Doubtful on that pitch, but they can't lose now. The problem with Cook is that he'll bat on, get 350 in front and then not have enough time to bowl Pakistan out. He should declare overnight and have the chance of two new balls in the Pakistan innings - but he won't.
The rate's already almost 3.5 per over. I can't see Pakistan batting 6.5 hours on a 5th day pitch to get that. Having said that, it's better to give them a sniff because 350-360 off 75 overs is unattainable and they will just shut up shop and defend. The pitch is benign, but there will be some uneven bounce, possibly some turn and a little swing from the swing masters. If they are tempted to play shots, there will be more opportunities to take wickets; if they defend it'll finish a draw at 5pm at 220-2.
Punters strike again. Been hearing all week how Newcastle are going to stroll the Championship, even heard a couple saying they could go through the whole season undefeated. Interesting to see the list of 30 pundits top four predictions that the BBC published last year. Well, that is even if they do that after everyone being so spectacularly wrong last year (when most had Chelski as champions, everyone had them in the top 4 and I don't think anyone had Spurs or Leicester in there).
Gary Neville has returned to Sky Sports after his short stint in management. Something tells me that Carragher might bring that up at some point during the season...
The mosquito chase will be very exciting this year. You can train a bird to perform a long series of actions in order to get a drink of milk. We ought to get their predictions for the season, since pundits are evidently incapable of empirical learning.Quality and continuity have been the keys to success for a long time now. Big spending has been a ticket to palookaville. So who are we favoring this year, again? Could it be the big spenders?
That's what Geoff Boycott said too RDBD. I WAS getting concerned. From one down to one ahead which is a good effort. Well done England.
It happens so often when you have the bottom tail in, runs to spare and one wicket to take. 50 runs scored, and 25% of the innings total. Looks like Anderson and Broad take the credit for the 2nd inns (28 overs bowled, averaging 2/over between them and one maiden every 3 overs) . Good pressure bowling.
They didn't need those extra runs this morning Great team bowling - led by Anderson who got the ball reversing both ways on a very flat pitch
South Korea drew 3-3 with Germany today, dropping a lead late on to a deflected free-kick. Son scored their second to level things up, which is also his second of the competition:
