Jos Buttler smacked 80 not out and Dom Bess took three wickets as England drew the series with a thumping victory over Pakistan at Headingley
Related: Dominic Bess picks up maiden Test wickets as England thrash Pakistan
That concludes the presentation, and indeed the OBO. Thanks for your company throughout this series; we’ll be back next weekend for some white-ball fun. Bye!
Joe Root speaks
“It was a tough week and we responded well. We wanted to play with pride and enjoyment. I think we also adapted well to the conditions. Losing the toss was in our favour. Jimmy and Stuart set the tone - they were fantastic – and they were very well backed up. The pitch offered a lot throughout the game, which made for some really good cricket. We’ve still got a lot of hard work to do but this is a really good step forward. The young players performed exceptionally well. We were below-par at Lord’s, we know that, and we were probably a bit low on confidence. But we’re a better side than that. If we play like this we can beat India, absolutely. We’ve done so much good stuff this week and we want to take that confidence forward.”
Sarfraz Ahmed speaks“We didn’t bat well enough on the first day. We did not play with as much discipline as at Lord’s, but they bowled really well. We have a very young side so it’s a learning process. I’m proud of my team.”
Vic Marks’ report from Headingley has arrived
Related: Dominic Bess picks up maiden Test wickets as England thrash Pakistan
Mohammad Abbas is the Player of the Series
“It would have been the icing on the cake to win the series but I’m still very happy to be the Player of the Series. I thought I bowled well in this game. Sometimes you get the nicks, sometimes you don’t; that’s part of being a seam bowler. Thank you for the award, and happy birthday to Wasim Akram!”
Jos Buttler is the Man of the Match
“It’s great to be back. I wanted to really enjoy the occasions. The bowlers were always in the game on this pitch, which made batting tricky at times. It’s nice when you get the opportunity to slog a few. It’s all about trying to play the match situation. Being recalled gave me a huge amount of confidence.”
All things being equal, I’d imagine this will be the team for the first India Test: Cook, Jennings, Root, Malan, Bairstow, Stokes, Buttler, Woakes, Bess, Broad, Anderson.
“Hi Rob,” says Tim Bierley. “My first test was during the nadir of ‘99 when England were beaten at home by New Zealand. I think my Dad’s intention must have been to put me off cricket for life (a bit like gambling: best to lose big with your first punt so you don’t get a taste for it). If the plan had worked out, I’d probably have ended up doing something a bit more productive with my Sundays than hitting ‘refresh’ on the OBO, but anyway. It was a sunny one at Old Trafford and with Andy Caddick, Phil Tufnell and Dean Headley getting flayed around the ground all day, and more and more fielders sent to guard the boundary rope, it was a good day for autograph hunting.
“As I approached Michael Atherton with a pen, probably some time during Peter Such’s 37th over, someone in the crowd shouted “Give the kid a bowl!” Being nine at the time, I wasn’t too clued up on the substitution rules (or the limitations of my 35mph bowling) so I quietly did a few warm up exercises back in my seat, just in case. Seeing Graeme Hick come on to bowl shortly after was a bit of an insult of course but I decided then that if he could turn his arm over in a test, I’d get my chance eventually. Never quite worked out, but I reckon Peter Such and Alan Mullally might have got a lot of kids like me into cricket that summer, in a funny old way.”
The victory means England remain unbeaten at home since 2014, and sets them up nicely for the five-Test series against India later this summer. The big plusses in this series were the form of Jos Buttler, and confirmation of Stuart Broad’s return to form. He looks a very good bet to be leading wicket-taker in that India series. Dom Bess charmed just about everyone and should start the first Test against India, though his bowling is still a work in progress.
So, the series ends 1-1. I hate two-Test series.
The superb Broad ends with match figures of six for 66. I’d probably make him Man of the Match, though Jos Buttler has a case after slapping 80 not out. It was quite a team effort from England, with no four-fors and just the one fifty.
WICKET! Pakistan 134 all out (Abbas c Root b Broad 1) We’re done here. Stuart Broad finishes what he started on Friday morning, taking the final wicket of the match when Abbas fences to third slip. It completes a thumping victory from England, who have come back admirably from that Lord’s fiasco.
45th over: Pakistan 132-9 (Amir 6, Abbas 0) It’s rare to see a team effort quite like this - everybody has contributed, yet there have been no four-fors and only one fifty from Jos Buttler.
44th over: Pakistan 124-9 (Amir 2, Abbas 0) “Hi Rob,” says Martin Phillips. “Surely the Laker Test at Old Trafford was 1956 not 1953 (as suggested by at least one of your correspondents, unless there’s another Laker Test I am unaware of). I remember watching it as a 12 year old on a 12inch black and white (of course) TV.”
Yes it was – that’s my mistake. The story goes that, on the way home that night, he stopped off at a pub for a sandwich and a pint and nobody recognised him.
England are one wicket away from victory. Hasan Ali edges Broad towards first slip, where Cook moves smartly to his left to take a superb two-handed catch.
43rd over: Pakistan 124-8 (Amir 2, Ali 9) Bess could end up as Man of the Match here, certainly if he takes a five-for, though I’d probably give it to Broad or Buttler. He almost gets his fourth wicket when Hasan Ali top-edges a slog sweep just short of the two men out on the leg side.
“Bah,” says Smylers. “It looks like Aidan, 5, is going to have to wait longer till he can experience his first live Test match. He’s been following the OBO since the second Test in Bangladesh, during which time England haven’t exactly dominated. Then just as he’s on the cusp of going to a match, England deny him by, of all things, winning within three days — what are the chances? Being rained off or England losing within three days I was prepared for, but not this; he was so sad to hear the news. Anyway, glad my use of ‘Baker Day’ earlier inadvertently brought so much pleasure.”
