Zak Crawley and Jos Buttler put England in commanding position after remarkable record-breaking stand
Great players make their mark early and among the plethora of statistics from Zak Crawley’s 267 is one that ranks him alongside the most illustrious of all time.
Only four players in Test history have scored 250 younger than Crawley: Sir Len Hutton, arguably the greatest England batsman, Sir Donald Bradman, the best of all time and Sir Garfield Sobers, the finest allround cricketer ever. Graeme Smith was younger too and while not pretty, or even the best of his generation, his 9265 runs have only ever been bettered by one England player in more than 140 years of Test cricket.
At 22 and 201 days old Crawley has announced himself in the grandest style with the second highest maiden century for England that will define his career and over the next few days will seal England’s first series win over Pakistan for a decade.
It will be very difficult to live up to such an achievement but Crawley has shown over the past two days he possesses the attributes to be a fine Test cricketer for many years. The Crawley-Ollie Pope era lies ahead and it should be fascinating viewing.
With James Andrson nipping out three wickets in the hour after England’s declaration with some outstanding new ball bowling, the bowlers can now end this odd summer with a victory set up by Crawley’s brilliance. Pakistan are 24 for three, a long way short of the follow on and Anderson now four short of his 600.
Mentally strong, secure in defence and measured in attack, Crawley barely gave more than a half chance before he was stumped off his 393rd ball after nine and three quarter hours of batting. He hit 34 fours and one six and they were mainly classic, orthodox strokes combining power and wonderful timing taking him to the tenth highest Test score by an England player.
He rewrote records with Jos Buttler, setting a new high of 359 for England’s fifth wicket breaking a record set by Tony Greig and Keith Fletcher in Mumbai 47 years ago. It was the joint sixth highest stand for any wicket by an England pair, transforming 127 for four on Friday afternoon to 486.
Buttler’s 152 was the second hundred in his 42nd Test, a record that should be better for a player of his talent but he is now England’s highest run scorer this summer, a fine achievement when under pressure for his place. He was muted at times, going the entire afternoon session without a boundary, but that is fine for shot making is not his problem. Instead it has been building an innings that has weighed Buttler down. He has cracked the problem this week with the longest innings of his professional career, content to live in the slipstream of his young partner and play a major part in setting up a Test match in the first innings for the first time.
England declared on 583 for eight, their highest total for four years. They scored in excess of 500 eight times between November 2010 and May 2011 but this is only the third occasion under Root’ they have managed it, summing up their problems in recent years.
Crawley obviously did not sleep well on Friday night for he was quiet and nervous when he restarted. He spent 40 balls on 171 from Friday evening until his first run of the day, which came after a lengthy stoppage after rain pushed lunch back until 2pm.
It took him 62 deliveries to go from his overnight score to his double hundred, which was reached with a rare false shot edged through the slip cordon. He became England’s youngest double centurion since David Gower in 1979, and the milestone liberated him. Some of his finest strokes followed with some sumptuous cover drives, a powerful reverse sweep from outside leg stump in front of square on the off side and a six off Yasir Shah lofted over long off. He whipped Mohammad Abbas over square leg for four to reach 250, taking just 41 balls since 200.
Pakistan were desperate. Their frontline bowlers had been worn down long ago. The umpires warned Fawad Alam for bowling negatively down the leg side, the only way to stem the runs. Yasir had been worked out, youngsters Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah toiled away for 50 overs between them and only Mohammad Abbas, with the keeper standing up, really caused problems.
Buttler was on 99 when Abbas thought he had his first wicket. Mohammad Rizwan had moved up to the sumps, rooting Buttler to the crease. He flapped at one outside off stump and was given out caught behind. He immediately reviewed, overturned the decision and next ball he had his hundred with a drive pinged through the off side.
Crawley moved past Alastair Cook 263 to break into the top ten highest England scores and thoughts were drifting to a triple century, a feat not achieved by an Englishman for 30 years.
The end was ignominious, stumped down the leg side off Asad Shafiq, who had only taken two Test wickets in his career, but almost every Pakistan player ran to congratulate Crawley as he walked off to a standing vocation from his team-mates on the balcony.
Buttler eked his way to 150 reaching it with his first four in 38 overs, before another tame end, chipping Fawad a catch for his first ever Test wicket.
Chris Woakes made a quickfire 40, Broad slapped two sixes as Pakistan were battered on the ropes desperate for Root to throw in the towel. The declaration gave Anderson time to move three steps closer to 600 wickets, removing Pakistan's top order of Shan Masood, Abid Ali and Babar Azam all leg before.
The first two days have been about the achievements of youth. Now the stage is clear for Anderson to make history.
06:30 PMEngland's day
England's day
What a day for the hosts. Crawley and Buttler was absolutely superb with the bat and now Anderson has ripped out three of Pakistan's top batsmen in the evening. The tourists are surely staring at defeat unless the weather can somehow save them. A day to remember for England and their supporters.
06:29 PMClose of play
Close of play
That wicket will be the final act of the day. Pakistan end on 24/3, with Anderson taking all three of them.
06:28 PMWICKET! Babar lbw Anderson 11
WICKET! Babar lbw Anderson 11
Anderson is just slightly too wide and allowing the batsmen to leave too many deliveries here. But he gets one to jag back sharply and Babar is struck on the front pad. Up goes the finger... and the batsman decides not to review! Bang in front of off stump. He's gone. Great bowling. FOW 24/3
06:25 PMOVER 10: PAK 24/2 (Azhar 4* Babar 11*)
OVER 10: PAK 24/2 (Azhar 4* Babar 11*)
Archer is pushing up the speedometer - reaching 92mph - but the batsmen are looking to leave everything they can. There's a big appeal after a noise as the ball passes Azhar - who is attempting to leave a short one - on its way through to Buttler. The umpire shakes his head and Archer looks bemused, but Root reviews anyway. And replays show it just grazed Azhar's elbow.
06:20 PMOVER 9: PAK 23/2 (Azhar 4* Babar 10*)
OVER 9: PAK 23/2 (Azhar 4* Babar 10*)
Babar punches Anderson off the back foot for two and the rest of the over is predominantly left outside off stump.
