Live Test Match Blogging / Ed Hawkins / 27 August 2010 /

Day one was a near wash out at HQ with just 12 overs bowled - but the forecast is good and play is underway. Email Ed here

CLOSE Eng 346-7
England [2.28], Pakistan [17.00] and the draw [1.97].

18.46 Eng 335-7
The close is approaching. England were in a real hole at 102-7 but Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad, centurions both, saved the day. I think because we watch England most of the time, there can be a tendency to have a bit of a downer on them, 'oh, same old England, making the same mistakes' and not give them the credit they deserve. They are not as good as some pundits would have you believe - David Lloyd, for example, is adamant they will win the Ashes handsomely - but they are very, very difficult side to beat. They make the opposition battle for every run and wicket. If only the same could be said for Pakistan. I'm not here for the rest of the Test, so the esteemed Andrew Hughes will be your guide. Best of luck all, and if you have one bet for the rest of the of the game, make sure it is MoYo to top score.

18.23 Eng 318-7
For a moment there I thought it was raining at HQ, but it's just my telly going a little fuzzy. I've got a very old television. A 15-inch Bush, if you'll pardon the expression. Broad survives a referral. Pakistan as big as [12.50]. England [2.36] and the draw [1.96].

18.05 Eng 305-7
Broad brings up the 200-run partnership with a sumptuous on drive off Wahab Riaz. Pakistan look well cheesed off.

17.56 Eng 291-7
A century for Broad. Well played. Tall and correct throughout, he has produced a near faultless batting display, as taken from the Book of Trott. His old man never got a Test century at HQ apparently.

17.44 Eng 284-7
I despair, I really do. Salman Butt has given the new ball to Saeed Ajmal. Some of this guy's captaincy is comical. When is the Edinburrg Fringe? Can we book him a slot? Broad one hit from 100.

17.30 Eng 270-7
The draw is [2.30] to lay. You've still got a decent bet if you got on at around [2.45], though. Otherwise we've had a good punting day. We have been on the money to predict Pakistan's flurry of wickets and Trott was mentioned yesterday as the best value wager for top bat. Broad (84) should notch his maiden Test ton.

17.10 Eng 251-7
I lost my rag there. The new ball has been taken.

17.08 Eng 251-7
Pakistan haven't taken the new ball. They really are a total waste of space. The lay price on the draw will continue to dip therefore. Currently [2.44]. You might want to hold off until Salman Butt actually realises he's wasting runs and overs and plumps for the cherry.

17.03 Eng 248-7
One over to go until the new ball. In ordinary circumstances, one would expect wickets. But Pakistan have no spark about them at all, and they look a side who are thinking about what might have been. The batting consitions look pretty good, too. The sun is out and the pitch is flat. Pakistan have drifted to [5.50]. England are [2.40]. The draw is [2.46] to lay. And there's the wager. Yonks left in this game yet. We're still pretty advanced for day two and I'm snot sure the market has corrected itself in terms of time lost, wickets down.

16.48 Eng 229-7
By the way, Broad (61 not out) is [3.00] to follow in Trott's footsteps by going to a hundred.

16.46 Eng 229-7
A ton for Trott. One of the better Test match centuries you'll see, too. Proper batting I like to call it. He came in under pressure, in perfect bowling conditions and produced a chance-less knock. Unflappable stuff.

16.34 Eng 212-7
Pakistan are flagging a little, the 100 partnership between Trott and Broad deflating them farther. What they need is a nice cup of tea and a biscuit. That's why I'm going to have. A chocolate digestive. That will give the required energy for possible play until 19.00 tonight.

16.18 Eng 197-7
Stuart Broad (48) is approaching his first 50 for more than a year. His last came against Australia at Headingley at the beginning of August 2009. Of course, he made 48 at The Oval the other week, but generally he has been stuck in a rut. Trott is 87 not out and looks totally at ease at the crease. 11 overs to the new ball, though.

16.00 Eng 185-7
We'd like to see some smarts from Pakistan in this session. Don't count on it, though. The sensible thing to do here would be to go for wickets, with three slips and a gully, immediately. If that fails, shut up shop and starve England of runs until the new ball (16 overs away).

15.44 TEA Eng 185-7
Trott the hero for England. Broad a mini hero at the mo. Pakistan, despite, making use of conditions, could have done so much better. Nasser Hussain reckons the session belongs to the home side and we'd go along with that.

15.31 Eng 175-7
England back in at favourite status at [2.60] with Pakistan [3.05] and the draw [3.31]. The latter is the most ludicrous market move of the day, though. If that goes sub [3.00] we will lay again thanks very much. The wicket looks good at the moment but we would still fancy a result in this Test, largely because lost overs will be made up. For example, there are 49 overs still to be bowled today.

15.05 Eng 154-7
Is Trott the new Collingwood? We've praised Colly previously in tricky conditions when he has proved he has the mental ability to go into the 'zone', cutting out all rash shots and even a backlift. Trott is equally adept at creating a bubble. Currently 66 not out, this has to be one of his best Test innings. He is [2.22] for three figures.

14.56 Eng 146-7
Broad has 21. A welcome return to form for him. But again he is being helped out by Pakistan, who have been sloppy since that two-wicket burst. Still only two slips, which is crazy in these conditions. England [2.92] are closing on Pakistan [2.62] on the match odds market. Given that match situation that is probably a little unfair on Pakistan. But you can't blame punters. There is such a huge lack of faith in Pakistan getting the basics right.

14.34 Eng 130-7
Paul D has emailed to discuss the England players he dislikes. "I don't like any of them," that's the spirit Paul. "But especially Trott and KP. They're not English. It's embarrassing that we have to rely on other countries for talent."

