Confidence yes, but this has been too easy for our bowlers especially at times (which is not there fault i know). Just would have like a bit more of a test for Finn and Broad.

Finally a pair of Pakistani batsmen show a bit of backbone instead of just tossing away their wickets.

It has to be a concern the way England have bowled to them though, and how easily Broad got riled.

269/9 now. Swann 6 for 45.

Blimey, it's going to day 4.

Pakistan 112 ahead with a wicket left, might have been a game if they'd fielded better.

Just seen the Stuart Broad incident. What a massive tit he is.

Hardly, heat of the moment thing.

If Pakistan can get near 150 it might be interesting.

He is abit of a big baby. Swann was beauty. 2 brilliant wickets yesterday.

118 to win, 17-1 Cook goes cheaply again.

Not the first time though, is it?

He does have a habit of behaving like a spoilt child if batsmen get under his skin. The Aussies will have picked up on it, don't you worry.

For someone whose Dad is an ICC Match Referee you might have thought he would have learned a little quicker to keep your emotions to yourself in the middle.

True enough, he does need to learn but I would not like to see that fire taken away from him. The better sportsmen tend to play with an edge and he has improved as a bowler over the last 12 months so I would not be too quick to take it away from him.

It makes absolutely no difference who is dad is or what he does. If it's in you, it's in you. It makes some players in all sorts of sports the players they are. (Although admittedly, being at work in Thailand I have not seen said incident yet

)

Heat of the moment or not, it was totally pointless, especially when you consider the context of the game.

Exactly what I said to my brother last night.

He is an aggressive player bowling in a Test match. He got frustrated, reacted and got fined. No big deal. He's still young and he will make mistakes.

It took BC Broad long enough to grow the f--- up though. The apple hasn't fallen so far from the tree. I bet Stuart's sister has a right temper an' all.


Oh, and memo to Alistair Cook: get thissen back to the counties and score some bloody runs before you play a Test again. If only I could think of another opener I'd have faith in taking the spot from him. There must be someone in Gauteng or Free State we could pinch.

There's a young lad at Yorkshire who has been scoring first-class runs for fun this season, but he's got at least another five or six years to go before he'll be "ready" for Test cricket based on the usual England selection methodology.

If he's lucky Adam Lyth might get to spend the winter carrying the drinks around Australia, it seems to be the defined role for Yorkshire players on England tours.

England win the toss and bat first, team unchanged.

Think Cook will go cheaply again today.

And he has.

Oh dear!

Finally a whole good day from Pakistan, hopefully we are in for competitive last two tests.

Hopefully it might realign the expectations of some England fans, who got carried away on performances against Bangladesh and a very inexperienced Pakistan side.

This might not be the Australia of Hayden, Warne and McGrath but at the moment they are still ahead of England IMO, particularly with home advantage.

must say i disagree. Pakistans attack is far better and a much scary prospect than the Aussies. Pakistan on there day are the best team in the world regardless of which team they put out all pakistani's have the natural ability and when they put it together are quite formiddable. I must say im looking at a 2-0 series win over in Aus at least. Think we underestimate ourselves ( the english way) Who of the aussie attack could you say actually looks like taking a wicket all the time? nobody. Like i have said before Johnson is so overrated. Hilfenaus is a good consitent bowler. Bollinger is average. Tait wont play Tests. Mackay wouldnt get on my local team lol. Hauritz i must admit is a good bowler but i think we will go there and win quite comfatably.

Great knock from Cook this morning. Took some bottle that.