TheGrandstand.net

Now for some proper cricket! Our new PM has done his best to spice things up by speaking a few home truths about our opponent's homeland, so I'm expecting a bit of an edge to this series.

Seems like a very long time since England had a competitive test opponent so I'm looking forward to seeing what these Pakistanis have in their lockers.

Some of their former players have been talking up the new bowling attack.

Some are wondering what sort of controversies will inevitably follow the Pakistan test team - they usually save the best ones for us.

Some of us are going to Trent Bridge for the first time on Saturday (corporate of course, no interest in mingling with the proleys) and are hoping for big things from, in particular, Jimmy Anderson and KP...both have massive points to prove ahead of the Ashes. Cook wouldn't do himself any harm by logging a double-ton or two.

Remarkably, a Pakistani win was paying 4.4 on betfair yesterday

You'll crap on them....just don't let them bowl first.

these are the guys who got you out for 88?

Yep. Just like your lot lost to Bangladesh - shit happens sometimes.

when? in a meaningless odi?

Anybody else think Morgan's going to rattle up a double ton!

no

@ 4 for 118 things didn't look all that rosey for England so while the recovery from that position has been good for England 1 partnership between a decent score and a first innings failure is all it seems at the moment.

No, at 118/4, things looked shaky indeed, another huge failure for KP who needs to get his act together very quickly. However, the middle order was put under a stress test and they came out of it with flying colours. Couldn't be happier.

From what I understand England benefited from Akmal's 'keeping like Hussey did in Sydney.

We certainly did, although I don't think he was doing for any other reason than simply being not good enough, on this occasion.

Did you see Akmal's attempt to "do a Hussey" and claim one that bounced about a yard in front of him.

It's a real shame the ICC are too scared to do anything about this sort of cheating.

Would I be right in saying England overtake Stralia in the rankings after this match?

Did you guys know about Finn? was hoping we could keep him on the down-low...

Finn you say, is he the bowler that Umar Gul just hit 18 runs off one over from.

Finn's the one who took 3/50 and averages 23.42 Reg.

Finn's the one who cannot wait to get on to those hard Aussie pitches!

Ijaz Butt walked past me today at Trent Bridge, I'm embarrassed to say I didn't say a word or even trip him up. If only it had been during the afternoon, post boozy lunch...

Today's play was the icing on the cake, seeing fearless Jimmy Anderson plunder the cream of Pakistan's batting production line. Anderson's 11th smelt like Napalm in the morning.

Great win to England/Wales!



But I reckon a win against Pakistan is still definitely worth something.

Umm, at which point in the game were Pakistan favourites for the win? (As they were against the Aussies)

Exactly! They weren't.

As I said - great win to England/Wales! My old side can play the game - particularly at home - and that's great for cricket IYAM.
Better than watching 5 grinding days of subcontinental "batting-for-batting's sake" and "let's make all statistics meaningless" dross - (but maybe that's just me).

Cheers