Pakistan have the edge but should be very wary of gritty England and their new ball August 3, 2016 The pendulum is swinging Pakistan’s way. The tourists have the edge after day one of the third Investec Test at Edgbaston but the clash is well set. If England bowl well with the new ball tomorrow morning it will be very hard work for the tourists. There is no doubt, however, that Pakistan will be the [...]
England refuse to hit the panic button despite being skittled out for 297 as Pakistan draw first blood in third Investec Test August 3, 2016 Defiant top-scorer Gary Ballance refused to be downbeat despite England being dismissed for 297 on the opening day of the third Investec Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston. Ballance chalked up a resolute 70 while sharing half-century stands with Moeen Ali, who notched 63, and James Vince after England were invited to bat in seamer-friendly conditions. [...]
Cricket betting: Pakistan can depend on Misbah – but not Masood against Jimmy Anderson August 2, 2016 Misbah-ul-Haq was Pakistan’s saving grace at Old Trafford in an otherwise abject performance in the second Test. Without the 42-year-old skipper’s 52 in the first innings, and 35 in the second, the 330-run margin of defeat would have approached record-breaking territory. Remarkably, the evergreen Misbah is touring England for the first time, having made his Test [...]
Cricket betting: Home sweet home for Woakes and England in crucial third Test August 2, 2016 Momentum is an oft-used word during a Test series, but in recent times its importance has waned. Last summer saw England and Australia trade blows in a see-sawing Ashes series that finished 3-2 to the hosts. England won the first, third and fourth Tests, though were completely outplayed in the other two, as the idea [...]
Skipper Alastair Cook tells middle order the only way to silence doubters is to score big runs as England prepare to face Pakistan August 2, 2016 England skipper Alastair Cook has urged his side’s faltering middle order to silence the snipers by scoring big runs during the third Investec Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston, which starts this morning. Questions have been asked of England’s batting unit after vice-captain Joe Root was promoted to No3 following Nick Compton’s decision to take an [...]
Jake Ball, not Steven Finn, should replace injured all-rounder Ben Stokes for England’s pivotal third Test with Pakistan July 27, 2016 Head coach Trevor Bayliss was right to say the loss of Ben Stokes leaves a hole in the England side although the form of fellow all-rounder Chris Woakes, who is proving a real asset, can offset his absence. Stokes will miss next week’s third Investec Test against Pakistan with the calf injury he picked up [...]
Skipper Alastair Cook fears Ben Stokes KO as England demolish Pakistan to level series July 25, 2016 Concerned England skipper Alastair Cook admits the prospect of Ben Stokes taking the field against Pakistan in next week’s pivotal third Test at Edgbaston looks bleak after the all-rounder sustained a calf injury. The potential loss of Stokes was the sole blot on an otherwise barnstorming fourth day at Old Trafford as England put the tourists [...]
Alastair Cook right to ignore calls for follow-on, insists assistant coach Paul Farbrace July 24, 2016 England assistant coach Paul Farbrace has defended skipper Alastair Cook’s decision to bat again and not enforce the follow-on as his side turned the screw on Pakistan during day three of the second Investec Test at Old Trafford. Resuming on 57-4, the tourists offered precious little resistance and were dismissed for just 198, a first [...]
Cricket betting: Batting bother for England – but Jonny Bairstow can deliver July 21, 2016 England's batting order has been a cause for concern for a number of years now. Since the departure – wrongly or rightly – of Kevin Pietersen, they have tried to plug the round holes of positions three, four and five with a series of square pegs. Last time out at Lord’s, with Nick Compton in [...]
Cricket betting: Spinner Shah could make things Messi for England July 21, 2016 Pakistan's performance against England at Lord’s last week couldn’t have gone much better and it is no surprise they have a 1-0 lead in the four-match series. They were in control of the game throughout, taking a first innings advantage after a century from captain Misbah-ul-Haq before leg-spinner Yasir Shah helped wrap the game up [...]