42nd over: Pakistan 123-8 (Amir 2, Ali 8) Broad has a big LBW appeal turned down when Hasan Ali misses a smear across the line. England are going to review. This looks really close – Broad was incredulous that it wasn’t given – but replays show it would have missed leg stump by a fair distance. Next!
“The first Test I can remember going to was at Headingley in 98 against South Africa,” says Tom Van der Gucht. “I was desperate to see Flintoff in the hope that he was going to be the new Botham: sadly, he was out for a duck and took no wickets...”
41st over: Pakistan 122-8 (Amir 2, Ali 7) The new batsman Hasan Ali mows his first ball over midwicket for six!Two balls later he pulls fiercely into the helmet of Jennings at short leg. That was quite a blow and the physio is on the field. There’s a bit of blood coming from the bridge of Jennings’ nose and he is going to leave the field. He seems fine though.
“I can equal the gentleman’s first Test match,” writes Ralph Walker. “It too was 1947 versus South Africa at Leeds. Just got in the ground and the heavens opened. Not long though before the match got under way. Len Hutton and Cyril Washbrook opened. Washbrook out for 75, Hutton slipped on the greasy wicket and was run out for 100.(no covered wickets in those days). Athol Rowan bowled just about all day.”
Dom Bess has his third wicket! He switched ends and struck with his second ball when the hitherto defensive Salihuddin played a slightly weird shot, chipping the ball straight to deep mid-on.
40th over: Pakistan 114-7 (Salahuddin 33, Amir 1) Stuart Broad replaces Dom Bess, which suggests Joe Root wants to be home in time for Songs of Praise, or at least Countryfile Royal Special: Balmoral at 7pm. Salihuddin chases an outswinger and is beaten; that’s all. Tea is at 4.10pm today, since you asked.
39th over: Pakistan 113-7 (Salahuddin 33, Amir 0) Salahuddin is inching towards a fifty on debut, a milestone that would assuage the pain of defeat. He’s 17 away.
“If Buttler continues to bat really well down the order, what about moving him up as a left-field choice for opener, in the Sehwag/Warner mould?” says Adam Reid. “Stokes in for Curran, and then bring in a new player (Clarke or Livingstone, say) at 4, and recall Moeen to bat at 7 and provide a second spinning option. The line-up might look something like this: Cook, Buttler, Root, Clarke/Livingstone, Bairstow, Stokes, Moeen, Bess, Woakes, Broad, Anderson.”
38th over: Pakistan 111-7 (Salahuddin 31, Amir 0) This is a lovely time for Bess and Curran to bowl: the Test is almost won, and Pakistan’s tailenders are not going to hang around, so there is a chance to pick up some cheap wickets - maybe even a five-for in Bess’s case.
“Catching sight of some of the young Pakistani supporters waving at camera got me wondering (hopefully) whether they and others will be sharing reflections of a first day of Test cricket in thirty years’ time on the Guardian OBO,” says Brian Withington. “For the sake of two great institutions, let’s hope so and that both are still thriving.”
Another one for Dom Bess. Faheem has a wild hack across the line and slices the ball high towards backward point, where Malan takes a simple catch. It was nicely bowled, tossed up just enough to tempt Faheem into the stroke.
37th over: Pakistan 111-6 (Salahuddin 31, Faheem 3) Bairstow appears to drop Salahuddin down the leg side off Curran, only for replays to show the ball hit the thigh pad rather than the bat. The next delivery is edged just short of Bess at gully. A good maiden from Curran.
“My first day at the Test?” asks George Taylor. “As a thirteen year old, gape-mouthed witness to Devon Malcolm’s South African massacre at the Oval in ‘94. Brutal, bloody domination: I was hooked and signed up immediately for a decade of gloating glory. So that went well.”
36th over: Pakistan 111-6 (Salahuddin 31, Faheem 3) Faheem, playing for turn, is beaten on the inside by a skiddy delivery from Bess that just misses off stump.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “’Prep school outing to Lord’s’ is not a phrase that was in common usage where I grew up. ‘Lads outing to the Western Terrace’ did become quite common during the 1990s though.”
35th over: Pakistan 108-6 (Salahuddin 29, Faheem 3) Faheem Ashraf is a good No8: he has two first-class centuries and looks organised in defence. Curran isn’t getting any swing so is trying to mix things up a little; the last ball of the over is an excellent yorker that Faheem blocks.
34th over: Pakistan 107-6 (Salahuddin 28, Faheem 3) There’s no way out of this predicament for Pakistan, though Salahuddin in particular is showing no sign of giving his wicket away. He’s waited a long time for his Test debut.
“Mine was an Ashes Test at Headingley in 1968,” says Barry Davis. “I was 12 years old. Having played sort of make-believe cricket with my older brother in our bedroom for a few years – I recall you chose your Test sides and rolled two kinds of dice, which indicated balls bowled, runs scored, types of dismissal etc. – which were, I think, always based on Ashes sides, it was wonderful to see the likes of Inverarity, Redpath and Ian Chappell in the flesh, so to speak.”
33rd over: Pakistan 105-6 (Salahuddin 27, Faheem 2) “Finding it jolly tricky to calibrate the BBQ so that the leg of lamb on the rotisserie is ready precisely at the moment the final Pakistan wicket falls,” says Kim Thonger. “Does anyone have any tips? Ideally ones that don’t result in accusations of match fixing, or food poisoning.”
32nd over: Pakistan 105-6 (Salahuddin 27, Faheem 2) Bess has switched around the wicket to the right-handed Salahuddin, with a leg slip and short leg. He’s bowling pretty well and isn’t afraid to toss the ball up. Salahuddin takes a sharp single, which leads to a run-out referral against Faheem. He was home safely, though he would have been out with a direct hit.