06:17 PMOVER 8: PAK 20/2 (Azhar 4* Babar 7*)
OVER 8: PAK 20/2 (Azhar 4* Babar 7*)
With six overs left in the day, Archer is going to have a crack. Can he crank things up? Ooh, well that is a beauty, rearing up off a length at 90mph and just missing the edge of Babar's bat. He follows up with an attempted bouncer that flies over batsman and keeper for two wides. But then produces a beauty of an inswinger which cuts Azhar in half as it flies over middle stump. A probing start from Archer.
06:11 PMOVER 7: PAK 18/2 (Azhar 4* Babar 7*)
OVER 7: PAK 18/2 (Azhar 4* Babar 7*)
Anderson, like Broad, is attempting to nip the ball back into Azhar to target his suspect front pad. Without luck on this occasion.
06:06 PMOVER 6: PAK 17/2 (Azhar 4* Babar 6*)
OVER 6: PAK 17/2 (Azhar 4* Babar 6*)
Broad is testing Azhar here, moving one away before jagging a couple back into the Pakistan captain's thigh pad. A maiden is the result.
06:03 PMOVER 5: PAK 17/2 (Azhar 4* Babar 6*)
OVER 5: PAK 17/2 (Azhar 4* Babar 6*)
Remember, Anderson needs seven wickets in this match to reach 600 in his Test career. So he's now up to 595. Babar gets off the mark with a clip for two to fine-leg and then times a straight drive to absolute perfection, to send it racing to the boundary.
Too good.#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/0QBpRJnJi9
— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) August 22, 2020
05:58 PMWICKET! Abid c Sibley b Anderson 1
WICKET! Abid c Sibley b Anderson 1
Another one for Anderson! It's that awkward length where Abid doesn't know whether to go back or forward and it nibbles just enough to square up the batsman, take the edge and find Sibley at third slip. Fine bowling. FOW 11/2
05:56 PMOVER 4: PAK 11/1 (Azhar 4* Abid 1*)
OVER 4: PAK 11/1 (Azhar 4* Abid 1*)
Azhar has been a walking lbw candidate in England during his career so Broad is going to target the stumps. But if he strays too far to leg then Azhar then will help himself, as he does here, tucking easily for four behind square.
05:51 PMOVER 3: PAK 6/1 (Azhar 0* Abid 1*)
OVER 3: PAK 6/1 (Azhar 0* Abid 1*)
England strike early and now the Pakistan captain is at the crease.
Shan Masood's last six Test innings (oldest first):
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 22, 2020
135
100
156
0
1
4#ENGvPAK
05:49 PMWICKET! Shan lbw Anderson 4
WICKET! Shan lbw Anderson 4
Anderson gets Shan again! It's another lbw, but this one looks A LOT straighter. Michael Gough puts his finger up with Shan struck on the front pad. Shan reviews, but it pitched in line, struck in line and was smashing into the stumps. The perfect inswinger from Anderson. Plumb. FOW 6/1
05:45 PMOVER 2: PAK 5/0 (Shan 4* Abid 1*)
OVER 2: PAK 5/0 (Shan 4* Abid 1*)
Broad will go round the wicket with a four-strong slip cordon to the left-handed Shan. And he has Shan lbw second ball! Or does he? The finger went up pretty quickly, but Shan may have been outside the line of off stump as he was struck on the back pad and he reviews. The verdict is... he was indeed hit outside the line. Decision overturned. That looked the case to the naked eye. Not sure why Richard Illingworth gave that.
05:40 PMOVER 1: PAK 3/0 (Shan 2* Abid 1*)
OVER 1: PAK 3/0 (Shan 2* Abid 1*)
Anderson has dismissed Shan seven times at an average of 4.85 in Test cricket and that battle will kick things off here. Shan immediately gets off strike by pushing into leg side to scamper a single and Abid repeats the same trick. No early concern.
05:35 PMThe reply
The reply
This is a horrible situation for the Pakistan openers. Here they come.
05:28 PMEngland declare on 583/8
England declare on 583/8
That's a huge total and there will be some weary, weary Pakistan bodies in the changing room now. Two of them will be called into action straight away as there are 13 overs remaining in the day.
05:27 PMOVER 154.4: ENG 583/8 (Bess 27*)
OVER 154.4: ENG 583/8 (Bess 27*)
And that wicket does prompt a declaration.
05:26 PMWICKET! Broad b Shaheen 15
WICKET! Broad b Shaheen 15
With no declaration imminent, Pakistan decide it's time for a bit more pace as Shaheen returns to the attack. Not sure what the point in all this is now. Well, it does give the left-armer a chance to take a wicket, thundering the ball into Broad's middle stump after the England man misses an almighty hoick. FOW 583/8
05:21 PMOVER 154: ENG 582/7 (Broad 15* Bess 26*)
OVER 154: ENG 582/7 (Broad 15* Bess 26*)
Very nice from Bess, waiting for the ball and late-cutting Yasir behind square for four, before then sweeping expertly over mid-wicket for six. Still Sibley sits in his training gear on the England balcony.
05:17 PMOVER 153: ENG 569/7 (Broad 14* Bess 14*)
OVER 153: ENG 569/7 (Broad 14* Bess 14*)
Well, Root might have his whites on but Crawley and Sibley are still sat on the England balcony in training gear. So perhaps the declaration isn't imminent.
Asad comes back into the attack and Broad greets him with an enormous six from another slog sweep over mid-wicket. It also means the ball has to be sanitised because it was hit so far that it left the concourse. Just what the Pakistan bowlers want: a soggy ball. Broad then picks out the cover fielder with two meaty efforts. If Root were to declare now, England would have 15 overs to bowl today (play can continue until 7.30pm if necessary). But he is not declaring now, so that is academic.
05:11 PMOVER 152: ENG 563/7 (Broad 8* Bess 14*)
OVER 152: ENG 563/7 (Broad 8* Bess 14*)
A pre-meditated sweeps brings Bess two. And he is then dropped by Naseem at mid-on! Bess miscued an almighty slog, smashing it a long, long way into the air and Naseem failed to hold on after struggling to get himself set running round to his left.
05:08 PMOVER 151: ENG 559/7 (Broad 8* Bess 10*)
OVER 151: ENG 559/7 (Broad 8* Bess 10*)
Come on Stuart, light some fireworks for us. It's all very orthodox to start with, playing out three Fawad dots with a straight bat... before dropping down on one knee and slog sweeping over mid-wicket for six. That's more like it! He repeats the shot to add two more.
