Shaun Udal is set to make his Test debut at the age of 36 as England and Pakistan named their squads for the first Test in Multan on Saturday. Ian Bell is set to step into the No. 3 spot left vacant by Michael Vaughan. Alastair Cook, the 20-year-old left-hander from Essex, was called up as cover for the injured Vaughan, but he is not in the 13-man party. Bell is in line to get the nod despite poor form in both the Ashes and the warm-ups.
Vaughan will stay with the team and continue to receive treatment, and his replacement Marcus Trescothick says his team are ready to overcome an unsettling lead-up to the match, having lost both a warm-up game and their usual captain.
"The boys are in good shape and are switched on," said Trescothick, who was named as England's captain after Vaughan was ruled out with a recurrence of an old knee injury. "We are up to the challenge.
"Obviously, it wasn't an ideal preparation to lose a game coming into the Test, not a situation that you want to be in, but we lost the warm-up game in South Africa last year and went on to win the series 2-1. It does give you a little bit of a wake-up call to make sure you do remain switched on and you work hard going into the Test."
Pakistan's captain Inzamam-ul Haq told the same news conference that he thought the two teams were level pegging: "Both teams start on an even keel, said Inzamam, whose side has won two of their three Tests at the venue in his hometown. "My young team has the ability to pull off a win and we would do our best to do that."
England (from) Marcus Trescothick (capt), Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Geraint Jones (wkt), Ashley Giles, Shaun Udal, Matthew Hoggard, Stephen Harmison, Matt Prior, James Anderson.
Pakistan (from) Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Inzamam-Ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wkt), Naved-Ul-Hasan, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmed
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England seal productive day at Multan
The Bulletin by Jenny Thompson
November 12, 2005
Close Pakistan 244 for 6 for 5 (Shoaib Malik 39, Salman Butt 74, Younis Khan 39, Mohammad Sami 1*, Inzamam-ul-Haq 41*) v England Live scorecard and ball-by-ball How they were out
You don't get champagne cricket like this year's Ashes every Test match. But England's bowlers produced enough fizz on a defiantly flat pitch to peg back Pakistan to 244 for 6 by the close, after the home side had bossed the opening exchanges. Pakistan lost just one wicket in the morning, but England brought themselves back into contention with four wickets in nine overs either side of tea, among them Shaun Udal's first Test scalp at the tender age of 36. The loss of Kamran Akmal just before stumps sealed a good day for England and of Pakistan's frontline batsmen only Inzamam-ul-Haq, unbeaten on 41, remains.
Full match report to follow
3.10pm Tea Pakistan 181 for 5 (Shoaib Malik 39, Salman Butt 74, Kamran Akmal 0*, Inzamam-ul-Haq 12*) v England
Two wickets in a hostile first over after tea have put England right back into this Test. Steve Harmison, bowling the first ball after tea, got one to nip back sharply on Younis Khan who couldn't react quickly enough. Then Khan's replacement Hasan Raza was struck nastily on the shoulder, putting the batsman on the back foot. This was enough to rough Raza up. Just two balls later a full, inswinging delivery was too quick and straight for him and he was clean-bowled for a duck.
Tea Pakistan 181 for 3 (Shoaib Malik 39, Salman Butt 74, Inzamam-ul-Haq 12*) v England
Salman Butt hit 74 as Pakistan stamped their authority on the first Test at Multan. By tea, they were 181 for 3, with Younis Khan unbeaten on 39. Andrew Flintoff grabbed two wickets for England, and Shaun Udal gained his first Test victim, dismissing Butt to check Pakistan's progress and reapply the pressure. Shoaib Malik had been the only casualty of the morning, lbw to Flintoff for 39, but Pakistan will be happy with their efforts.
They bossed the first session and were cruising in the afternoon when they lost two quick wickets as England got their reward for some patient toil on a slow and flat pitch. Butt was playing a watchful innings, building on the platform he had helped to set with Malik, and he eased his way to his second Test fifty with few alarms. Before lunch, Harmison had found his outside edge, but the ball hardly got up and bounced tamely in front of second slip.
Another Test, another opening combination for Pakistan. This time they chose Butt and Malik and immediately the pair had the opportunity to prove their worth when Inzamam-ul-Haq won the toss and unsurprisingly batted. More surprising was the omission of Shahid Afridi from their lengthy line-up. Butt and Malik, the left-hand, right-hand combination did well though, and they put on 80 for the first wicket with only the odd murmur of alarm, before Flintoff dismissed Malik with lunch looming.
The pair played watchfully, but also aggressively, and grew in confidence with every stroke as they got the measure of the pace and friendly bounce of a flat track. Malik struggled to find his feet in the early stages but, after negotiating the early swing, he soon found his groove with a series of fours and was rarely troubled - an appeal for lbw from Harmison when he was on 18, but which was climbing too high, was the nearest England came to a chance early on. Flintoff got the breakthrough, trapping Malik with one which jagged back and hit him on the knee roll. Ashley Giles was on the money immediately, but he found no reward, and he became increasingly loose, as he tossed in a few full deliveries.
