sri Lanka.

[James]

Finger injuries can get nasty for cricketers, it would be a mistake to write this off as a minor injury.

[Easa]

Finger injuries can get nasty for cricketers, it would be a mistake to write this off as a minor injury.

If this is a genuine injury, we are in HUGE trouble.

[Muyazzim Khan]

Inshallah Akmal will come through this unscathed but it will be a terrible blow if this is serious.

[Hash]

It would be so damn typical if Akmal was to get injured.

Anyway, 80 for 1 so a decent start by England A but remember Darrel Hair is the umpire so I am 100% certain it should have been more than 1 wicket.

[KA$H]

I would rather that AKmal rest his finger that aggravate it in this warm up - maybe Younis K can keep wicket

[KA$H]

younis not playin! Doh!

[Hash]

Faisal Iqbal can keep wicket.

Come on.....get kamran off.

[sehsan]

younis not playin! Doh!

faisal can keep

[Muyazzim Khan]

Overall it would seem the Pak bowlers have bowled today with better control than the previous match, that is reflected in the extras we haven't conceded on this occaision and also the Eng A run rate.

Good to see Sami bowl a decent opening burst and Razzaq being miserly. Its long day and a lot of play is still left.

Well looks like i put the mockers on because we have conceded 12 extras already. The amount of Byes and Leg byes is begining to disturb me. In the game against Leicestershire we gave far too many Byes and Leg byes and in this innings we have already conceded 10.

On a good note Sami surprisingly has not bowled a no-ball or wide as yet.

[Rana]

kaneria went for some runs there!

105-1

[Luton Bad Boy]

England A 1st Innings
105 for 1 (33.1 overs)

[Easa]

105-1

Kaneria to continue after lunch.

[Luton Bad Boy]

Akmal's finger injury dont sound promising. We could do without him being injured.

[Rana]

keneria is bieng well expensive here!

4 overs 27 runs!

[Rana]

its 110-1 after 34 overs

[sehban]

pak is missing afridi's bowling rite now

[Rana]

cmon pakistan!!!

we need sum wickets boys!!!

[Easa]

113-1

In these kind of situations, Afridi comes very handy. He is a partnership breaker, he takes the important wickets.

If you remember the Bangalore test, he got Tendulkar, Laxman, Ganguly out. Three very important wickets.

[MIG]

More details on the scorecard pls.

[Easa]

Here you go Migsy:

England A 1st innings R M B 4 6
AN Cook c Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Sami 3 13 13 0 0
*RWT Key not out 49 154 93 8 1
IR Bell not out 56 139 118 8 0
Extras (b 5, lb 5, w 1, nb 4) 15
Total (1 wickets, 36.4 overs) 123

To Bat: OA Shah, RS Bopara, JWM Dalrymple, AGR Loudon, +CMW Read,
TT Bresnan, MJ Hoggard, SCJ Broad.

FoW: 1-4 (Cook).

Bowling O M R W
Mohammad Asif 10.4 2 34 0 (4nb, 1w)
Mohammad Sami 7 2 15 1
Umar Gul 8 2 24 0
Abdul Razzaq 6 2 8 0
Danish Kaneria 5 0 32 0

Pakistanis team:
Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, +Faisal Iqbal, Mohammad Yousuf,
*Inzamam-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami,
Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria.

[Tan]

Is this a dead pitch or what man? why are we struggling to get wickets? any Idea?

[Sid100]

so annoying that theres no commentary on this match.

kaneria seems to have been taken apart by key and bell
6.0 0 33 0 5.50

however still early days, he may end up finishing with figures 5for 150 at this rate, i hope not though

[Rana]

124-1

[Muzy]

is bbc not covering this match coverage on their website?

[Rana]

inzy yaar bring sami into the attack!!

[Billy]

Alex Loudon seems to get everywhere these days.

Bring back Rikki Clarke!

[Muzy]

so younis khan, afridi & malik being rested in this match?

[Sid100]

Is this a dead pitch or what man? why are we struggling to get wickets? any Idea?