05:05 PMOVER 150: ENG 551/7 (Broad 0* Bess 10*)
OVER 150: ENG 551/7 (Broad 0* Bess 10*)
Up and over from Bess, who latches onto some width from Yasir and just evades the dive of the point fielder to add four more to the total. But that's all from this one. Twenty overs remain in the day (minus two overs for the change of innings).
05:02 PMOVER 149: ENG 547/7 (Broad 0* Bess 6*)
OVER 149: ENG 547/7 (Broad 0* Bess 6*)
Iiiiiiiiiiiiit's Stuart Broad. He will most certainly be there for a good time, not a long time. Or what do I know? He plays out three dots and on we go. I'm not sure what the point in continuing to bat is if they aren't looking for quick runs.
Chris Woakes Test batting average:
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 22, 2020
Start of 2019 to start of this series - 12.76
this series - 71.50#ENGvPAK
05:00 PMWICKET! Woakes c Yasir b Fawad 40
WICKET! Woakes c Yasir b Fawad 40
Woakes looks to crack on with things, and skips down the track but whacks the ball straight into the hands of cover. Fawad has his second. FOW 547/7
04:57 PMOVER 148: ENG 546/6 (Woakes 40* Bess 5*)
OVER 148: ENG 546/6 (Woakes 40* Bess 5*)
It's begun: the inevitable moaning about why Joe Root hasn't yet declared. There are 23 overs remaining in the day (including this one) and Shane Warne says he cannot understand why England are still batting. That's a little premature for me, but such is cricket. Joe Root is now in his whites so I imagine time will be called in the next couple of overs.
Yasir continues to Bess, but there's a long stoppage while Rizwan receives treatment for a bang on the thumb. In fact drinks will be taken mid-over. Bess sweeps for one after the resumption and Woakes larrups a horrible long-hop for four through mid-wicket.
04:48 PMOVER 147: ENG 541/6 (Woakes 36* Bess 3*)
OVER 147: ENG 541/6 (Woakes 36* Bess 3*)
The match, to be honest, has gone a bit flat now. Pakistan are like a wounded animal waiting to be put out their misery, and England have locked in cruise control.
Woakes whips one away behind square on the leg side for a single as Bess follows suit. Woakes scoops one through cover for two - it looked dangerous but lands safely.
That's all from me, folks. A pleasure, as always, but even more so today on a day of triumph for England. Ben Bloom will see out the rest of the evening session.
04:45 PMOVER 146: ENG 537/6 (Woakes 33* Bess 3*)
OVER 146: ENG 537/6 (Woakes 33* Bess 3*)
Yasir comes back, with Woakes picking up one through point, before Bess slices through cover for a single.
Yasir gets one to drift and turn and beat Woakes' bat elegantly as he attempts to come forward to block, before picking up two with a mis-field at mid on.
He ends the over with a single to long off.
04:41 PMOVER 145: ENG 532/6 (Woakes 29* Bess 2*)
OVER 145: ENG 532/6 (Woakes 29* Bess 2*)
New man Bess gets off the mark with the last ball of Fawad's over after watching and playing four balls shrewdly.
He guides a wider one through backward point for two.
04:37 PMWicket!! Buttler c & b Fawad 152
Wicket!! Buttler c & b Fawad 152
It's a dolly. An innocuous, straight ball that he knocks aimlessly, without thought back to the bowler.
A pretty tame end to a fantastic innings.
FoW 530/6
04:36 PMOVER 144: ENG 530/5 (Woakes 29* Buttler 152*)
OVER 144: ENG 530/5 (Woakes 29* Buttler 152*)
A rapid full-toss from Naseem gets what it deserves, Buttler creaming it through cover, beating the man there, and seeing it run on for four. That brings up the 150 for Buttler, too. It was also his first boundary since 1.48pm.
Buttler picks up another one through mid on , before Woakes earns a single through midwicket. England's keeper-batsman ends the over with another single to the man deep in the covers.
04:31 PMOVER 143: ENG 523/5 (Woakes 28* Buttler 146*)
OVER 143: ENG 523/5 (Woakes 28* Buttler 146*)
A single for Buttler off Fawad brings up his career-best score in first-class cricket.
Woakes and Buttler trade further singles before Fawad gets one to beat Woakes' bat. No matter, he survives.
04:28 PMOVER 142: ENG 520/5 (Woakes 27* Buttler 144*)
OVER 142: ENG 520/5 (Woakes 27* Buttler 144*)
Naseem returns, as England steadily increase their gargantuan total.
Woakes opens up the leg side, earning a single down to fine leg, before Buttler replies in kind. Two more runs for Woakes off the last ball in the over, opening the face to score through backward point.
04:24 PMOVER 141: ENG 516/5 (Woakes 24* Buttler 143*)
OVER 141: ENG 516/5 (Woakes 24* Buttler 143*)
Fawad returns, Woakes picking up a single down to long on with a ball on leg-stump.
Buttler opens the face to steer one past the 'keeper for a single, before Woakes ends the over picking up one through square leg.
Declaration watch: Joe Root, not yet wearing whites, is screwing in his spikes. That suggests he's thinking about it, but it's still a bit of time off.
04:19 PMOVER 140: ENG 513/5 (Woakes 22* Buttler 142*)
OVER 140: ENG 513/5 (Woakes 22* Buttler 142*)
Woakes swipes at a Shaheen shorter ball, top-edging over a grimacing Rizwan for four.
Shaheen hits 85mph, with Woakes nabbing a single through the leg side, before Buttler sees out the rest of over, ignoring it all.
04:14 PMOVER 139: ENG 508/5 (Woakes 17* Buttler 142*)
OVER 139: ENG 508/5 (Woakes 17* Buttler 142*)
Buttler dabs one for a single coming forward, before Woakes replies to deep square-leg.
Asad bowls a no ball that Buttler feathers through cover for a single, rubbing in the salt.
04:09 PMOVER 138: ENG 503/5 (Woakes 15* Buttler 140*)
OVER 138: ENG 503/5 (Woakes 15* Buttler 140*)
Glorious from Woakes; on the up, he times a cover drive perfectly out the middle of the bat, bisecting the man at cover and the man on the drive for four.
And another! This time through extra, but another perfect cover drive for four from Woakes.
What a shot follows! He was waiting for the short ball, backs away into the leg-side, and baseball clubs it down the ground for four. That's the 500 up for England.