Patience was the name of the game for both teams: England were beginning to apply the pressure with some containing bowling, while Pakistan's batsmen were holding off their challenge. Time does wait for one man, it seems. After years without a Test call-up, the 36-year-old Udal had a further delay in store: he went without a bowl in the morning session. Finally, after lunch Trescothick gave him his chance - and he seized it.
He tried quicker ball after quicker ball before flighting a high looping delivery to Butt, whose own patience finally deserted him. Butt's wild slash bounced off Marcus Trescothick's head at first slip only for Geraint Jones to spin round and dive low to take the parry. It was an encouraging start to Udal's Test career.
Soon after Flintoff followed with a clever delivery to dismiss Yousuf: his inswinging yorker - one of a series dedicated to combating the paceless pitch - pushed back the offstump and suddenly the smiles were back on England's faces. Inzamam did his best to wipe them off again, though, smearing Udal for an insouciant six and four in the last over before tea.
How they were out
Shoaib Malik lbw Flintoff 39 (80 for 1) Chose to go back and there was no doubt
Salman Butt c Jones b Udal 74 (161 for 2) Slashed loopy delivery to slip; Jones snatched the rebound
Mohammad Yousuf b Flintoff 5 (166 for 3) Undone by inswinging yorker
Younis Khan lbw Harmison 39 (181 for 4) First ball after tea, ball nipped back sharply
Hasan Raza b Harmison 0 (183 for 5) Sixth ball after tea, inswinging full delivery
Kamran Akmal c Trescothick b Hoggard 28 (283 for 6) Useful first-slip catch as the ball was dying
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Pakistan v England, 1st Test, 3rd Day, Multan
Pakistan edge closer to England
The Bulletin by Jenny Thompson
November 14, 2005
Pakistan 125 for 2 (Salman Butt 53*, Mohammad Sami 0*) trail England 418 (Trescothick 193, Bell 71, Flintoff 45) by 19 runs Scorecard and ball-by-ball How they were out
At last something for the home crowd to cheer about. After being on the backfoot for most of the first two days - and watching Marcus Trescothick cruise to a brilliant 193 today - Pakistan clawed their way back into this match with some brave batting.
Salman Butt led the charge and brought them near to parity with his second fifty of the match, and he was well supported by Younis Khan who perished for 48 just before the close. The smart money is still on England, though, thanks largely to the efforts of Trescothick as Pakistan closed on 125 for 2, 19 runs behind.
Trescothick continued where he left off yesterday, in confident, authoritative fashion, to stride to his second-highest Test score. His marathon innings, which began yesterday morning, finally came to a close in the third over after lunch.
Spare a thought for his poor shins, though, which have really suffered this year with the number of times Trescothick has kicked himself: in his last 16 Test innings he has scored between 150 and 200 four times. This latest kick will be the most painful, just seven runs shy of joining Ted Dexter as the only other English player to make a double ton in Pakistan. Still, he won't be complaining too much having solidified England's position.
True, he had two reprieves - offering a sitter in the deep to the substitute Rana Naved on 181, and there was a less clear-cut chance on 48 yesterday when Danish Kaneria's appeal was turned down - but otherwise his innings was a thing of beauty, not to mention brains. He cut, swept and punch-drove in ominously dominant vein and when Naved spilled the chance Inzamam could have wept. Luckily for Pakistan the reprieve wasn't too costly.
Trescothick's eventual dismissal, an edge off Shabbir Ahmed, triggered a collapse; England lost their last four wickets for 30 runs. Ahmed took three of them, including the next to fall, Geraint Jones, who had followed Trescothick's example with a series of impressive cover drives in a stylish 22. Shoaib Ahktar nipped in to dismiss Shaun Udal for a duck before Ahmed was back to remove Ashley Giles, after a flighty 16, to end with 4 for 54. It was a well-deserved haul after some tight bowling.
Earlier, Andrew Flintoff made a hardworking 45 before he had a rush of blood just before lunch and he sent a catch high to Malik in the deep. It was a needless dismissal having played so sensibly, but just reward for some good thinking by Inzamam to bring back Akhtar for another burst.
Another plan went right for Inzamam where Kevin Pietersen was concerned, bringing on Danish Kaneria as soon as Pietersen strode jauntily in. Pietersen's 5 was of the blink-and-miss variety. He did a lot of missing.
His first four balls off Kaneria were all defensives - solid; less solid; quite shaky; very shaky. The fifth ball he cover drove for four. Ah, easy. Well, actually, no - the very next delivery, he was wrong-footed by the wrong'un.
Trescothick and Flintoff played the bamboozling Kaneria better. Flintoff struggled at first to pick the wrong'un but made amends with some booming drives. The vital Trescothick was more assured, the highlight a straight-driven six.
Matthew Hoggard hung around for a stubborn half hour before Akhtar teased him out. He had done his job. Trescothick and co then did theirs, but so did Pakistan's batsmen.
An increasingly quick pitch should have encouraged England's bowlers, as should the movement Pakistan had earlier found with their second new ball. Butt and Malik, though, got Pakistan off to a flyer, putting on a quick 31 in six overs against the new-ball attack of Hoggard and Flintoff.
Trescothick made a swift change, introducing Steve Harmison in just the seventh over. The switch paid immediate dividends, as Harmison found Malik's edge. It was a breakthrough England badly needed to peg back the scoring rate after the openers set off playing naturally and aggressively.
From thereon in it was uphill for England's bowlers as Butt continued to capitalize on the early initiative, although at a more controlled tempo. He used all the shots in his bag: good on the leg side, very strong on the cut; he was attacking, but patient, too. By the close he had notched an admirable unbeaten 53 from 118 balls, with only the hint of a chance from a Flintoff bouncer which he fended forwards and upwards but just out of reach of a tumbling Jones.
Khan was a worthy sidekick and he was unlucky to fall for 48 six balls before the close, steering Flintoff to a diving Trescothick in the gully; another impressive piece of outfielding to add to England's stunning display this Test. The loss of Khan was something of a wasted wicket, though, yet Pakistan will be pleased with their overall efforts as they inch towards erasing the deficit.
How they were out
Pakistan
Shoaib Malik c Trescothick b Harmison 18 (31 for 1) Forceful edge snatched two-handed and to the left at first slip
Younis Khan c Trescothick b Flintoff 48 (125 for 2) Tired steer to gully
England
Andrew Strauss lbw Sami 9 (18 for 1) Beaten for pace and swing
Ian Bell c Butt b Malik 71 (198 for 2) Inside edge scooped at short leg
Paul Collingwood c Akmal b Shabbir 10 (251 for 3) Pushed hard at innocuous straight one
Matthew Hoggard c Akmal b Akhtar 1 (266 for 4) Thin edge through
Kevin Pietersen c Butt b Kaneria 5 (271 for 5) Popped leading edge to short leg
Andrew Flintoff c Malik b Akhtar 45 (364 for 6) Skied to deep mid-wicket
Marcus Trescothick c Akmal b Ahmed 193 (388 for 7) Outside edge to keeper
Geraint Jones b Ahmed 22 (399 for 8) Offstump knocked back by peach of a delivery
Shaun Udal lbw Akhtar 0 (401 for 9) Tried to play across the line
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England's attack strikes back after Butt ton
The Bulletin by Jenny Thompson
November 15, 2005
England 418 and 24 for 1 (Strauss 7*, Bell 12*) need a further 174 runs to beat Pakistan 274 and 341 (Salman Butt 122, Inzamam-ul-Haq 72) Scorecard and ball-by-ball How they were out
After a day which forked in different directions, this match has been left on a knife edge. Pakistan welded together a strong lead through Salman Butt and Inzamam-ul-Haq, but England's steely seamers blasted through the tail to limit further damage, only for the first-innings mainstay Marcus Trescothick to fall just before the end of play. Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell suffered the occasional alarm but survived the closing overs and England now require a further 174 runs for victory, with nine wickets in hand.
It's a scenario few would have predicted when England were in firm control of proceedings well into the third day, but a sustained fightback from Pakistan, with Butt at the helm, has left both teams with everything to play for, although England have the slight edge.
Butt batted extremely well for his 122, his top score at Test level, and he showed a maturity and composure which belied his 21 years. He brought up his second Test century, his first in Pakistan, in an extraordinary first over after lunch, when he guided Ashley Giles's third ball to leg to scamper a quick two. Three balls later he could have gone as he scrambled to beat Paul Collingwood's throw, but Asad Rauf, the third umpire, eventually turned down the shout even though replays hinted that the bails might have left their grooves with him fractionally short of his ground.
The decision wasn't to prove too costly, though - he was out 19 runs later. And if England feel at all aggrieved then they would do well to remember that Trescothick could have gone when he was on 48, and he went on to add a further 145 runs.
Inzamam and Butt threatened to take the game away from England with some solid batting in the morning, exemplifying the team orders to be positive. They did not play with rapid fire; instead they had to apply themselves on a pitch which demands patience, but which was offering little to the bowlers.
Butt headed into lunch on 99 not out following a morning dominated by Pakistan, who were capitalizing on the momentum they generated yesterday, and he made sure of three figures in the first over after lunch. Inzamam did his bit, too, and he reached his 41st Test fifty just before the break.
England badly needed a breakthrough, but at this stage it was hard to see where it would come from. They had managed just one wicket in the morning session, that of the nightwatchman Mohammad Sami. He had fallen to the fiery Andrew Flintoff, who was roaring to go from the off - and nearly got Butt first ball with a venomous bouncer which was gloved to the slips. But he had overstepped, one of several no-balls.
