# England v Pakistan. Test Series 2012 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 17, 2012, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789 "2012-01-17T12:20:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/61 "2012-01-25T12:27:11Z")
Not too costly though, Akmal gone to Broad. 216/6, with 4 overs to go. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/62 "2012-01-25T12:37:48Z")
Worth quoting the Guardian OBO commentary, for the contrast between the two batsmen: > [@](#): > > Having given the impression in the last Test that he was cut from different cloth to his brothers Umar and Kamran, Adnan played innings here that was truly worthy of the Akmal family name. He swung at everything, missed most things, and got out at a time when his team needed him to bed in. The ball darted back in towards middle, which it would have knocked out of the ground had the pads not been in the way. Akmal thinks about reviewing it, and Misbah shoots him a filthy look that seems to say “don’t even think about it, son.” Misbah has patiently built up 53 runs from 143 balls (12 of them from two consecutive deliveries) and may be about to see that hard work wasted if England get into the tail at the other end. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/63 "2012-01-25T13:32:57Z")
England’s day on balance. Misbah is still there so if Pakistan can creep to 300, it will be game on. The wicket does have some significant turn on it apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/64 "2012-01-25T13:38:41Z")
That’s no great surprise, Adnan’s first class average is only 23. He’s been over-achieving with the bat in test cricket, he’s been picked because he is a competent keeper, which is very un-Akmal of him. Misbah’s innings looks even more stereophonic now, he’s made more than a quarter of his runs from 4 of the 168 balls he’s faced. Very effective though. Definitely England’s day at 256/7, but marred by a couple of missed chances. We have to bat last on this pitch, so even if we bat well we could struggle to get a significant lead. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/65 "2012-01-25T14:18:53Z")
Adnan reminds me of Kamran Akmal 10 years ago, when Kamran was actually a good keeper who managed to get Moin Khan and Rashid Latif, both certifiable greats, sent off to pasture. It was in 2006 when it started to go down hill when he concentrated too much with the bat. I only saw glimpse, how did Shafiq bat? I have never had much time for him, but his innings seems to have been a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/66 "2012-01-25T14:28:39Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > Misbah’s innings looks even more **stereophonic** now, he’s made more than a quarter of his runs from 4 of the 168 balls he’s faced. That should have course said “schizophrenic”. That’ll teach me to accept a spelling correction in Chrome without paying attention. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/67 "2012-01-25T14:49:38Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > I only saw glimpse, how did Shafiq bat? I have never had much time for him, but his innings seems to have been a good one. Only going from OBO and Cricinfo, but he seemed to be doing very well - looking safe but taking opportunities to score when they came - right until he got out trying to sweep, just before the new ball was due. From [Cricinfo](http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-v-england-2012/content/current/story/550908.html): > [@](#): > > “I had a go at him - but in a loving way,” Mohsin said. “We were hoping for 300 for three or four by the close. Shafiq was playing wonderfully well and after he got out the pressure came back on us and the team suffered. If someone is playing for their country they must understand their responsibilities.” ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/68 "2012-01-26T08:36:19Z")
England 48/1 at lunch, 209 behind. Well in a position to take a stranglehold on this test, ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/69 "2012-01-26T09:55:41Z")
The bowlers were clinical this morning. That is a good result after loosing the toss. Now they are 106-1 with Cook and Trott looking very comfortable and nailed-on for 50’s apiece. there…I’ve said it! The cricket gods can smite me, so help me Boycott. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/70 "2012-01-26T09:55:50Z")
Now that’s a nice scorecard to wake up to, Pakistan losing their last 3 wickets for no runs this morning. I was worried Misbah would shepherd the tail past 300. 106/1, hopefully Cook and Trott can make this partnership count before we get into our somewhat shaky middle order. KP and Bell only average low 30s on asian pitches, and Morgan isn’t entirely convincing as a test player. I’m expecting Bell mkII to improve that record this year, but not necessarily straight away. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/71 "2012-01-26T10:13:33Z")
Pakistan have now burnt both their reviews on LBW shouts against Trott. What will be particularly galling is that they had already missed a chance for a successful review when he was in the thirties. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/72 "2012-01-26T10:38:56Z")
That could be crucial, as I pointed out in the spinners thread they are winning a lot more LBW decisions in the DRS era. It’s not easy going according to the commentary, with some edges not carrying and some balls going past the bat. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/73 "2012-01-26T10:53:06Z")
132-1 at tea. Cook and Trott haven’t been quite as rock-solid as that suggests, but they are the England pair you would always back to take the game inch by stolid inch away from the opposition. (Stat from OBO - they average 74 together, 5th highest 1000+run England partnership.) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/74 "2012-01-26T11:01:45Z")
The lads will be enjoying their tea after that. There have been a few appeals but you couldn’t really say Pakistan were applying the pressure too much. If by COP we can get north of 200 runs with this pair or perhaps another one down then I’ll be a happy bunny. Drag it out, wear the pitch, tire the bowlers and look for us only batting once. The Pakistan batsmen know for sure the England spin or pace attack can hurt them. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/75 "2012-01-26T11:20:23Z")
A wicketless session for the first time in the series. Agree we’ve got the right players for the job in right now. Quite a way to go with this innings though, we really want at least 350 since we have to bat last, and if we lost a wicket now we could easily lose a couple more. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/76 "2012-01-26T12:04:17Z")
You had to go and say it, didn’t you! Trott goes, bowled Rehman for 74. There was a time you’d be happy to see Pietersen come in at 166-2, but right now it’s a slightly nervous prospect. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/77 "2012-01-26T12:13:17Z")
Well…At least it didn’t happen straight away, I can’t really be blamed. Come on KP, let’s see whether you’ve woken up or not. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/78 "2012-01-26T12:46:58Z")
KP gone, and the day is really in the balance here. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/79 "2012-01-26T13:04:54Z")
This is painful to listen to. Two out of form stroke-makers trying to block out the last few overs… ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789/80 "2012-01-26T13:17:58Z")
Ok. I went on a drive with England in command and it seems Ajmal has just blown the match wide open. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/england-v-pakistan-test-series-2012/609789.md?page=5)