Is Read the real deal?

Although Kevin Pietersen took the headlines on the opening day at Headingley, one of more interesting passages of play came during the final session after he had retired hurt with cramp. It brought in Chris Read for his first Test inning since 2004. He played a few handsome shots, but also showed his nerves and Simon Hughes, in the Daily Telegraph, says his 38 raised as many questions as it answered.

His attempts to convert himself into a serious runmaker have been admirable, but, on yesterday's evidence, Read is still a jaunty short story rather than a more substantial tome. It is seven years since he made his Test debut, and the memory of him being bowled bobbing under a Chris Cairns slower ball, which prompted the newspaper headline, 'You Silly Ducker' hangs around like a dark cloud and refuses to budge.

However, in the Guardian, Lawrence Booth says that Read's 38 suggests he has the ability to succeed in Test cricket.

If the tension was getting to him, he did not let it show too much after his account-opening Chinese cut. There was a nervy cut at Nazir but shortly afterwards Read went on tiptoes to time the same bowler through the covers. It was mischievously tempting to see something of Jones in the stroke. Then, when Danish Kaneria dropped short he rocked back and cut him for four more. He was on his way.

Read was helped in his innings by Pakistan's use of their opening batsmen - Salman Butt and Taufeeq Umar - for six overs of part-time spin and Geoff Boycott, also in the Daily Telegraph, says it was one of the worst periods of bowling he has watched.

Shortly after Pietersen went off, having done all the hard work, Pakistan lost the plot altogether. It was almost as if they said, 'We've been unlucky with the umpiring, we can't get these guys out, so we will just sit back and wait for the new ball'. Their two opening batsmen bowled absolute rubbish. It wouldn't have been decent bowling at me in the back garden when I was nine.