396 runs in 81 overs for England on day three, losing just two wickets along the way. From just before the halfway mark, it has been Root and Brook unbroken, their union 243. Along the way, the former captain secured both his 35th Test ton and went past Alastair Cook’s run-scoring record for England. When he reaches the top of those stairs one final time, he’s greeted by his appreciative colleagues. As for Brook – he just loves this country: in four Tests in Pakistan, he has four tons. And you sense that it’s the junior player in this partnership who could unload tomorrow morning to thrust England into the lead (they trail by 64) and from there, try and set up the game. Righto, that’s enough from me. Thanks so much for your company, we’ll be back tomorrow. Bye!
Updated
STUMPS: 492-3
101st over: England 492-3 (Root 176, Brook 141) Jamal to Root, square driving for one to the sweeper at point – he hobbles through, hoping surely that Brook does the rest. There might be one there when Brook drives hard to mid-off and there’s a bobble but Root throws the hand up – no run there, mate. Quite fair. One last lap for Root, 22 yards to travel, from the final ball of the day that Brook pulled behind square. And… relax!
The first Test in Multan is into its 250th over... Joe Root has spent eight balls off the field so far
— Matt Roller (@mroller98) October 9, 2024
100th over: England 490-3 (Root 175, Brook 140) Shaheen bangs it in and Root rocks back to hook fine rather than wasting an opportunity to score by getting under it – sums the guy up. Down the other end, he’s stretching that right leg right away. I wonder how much weight he’s lost today? When we were in Chittagong in 2017, Pete Handscomb lost eight kilos in four hours – a horrible day, that. Formula One drivers lose about that too when racing. Root’s recovery will be so important tonight. Shaheen’s final ball of the day, the last of the 100th over, is also worked behind square by Root for one.
99th over: England 486-3 (Root 173, Brook 138) Aamer Jamal, he’s your guy for something unexpected. Watch him here, a double-wicket maiden before the close. Sure, not this over, but he’ll get one more before stumps – back him in. Meanwhile, Brook is still looking to score and clearly not playing for stumps, leaping at a chance to drive, only cut off by the bowler’s boot in his follow-through. Two more overs left.
Stephen Nicholls comes full circle before the close. “Regarding the tea-time heckle about Hutton’s hundredth hundred - I recommend Steve reads Pat Murphy’s excellent book The Centurions. A cover drive for four off Owen Waite was the stroke to bring up that particular landmark. Thanks for the coverage.” There we go! Thanks for reading.
98th over: England 483-3 (Root 173, Brook 135) Shaheen! Didn’t see that coming. One final burst with 14 minutes until the close. Nasser tells us that the last time an England player batted the whole day was Root at Galle in 2021. In a way, I’m surprised by that as it isn’t that unusual, but it reflects the way this England team have gone about their batting since 2022. Root is really leaning on his splice now as the bowler arrives but he does what he must to get through. A chance to drive presents itself from the final ball of the over but he times it straight back to the big quick in his follow through.
I said Gary Naylor’s comment was the last on cramping but I’ll take one more from Kevin Cassingham as it’s a fair response: “I’m not sure tennis players would avoid cramp so well if they were wearing pads and only drinking once every half an hour!”
Another stretching session for Root between overs. There’s not a lot he can do other than go through the process. Daniel Couzens brings to my attention that there has been only one maiden for the entire innings of 97 overs – the fifth. He wants to know the longest run in Tests without a maiden… I’ve no idea how to calculate that! Anyone?
Another poser from Showbizguru while asking the audience: “Don’t want to tempt fate but when was the last time two double tons were scored in a single innings?”
Here’s the list of every double ton in First Class history. I adore this list; visit it often.
97th over: England 481-3 (Root 172, Brook 134) Naseem wants another crack at Brook and his enthusiasm is demonstrated by a no-ball first up, one where Brook gets off strike with a tuck. Root’s turn and he plays to mid-on and wheels away with cramp for the umpteenth time. “I foretell a quiet night in for Joe,” notes Gower on telly. Indeed.
“Quite clearly,” writes Will in Guyana, “Joe and Harry are England’s best R&B act in years, perhaps ever,” Very good. I suspect, however, Coldplay is more their vibe.
96th over: England 478-3 (Root 171, Brook 134) Root has faced 261 balls. To think he’s done that after over five sessions in the field, in this heat. It’s bonkers. He and Brook have now put on 229 and England trail by 78. We have 25 minutes now before the cut-off, we we’ll fall about eight overs short of the allocation. But as Nasser says, some days over rates are about the batters needing help to stay out there and this has been that.
95th over: England 476-3 (Root 170, Brook 133) Wow, Brook just walks at Naseem and thumps him through cover like it’s not even a thing. It very much is a thing. Brutal.
94th over: England 471-3 (Root 169, Brook 129) Abrar settles after a rough first over back into the attack, giving up two singles but re-locating his line and length.
“An absolutely phenomenal piece of concentration from Joe Root,” writes Roger Bolstridge. “To be in the field for all but eight balls of this Test Match in such energy-sapping conditions shows us what a talent we are witnessing and shows that playing proper cricket shots coupled with the talent of exhibition players like Crawley, Duckett and Brook(who has played a fabulous innings) can move a game forward and give England a chance to win this Test even on this docile pitch.”
A huge chance. If they can re-set tomorrow, there’s a chance they can bat once and bat enormous, leaving 100+ overs to take the final ten wickets. It comes back to the point about the way the McCullum/Stokes blueprint helps open games that are otherwise shut. A few years ago, there’s no route to victory from where they were 25 hours ago.
93rd over: England 469-3 (Root 168, Brook 128) They’re really flat on TV now, talking about scenarios where Pakistan can save the game. “They’d love a draw at this stage,” says Ramiz Raja. This is all before the leg before that doesn’t do their way. Another appeal follows, a very similar delivery… inside edge! Shan keeps his cool and doesn’t send it upstairs with the review he retained from the previous umpire’s call.
UMPIRE’S CALL! Root survives. Brutal for Naseem and Pakistan. That was taking the off bail; had Dharmasena given it out, the man with 168 to his name was gone. Not to be.
IS ROOT LBW? Not out on the field despite Naseem’s pleading. Upstairs we go!
Updated
92nd over: England 468-3 (Root 168, Brook 127) Abrar returns. The poor fella, hour after hour, nothing going his way. And whaddyaknow, it’s a full toss with his first ball back into the attack, put away with easy by Root through midwicket. He misses his length later in the over to Brook too, who monsters him inside-out through cover for four more. They’re getting stuck the leggie on TV now, 0/170 from 33 are his brutal figures.
Gary Naylor started the chat on cramping some hours ago so he gets the last word.
“I’m sure there’s much in Will Vignoles’ points (but they worked equally hard in different ways in the 70s, 80s and 90s) but the issue remains as to why tennis players can play back-to-back five-setters during seven-match fortnights and Grand Tour cyclists can ride on the edge of the red zone for 21 days, half of which require three mountains to be climbed, but cricketers are not being helped sufficiently by their fitness regimes to deal with this sport’s demands? Dennis Waight revolutionised players’ training two generations ago - we might need his successor to do the same now, as this climate isn’t going to get any easier.”
91st over: England 456-3 (Root 162, Brook 121) England now trail by an even 100 with this partnership swelling to 207 from 209 balls by the end of this Naseem over. The highlight was another Root pull shot, once again seeming to predict the short ball was coming and he was there waiting on the back foot – nobody is stopping that. To think, for all the bad cramp he was experiencing earlier a double ton is now in the frame.
“I think Will Vignoles is quite right,” emails Richard Adams. “The physical intensity of the game these days is so much greater than it was that it is almost like a different game. When I started watching in the 60s not only was batting so much slower but in the field there were players who struggled to bend over to pick the ball when it came straight at them, never mind sprinting thirty yards and diving full-length.”
Good point - you don’t often see fast bowlers fielding with their boots anymore.
Will is back with me, by the way: “Meant to say earlier, but how has there been all this talk of cramp without anyone bringing up Mark Richardson’s agonised shriek against India - up there with Ben Stokes or Liam Livingstone’s many box-strikes for stump mic gold.”
A classic! I mentioned the Glenn Maxwell book before (yes, I’ll talking about that a fair bit between now and Christmas) and the chapter on his 201… I found it quite amusing that he thought of Mark Richardson as he was going, as it was dubbed, Full Salmon.
90th over: England 450-3 (Root 157, Brook 120) SLAM! Brook is allowed to free his arms and does so with delight, hammering Shaheen through cover for four. Seven more off the over without much happening from Shaheen’s end other than one delivery that goes past the edge thanks to an extra bit of bounce. A lot riding on Naseem here.
“Hi Adam.” Asif Hussain, welcome. “Like many who will be reading your excellent OBO, I’ve wasted countless hours playing International Cricket Captain...well here are Joe Roots stats on my game in a few years from now...safe to say he’ll smash Tendulkar’s record if this is anything to go by!”
I’ve never worked out how to link attachments here but Asif has Root getting to 18,153 runs in 198 Tests with 55 tons. Lovely. At least nudge him over the line for 200!
89th over: England 443-3 (Root 157, Brook 113) Brook drives a couple out into the expanses of the offside – a well-timed push, nothing more. He finishes the over with a couple to the other side of the ground, using the swing to his advantage. They’ve added 57 runs in the last ten overs and now only trail by 113. Pakistan needs the sun to set.
A highlight from earlier – Joe Root bringing up Test ton No35:
"Root's golden run in this calendar year continues!" 🤩
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 9, 2024
Joe Root reaches his 35th Test match century! 👏 pic.twitter.com/FfhQErmnPO
88th over: England 438-3 (Root 155, Brook 110) A long, old drinks break. In theory, we have 23 overs to come but we won’t get anything like that in reality – some camera angles from the ground show that the sun has just about setting. Shaheen to Root, who is driving out through cover for three – how he would’ve loved avoiding those 60-odd yards of sprinting! Brook keeps the strike with a dab behind point. Naseem looks the more dangerous of the Pakistan seamers. Maybe Jamal to replace Shaheen?
“I’ll do some maths on Harry Brook’s likelihood of surpassing Root’s total.” Go for it, Mike Jakeman. “So far, Brook is averaging around 85 runs a Test. If Root retired at 13,000 runs (he won’t), Brook would need another 11,400 runs (approx) to go past him. At his current, excellent scoring rate, this would require another 134 Tests. If we assume he plays ten Tests a year, he’d have to keep going until he was 38 and a bit. Given the outlook for Test cricket over the next 15 years, franchise options etc, I’m going to say it won’t happen. And that doesn’t diminish my enjoyment of either player one bit.”
Always enjoy a long-term projection. Back in 2015, in one of the very first episodes of The Final Word (we’re up to 1100-odd now), Geoff Lemon and I charted a course for Nathan Lyon to go past Warne. It was done purely for laughs, not at all seriously. Well, he’s on 530 wickets now and wants to play until at least the 2027 Ashes. He should pass Warne from there with all things being equal and he stays at peak fitness.
“I always thought 556 looked a bit cheap on this pitch,” says Paul Griffin. “880 is par I reckon.” We made similar points in Pakistan in 2022 but I remind you that these Tests can speed up for a fielding team if they can get something going. But yes, right now, that feels a lot way off unless the cramp gets to either of these two Yorkshire stars.
Joe Root gets to 150 in style!
87th over: England 434-3 (Root 152, Brook 109) Naseem to Root with the new ball and he’s able to lean into a stunning cover drive, away for four to bring up his 150. That might be his best shot of them all – a joy to watch, always. Ohhhh and Naseem nearly castles Brook later int he over! He leaves the one that comes back on the basis of length – a bold play in Pakistan, as Ian Ward notes on TV – and it just clears the off bail. Drinks!
“Hello Adam.” Allo again, Krishnamoorthy V. “What must Pope be thinking for getting out on a duck and then seeing all other batsmen scoring 70-plus. Must rankle more as he had to come in only because Duckett could not open.” It was the most eventful little passage of the Test when Root’s bouncer (yes!) damaged Duckett’s thumb.
Simon McMahon is with us too: “Hi Adam. I’m looking forward to that Scotland v England game in Sharjah. Hopefully it will be closer than the ODI in 2001. Though I think there’s more chance of a result here than there is of Scotland winning on Sunday.”
The slow pitches and spongey outfield in Sharjah suggest to me we are bound to see a huge upset there before the group stage is done. Do yourself a favour and listen to Daniel Norcross and Cam Ponsonby with their daily recaps of the Women’s World Cup.
🇦🇺 Are the @AusWomenCricket team one of the best sporting teams in the world?
— The Final Word (@Final_Word_Pod) October 8, 2024
🗣️ "They are phenomenal. They are a delight to watch. They've got it all." - @norcrosscricket #T20WomensWorldCup 🏏 | @ambassadorcruis 🛳️ pic.twitter.com/MNVrbUVvSr
86th over: England 429-3 (Root 147, Brook 109) They have taken the second new ball! Shaheen gets the first crack with it. Not a lot going on pace-wise but there’s some movement back towards the right-handers, which Brook uses to guide a single behind square. Root plays his trademark behind point dab for one run of his own later on.
“Adam.” Simon Thomas, hello. “Interesting to read about the bottle bought for Alastair Cook by Graham Gooch and whether he should drink it with Joe Root. Apparently, in the thespian world, there is a tradition of passing on a bound copy of Hamlet from actor to actor, to only be held by the greatest Hamlet of the day. It’s apparently held by Tom Hiddleston and was passed on to him by Kenneth Branagh. So I guess that Cook should buy a bottle for Joe who can then drink it with whoever beats if record (in anyone does that is – most likely that no one will).”