04:04 PMOVER 137: ENG 491/5 (Woakes 3* Buttler 140*)
OVER 137: ENG 491/5 (Woakes 3* Buttler 140*)
Asad, the man who was semi-responsible for ending Crawley's fabulous innings, starts after tea.
Woakes tickles one down to third man for a single, before Buttler looks to whip one down the leg-side. Rizwan, as quick as you like, is on to it, and he thinks Buttler has nicked it. We are going upstairs after a not-out decision on the field. But it's clipped the pad - no bat involved.
Asad bowls another very wide delivery that Butter leaves alone. If that isn't a wide - even in Tests - then what is?
04:00 PMEvening session
Evening session
Pakistan are back out and the England batsmen - Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler - are en route.
We'll be underway in a matter of minutes.
03:43 PMTea
Tea
A fantastic session for England - 117 runs coming in it, with just the one wicket, the double-centurion Zak Crawley (267), who was stumped whn well out of his ground by the quick-thinking Rizwan.
Jos Buttler, who did not hit one boundary in that session, has proved a more-than-suitable foil for Crawley, pushing on and approaching 150, ending the session on 140*. Woakes was the new man at the crease, seeing out the rest of the session without a problem.
The question now for England is when to declare? I suspect they will push on, go comfortably past the 500 mark and have around 20 overs bowling at Pakistan tonight, taking advantage of the extended timings.
03:40 PMOVER 136: ENG 490/5 (Woakes 2* Buttler 140*)
OVER 136: ENG 490/5 (Woakes 2* Buttler 140*)
A largely eventless maiden from Shaheen. Buttler happy leave anything wide of off alone, but he can't resist a swipe at one, which he thankfully gets nothing on.
And that's tea.
03:37 PMOVER 135: ENG 490/5 (Woakes 2* Buttler 140*)
OVER 135: ENG 490/5 (Woakes 2* Buttler 140*)
Some more tidy stuff from Asad, with England's pair picking up just a single each from it: Buttler through point, Woakes through square-leg via a slight mis-field.
The next over will probably be the last one before tea.
03:34 PMOVER 134: ENG 488/5 (Woakes 1* Buttler 139*)
OVER 134: ENG 488/5 (Woakes 1* Buttler 139*)
Buttler chucks is bat at a wide one outside off, picking up a single to third man, before Woakes gets off the mark with a frankly, ugly, shot. He tries to move his bat out the way of one outside off but he's not quick enough and it deflects down to third man.
03:30 PMCrawley finally felled
A glorious innings finally comes to an end.
Incredible knock Zak Crawley! 👏
Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/JVsNai1pz8#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/NYmnaXeVfL
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 22, 2020
03:28 PMOVER 133: ENG 486/5 (Woakes 0* Buttler 137*)
Crawley finally felled
A glorious innings finally comes to an end.
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 22, 2020
Incredible knock Zak Crawley! 👏
Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/JVsNai1pz8#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/NYmnaXeVfL
03:28 PMOVER 133: ENG 486/5 (Woakes 0* Buttler 137*)
OVER 133: ENG 486/5 (Woakes 0* Buttler 137*)
Woakes sees out the rest of Asad's over without incident.
I expect him and Buttler to start motoring now.
03:26 PMWicket!! Crawley st Rizwan b Asad 267
Wicket!! Crawley st Rizwan b Asad 267
Buttler digs out a fuller Assad delivery for a single through extra cover.
Then Crawley misjudges one entirely! He comes down the track to Assad, and he's so far out of his ground he almost needs armbands, and Rizwan clips the bails off in an instant. It's not even close; Crawley walks, no review.
And, just like that, a fabulous innings is over.
FoW 486/5
03:23 PMOVER 132: ENG 485/4 (Crawley 267* Buttler 137*)
OVER 132: ENG 485/4 (Crawley 267* Buttler 137*)
Two leg-byes and an lbw appeal against Buttler from Shaheen, but it looked to be pitching outside leg and the umpire waves it away.
Buttler has few speculative swings at some wider deliveries outside off, playing and missing, before picking up a single with a slice off a wider one through cover.
03:19 PMThat's now 267* and counting
Zak Crawley's high score in Tests - 260* - is the highest of any active English Test cricketer. #ENGvPAK
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 22, 2020
03:19 PMOVER 131: ENG 482/4 (Crawley 267* Buttler 136*)
That's now 267* and counting
Zak Crawley's high score in Tests - 260* - is the highest of any active English Test cricketer. #ENGvPAK
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 22, 2020
03:19 PMOVER 131: ENG 482/4 (Crawley 267* Buttler 136*)
OVER 131: ENG 482/4 (Crawley 267* Buttler 136*)
More runs down to long-off Buttler, a single off Asad, with Crawley also picking up one through square leg.
A sumptuous reverse-sweep against the spin from Crawley ends the over. Four runs, no problem.
03:15 PMOVER 130: ENG 476/4 (Crawley 262* Buttler 135*)
OVER 130: ENG 476/4 (Crawley 262* Buttler 135*)
England keep the scoreboard ticking over nicely, Crawley picking up a single off Abbas through long-on once again, with Buttler following suit, similarly to long-on.
Crawley with another lovely strike down to long-on, but the man there cuts off the boundary.
A wild delivery down the leg-side sees the over end with four byes. Not even Rizwan can do anything about that one.
03:11 PMOVER 129: ENG 469/4 (Crawley 260* Buttler 134*)
OVER 129: ENG 469/4 (Crawley 260* Buttler 134*)
Asad on now, and Crawley has a huge heave at his first ball, but it's a very committed play and a miss, before burgling a single straight to the man at long-on.
Buttler replies in kind, with one to long-on, before Crawley connects with a sweep for a single.
03:08 PMCrawley celebrates his 250
03:07 PMOVER 128: ENG 466/4 (Crawley 258* Buttler 133*)
Crawley celebrates his 250
03:07 PMOVER 128: ENG 466/4 (Crawley 258* Buttler 133*)
OVER 128: ENG 466/4 (Crawley 258* Buttler 133*)
Everything going Crawley's way now, as he flings his bat at one wide outside off which flies down to the point boundary for four.
A single through mid on ends the over.
03:06 PMOVER 127: ENG 461/4 (Crawley 253* Buttler 133*)
OVER 127: ENG 461/4 (Crawley 253* Buttler 133*)
Buttler and Crawley exchange singles again through the off side off Shan, before Buttler picks up another single through square leg, so too Crawley, down to fine leg.
