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Key events
7th over: England 30-2 (Cox 9, Root 20) Razaullah has raced up to the dressing room, presumably to patch up his finger. Abbas tiptoes in again – ooof Root edges just in front of first slip. Abbas throws up his hands. But the next ball is a lolly legside and Root tinkers him away for a couple. Babar licks his fingers at slip, his Pakistan cap firmly on his head.
6th over: England 25-2 (Cox 9, Root 15) Root clips Razaullah for one. It’s quiet at Edgbaston, I’m not sure from here if it is tension or anticipation. I f you’re there, do write in and tell me. The Birmingham clouds are gathering. A delay as Razaullah gets his finger patched up, with magic spray and possibly a plaster after falling over in his follow through. Three singles from the over, Root looks in quiet control.
5th over: England 23-2 (Cox 8, Root 14) Abbas continues his testing turn. After four dots, Root escapes the examination with a single from the fifth ball. WIll Babar plump for another over for Razaullah?
Good morning Brian Withington!
”For a dead Test match against disintegrated opposition who don’t deserve a three test series, this game has been mildly entertaining. It will also be interesting to see whether and how England’s flawed no 4 resurrects his flailing career.?”
4th over: England 22-2 (Cox 8, Root 13) Razaullah’s first ball is sprayed leg side. He walks back, looking at the grass, chewing on some gum, runs in, low arm, head down like Anderson. His third ball is wide on the off stump and Root bends his knees and wristily cuts for four over gully. Another wider ball, Cox this time takes four. Maybe Abbas will have to be Pakistan’s hero, if this is to have a happy ending for them.
3rd over: England 13-2 (Cox 4, Root 8) The groundsman is called onto the pitch to patch up the bowling crease. Repairs done, Abbas continues, less dramatically this time, but testingly on point. “Only rain can save England” reads a placard in the crowd.
That was, says Andy Zaltzman, the first time an England opener has been out first ball since Rory Burns was sent on his way by Mitchell Starc in the Ashes 2021-22.
2nd over: England 11-2 (Cox 2, Root 8) Razaullah rolls his shoulders, once, twice, three times. The first ball is on the money, Root edges the second, an outswinger, awkwardly through the cordon for four. He hits Root high on the pad, Razaullah fancies it and for a second Babar considers it. The last ball is cut over slip for four.
“Oh god,” writes Harry Lang, “what fresh hell is this?”
WICKET! Gay lbw Abbas 0 (England 2-2)
Stone cold out.
1st over: England 2-2 (Cox 1) Mohammad Abbas carefully choses his ball out of the umpire’s magic box and choses right. The first ball does just enough to keep the dream alive. Ooof, Cox is off the mark with a risky single to cover point. Another beauty beats Gay outside the off stump. The pencil slight figure of Abbas slides in again and Gay is rapped on the middle of his front pad as if X marked the spot. England in disarray.
WICKET! Duckett c Ghori b Abbas 0 (England 0-1)
He’s only gone and done it! Duckett pushes at the first ball, which straightens up, he nibbles and the keeper collects by his ankle socks. Abbas zooms an aeroplane celebration.
England need 130 to win.
There be cloud cover. Razaullah sprints onto the field like a runaway red setter.
The first email lands and Jim Neale wins OBO location of the day/yesterday.
“Dear Tanya,
”Hope all is good with you and just thought I would share (brag) my exotic locations for your updates.
”Spent yesterday evening getting OBO on the way and after taking my seat at the opera in Verona (Turandot and 5* absolutely mind blowing if you ask).
”Now on the train to Bologna and due to arrive in Rome at 13:50 (BST) so would be grateful if the weather holds out and it can be completed by then. “
Nasser has a chat with Jordan Cox, who did so well with the gloves yesterday.
“I enjoy keeping, it is great fun, there are not many left handers in the county game so standing up to them was a bit different. You really have to concentrate standing up, the bowlers get so much nip, it’s all about holding your shape.
“I should do more keeping. When you’re told you’re coming into the side and batting three all you want to do is hit balls, but I really enjoy it and luckily I’ve got good hands.”
Would he rather play as a specialist batter or a keeper? “Either,” he plays straight down the line.
Razaullah’s agent is giving it some welly on X – apparently his phone is ringing red. Razaullah was due to play for Cleethorpes in the Yorkshire Southern Premier League before:
“@TheRealPCBMedia come calling – sort his Passport out, and wing him over for @Edgbaston. He’s now made his mark. Franchises already showing interest. Our phones have blown up. Watch this space!”
A brief flurry of panic as the cameras think that Razaullah is injured, wrong player.
The Sky team on Razaullah
“It was the first time anyone has put a smile on the face of this Pakistan team,” says Urooj Mumtaz. “Such bravado, a strong man, well built and he didn’t shy away from it, thrilling to watch, absolute box office.”
“It is such a great story,” say Athers. “Ten days ago he didn’t have a passport, his phone was off when the selectors rang him, they had to send someone to find him , he rocks up, bowls upwards of 89-90 miles an hour when we’ve been watching Pakistan trundle in at 80mph and his performance last night was fantastic. He took England to the cleaners and the crowd were roaring him on. This kid transformed the mood of the team and the mood around the game.”
“I can’t think of anyone who has struck the ball harder, except Shahid Afridi.” says Ian Ward.
Moment of the series – the Pakistan balcony after Razaullah was reprieved on 81 by the third umpire?
Cook critical of England
“You can get done by the tail – it’s very hard when people have the
license and ability to hit sixes,” Alastair Cook told TMS. “What I saw was no plan, it got out of control.”
“That’s when you need the backroom staff and coaches to step up. I
would loved to have seen a message and some real leadership from the
coaches.”
Who is going to be Bob Willis? Only one man.
“Not far away now, into the tail,” beautiful from Nasser Hussain yeseterday.
Ali was in the box seat yesterday:
Preamble
Good morning and welcome to the day you didn’t expect. An evening of glorious chaos at Edgbaston brought us, from nowhere, a match, and a born-for-this-moment star – Razaullah, the floor is yours.
Those nine sixes, played with roaring panache, have been matched only by Ben Stokes in a Test innings in England. And now he gets to bowl, blood roaring through those handsome veins. Probably England will cruise to 130. But maybe just maybe, Pakistan can find the old magic. Join us for what this time really is the Test summer’s last hurrah.
#England #Pakistan #mens #cricket #Test #day #live #England #Pakistan
