The plight of Panesar

the quickie was expected to exploit any variable bounce, but he simply did not deliver. All the great bowlers have always attacked from the Pavilion end here. Qualms about his action meant Harmison spent much of this match operating from the Nursery end..

From round the wicket the first delivery drew Faisal Iqbal forward and snorted past his outside edge in a classical piece of left-arm orthodox spin bowling. Some observers even swore that there had been a deflection. Television technology demurred.

The tempo suited the original heavyweight, Inzamam-ul-Haq, who does everything at his own leisurely pace. He prepared for his innings before play with the kind of net you associate with the village players of Hambledon. No pads, no gloves, and stroke a dozen gentle half volleys back to the bowler before heading off for a cup of tea...He ambled to the wicket, his beard and rotund form making him look like a latter-day WG. His first-innings dismissal had had the essence of Grace, too, Inzi getting his legs in a bit of a tangle, then looking round in disbelief at the disturbed stumps. You almost expected him to mutter the Urdu for "Strong wind today umpire, isn't it?"