Cometh the new ball, cometh the breakthrough as Matthew Hoggard trapped Inzamam for 72 after he left one which nipped in at him. In a swift passage of play England's bowlers swung the match back in their favour - quite literally - with a feisty new-ball burst that removed four wickets for 30 runs in 49 balls.
Flintoff removed Mohammad Yousuf and Hasan Raza. Yousuf had taken to heart the team orders to strike out and he put his everything into walloping 16 from 13 balls, including two delicious clips through midwicket off Flintoff. But the bowler had the last laugh as Yousuf clumped a loose delivery straight to gully; a dismissal which owed more to bad batting than good bowling.
The same could not be said of Flintoff's next wicket, a peach of a delivery which kissed Raza's bat and was held by Trescothick at first slip. Raza's stay at the crease was yet again short and sour; he made 1 to go with his equally lamentable duck. Butt was next to go, courtesy of a snorting awayswinger from Hoggard.
Pakistan came out fighting after tea, but England polished off the rest with some hard elbow grease. Kamran Akmal led a rearguard action, biffing a ferocious 33, while protecting the tail. He played sensibly and yet strikingly and his contribution could prove vital as he lifted to take Pakistan to 341, an eventual lead of 197.
Giles got the first breakthrough of the final session - and his first wicket this match - when Bell pulled off a great catch in close to remove Shoaib Akhtar for 11. Shabbir Ahmed was an easy wicket for Steve Harmison, falling first ball.
Harmison added Akmal soon after, as the batsman tried to steer over to midwicket where Kevin Pietersen was waiting. A nation held its breath, Pietersen held the catch, his first in his sixth Test. It may have been a simple chance - a big loopy one to deep midwicket - but Pietersen's wide grin told its own story, that of a man who had dropped his previous six chances at this level.
England were left needing 198, and they chipped away in the nine overs before the close. But Pakistan's bowlers applied themselves equally well and Shabbir, who bowled so well in the first innings, was again in possession of a tight line. Thrown the new ball ahead of Sami, his four overs went for six runs, but more important at this stage was the dismissal of Trescothick, as he squeezed through the batsman's defences with a ball that kept a fraction low.
It was an absolutely crucial wicket. Trescothick has been the only batsman to have truly mastered the conditions on the tour so far. Publicly, England will say they are confident of chasing down this total, privately they may be fearing Danish Kaneria and a collapse on a pitch now showing signs of wear. An intriguing final day is in store.
How they were out
England
Marcus Trescothick b Shabbir 5 (7 for 1) Ball kept low; chopped on
Pakistan
Shoaib Malik c Trescothick b Harmison 18 (31 for 1) Forceful edge snatched two-handed and to the left at first slip
Younis Khan c Trescothick b Flintoff 48 (125 for 2) Tired steer to gully
Mohammad Sami c Jones b Flintoff 3 (131 for 3) Thick edge
Inzamam-ul-Haq lbw b Hoggard 72 (266 for 4) Complete misjudgement - shouldered arms and trapped plumb
Mohammad Yousuf c Bell b Flintoff 16 (285 for 5) Failed to move feet, steered to gully
Hasan Raza c Jones b Flintoff 1 (291 for 6) Also failed to move his feet
Salman Butt c Jones b Hoggard (295 for 7) Pushed at an awayswinger
Shoaib Akhtar c Bell b Giles 11 (331 for 8) Propped forward, sharp low catch at silly point
Shabbir Ahmed c Jones b Harmison 0 (332 for 9) Outside edge, regulation catch
Kamran Akmal c Pietersen b Harmison 33 (341 all ou) Top-edge pull, high catch to deep square-leg
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Inzamam and Afridi hand Pakistan control
November 20, 2005
Pakistan 300 for 4 (Inzamam 80*, Afridi 67*, Yousuf 78) v England
If England were delighted to welcome back their captain Michael Vaughan, Pakistan must have been positively over the moon at Shahid Afridi's return to the side. With a blistering unbeaten assault of 67, Afridi, his captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf have put their side in a commanding position at the close of play on the first day.
Afridi and Yousuf provided the innings with pace; Inzamam with the stability - he set his stall out to be there at the close of play. And he was. His innings, while not as adventurous in its strokeplay, shut the door on England, and on day two his remains the vital wicket - for both teams.
His calm and resolute partnership of 128 with Yousuf provided the perfect platform for Afridi to launch his attack. Dancing to the crease without a care in the world, he treated all of the English bowlers with disdain and contempt; he scored 12 runs in his first four balls, and raced uninhibitedly to fifty from 46 balls. His captain cut and drove his way to yet another fifty himself - his 42nd for Pakistan, and his eighth against England.
It hadn't gone Pakistan's way earlier in the day, though, after choosing to bat. On a pitch that was likened to a strip of baked mud, they got off to a rollicking start but England - despite their initial waywardness - snaffled three quick wickets.
