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By Mark Mitchener
Join the discussion...
Well, I think Boycs has summed it up well - a splendid performance by England to kick off the one-day series. You can have a listen to Aggers and Boycs on the TMS podcast, which also includes the lunchtime discussion on how England can adapt to playing on the subcontinent, featuring Sunil Gavaskar and Ramiz Raja.
Thanks for your emails, tweets and texts today, and for your patience with our various technical difficulties - enjoy Valentine's Day tomorrow but make sure you're back with us from about 1030 GMT on Wednesday for the second ODI from the same ground. Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel. Until then, TTFN.
From altaranga: "You have to admire a decent last stand. Everyone loves it when the tail end... oops... too late."
You can continue the debate on Twitter with the hashtag #bbccricket
"It was a splendid performance by England, and easier than they would have thought after\u00a0the Test series - that's as good as Cook could have hoped to have played, playing proper cricket and not trying to do anything silly, he looked a different man from the Test series. Pietersen looked out of sorts opening the innings as if the lack of Test match runs was weighing on him, Kieswetter down the order looked out of his depth, Samit played nicely and Bopara played well, although he had two big slices of luck with a missed stumping and an lbw that was as plumb as you can see."
ENGLAND BEAT PAKISTAN BY 130 RUNS TO LEAD ONE-DAY SERIES 1-0
Stuart Broad back into the attack as England look to nip this game in the bud. But Riaz is no mug with the bat - as Aggers on TMS notes, he made 27 on his Test debut as nightwatchman at The Oval a couple of years ago, and gives the remaining Pakistan fans something to cheer about with a cross-batted heave over mid-on for four. A single takes his score to eight, and Ajmal pulls fluently for two. But it's all over as the ball is hoisted high into the air, there's nearly a collision between Bopara and Cook as they're noth under it, but the captain takes the catch to round off an impressive personal performance.
Riaz and Ajmal aren't giving up without a fight here, three singles from Swann's seventh over.
From Stu: "So we've gone from being brilliant in Tests and rubbish at ODIs to being rubbish in Tests and brilliant at ODIs. There's a sort of twisted consistency there?"
"Tail-enders will know this is an awful situation here, when you're completely out of the game and everyone wants to go home but you can't be seen to throw your wicket away."
Finn, bowling his last over, has Riaz playing and missing on more than one occasion, with Boycs on TMS urging him to "bowl straight". His last ball is an accidental beamer which threatens to decapitate Riaz, it's called as a no-ball and disappears for four. The replacement legitimate ball is knocked away for a single, and Finn finishes with 4-34 from his 10 overs.
From Sturdygirl0803: "When did Basil 'Boom Boom' Brush start playing for Pakistan or have I logged onto CBBC not TMS?"
I don't know if Basil plays cricket, but with a name like Brush, I'd make him field on the boundary\u00a0as the cover\u00a0sweeper. Boom Boom!
Maiden from Swann to Ajmal. Frankly, this game needs to be put out of its misery...
As Simon says on TMS, it's up to Steven Finn to take aim at Pakistan's last-wicket pair as he looks for his fifth wicket. Ajmal rotates the strike with a leg bye, while Riaz looks like he's got a new brightly-painted set of pads like Malik's. (Unless he's borrowed them and they are actually Malik's). Maiden over.
"Finn's coming on to see if you can get a five-for. It's a bit like a hundred for batsmen - although I would say, as a bowler, that you can occasionally get a lucky five-for. You can't get a lucky hundred. Can Finn finish them off?"
Wahab Riaz is the last man for England, who belatedly bring most of the field in. Riaz attempts an expansive slog-sweep and Kieswetter juggles the ball but can't hold on as it hits him in the unmentionables, although I don't think Riaz got a touch. Wicket maiden for Swann.
Impact is "umpire's call", ball hitting leg stump, Gul's out and Pakistan are one wicket away from defeat.
Swann traps Gul in front, the big paceman asks for a review but it doesn't look promising for him...
From DomBoothy: "Boom Boom at number 8? he should be called 'Boom-Boom-out-in-the-teens' these days... doesn't have a great ring to it though."
Patel is quickly through his over, four singles from it.
