Sky Sports activities’ Nasser Hussain questioned key choices from England captain Ben Stokes after Pakistan seized management of the series-deciding third Check.
England have a mountain to climb in Rawalpindi after one other top-order collapse by the hands of Pakistan’s spinners left them 24-3 of their second innings – nonetheless 53 runs behind – at stumps on day two.
A defiant century from Saud Shakeel – which featured in stands of 88 and 72 alongside tail-enders Noman Ali and Sajid Khan – reworked Pakistan’s fortunes as they secured an unlikely first-innings lead of 77 having been 177-7.
In response, England misplaced their prime three in simply 9 overs earlier than stumps, as Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope fell, however, for Hussain, there was simply as a lot harm finished within the subject with ball in hand.
“I think Stokes did [miss a trick],” former England captain Hussain instructed Sky Sports activities Cricket. “When you hearken to the hype in regards to the pitch yesterday, it was a very tough pitch to bat on with solely sure photographs you would play.
“I feel Stokes and England obtained into their minds that they might have their catchers [in close] and cease the boundaries. If Pakistan obtained the odd one or two, so be it, they would not get away from them and finally there could be a ball with their identify on it.
“What stunned me was not the actual fact Stokes had males out, he is finished that on numerous events, it was that he did not convey males up when Saud Shakeel was knocking them for ones.
“Stokes didn’t bring players up and tempt the batter to hit over the top, and fair play to Saud Shakeel, he said if you’re prepared to offer me freebie runs, I’m going to take them, and he kept taking and taking them.”
‘Perhaps Stokes wants a little bit of assist’
A 3-wicket burst from leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed previous to lunch had England hopeful of incomes a sizeable first-innings lead of their very own.
Stokes didn’t flip to Ahmed for the primary eight overs of the afternoon session, a call which allowed the acquainted script of toil towards the tail to unfold, because the highlight turned in direction of the England captain.
“England’s struggles against the tail repeated themselves,” Hussain added. “It’s not just today or in this series, but in the last two or three years, they have struggled to get through tail-enders.
“Even when England have had tempo, I feel they’ve barely misplaced the plot and gone only for a bouncer ploy. I am not speaking about right here [in Rawalpindi] in these circumstances, however even once they’ve had Mark Wooden.
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Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley are bowled out after Sajid Khan and Noman Ali take a wicket every within the Check match between Pakistan and England.
“Sometimes they will bowl beautifully to the top order and then, as soon as the tail-enders comes in, it’s bouncers right away and they get hit everywhere. They do lose the plot a little bit.
“Stokes perhaps places a lot vitality into his captaincy, into the week of captaincy, he may want a little bit of assist when England are seven or eight down.
“There aren’t many senior bowlers around in this side, he may just need someone to drag him to one side and explain his reasoning.
“I used to be amazed Rehan Ahmed did not begin after lunch. A wrist spinner who’d simply obtained three-for earlier than lunch. I might have gone with the wrist spinner towards the decrease order.”
‘England aren’t out of the game’
Former England captain Michael Atherton conceded Pakistan hold all the cards after two days’ play but said Shakeel’s knock gives the tourists hope that Joe Root and Harry Brook can find the runs needed to get them back into contention.
“England have been very grateful to come back off when the umpires known as time as a result of they have been proper below the pump in a really tough previous few overs for them,” Atherton said.
“I wasn’t assured Crawley would survive, whereas Pope is having a little bit of a horror trot on this tour. The wicket of Duckett was the actual dangerous blow, he is such a very good participant of spin.
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Rehan Ahmed speaks to the Sky Sports activities’ cricket staff a few day of ups and downs for the England staff on the second day of their third Check match towards Pakistan.
“Now their two main men on this tour, Root and Brook, are at the crease. They will need a good start in the morning to dig them out of this hole.
“England aren’t out of the sport. Pakistan maintain all of the playing cards, Pakistan are in a really robust place, and England are in a gap. However you can’t come out on the third day of a Check considering you have obtained no probability of successful the sport.
“England have to think about how they get themselves into a position to win the game, and the way they can do that is for Root and Brook, who put on 454 runs in the first Test in Multan, to get their heads down, get through the new ball, get the ball old and soft, and bat as Saud Shakeel showed you can bat on this surface. If they do that there are runs to be had.”
First Check: Multan – October 7-11 – England received by an innings and 47 runs
Second Check: Multan – October 15-19 – Pakistan received by 152 runs
Third Check: Rawalpindi – October 24-28
Watch day three of the third Check between Pakistan and England in Rawalpindi, reside on Sky Sports activities Cricket and Major Occasion from 5.30am on Saturday, forward of play ranging from 5.43am. Stream with NOW
