3rd Test: England v Pakistan at Edgbaston

After what seems like an interminable wait, the third Test is upon us. The series is delicately poised at 1-1. Losing Stokes is a blow for England. Steven Finn will deputise; the hosts hoping he will regain his rhythm and pace.

There is still much uncertainty surrounding England's batting, with Hales, Vince and Ballance all looking vulnerable. Pakistan have their own question marks with their opening duo. Young Sami Aslam a likely candidate to replace the struggling Shan Masood.

Pakistan win the toss and elect to have a bowl. Looking rather dark out there and very overcast. Will be interesting to see just how much swing is on offer. This will be a very testing session for England.

Another failure for Hales as he nicks off for 17. England 36/1.

Loose shot from Root and he pays. Sohail Khan with his second wicket of the morning. Big wicket that for Pakistan. England 48/2.

Disappointed with Root on that dismissal to be honest. I think he as made everyone aware of his abilities but to get out with a shot like that is a bit out of character and either shows the conditions are a lot more favourable to the bowlers than what it looks, or he just lost concentration.

A few more of them though and I think the media might well start to question Root (as the British media does) and then he will have to respond on the pitch.

Cook goes now. Adjudged lbw. Looked out in real time to me. England 75/3. That is a big wicket as Cook was looking in fantastic form. England wobbling.

Edit: Cook calls for a review. Yep, Hawkeye shows the ball crashing into the stumps. With no Stokes, England need Vince and Ballance to step up.

Full credit to Misbah for putting England in. The decision was somewhat ridiculed by Botham early on. But numbers backed Misbah up.



The average first innings score at Edgbaston over the last 10 years is 225.33. The average second innings score over the same period is 358.83.

Joe Root has scored the second most runs in Test cricket over the last 12-months. Over this period, he has averaged 56.17 with 3 centuries and 8 fifties. No batsman has more scores of 50+. He just scored 254 and 71* in the last Test at Old Trafford. Even the great batsman play a loose shot from time to time. My suggestion is to pay less attention to the media. If anyone questions Joe Root's ability, they are not worth reading.

England 100/3 at lunch. I think Pakistan will be very happy with that, especially with Cook and Root sitting back in the pavilion. It does look a pretty good pitch to bat on, and so England will need the middle order to step up.

Did that carry ?? Vince stands his ground

Fingers under the Ball at second slip Younis Khan ?

it did ....and Vince has to go on 39

144 - 4