Gul offers no shot, padding away outside off stump, but Swann's appeal is turned down and he completes a maiden over. "Why do you need long-off and a deep cover at 109-8?" asks Simon Hughes on TMS.
Impact outside the line of off stump, so England lose their only review. Pakistan still have theirs intact.
Swann appeals for lbw against Gul, it's given not out, and England go for their review.
Saeed Ajmal is the new batsman, but really the "oomph" has gone out of this game with the departure of Afridi. Not only are many of the Pakistan fans heading for their cars, but this game is threatening to peter out. Patel has 3-22 from four overs.
Finn's off, Samit Patel has the chance to redeem himself after that dropped catch, but Afridi shows no mercy and blasts two fours through the covers. Then, he goes for a big slog across the line and it disappears down the leg side and through Kieswetter's legs for five wides! But Afridi's little cameo is ended as another big shot to long-off ends with him being pouched by Swann (who may have a word or two to say to Patel about how to catch in the deep) and with "Boom Boom" gone, many of the Pakistan fans start leaving!
Umar Gul is the new batsman, defending his first ball.
"Samit never looked like he was going to catch that one. He was going forwards, backwards, and never quite got into a good position for it."
With Pakistan past the halfway mark in their innings, they still need another 171 to win. Akmal smears a single, Afridi lets fly with a lofted slog-sweep for four, then he hoists one high into the sky above deep mid-wicket... and is dropped by Samit Patel on the boundary! They run one - but Swann has his wicket as Akmal overstretches and\u00a0is stumped off the next ball!
Finn begins his eighth over, Afridi is pushing the ones and twos but you still sense he's ready to "at my signal, unleash hell" at any moment (as today's match referee Jeff Crowe's cousin might have put it). Akmal swings and misses, and Afridi comes down the wicket to have a word with him! Yes, you didn't misread that - Shahid Afridi castigating another batsmen for slogging! A single takes him to 21.
From Iguazu_Neil: "Afridi is going to need more than\u00a0two 'Booms' to get Pakistan out of trouble!"
Tweet us with the hashtag #bbccricket to join in the fun today
Afridi restrains his attacking instincts against Swann, helping himself to a couple of singles rather than attempting to belt the ball out of the ground. His partner Akmal, grimacing under his helmet, adds a single to his score, and the required rate is creeping up towards seven an over.
Patel is out of the attack again, despite impressive figures of 3-1-9-2 as England turn back to Steven Finn, who took the first four wickets. Just a single apiece for Pakistan's seventh-wicket pair - Jonathan Trott is back on the field, having been off for a couple of overs, and Aggers wonders if Trott (who was out first ball)\u00a0 has even touched the ball in the field today...
From Kass from London: "It's amazing how Geoff Boycott is calling a win from here for Pakistan 'spectacular' while he was ready to bet his house that they wouldn't win the second Test, which they did!"
Graeme Swann into the attack, for those of you who may have forgotten he was playing... Akmal steers a single to bring Afridi on strike and he's immediately into the attack against the off-spinner, coming down the track and hammering a first-bounce four before attempting the same shot but he can only run a single to long-off. A single takes Akmal to 18, Afridi works the last ball off his legs but Akmal turns down the single - really hampered now, not only by his lack of mobility, but also by the ICC's decision last year to ban runners for injured batsmen\u00a0from international cricket.
From Pete from Lutterworth, TMS inbox: "Thomas Phillips [16th over]\u00a0is quite right \u2013 Murali took 176 of his 800 Test wickets against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, whereas Shane Warne took 17."
Oh dear, that's a whole separate debate we've had before! It's usually followed by someone pointing out that Warne never had to bowl against the best side in the world (Australia at that time)...
It's Boom Boom o'clock - Shahid Afridi is the new batsman, he and Akmal help themselves to two singles apiece but Pakistan are really up against it now.
With the powerplay over, Samit Patel back into the attack, he serves up a juicy pie of a low full toss... and Malik obligingly hits it straight to mid-on! "He should have hit that for six," says Aggers.
Nick Hoult, Daily Telegraph: "In another world... Stanford trial. His press chief tells court first she heard of $20m cricket comp was when English press called."