Steve Harmison tempted Salman Butt, who threatened to continue his excellent form, into edging a full delivery - and this was soon followed up by Flintoff. Returning for a new spell, his first ball was chipped limply and wastefully by Younis Khan to Kevin Pietersen. By now, Pakistan's exuberant strokeplay had been reduced to careful defence, as they pottered along at little over three runs per over. Shoaib Malik, who had played solidly throughout the morning, mis-drove Hoggard. On any other day, the ball would have sped to the boundary, but Flintoff, at short cover, dived full-length with remarkable agility and reactions, to snatch the ball one-handed. Malik trudged off, with a look of part-anger and part-incredulity - and England went to lunch a happy bunch.
Pakistan's fragility wasn't to rear its ugly head, though, as England went wicketless in the afternoon session. Both Inzamam and Yousuf calmly and steadily re-built the innings; Yousuf was in particularly elegant touch, caressing nine boundaries and nudging singles intelligently. Inzamam, the rock throughout the day, was rarely troubled in his innings - although Flintoff did find one which which spat alarmingly, but it fell inches short of Andrew Strauss at gully. The odd blemish aside, his innings was one of utter determination and fortitude; Pakistan, after all, only need to win this Test to wrap up the series.
Both Ashley Giles and Shaun Udal had proved disconcertingly expensive, forcing Vaughan to use Ian Bell, whose wobbling medium-pacers had been surprisingly effective against Inzamam before tea. Yousuf airily drove back to Bell, who dived low and took a fine catch - or, at least, it appeared to be. The replay proved inconclusive.
The celebrations were short-lived, however, as Afridi sprinted to the crease to assert his authority. Few players can match this batsman for sheer uninhibited monstrous hitting, and he made sure all the England bowlers knew of his liking for violent, manic boundary-bashing. After receiving one sighter from Bell, he clattered the same bowler over his head for four. The very next ball, a very respectable delivery was blistered past mid-on for another four, followed by a beautifully timed cut past point for his third four. Afridi had arrived.
On such placid wickets, large totals are expected and wickets are both priceless and rare. Vaughan's dropping of Afridi at cover, when on 35, has proved expensive already - and could become even more costly tomorrow.
How they were out
Salman Butt c Jones b Harmison 26 (53 for 1) Edged a full-pitched delivery
Younis Khan c Pietersen b Flintoff 7 (63 for 2) Chipped one to midwicket
Shoaib Malik c Flintoff b Hoggard 27 (73 for 3) Mistimed drive to Flintoff at short cover who took a diving one-handed catch
Mohammad Yousuf c & b Bell 78 (201 for 4) Firm push back to the bowler, who dived low to his right
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England survive scare and Inzamam ton to stay in series
The Bulletin by Martin Williamson
November 24, 2005
England 446 and 164 for 6 (Flintoff 56, Pietersen 42) drew with Pakistan 462 and 268 for 9 dec (Inzamam 100*, Butt 50) Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details How they were out
An idiosyncratic hundred from Inzamam-ul-Haq - his second of the match - and some excellent fast bowling either side of lunch came close to giving Pakistan victory at Faisalabad. As it was, England, who finished on 164 for 6, survived and in so doing kept this series alive, but for a time in the afternoon it seemed as if once again their second innings would implode as it had at Multan. But Andrew Flintoff made a responsible fifty to steady a listing ship, and the pitch remained good enough for England's middle order to weather the storm until bad light brought a premature end. It was hard to remember that it was England who had started the day with the sniff of victory in their nostrils.
When Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen came together shortly after lunch England were 20 for 4 and facing a fired-up Shoaib Akhtar and less demonstrative but equally dangerous Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. The two batsmen eased the nerves, Pietersen in a typically crash-bang-wallop manner while Flintoff preferred a more cautious approach, although he briefly allowed himself to raid the sweetie jar when he slog-swept the disappointing Danish Kaneria for a massive six.
With the benefits of the new ball dissipated and the shirtfront pitch again dominating, Pakistan's job grew harder by the over. As heads drooped, Naved-ul-Hasan gave his side a fillip with tea looming. Pietersen looked to flick the ball, but a thick inside edge ballooned to leg and substitute Asim Kamal took a good diving catch running in from mid-on. And then just as England's pulses calmed as the last hour began, Flintoff gloved an attempted hook off Akhtar and the ball looped to Hasan Raza, a substitute who had just come on as the over began.
Ashley Giles, whose body appears to be in virtual meltdown, then weathered all that Akhtar could throw at him, and took some more blows to add to his pains, but with the increasingly solid Geraint Jones, saw England to safety with some crisp boundaries thrown in along the way. Had Pakistan's spinners, especially Kaneria, who was never quite the same after twice being warned in England's first innings, been able to exert more pressure then they might have forced a win. As it was, their quicks did a superb job, but on this featherbed it was too tall an order to expect them to bowl England out in two sessions .
