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[Bats_Entertainment]

If Ansari was fit to play, I suspect that Rashid would be 1st reserve and Patel would be at home with his feet up with pipe and slippers!

I"m a big fan of Zafar, but I strongly disagee with the first part of this. Rashid was always going to play when they played two spinners.

[uknsaunders]

I"m a big fan of Zafar, but I strongly disagee with the first part of this. Rashid was always going to play when they played two spinners.

I don't think the plan was ever to play 4 seamers, Ansari would of batted 8 and bowled as part of a 3 spinner attack. He was probably insurance if Rashid/Ali had a shocker. Problem with playing Patel is he really isn't good enough to be anything but a Joe Root part timer. Even then Root is probably a better bowler.

I think at the moment getting Taylor in for Buttler isn't a bad move on turning decks. Not long term maybe, but Taylor strikes me as a very good player of spin.

[Bats_Entertainment]

I don't think the plan was ever to play 4 seamers, Ansari would of batted 8 and bowled as part of a 3 spinner attack. He was probably insurance if Rashid/Ali had a shocker. Problem with playing Patel is he really isn't good enough to be anything but a Joe Root part timer. Even then Root is probably a better bowler.

I think at the moment getting Taylor in for Buttler isn't a bad move on turning decks. Not long term maybe, but Taylor strikes me as a very good player of spin.

I believe Ansari was picked as a reserve.

[rickjames]

Unchanged side, Pak win toss and bat.

COME ON LADS

[csnew]

Ali strikes! Spinning already

[rickjames]

MO

[ppccopener]

looks like a bit more in this wicket but it's gonna turn later on you just know it....

Yashir Shah could be the dangerman!

[northernboy1987]

looks like a bit more in this wicket but it's gonna turn later on you just know it....

Yashir Shah could be the dangerman!

Shah will almost certainly be the dangerman, he looks a class act.

[rickjames]

WHAT A CATCH

[ppccopener]

come on lads!!!  ive got a massive bet on of 2 cokes with my PAK team mate England upset the odds and win in Dubai

 

[northernboy1987]

come on lads!!!  ive got a massive bet on of 2 cokes with my PAK team mate England upset the odds and win in Dubai

 

Well I hope for your sake England do it mate, I don't want to see you destitute after recklessly wagering such high stakes!

[ppccopener]

3 down!!

[petehosk]

It was a really good toss to win! If it is starting to spin on day 1 then it will only get harder to bat on!
I suspect that whoever wins the toss will win the Test, as long as the spinners bowl well!
But will see if we bat well anyway. Still think we should only have played 3 pace bowlers, especially on this wicket!! Then give JT his place!!

[ppccopener]

It was a really good toss to win! If it is starting to spin on day 1 then it will only get harder to bat on!
I suspect that whoever wins the toss will win the Test, as long as the spinners bowl well!
But will see if we bat well anyway. Still think we should only have played 3 pace bowlers, especially on this wicket!! Then give JT his place!!

what? have you had a coffee yet Pete? Pakistan won the toss but England are gonna win this test against the odds!!!

we got the momentum, we got the beard that is feared,we got ali cook who does not sweat after a 25 hour innings, we got Stokes and little dinky JT in reserve.

COME ON LADS WE CAN WIN THIS!!!!

 

[petehosk]

Hope you are right but we will have to bat well!
No coffee this morning and no Sky Sports so can't see what's happening! But I do admit that England sound as if they are bowling and fielding well!
So Bairstow is at short leg and has taken two catches, one of which was an excellent quality catch? Imagine if Cook had of taken Bell out of second slip and replaced him with Bairstow and put Bell at short leg? Could have been a nightmare!!! LOL!