“While we can all relish the sight of a bowler really on song and taking loads of scalps, for the team it’s probably better when the wickets are shared around, as here,” says John Starbuck. “If/when Stokes comes back, in late summer, it could be mainly as a batsman (probably replacing Malan if he doesn’t do much else this season) because the team won’t need any more bowlers.”
31st over: Pakistan 102-6 (Salahuddin 26, Faheem 0) Pakistan need another 87 runs to make England bat again. The new batsman Faheem gets one of them with a pleasant cover drive off Curran.
“Another David Brown here,” writes, well, David Brown. “It was our prep school outing to Lord’s to watch England play the Windies in June 1980; our headmaster’s brother was Donald Carr of the TCCB and we were a bus full of mini cricket obsessives. I remember having great seats directly under where the Media Centre now stands. Viv Richards stroked the ball to all parts for a masterful 145 with Des Haynes almost becalmed in comparison. England couldn’t find any way to contain him until he chipped out to, I think, Graham Dilley on as a sub right at the close. Not sure I’ve seen a better innings in the flesh.”
England are hurtling to victory. Shadab fishes outside off stump at a good delivery from Curran and edges straight to first slip, where Cook takes a simple catch.
30th over: Pakistan 102-5 (Salahuddin 26, Shadab 4) Ah, Bess has switched ends and will replace Woakes. Shadab, who has made fifties in each of his last three Tests, waves a confident drive for two. Meanwhile, the ECB have announced that Ben Stokes will miss the ODI against Scotland and the first part of the Australia series because of a hamstring injury.
“I might be confusing games, but Keith Hard’s 22nd over recollection of the great 1953 Aussie capitulation reminded me of an extract, I think from a Richie Benaud autobiography,” begins Brian Withington. “Richie was made responsible for organising a mid-match evening drinks reception for a popular member of the Australian press corps who was getting married. Keen not to disappoint the young epicurean Benaud filled a hotel bath tub with ice and numerous bottles of the finest available gargling beverages. The reception was a tremendous success until it came to facing Jim Laker the next day. I suspect it may have been the arms shouldering Slasher who admitted to not being sure which of the several balls he could see to play at. Apparently he was far from alone in that predicament. Hope I’ve got the right game and source - it could have been from Denis Compton’s In Sun and Shadow but I think I also read a Benaud autobiography around the same time as I was off to the Oval in 1968.”
29th over: Pakistan 99-5 (Salahuddin 26, Shadab 1) Dom Bess (3-0-11-1) is replaced by Sam Curran, who is 20 today. He wasn’t at his best in the first innings but this is a good chance to pick up a few cheap wickets. Salahuddin, who is playing with calm control, ignores a few tempters and then works a single to fine leg. Shadab then flogs a short ball for a single to get off the mark; it would have been four but for a splendid diving stop from James Anderson.
“Old Trafford, July 1939 was my first Test,” says Brian Daniels. “ Can clearly remember George Headley cutting boundaries. Was one a six off Bowes? And then, Hammond making hard drives and Constantine fielding at cover. Pity I cannot remember Compton that day but I must have seen him.”
28th over: Pakistan 97-5 (Salahuddin 25, Shadab 0) That was a terrific delivery from Woakes, which moved sharply off the seam to hit Sarfraz in front of off and middle.The new batsman is the impressive Shadab Khan.
“Can’t compete with first Test memories, but I do remember watching Essex, early sixties at Leyton when they were a nomadic side,” says Simon Porter. “Trevor Bailey had been playing his usual game, when out of nowhere he unleashed a mighty six, whereupon the ladies lavatories housed in an old double decker bus burst into flames. Also saw Barry Knight win a single-wicket competition at the Oval, (I think) in the mid-60s. Although I was the only one apparently supporting him from the stands, there was a very sympathetic crowd who didn’t seem to mind my youthful excesses.”
We’re nearly done here. Woakes has taken the big wicket of Sarfraz, plumb LBW to a fullish nipbacker. He didn’t even discuss a review.
27th over: Pakistan 94-4 (Salahuddin 22, Sarfraz 8) Bess has a slip and short leg for Salahuddin, who is playing carefully. A quicker ball is worked away for a single to complete a quiet over.
26th over: Pakistan 92-4 (Salahuddin 21, Sarfraz 7) Woakes continued, having made the replacement ball kick nastily in the previous over. Sarfraz nails a straight drive so well that the ball hits the stumps at the non-striker’s end, and four runs become none. He’s going to counter-attack, as he always does.
“July 1975, Edgbaston - 1st Ashes Test of the summer,” begins Gary. “The nice England of Edrich, Amiss, Fletcher, Underwood etc who were all friendly and polite to a boy on the boundary; against an Australia with a brace of Chappells, Lillee, Marsh and Thomson - who scared the hell out of me - and the England team that they trampled underfoot, winning by an innings. I think Thomson may have been faster, but Lillie was the most lethal bowler I ever saw live. In retrospect I’m sure they were not actively mean; it was just like watching amateurs against professionals. Snow, Greig and the rest were really fine players, but in that match the Aussies were truly fearsome. After that match I thought fast bowlers were like Lillie and Thomson, spinners like Underwood, keepers like Marsh and Knott; I found out in the years that followed that they are not ...”
25th over: Pakistan 91-4 (Salahuddin 21, Sarfraz 6) Sarfraz charges Bess’s first ball and blasts it through mid-off for four. The wicket has not, it seems, changed their plan to go after him. Five from the over.