"in the final over of the morning, he reprieved Key on 30, a regulation chance off Mohammad Asif" cricininfo

well if we are not going to take our chances, quality badsman are going to punish us. It may be a dead pitch but we must take our chances.

The story would have been different with 2 wickets down with a new badsman in.

[Sid100]

inzy yaar bring sami into the attack!!

WE NEED TO BRING SAMI INTO THE ATTACK

[Sid100]

WE NEED TO BRING SAMI INTO THE ATTACK

HES BACK, GOOD MOVE, LETS SEE IF HE DOES ANYTHING

[James]

Sami's figures suddenly look much less impressive, must have gone for a few boundaries in the last over!

I dont see why you lot are crapping yourselves so soon, top order partnerships are part of touring. The bowling attack has to show it knows how to break them and learn in future not to let them build again

[Rana]

147-1

[Luton Bad Boy]

Good bowling practice for the boys.....times like these we could certainly do with a Malik or Afridi to add some more spin to the attack.

[Sid100]

Sami's figures suddenly look much less impressive, must have gone for a few boundaries in the last over!

I dont see why you lot are crapping yourselves so soon, top order partnerships are part of touring. The bowling attack has to show it knows how to break them and learn in future not to let them build again

gotta agree with you, Bell and key are good batsman. IF we held our chance when key was on 30 it could have be a different story and this partnership would not have continued but now Pk have to dig deep to break it.

[James]

Bell for Lords. Has proved himself against Kaneria and Sami in the subcontinent and is doing it in English conditions now, plus an in-form Bell adds a lot of solidity to our middle order. He is the sort of player who will push singles all day if that is whats needed in the situation of the match and we could do with another one of those at the moment, if I'm honest the middle order has not been doing its job in the last month or 2 at all (bar Pietersen).

[Billy]

Key for Lords!

We need someone to bring up our average weight now that Fred's out.

[James]

Tresco
Strauss
Key
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Read
Plunkett
Harmison
Hoggard
Panesar

Well, why not

[Sid100]

i'd chose bell over key, like whippy said has done well in the subcontinent against pk and is doing well now.

key has been given enough chances, averages 31 with only 1 century and 3 fifties from 26 innnings. If you get rid of his 221 his average is even poorer.

Bell is averaging near 40 and is one for the future. And has scored and a century against Pk

Key

class mat inns no runs hs ave bf sr 100 50 4s 6s ct st
15 26 1 775 221 31.00 1639 47.28 1 3


Bell

class mat inns no runs hs ave bf sr 100 50 4s 6s ct st
Tests 14 25 2 912 162* 39.65 1791 50.92 2 7 102 3 16 0

[James]

Danish has really taken a pasting, 11 overs for 53. If that'd been an English bowler our press (who can never accept that spinners have bad days) would have been like "kill the Sikh/drop the wheelybin"

[Uzzy]

Bell gone for 74 c Faisal Iqbal b Umar Gul

164\2

[tahaqureshi]

Bell gone, Umar Gul strikes!

[CHANDTARA]

finally - umar gul makes the breakthrough! IR Bell c Faisal Iqbal b Umar Gul 74 (156b 11x4 0x6) SR: 47.44

[Billy]

i'd chose bell over key, like whippy said has done well in the subcontinent against pk and is doing well now.

I'd choose Bell and Cookie. They're the next two in line..

[James]

Oooh, good partnership there. More good work from Belly in the 2nd innings and he can't be ignored

[KA$H]

I dont see how a dodgey throwing arm is keeping Key out of the set-up - maybe its his weight - the "weightists"!

[James]

I'd choose Bell and Cookie.

Cookie has been rubbish lately but still has the good debut series under his belt. Its a close run between Cook, Key and Shah for the final batting berth IMO (you get the feeling they don't trust Bopara enough yet)

[Sid100]

Tresco
Strauss
Key
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Read
Plunkett
Harmison
Hoggard
Panesar

Well, why not

the bowling doesnt look very strong, if pk survive the new ball versus hoggard and harmison they will score heavily.