14.16 Eng 112-7
Stuart Broad has joined Trott, who has gone to 50 by the way, at the crease. Broad gets on my nerves these days. Too much like his dad, who was about the most bolshie international cricketer there has ever been. Refused to leave the pitch once when given out. It was against Pakistan, too. I'd be interested to hear your views on who you dislike in the England side. Email me! This is a cynical and dark request but, then again, this is in line with what is seen as 'cool' these days isn't it? 'Oh, hum drum, everything's crap!'.

14.00 Eng 102-7
Let's take a look at what those wickets have done to the market: England [3.10], Pakistan [1.97] and the draw [5.50].

13.58 Eng 102-7
Two wickets in the over for Aamer to take his tally to six. I bet Pakistan wish they could bowl him from both ends. It's good news for blog followers. We've called day two spot on so far, laying the draw first up and then predicting wickets after lunch. You know where it's at (I'm not entirely sure what that phrase means but it does sound good).

WICKET 13.54 Eng 102-7
G Swann c Azhar b Aamer 0

13.53
Aamer has five wickets and at 18, is the youngest bowler to 50 Test wickets. Oooh, hold up...make that 51

WICKET 13.49 Eng 102-6
M Prior c Akmal b Aamer 22

13.46 Eng 102-5
Oh, Pakistan have gone with Wahab Riaz instead of Asif. Surely the leading Test wicket-taker this year would be more of a threat? Also, shouldn't Pakistan have a more attacking field than two slips and a gully? Of course they should. An extra slip or an extra gully would make sense. Not impressive skippering from Salman Butt.

13.40 Eng 97-5
Mohammad Aamer is back. And he's swinging it. Surprisingly, England are [2.66] favourites with Pakistan [2.94]. We should expect a wicket here if this swing continues. Asif should be just as dangerous.

LUNCH 13.02 Eng 97-5
A much-needed 50-run partnership from Trott and Prior has given England a chance of getting back into this Test. Pakistan lost their way towards the end of the session - opening batsman Yasir Hameed even got a bowl - but Mohammad Aamer, the four-wicket hero, will be back for another blast after sandwiches.

12.43 Eng 84-5
Pakistan are doing their best to let England off the hook. Some of the field placing has been odd (deep square legs and taking out slip catchers) and now Wahab Riaz has started to bowl cross seam. The sun might be about to peek out from behind the clouds, too. That should warm England's cockles. England [2.90], Pakistan [2.44] and the draw [4.00].

12.27 Eng 79-5
Trott and Prior are working hard to rescue England. They have been helped, of course, by Mohammad Aamer having to take a rest. No doubt there will be plenty of hand-wringing by England supporters at the state of their batting ahead of the Ashes. Totally irrelevant, though. If the ball swings as much in Australia as it has in this series, it will be miraculous.

12.11 Eng 74-5
Trott is trying to negate the swing by wandering down the pitch. It's ugly. But it's working. It doesn't matter whether it's short or full, Trott goes to meet it. It sure beats the tactic deployed by the other England batsmen, who thought they had to play at everything from the crease.

11.58 Eng 68-5
You can lay England at [1.90] for 175 runs or more. That looks a long way off if you ask me, especially when Prior has just played and missed throughout Asif's over. Other prices of note at the [3.00] for a Prior 50.

11.44 Eng 60-5
Trott (22 not out) is as short as [1.02] for top England batsman. I do believe we recommended him or Collingwood yesterday. So if you are on Trott, lay off now. It's a bonkers price, dictated by pounters' lack of faith in these English batsmen.

11.31 Eng 47-5
This is only the fifth time in Test history that Nos 4, 5 and 6 have been dismissed for ducks. It is the first time it's happened to England.

11.27 Eng 47-5
Aamer is a one-man wrecking crew, dismantling England's series lead with the subtle, yet devastating, art of seam and swing. Morgan is the third duck of the innings. Matt Prior is the new man at the crease. Jonathan Trott, 16 not out, looks surprisingly solid.

WICKET 11.22 Eng 47-5
E Morgan c Yasir b Aamer 0

11.16 Eng 39-4
England have lost three wickets for no runs this morning. We go on about Pakistan not being able to play the moving ball but England are hopeless. Pakistan [2.52] favourites now. It is down to Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan to try to get the home side to a respectable total. Anything more than 150 would be an achievement from here.

WICKET 11.13 Eng 39-4
P Collingwood lbw b Aamer 0

11.11 Eng 39-3
Pietersen goes first ball! He chased a wide one and Pietersen, who claimed his confidence was 'hammered', looks a shadow of his formner self. No conviction in the shot at all. Paul Collingwood comes in to do a familiar rescue job. He has quite a task on his hand. The game, and series, is on the line here. England [2.84], Pakistan [3.30] and the draw [2.84].

WICKET 11.08 Eng 39-3
K Pietersen c Akmal b Aamer 0

11.05 Eng 39-2
Well, this is turning out to be a grand day. First of all we have play and then we lay the draw just before a wicket goes - and it is Cook at that. You'll be able to guess how the statue was out, no feet movement and dangling his bat away from his body. Kevin Pietersen is the new man. England [2.58], Pakistan [4.60] and the draw [2.50].

WICKET 11.01 Eng 39-2
A Cook c Akmal b Aamer 10

11.00 Eng 39-1
Morning all. We have play. I must say I feared the worst when I awoke early to hear the pitter of patter of raindrops outside my window. But Lord's has dried out nicely. Our first job of the day is to lay the draw at [2.24]. We lost a lot of time yesterday (only 12 overs were possible) but much of that can be made up over the next four days. A total of 98 overs can be bowled today.

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