“Pakistan’s record against England in England remarkable for the contrast between London and the provincial grounds,” says Faisal Ali. “In London Tests, Pakistan have played 25, won 10, lost 7. Outside London, if they lose here, it will be played 28, won 2, lost 16. Obviously Pakistan green is more of the guacamole than the mushy pea variety.”
24th over: Pakistan 86-4 (Salahuddin 21, Sarfraz 1) Woakes starts a new over after the successful Bess set. Salahuddin continues to look the part, leaving a couple before driving nicely to cover. The skipper Sarfraz, new to eh crease, is solid in defence then off the mark to third man. Woakes finishes the over with another quick delivery that spits at Salahuddin’s gloves.
That’s me for the day. Thanks for your company throughout our discussion of first visits to a Test Match. Some wonderful yarns in there. I’ll leave you with Rob Smyth. Bye for now.
There it is! Two red lights and an umpires’ call, Bess into the book for the first time in Test cricket with the final ball of his first over in the match. He was round the wicket, beating the inside edge. He tossed it up and gave it a chance. Went straight on. Can’t ask for much more than that. Well bowled.
23rd over: Pakistan 84-4 (Salahuddin 20)
HAS DOM BESS TRAPPED IMAM? Given out on the field! He’s gone upstairs but I think Bess has his first Test wicket! We’ll see.
22nd over: Pakistan 80-3 (Imam 30, Salahuddin 20) Imam drives three more straight to start the new Woakes over. He’s ticking over really well now. Salahuddin unlucky not to add to his own score, picking out fielders with a couple of nice drives. The intent has been there since lunch.
Keith Hart is nearly our oldest reader, unable to (quite) beat 1947. Even so, a fair effort: “I think I saw Lindwall and Miller play Lancashire at Old Trafford in 1948, but since I was only 5, I could have made that up. My first test was vs India in 1952. Fiery Fred blew them away in the first innings. I can get the actual score onlline (58 all out, Truman 8-31), but what I recall vividly is his dishevelled appearance, long curving run and sling-shot delivery. The next year member and saw every ball of the Laker test. In the second innings, the Aussies gave up. I remember Slasher Mackay (and he wasn’t the only one) lbw while shouldering arms.”
21st over: Pakistan 77-3 (Imam 27, Salahuddin 20) This is maturing into a nice partnership, worth 35 now with five taken from Anderson’s fifth over since lunch. Imam picked up three of those with a push off the back foot out to point before Salahuddin drove a couple in the same direction for two more. Sure enough, Jimmy bounces back beating Salahuddin with the final delivery.
20th over: Pakistan 72-3 (Imam 24, Salahuddin 18) Salahuddin wants to play Woakes off the front foot, nice and positive. The bowler does grab the edge eventually, but though the cordon on the ground for one. Imam now, who immediately nails a lavish straight drive to the boundary! His best shot so far. Keeps the strike with a single behind square.
19th over: Pakistan 66-3 (Imam 19, Salahuddin 17) Root backing his top dog Anderson, who goes around again. A bit more to this set, Imam having to leave quite close to his stumps and nearly wearing one on the hand. Maiden. Meanwhile, a nice story here from the ECB with Chance to Shine reaching a major milestone. They do great work.
18th over: Pakistan 66-3 (Imam 19, Salahuddin 17) Right, so Chris Woakes does replace Broad. Good change. He was excellent on day one, especially before lunch when the ball was relatively new. Imam works one to square leg that puts Salahuddin back down the business end again. With a bit of width, he takes two before defending and leaving the rest. He’s going alright.
John Tumbridge witnessed the brothers Chappell salute on the same day first up. Nice. “On 12th August 1972 I was explaining to my dad how boring the summer holidays were. Get yourself down to the cricket was the suggestion. So off to the Oval to watch the Chappel flay the English attack. Both got centuries, I wish I had understood then I was witnessing history being made and not had the general frustration of being English and 14 and we seemed to be losing. England first innings 284 Australia finished the day 10 behind with seven wickets in hand, eventually winning by 5 wickets.”
17th over: Pakistan 63-3 (Imam 18, Salahuddin 15) Not enirely sure why Anderson is getting a third over after the break but here he goes. His pedestrian exchange with Salahuddin continues, the right-hander able to defend throughout.
“My first visit was Lords in 1983 against NZ,” adds Julian Pye. “It was the first day, and could have been subtitled The Agony and the Ecstasy. Two of the worst feelings for any player in the morning session - poor Chris Smith out LBW to Hadlee first ball (not just his first ball faced, but his first ball in Test cricket), and the dead silent walk back to the pavilion, past the platoon of headmasters sporting the Rhubarb and Custard. Then Lance Cairns dropped the easiest catch ever dropped in Tests - lobbed gently to him, chest height, sun not in eyes, the works - to let off David Gower. Who then scored a beautiful century, of the type where rather that hit the ball, he seemed just to charm it to the boundary.”
James Anderson may have had some strong words this week regarding pitching the ball up, but his average length with the new ball today was 5.983m from the stumps - that's the third fullest opening spell of his entire career. #ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/tkIdwxjUVB
16th over: Pakistan 63-3 (Imam 18, Salahuddin 15) Nup, Broad once more. Salahuddin leaving and defending competently early on before collecting three behind square. There is nobody back there to collect it so the men in the cordon have to chase it down. Vic Marks observes on TMS that the 7-2 field (with a third man) takes the Broad bouncer out of the equation.
“Took my six-year-old son Tom to his first test at the Oval in early 80s against Windies,” recalls Richard Davies. “Unforgettable moment is watching Holding (who had been bowling off a short run for 18 months) pacing out an extra 10 yards in MIDDLE of an over. Ground went silent. First ball a throat ball to Broad? Caught behind.” Mikey, what a man.