You never know, he might be batting with him at the moment.
85th over: England 427-3 (Root 146, Brook 108) “They surely have to take the second new ball before it is too late?” says Mike Atherton upon taking up lead commentary on TV. He goes on to note that if they can open this up with a couple of wickets, “they are still in front of the game.” I just can’t see what the downside is at this point with two world-class quicks Shaheen and Naseem as fresh as they can be after a day in the dirt. Instead, it’s Abrar again for his millionth over on the trot, only three taken off it.
“Interesting to watch Abrar tease the England batsmen with his legside line in the almost vain hope of getting the ball to turn out of the bowlers’ footmarks,” emails Colum Fordham. “However, on another point with Root trying to reverse sweep the bowler, I agree with Ravi Ashwin’s point that in this case the batsman should be given out LBW if the ball is going to hit the stumps. Because it’s no longer a blind spot and the batsman is playing front-on.”
You’re hearing this more and more and I reckon they’ll take a good look at it.
Harry Brook brings up his 6th Test ton!
84th over: England 424-3 (Root 144, Brook 107) How this guy loves batting in Pakistan – his fourth ton here in as many Tests there. He gets to the milestone with a gentle cut past point, from his 118th delivery. Eight fours and the six from the previous over along the way. The degree of difficulty here wasn’t the highest he’ll experience – his best knock in Test cricket was the 75 he made on the final day at Leeds last year in a crucial fourth-innings chase – but you’ve still gotta get ‘em. With the milestone dealt with, he’s down the track to Shakeel later in the over to drive him through cover with more perfect timing for four more. England only trail by 132 with 26 overs still to come today.
Updated
83rd over: England 414-3 (Root 142, Brook 99) From 92 to 98 with a magnificent straight six! Brook leaps at Abrar, turns his offering into a half-volley, and launches it over his head. That’s a special shot. And by the end of the over, he’s up to 99. So much for keeping it relatively quiet with the old ball – they have to pull the trigger here.
82nd over: England 406-3 (Root 141, Brook 92) Saud Shakeel gets his first crack of the innings – Pakistan’s seventh bowler. He bowls pretty useful left-arm tweakers, keeping the stumps in play from around the wicket. They are debating the new ball on TV – the risk/reward of likely quicker scoring, but the chance to break the stand. Meanwhile, Brook is taking easy singles in the 90s – put some pressure on the guy!
“Hi Adam.” Hello, Will Vignoles. “If there is an increase in batters cramping, might it counter-intuitively be because of how fit they are these days? Maybe I’m misremembering from when I started watching test cricket 20 years ago as a kid, but batters these days hit the ball much harder and also look to score off more balls - they might not get as much in-innings rest as their predecessors. As noted by everyone watching him bat, Joe Root is a busy player - he’s always looking to turn the strike over, and as a prolific sweeper of the ball is always going up and down. All of which is to say, his legs in particular get a real workout, and that must take a toll in hot and humid conditions. Also, I seem to remember Arsene Wenger talking about how modern footballers were like delicate machines - at the peak of physical fitness, but everything was tuned in a delicate balance which meant that they were more susceptible to wear and tear. Not sure if there’s anything in it but interesting all the same.”
I was thinking about this recently – in very simple terms, why is it that pro athletes seem to be pick up more injuries than normal people? These factors are likely relevant.
81st over: England 402-3 (Root 139, Brook 90) Ahhhhh, so theyu didn’t take it right away. Is this damage limitation because England had a (marginally!) quieter run since tea? Is there a play here about leaving it until the final act of the day before bad light intervenes? Poor old Abrar, then. And guess what? It’s the most expensive over in a long time: Brook sweeping a powerful boundary and two more twos, with another brace couple from the line of the off stump when driving out to cover. Ten off, which takes the partnership to 150 from 187 balls together. Take the new ball. Take the new ball. 400 up!
80th over: England 392-3 (Root 139, Brook 80) Agha Salman gets over number 80 with his offies, trying to shake things up for an over before the tempo changes with Shaheen and Naseem. He’s around the wicket, Root is carving then reversing – no concerns. Surely they will immediately take the second new ball available to them…
The Spin column is up! Raf Nicholson on Scotland’s women. They’re a great story.
79th over: England 386-3 (Root 134, Brook 79) At last, Abrar’s marathon spell can come to an end with the second new ball coming. He’s bowled 29 wicketless and maidenless overs, 0/137 his analysis. Four of those came in this over from outside the leg stump.
78th over: England 382-3 (Root 132, Brook 78) Shot! Root must sense the short ball is coming right away from Jamal after his error in the previous over so he’s camped on the back foot ready to pull and makes no mistake, hammering behind square for four.
“In reply to your question regarding the link between Clem Hill, Warwick Armstrong and Victor Trumper,” writes Steve Hudson, “was the link that they all missed the 1912 tour of England because they were in dispute with the Australian Cricket Board?”
They were certainly three of the Big Six. Nearly led to the selector being tossed out the window when he got into a punch-on with Hill. Always interested by that era.
An email from Andrew Goudie insists only Grace can be considered as England’s finest. Suggests nobody can overtake him? Not sure about that. But again, with the enduring caveat that generational comparisons are purely for fun and not to be taken seriously.
77th over: England 376-3 (Root 127, Brook 77) Root tries to switch hit Abrar but doesn’t connect. Penny for his thoughts out there with the new ball around the corner. Two singles come, with the leggie setting it further and further outside the leg stump.
“I am so here for this,” writes Mark Oliver of my Sutcliffe nomination for England’s finest. “I have had 2 dogs named Hobbs and Herbie after these two great batsmen Hobbs was The Master. Sutcliffe was the consummate dedicated professional who never gave his wicket away. I think Hobbs is the sexier choice because he was a more exciting batsman (and his weight of runs as well!). I base all this on John Arlott’s amazing biography ‘Profile of the Master’ - which as a sport-crazed kid gave me the best role model I could hope for!” Love that. Childhood books carry extra weight!
76th over: England 374-3 (Root 126, Brook 76) Oh no! Aamer Jamal hits Brook’s middle stump but the bails don’t come off! It’s via the bat, plenty of backspin from a defensive shot, collecting his boot and rolling back… but still. Jamal is having a real crack here, earning a top edge from Root the ball before from a delivery that got up higher than the century-maker was anticipating, but there’s nobody at square leg. It feels like the game has shifted just a little bit since tea with both batters struggling and starting to make small mistakes. Pakistan have to stay with it here. One wicket before the second new ball in four overs time and the game could speed up, which is a key ingredient of winning matches in this country: making the most of the busy times when they come.
John Jones on the pitch: “After the series two years ago you have to question why Pakistan would prepare another feathered against this England batting line up? Far better to prepare a raging turner from day one and make it a lottery, at least it would make for more interesting cricket.”
The challenge is that the pitches in Pakistan don’t have those characteristics. It might be next door to India but the surfaces are so different – like concrete slabs.