Plunket must be replaced by someone else, his confidence must be v.low after the battering he took against sri Lanka.

I'd have Cook/owais shah over Key, it was very harsh to drop Shah after his first test and not to bring him back. Lets see what he does against pk.

[Sid100]

a wicket, about time,
R M B 4 6
IR Bell c Faisal Iqbal b Umar Gul 74 186 156 11 0

[Billy]

the bowling doesnt look very strong, if pk survive the new ball versus hoggard and harmison they will score heavily.

Plunket must be replaced by someone else, his confidence must be v.low after the battering he took against sri Lanka.

I'd have Cook/owais shah over Key, it was very harsh to drop Shah after his first test and not to bring him back. Lets see what he does against pk.

I don't trust Plunkett yet but he's all we've got at the moment unless we call up Broad (who is even more raw than Plunk). Fred's out for another couple of weeks yet and Anderson won't be fit to bowl until the end of the summer.

Don't under estimate Panesar.

I await Owais' inevitable attempt to reverse sweep Sami through his legs for six with interest.

[James]

the bowling doesnt look very strong, if pk survive the new ball versus hoggard and harmison they will score heavily.

Plunket must be replaced by someone else, his confidence must be v.low after the battering he took against sri Lanka.

I'd have Cook/owais shah over Key, it was very harsh to drop Shah after his first test and not to bring him back. Lets see what he does against pk.

This was always going to be the case with our injuries whoever is picked...

Who would you replace Plunkett with? Mahmood, Kabir...after their recent displays there is no chance. Lewis...hopefully not.

Stuart Broad is an option I suppose, or Dalrymple if the conditions suit a second spinner. Dalrymple would also give the batting a boost.

[KA$H]

Does ANYONE know what kind of wicket Gul just got? ie was it bowled well

[Rana]

gul gets the break through!!

[James]

A'ight guys, we've established that Pak have taken a wkt by now

[Rana]

I R Bell c Faisal Iqbal b Umar Gul 74

[Rana]

172-2

[Azam6380]

172-2? Ufff!

[Sid100]

This was always going to be the case with our injuries whoever is picked...

Who would you replace Plunkett with? Mahmood, Kabir...after their recent displays there is no chance. Lewis...hopefully not.

Stuart Broad is an option I suppose, or Dalrymple if the conditions suit a second spinner. Dalrymple would also give the batting a boost.

well you're right there isnt many options, i wouldnt go with plunkett,mahmood or kabir.

Most likely broad if her performs well, but its a chance. But for a pak view I'd rather face plunkett, hes too inconsistent

[James]

Razzaq bowling with an econ rate of 1, looks like all the Razzi bashers have disappeared tday!

[MIG]

A'ight guys, we've established that Pak have taken a wkt by now

:))) I can sense frustration from WS here - when we celebrate a wicket - we do it with style - OK guys on my mark - Bhangra Pao Jee !!! Aho Aho, Bally Ballay !

[Azam6380]

:))) I can sense frustration from WS here - when we celebrate a wicket - we do it with style - OK guys on my mark - Bhangra Pao Jee !!! Aho Aho, Bally Ballay !

:))

[Nauman]

Razzaq bowling with an econ rate of 1, looks like all the Razzi bashers have disappeared tday!
What about beast lovers?

[James]

well you're right there isnt many options, i wouldnt go with plunkett,mahmood or kabir.

Most likely broad if her performs well, but its a chance. But for a pak view I'd rather face plunkett, hes too inconsistent

Even on his worst days he is nowhere near as woeful and untrustworthy as Kabir and Mahmood can be. Plus he produces a wonder spell now and again like his masterclass against SL. Plunkett is the best option in terms of players that have already been tested.