15th over: Pakistan 60-3 (Imam 18, Salahuddin 12) Nice from Salahuddin, steering a wide Anderson offering to the third man boundary to start his new over, then getting off strike with a clip next ball. Imam isn’t bothered by the rest with Jimmy not posing any probems at the moment. Give Bess a go, Joe.
Unbelieveable spot from @palacenutter& @JackMarshall__
Here's what Jos Buttler has written on his bat handle #EngvPakpic.twitter.com/W0CVUpLraa
14th over: Pakistan 55-3 (Imam 18, Salahuddin 7) Salahuddin working into it now, using a straight bat whenever he can with Broad attacking his stumps. Gets one to point to keep the board moving when offered a bit of width. For those just joining the coverage, Pakistan still trail by 134. Might be time to give Woakes a go from that end, I reckon.
“My father isn’t reading the OBO, so I’ll answer this query on his behalf,” writes Rob Marriott. “His first day of Test cricket was at Trent Bridge, in 1965 he unexpectedly had a day off work, so drove down from Bradford where he worked at the time. England were playing South Africa, and he saw Colin Cowdrey score a century. Dad has often described it as the most cautious, unadventurous, tedious hundred he’s ever seen scored in all his years of watching the game, Cowdrey never trying to score off anything that wasn’t easy and safe. Consequently, that remains the first and last day of Test cricket that my father ever attended. My father’s life of watching Tests was ruined by Colin Cowdrey.”
13th over: Pakistan 54-3 (Imam 18, Salahuddin 6) Anderson back on after one Curran over, angling in at Imam round the wicket. Twice the opener works him off the pads, the first time to a fielder and the second for a couple of runs. Not much going on here from Jimmy with couple down the legside too.
They keep coming and they are great, so I’ll keep publishing them. Martin Crookall’s turn. “Saturday at Old Trafford, 1981. An overcrowded ground full of peeling wooden benches, 25,000 people cramming into 21,000 seats and me stuck with sitting on my (thin) jacket on concrete. A deadly dull morning session, 29 runs in two hours and only one four, Gatting in the last over before lunch, and out leg before padding up to the next ball. Not much better after lunch. Tavare advancing like a glacier. Botham coming in and he’s just as becalmed. Went for a can of lager beneath the stand, missed the second and third boundaries of the day. Second new ball due, suppose it’ll be back into the shell again, yawn. Alderman with the first over from below us on the Warwick Road End. Lillee from the Stretford End. Bowls a bouncer at Botham, who swivels and hooks it behind square into the crowd for six. I can see that shot any time I want, don’t even have to close my eyes.”
12th over: Pakistan 52-3 (Imam 16, Salahuddin 6) Oooooh. Beaten, beaten! Broad twice beyond the edge to begin the fresh session. Both were no more than half an inch from getting Broad a second wicket. “He’s probably never had an examination like this,” observes Simon Mann on TMS of the task ahead of Salahuddin on debut. Pakistan’s new number five gets bat on ball to help with his nerves and then four off an edge to finish. It’s with a degree of control along the ground through the cordon, so no issues there.
Ian Forth with the story of trying to get a mate interested in the game only for it to backfire. “I took my friend Nigel to his one and only day of test cricket at Lord’s in 1989. Australia were 6 down overnight, and I explained that England would wrap the innings up at the latest by lunch, and then we could enjoy England taking on a callow Australian attack. At 5 o’clock Australia were still batting, Waugh having made a colossal century. England then lost 3 quick wickets before the close of play. Years later I saw this described as the single most depressing day some aficionado ever witnessed. Nigel doesn’t even like cricket very much, and this day out hardly helped matters.
Broad has the ball. Salahuddin facing up. We’re away for the second session.
Back to Headingley. A couple of tweets in my timeline with some dark skies over the ground. Weather might be the only factor that drags this into a fourth day. Also, some analysis on how Anderson and Broad used the new ball before lunch. Provided those clouds don’t open, play resumes in five minutes.
Some more.
“Great thread about people’s first Test experiences!” writes Mo Holkar. I agree, these are great. “Mine was 25th August 1986, and although we only had a morning’s play, it was full of Ian Botham biffing the NZ bowlers to all parts of the Oval -- this was the “who writes your scripts?” Test, his comeback after the drugs ban. Highlight was 24 in an over off Stirling. Glory days! Hope today’s youngsters will have similar treasures to remember.”
This email deserves its own post, from John Bottomley.
“Reading people’s reminiscences of their first test matches makes me wonder if I may be the oldest reader of OBO.” Anybody out there? This will be fun.
11th over: Pakistan 48-3 (Imam 16, Salahuddin 2) Sam Curran brought on for a twist before the break. Imam doesn’t mind that, flicking away the birthday boy’s loosener for his third boundary. The left-hander is comfortable, using his bat throughout, and is unlucky not to get another boundary from the penultimate delivery of the session that’s stopped well at cover. That is lunch, the visitors still trailing by 141 runs.
Earlier, England piled in 61 runs inside 11 overs for their last three wickets. The bulk of those were from the bat of Buttler, who went up the gears in a real hurry once the eighth wicket fell. The highlight was a huge blow into the football stand currently under construction. He also got to his half-century with a six over fine leg and was the only England batsmen to reach 50, finishing unbeaten on 80.
A magic catch @DomBess99!
Scorecard/Videos: https://t.co/jODEsvsBKj#ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/m3JD5O52g0
10th over: Pakistan 44-3 (Imam 12, Salahuddin 2) With that wicket, Stuart Broad has overtaken Wasim Akram. It was his 415th in Test cricket at an average of 29. One more will take him beyond Rangana Herath, which was close to coming from the last ball of this set, just going beyond the edge of the new man Salahuddin. One over left until lunch.
