Cricket

Yeah, not very well though.

It blows my mind how many batters we have that can just get to 50 so quickly.

And then not convert ;)

Yeah, not very well though.

No, it was rubbish and almost got him out!

Having enjoyed 242 for 2, I am hoping for 343 for 3.

Obviously don't want to see another wicket fall, but 444 for 4 is beguiing....

And then not convert ;)

Ha, you can't have everything can you?

Just the speed though, Brook has hardly been bazzin' it around (apart from that over where Pakistan put every fielder on the leg side) just constantly ticking it over and 50 came up in no time.

(123 for 5 is another fave)

Follow-on avoided. The question now is whether this pitch will offer anything at all in the second innings or are we looking at a five-day bore-a-thon?

Pakistan have been iffy in second innings recently?

But it will remain a road.

444 for 4 still possible, Brook and Root look absolutely shattered.

Thwarted

This is playing out sort of how I thought it would

Only question is whether Brook will catch up with then start outscoring Root. Looking good for that at the moment.

I was thinking about that earlier - Duckett came in and quickly caught up with Root, and Brook may do the same - is there some sort of stat for a batter who's been 'caught' by partners most in an innings, or how many cumulative runs their partners have gained on them in an innings?

Probably not, because it's not that easy to explain what I mean clearly. But basically, someone who's dropped anchor while people blazed around him all day. Not that Root dropped anchor, but he's scored much slower than the others.

Lovely Joe

400 partnership up

These numbers are just silly.

And not very English!

Pope must be absolutely spitting feathers

Fun seeing batsman score loads of runs but you want a bit of a contest between bat and ball.

These two may as well go on and break some records now because there’s literally no point in doing anything else other than letting our bowlers have a run out tomorrow.

My prediction from day 2 is still a possibility, just not quite in the manner I was imagining it back then.

Partnership of 427 off 500 balls is just ridiculous, must be a misery in the field. Maybe Pakistan might try to serve up something other than a concrete runway for the next test. But I won't hold my breath.

Maybe Pakistan might try to serve up something other than a concrete runway for the next test.

Next one's also in Multan, so it'll be the same groundsman.

Might as well just play on the same pitch, it might do something by day 8.

My prediction hasn't really changed then

Be amazing if 2 batsman make it to 300, though I have jinxed it now…

Root - useless, throwing away his wicket there.

Dear Joe - it’s that Mr Smyths fault ….