Inzamam resumed in the morning with his side wobbling, and the loss of Naved-ul-Hasan to the ninth delivery, swishing wildly at a wide ball from Steve Harmison, only added to that unsteadiness. But with Akhtar efficiently shoring up the other end, Inzamam saw off the threat of Pakistan being asked to bowl to save the game, and then cut loose. Anyone arriving as he closed in on his hundred might have been forgiven for thinking it was Pakistan doing the chasing - England's fielders were spread far and wide, and even Flintoff resorted to bowling leg-side wides to stem the flow of runs.
It was entertaining stuff for another vociferous crowd which grew as the session rolled on. Inzamam clobbered the first ball of Harmison's second spell for a straight six, and thereafter mixed elegance with improvisation, both being equally effective. As he approached his hundred - one which took him past Javed Miandad's Pakistan record of 23 in Tests - he struggled with cramp, but running was never his strength anyway so it hardly affected his style. He had his moments of luck, last night when he got the rub of the green with a couple of leg-before shouts and today when Andrew Strauss spilled a simple catch at deep midwicket off Shaun Udal when he was on 79. But he deserved the breaks.
By the time Akhtar departed, nibbling at an awayswinger from Matthew Hoggard, Pakistan were safe, and when Mohammad Sami became Hoggard's second scalp of the morning it was incidental. The real drama was at the other end as Inzamam cut, drove and scrambled his way to three figures before declaring.
The one over England faced before lunch was enough for Akhtar to prise out Marcus Trescothick whose judgment was all at sea as he shouldered arms and his off stump was sent cartwheeling. It got worse for England in the half-hour after the resumption. Naved-ul-Hasan struck in the first over of the afternoon, Strauss playing back to a ball which kept lower than he expected, catching the toe of the bat and spinning back into the stumps. Akhtar then weighed in with his second, Ian Bell nicking an ambitious backfoot cut though to Kamran Akmal, and the crisis deepened when Michael Vaughan was trapped in the crease by one that jagged back by Naved-ul-Hasan - in a game pockmarked by controversial decisions, the leg-before was mercifully straightforward for Simon Taufel.
But thereafter Pakistan huffed and puffed gamely, and although the last half hour contained a few nervous moments for England, by then both sides appeared to have settled for the draw.
How they were out
Pakistan Resuming on 183 for 6
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan c Jones b Harmison 1 (187 for 7) Chased wide delivery, thick outside edge
Shoaib Akhtar c Jones b Hoggard 14 (234 for 8) Nibbled at awayswinger
Mohammad Sami lbw b Hoggard 5 Trapped half-forward to inswinger
England
Marcus Trescothick b Shoaib Akhtar 0 (1 for 1) Shouldered arms, lost off stump
Andrew Strauss b Naved-ul-Hasan 0 (5 for 2) Ball span into stumps off toe of bat
Ian Bell c Akmal b Akhtar 0 (10 for 3) Edged ambitious backfoot cut
Michael Vaughan lbw b Naved-ul-Hasan 9 (20 for 4) Trapped half-forward by incutter
Kevin Pietersen c sub (Kamal) b Naved-ul-Hasan 42 (100 for 5) Inside edge onto pad, diving catch at mid-on
Andrew Flintoff c sub (Raza) b Akhtar 56 (138 for 5) Gloved attempted hook and ballooned to gully
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Younis Khan to miss final Test
Cricinfo staff
November 27, 2005
Younis Khan, the Pakistan vice-captain, has pulled out of the final Test against England at Lahore after the death of his brother. His absence could lead to a recall for Hazan Raza, who sat out the second Test after playing in the first one.
"My brother, Sharif Khan, died in Ukraine on Saturday and I won't be able to play the third Test," Younis told AFP. Pakistan will also be without Shahid Afridi, the allrounder, who was banned for a Test and two ODIs by Roshan Mahanama, the match referee, for scruffing up the pitch during the second Test at Faisalabad.
Bob Woolmer told reporters at Gaddafi Stadium that Younis's absence was a big loss to Pakistan. "It is a big blow to our team. He is a very good player and very charismatic. It is a good opportunity for someone else to come in make their mark at that position."
Younis has been a crucial player for Pakistan since his recall last year against Sri Lanka at Karachi. In the period since, he has scored four hundreds in ten Tests. Woolmer said Younis's non-availability had disturbed the balance in the team's batting order.
"Younis is a regular at number three and his absence has affected the balance. We may now bring in Asim Kamal at number three and Hasan Raza in place of Shahid Afridi at number six."
Although Woolmer said the team management has not asked for a replacement for Younis, sources close to the team say that Yasir Hameed might be in line for a recall. Hameed, who scored two centuries on debut against Bangladesh in 2003, was dropped from the squad after the tour to the West Indies. Last week, he scored 174 for Peshawar against Multan in a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy game, a performance which has increased his chances of a recall.
The team management are not keen on changing the opening combination and if Hameed is called up, it is likely he will bat at one down, where he made his debut. Kamal is then expected to ba at number six.