He has! It looked like the right-hander was fine but the technology showed a little spike as the ball kissed the glove and that’s all Paul Reiffel needed. Nothing special about the delivery but it was a tidy take from YJB moving low to his left. Pakistan are still 147 behind with 75 overs remaining today due to the rain yesterday.
HAD BROAD STRANGLED SHAFIQ DOWN THE LEGSIDE? They are going to ask Paul Reiffel to check upstairs for them. Looks close.
9th over: Pakistan 42-2 (Imam 12, Shafiq 5) Jimmy finds Shafiq’s edge but mostly along the ground through about fifth slip to the boundary to get him off the mark. Another single in that general direction puts Imam on strike with about ten minutes until the interval. They have to tough this out. More good batting from the young left-hander to help with that task, not tempted by Jimmy outside the line.
David Seare’s initial visit was at Old Trafford in 1990. “It was the Saturday and we watched Azharuddin batting with a teenager called Tendulkar. Don’t think the young lad ever made much of himself. His senior partner could only really go into politics after that bit of business in 2000.”
8th over: Pakistan 37-2 (Imam 12, Shafiq 0) Broad again to Imam to continue their excellent little contest. He pushes two to cover that would have been four had that man Bess not got a hand to it, diving once again. Looks a Test cricketer, doesn’t he? And this is all before he’s influenced a match with the ball. That’ll come. They are up appealing later in the over when Imam leaves a ball from around the wicket that hits him on the front pad, but it won’t be doing enough to prompt Root to ask DRS. Technology confirms the decision. Broad hasn’t got the wickets but he’s the better of the two bowlers so far. Oh, now I’ve written that he oversteps and gives the left-hander a chance to take a boundary off his pads, which he takes.
“I do remember being incredibly excited by the fact that Graham Gooch would be batting,” emails Richard Woods of his first Test experience (sort of, in this case). They are really piling up, by the way. I’ll get to the bulk of them at lunch. Some wonderful stories. Back to Richard.
What. A. Ball.
More Clips: https://t.co/Td6l1dJGVS#ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/DXgTV351Iw
What a catch! I’ve stitched up Haris by talking him up in the previous over, but forget about that, this is all about Dom Bess at mid-off! He has the chance to dive to drag it in with his left hand and does it expertly. A poor shot from the left-hander, getting Anderson into the book for a second time. Pakistan are still 159 runs behind with 20 minutes until lunch. This could get ugly.
7th over: Pakistan 30-2 (Imam 6)
6th over: Pakistan 26-1 (Imam 6, Haris 4) Broad beats Haris early in the over with a ball that’s gone a long way off the seam, just as he did so often on Friday during Pakistan’s first innings. The number three does well to leave the next couple before driving through cover with control for three. No risk there, just a push with a high front elbow. He is fantastic to watch when up and about so I hope he gets the chance to entertain this afternoon.
5th over: Pakistan 23-1 (Imam 6, Haris 1) Haris off the mark first ball, albeit in the air through the legside. No catcher, so he grabs one. Imam gets two more to finish, but that’s not convincing either with his inside edge involved.
Mike Shepherd wanted Jos to get to three figures as much as I did: “For a batsman of Broad’s ability (and I know he’s not what he was since having his features rearranged) that’s a really pathetic shot with Buttler looking good for his first ton at the other end.” It can’t be far away for him now.
Shocking shot trying to whip Anderson across the line from the off-stump. “That’s not on,” says Waqar Younis on the radio. He was lucky to survive the ball before when Anderson went through him and Bairstow wanted to go upstairs. Not to worry, next ball the stumps are splattered.
4th over: Pakistan 20-0 (Azhar 11, Imam 4) Good cricket from Imam. After surviving the interrogation of Broad’s first set, he’s right on it now. The left-hander left three to begin, which brought Broad back to the stumps. That patience gave him the chance to lean into a straight drive for four. A beautiful way to get off the mark.
I’m enjoying this topic of first Test Match experiences. Phillip Mallett’s turn. “My first test was the Oval in 1966, against the West Indies, including Kanhai and Sobers, and Hall and Griffith. I turned up on spec on the Saturday, about 12.30 – you couldn’t do that today – watched England lose wickets, and then saw Graveney and John Murray (in at number 9) score centuries. Out where I was sitting, Griffith was either bowling, or the fans were shouting ‘Bring on Charlie Griffith’, and John Arlott was teasing them on the radios which (as he reminded them) they weren’t supposed to bring into the ground. A good day.”
3rd over: Pakistan 16-0 (Azhar 11, Imam 0) Close! Azhar makes the mistake of leaving Anderson on line, the off-cutter racing back at his front pad. Luckily for the opener, it was going over the top so they don’t review. Earlier, he played another drive, this time more compact and straight, for his second boundary. A couple more came when Jimmy gave him one on his pads.
Richard Williams on his first time. “I was unfeasibly lucky with my first Test experience given the 90s in general but mine was the 1st day of the opening Ashes test in 1997 at Edgbaston. The Aussies were 54/8 after what felt about only an hour, and England ended the day 200/3 with Nasser and Thorpe (whose batting that day mesmerised me) both unbeaten in the 80s. As a 13 year old I thought the worm had finally turned, oh how naive I was.”
2nd over: Pakistan 10-0 (Azhar 5, Imam 0) OHH! Stuart Broad is outstanding to begin with consecutive deliveries that pitched middle and missed both the off-stump and Imam’s outside edge by the proverbial coat of varnish. And again! Granted, the third play and miss is from a ball he didn’t need to play, but the fact that he did is surely a product of the two that came before where he did. Superb. Imam leaves the last. Wonderful maiden.
