2ND TEST ENG v PAK - HEADINGLEY

Jennings is South african so takes priority.

Asking Pakistan to be good twice in a row might be asking for too much. England are under pressure to perform. And they probably will, especially if they get the right conditions and take their catches.

Given that, by most reckonings, England were outplayed in 9 out of 10 sessions,1.62 to win looks to overrate their chances. If you look at their Test record in the past couple of years, to bounce back with a win would be against what you would expect.

If you look at the individual players, confidence ebbs further.

The batting is self-evidently weak. No-one could call this a strong batting line-up, with perhaps only Bairstow a proven heavy scorer who is actually in form (Root, maybe, but he bears the look of a man at odds with himself at present).

But the bowling is even more of a concern, unless the gods deliver a recipe tailored specifically to Anderson's skills. Broad has gone a long time with little to show and being outbowled by all of Pakistan's seamers does not imply that the much talked about action refinements have made any difference.

Wood takes his few Test wickets at over 40 apiece. Everyone likes him but he's not really very good, with a best of 3/39 saying it all.

Woakes is in and out, but more the latter and an unlikely match winner, while Stokes is out of practice. Bess hardly looked an answer to many problems in his overs at Lords.

As Whisperingdeath says, if England insert in conditions likely to resemble Headingly graveyards of the past, then they may well be worthy favourites. But should they bat first in such conditions, or Pakistan bat under cloudless skies on a pitch none too green, I find it hard to see why England will win.

It would surely need huge amounts of rain to bring the draw into play (forecast uncertain at present but not looking too scary).

Weighing up the above, I can only conclude that the 4/1 on offer for a Pakistan win is a steal. I've just taken that though may look to hedge on Pakistan's first innings runs should the scenario outlined above take place.

Eng normally Snap Back after a shocker, even as recently as in NZ

Leeds often good for batting. Root will probably win the toss and insert.

I agree with all the analysis about Pak being much superior here. But they are Pak. I don't see how Eng realy beat them but as soon as I put half a k on them, the scenarios start coming to my mind

Basically Pakistan can do anything. They won the Lords test in 2016 and lost the next by 330 runs!

If you are indeed interested in backing Pakistan, now is a really bad time to do that imo. Wait for the game to start and see the market love for England. I got 8s and 6s last test because that is where their price stagnated. It didn't take them long to go from 5s to 7s in between wickets. I am dead sure they trade higher than where they are now before the first English wicket falls.

Weather seems overcast but dry, doesn't bode well for two brittle batting sides. Draw lay for me at 5.2/5.3 as it seems the safest option.

In the last 10 years Eng have only won 2 out of the 9 tests. Surprised by that stat tbh

Of course i still kee track of each bet but been using the cashout button on last test knowing it wasn't offering me the same money if i cashed out manually.

Good idea. Do you use a software lie geekstoy? Or just the betfair interface?

The matchbook one has its own benefits, in that it doesn't mug you as blatantly as betfair's. I am sure there are people out there placing bets on markets with low liquidity waiting for an idiot to hit cashout.

I have also used the betfair cashout to 'run' from the market. But the liquidity is what decides. I have seen a varying red on my french open outright without the prices actually moving which is what alerted me to this. I guess on a market like we usually have in cricket, cash out could still be useful. It also gives me an idea of how much I am winning...or for how much im doing my nuts.

Happy to wait for things to unfold and take it from there.

At Lord's Pakistan took 20 wickets, we took 10. The weather was humid at times but pretty decent overrall. No reason at all why Pakistan can't bowl even better under leaden Leeds' skies (if the forecast is accurate).

Leeds will be desperate for a big pay day so expect a very good batting pitch.

Slightly overlooked but the dropped catches at Lord's cost England very dear. Address that and the game could easily swing the other way (Pakistan's fielding was as good as it's been for...ever??)

If Stokes doesn't play Eng should be getting closer to 2s .

moved away from my draw lay and got onto Pak at 4.8. Looks massive now

George Dobell
Ben Stokes remains serious doubt for second Test. He ran today but won't bowl or field and will have scan later. Decision likely to be made on his inclusion at the last moment tomorrow. Jonny Bairstow also pulled out of warm-up football after appearing to suffer discomfort.

Stokes will play just as a batsman as Eng are desperate and the Bastard won't miss a home test!

Bstard

There was a TV series called The New Statesman in the UK DT. Very funny. The chief protagonist was an MP called Alan Bstard but upon meeting him people would say " You're Alan Bastard ! ". It's just a take on that, no offence intended. He is a popular young man.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p_0cayp5s0&list=RDSDa505kpXO0&index=5

Just for you DT, there is even a cricket reference in there. Mike Gatting made Ambassador to Pakistan!