Live Test Match Blogging / Ed Hawkins / 07 August 2010 /

England are in total control of the second Test at Edgbaston and today provides a superb chance for Kevin Pietersen to finally find some form. Ed Hawkins talks us through all the action, the stats and the betting. EMail him here...

CLOSE Pk 18-1
It has been Pakistan's day which sounds odd given that they ended it in a virtually impossible position, lost a bowler (Gul) and dropped a few more catches. For what it's worth Eng are [1.05] Pak are [24.0] the the draw can be backed at [60.0].

The visitors appear to be producing a carbon copy of their first innings - runs are a collectors item. They still trail by 160. Optimistic supporters will hope they will be able to set England a target of any nature and trigger a collapse for an unlikely win. All known evidence suggests they will struggle to score runs, let alone keep wickets intact.

With that said the most interesting question concerns the end of match. We can back a finish tomorrow at [1.53].

Day 4 options are; morning [3.20] afternoon [9.60] evening [9.00]
England have been machine-like against this opposition . How will they go tomorrow? Join me to find out when I'll serve up more analysis, colour and advice as this test builds towards a conclusion.

19.04 Pk 19-1 CLOSE OF PLAY
Light meters out, and the players are off. The sun has dipped behind a cloud, but it's enough to bring them off.

Well what a day it's been. Plenty of rain and yet in the 66 overs that were played 158 runs were scored and nine wickets fell. Plenty of musing to be done about this pitch.

18.56 Pk 18-1
Anderson is back. Before the start of this over his figures read; 5 overs, 4 maidens, 1 run 1 wicket.

18.42 Pk 10-1
It is a fine evening and England are on top. Steven Finn is in action now. We are in the thirteenth over and Pakistan have managed just 10 runs. In the absence of the ball flying to all parts it seems timely to list my final alternative use for Alastair Cook . . .

The Top Five Better Uses For Alastair Cook - No 1: Garden Gnome. The ladies tell me he's pretty decent to look at so placed next to someone's Foxgloves he'd brighten up the backyard a treat.

18.25 Pk 8-1
Pakistan win an appeal against a catch being given. Turns out the ball failed to nick Azhar Ali's bat on the way through to Prior. The visitors keep their two appeals. England still have one left.

18.20 Pk 5-1
Broad is bowling and two deliveries have demonstrated uneven bounce. The first goes through a little low, the second rises notably.

About 15 overs left today, but how will Pakistan approach them? They are in danger of making the same mistake they made in the first innings - getting bogged down. Having said that England were never really explosive. Trott, possibly England's most assured player was probably best described as patient. He didn't look to boss, rather waited for the bad ball and put it away.

18.04 Pk 1-1
Axhar Ali steps into the fray after his captain sends a leading edge flying towards the slips - they don't drop them. Worst possible start. The sun is also out, in a manner of speaking.

WICKET 18.02
Butt c Strauss b Anderson 0

18.00 Pk 1-0
Pakistan are off the mark. They have up to 19 overs to face.

Whilst we are on the subject of struggling opening batsmen we'd better revisit my series on alternative uses for Alastair Cook . . .

The Top Five Better Uses For Alastair Cook - No 2: Chef.
"What, your name's Cook?" exclaims the over-excited restaurant manager. "And you want to be a chef?". Oh the hilarity. Best of all, Cook's nickname is, wait for it, Chef. Alastair would be particularly good at hanging pasta out to dry as he has practised the technique while hanging his bat out to dry when playing international cricket.

17.55 Pk 0-0
England lose a review, that one was just going over the top. The end of test market suggests it'll be all over by tomorrow - [1.52]
Day 4 morning [3.25] is about the only other result they want Day 4 afternoon is [ 10.0] and evening [15.0]

17.51 Pk 0-0
Farhat is on a pair and there is a strong appeal for lbw.

17.43 Eng 251 all out
England have not dominated this afternoon. The stand out partnership was Trott and Pietersen and, as I've remarked often enough, KP never looked completely comfortable. They were all out for 251, a lead of 179. That should be plenty and the hosts will have up to 22 overs tonight to inflict some early damage.

Saeed Ajmal bowled effectively gaining figures of 5 for 82. In fact it was a bit of a procession later on - in total eight wickets fell for 139 runs today. What might have been?