Speaking of wonderful, take a look at Jos Butter’s monster straight six and tell me he shouldn’t be in every England XI in every format for a decade.
A monster six from @josbuttler!
https://t.co/9KE5FAriSF#ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/k7NOMLnIOk
1st over: Pakistan 10-0 (Azhar 5, Imam 0) Oi! First ball of the second dig Azhar Ali is onto the front foot, crunching Anderson through cover for four. That’s what you call batting with purpose. Then a quick single second up! Imam was slow off the mark there but he’s safe. Imam gets off strike when the ball rolls from his pad into a gap for a leg bye. Then Azhar collects more leg byes, four of them, off his backside. Poor start from Jimmy. Stu’s turn.
“Timothy Sanders should be wary of ticket touts bearing gifts (104th over),” warns Brian Withington. “Quite possible that the tickets are for the building site end. And might entail some form of debentured servitude on the next construction project.”
Let’s rip into the emails I missed while Jos was going.
“Enjoying the toponymical nostalgia produced by Baker Days,” begins Robert Wilson. “Coming from Belfast, I feel the same way about the Proustian institution of the Bomb-Damage Sale. I got my first set of pads in a bomb-damage sale. They were duff but deeply resonant (also wicket keepers pads which I didn’t realise until all the Protestants I knew started laughing at me). They seriously used to advertise these sales on the telly.”
Jimmy slaps a full toss through point for four but next ball he nicks off to slip. Sadly, that means the Buttler show is over, the unbeaten man on 80. England lead by 189 at the conclusion of the first innings after adding 61 runs this morning in just under an hour. That’ll do. “If they can win two more sessions today,” says Michael Vaughan on TMS, “it’ll be 1-1.”
106th over: England 359-9 (Buttler 80, Anderson 1) Jimmy gets off strike! He’s beaten first up but then nurdles to third man without much risk. That’s the way, Buttler’s turn. And Jos heeeeaving across the line tall in his stance, just evading the man at square leg running in off the rope and gets him four. He’s into the 70s. Make that to 76! Oh Jos! He’s hit that waaaaaaaay over long on. Into the top deck of the construction area! Blimey! It looks like the umpires have had to change the ball after its adventure into the concrete. He goes again at the last ball - squeezing through point, another boundary. He’s making it count, 15 from the over. Couldn’t script a better innings from a number seven, doing the tough yards last night when he needed to before unleashing with the lower order. Can he find 20 more for a maiden Test ton?
Urgh. Broad won’t be staying put after all, unable to resist the hook shot when on offer from the Faheem. He hit it well enough but to the man at long leg Abbas who takes a very good take moving forward. They don’t cross either, so Jimmy is on strike with five balls remaining in the over.
105th over: England 344-8 (Buttler 66, Broad 2) Here goes Jos. Granted, to begin it is another inside edge spat out to the legside for one, but this time Broad returns the favour down to third man to give him another chance. Bang, Buttler nails a pull shot behind square to the rope. Bang again, he smashes through extra cover for four more. Glorious striking. Come on Stu, stay put with him for an hour.
104th over: England 334-8 (Buttler 57, Broad 1) Faheem to Buttler, who leaves no doubt about his approach when trying to slay him over midwicket first up. He only got his inside edge to it, though. Broad has to get the way out of a perfect bouncer, is beaten outside the off-stump and is hit on the pads a couple of times in order to survive the oter. But he’s still there and Jos will be on strike next up. All that matters to them at this stage, I suspect. The lead is 160. England will fancy finishing this today.
“I was strangely comforted by the sight and sound of ticket touts on the way to the ground this morning,” says Timothy Sanders from the stands. “Not only are they a harbinger of a full ground, but in these days of hyperinflated online ticket markets, they seem almost quaint and traditional. Having said that, there are wide open spaces in the designated fancy dress stands, so perhaps there is a premium on the more sober areas of the ground.”
Jos Buttler has played just 11% false shots in this Test series, the least of any England batsman barring Ben Stokes. Equally, the only man to play more attacking strokes than Buttler is Dom Bess. Has Buttler cracked red-ball cricket? #ENGvPAK
103rd over: England 333-8 (Buttler 56, Broad 1) The run of England batsmen to fall just before reaching 50 comes to an end as Buttler races up the gears. He gets there with a hooked six from Abbas, albeit off the top edge, but he’s done enough with it to clear the rope. The shot to move him to 49 was more convincing, lashing a cover drive to the boundary. 50s in consecutive Tests for Jos after coming back into the XI. With any luck, Broad can ride shotgun for a while and he can get really busy. “This is IPL time,” says Michael Vaughan on TMS. “The perfect time for him to unleash.”
102nd over: England 322-8 (Buttler 45, Broad 1) Faheem replaces Amir the over after he beat Buttler’s bat twice, which suggests there is something wrong with him. The change bowler finds his range straight away but Buttler is happy to advance at him to tuck through the legside from the off-stump for another single. Maybe he’ll unleash at this point? Given how quickly the tail fell last week, that might make sense. Broad keeps Faheem out, just.
101st over: England 321-8 (Buttler 44, Broad 1) Broad off the mark down to fine leg, albeit off an inside edge. That is his first run of the series after bagging himself a pair at HQ last week, so he’ll take it. Buttler adds another too, pushing to midwicket. Broad watches then defends the last couple of balls of the successful Abbas over.
“Ah, there’s a memory from a long time ago,” writes Mrs V Porter on our unexpected Baker Days subplot. “Our school changed the name though to “B. days” which always summed up their perceived worth, when spoken.”