There have also been suggestions that Mohammad Sami may be dropped from the line-up to accomodate Mohammad Asif, who took ten wickets in a warm-up match against the tourists before the Test series began. But Woolmer refused to say whether he would be dropped. "Mohammad Sami is working very hard. In fact he bowled well in patches. I don't go along with the critics. I think everyone has played well iat various moments in this series, the whole squad and I back them all completely."
Woolmer insisted that his team were determined to clinch the series, something they have been unable to do in nearly two years. "You have to cope with injuries and other problems. The morale is high and we enter the Test to win the series. We know how important it is to win a Test here and also know England can bounce back, but the players are confident of giving their best. England is a very good side and we have to remain positive. Our goal is to win the series. If we do, it will be a big step forward for us," said Woolmer.
Inzamam's role, Woolmer said, was also crucial. "He's been fantastic, he's led from the front and the team is playing well due to him. As long as he is there, Pakistan will keep fighting."
England will also make a couple of changes to the side that played in the second Test. Andrew Strauss has returned home to attend the birth of his first child and is likely to be replaced with all-rounder Paul Collingwood. James Anderson may also get a chance at Shaun Udal's expense on a pitch which is expected to help seamers.
nikama
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i luv to see james anderson in action,i still remember his bowling in last world cup match against pakis,when he sent inzi and yousaf back to pavilion on two consecutive deliveries.younas' absence is a big blow indeed and afridi should now sit and think abt the ethics of the game...he was so vital for the team and look what he did?
nikama
Age: 50
6954 days old here
Total Posts: 3660
Points: 0
Location:
rawalpindi, Pakistan
england all out for 288,thanks to superb bowling performance by paki bowlers.but england strikes back by taking two early wickets b4 lunch.so far the game is open for both sides lets see what happens net
Mohammad Yousuf made England pay for dropping him on 16 to hold Pakistan together after the second day had threatened to become a procession of batsmen back to the pavilion. His composed knock helped restore the innings around after Matthew Hoggard struck two early blows. Prior to Yousuf's effort the day had been dominated by the bowlers with England's last four wickets folding for 40 runs, including Paul Collingwood for 96.
England's under par 288 quickly became more imposing when Pakistan slipped to 12 for 2. But Yousuf and Inzamam-ul-Haq, who were highlighted as the key to Pakistan's batting in this Test, countered England's aggression with their own. They represent the main core of the batting, which is surrounded by a clutch of inexperienced players, and the way they constructed their fourth-wicket stand showed they realised the importance of their contribution.
England will be rueing the moment that Yousuf edged Steve Harmison low to second slip only to watch the ball travel straight through Andrew Flintoff's hands. Except that one chance the attack did not look like breaking the partnership so it came as a bonus for England when Inzamam was forced to retire hurt after a nasty blow on the wrist from Harmison.
With Hasan Raza, who looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights at Multan, in at No. 6, England sensed an opening and huddled together as though a wicket had fallen while Inzamam headed off. This time Raza settled himself with some crisp boundaries, but was still uncertain against Harmison and had the slips on their toes. Ten minutes before the light closed in he flashed once to often and Flintoff made partial amends for his earlier miss with a smart catch by his bootlaces.
Raza's wicket was a much needed because England's bowling, which had started so promisingly when Hoggard snapped up his brace, lost its control as Yousuf and Inzamam exerted their authority. Liam Plunkett snared his first Test wicket by removing a stubborn Salman Butt but Shaun Udal repeatedly dropped short, was punished each time, and quickly returned to the outfield.
Both batsmen did have moments of fortune; Yousuf twice lobbed the ball into gaps when he was troubled by Harmison's extra bounce and Inzamam was inconvenienced by a hint of low bounce - an indication of what may develop as the pitch wears. But Yousuf reached his fifty in elegant style by creaming a cover drive off Hoggard.
Inzamam has had an epic series; before today his tally was 333 runs from four innings. Pakistan's reply could have gone either way when he arrived at the crease; his aggressive strokeplay put England back on the back foot. The injury was a blow to Pakistan's progress although Yousuf continued to thread the ball through the infield with precision.
The dominant batting by Pakistan's senior pair was in stark contrast to the rush of wickets during the morning session. England started the day with grand designs of extending their innings past 350, while Collingwood had his mind set on a maiden century. Instead, what followed was a further impressive bowling performance from Pakistan, especially Shoaib Akhtar.
He bowled unchanged with excellent control and came close to removing Collingwood on 92 when there was a noise from a flashing cut but it was not bat on ball. However, he got his man an over later with a well-directed bouncer.
Collingwood had deserved a century after marshalling England from the top-order wobble and keeping his head while others lost theirs. But even though he missed three figures, his 96 will ensure he has another chance in the future. Plunkett also deserves credit for his resilience on debut, surviving 51 balls and 83 minutes with few alarms, showing an admirable straight bat.