Akmal really isn't moving too well at all here, but he's swinging away like Gordon Greenidge on one leg (which was a sight to behold) at the moment, with a lofted drive over mid-on from which he painfully runs back for two. Anderson's riposte is a legside wide, then Akmal's trapped back on his crease, big shout for lbw... but England choose not to use their review, and it may have been going high and/or wide of the stumps. Akmal steps down the pitch, Broad makes a great stop at mid-on and that was a great shot for a dot ball, as they say.
From Dave in Oslo, TMS inbox: "Am I right in thinking that Pakistan have been 11-1, 22-2, 33-3, 44-4 and 55-5 during this game? Final score anyone?"
"Surely Pakistan can't win from here? If they do, it will be spectacular!"
Broad sends down a maiden over to Malik, the required run rate is up to more than six an over.
On Twitter: "If you missed the interval discussion on how England adapt to Asian conditions, it'll be part of the podcast tonight with Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott."
Malik stands back and viciously cuts Anderson for four through cover point, that's their first boundary since the eighth over. A single brings him to seven, while Akmal moves on to 12 with a heave through mid-wicket for four. He isn't moving too freely though, the physio came on to give him another back rub while they were waiting for that last DRS review.
From Harriet in Winchester: "As a Hampshire fan I have callously ditched my England flag and replaced it with 'BOOM BOOM' one on my desk. Colleagues look bemused."
The reprieved Malik guides a single off his legs.
Malik didn't look too convinced as he asked for that review - but the ball-tracker shows the ball hit him outside the line of off stump, he was playing a shot so he survives.
Despite having taken that wicket, Patel's out of the attack as Cap'n Cook looks to have earmarked Broad to bowl alongside Anderson in the powerplays. Broad, whose hair is a lot shorter these days than the "Draco Malfoy" look he sported when he first broke into the England side, traps Malik lbw but\u00a0with the last recognised batting pair together, he\u00a0asks for a review!
From Thomas Phillips, TMS inbox: "Re: Craig in Farhnam: Stats can be misleading. Both Anderson's and Broad's records over the last two years are much better than their career stats and many of Finn\u2019s wickets were taken against Bangladesh."
Even more shocked that Misbah didn't invoke the DRS last over, considering the number of times he used a review on himself in the Test series. Maybe someone's had a word... England take the fielding powerplay so Bopara's off after one over and Anderson's back to bowl in the powerplay. Akmal clips a single to fine leg, while Malik is off the mark with a single. His pads are quite dazzlingly green, as though he's given them a gleaming new coat of paint between innings.
Former skipper Shoaib Malik replaces current captain Misbah at the crease and sees off the rest of Patel's over. Pakistan are really all at sea here (if you can be all at sea when you're in the middle of the desert, that is).
From Sackib Hussain, TMS inbox: "Maybe\u00a0I was wrong, Finn is magnificent. Don't know why England left him out in the Test series, but to fair to England none of the bowlers have played well consistently for them to be selected, that's why they have to rotate a lot. Also Pakistan's batting is not the strongest. We will have to see what Afridi can do?"
Patel in for his second over, Misbah plays forward and is rapped in the pad, and once against Taufel raises his finger while Pakistan opt against a review!
"On his day, Umar Akmal can play a scintillating knock. He needs to be moved up the batting order.\u00a0Misbah, we know, will be calm and guide Akmal along, but he will play his natural game."
From Ahmed: "If Sarah [see 13th over] gets back from the shops before Finn comes back to bowl, can someone please tie her to a chair until the match finishes? Pakistan will need all the help they can get to win this one."
Umar Akmal is lying on his stomach with some kind of back pain... as the Pakistan physio runs on to treat him and manipulate his back, umpire Simon Taufel sensibly calls for a drinks break (which we were due soon anyway).
From Coxy118118: "If Kieswetter plays he has to open batting and be used as a pinch hitter. Not got good enough technique to come in under pressure."
Tweet us with the hashtag #bbccricket to have your say
It's a double change in the bowling as England turn to their fifth bowler, but it's not Graeme Swann - it's Ravi Bopara with his Collingwoodesque military medium pace. More careful accumulation from Akmal and Misbah, four singles from the over.