75th over: England 370-3 (Root 125, Brook 74) Another cry of caaaaaaatch from Abrar when Brook sweeps in the direction of backward square. He isn’t in complete control of the shot but the ball never looks destined to go to hand. Root defends the rest.
“What a player Root is, an all-timer, Adam.” Not wrong, Guy Hornsby. “And how far he’s come since the (relative) downward curve after the first ‘Big Four’ conversations. It feels a really long time ago that people were saying it was only a Big Three, now he’s run off into the distance past all of them in Test cricket, and who knows where it’ll end? It’s absolutely not fanciful that he could get close to Sachin. Most of all he’ll be burning to succeed in Australia and get that ton, which I dearly hope he does. But it’s also beautiful seeing these two in the middle. Joe’s got lots of summers yet but this does feel like a passing of a baton, too, from one Yorkshireman to another. Because who knows where Brook will end up, but it’s his world for the next decade, too. We’re lucky to have them.”
Root in Australia next winter will be fascinating. Per my comment earlier, you still get people who sincerely think he’s rubbish and a bully because he hasn’t made a ton in Australia. Not from serious people, but those who see that as something to whack him with. Of course, he’ll be aware of this as anyone. Some way off, but can’t wait.
Updated
74th over: England 369-3 (Root 125, Brook 73) Aamer Jamal is bending is back but there’s just nothing there for him. When he’s a touch wide, Brook steers a couple then plays safely past gully for one to keep strike. It’s Brook who is stretching out between overs this time in a way that suggests he might be cramping up too. A bit going on.
“It’s already probably been mentioned but is there a dress code for the media at the match?” asks Richard Slassor. “Everyone is in white shirt/blouse and black trousers.”
I’ve not been to Multan, which is a more conservative area, so maybe? Certainly wasn’t when we were in Pindi, Karachi and Lahore in 2022. That was a great tour with Australia back for the first time since 1998. Hoping to get back for the Champions Trophy.
73rd over: England 366-3 (Root 125, Brook 70) Six off Abrar, all in 1s and 2s. And that means that despite only going for a few overs since tea, the England staff are out there with Joe Root for a pit stop between overs. Athers builds on Nasser’s point from before tea about whether he should retire hurt. It’s not a crazy thought.
72nd over: England 360-3 (Root 121, Brook 68) My man Aamer Jamal gets a crack – everything about this bloke is impressive to me. I had the great pleasure of commentating on his debut series in Australia late last year and the guys just does not quit. In other words, just what Pakistan need right this moment. He’s full to Brook straight away who drives with total ease dead straight off the back foot for two. It prompts a conversation on telly where Nasser asks Gower who the best player he’s ever seen for England. He rattles off a handful of names from across the eras. Athers makes that point – it’s impossible to judge across decades, but Root’s record is formidable.
What about Herbert Sutcliffe? You could argue he was lucky to have his pro career wedged between the wars but because of WW1 he didn’t get to play a Test until he was 30. From there, he became the first player ever to reach 16 tons, averaged nearly 61, and was on cusp of getting a recall in 1939 at age 45. I know Hobbs is the sexier choice due to his sheer weight of tons, but if we’re playing that game. Oh, and 151 First Class tons with more than 50,000 runs at that level. Okay, okay - I’ll stop.
71st over: England 356-3 (Root 120, Brook 65) England back to doing as they have all innings, five runs in the first over after the break. This is helped by three byes right away – it’s always difficult for ‘keepers when batters miss a sweep, as Brook did here. A friend, who knows his onions, got in touch at tea lamenting that this might be drifting a bit compared to Stokes-led teams. My counter is that England might well lead tonight, which would be staggering given Pakistan made 556 and were batting until deep into the final session on day two. Brook is so well suited to a situation just like this.
The players are back! I’ve got a cuppa. 40 overs to come, if the light holds.
“Good evening Adam.” Phil Withall, great to see your name in my inbox. “With regards to Yorkshire’s finest, Mr Joe Root. I have been advised by a selection of Australians that he is not worthy of comparison with Steve Waugh or Ricky Ponting. I’m slightly confused by this, only slightly because Australians tend not to acknowledge English cricketers. Surely his achievements are at least comparable with theirs, and surely their achievements are inferior to Bradman’s? Is the whole comparative analysis of cricketers pointless? There are so many subjective variables involved. Also this email is surely as pointless as the any comparison of cricketers past and present, I just get irritated by petty parochialism...”
I’ve learned, as an Australian who has lived here for a long time, that there’s almost nothing the England team can do that will be regarded as worthwhile from a considerable percentage of fans from my homeland. Just how it is. Also works in reverse, of course, with football-badge-in-the-bio types on twitter who still get very excited discussing sandpaper despite following cricket for about six weeks a year.
Some emails? Why not.
In relation to a discussion before I arrived, here’s Steve. “The ‘tireless Stephen Nichols’ (54th over) still has work to do, I’m afraid. I don’t know the answer myself, but the question of whether Len Hutton reached one hundred hundreds via an on drive is definitely not through cutting Fleetwood-Smith, the Aussie spinner who retired in 1940. That comment refers to Hutton’s 364 record score in 1938. He reached one hundred hundreds in 1951 against Surrey - or so says Wikipedia…”
That shouldn’t be difficult to solve from the cricketarchive card. Volunteer for that?
“Favourite threesomes” is the title of Brian Withington’s email! Hooley dooley, is this the OBO or an episode of Industry? Anyway, back to my great OBO pal. “Earlier today Alastair Cook was quoted as suggesting that he might in due course celebrate the Joe Root record with him by opening the bottle that Graham Gooch had bought him when SAC had passed the latter’s record. I’d love to eavesdrop that occasion but I wonder what other nominations there might be for favourite ‘fly on the wall‘ threesomes of three players (living or otherwise) who share some common history?”
Nice topic. I’ll go with, say… Clem Hill, Victor Trumper and Warwick Armstrong.
Robin Kellett-Navellou has a song to replace the Rooooooot chant. To Joelene:
“Joe Root, Joe Root, Joe Root, Joe Roooooooooooot,
I’m begging of you, please don’t stop your thing
Joe Root, Joe Root, Joe Root, Joe Roooooooooot,
One of England’s finest, cricket’s king”
Last one for now – I need a cuppa myself. Krishnamoorthy V, good morning. “As there is virtually no chance of a result inside 5 days for this batting marathon to end, should such Tests become ambitious and reduce such high scoring matches to be decided by a single innings. That will bring in some spice to an otherwise a meandering draw.”
I don’t agree with this. Part of what England do, whether you love or loathe it, is inject time back into the game by going at 5 an over, as they have here. There’s time.
Another superb session for the visitors. It finished with Root and Brook raising their 100 partnership, up to 102 from 123 balls. The only wicket to fall was Duckett, who got a good one from Aamer Jamal on 84 (75 balls!), trapped leg before. 119 runs in a session that lasted just 25 overs, which leaves 40 after the break. With England 205 behind… they could even be in the black by stumps, which is wild. Oh, and Joe Root completed his 35th Test ton between lunch and tea after overtaking Alastair Cook’s England run-scoring record before the long break. Just another day for this all-time great.
