btb

Just back - eh 4 wickets left if one more goes down then I'll leave.

Pakistan 115/3 - require 33 more to win. Test Match cricket as it's been played since the dawn of time - Pakistan siezed the initiative on the first morning and have dominated the Test, England briefly got back into the match but their collapse last night sealed things. I'm away out but if Pakistan don't see this home pretty easily I'll give up pontificating about this sport.

63/2 - Floodlights on.

England 233 & 221/9 (76.2 ov) Pakistan 308 England lead by 146 runs with 1 wicket remaining ********************************** Missed today's play due to work - I had a feeling that if Cook got into double figures he'd go on and make a ton. Unfortunately for England none of their other batsmen could make a significant contribution so they're looking for an exceptional bowling performance from one of their players or for Pakistan to self destruct. Although it's not been a batsman's paradise I think that England have underperformed with the bat and Pakistan should knock off the runs for a few wickets. When batsmen have been in they've not looked in too much trouble but it's maybe the sort of pitch where a tight bowling attack could make it difficult for new batsmen.

One of those was the the nightwatchman who lasted until the over before lunch - nicely poised. ************************************* 179/5 - Swann's got his 100th wicket in only his 23rd Test, must be England's best spinner since "Deadly" Derek Underwood. At under 2 runs an over (today) Swann is a lot tighter than any of the seamers, might see Pietersen on for a few overs before the new ball. ************************************* Statto from cricinfo has just posted figures for bowlers quickest to 100 wicket in Tests and Swann is there beside Underwood & Warne on reaching this figure in his 23rd Test! ************************************* 80 overs and the new ball due, vital wicket for England in that over, crazy from Pakistan's PoV, with them (236/6) already past England's First Innings total. Time for a well earned rest for Swann and England's seamers to retrieve the situation. ************************************* Pakistan 308 all out - 75 ahead. Tricky few overs for England tonight, nothing to gain but losing a wicket would make Pakistan favourites. Alistair Cook

Never judge a pitch till you've seen the second team bowl. *********************************** Great fightback - currently 212/7 with 20 overs still to go before the new ball. Hopefully we'll get a closer Test than the last two. *********************************** one run later.......................... 213/8 *********************************** one run later.......................... 214/9 *********************************** 233 all out - nice little cameo from Prior at the end. Could've worked out worse for England, they should have 20 overs tonight and then be able to have another go in the morning.

England currenly 142/7

Well I expected Enland to finish it today so I was surprised when I saw the score at Stumps. Like Fuctifino I expect England to win it tomorrow, Pakistan's First Innings debacle is just too much to recover from. Another great performance by Swann (those idiots who thought he was gonna be a flash in the pal must feel foolish now ) but the England selectors must be worried about Broad finding himself up before the beaks again - you've got to wonder how he'll react if Australia hit 500+ over a couple of scorchers down under this winter.

England's fragile batting exposed again. **************** Century partnership between Collingwood & Morgan - good fightback.

See Australia are 215/5 (45 ahead) at Lunch on Day 3. I reckon 150 might be a defendable total at Headingley. That's Australia doomed - see post 1618.

Had to happen - Murali gets 800th!

See Australia are now pulling away in this Test, they lead Pakistan 293 runs with 5 wickets remaining at Lunch on Day 3. Interesting to see Shane Watson get his first 5for at Lord's. Perhaps....................... ************************************ There we go - Katich out first over after lunch before Australia score a run! ************************************ Australia 334 set Pakistan a target of 440 to win. I expect an Australian victory by at least 150 runs. ************************************ Australia 253 & 334 v Pakistan 148 & 289 Australia won by 150 runs Just!

Last summers Australians had glaring weaknesses - only one reliable opening batsman and a fragile batting line-up but Swann was definetely the better spinner, and England's lower order (sic) clearly made the better contribution. I would agree Australia were the better team (marginally) but England took their chances. As for SA Steyn wasn't fit until the Third Test, Kallis didn't bowl in the First and was also not fully fit (for bowling) until the Third, they also picked the wrong bowler, Ntini instead of de Wet in the Second Test. I'd agree the full strength SA side were clearly the stronger side but again you have to praise England for taking their chance in the Second. The vagaries of the the weather, pitches and the ability of guys like Collingwood etc to rescue a draw from seemingly lost causes are what Test cricket is about.

The turmoil in West Indies cricket continues losing the T20 and first ODI to Zimbabwe (their first against a top nation in over a year). We're in danger of slipping down to the second tier of international sides alongside Bangladesh (who beat a depleted Windies side last year) and Zimbabwe. C'mon Otis - the time is now!

Both out injured - Dravid probably for the series but Laxman was in the squad for this Test but not selected (finger injury).

Stumps - Day 3 South Africa 558/6d India 233 & 66/2 (23.0 ov) Full Scorecard Makes England's recent series draw in SA look a lot more impressive.

A bit harsh on Broad, No.8 is probably about right for him at Test level but I'd still put Swann above him in the batting line up which would make him (Broad) No. 9 in the current England team. It would certainly take a major improvement for Broad to be capable of batting at 6 or 7 where getting runs in expected.

Strauss - Poor series, one half century but still in credit. Cook - Made significant contributions to the second & third Tests but................. Trott - Like a lot of England's players his performances fell away, we still don't know if he's Test class or a flash in the pan. Pieterson - Too many silly ways to get out, does he have the focus to regain his form of 3/4 years ago? Collingwood - Street fighter, topped the batting averages! Bell - Made significant contributions to the second & third Tests but................. Prior - Average of 22.47 is a poor return from a Batsman/Wicketkeeper Broad - Bowled reasonably well, never a Test No.8 Swann - IMO Englands player of the series but World No. 3 'yer havin' a laff! Anderson - Took 16 wickets, the best of England's seamers. Onions - Two match saving performances with the bat but was dropped for the last Test which has probably enhanced his reputation Sidebottom - Least said................. As a team I reckon Swann should bat above Broad. Over the series I don't think the four man attack worked, they've got to find a batsman who can chip in with a couple of wickets.

Fair enough it was a bad decision but you couldn't get more whinging than England's reaction to Smith not being given out!

**************************************** .........and to finish England bowled out for the second time in this Test for less than 200 in under 50 overs!

SA declare at 423/7 England lose 2 quick wickets and are currently 41/2 ************************************************ After a long Innings it's noticeable how often the incoming batting side lose a couple of wickets cheaply. I remember reading an article by Geoffrey Boycott about how to deal with this situation, he said when he was fielding and the end of the innings approached he'd start preparing for his batting and often wouldn't congratulate the bowlers for wickets 9 & 10 - our Geoffrey one of a kind! ************************************************ England 48/3 - Bad light stops play.

Yeah, you'd have to wonder what some folk who were raging at the West Indies last year would say this time round. ************************************** Stumpa - Day 2 England 180 South Africa 215/2 (63.2 ov)

England 180 South Africa 208/2 (59.3 ov) Match delayed by rain, heavy rain at that - maybe England's best hope now! For the third game in four tests England's bowling attack has not matched SA's - whatever happens here I reckon they'll have to rethink their strategy.

Was surprised to see Onions dropped altho' if you look at England's tour stats he had the poorest record of the four bowlers but I still thought they'd stick with him - you've almost got to wonder if Sidebottom wasn't picked for his batting prowess! I suppose it's the ultimate test (sic) of England's strategy of going in with only four bowlers and little in the way of backup from the batsmen. I rather reckon they got away with it at Centurion and Cape Town but we shall see. ************************ Day 1 Stumps England 180 South Africa 29/0 (12.0 ov)