It is no surprise that the match odds market hasn't moved. Eng [1.05] Pak [27.0] Draw [44.0]. We'll look at the end of test market shortly

WICKET 17.37
Swan c & b Ajmal 4

WICKET 17.33
Anderson lbw b Amir 0

17.31 Eng 251-8
Oh dear, a nice little spell of pressure from Pakistan but this time it's captain Salman Butt who drops Swan. Saeed Ajmal has been bowling well,

17.15 Eng 248-8
That was a good over. Well Pakistan should bowl England out for under a 200 lead. The only problem is that that should be plenty on a pitch that offers just enough assistance. Don't forget the new ball is not far away. Four men around the bat and the sun is out.

WICKET 17.13
Broad c sub (Yasir Hameed) b Ajmal 0

WICKET 17.10
Collingwood c Farhat b Ajmal 28

Other news: According to Test Match Special Umar Gul is out for the series.

17.05 Eng 248-6
Poor old Ajmal. There is another one that has got away. This inability to catch is catching. Swan gives the slip fielder a bit of catching practice - but the chance goes down.

Fives overs to the new ball.

16.58 Eng 243-6
The review (used because Prior is one of the last recognised batsmen) was unable to save Prior there, plumb lbw. Both sides have one review remaining.

Prior had nicked a couple off a slower ball the delivery before his dismissal. The wicket ball was sent in a bit quicker.

A bit of light drizzle as Pakistan chip away at the England line up.

WICKET 16.55
Prior lbw b Ajmal 15

16.45 Eng 233-5
A Day 1, 2 or 3 finish is odds on briefly in the test match end market following Morgan's dismissal. It is now [2.04].

It's also time for another use for opener Cook . . .

The Top Five Better Uses For Alastair Cook - No 3: Angler. He could enter Fishomania or something. All he would have to do is stand there, not move his feet an inch, hang out his rod and waft it about a bit in a willy-nilly sort of fashion. He'd be brilliant.

16.34 Eng 231-5
Well, what were we saying about wickets falling? If catches had been caught England might be eight or nine down by now. About eight overs until the new ball. As it is the visitors must strive for more on the basis that they might restrict the home side to a lead of under 200 runs.

They'd hope they might put together a decent second dig and give England a small but challenging target to gun for. Fantasy maybe, but they need that focus. I suspect England might feel they have enough in the bank now, the lead is 159.

WICKET 16.28
Morgan c Haider b Asif 6

16.24 Eng 220-4
Saeed Ajmal gets one to turn, Swan will be entertained by that.

Back to those end of test prices. Day 1, 2 or 3 [2.80]
Day 4 morning [3.10] afternoon [3.80] evening [5.00]

Oh, and I've found another use for Cook . . .

The Top Five Better Uses For Alastair Cook - No 4: Traffic policeman. All he would have to do is stand there (there's a theme developing here, have you spotted it?), not move his feet an inch and wave his hands about a bit in a willy-nilly sort of fashion. He'd be brilliant.

16.16 Eng 205-4
England lead by 133 runs and are accumulating runs at 3.24 runs an over. I was just about to write that this was not much of a pressure cooker situation. Not a vintage performance from Pietersen.

I was also going to do an update on the end of test market. That dismissal has proven that although England are in complete control against a depleated (Gul) and dejected Pakistan side wickets will continue to fall. The home side will probably just bat through, but when will the game end? - prices to follow.

WICKET 16.12
Pietersen c & b Saeed Ajmal 80

16.07 Eng 196-3
I did promise a bit of Alastair Cook-based entertainment a short while ago, here it comes.

The Top Five Better Uses For Alastair Cook - No 5: Traffic bollard. All he would have to do is stand there, not move his feet an inch and pray nothing hit him. He'd be brilliant.

16.01 Eng 196-3
Play resumes. Remaining overs today - 50. Technically I think we can play on until 19.30 but as I've already suggested light may play a part before then.

15.47 Eng 191-3 RAIN STOPPED PLAY
Play due to start at 16.00, we can play as late as 19.00 but light will be a factor before then I'd have thought.

There are some great rain radar websites which tell me what occurred as recently as 15 minutes ago but nothing which could be described as a forecast. This site HERE gives a regional view (scroll down and then select rain radar). It would suggest the main bank of weather has passed through but there may be more rain bursts yet to come.