TEA: England 351-3
70th over: England 351-3 (Root 119, Brook 64) With six balls left until the break, Shan Masood does as every captain feels they must and throws the ball to a new bowler. Saim Ayub’s off spin isn’t going to get turned into a youtube highlight reel, worked away for five risk-free runs like we’re watching the 32nd over of an ODI. And that’s tea!
69th over: England 346-3 (Root 118, Brook 60) Abrar has the chance to yell ‘caaatch’ himself this over when Brook sweeps, but it ends up down at long-on out the middle of the bat. Excuse the cliche: he does hit the ball in unusual places. Earlier in the over, Root clipped a couple to midwicket then raced through for another single in that direction.
Emil Fortune has sent me some research on how far cricketers run in each position ont he field. I’ll take a look at it when the tea break arrives – you can too.
68th over: England 341-3 (Root 115, Brook 58) Caaaaatch! The cry goes out from Naseem, giving it everything here at Root when banging it in short enough and quick enough to earn a hooked top edge… but it doesn’t carry to the man at deep backward square as he hoped, instead tricking over the rope. He’s now four overs into his spell and that might be it, despite how many challenging questions he’s asked so far.
67th over: England 335-3 (Root 110, Brook 57) Abrar to these two – sweep, sweep, sweep – three added without any drama whatsoever. They’ve now put on 86.
“Is it me, or is this turning into a ChatGPT version of any recent England innings?” asks Peter Salmon. “Pope going for 0, Crawley out in the 70s, Duckett failing to turn an 80 into a ton and Root serenely getting three figures. I expect Brook to be out for a beautifully fluent 60-odd, Smith to make 38-ish, and Woakes to make a good 26.”
Interviewed Duckett during the one-day series (not out yet) and he said how frustrating it was getting out for scores like today all summer. He’d be furious to cop that when he did having played so masterfully today. But yes, Big Fish, your point is a fair one.
66th over: England 332-3 (Root 108, Brook 56) Naseem is bowling a controlled line trying to nick them off but they are both able to play behind point without too much trouble at this stage – two singles to begin. A touch fuller to Root, who square drives out to point for three… that wouldn’t be fun on legs that are cramping.
I spent a lot of time as part of the Glenn Maxwell book process (pre-order now, out on 30 October!) talking with him about the cramp he had in the absurd 201 not out he made in Mumbai last year. It led to him having something of a panic attack on the field. I reckon sometimes we think of cramp as something akin to being hit in the box – something to almost laugh at. But when your legs don’t work anymore, it’s a daunting prospect.
“Hi Adam.” Hello, Harry Lang. “I’m delighted for Root on reaching his milestones, and great to hear Cook was straight on the phone offering his applause - as of course he would be. How far can Root go from here? The magic appears to be in how much he enjoys himself. Apart from the stern-faced purgatory of his captaincy period, he still looks like an impish schoolboy scrumping apples as he purrs yet another cover drive towards the ropes. Long may he continue to have fun, as it’s a joy and privilege to watch. Best regards from a damp Cotswolds.”
Well, he’s up to 12,510 runs and Sachin finished with 15,921. So, can he keep ticking over at about this rate for about four more years? It’s a huge ask. If he can, then the tons record (Tendulkar 51 v Root 35) will probably go as well. Dare to dream, sports fans.
65th over: England 326-3 (Root 103, Brook 55) Abrar around the wicket to two set men relies on one of them losing their head. They don’t here, milking three singles.
Interesting point from Nasser on telly flagging the possibility of Root retiring hurt given he’s clearly suffering out there in this heat. Remember too, he only missed eight balls in the middle for the whole match. I don’t think it’ll happen, but still. Gary Naylor has thoughts on this. “Do you (or anyone in the OBO Massive) know why players cramp up so often these days?” he asks. “For 30 years or so, I neither saw nor heard of it, but now it seems almost de rigeur after a few hours in the sun. With so many Strength and Conditioning staff (slightly worrying phrase that) with hands-on roles home and abroad, hi-tech gels to wolf down and drinks breaks on demand, you would think things would be getting better rather than worse. Imagine if they bowled 90 overs per day!”
I don’t want to get into a conversation about climate change on the OBO but I’d urge you to take a look at the Hit For Six report from 2019 to get a sense of just how different the game often is now even compared to 10 or 20 years ago. That has to be playing a role.
64th over: England 323-3 (Root 102, Brook 53) David Gower jumps on TV comms (so good hearing the great man’s voice) and tells us that Joe’s brother Billy, the Glamorgan batter who won the MetroBank Cup just a couple of weeks ago, is getting married today. Lovely stuff. I should note that Root has overtaken Lara, Jayawardene and Younis Khan’s 34 Test centuries with just Dravid, Sangakkara, Ponting, Kallis and Tendulkar ahead of him. I’ve been saying for a couple of years he’s half a chance to overtake Sachin both for tons and runs, which occasionally gets me in trouble online. We’ll see. Back to the action, Naseem beats Root with a gem – shape and carry with the old ball; takes some doing. But the appeal isn’t honoured and they can’t justify referring it.
Now the ton has been and gone, I can rattle through of your emails. The first, from Anthony Heath, was very cross that TMS were putting the mockers on Root. I received a similar tweet from my occasional teammate Roger Bolstridge. Gents, there’s no such thing as a commentator’s curse, although Mitch Marsh might disagree with me given how many times I’ve been on radio comms when he’s been out nearing three figures…
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Joe Root brings up his 35th Test century
63rd over: England 321-3 (Root 101, Brook 52) Abrar to Brook, sweeping over the short leg to start the over, takes one. Back to Root… who reverse sweeps his way to another Test ton! That’s his first in Pakistan and 35th of his staggering career. What a player; what a year. He barely celebrates, giving a hint to just how exhausting it has been out there across two and a half days. And all on the day he’s overtaken Alastair Cook’s runs record. Big shout for lbw later in the over when he goes into full left-hander mode but it is turned down by Umpire Dharmasena and won’t be reviewed. More Root love to come.
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Brook to 50!
62nd over: England 317-3 (Root 99, Brook 50) Naseem replaces Shaheen for a fresh burst, one of the best exponents of the inswinging yorker (even with the old ball) going around. He’s full to Brook to begin, squeezed to gully. Straighter later, there’s two behind square for him then another couple with a well-timed push. Root is happy to go for the ride on these but the quick single that might be there later in the over, responding with a loud call of NO! Last ball of the over, Brook tucks again to bring up a 49-ball half-century. He loves batting in Pakistan, that’s certain. And keeps the strike.
