15 wickets... and another dropped catch
Cricinfo presents the plays of the day from the second day of the first Test between England and Pakistan at Trent Bridge
Bad light? Umar Gul didn't seem to think so as he swatted James Anderson merrily for six shortly before the close • PA Photos
Session of the day
When Pakistan are in town, beware the onset of complacency. England might have thought they had the game on a string by the end of the first day, with Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan locked into a double-century stand, but a good night's sleep transformed the effectiveness of their opponents. With Mohammad Asif zipping the ball this way and that from a devastating full length, he claimed 4 for 5 in 23 balls, as England shed their last six wickets for 17 runs in an hour and 15 minutes. By the time Salman Butt had become James Anderson's first victim in the fifth over of the Pakistan's reply, the clatter of wickets had extended to a Marshall-esque 7 for 22.
When Pakistan are in town, beware the onset of complacency. England might have thought they had the game on a string by the end of the first day, with Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan locked into a double-century stand, but a good night's sleep transformed the effectiveness of their opponents. With Mohammad Asif zipping the ball this way and that from a devastating full length, he claimed 4 for 5 in 23 balls, as England shed their last six wickets for 17 runs in an hour and 15 minutes. By the time Salman Butt had become James Anderson's first victim in the fifth over of the Pakistan's reply, the clatter of wickets had extended to a Marshall-esque 7 for 22.
Confusion of the day
Graeme Swann is a man who can generally be relied upon to have his game-brain in gear, but today he cut a baffled figure at the crease. His stay was brief, only 13 deliveries, but in that time he sold his partner, Matt Prior, an outrageous dummy as they turned for a fatal third man and the end, when it came, was faintly comical. Asif zipped a length delivery flush into his front pad, and Tony Hill's finger went up without hesitation. It was the batsman who paused, as Swann started walking down the pitch as if to consult over the referral, only to be reminded that Collingwood had already used up the final lifeline. So back to the pavilion he went.
Graeme Swann is a man who can generally be relied upon to have his game-brain in gear, but today he cut a baffled figure at the crease. His stay was brief, only 13 deliveries, but in that time he sold his partner, Matt Prior, an outrageous dummy as they turned for a fatal third man and the end, when it came, was faintly comical. Asif zipped a length delivery flush into his front pad, and Tony Hill's finger went up without hesitation. It was the batsman who paused, as Swann started walking down the pitch as if to consult over the referral, only to be reminded that Collingwood had already used up the final lifeline. So back to the pavilion he went.
Toiler of the day
Last week at Edgbaston, Stuart Broad made a rare appearance for his county, Nottinghamshire, and celebrated the occasion by claiming career-best figures of 8 for 52. According to those at the ground that day, however, it was his wicketless new-ball partner, Ryan Sidebottom, who actually produced the better spell, which only goes to show how fickle the fates can be. Today, on the other hand - and in front of his home ground to boot - was not Broad's day. While Anderson and Finn found the edge at will, Broad pounded away with an increasingly grumpy demeanour for 16.4 overs, and he had all but given up hope of reward when he finally burst through Danish Kaneria's defences with the penultimate ball of the day.
Last week at Edgbaston, Stuart Broad made a rare appearance for his county, Nottinghamshire, and celebrated the occasion by claiming career-best figures of 8 for 52. According to those at the ground that day, however, it was his wicketless new-ball partner, Ryan Sidebottom, who actually produced the better spell, which only goes to show how fickle the fates can be. Today, on the other hand - and in front of his home ground to boot - was not Broad's day. While Anderson and Finn found the edge at will, Broad pounded away with an increasingly grumpy demeanour for 16.4 overs, and he had all but given up hope of reward when he finally burst through Danish Kaneria's defences with the penultimate ball of the day.
Drop of the day
If Kamran Akmal was Public Enemy No. 1 on the first day's play with his horrendous glovework, Imran Farhat assumed that mantle today when he dropped Eoin Morgan's thick outside-edge at first slip. It was a straightforward catch, which sailed straight towards him and Farhat had to just embrace it without a blink. Instead he simply floored it. Mohammad Aamer, the luckless bowler, was so disgusted he kicked the ground twice before finishing the over still shaking his head. Salman Butt, Pakistan's captain, had a smile of disbelief as he squatted at mid-off. Farhat did not even have the decency to run to Aamer and apologise. That was the least he could've done.
If Kamran Akmal was Public Enemy No. 1 on the first day's play with his horrendous glovework, Imran Farhat assumed that mantle today when he dropped Eoin Morgan's thick outside-edge at first slip. It was a straightforward catch, which sailed straight towards him and Farhat had to just embrace it without a blink. Instead he simply floored it. Mohammad Aamer, the luckless bowler, was so disgusted he kicked the ground twice before finishing the over still shaking his head. Salman Butt, Pakistan's captain, had a smile of disbelief as he squatted at mid-off. Farhat did not even have the decency to run to Aamer and apologise. That was the least he could've done.
Team-mate of the day
Neither Hot Spot nor snickometer could pick up any edge or noise as Jimmy Anderson's outswinger drew Azhar Ali forward to beat his defence, before brushing the batsman's trouser pocket on its way to Matt Prior behind the stumps. The England players appealed in unison and Tony Hill, after a few moments, upheld the decision. Azhar seemed clueless and was not sure if he had nicked it. So he walked to Umar Akmal to consult if they should go for the review. Umar's response was a curt shake of the head, and with a shrug of the shoulders, Azhar started walking towards the dressing-room. By the time he got there, the truth had been revealed on the TV replays. But it was too late to spare him his wicket.
Neither Hot Spot nor snickometer could pick up any edge or noise as Jimmy Anderson's outswinger drew Azhar Ali forward to beat his defence, before brushing the batsman's trouser pocket on its way to Matt Prior behind the stumps. The England players appealed in unison and Tony Hill, after a few moments, upheld the decision. Azhar seemed clueless and was not sure if he had nicked it. So he walked to Umar Akmal to consult if they should go for the review. Umar's response was a curt shake of the head, and with a shrug of the shoulders, Azhar started walking towards the dressing-room. By the time he got there, the truth had been revealed on the TV replays. But it was too late to spare him his wicket.
Bonus of the day
The bad light issue is one of the consistent blights on Test cricket. It's all very well to flee the field when the heavens open and the ball becomes too wet to grip, but in an era when batsmen stride to the crease like knights in hi-tech armour, the issue of player safety is a pretty glib reason to curtail a day's play at the first sight of a black cloud. So it was very satisfying to see the game extend into the gloaming towards the back-end of the day, with the floodlights kicking in to complement the fading daylight. And as if to prove that the conditions were perfectly playable, Umar Gul swiped Anderson for six to haul Pakistan ever closer to the follow-on mark. The umpires eventually bowed to nature to a chorus of understandable boos, but the fans had seen more cricket than would usually have been possible in the circumstances.
The bad light issue is one of the consistent blights on Test cricket. It's all very well to flee the field when the heavens open and the ball becomes too wet to grip, but in an era when batsmen stride to the crease like knights in hi-tech armour, the issue of player safety is a pretty glib reason to curtail a day's play at the first sight of a black cloud. So it was very satisfying to see the game extend into the gloaming towards the back-end of the day, with the floodlights kicking in to complement the fading daylight. And as if to prove that the conditions were perfectly playable, Umar Gul swiped Anderson for six to haul Pakistan ever closer to the follow-on mark. The umpires eventually bowed to nature to a chorus of understandable boos, but the fans had seen more cricket than would usually have been possible in the circumstances.
Andrew Miller is UK editor of Cricinfo, Nagraj Gollapudi is assistant editor