[Nauman]

Before anyone accuses me of hijacking the thread here is a score update
England A 172/2 (52.3 ov)
Batsmen: R B 4s 6s S/R
RWT Key 67 138 10 2 48.55 not out
OA Shah 6 13 1 0 46.15 not out

Bowlers: O M R W Econ
Umar Gul 10.3 2 29 1 2.76 (0nb, 0w)
Abdul Razzaq 7 3 8 0 1.14 (0nb, 0w)

[James]

What about beast lovers?

Good point!

[MIG]

This must be so boring - are England A practicing for the WC2007 ?

[Sid100]

Panesar is a good bowler but isnt really gonna take 5 wickets against Pk who are good players of spin. he may take a few wickets in every innings but thats about it, IMO.

[James]

they're all playing with ordinary SRs because they want to protect their wickets and build an innings that will get them in the Lords side. It isn't like Pak are going to come out and score at 6 an over either.

[Sid100]

Razzaq bowling with an econ rate of 1, looks like all the Razzi bashers have disappeared tday!

:))

[James]

Panesar is a good bowler but isnt really gonna take 5 wickets against Pk who are good players of spin. he may take a few wickets in every innings but thats about it, IMO.

SL are some of the best players of spin but he took 5 against them, did he not

[MIG]

they're all playing with ordinary SRs because they want to protect their wickets and build an innings that will get them in the Lords side. It isn't like Pak are going to come out and score at 6 an over either.

Yes, Brother WS - believe that if you may - but rest assured that Pak batsman will be making a match of this !

[Pathan007]

SL are some of the best players of spin but he took 5 against them, did he notyes, but it was overshadowed by Murali. hopefully this time it'll be overshadow by Kaneria. :D

[Sid100]

SL are some of the best players of spin but he took 5 against them, did he not

i knew this was going to be coming, Sri Lanka are not a great test side, they have two good batsman sangakarra and jayawardene. The rest are just average.

Im not saying Panesaer is a bad bowler I think hes good much better than giles with more variety, but i just cant see him taking 5 wickets against pk

[James]

Yes, Brother WS - believe that if you may - but rest assured that Pak batsman will be making a match of this !

If Hoggy wasnt playing I would back Pakistan to score at 6 an over without trying, given our attack...

[Uzzy]

I agree, i don't think Panesar will take 5 wickets against Pak. Maybe the a few wickets here and there in an innings. Pak have become better players of spin. Just look at how they played Harbhajan, Kumble and Murali recently.

[Sid100]

Yes, Brother WS - believe that if you may - but rest assured that Pak batsman will be making a match of this !

salaam bro

your dua should be "wansur al-muslimeen"

[the Great Khan]

looks like batting practice in this match unless hoggard destroys our top order...as for bowlers id rather face kabir and mehmood please..plunkers can be unpredictable hence dangerous..as for panesar well im worried..we can deal with giles but sardar jee might be a different problem!!

[Luton Bad Boy]

Score Update:

England A 183/2 (56.2 ov)

England A RR: 3.25

Bowlers: O M R W Econ
Umar Gul 12.2 2 34 1 2.76 (0nb, 0w)
Abdul Razzaq 9 4 13 0 1.44 (0nb, 0w)

Good economical bowling from these two especially Razzaq.

[James]

I agree, i don't think Panesar will take 5 wickets against Pak. Maybe the a few wickets here and there in an innings. Pak have become better players of spin. Just look at how they played Harbhajan, Kumble and Murali recently.

left arm spinners are a different ball game. Though Panesar isnt as good as the afromentioned trio, spinners of his variety have given Pakistan sides some problems in the past and I wouldnt be surprised to see Panesar as one of the better bowlers of this series.

[Sid100]

looks like batting practice in this match unless hoggard destroys our top order...as for bowlers id rather face kabir and mehmood please..plunkers can be unpredictable hence dangerous..as for panesar well im worried..we can deal with giles but sardar jee might be a different problem!!

What do u think his phug will distract are batsman???

[MIG]

salaam bro

your dua should be "wansur al-muslimeen"

Changed as you say - Thanks

[Luton Bad Boy]

I do want Panesar to do well and I dont............to do well cos he is a Lutonboy like me and not do well cos it is against Pakistan.....