61st over: England 312-3 (Root 99, Brook 45) Ben Stokes jobs out in the high-viz between overs to give Joe Root a drink. Eventually, that’s followed by a fresh set of gloves from a second Twelfth Man. Abrar to Brook, again around the wicket, and another easy single to midwicket. Root looks out that way to count the sweepers – will he take one of them on? He doesn’t need to with a flatter ball aimed at off stump, picked off to deep cover for a couple. 98. Back to the outside leg line, Root presses to midwicket and looks up again. Where will he look to get this couple? Heaps of gaps with so many men back. Spin here; glove to thigh pad – no short leg. The penultimate ball, full, turned to short fine for one. 99. Brook keeps the strike with another to square leg.
60th over: England 307-3 (Root 96, Brook 43) Shaheen again with the short-ball field in place, leaving just a gully and catching cover up on the posh side. Root gets something full out there early in the over and helps himself to a couple out to deep cover. And goes again that way later in the over the next time he’s full, driven past the catching cover for a boundary that takes him on to 96! Classic Root, total control with his placement. One ball left and it’s full once more and Root drives it sweetly… but straight to mid-on.
Tim Walker is first into my inbox on the topic of distances run in a match. “In these very, very hot conditions do we know how far players run in a day? Many (is it just bowlers) wear those tracker things? I’m not just thinking of fast bowlers but the deep fielders (often the same players) who in a Pakistan innings of 550 odd must have to cover a lot of ground chasing around after lost causes.”
Good question. Absolutely no idea. Anyone care to provide an estimate?
59th over: England 301-3 (Root 90, Brook 43) With Abrar around the wicket, Root and Brook exchange singles to sweepers in the deep on the legside. In the process, the half-century stand is raised in just 53 balls. Just another day following this England team. Root reaches the 90s with an easy single down to long-off. Oh, the 300 is up as well.
58th over: England 298-3 (Root 88, Brook 42) Between overs, we get a look at the choppers flying over the ground. You get used to that when watching Test cricket in Pakistan with security such a major focus. At Karachi a couple of years ago, they hovered right over our box each morning as the team arrived – strangely exciting. Shaheen to Brook, with the modern million-blokes-back to try and get him out hooking. Every team does this these days when the board is ticking over, as it always does when Brook gets going early on. And how does the batter respond? By inside-out slapping through cover for four – that takes some doing with Shaheen banging in left-arm around. And again! Same result. A higher degree of difficulty with both feet looking out of position but he nails it to the same rope. Freak. This, my pals, is the modern age.
57th over: England 288-3 (Root 87, Brook 33) Okay, we’re back from the early drinks break with Joe Root back after what looked to be a little bit of cramp. You’d never know from the reverse he attempted to finish the over, which nearly made it to leg slip. Earlier, Abrar was up for leg before but from a ball well outside leg stump.
And they take an unexpectedly early drinks break, Root guzzling some kind of gel after crying out in pain with sudden leg cramp. So time for me to hand over to Adam Collins, fresh from the school run. Thanks for all your messages, bye!
56th over: England 286-3 (Root 86, Brook 32) Brook shimmies a wide one from Shaheen through the off side for four. Shan Masood swishes his arm with the frustration of the introvert. On commentary, Nasser talks about how Wasim and Waqar built up their match fitness during stints in Championship cricket for Lancashire and Surrey and Glamorgan respectively. A terrifying prospect for county batsmen.
55th over: England 280-3 (Root 86, Brook 26) Just a single from Abrar.
54th over: England 279-3 (Root 86, Brook 22) Shaheen returns, he’s not been quite the same bowler since those repeated injuries. He is a stronger-looking young man now rather than the stringbean he was in his breakthrough years. Brook eases him through the off side for a couple. And they pause for Root to wipe the sweat from his hands and his face.
A tireless Stephen Nicholls has done the research on Len Hutton so you don’t have to.
“Cricinfo says: “Anyway, in the end Fleetwood-Smith bowled me a long hop outside the off stump. Gratefully, I chopped it through the slips and I had done it.”
which rather spoils the theme, so maybe we just keep this to ourselves? :-)
53rd over: England 276-3 (Root 86, Brook 22) Brook already in ominous form, Root characteristically happy to play second fiddle. Brook dismissively sweeps Abrar to the fine leg boundary, think an angry young man in a kitchen sink drama.
52nd over: England 268-3 (Root 83, Brook 17) Red soles kicking up behind him, Jamal sprints in, reversing ball in hand. Brook stretches forward and flicks him with elastic wrists through the off side to the rope. Jamal then oversteps again. Brook finishes the over by driving with high elbow and delicious balance for four more.
“Hi Tanya,” Hello there John Plunkett,”;Loving the show. They’re piping in the crowd noises on the telly, right? Or is there a packed to capacity stand just out of reach of the wide shots? Now I’ve thought about it I can’t stop thinking about it (need to get out more).” Now you come to mention it… though to be fair a few more seem to have appeared since lunch.
51st over: England 257-3 (Root 83, Brook 7) Abrar continues his more miserly second spell.
Thank you to Simon for digging up Cook on Root in full from TMS:
I can see him overhauling Sachin Tendulkar’s record. When I retired, I thought there was every chance that my record will be broken. I thought only the effects of captaincy and the hunger that takes out of you would stop him. I think the fact that Ben Stokes has taken over the captaincy has helped Root.
You could say Sachin is still the favourite but just. He’s been so lucky with injuries. All great players who played for a long time have been lucky with injuries. You just never know what’s around the corner, but it has to be something like it that could stop him. But I don’t see that happening for Root to lose that hunger and ability to keep driving himself forward for the next couple of years.
The only slight hurdle in his way will be the Ashes series - there is always something happening around the series. It’s in 14 months’ time and there’s always a story about the damage that happens or doesn’t happen around every Ashes series.
I’d give Sachin 51% and Root 49%. But I would be betting on Root to do it.
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50th over: England 255-3 (Root 82, Brook 6) Brook doesn’t hang about, picks up his first boundary off his second ball with a nudge to the rope.
WICKET! Duckett lbw Jamal 84 (England 249-3)
Pakistan’s tight start after lunch is rewarded as Duckett is spatulated in front of his stumps as the ball zips back in. Root tickles him to review but DRS shows it spearing into leg stump. Jamal roars in delight.
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49th over: England 247-2 (Root 81, Duckett 84) Abrar suddenly finding something, and England have been slow out of the blocks after lunch. Maybe both batters have their eyes on a hundred.
“Morning Tanya. Just tumbled out of bed and stumbled to the kitchen before catching up on the morning’s play. Any signs that the pitch has indeed yawned and stretched and tried to come to life? Maybe it’s time for both sides to pour themselves a cup of ambition. Anyway, thanks for the updates. Working 5 to 9, what a way to make a living.” Pitch still looking pretty comatose to be honest. Talking of Dolly, did you see that she serenaded Worcestershire bowler Joe Leach to the crease in the last innings of his career last week?
