Pakistan in England

Second Test

England v Pakistan, 2006

2007: England v Pakistan, 2006

Bob Woolmer says left-armer is the 'bee's knees'

Fletcher stays cool over Panesar

Jul 31, 2006: While the British media could hardly contain their praise of Monty Panesar in the aftermath of the Old Trafford Test, it fell to Duncan Fletcher, England's coach, to pour cold water on the celebrations

A history of Pakistan's struggles against left-arm spinners

Trouble in the left-arm front

Jul 30, 2006: Pakistan's Old Trafford shellacking was, a Pakistani paper sagely observed, one of their worst ever under Bob Woolmer and Inzamam-ul-Haq

England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Old Trafford, 3rd day

Strauss hails ruthless England

Jul 29, 2006: Andrew Strauss hailed England's outstanding victory in the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford as they won by an innings and 120 runs inside three days

England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Old Trafford, 3rd day

From cult hero to national hero

Jul 29, 2006: Fifty years ago to the week Jim Laker took 19 wickets by himself at Old Trafford as he destroyed the Australians. It took two bowlers to equal that feat in 2006, but the result was an equally crushing victory, this time over Pakistan

England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Old Trafford, 3rd day

Pakistan's fans desert the stands

Jul 29, 2006: Pakistan supporters have not had much to shout about at Old Trafford as their team have been bettered and bruised. However, even if the roles had been reversed the cheers would not have been ringing around the ground

England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Old Trafford, 3rd day

Harmison and Panesar to the fore once more

Jul 29, 2006: What a difference a few weeks can make to a belittled side. Their confidence sapped by Sri Lanka in both the Test and one-day series, England have stormed back into form with the most comprehensive of victories over Pakistan in the second Test at Old Traf

England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Old Trafford, 2nd day

The injury jinx that won't go away

Jul 28, 2006: Another day, another set of injury scares for both England and Pakistan's cricketers, as the jinx that has pursued the teams since they last met in December shows no sign of abating

England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Old Trafford, 2nd day

Batting battle heats up as youngsters shine

Jul 28, 2006: Alastair Cook and Ian Bell continued their fine form on the second day at Old Trafford to confirm the depth of England's top-order batting

England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Old Trafford, 2nd day

Gul rises above the expectations

Jul 28, 2006: If you look at today in isolation, somehow ignoring Pakistan's first-day horror show, then their bowlers were persevering for much of today, if not ever really menacing. If you consider how many bowlers they are missing, then they deserve a little more ac

England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Old Trafford, 2nd day

Cook and Bell show their class

Jul 28, 2006: When Alastair Cook raised his bat shortly before lunch to acknowledge his third Test century, few felt it likely another England batsman would match his effort - certainly in its elegance and quality - in the first innings. Ian Bell did just that, and som

The Friday column

The travails of Mohammad Sami

Jul 28, 2006: Five years ago he was touted as Pakistan's next big fast-bowling hope, but since then it's been one steady downward slide for Mohammad Sami

England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Old Trafford, 1st day

Harmison comes out of hiding

Jul 27, 2006: It was about time that Steve Harmison delivered again for England in a Test match and he picked the first day of the second Test against Pakistan to burst back into form with 6 for 19

England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Old Trafford, 1st day

Pakistan lose their marbles

Jul 27, 2006: Is it too obvious to crack one about Pakistan's batsmen losing their marbles, given that they prepared for the bounce of this Old Trafford pitch by using a slab of the same to replicate the likely conditions?

England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Old Trafford, 1st day

Panesar's cool panache

Jul 27, 2006: Yesterday afternoon, at about 2 o'clock, a subtle shift in England's psychology took place

England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Old Trafford, 1st day

Harmison six-for ruins Pakistan

Jul 27, 2006: Harmison's remarkable spell of 6 for 19 today, in the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford, has not only put England in command but rather suggess their summer has finally begun

England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Old Trafford

Woolmer turns to marble

Jul 26, 2006: In order to practice against short-pitched bowling and steepling bounce, and with no bowlers of their own who can extract such lift, Pakistan have been using a marble slab in training which causes a ball to rise sharply

England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Old Trafford

Flintoff's absence casts a shadow

Jul 26, 2006: If England's injury-jinxed cricketers are feeling a touch gloomy as they finalise their preparations for tomorrow's second Test at Old Trafford, then perhaps they should cast their minds back by precisely a year

England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Old Trafford

England's chance to right Old Trafford record

Jul 26, 2006: A stats preview of the second Test between England and Pakistan at Old Trafford