To overturn the decision, the third umpire requires conclusive evidence. He believes that he has it, giving Curran! Brave umpiring from Paul Reiffel and a great take by Shafiq. The left-hander was driving a ball that did enough off the seam from Abbas. Deserved that for his work so far this morning.
IS CURRAN CAUGHT AT SECOND SLIP? The umpires are going upstairs to check. Pakistan fancy it but the batsman stood his ground. Soft signal is not out. Stand by.
100th over: England 319-7 (Buttler 43, Curran 20) Well, there can’t be much wrong with Amir based on the evidence of his next over, beating Buttler with two beauties. Both started on the stumps before jagging across the right hander.
99th over: England 319-7 (Buttler 43, Curran 20) So we beyond that number of 315, the highest score where no batsman has reached 50 in a Test. Samson on TMS explains, though, that there was 59 (59!) extras given away from the West Indies attack in that innings. Back to Abbas, who gives Curran just enough space outside the off-stump to unfurl his arms and launch into a proper cover drive early on. On first look, better than the straight drive he played before stumps last night. Abbas bounces back straight away, cutting him in half with a ball that was ever so close to both the inside edge and the woodwork. Oh, then he beats him with a legit unplayable to finish. Well, maybe he could have left it on length but it has gone a long way off the seam away from the right hander. Classy start this morning from Abbas.
98th over: England 315-7 (Buttler 43, Curran 16) Always eventful when Amir is in the game. For all the wrong reasons initially for the quick, glanced away for four by Butter. But that’s not the point of interest as the left-armer goes down clutching his side. For a moment, it looked like he wouldn’t continue but after a bit of a stretch, he’s back to the top of his mark. He’s far from his best though, giving Buttler a half-volley that is driven with ease to the cover rope. Then four more, this time leg byes, from another misdirected delivery. Amir gets through the rest of the set grunting when delivering, so all probably isn’t right. The physio is walking over to him now so watch this space. 12 from the over.
97th over: England 303-7 (Buttler 35, Curran 16) Ooh, decent shout first ball! Abbas gets one to come back off the seam at Buttler, who is beaten on the inside edge. They really like it, but not enough to review the decision upstairs. Hitting just outside the line according to the replay. Abbas also finds Butter’s edge, albeit along the carpet to backward point. Better on the back foot, pulling a single to start his day. Curran’s turn now and he’s beaten by a beauty. Great start from the seamer.
Speaking of Curran, a cracking stat from Andrew Samson on TMS: he’s only second Test player to debut as a teen and finish the Test as a 20-year-old, Garth McKenzie the other. That’s why Samson is the best in the world at what he does.
Sam Curran turns 20 today. He’s on the way to the middle to continue his innings on 16. The lights are on, those clouds look bleak on the telly. Mohommad Abbas has the ball in his hand. Buttler is on strike. PLAY!
Baker Days! “I have nothing interesting to say about the cricket but am loving the reference in the day’s opening e-mail to Baker Days,” emails Chris Whiffin. “An 80’s expression I thought had long died out - I certainly can’t remember it being used in my near 20 years of teaching.”
I asked my (very British) girlfriend if it was part of her upbringing and she wasn’t familiar with the term. I will make a point of using it for the next, oh, 30 years. And I’ll always think of the OBO when I do.
“Happy Sunday” writes Andrew Benton. “Bring ‘em to China, I say. All of ‘em, some of ‘em, one of ‘em, any of ‘em. China joined the ICC yonks ago, and nothing much has happened since.”
A bit of self-interest from our emailer, but sentiment I share. Let’s grow this game of ours. Really enjoyed West Indies coach Stuart Law’s comments during the week on this very topic. Specifically, him wanting to see the World Cup grow bigger not smaller, as it will next year. Sigh.
Opening the batting on the email for the morning... is Smylers. “The 5-year-old’s school has a Baker Day tomorrow so I was thinking of taking him to Headingley to experience his first live cricket,” he writes. “Can anybody who’s done something similar offer any advice, including how long do we need to allow to collect the tickets and get in, and anything we should bring? I don’t own a smartphone, so I’m a little concerned about being in a worse position to tell him what’s going on than when we’re at home reading the OBO and listening to TMS.”
Hope you and your lad have a wonderful (and stress free) day at the cricket. I remember distinctly the first Test I attended. It was day four of the 1994-95 Boxing Day Test and David Boon collected his 20th Test ton. Later on, Damien Fleming hooped it around corners for a couple of scalps before the close. Actually, I wrote about it as part of the Golden Summers collection.
More good news. I was thrilled to see yesterday that England are close to signing up to a Test Match against Ireland next summer between the World Cup Final and their opening Ashes rubber. At Lord’s, no less.
I reported during the week that the Australians considered going to Ireland themselves to play a Test ahead of their opener against England but didn’t believe it was viable with only ten spare days.
Related: England to face Ireland in four-day Lord’s Test in 2019
Good news. A couple of tweets from the ground suggesting the sun is out. For now at least. The BBC forecast has a chance of a sprinkle throughout the playing hours, but nothing too concerning.
Here are the highlights from yesterday.
WATCH: Highlights from a real team effort from our boys on Day 2 at Headingley.
https://t.co/QDUbqKXlYj#ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/Z2RkZyggjQ
For a day that looked a chance of being completely ruined by rain, Saturday wasn’t a bad one at all. Adding 194 runs, England’s lead is a healthy 128. But Pakistan far from rolled over, claiming five wickets while preventing any home batsman from passing 50.
On that, as Vic Marks noted in his match report last night, the highest Test total without a batsman raising their bat is 315 back in 1986 (that was England as well). So we are well placed for a bit of niche history if Jos Buttler gives it away early this morning.
Adam will be here shortly.
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