First time I’ve ever heard music played in the @CountyChamp 😆@joeleach230 walks out to bat for @WorcsCCC for the final time 🥺👏🍐 pic.twitter.com/yZ4dSDYkH5
— Adam Matthews (@AdsMatthews) September 29, 2024
TMS overseas link
48th over: England 244-2 (Root 80, Duckett 82) Does anyone have the TMS overseas link, asks Dean Kinsella. I think this is your baby.
47th over: England 242-2 (Root 79, Duckett 82) Shan Masood ignores Nasser Hussain, who was imploring Pakistan to use pace from both ends after lunch, and opens with Abrar. Tip and tap.
”We are always told the on drive is the most difficult shot in cricket,” writes Stephen Nichols. “When Boycott reached his hundredth hundred at Headingly, it was with an on drive. For Root in Multan, the record came with the calmest on drive you’ll ever see. Maybe it’s a Yorkshire thing, to reach a landmark with an on drive?” Great spot Stephen– can I leave you to do some research on Hutton?
46th over: England 238-2 (Root 77, Duckett 80) Jamal sprints in, Root is respectful until the final ball when Jamal plonks one invitingly outside off stump and Root purrs through the covers for four. The dog, who has stolen my corner seat on the sofa, mumbles contently.
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The players are back, Joe Root, 12 years after he started his career, now the highest scoring Englishman. Do you think a wedding suited and booted Billy Root is affectionately rolling his eyes somewhere in south Wales?
“Whenever a player becomes the highest scorer for their country I’m always taken back to being a 13-year-old watching Australia v Pakistan in Sydney, Jan 1984. Greg Chappell had announced his retirement, still needing 68 to go past Bradman’s record 6996 runs. He got there with overthrows and went on to score 182 making his first and last innings hundreds. Such lovely stuff. Good player that, as is young Root.” Lovely story, thank you Peter Salmon.
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Hello Daniel Brown! “So, Root just became England’s highest ever run scorer. Would you say that makes him our best-ever batsman, or is it more nuanced than that?”
Notwithstanding the record, in my lifetime, definitely, as fabulous as Gower was to watch. Where he fits alongside Barrington, Hutton, Hammond, Sutcliffe, Barrington and Hobbs, I feel less qualified to say.
“He’s quite modest isn’t he,” says his dad, who has phoned into TMS from south Wales where other son Billy is getting married today. “He’s quite modest, quite low key. I’m just as we say in Yorkshire, chuffed to bits.”
Alastair Cook has dialled into TMS from the school run, and very humble he is too. Has he pinged Root a message yet? “Not yet, I’ve got a few hours to think about what to say, Gooch got me a fantastic bottle of wine for breaking the record, maybe I’ll break it open with Goochy and Root later.”
As to whether it will mean anything to him, Steven Finn says yes, it will mean the world.
Joe Root can eat his lunch happily now, though I’ve no idea if such records mean anything much to him. The highest scoring Englishman in Test history – and this is the moment it happened.
Joe Root becomes England's leading Test-match run scorer 👏 pic.twitter.com/BQxfF5VBc4
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 9, 2024
How lucky we’ve all been to watch him.
Time to grab some breakfast, back shortly.
Lunch: England 232-2, 324 behind
45th over: England 232-2 (Root 72, Duckett 80) Duckett keeps the high energy going in the last over before lunch, sweeping Abrar for four like a man briskly brushing aside his sandwich crumbs onto the floor. He blocks the last ball and that is lunch. Terrific session by England, who lost Crawley, but motored along to 136 runs at 5.44.
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44th over: England 226-2 ( Root 71, Duckett 75) A low full toss down the leg side from Jamal is whipped away by Duckett for three. Masood is tempted by an lbw review against Root, but decides, wisely, not to burn his third in half an hour. Jamal finishes the over with a spicy bouncer.
“Morning Tanya,” Morning Colum Fordham.
”Just hoping that Root can reach the record test run milestone before I have to dash off to teach. If he doesn’t I’ll just have to inflict the moment on unsuspecting Neapolitan students. It’s all part of their cultural upbringing I say.” What student would turn their nose up at a little Joe Root masterclass on a Wednesday morning?
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43rd over: England 223-2 ( Root 71, Duckett 72) A no ball, but otherwise an uneventfully tidy over from Abrar.
Root passes Cook to become the highest English run-scorer in Test cricket
42nd over: England 221-2 (Root 71, Duckett 71) A reverse-swinger thuds into Root’s front pad. Not out says the umpire, but Pakistan want it. Shan is persuaded, waving his long fingers about, but it is legside and Pakistan lose their second review in four overs. Root drives nicely, for a couple, and Cook’s record is in touching distance, just four away. And there it is ! In the words of Mike Atherton, “with an immaculate on drive he plants his flag at the summit.” He gently waves to someone, somewhere, is applauded by the England drinks carriers. That’s 12473 immaculate runs, now fifth in the all time list behind Tendulkar, Ponting, Dravid and Kallis.
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41st over: England 214-2 ( Root 65, Duckett 70) Abrar changes ends after nine overs for 68, tosses the ball from hand to hand. A less profligate three from this one. The pitch looks the same colour as the porridge my sons are gobbling for breakfast. England trail by 342.
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40th over: England 211-2 ( Root 64, Duckett 68) A break while Duckett swallows some painkillers but he powers on through regardless, slamming Salman for four down the pitch before slashing over slip for four more to overtake Root.
”This is my favourite gripe about the pitches in India - Pakistan - Sri Lanka,” taps Krishnamoorthy V. “Either they are dead-er than a Lazarus resulting in 6 centuries and a meaningless draw or they turn worse than a Rollercoaster on a steroid ending inside 3 days.
No wonder we look to Australia and England to keep the test cricket alive.”
39th over: England 199-2 ( Root 61, Duckett 59) Pakistan lose a review after Shan Masood is persuaded to go upstairs for a caught behind – against Rizwan’s advice. Nowhere near, but a cracking ball from Jamal . Duckett then flays four off a one that bounces winningly outside the off stump before removing his helmet and wiping his rosy face.
Fifty for Ben Duckett!
38th over: England 193-2 ( Root 60, Duckett 54)A pugnacious half century from Duckett off just 45 balls, he half raises his bat to the huge empty open stands – most of those who are in seem to be school children. The stadium is much fuller for PSL games I believe.
36th over: England 186-2 ( Root 58, Duckett 49)Jamal replaces Naseem, Nasser Hussain points out that Pakistan are looking for some reverse swing. And he finds some. At the end of the over, Root takes off his helmet and wipes away the sweat.
35th over: England 184-2 ( Root 56, Duckett 49) A nudge here, a nudge there, off Salman, then Root cover drives for three, closing in on Cook with steady accumulation.
34th over: England 178-2 ( Root 52, Duckett 47) Duckett smears Naseem through the off side with a satisfying clop of the bat. Ooof and that’s a beauty, just fizzes past Root’s outside edge, pushing forward with solid feet.