[Daoud]

left arm spinners are a different ball game. Though Panesar isnt as good as the afromentioned trio, spinners of his variety have given Pakistan sides some problems in the past and I wouldnt be surprised to see Panesar as one of the better bowlers of this series.
Unfortunetely you do have a point. We've managed to struggle against the likes of Giles and even Herath

[Sid100]

Abdul Razzaq 10 5 13 0 1.30 (0nb, 0w)


Now thats economical figures, it reminds me of Robin Martin-Jenkins for Sussex, Just bowls economically with many maidens but doesnt take many wickets


R S C Martin-Jenkins 131 overs with 46 maidens for 271 runs with only 7 wickets. Thats an economy rate just over 2 in county cricket

[James]

Abdul Razzaq 10 5 13 0 1.30 (0nb, 0w)


Now thats economical figures, it reminds me of Robin Martin-Jenkins for Sussex, Just bowls economically with many maidens but doesnt take many wickets


R S C Martin-Jenkins 131 overs with 46 maidens for 271 runs with only 7 wickets. Thats an economy rate just over 2 in county cricket

Putting shackles on the other team's scoring rate can make them frustrated and tempt them into rash and sometimes fatal shots. Bowlers that build pressure are an important part of any team that plays 4 or 5 day games.

[Sid100]

Putting shackles on the other team's scoring rate can make them frustrated and tempt them into rash and sometimes fatal shots. Bowlers that build pressure are an important part of any team that plays 4 or 5 day games.

I agree with you, its quite impressive, im not a razzaq basher or a beast lover I'd say im in the middle of the two

What do u think Martin Jenkins as the 3rd seamer for England instead of plunkett????? ;-)

[James]

Tbh if we are considering Robin Martin-Jenkins we might as well pick his dad for the test series as well.

[CHANDTARA]

for the 1st test, do you think Shoaib Malik will replace Salman Butt and Younis Khan will replace Faisal Iqbal. The question is what we do with Shahid Afridi? Also, anybody concerned about Kamran Akmal's injury?

[offcutter]

razzaq so economical :14:

[Pathan007]

Kami also spilled an ez catch.

[Uzi]

Is Kami struggling with an injury at the moment?

Has Faisal Iqbal taken over the wicketkeeping duties?

[James]

Bell hits form against Pakistan
Tour match, Canterbury (tea, day one): England A 187-2 v Pakistan

Ian Bell strengthened his chances of making a return to England's Test team with an impressive innings of 74 against Pakistan at Canterbury.

Bell and England A captain Robert Key put on 160 for the second wicket after the hosts had elected to bat first on the four-day tour match.

Key was 76 not out in a tea score of 187-2, batting with Owais Shah.

Alastair Cook was caught behind off Mohammad Sami for three early on before Umar Gul finally removed Bell.

Faisal Iqbal was forced to take the gloves for Pakistan in the second session after wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal damaged his left index finger in the fifth over.

Akmal was hampered by the injury and handed Key a life moments before lunch when a delivery of extra bounce from Mohammad Asif found the edge.

Bell, who top-scored in the series against Pakistan over the winter but lost his Test place two months ago, drove fluently through the off-side in his innings.

he was finally undone when chasing a delivery from the third seamer, Gul, to provide Iqbal with a rare catch as a wicket-keeper.

Key had settled in at his county headquarters with a cover-driven four to get off the mark and a pull to the boundary, both off Asif.

When the same bowler dropped short again, his response was emphatic as a pull cleared the rope at fine leg.

After lunch, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was hit for easy runs, but Pakistan's seam bowlers kept their discipline impressively on a wicket providing little assistance.

-------------------------------------

I wonder if Pakistan would trust to play him in a test match if this doesn't heal, the dropped catch while playing through the pain barrier hasnt done him any favours at all.