Pakistan just want to be put out of their misery, I think. When would you declare if you were Root? Just over 500? Rain forecast for Tuesday, remember...
03:01 PMOVER 126: ENG 457/4 (Crawley 251* Buttler 131*)
OVER 126: ENG 457/4 (Crawley 251* Buttler 131*)
Goodness, what a shot that is from Crawley. And it brings up his 250.
Abbas, returning, puts one straight and back of a length, and Crawley comes down the pitch and whips him into the air over square-leg for four. Buttler and Crawley exchange singles to end the over.
Batsmen younger than Zak Crawley to make 250 in a Test innings:
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) August 22, 2020
G Sobers, D Bradman, L Hutton & G Smith
02:56 PMOVER 125: ENG 450/4 (Crawley 246* Buttler 129*)
OVER 125: ENG 450/4 (Crawley 246* Buttler 129*)
Crawley is approaching 250, and he's losing patience with Shan's medium-pacers.
After Buttler guides a single through point, Crawley drives for two through cover, before coming down the track and scoops one on the up through mid-off for four. A cracking shot.
02:52 PMOVER 124: ENG 443/4 (Crawley 240* Buttler 128*)
OVER 124: ENG 443/4 (Crawley 240* Buttler 128*)
Buttler pushes a fuller Naseem delivery for a single through backward point.
Before a crunching, immaculate cover drive from Crawley sends the ball careering to the boundary.
02:47 PMOVER 123: ENG 438/4 (Crawley 236* Buttler 127*)
OVER 123: ENG 438/4 (Crawley 236* Buttler 127*)
Shan joins the attack after drinks.
And he starts with a maiden - everything outside off and nipping back into the right-hander, full-ish. Back-to-back runless overs for Pakistan. Again, not too sure it's what they need, but it's better than nothing!
02:40 PMOVER 122: ENG 438/4 (Crawley 236* Buttler 127*)
OVER 122: ENG 438/4 (Crawley 236* Buttler 127*)
Buttler has a dabble at the first ball of the open from Naseem, before learning his lesson and leaving the next three balls well alone.
A maiden. Pakistan needed that, I suppose, but I'm not sure it's much use to them at the minute.
02:36 PMOVER 121: ENG 438/4 (Crawley 236* Buttler 127*)
OVER 121: ENG 438/4 (Crawley 236* Buttler 127*)
Crawley tickles one delicately over his shoulder for two - Buttler wanted three! - before lofting one down long-on's throat, but it drops short.
Buttler is very casual when jabbing one back down the ground in the air for a single - that was dangerous, Yasir could have grabbed that at the bowler's end.
Crawley reaps two through extra cover, before a majestic reverse-sweep gives him four more. Rocketing.
Consider the ante upped by England.
02:32 PMOVER 120: ENG 428/4 (Crawley 227* Buttler 126*)
OVER 120: ENG 428/4 (Crawley 227* Buttler 126*)
Have some of that! Crawley is seeing it like a beach ball. It's a half-decent delivery outside off from Naseem, steaming in, perhaps slightly too full if we're being critical, and Crawley dispatches it straight back down the ground, the ball scurrying away for four along the outfield.
Crawley pulls one away through square leg before Buttler clips one into the leg side for two.
The 300 partnership is up, too.
02:27 PMOVER 119: ENG 421/4 (Crawley 222* Buttler 124*)
OVER 119: ENG 421/4 (Crawley 222* Buttler 124*)
Crawley plays a ferocious sweep on a length from Yasir, scooping it through midwicket for four.
What. A. Shot. Crawley comes down the track, to the pitch, and plays an off-side chip. Extra cover cannot get across and it carries the whole way for six! He pilfers a single in a gap at cover.
Buttler, too, bags a single off the back foot, before England's star picks up one more to end the over.
That's the highest score for England by a Kent batsman - passing Sky's own Rob Key who scored 221 against West Indies.
02:23 PMOVER 118: ENG 408/4 (Crawley 210* Buttler 123*)
OVER 118: ENG 408/4 (Crawley 210* Buttler 123*)
That is a monstrous, bouncer-wide from Shaheen, which Crawley - who is tall - tries to uppercut, but even he can't reach.
Crawley picks up two, followed by another single, through the off side, as Shaheen gets up to just below 90mph. Buttler, too, picks up a single through deep-point before Crawley ends the over with one through midwicket.
02:18 PMOVER 117: ENG 401/4 (Crawley 205* Buttler 122*)
OVER 117: ENG 401/4 (Crawley 205* Buttler 122*)
Crawley takes to the front foot once again against Yasir, prodding a single into the off side.
Buttler blocks out the rest of the over, with some nice variation in flight and pace from Yasir.
02:14 PMOVER 116: ENG 401/4 (Crawley 205* Buttler 122*)
OVER 116: ENG 401/4 (Crawley 205* Buttler 122*)
Buttler swipes at a shorter ball, whipping it to deep midwicket, but the boundary is prevented by the man on the rope sprinting across, England's vice-captain picking up just two. He didn't catch it fully, in fairness, so he'll take that.
He blocks out the rest of Shaheen's over, and that's the 400 up for England - they're cruising.
02:11 PMOVER 115: ENG 399/4 (Crawley 205* Buttler 120*)
OVER 115: ENG 399/4 (Crawley 205* Buttler 120*)
Buttler picks up two from Yasir through cover, before a jab down the ground gives him a single.
Crawley is really enjoying himself now - a thrashing sweep behind square gives him four more, the ball cannoning to the boundary.
02:07 PMCrawley brings up the 200...
Crawley brings up the 200...
... in unorthodox fashion.
2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ FOR CRAWLEY 👏
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 22, 2020
A fantastic innings as the 22-year-old becomes the third-youngest man to score a Test double ton for England 🏴🏏
📺 Watch #ENGvPAK live 👉 https://t.co/D3EtetXjQB
📱 Blog 👉 https://t.co/KY23e4xPer#raisethebat #️⃣ @theageasbowl 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/cGoTHb3TKF
02:06 PMOVER 114: ENG 392/4 (Crawley 201* Buttler 117*)
OVER 114: ENG 392/4 (Crawley 201* Buttler 117*)
Good cricket all round. Shaheen varies in length, and tempts Buttler into a few shots, before he nicks a single with the last ball of the over.