”An apology. I have just got in from work, so first thing I do is pop the cricket on. The moment I did so Crawley gets dismissed. My ability to bring misfortune to sporting teams knows no bounds...” Whatever happens, don’t switch it off and switch it back on again Phil Withall.
Fifty for Joe Root
33rd over: England 171-2 ( Root 50, Duckett 42) Ooof, Duckett edges Naseem straight into the hands of first slip, or rather where first slip would have been, had he been a few inches to the right. Babar doesn’t look too impressed. And with an inside edge, Root reaches 65th Test match fifty (off 76 balls) and they take DRINKS.
32nd over: England 163-2 ( Root 49, Duckett 35) Salman is moved in to replace Abrar, and Root immediately reverse-sweeps him for three. That’s the lot for the over though.
“England really seem to need to play themselves in to the conditions, and despite Pakistan’s huge score (for which many congrats to them), it looks like they will be able to do so today if they’re sensible. And then the match will be well set up, and likewise the series. And we all win!” Sensible Andrew Benton? I think they’d bristle about that.
31st over: England 159-2 ( Root 46, Duckett 34) Oh that’s gorgeous from Root, a kiss of a cover drive that skims along to the boundary. Naseem looks nonplussed.
Hello Stephen Brown! “Can’t sleep so I’m very grateful to have you coverage to read. Although I need to do it under the covers so the light doesn’t disturb the Mrs.
“While I find the absolute road this pitch can appear infuriating, perhaps it will serve to remind those who occasionally advocate for four day Tests, that in some places we really do have to give the game space to breathe.”
30th over: England 154-2 ( Root 41, Duckett 34) Duckett fires three boundaries off four balls from Abrar, hit with the brutal efficiency of the stocks. The second one flew slightly riskily over mid-on – but Duckett has now powered 28 from 16 balls off poor Abrar.
29th over: England 142-2 ( Root 41, Duckett 22) Naseem with his first over of the day, his eighth of the innings. Duckett is watchful, and just one run from it. In the crowd, three young girls eat some chips.
28th over: England 141-2 ( Root 41, Duckett 21) A handful of singles off Abrar.
“Hi Tanya. Just getting home from Yard Act’s debut Montreal show. It’s 1am here. Very much hoping to stay awake to see / read Joe Root take the record.
“Yard Act were very good by the way. Hopefully their fellow Yorkshiremen can be just as impressive with willow in hand.”
Ashamed to say I’ve never heard of Yard Act, but the Guardian review from earlier this year says they “boarded the last train out of post-punksville.”
27th over: England 136-2 ( Root 40, Duckett 17) Root’s turn to throw himself at a short one from Shaheen which bounces safely just before the rope. It looks relentlessly hot out there, the few spectators who are around, firmly rooted in the shade.
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26th over: England 126-2 ( Root 34, Duckett 13) Duckett gets his eye in with an ugly but effective slog sweep for four, and then dispatches a long hop from Abar through the covers for four more.
25th over: England 114-2 ( Root 34, Duckett 0) Crawley will be kicking himself, he looked magnificently in form and Pakistan slightly bewildered as to what to do with him. Anyway, he’s gone and Ben Duckett strides in.
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WICKET! Crawley c Jamal b Shaheen 78 (England 113-2)
From nowhere! Crawley picks up an innocuous ball from Shaheen and flicks it to midwicket where Jamal holds on at the second attempt. Crawley squeezes his eyes in disbelief.
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24th over: England 113-1 (Crawley 78, Root 34) Just a single from Abrar’s second over.
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23rd over: England 112-1 (Crawley 77, Root 34) Crawley speeding towards three figures here, four squeezed wide of slip.
“Given the clear lack of interest in this from a Pakistani spectator perspective and with the prevalence of white ball cricket, it seems slightly silly that they have prepared such a flat wicket,”writes Thomas Whitaker. “Given the modern playing style and the need to engage audiences, surely a more bowler friendly wicket would make sense??” I don’t think they wanted to risk their slightly fragile batting line up with anything more testing – but would love to hear opinions from any locals up and reading.
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22nd over: England 107-1 (Crawley 72, Root 34) Spin from Abrar Ahmed, in nice pair of glasses. England pinch six from the over, plus a no-ball.
“Awake… and staring into the abyss!!” Hello there Arnab Banarjee.
“… but sometimes try out as an Extra to get away from the day job, and off for a fitting this morning somewhere near Old Street in London! Then back for some Test and Wotld T20 with Harman’s team also staring into the abyss!”
Sounds intriguing!
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21st over: England 100-1 (Crawley 68, Root 32) Shaheen Shah Afridi with the (almost) new ball. A false start to begin as he runs past the stumps without delivering as Crawley pulls away. The first real ball is wide of off stump and barely bounces above ankle level. Then Crawley stretches those long levers and leans into a peachy cover drive for four.
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The players are out….let’s go!
Joe Root needs 38 more runs to overtake Alastair Cook as the highest scoring Englishman in Tests, a few more to overtake Sachin Tendulkar.
With ten minutes to go before we start, time for me to make a quick cup of tea. Do send me a message if you’re awake and staring into the blackness, on tanya.aldred.freelance@guardian.co.uk. The pitch, says Athers, is still full of runs.
The sightscreens are a curious feature of this ground. There are big screens at each end that show a series of ads for sponsors, but the whitest white they can muster isn’t very white, so for them to function as sightscreens whenever the bowler is running in from their end a sheet is pulled over them using an ingenious pulley system which requires four people at each end - three to pull the pulleys and another to spot when it’s time to pull, plus a fifth to drape more sheets over the boundary hoardings. Seems an extraordinarily work-intensive solution, but it works
Duckett is fit
“I can tell you that Ben Duckett is playing Pig, the team’s morning keepy-uppy game, and has no sign of strapping on his left hand, so that’s positive, right? And official word is dribbling through now – he’s good to go.”
And good news from our man on the ground Simon Burnton…
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Some pretty skies from Multan last night:
Some amazing visuals of the pink sky at the end of Day 2 from Multan during Pakistan vs England Test. #PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/WfbSRfBRJD
— Ameer Hamza Asif (@AmeerHamzaAsif) October 8, 2024
It is currently 29 degrees in Multan, feeling more like 31 degrees, and the air quality is “unhealthy”: 170 US AQI – or 16 times the reccommmended WHO level.
Preamble
Good morning! It’s hot, it’s dry and it’s day three in Multan, where Pakistan piled up 556 to a largely empty stadium, England sweated, dropped a couple of catches, Chris Woakes’ big boot caught on the boundary rope and Ben Duckett dislocated his thumb.
Salman Agha’s hundred from No. 8 frustrated England, but not as much as Duckett’s dodgy digit, which left Ollie Pope to open with sub-optimal results. Crawley and Root though smoothed the troubled waters with an unbroken stand of 92 at a fair lick.
So now we get to see whether the pitch stays as flat and crushingly unfriendly for bowlers as it was for the first two days, or whether the cracks have yawned and stretched to add a little spice . Play starts at 6amBST, do keep us company.
