Key occasions
4th over: Pakistan 10-1 (Shafique 4, Masood 2) Earlier than that wicket I’d typed that England could be in a for day of arduous yakka, as a result of there hasn’t been as a lot lateral motion as anticipated.
“I’m happy to see Pakistan are batting as I dreamed that England had been bowled out earlier than lunch for 86 in stark distinction to the primary day of the 2022 collection,” says Dave Voss. “I additionally dreamed that I gained a gold medal within the coxless pair at rowing with none aside from Steve Redgrave, regardless of forgetting concerning the remaining and him discovering another person to row it with him however nonetheless giving me the medal. Undecided what it forbodes for the collection however there you go.”
The primary a part of your dream is clearly PTSD from day one of many 2011-12 collection, when England’s all-conquering batters had been diminished to 43 for five on the primary morning. The second half, I obtained no concept.
WICKET! Pakistan 8-1 (Ayub c Smith b Atkinson 4)
Saim Ayub is caught down the leg aspect. He gloved a brief ball off the hip and was neatly taken to his proper by Jamie Smith. At first it appeared like a typical strangle however possibly he was undone by some additional bounce. Both manner, a high-quality begin for Gus Atkinson in his first abroad Take a look at.
third over: Pakistan 5-0 (Shafique 1, Ayub 4) Saim Ayub, a proficient left-hander enjoying solely his fourth Take a look at, is overwhelmed on the angle by Woakes. It is a fairly good begin from England – however when Woakes pitches one up, on the lookout for swing, Ayub drives elegantly to the duvet boundary. Beautiful shot.
2nd over: Pakistan 1-0 (Shafique 1, Ayub 0) Gus Atkinson shares the brand new ball, as he did for many of an impressive debut summer time in Take a look at cricket. You’d think about he’ll study extra in these three Assessments than he did in six in England.
He begins with a maiden to Shafique: very tight line and size, tempo round 84mph.
1st over: Pakistan 1-0 (Shafique 1, Ayub 0) Chris Woakes opens the bowling to the right-handed Abdullah Shafique, with three slips in place. Zak Crawley, who has simply recovered from a damaged finger, isn’t amongst them. For now the line-up is Root, Duckett and Brook.
Woakes has an LBW shout second ball when Shafique pushes round his entrance pad. It was lacking leg however it is a good begin, with the fourth zipping previous the surface edge. Woakes averages 51 away from dwelling and it is a enormous collection for him, basically an examination to evaluate his suitability for subsequent winter’s Ashes.
Shafique will get off the mark with a fast single into the covers.
“The numbers counsel it’s not as heat because the English summer time of ‘22 when it hit 40°,” writes Med. “Hopefully Pakistan present some opposition this time.”
By no means was I happier to stay in Orkney than during that week.
A reminder of the groups, who’re at present lining up for the anthems.
Pakistan Ayub, Shafique, Masood (c), Babar, Shakeel, Rizwan (wk), Ali Agha, Jamal, Shaheen, Naseem, Abrar.
England Crawley, Duckett, Pope (c), Root, Brook, Smith (wk), Woakes, Atkinson, Carse, Leach, Bashir.
Simon Burnton
From our man in Multan
There are a rare variety of kites circling, swooping and deciding on the outfield as I write. They may not fairly outnumber spectators however there’s not a lot in it. We hardly ever get greater than a scattering of pigeons in England – if the match between the nation’s cricket groups was preceded by one between their outfield avians it could be a brief and intensely bloody battle. Anyway, listed below are the ticket costs for this collection. Lord’s it ain’t.
Pitchwatch
There’s a little bit of grass, so England might have some pleasure this morning, however there are additionally cracks that may widen within the Multan oven. It feels like batting first was a reasonably easy choice.
Ollie Pope speaks
These are the most popular situations I’ve performed in however we’ve educated very well and we’re prepared for that problem
We might’ve batted first. There’s a little bit of moisture within the pitch so hopefully we are able to make the most of that. I’m excited to see [Brydon Carse] go in Take a look at cricket – he’s obtained that additional little bit of tempo and he’s thrilling to observe.
Ramiz Raja, conducting the toss, tells the Pakistan captain Shan Masood: “Preserve that smile in your face boss, you’ll want it.”
Pakistan win the toss and bat
Chris Woakes, enjoying his first abroad Take a look at of the Bazball period and his first in Asia since 2016, will likely be straight into the motion.
1 December 2022: the day the world modified
Temperatures ought to attain 37 levels in Multan at the moment
This McCullum fella wants to sit back out a bit
Workforce information
Each captains named their XIs upfront, which saves us participating in futile hypothesis. Brydon Carse, who has jumped the cab rank within the final six weeks, will make his Take a look at debut for England. Zak Crawley and Jack Leach additionally return, with Dan Lawrence, Josh Hull and Olly Stone dropping out of the aspect.
No new faces for Pakistan however Aamer Jamal, who was vastly spectacular in his debut collection in Australia final winter, returns from harm to hitch Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah in an eyecatching tempo assault.
Each groups have picked three seamers and two spinners, a stability they might remorse if the pitch is as grassy as steered. We’ll quickly discover out.
[Edit: this last bit was nonsense from me – both teams have the right balance. It’s as if they know what they’re doing.]
Pakistan Ayub, Shafique, Masood (c), Babar, Shakeel, Rizwan (wk), Ali Agha, Jamal, Shaheen, Naseem, Abrar.
England Crawley, Duckett, Pope (c), Root, Brook, Smith (wk), Woakes, Atkinson, Carse, Leach, Bashir.
Preamble
Morning of us. Benefit from the off season? Lower than eight days after the top of the English cricket summer time, the winter begins with the primary Take a look at in opposition to Pakistan in Multan. Ordinarily that may generate a sure ennui. However when a person is uninterested in Pakistan v England, he’s uninterested in sport; for there’s in Pakistan v England all that sport can afford.
These collection at all times give us one thing, from exhilarating cricket to pantomime controversy to shock victories. Pakistan are in a little bit of a multitude, and had been not too long ago overwhelmed 2-0 at dwelling by Bangladesh, but that usually makes them extra harmful – particularly now that Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah are again within the aspect. There are just a few 2005-06 vibes concerning the build-up to this collection. Pakistan low, England excessive; final score: Pakistan 2-0 England. And don’t get me began on 2011-12.
A extra apparent reference level is England’s final tour of Pakistan, the exceptional 3-0 win in 2022 that elevated Ben Stokes to the ranks of really nice captains. He’s unfit for this recreation, although he will likely be within the dressing-room as each the boss of the household and consigliere to Ollie Pope.
In 2022 Stokes and England needed to get blood out of a highway to win. This time, by all accounts, the pitches may very well be a lot livelier. Rise and shine everybody!