From Craig in Farnham Common, TMS inbox: "I\u2019ve been bemused by the selectors\u2019 reluctance to pick Finn in Tests. Finn: 50 wickets at an average of 26.92 and a strike rate of 41.4. Anderson: 249 wickets at 30.46, strike rate 56.9. Tremlett: 49 wickets at 26.75, strike rate 54.8. Broad: 145 wickets at 30.97, strike rate 62.1. To me, he is England\u2019s best strike bowler. Seeing that Tests are all about taking 20 wickets, why is his not the first name on the team sheet?"
"When (and if) Steven Finn returns, he will be looking to record the 24th five-wicket haul by an England bowler in ODIs. Of the previous 23, 16 came after the year 2000."
I don't know whether Sarah (below) has already set off for the shops, but Finn's out of the attack after taking 4-20 from six overs and it's left-arm spinner Samit Patel on on his place. Akmal and Misbah help themselves to singles from five of the six balls, England fans will hope they aren't taking their foot off the jugular...
From sarah_buxton: "It seems that every time I leave the room, Finny gets a wicket. I'm just popping to the shops for an hour, see what happens then."
Broad keeps it tight, just a single apiece for Misbah and\u00a0Akmal.
From Paul Hensby, TMS inbox: "Re Sackib Hussain: Right now Finn is proving England don't need spin."
Finn to continue for his sixth over, while Geoff Boycott\u00a0on TMS expresses incredulity that Finn is really 6ft 7ins. "I didn't know he was that tall," admits Boycs. Umar Akmal is off the mark with a single to cover, Misbah steers one to fine leg and Cap'n Cook comes up to Finn at the end of the over. Possibly to utter a sentence involving the words "would", "you", "like", "another" and "one".
From lozzavahey: "Why have England not utilised Finn a lot more... tall, 90mph and a consistent line and length. Could be a world beater!"
Tweet us with the hashtag #bbccricket to join the debate
Pakistan are in dire straits here, not only is their number seven batsman (Shoaib Malik) padded up in the pavilion before the 10-over powerplay finishes, but Shahid Afridi - sitting next to him - dons a tracksuit top to keep out the cold! Misbah plays out a maiden from Broad as Pakistan look to stem the tide of wickets.
From Rob in Essex, TMS inbox: "KP is fast becoming the next Freddie Flintoff -\u00a0the man who was much better at bowling than he was at batting, whilst still maintaining his real skill was with the latter!"
Wow. Finn already has his best ever ODI figures, he'd taken 15 in 11 ODIs before today and now has 4-18 today. Three slips in for Umar Akmal, who owes Pakistan a major innings to make up for his comedy wicketkeeping.
Farhat and Misbah exchange singles, then Finn has a fourth wicket as Farhat gives an easy catch to the keeper!
"A stat from the comedian Andy Zaltzman - this is only the second ODI when both sides have lost their number three to a first-baller. The other was Pakistan-England in Rawalpindi in 2005 when Younus Khan was bowled by Andrew\u00a0Flintoff and Andrew Strauss was lbw to Rana Naved-ul-Hasan."
Stuart Broad replaces Anderson, Farhat opens with a single while Misbah is off the mark with a three through point. Farhat off-drives for three more, Misbah drills a four through the covers and that's\u00a0an expensive first over by Broad - 11 from it.
"The big surprise is that the seamers have made so many inroads so quickly, getting wickets puts the batting side on the back foot."
Captain Misbah-ul-Haq is the new batsman, he's a good man for a crisis, if losing three wickets in the first seven overs can be described as a crisis. He shoulders arms to the last ball of the over from Finn, who has 3-16 from four overs."
Aggers notes how Simon Hughes is TMS's "utility player" today - commentating, summarising and updating BBC Radio 5 live too - as Younus tries to get after Finn, punching a four back past the bowler, just out of his reach. But the ex-captain's stay at the crease is ended as he plays forward but gets an inside edge and is spectacularly caught by Kieswetter diving to his left!
From Mark Butcher, TMS inbox: "Re: James in Southampton (1505): Gul and Riaz are no Finn, Anderson or Broad."
Single from the experienced Younus, his partner Farhat jabs one into the off side and they run one as Bopara decides against attempting a run-out with no-one guarding the stumps. Another single takes Younus to 11, Farhat has five.
From Alan, London: "Joe [1512], Matt Prior's figures don't stack up in ODIs - I'm a big fan of his but doubt he'll get another crack with Buttler, Bairstow and Davies all younger and bigger hitters."
Younus cover-drives at Finn and it just pierces England's ring of cover fielders and disappears for four. Among the Pakistan fans cheering him on is a supporter carrying a large teddy bear with a heart on its tummy - perhaps he's been given it as a present for tomorrow? Or stopped off at the cricket on the way back from his Valentine's Day present shopping? Anyway, the crowd are entertained further by some comedy fielding as Younus guides the ball wide of mid-on, Pietersen and Patel give chase, and KP sweeps on the ball only to throw it over Patel's head! Pakistan run three in the confusion.
From John in Kent: "Not a great day to be a number three!"
Younus gets up on his toes to guide Anderson for a quick single into the covers, but that's the only blemish on a tidy over by the "Burnley Express."
From EdClamp16: "We seem to forget that Jos Buttler also keeps wicket. Problem solved! Next debate please."
Three slips in as Younus Khan faces the hat-trick ball, which he just lets go by outside off stump, while he guides a single to fine leg to get off the mark. Farhat sees off the rest of the over, and England have a spring in their step.
"I'm surprised Finn wasn't picked ahead of Chris Tremlett in the Tests here. Tremlett's a back-of-a-length bowler, and back-of-a-length doesn't work in the subcontinent or here."
Asad Shafiq is the new batsman, his first ball is identical to Hafeez's dismissal with the same result and that's another lbw! Finn on a hat-trick!
Finn pins Hafeez back on his stumps with one that nips back a little, he's given out lbw and is so clearly plumb he doesn't even ask for a review!
James Anderson takes the second over and the left-handed Farhat blasts his first ball back down the ground for four. A leg bye rotates the strike for the first time, and Anderson sends down a wide to the right-handed Hafeez. Trott moves from the slips to silly mid-on (two static close catchers being compulsory during the first 10-over powerplay) and Hafeez sees off the over.
Having been given the big build-up by Simon Mann on TMS as the star of England's ODI tour of India, Finn is worked through mid-wicket by Hafeez for four by the third ball of the innings, but otherwise keeps it tight.
From joeakersd: "Kieswetter nothing more than a bottom-hand-billy. Occasionally gets runs but only occasionally. Prior better choice\u00a0for middle order?"
Tweet us with the hashtag #bbccricket to join The Kieswetter Debate, The Pietersen Debate or any other debate!
Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat opening up for Pakistan, Steven Finn taking the new ball for England. Ready to rumble.
"The fact that no-one up here really knows whether this is a winning score tells you this should be a good game."
From James Kiely in Birmingham, TMS inbox: "England have enough anyway. Some Finn wicked this way comes."
While we're waiting, another bit of cricket news you may not have seen today. Australia captain Michael Clarke has been ruled out of their next game of the one-day tri-series (also involving India and Sri Lanka) on Friday with a hamstring strain. With vice-captain Shane Watson injured and another option, Brad Haddin, rested from the ODI series, the choice of stand-in skipper may be a puzzler.
From James in Southampton: "In that innings Pakistan seamers' economy was\u00a06.66 for 0 wkts, spinners 4.57 for 7 wickets. Begs the question why aren't England playing Briggs as a second frontline spinner? Reinforcing the argument the Pakistani batsmen also proved fallible to slow left-arm, ie Monty in the Tests!"
As much as I'd like to, I can't really let this become a Hampshire love-in - Samit Patel is in the side as the second spinner, Briggs would make three...
Guernsey cricket gets its moment in the spotlight on TMS - Aggers is speaking to their captain ahead of their ICC World Cricket League Division 5 games in Singapore.
"England have a lot of tall batsmen - they could take guard on off stump against Ajmal, and sweep him because as soon as they get a big stride in outside the line of off stump, they can't be out lbw."