[sehsan]

I wonder if Pakistan would trust to play him in a test match if this doesn't heal, the dropped catch while playing through the pain barrier hasnt done him any favours at all.[/QUOTE]


We might need to ask for another keeper

[James]

If the finger is broken then both Pakistan and Kamran are in a bit of trouble.

[Nauman]

Finger breaks are usually heal pretty fast, ie. if there is a break.

[James]

Seeing as he is expected to bat for longish periods and keep wicket for sessions at a time this is a worry with the 1st test a week away...

[Pathan007]

sami must have been bowling pretty quick. that kami finger was broken in 5th over.

[James]

216/2 with an English opener approaching his ton, hopefully a week today we see an identical days cricket

[sehsan]

216/2 with an English opener approaching his ton, hopefully a week today we see an identical days cricket

lets hope not :)) :))

[UsmanhailsAfridi]

who said kami's finger broke....he damaged it...that dont mean he broke it

plz refrain from such rumors if you dont know for sure....grrrrr

[James]

Its an educated guess, if an index finger injury significantly lowers performance and forces a wicketkeeper off it is probably a break. I think if he had chipped a nail or bruised his knuckle, he would have found it within himself to fight to stay on somehow...

[MIG]

None of us knows what the real problem is so lets stop fretting and let go of the cold sweats !!

[ziggy]

Does anyone know what the Pak fielding has been like..any dropped catches etc...and the umpiring?

[James]

Does anyone know what the Pak fielding has been like..any dropped catches etc...and the umpiring?

Darrell Hair has been umpiring so Pak have been denied at least 6 extra wickets tday! :23:

[offcutter]

Who is keeping if Kami is off?

[Hash]

Nobody knows if it is a break. Let's just chill out, relax, sip some sweet lassi and devour some kebabs.

Hopefully they took him off as a precaution. I agree with whippy that if it was just a chipped nail or a bruise they would have kept him on but only if it HAD BEEN A TEST MATCH. No point in playing through pain in a meaningless warm up match when Kamran has already had plenty of warm up. He can go off and ice it for a few hours. Or at least I hope.

[James]

Faisal Iqbal, as has been mentioned

[Hash]

Who is keeping if Kami is off?

danish kaneria I think

either him or Faisal Iqbal.

[offcutter]

danish kaneria I think

either him or Faisal Iqbal.
Its Faisal IQbal
Wow Kaneria keeps too :O

[MIG]

Unless Akmal dived deliberately to get a penalty ?

[shan]

Kaneria strikes!

[James]

Shah caught off bowling of Kaneria, but Bob Key marches on.

239/3

[Hash]

owais shah is gone!

Now for a collapse

[MIG]

I bet they said something nasty to poor Owais - these scheming Pakistanis....

[offcutter]

Unless Akmal dived deliberately to get a penalty ?
Then Mohammad Sami gets a red card :20:

[James]

What position does Farhat normally field in? If Shah has got himself caught out stupidly after working to get himself in, I will not be pleased. Of course if it is at slip, it is probably forgiveable.

Lets see what Bopara can do, a highly rated player among many

[Hash]

I bet they said something nasty to poor Owais - these scheming Pakistanis....

:))

They were dishing it out to Kabir Ali in Pindi! Kabir said so himself!

[Rob H]

Time for Ravinder Bopara to show what he's made of. He's performed well in county level but it's a different thing against test match bowlers. How he does against Kaneria will be interesting.

[Azam6380]

Jeez, we are getting a bit of a slapping!

[Easa]

Bopara hammering us.

5 of 33 balls, strike rate: 15.15.

In this kind of situations, Afridi is useful. He is a partnership breaker.

[Easa]

Whippy, Rob, do you guys think that Key will play @ Lords? He doesn't have any Test experience so it might be a bit of a risk. If Shah scores some runs in the 2nd innings, do you think he will be preffered to Key since he's had an excellent test debut?

There are two spots available : Two of Bell, Shah, and Key will take those two.

[Muyazzim Khan]

Faisal keeping would explain why we have given 18 byes so far. Its tough on the kid.