02:01 PMOVER 113: ENG 391/4 (Crawley 201* Buttler 116*)
OVER 113: ENG 391/4 (Crawley 201* Buttler 116*)
Buttler leans into one on his hips from Naseem, picking up a single square of the wicket.
Then it's all Crawley. He moves to 197 with another supremely judged steer off the legs, coming forward and picking up four through deep midwicket. He dangerously wafts at one and thankfully misses, before thrashing at a juicy half-volley, picking up a thick outside edge that evades all the slips, bringing up his 200. A phenomenal effort, even if rather cumbersome circumstances. They all count.
He is the third-youngest batsman to score a Test double-century for England, behind Len Hutton and David Gower.
01:56 PMOVER 112: ENG 382/4 (Crawley 193* Buttler 115*)
OVER 112: ENG 382/4 (Crawley 193* Buttler 115*)
Yasir returns for some spin, and both batsmen trade singles off his over once again - both through the off side this time.
It is now the highest fifth-wicket partnership in the history of English Test cricket. A fantastic achievement for these two.
01:54 PMOVER 111: ENG 380/4 (Crawley 192* Buttler 114*)
OVER 111: ENG 380/4 (Crawley 192* Buttler 114*)
A maiden from Naseem. Straight and quick, in the mid 80s, and varying length.
Buttler never looked in too much trouble but it's controlled, disciplined bowling.
01:50 PMOVER 110: ENG 380/4 (Crawley 192* Buttler 114*)
OVER 110: ENG 380/4 (Crawley 192* Buttler 114*)
Now for some spin; Yasir's first over of the day.
There's not tonnes of turn but it's a solid start from him, good areas and just two coming off it; Crawley with a straight swipe for one, followed by a flick into the leg side from Buttler.
01:47 PMOVER 109: ENG 378/4 (Crawley 191* Buttler 113*)
OVER 109: ENG 378/4 (Crawley 191* Buttler 113*)
Naseem seems to have Crawley under a bit of pressure, despite some good defensive work from England's No 3, before a delicate, supremely timed push from Crawley picks up four through cover. Sumptuous.
Crawley clips one away through square-leg for a single before Naseem beats Buttler all ends up - England's vice-captain jabbing at one outside off, the ball missing the outside-edge by a whisker.
01:43 PMAfternoon session
Afternoon session
The players are back out and Naseem Shah is loosening up.
Here we go.
01:34 PMPakistan
Pakistan
I was saying in the comments at the bottom of the page that batting this morning has not been easy, and Pakistan, a couple of overs aside, have bowled venomously and Rizwan behind the stumps has been a jack-in-the-box.
The deliveries that Pakistan have bowled in this innings, according to our Expected Wickets model, would typically have brought a score of 309-10 if bowled to the average batsman.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 22, 2020
Crawley and Buttler have done remarkably well to keep Pakistan at bay.#ENGvPAK
And another top Buttler stat:
Ian Bell is the only Englishman to average more than Jos Buttler at No.6 this century (min 10 matches). #ENGvPAK
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 22, 2020
Play begins again in five minutes.
01:18 PMThe century moment
The century moment
Buttler was given out - caught behind - on 99 and successfully reviewed to overturn.
Then, this:
A special moment for @josbuttler! 💯🙌
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 22, 2020
Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/JVsNai1pz8#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/749l1LvHof
01:10 PMButtler's gap
Buttler's gap
The date when Jos Buttler arrived at the crease to begin his maiden Test century was August 21, 2018; the date when he arrived at the crease to begin his second was August 21, 2020.
Most innings between Test 100s for England:
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) August 22, 2020
63 APE Knott (2nd & 3rd 100s) & RC Russell (1st & 2nd)
43 JC Buttler (1st & 2nd)
42 RES Wyatt (1st & 2nd), AJ Lamb (7th & 8th) & M Ramprakash (1st & 2nd).
(Not including innings before 1st 100)
01:04 PMLunch
Lunch
That rain-affected session saw 18 overs bowled and 41 runs scored. England's batsmen have been steady in their accumulation, but you have to feel for Pakistan's bowlers whose luck seems to have deserted them. And congratulations Jos Buttler, who looked like joining the 99-and-out club, but survived to notch up his second Test hundred.
Play will resume at 2.40pm and it will be Charles Richardson to take you through the afternoon session.
01:01 PMOVER 108: ENG 373/4 (Crawley 186* Buttler 113*)
OVER 108: ENG 373/4 (Crawley 186* Buttler 113*)
This might be the final over before lunch. Abbas has bowled unchanged today and will continue with Rizwan standing up to the stumps. Buttler flicks past square-leg for a couple and sees out the rest of the over. That will indeed be lunch.
This is the second time in Jos Buttler's career he's faced more than 200 balls in an innings. The other one was in 2010 in county cricket.
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) August 22, 2020
12:57 PMOVER 107: ENG 371/4 (Crawley 186* Buttler 111*)
OVER 107: ENG 371/4 (Crawley 186* Buttler 111*)
Luck is firmly on England's side today. This time it's Crawley who has a flash outside off stump and watches the ball fly off a thick edge between point and gully at a very catchable height. The result is four runs, as Naseem sinks onto his heels in disbelief. He and Abbas have bowled well without any reward.
12:53 PMOVER 106: ENG 367/4 (Crawley 182* Buttler 111*)
OVER 106: ENG 367/4 (Crawley 182* Buttler 111*)
A penny for Abbas' thoughts. He is plugging away, beating the bat regularly, with a wide slip and gully in place. Then he gets one to kick off a length and sees Buttler edge it down into the ground to run away between those two fielders for four.
12:46 PMOVER 105: ENG 362/4 (Crawley 181* Buttler 107*)
OVER 105: ENG 362/4 (Crawley 181* Buttler 107*)
Time for a bowling change as Naseem replaces Shaheen, and he whizzes one past Buttler's outside edge before repeating the trick to Crawley. The Pakistan bowlers haven't had much luck today.
12:41 PMOVER 104: ENG 360/4 (Crawley 180* Buttler 106*)
OVER 104: ENG 360/4 (Crawley 180* Buttler 106*)
Abbas has been so unlucky today, beating the bat over and over and over again, while retaining the ability to jag the ball back into the batsmen. Such impressive bowling and nothing to show for it aside from the number of maidens. Another one here.
12:38 PMOVER 103: ENG 360/4 (Crawley 180* Buttler 106*)
OVER 103: ENG 360/4 (Crawley 180* Buttler 106*)
No need to run for that. More superb timing from Buttler, who creams a wide one from Shaheen to the extra cover boundary.
