Live Test Match Blogging / Ed Hawkins / 09 August 2010 /

Pakistan pulled off an impressive rearguard action on Sunday but they need to squeeze another hundred or so from their last remaining wicket if they are to put England in a difficult position - Ed talks you through all the action on the fourth day of the second Test at Edgbaston

14.29 England win by 9 wickets
Easy for England in the end. Alastair Cook provided his usual wobble but it was likely the hosts were never unsettled because they know what to expect from the leftie. His form, and the behaviour of Stuart Broad, are two major concerns. The next Test at The Oval could throw up a few more, however. We're banking on seeing an improved Pakistan. The visitors are likely to be without Umar Gul for that game. But there are a number of decent bowlers they could call-up to help them out. Otherwise it has been another successful Test for us, the headline being that we backed England at their height in the market.

14.15 Eng 101-1
The Oval should really suit Pakistan. As we mentioned in the blog for the first Test, there will come a time during this series that hat has gone before will be irrelevant. This may be Pakistan's nadir and we could see a totally different team in south London. We base that opinion on the wicket suiting their batsmen and spin bowlers (remember they were on top against England in 2006 before the ball tampering row) and, largely, the return of MoYo.

14.00 Eng 89-1
Here are some numbers: 289, 258, 180, 182, 80 and 72. Those were Pakistan's scores in England this summer before their second-innings effort of 296 at Edgbaston. It was an alarming slide. Have they stopped the rot? Hopefully because we could do with some more competitive cricket. They have a tour match against Worcestershire this week which will give them a chance to get Mohammad Yousuf back into the fold, plus allow their green batsmen more experience in English conditions.

13.40 Eng 72-1
Strauss and Trott resume sports fans. Didn't we discuss previously a wager about a finish on the afternoon on day four as value? Yes. You're welcome. Later on this afo we'll have a look at what Pakistan might be capable of producing in the next Test. They're getting better, I think.

LUNCH 13.00 Eng 71-1
"England too good," says Nasser Hussain. Probably fair. Just waiting for the inevitable now folks. When we come back we'll try to decipher what this all means for the rest of the series.

12.30 Eng 47-1
It's all got rather easy for Strauss and Trott. Just 71 needed for England to go 2-0 up. Mohammad Asif is going to come on to see if he can get this ball to swing. Unlikely, though, the sun is shining brightly.

12.15 Eng 26-1
A wonderful moment before this innings began. Sir Ian Botham, or Sirloin of Beef as we like to call him, was let loose with the microphone to talk about Stuart Broad's fine for throwing the ball at the Incredible Zulq. I say talk, it was more of a rant which laid waste to the rules of the English language. "i'm sorry, but that's just child," he blustered. "It's petulant and it's, just, just, er, um, child". "Strong words," said Nasser Hussain. Well, yeah Nasser, but also wrong words. Child = childish, surely?

11.54 Eng 17-1
Saeed Ajmal is on. Pakistan's key man. The offspinner took a battering from England's bowlers yesterday and in a hilarious interview with Nasser Hussain this morning, poor old Ajmal seemed to have overdone it on the painkillers. Oooh, Strauss has nicked one and it's gone down! It's the keeper. Un-credible Zulq this time. I make that Pakistan's 10th drop of the series.

11.48 Pk 17-1
England are going to have to work really hard. A partnership of 30 or 40 will break the back of Pakistan, who have a smidgen of hope thanks to some uneven bounce.

11.31 Eng 7-1
We saw that coming (11.24). The prices have barely budged. England [1.02]. Jonathan Trott is the new man. Cook will claim that one from Aamer kept a little low but that had nothing to do with it. I've seen the replay a couple of times and, at the risk of repeating myself, he didn't know where his off stump was, nor his middle stump for that matter.

WICKET 11.29 Eng 7-1
A Cook b Aamer 4

11.24 Eng 2-0
Like a blind man running around with a chainsaw, Cook is an accident waiting to happen. Look how far he is playing away from his body. The poor chap has no idea where his off stump is.

11.18 Eng 0-0
A few quid is knocking around from [10.00] to [16.00] for Paul Collingwood top bat in this England innings. You can just him coming in to to do a rescue job with a 30 or 40 after the top order has crumbled to Aamer and Asif. Kevin Pietersen is not a bad wager at [9.20], either. Understandably, Andrew Strauss [2.20] and Alastair Cook [3.00] are favourites. I wouldn't back Cook with your money, though. Another failure for him here could mean his last Test for England for a while.

11.08 England need 118 to win
The home side have not mucked about this morning. Bad boy Broad has gone a little way to redeeming himself by removing Asif before the Pakistan last pair could do significant damage. England are [1.01] for victory. You can lay them at [1.02], something we would advise. It's a lay to nothing and just as there will be panic in the dressing room if Pakistan nip a couple out early, the same will hapopen on the market.

WICKET 11.07 Pk 296
M Asif c Pietersen b Broad 14

11.06 Pk 296-9
What will concern England here are two factors. First, they have not mastered the Pakistan bowling at all. Secondly, Saeed Ajmal, who took five wickets in the first innings, will be even more dangerous on a wearing pitch which has already taken turn and bounce. It is a similar surface to the one England beat Sri Lanka on in 2006. England needed only 78 but they were panicked by Muttiah Muralitharan and coach Duncan Fletcher admitted his side could have lost had they needed 150 or so.

11.00 Pk 291-9
Morning all. We might have a game on here. A 20 or 30 run burst from Pakistan, who lead by 112 will have England nervous indeed. The hosts are [1.03] with Pakistan [27.00]. Michael Atherton has just said Pakistan have a one in a hundred chance, so that gives you a view of whether Pakistan are the right price or not.

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