Cricket fred

[Galfon]

Brook looks like he should be a fixture already - another off the Yorks. rank!..
Eng quickies all do their bit, despite the total it's a tough ask for Pak. on this wicket.

[Stom]

Going to be really difficult to pick a batting lineup when all are fit. We surely can't be seeing Pope as a full-time keeper (especially when it drops him from no 3 as it has this game) and YJB has always looked better as a batsman without the responsibility of the gloves, but it's hard to make a case for Foakes when we've got this kind of lineup in this kind of form.

Mind, Pakistan are making it easy for us this tour. Not a vintage side, so probably shouldn't get too overexcited.

Puja

Surely Jacks just misses out and Stokes is the fifth bowler...

[Banquo]

Great win again, hard to win there (historically- admittedly haven’t been there for 17 years). Excellent entertainment and skills on display from our seamers- as Puja said, this Pakistan team is a bit patched up and non vintage, but you are battling very flat wickets and our approach is excellent

[Puja]

Great win, but the closeness is more proof that Leach is not up to the top level. Worth using the last test to give the youngster a twirl?

Puja

[Banquo]

Great win, but the closeness is more proof that Leach is not up to the top level. Worth using the last test to give the youngster a twirl?

Puja

The leggy? Agreed on leach (though 4 wickets 1st innings and a better economy rate than the Pakistani spinners), a shame cos clearly a good team guy, but there isn't a host of obvious replacements. I'd also add that this wickets got flatter if anything during the game- batting got easier, even against spin. I'd be trying to get Rashid interested in test cricket again.

[fivepointer]

Another excellent win. A really fine all round team effort, brilliantly led by Stokes. I'd cut Leach a bit of slack. He isnt Shane Warne but 5 wickets in the game isnt a bad return on a pitch that didnt offer extravagant turn. I wouldnt play the young leggy in the 3rd test.

[Banquo]

Another excellent win. A really fine all round team effort, brilliantly led by Stokes. I'd cut Leach a bit of slack. He isnt Shane Warne but 5 wickets in the game isnt a bad return on a pitch that didnt offer extravagant turn. I wouldnt play the young leggy in the 3rd test.

Trouble is that he’s shipping runs. But not sure who won’t!

[Stom]

Great win, but the closeness is more proof that Leach is not up to the top level. Worth using the last test to give the youngster a twirl?

Puja

The leggy? Agreed on leach (though 4 wickets 1st innings and a better economy rate than the Pakistani spinners), a shame cos clearly a good team guy, but there isn't a host of obvious replacements. I'd also add that this wickets got flatter if anything during the game- batting got easier, even against spin. I'd be trying to get Rashid interested in test cricket again.

When Root is getting better figures than you...I like Leach, too, but it's not good enough.

[Puja]

Great win, but the closeness is more proof that Leach is not up to the top level. Worth using the last test to give the youngster a twirl?

Puja

The leggy? Agreed on leach (though 4 wickets 1st innings and a better economy rate than the Pakistani spinners), a shame cos clearly a good team guy, but there isn't a host of obvious replacements. I'd also add that this wickets got flatter if anything during the game- batting got easier, even against spin. I'd be trying to get Rashid interested in test cricket again.

When Root is getting better figures than you...I like Leach, too, but it's not good enough.

That's basically it in a nutshell. Root has looked significantly more dangerous and he's a part timer.

I don't know much about the young leggy (other than he's someone to look out for for the future), but we do need to do something about our spin options. Banquo's probably right that the answer is to send an emissary to Rashid. With the way the team is playing, you'd've thought he could be persuaded - it's hardly traditional dour spin bowling that'd be asked of him.

Puja

[Banquo]

The leggy? Agreed on leach (though 4 wickets 1st innings and a better economy rate than the Pakistani spinners), a shame cos clearly a good team guy, but there isn't a host of obvious replacements. I'd also add that this wickets got flatter if anything during the game- batting got easier, even against spin. I'd be trying to get Rashid interested in test cricket again.

When Root is getting better figures than you...I like Leach, too, but it's not good enough.

That's basically it in a nutshell. Root has looked significantly more dangerous and he's a part timer.

I don't know much about the young leggy (other than he's someone to look out for for the future), but we do need to do something about our spin options. Banquo's probably right that the answer is to send an emissary to Rashid. With the way the team is playing, you'd've thought he could be persuaded - it's hardly traditional dour spin bowling that'd be asked of him.

Puja

Root gives it a proper rip- suspect if his back wasn't so iffy he'd bowl a lot more. Rashid would definitely be more useful here than Jack- Stokes is trying very hard to build his confidence up, but he can't hold an end down with good players of spin.

[Galfon]

Good time to blood Ahmed - already has a fivefer and a ton for Leics and series won, with JR useful back up.
Will need more than Leach in the Ashes.
Outstanding Series win.

[Banquo]

Good time to blood Ahmed - already has a fivefer and a ton for Leics and series won, with JR useful back up.
Will need more than Leach in the Ashes.
Outstanding Series win.

Yeah for all Pakistan were about 3 players short of a first team, England aggressive tactics showed what is possible in a country not in the least suited to our bowling (or batting).

[Banquo]

Ahmed and Foakes in for Jacks and Anderson; makes sense.