Back to the England batting debate. Regular readers of this blog will know that I do not think Alastair Cook is up to the task of opening the batting for England. Of course he'll go to Australia, though. He's vice-captain and is one of the untouchables. If I had my way I'd quite fancy Roby Key top open with Andrew Strauss or possibly Joe Denly.

In honour of my vendetta - that is too strong a word, actually - I thought I'd produce today's top five surrounding the awkward left-hander. Stand by for The Top Five Better Uses For Alastair Cook.

15.29 Eng 191-3 RAIN STOPPED PLAY
Tea is being taken at Edgbaston. It certainly is being taken in London. I'm taking it myself as I type.

Still murky at the ground and some weather types are guessing more rain might be on the way. I shall try and find a satellite image to link to which might be more reliable.

15.14 Eng 191-3 RAIN STOPPED PLAY
The visitors haven't had much luck on the pitch - but off it, and in the skies, everything is going their way. Really gloomy clouds overhead and no clues as to when we might get going again. The Pakistani rain dance is paying off. As weather persons are liable to say on these occasions "the outlook is not bright".

Going back to the subject of the Cook-Bell-Trott conundrum, exactly when did Bell become such a good player? It is the classic example of a sportsmen becoming a better performer when he is out of action. Bell's biggest problem in international cricket has been scoring pressure runs. For years he struggled and after one success in South Africa he's suddenly seen as the missing link.

14.53 Eng 191-3 RAIN STOPPED PLAY
It is still raining I'm afraid.

Inevitably with an Ashes series only three months away, the hype has already started. Pakistan being useless hasn't helped a great deal.

If this 'contest' is not worth talking about, then a battle between England and Australia is a decent fall-back option. England's dilemma heading into that series is their batting. One from Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott is not going to make it. At the moment, it looks likely that Bell, who is out with a fractured foot, will miss out because he is not an incumbent.

Personally, I don't have faith in Bell or Cook. Remember in the Ashes Test in Perth last time Down Under? Both men got decent runs in the second innings and they were talked of as "England's batting future". Four years later and neither are sure of a place.

14.42 Eng 191-3 RAIN STOPPED PLAY
The machines are out and mopping up - we might be in for a bit of a delay yet.

Lets take stock of the markets during this lull. Eng [1.05] Pak [55.0] Draw [28.0]

More pertinently the rain has triggered a shift in the test match end market. Days 1, 2 and 3 is priced at [2.62]. Day 4 morning [3.00] afternoon [4.00] evening [6.00]. Remember at 13.20 I told you it Day 4 afternoon was [7.00]

14.28 Eng 191-3 RAIN STOPPED PLAY
This might be one of those breaks where the rain stops soon and then we have a bit of mopping up. About 20ish overs until the new ball and Gul, who might have done a hamstring, looks like he won't be back during this match.

14.25 Eng 191-3
Another streaky boundary. Leg byes given - at least Pietersen is able to smile at his fortune. He really ought to buy a few lottery tickets today. I interviewed him once. He was fine. The best bit (I've mentioned this before, I'm sure) was when I asked him to describe his sartorial style. "What does sartorial mean?" was his reply.

Bit of heavy rain now (literally out of the blue) - might be a short delay. Covers are going on, this might juice the pitch up a bit. I don't know about the players but I think I might take my tea now.

14.15 Eng 174-3
Oh the injustice of it. Trott has looked in fine form today. He's not given the visitors an inch, unlike Pietersen, and then he punches an average delivery only to be caught in the gully by a sub fielder. At least we laid off that Trott bet this morning. Collingwood is in the centre now.

WICKET 14.12
Trott c sub (Yasir Hameed) b Umar Amin 55

14.05 Eng 174-2
Pietersen (72) has had an eventful innings but he is starting to bat with a bit of authority. He's also making the wicket look a bit flat. England's lead is 102 now. This partnership is worth 130.

To make matters worse for Pakistan Gul has broken down as he was approaching the crease to deliver. He is leaving the pitch - unlike Pietersen's recent break he won't be back in a hurry.

13.50 Eng 165-2
Pietersen (66) is enjoying the bowling of Saeed Ajmal. But while Trott (51) has been composed Pietersen's innings has been far from smooth and controversy free.