Ever since his place in the side came under serious scrutiny during the West Indies series, Buttler has batted supremely. His last five innings: 67, 38, 75, 0*, 106*.
Mad that's only Jos Buttler's 2nd Test century in 47 Tests, and 7th in 112 first-class games. But his play this summer suggests the best of Buttler in Test cricket is yet to come
— Tim Wigmore (@timwig) August 22, 2020
For all the (justifiable) frustrations with Buttler's Test record... he's got hundreds against Pakistan and India - two of the best seam-bowling attacks going - in English conditions that have been among the toughest for batting over the last 2-3 years #EngvPak
— Alan Gardner (@alanroderick) August 22, 2020
12:33 PMOVER 101: ENG 356/4 (Crawley 180* Buttler 102*)
OVER 101: ENG 356/4 (Crawley 180* Buttler 102*)
Buttler breaks the shackles off Abbas in some style by replicating Crawley's back-foot punch of the previous over with the same result = four runs. That takes him to 99... BUT HE'S THEN CAUGHT BEHIND! Oh no. He hangs the bat out to Abbas and there's a sound before Rizwan takes the catch standing up to the stumps. The umpire raises his finger, Buttler reviews... AND HE DIDN'T HIT IT!
He then square-drives for three the very next ball TO BRING UP HIS CENTURY. That's only Buttler's second Test hundred and his first as wicketkeeper. What a great knock. What drama.
12:26 PMOVER 101: ENG 349/4 (Crawley 180* Buttler 95*)
OVER 101: ENG 349/4 (Crawley 180* Buttler 95*)
Buttler will attempt to latch on to any hint of length from Shaheen, and he picks up three with a drive through mid-off. Crawley then stands tall and crashes a stunning back-foot drive through the covers for a gorgeous four. This partnership is now worth 222.
12:22 PMOVER 100: ENG 341/4 (Crawley 175* Buttler 92*)
OVER 100: ENG 341/4 (Crawley 175* Buttler 92*)
Howzat? Not out (despite initial appearances). Abbas totally deceives Buttler, who ends up square on as he tries to defend one just outside off stump. It looks like it flicks the edge on the way through to the keeper, but replays show it was back pad. Another maiden. Abbas has conceded just one run from five overs today.
It's been a stop-start day so far, and Zak has finally scored his first runs of the day with this lovely shot!
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 22, 2020
Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/JVsNai1pz8#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/4HXdI4ci6q
12:17 PMOVER 99: ENG 341/4 (Crawley 175* Buttler 92*)
OVER 99: ENG 341/4 (Crawley 175* Buttler 92*)
Shaheen will resume to Buttler, who flicks a wayward one off his pads down to fine-leg. Crawley has not scored a run since the first ball of the 85th over... but he ends that drought courtesy of Shaheen floating one full on leg stump and the centurion driving square of mid-on for four. Just a flick of the wrists and lovely timing.
12:12 PMReady to resume... again
Ready to resume... again
Thanks for your rain-watching Charles Richardson. It will now be Ben Bloom to take you through to a delayed lunch at 2pm. Please no more stoppages. Here come the players.
12:00 PMRestart at 1.15pm
Restart at 1.15pm
An early lunch will not be taken, and the players will be back at 1.15pm
11:55 AMUpdate expected shortly
Update expected shortly
Not much more news to bring you as it stands, other than it appears to have stopped raining - but all the covers are on.
They had originally pushed lunch back to 2pm, maybe they'll now bring it forward to 1?
11:51 AMRain stops play
Rain stops play
Eurgh.
They're all charging off and a shower has stopped play again.
11:50 AMOVER 98: ENG 336/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 91*)
OVER 98: ENG 336/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 91*)
Stunning bowling and keeping from Abbas and Rizwan. Delightful move off the seam, darting away from Crawley, and Rizwan, up at the stumps, reads it beautifully at 80mph.
Another maiden for Abbas. Robotic line-and-length. That's a compliment, of course.
11:46 AMOVER 97: ENG 336/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 91*)
OVER 97: ENG 336/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 91*)
Shaheen to Buttler, and it's straighter than before the rain delay, making England's vice-captain play.
A huge shout of lbw in front of leg stump. Given not out on the field but Pakistan review. Pitching in line, impact in line... but it's missing the wickets. I thought it was only on pitch that the review would falter, so that's a fantastic decision by Michael Gough.
An emphatic forward defensive shot ends the over, but that's better from Pakistan.
11:42 AMOVER 96: ENG 336/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 91*)
OVER 96: ENG 336/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 91*)
Two balls of Abbas' over to finish off, then.
To Crawley, and Abbas gets one to beat the outside edge. 'Keeper Rizwan is standing right up to the stumps to Abbas, to keep Crawley honest, but he's having trouble doing his actual job of blocking the ball.
Crawley survives as a faint inside edge into pad lands safely off the final ball. A shaky resumption for England.
11:36 AMSome more cricket!
Some more cricket!
The players are back out and a restart is imminent.
11:30 AMButtler's improvement
Jos Buttler has played just 11% false shots in his innings so far, the lowest figure he's recorded in any Test innings of 100 balls or longer. #ENGvPAK
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 22, 2020
11:23 AMWhile we wait...
Buttler's improvement
Jos Buttler has played just 11% false shots in his innings so far, the lowest figure he's recorded in any Test innings of 100 balls or longer. #ENGvPAK
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 22, 2020
11:23 AMWhile we wait...
While we wait...
Why not take a look at Sir Geoffrey Boycott's day one verdict? Telegraph Sport is the only plae you will find Sir Geoffrey's views this summer and he was full of praise for Zak Crawley's day-one display.
11:14 AM12.40pm restart
12.40pm restart
Play will get back underway at 12.40pm and they will take a later lunch at 2pm.
What's that? Some flexibility in a Test match schedule? Finally.
10:50 AMPitch inspection at 12.10pm
Pitch inspection at 12.10pm
They are clearing water off the pitch as we speak and it seems to have stopped raining.
10:37 AMRain delay
Rain delay
England were looking pretty steady before the delay. Solid defensively with few scares.
Abbas has bowled a tidy line outside off but Shaheen has been a bit erratic for Pakistan.
