Pakistan v England, Day Two analysis: Write off Pietersen and Morgan

Pakistan v England / Ed Hawkins / 26 January 2012 /

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KP has good reasons tobe looking rather glum.

"Frankly the pair look hopeless against the vagaries of Saeed Ajmal and Rehman and it was no surprise whatsoever when both batsmen fell cheaply."

Ed Hawkins is worried about England batting last at the Sheikh Zayed Stadioum after a topsy-turvy day

When Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott were plodding along in the snooze-inducing fashion they so relish, it would have been understandable had many watchers nipped off for a quick shuteye following the early start.

When they returned they would not have recognised the match. The second Test at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi had turned completely on its head, providing a valuable lesson for all concerned: no team is ever out of it.

It looked as though Pakistan were sliding towards a heavy first-innings deficit when, from nowhere, a combination of a lazy Trott shot and a bit of bite and turn from Abdur Rehman saw England collapse from a serene 166 for one to 207 for five.

Trott was guilty of a half-hearted defensive shot and although he wore the look of a man who could do little about his dismissal, when he sees it again he will probably feel aggrieved that he did not get to the pitch of the ball and sniff the leather.

The wicket exposed a middle-order which is looking increasingly fragile against spin and as the series progresses it would be fair to make a note under the names of Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan. "Not to be trusted".

Frankly the pair look hopeless against the vagaries of Saeed Ajmal and Rehman and it was no surprise whatsoever when both batsmen fell cheaply. They are guilty of going hard at the ball, in particular Morgan whose high bat lift counts again him. He should watch old videos of Paul Collingwood on sub-continental pitches, who barely picked the bat up off the ground.

Ian Bell could join them. He looks a walking wicket against the spinners. He was unable to pick Ajmal in the first Test in Dubai and little looks to have changed. It may be worth asking for around [3.50] to lay the Warwickshire man to score a 50.

We were able to make a tidy profit by laying Pakistan for 325 or more in their first innings, although it was slightly surprising to see them capitulate in the morning, adding just one run for the remaining three wickets. A lay of England to fail to breach the same target at [2.69] looks a decent wager, too.

They would be delighted to get parity at this stage one would imagine and then hope to bowl out Pakistan cheaply again on a surface which is going to take more and more turn. That's not great news for England, though. They will have to bat last on this and a target of anything over 175 is going to be difficult indeed.

England are [2.12] favourites with Pakistan [2.54] and the draw [7.00].

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