Lets get back to his lucky escapes. He really is the sort who doesn't deserve so many lives? (at the crease that is, I do not know who or what he was in a former life, although that could be a potential top five). There's an interview with him HERE. He comes across as a thoroughly unpleasant chap. He treats the interviewer like a fool, pretends he doesn't know who Andrew Strauss is and disrespects Graham Thorpe.

13.40 Eng 147-2
Umar Gul is back into the attack. Pietersen is facing and has his half century now. Of course he's had his luck. As I type this he is leaving the pitch - might be a call of nature. Either way - slight delay, I'll use it to try find an interview link for you.

13.20 Eng 133-2
Let's try to get a handle on when this Test will finish. Not an exact science by any stretch of the imagination because we can only guess what bowling conditions are going to be like for the rest of the day (and, boy, do Pakistan need them to be favourable.) Presuming that Pakistan catch every chance in two (sorry, if I've already lost you), then would it be reasonable to assume that England bat until lunch tomorrow? They'd have a lead of about 350, which is largely irrelevant, and then stick Pakistan in. The tourists, suddenly discovering some batting ability, take it to the morning of day four. Further frustration for England as a late Umar Gul and Mohammad Aamer bat-wielding session takes it past lunch for an afternoon finish. Convinced? You can back it at [7.00].

13.17 Eng 129-2
That was quick. We're back! Let me dust away the crumbs from my laptop. Plenty to discuss...

12.38 LUNCH
Someone must be reading this. Back in 40.

12.24 125-2 RAIN STOPPED PLAY
I hope this isn't going to be one of those annoying situations in Test cricket when the paying customer is deemed an inconvenience. Having started 30 minutes late, we will surely not take lunch at the scheduled 13.00? And another point, do the players really need 40 minutes? Can't they shorten it a bit? Here's an idea, why don't they have their sandwiches while they're off for this shower.

12.13 Eng 125-2 RAIN STOPPED PLAY
Frustration sports fans. Regarding the previous post, Law 23.3.b (v) says: "Either umpire shall call "dead ball" when he is satisfied that for an adequate reason the striker is not ready for the delivery of the ball and, if the ball is delivered, makes no attempt to play it."

12.06 Eng 124-2
An odd incident. Pietersen gives a catch to mid off, which is taken, but he was backing away in doing so, claiming he was distracted. The laws state he should have been out. Aamer unlucky again. The umps called dead ball, perhaps so stunned they were that Pakistan took a catch they momentarily lost their minds.

12.00 Eng 120-2
Pietersen has already been dropped (again) this morning. A simple chance for the gully fielder off Aamer, who is so unlucky he might eventually meet his maker by being one of those unlucky sorts who has an accident in his home with the ironing board. KP has also survived a review from Pakistan, which was a total waste of time, and seemed more an exercise in skipper Salman Butt saying "yes, we really have no clue what we're doing". Don't worry, Butt, we know.

11.47 Eng 115-2
Prepare for me to purse my lips together and blow. Yesterday we tipped Jonathan Trott at a whopping old price to be top England runscorer. By virtue of his excellent record in first-class cricket on this, his home ground, we thought Trotty was a little overpriced. You can now lay off at [2.94]. He's got 33.

11.37 Eng 114-2
Lovely stuff. We have play. I suppose I'd better furnish you with the prices. England [1.05], Pakistan [38.00] and the draw [44.00]. We did advise backing England at [1.60] you know? Oh yes, this is going to be a session where I incessantly blow my own trumpet.

11.30
Play starts in five minutes.

11.20 RAIN
We could be underway soon. The umpires have inspected, the covers are off and the rain may not be back for a few hours at least. Good news

11.09 RAIN
The BBC's weather site really is hopeless. It gives one no idea of when weather will turn up or disappear. This is its catch-all description for Birmingham today: Sun-clouds-rain. Brilliant. That's a bit like me giving a top-bat prediction, claiming "it will be one from the top six." The MetOffice is miles better. We've got more wet stuff at around 13.00 and 16.00.

11.05 RAIN
Or rather than strapping yourselves in, put the windsheeters up and zip the mac up tightlky. Rain means we have a delayed start. I'll put my weatherman hat on and give you an update on where it came from, will it go away and if it will return.

11.00 Eng 112-2
Morning all. Welcome to day two. You know, I thought it was day three and couldn't work out why my editor had not set up the blog as such? That much happened yesterday. Strap yourselves in.

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