Yousuf then gave him a tough lesson in bowling at a quality player and England are still counting the cost of that rare lapse by Flintoff. But neither side has taken this match by the throat; the deciding Test is approaching its defining moment.
How they were out
England Resumed on 248 for 6
Shaun Udal c Kamal b Kaneria 10 (249 for 7) Think edge via pad to short-leg
Paul Collingwood c Kaneria b Shoaib 96 (283 for 8) Top-edge hook to long-leg
Liam Plunkett b Sami 9 (288 for 9) Inside edge onto pad then into stumps
Steve Harmison c Akmal b Sami 0 (288 all out) Thin outside edge
Pakistan
Shoaib Malik c Plunkett b Hoggard 0 (0 for 1) Push-drive to midwicket
Asim Kamal lbw b Hoggard 5 (12 for 2) Trapped by an inswinger
Salman Butt c G Jones b Plunkett 28 (68 for 3) Thin edge to a loose drive
Hasan Raza c Flintoff b Harmison 21 (180 for 4) Thick-edged drive to wide third slip position
Mohammad Yousuf's 14th Test hundred and Kamran Akmal's career-best second ton carried the final Test away from England, putting Pakistan in sight of a series triumph. Their unbroken record-breaking stand of 199 means they are now assured of at least the draw they need and can now push for the win that would complete a memorable success.
Yousuf and Akmal produced contrasting innings and such was their dominance and lasting presence in the middle that Inzamam-ul-Haq wasn't required to test his injured wrist. Yousuf's bat grew broader and broader with every over, and he is now in sight of his third double century. He had to be at his most determined to fend off another period of hostile quick bowling from Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff, but for every bouncer he received there was a well-timed drive or clip around the corner.
In many ways, though, Akmal's innings will have been the most pleasing for Bob Woolmer. Yousuf's qualities are not in doubt but the length of Pakistan's tail has been a weakness. Akmal, who has already pouched two brilliant catches in the Test, showed he has the ability to develop into the counter-attacking wicketkeeper that all teams crave.
He took the game by the scruff of the neck from the moment Michael Vaughan opted for the second new ball, by thrashing a succession of half volleys from Matthew Hoggard through the off side. He only offered one fleeting chance; a difficult catch to Marcus Trescothick at a wide slip when he was on 95. He was not to be denied his second ton, reaching the mark with a cracking cover drive - his ninth four in 178 balls. It was the first time he had passed fifty since his first hundred, the match-saving century against India in Mohali, and it was a promising sign that he again converted into three figures.
From the start of play Yousuf was content to work the gaps, keeping the ball along the ground, but reached his century in grand manner with a thumping straight six off Shaun Udal. Apart from his let-off yesterday on 16 it was a faultless innings from Yousuf who had to contend with Harmison at his best and the added pressure of Inzamam's injury. His cover-and straight-driving was a trademark and once past 150 he expanded his strokeplay against a tiring attack, but still without taking excessive risks. The stand broke the previous record in England-Pakistan Tests of 145 by Mushtaq Mohammad and Intikhab Alam at Hyderabad in 1972-73.
No blame can be placed at the feet of Harmison and Flintoff, who again produced unstinting efforts. However, such was the authority with which the sixth-wicket pair batted that whatever Vaughan threw at them they responded with calm, collected resistance. For the first time in recent years Vaughan began to look slightly lost. The lack of a wicket-taking spinner was highlighted with Udal conceding nearly five an over, meaning Vaughan had to constantly return to his quicks. One heartening aspect of the day for a weary England side was the performance of Liam Plunkett. He produced a highly promising spell and maintained his stamia, managing to trouble both batsmen towards the end of the day.
Pakistan now have such a stranglehold on the match that it is easy to forget that the day started with England retaining hopes of a slender first innings advantage. That notion was quickly dashed by Shoaib Ahtkar's determined career-best knock. He weathered a barrage of bouncers and grew in confidence. A fierce cover drive off Harmison and a slog-sweep for six off Udal pushed the score along and ate into England's narrowing advantage. By the time he fell to Plunkett he had more than done his job in paving the way for Pakistan to build a commanding lead.
The confidence within the Pakistan ranks has been evident since their heist at Multan and it positively surged out of Yousuf and Akmal. Thanks to a thrilling stand by a combination of youth and experience the major series win Pakistan have been chasing is now within their grasp.
How they were out
Pakistan
Shoaib Malik c Plunkett b Hoggard 0 (0 for 1) Push-drive to midwicket
Asim Kamal lbw b Hoggard 5 (12 for 2) Trapped by an inswinger
Salman Butt c G Jones b Plunkett 28 (68 for 3) Thin edge to a loose drive
Hasan Raza c Flintoff b Harmison 21 (180 for 4) Thick-edged drive to wide third slip position
Shoaib Akhtar c Udal b Plunkett 38 (247 for 5) Spooned a drive to cover
well played trescothic.it was a test of his abilities,and he has come out very well 
he caught from ground...