10:25 AMOVER 95.4: ENG 336/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 91*) - rain stops play
OVER 95.4: ENG 336/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 91*) - rain stops play
More nip from Abbas, getting Buttler to come forward and finding a thick outside-edge. England's keeper bags a single.
Before rain stops play.
It's raining quite heavily, but the forecast and the skies around Southampton suggest it's going to just be a quick, albeit heavy, shower.
10:20 AMOVER 95: ENG 335/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 90*)
OVER 95: ENG 335/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 90*)
More wide stuff from Shaheen, before he tries to pin Buttler with the straighter one.
It's a bit too straight, though, and England's vice-captain can clip it into the on side for a swift single.
Radar a bit off for Shaheen currently.
10:16 AMOVER 94: ENG 334/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 89*)
OVER 94: ENG 334/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 89*)
All very tight from Abbas once again - outside off, pitched up, getting Crawley forward.
There's an absolute beauty, too, from Abbas. Perfect length, outside off, and it darts away from Crawley off the seam. Not really much he could do about that, and thankfully his bat is far from it.
Another maiden for him.
10:12 AMOVER 93: ENG 334/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 89*)
OVER 93: ENG 334/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 89*)
Buttler with two, dabbing a short one off the back foot through point to get England up and running this morning.
It's all very wide outside off again, and Buttler can just watch the ball pass by. It's economical, sure, but Pakistan are not going to take many wickets bowling like that.
10:08 AMOVER 92: ENG 332/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 87*)
OVER 92: ENG 332/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 87*)
Abbas from the other end, the only of Pakistan's front-line bowlers to not take a wicket yesterday.
He bowls a tight line outside off, much more controlled than Shaheen's opener, but Crawley looks comfortable coming forward to it.
Before a chance! Crawley slashes at one and picks up a thick outside edge that doesn't carry to gully. Another maiden.
10:04 AMOVER 91: ENG 332/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 87*)
OVER 91: ENG 332/4 (Crawley 171* Buttler 87*)
Shaheen to kick things off for Pakistan, and you could describe his first ball - over the wicket to Buttler - as a bit of a wayward loosener - it finished nearer to first slip than the 'keeper.
It's a maiden to start, but it's all very wide outside off. Not one delivery forces Buttler into using the bat, even if the deliveries did get marginally closer to the stumps as the over progressed.
10:00 AMRight then
Right then
The players are out, the anthems are done, a plane has randomly done a fly-over.
Shall we have some cricket?
09:53 AMA lovely touch
“We’re all so proud of you and pleased for you. Well done buddy” 💯🕷
Day 1 Highlights: https://t.co/uWtGndZBI6#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/L5LH3be7Ko
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 22, 2020
09:48 AMI'm missing something here
A lovely touch
“We’re all so proud of you and pleased for you. Well done buddy” 💯🕷
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 22, 2020
Day 1 Highlights: https://t.co/uWtGndZBI6#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/L5LH3be7Ko
09:48 AMI'm missing something here
I'm missing something here
From what I can deduce, England have been playing some kind of keepy-uppy football game to warm up and, presumably because he was the one to ruin the rally, it seems the squad are taking turns to flick Stuart Broad in the face. Ok then...
I've played a few park-based football games in my time, but I've never seen this. Answers on a postcard, please - the only football game involving flicking I know is Subbuteo.
09:39 AMPre-match reading
Pre-match reading
With all the talk about Zak Crawley, Tim Wigmore thought it was unfair that his partner-in-crime, Jos Buttler, had been left out. Tim thinks that England's vice-captain is blossoming as a Test batsman, rewarding England for their patience.
Before the third Test against the West Indies there were - hardly unreasonably - fears that Buttler was unworthy of batting at six in Test cricket. Yet, counter-intuitively for a player whose flair seems to demand the latitude that number seven presents, Buttler’s Test record is far better at six. In 54 innings at number seven and eight - due to a nightwatchman being used - he averages 30. In 18 innings batting at six, he now averages 49.
For all that Buttler seems a prototype to turn a dominant position into an imperious one, his highest Test innings have seldom been frivolous runs. Indeed, Buttler averages just 21 when arriving with England already having at least 300 on the board. When arriving with England’s total precariously shy of 150, Buttler averages 37.
You can read the rest by clicking here.
09:28 AMCan this be cleared up?
Can this be cleared up?
Football definitely was banned by England after Rory Burns got injured in the warm-up of a South Africa Test in January.
It now seems to have inexplicably returned. This is England warming up this morning in Southampton.
In fairness, it does seem to be a fairly stationary affair - maybe they can be let off.
09:23 AMWeather update
Weather update
The forecast is not so good where I am today, but thankfully I'm nowhere near Southampton.
Where it matters, at the Ageas Bowl, it looks almost as clear as a well made consommé - the only realistic chance of rain coming before 1pm.
09:13 AMGood morning
Good morning
Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport's live coverage of the second day of the third and final Test between England and Pakistan, at Southampton's Ageas Bowl.
After a largely washed out second Test, it was nice to finally have some cricket yesterday, wasn't it? Especially in the manner with which it came. England looked to be in trouble initially with Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Joe Root, and Ollie Pope all falling for a combined 60 runs, but Zak Crawley and Jos Buttler stepped to steady the ship. In fact, they didn't so much as steady it, as send it careering at a rate of knots towards its target destination.
Crawley will resume today on 171, his highest-first class score coming at the same time as his first England Test century, while Buttler sits nicely on 87.
England's wicket-keeping vice-captain has passed three figures just once before in Tests, two years ago against India, but has found form in the past couple of weeks and pulled his weight in this game-changing stand with Crawley, worth 205.
Crawley remained the main attraction, though, and was suitably awed as he reflected on his magnificent effort, two games after being recalled to the team.
His previous best in 11 attempts for England was a lively 76 against the West Indies last month and he has only made three first-class centuries for Kent in his county career.
"It's the best feeling I've had on a cricket field, a great moment," he said.
"It almost flashed before my eyes...my whole career so far. I could kind of see all the nets I'd done in the past and all the time I had gone on my own to hit some balls."
At 332-4 and 1-0 up in the series, if these two can add a few more then the series looks about secured. What luxury it is to be able to say that on the second morning of a Test match with England batting first. A word for Pakistan, too, however; although at times yesterday their fielding left a lot to be desired, they do have class in their locker; the jaffa of a delivery from Naseem Shah that Mohammad Rizwan took delightfully with the gloves was evidence enough of that.