[Tupac]

Whippy, Rob, do you guys think that Key will play @ Lords? He doesn't have any Test experience so it might be a bit of a risk. If Shah scores some runs in the 2nd innings, do you think he will be preffered to Key since he's had an excellent test debut?

There are two spots available : Two of Bell, Shah, and Key will take those two.

he played before your time easa, he was one of wisden's cricketer of the year

[veez]

they are playing to the end of today's play

its obvious

[zMario]

When I looked at Cricinfo, I cried.

Really hard.

[Amoeba]

Whippy, Rob, do you guys think that Key will play @ Lords? He doesn't have any Test experience so it might be a bit of a risk. If Shah scores some runs in the 2nd innings, do you think he will be preffered to Key since he's had an excellent test debut?

There are two spots available : Two of Bell, Shah, and Key will take those two.

He's played about 15 tests and has a double century (@ Lords) under his considerable belt - sorry couldn't resist!

[Pathan007]

man england should declare now.

[Muyazzim Khan]

When I looked at Cricinfo, I cried.

Really hard.

Why? :9:

[zMario]

England A are 266/3 against us. I hate to think what it would be at Lord's

[cinderella]

Come on.....

[Pathan007]

England A are 266/3 against us. I hate to think what it would be at Lord'sa Draw

[Muyazzim Khan]

England A are 266/3 against us. I hate to think what it would be at Lord's


If you recall what happened in the 1st test this winter England were 200 odd for 1 in their 1st inns and got a lead of 144 and we still won. I wouldnt get despondent so quickly. Nobody said it would be easy.

[Muyazzim Khan]

True measure of this pitch will be known when both sides have batted once.

[zMario]

Is BBC giving audio links?

I can't find any :S

[Hash]

Typical hyterical over reactions from Pakistan supporters as usual.

[zMario]

England A : 268/3 in 90 overs.

Think that will be the end of Day 1.

[zMario]

Yes, thats the end of Day 1.

In my opinion, poor day for Pakistan.

A sad day too, for Kamran.

I'll pretend that this day never happened, and I hibernated through it. I don't think we've experienced this in a FC match for a LONG time.

[Rob H]

Whippy, Rob, do you guys think that Key will play @ Lords? He doesn't have any Test experience so it might be a bit of a risk. If Shah scores some runs in the 2nd innings, do you think he will be preffered to Key since he's had an excellent test debut?
Key - no test experience, you must know nothing about English cricket. Big Bob Key is an illusion. He looks amazing in one innings and then gets starts in the ones after and never goes on.

Without any doubt Cook will play so it's not really worth discussing.

[ZM]

its probably a flat deck so nothing to worry about

[Hash]

Key - no test experience, you must know nothing about English cricket. Big Bob Key is an illusion. He looks amazing in one innings and then gets starts in the ones after and never goes on.

Without any doubt Cook will play so it's not really worth discussing.

It was a simple question from easa. You didn't have to try to be a smart alec while answering it.

Whatever happens I doubt R Key will play because they are too worried about his throwing arm or something ridiculous like that......I am not too worried about Cook (or Key for that matter) so it doesn't bother me which one plays anyway.

[Easa]

I completely forget about Key playing Tests. He also played a few tests in South Africa, IIRC?

[Easa]

No need to fret pp'ers, its a really flat deck.

[Rob H]

I completely forget about Key playing Tests. He also played a few tests in South Africa, IIRC?
ay. He played 4 against the west indies in 2004 and 4 in the Ashes in 2002/03. He has also has played in some other tests dotted around the place.

[cavin420]

Key - no test experience, you must know nothing about English cricket. Big Bob Key is an illusion. He looks amazing in one innings and then gets starts in the ones after and never goes on.

Without any doubt Cook will play so it's not really worth discussing.
why should he know about english cricket anyway ? not like they are the best cricket team on the planet...;)

what ever the case, would love to see shah back in the team Asap.

if it were up to me , i would either play strauss/ or cook not both in the same team , will have bell n shah in my test team .

shah has not done too bad to be honest.