[fivepointer]

"It's "I've been watching him closely, without letting him know I've been watching him closely," England captain Ben Stokes told BBC Sport.

"It's a great opportunity to let Rehan go out and really express himself. There's not too much pressure to perform, just to have fun.

"You only make your debut once, you can never make it again. If we can make him feel like he's had a ball of a time out there, and he walks off with wickets and runs, that would be great."very tough to tell what his biggest strength is, bat or ball," added Stokes. "He likes to show off with the bat, because he's got so many different shots. I'm very excited to see what he's got with the ball.

"Our message to him is 'look to take wickets with the ball, smack it with the bat and in the field chase after it until it goes for four'."

[Banquo]

"It's "I've been watching him closely, without letting him know I've been watching him closely," England captain Ben Stokes told BBC Sport.

"It's a great opportunity to let Rehan go out and really express himself. There's not too much pressure to perform, just to have fun.

"You only make your debut once, you can never make it again. If we can make him feel like he's had a ball of a time out there, and he walks off with wickets and runs, that would be great."very tough to tell what his biggest strength is, bat or ball," added Stokes. "He likes to show off with the bat, because he's got so many different shots. I'm very excited to see what he's got with the ball.

"Our message to him is 'look to take wickets with the ball, smack it with the bat and in the field chase after it until it goes for four'."

amazing chance after only 3 fc games!

[Puja]

"It's "I've been watching him closely, without letting him know I've been watching him closely," England captain Ben Stokes told BBC Sport.

"It's a great opportunity to let Rehan go out and really express himself. There's not too much pressure to perform, just to have fun.

"You only make your debut once, you can never make it again. If we can make him feel like he's had a ball of a time out there, and he walks off with wickets and runs, that would be great."very tough to tell what his biggest strength is, bat or ball," added Stokes. "He likes to show off with the bat, because he's got so many different shots. I'm very excited to see what he's got with the ball.

"Our message to him is 'look to take wickets with the ball, smack it with the bat and in the field chase after it until it goes for four'."

amazing chance after only 3 fc games!

It's in keeping with the ethos though, isn't it? Make aggressive decisions because of the upside rather than being defensive and meek and worrying about what might happen.

Puja

[Banquo]

"It's "I've been watching him closely, without letting him know I've been watching him closely," England captain Ben Stokes told BBC Sport.

"It's a great opportunity to let Rehan go out and really express himself. There's not too much pressure to perform, just to have fun.

"You only make your debut once, you can never make it again. If we can make him feel like he's had a ball of a time out there, and he walks off with wickets and runs, that would be great."very tough to tell what his biggest strength is, bat or ball," added Stokes. "He likes to show off with the bat, because he's got so many different shots. I'm very excited to see what he's got with the ball.

"Our message to him is 'look to take wickets with the ball, smack it with the bat and in the field chase after it until it goes for four'."

amazing chance after only 3 fc games!

It's in keeping with the ethos though, isn't it? Make aggressive decisions because of the upside rather than being defensive and meek and worrying about what might happen.

Puja

yus and long may it continue; that said, I wonder what the response would be should we get a moidering by the aussies say (mind, under the old regime suspect that would have happened anyway). Be fascinating to see our footie and rugby teams give it a proper rip and back talent, though a very different sport dynamic.

That said, our cricket is littered with lads given a go on overseas tours then disappearing and actually confidence gone; I do think that this regime will back players and give them a good go- see Leach. And whilst I have serious doubts about him, he has a better average 103 wickets in than Giles, Emburey, Tufnell, Rashid, Moeen Ali surprisingly......its the runs he ships that bothers me tbh- ideally holding down an end when not taking wickets....but again, maybe he's been asked to bowl 'aggressively'

[Banquo]

Savage start for the young un

[Stom]

Savage start for the young un

You don't want to start your spin bowling career against Babar and Azhar...

[Banquo]

Savage start for the young un

You don't want to start your spin bowling career against Babar and Azhar...

True, though you can't really pick and choose. Hopefully he'll settle.

[Puja]

A first wicket won't hurt though! Sounds like he really earned it too.

Puja

[Banquo]

A first wicket won't hurt though! Sounds like he really earned it too.

Puja

Good comeback.

[Puja]

A first wicket won't hurt though! Sounds like he really earned it too.

Puja

Good comeback.

His first spell went for nearly 7 runs an over. Now he's down at 3.95, with two wickets, and it sounds like he's missed out on another couple by occasionally getting too much spin! Very, very, very early to get excired about a youngster, but he has got so much promise.

Puja

[Banquo]

A first wicket won't hurt though! Sounds like he really earned it too.

Puja

Good comeback.

His first spell went for nearly 7 runs an over. Now he's down at 3.95, with two wickets, and it sounds like he's missed out on another couple by occasionally getting too much spin! Very, very, very early to get excired about a youngster, but he has got so much promise.

Puja

yeah he's done well. Propping Leach up

[Puja]

Wild to read on the BBC of "Pope having concussion test after getting ball swept into helmet" and then realise it's done on the field and was over and done with in 3-4 minutes. I know concussion in rugby and cricket are different kettles of fish, but that's surely not right (especially when sub fielders are so easily used for everything from a bumped finger to a toilet break). For a sport that's had on-field deaths from head injuries within recent memory, you'd've thought they'd be much more cautious.

Puja