From joshwithers108: "Surely if fit Buttler would\u00a0have played? Needed a natural big hitting replacement - Bairstow? Did well in the summer."
Tweet us with the hashtag #bbccricket to get involved today
From Phil in Biggin Hill, TMS inbox: "Seems to me that, as international big-hitting is getting purer and straighter (Gayle, Warner, Ross Taylor as examples) KP\u00a0and Morgan\u2019s cross-bat contortions are in actual fact making\u00a0them look like the relics of a bygone ODI age."
From Marc in London: "The debate should not be about Kieswetter, it should be about why we continue to put faith in the overrated Kevin Pietersen - talented yes but a consistent underachiever."
Right, keep listening to TMS during the interval for Geoff Boycott, Sunil Gavaskar and Ramiz Raja debating how England can adapt to playing in the subcontinent. I'm off for a sandwich, back with you soon...
From Dan Hills in Suffolk, TMS inbox: "What is the obsession\u00a0with keeping KP in the team? It is only worth doing if he scores runs, which is doesn't. That's the only consistent thing he does at present."
From zullu41: "Someone was doubting Saeed Ajmal's status as\u00a0number one\u00a0ODI bowler....this is for him. 5/43"
Several others - including Salman Ahmed in the TMS inbox - have expressed similar views. Tweet us with the hashtag #bbccricket to have your say.
"England are\u00a0in the game here. If you bowl well, you can tie people down and keep control of the game. Then, when you get a wicket, you can put the skids on them. But when England come under pressure, they've got to keep their composure."
Riaz to bowl the last over, Swann gets Patel on strike with a leg bye and he aims another big blast but can only run a single to long-on. Riaz, who has struggled with his line at times, pings down another wide, but Swann swishes and misses at the extra delivery that nearly bowls him. A swipe at the fifth ball brings Swann four through third man, he swings and misses at the last ball and Akmal prevents a bye. England may have settled for 260 early on, but it could have been more...
From David Timms, TMS inbox: "Why has Kieswetter been preferred to Steve Davies of Surrey as wicketkeeper/batsman? Any opinions?"
I think "The Kieswetter Debate" may be the latest answer to "The Bell Debate"!
Umar Gul is belatedly recalled to the attack, he was a little expensive earlier but England won't be too upset that one of the best "death" bowlers in world cricket will have only been asked to bowl eight of his 10 overs. Swann and Patel are able to push the singles, then Patel unleashes a meaty swipe over the bowler's head for a first-bounce four when Gul tries a slower ball. Another straight hit past the stumps brings him two, and he then steps back to smack another four through point. 13 from the over, maybe Pakistan deliberately held Gul back?
From Beth in St Albans, TMS inbox: "Feel quite sorry for Kieswetter in this situation. He's spent his whole Somerset and England career opening the batting and now all of a sudden he's in the middle order against some of the best spinners in the world with untold pressure to go big. He should be opening the batting, Pietersen isn't the right type of player to do that."
Riaz to bowl the antepenultimate over, Patel manages a single and Swann, with his collar up, tries to force the ball to leg but can't connect and is nearly run out by Riaz following through as he thinks about stealing a single. When he does connect, Swann is off the mark with a two through backward point, before lashing a four through deep mid-wicket. A single takes him to seven from five balls - in some kind of symmetry, his Notts team-mate Patel has five from seven.
From Craig Hunter, TMS inbox: "If Kieswetter has been dropped down the order, why does Matt Prior not bat and keep wicket for the ODI team? Personally I would have Bell opening with Cook, KP instead of Bopara and Prior batting\u00a0six with the gloves."
Graeme Swann to face the last ball of Ajmal's spell, the ball squirts into the on side and Saeed\u00a0Ajmal, you can\u00a0take a bow - he finishes with 5-43 from 10 overs.
"It's almost as though there have been two games going on out there - Cook batting at one end, and then the rest."
Stuart Broad is the new batsman, replacing fellow left-hander Cook. There are still only the regulation four men in the circle for Broad, who's a clean hitter and sweeps his first ball for a single. Patel rotates the strike, then Broad chips a return catch back to Ajmal for the delighted spinner's fifth wicket.
From kennyismyname: "Despite it being half term I am sat in my lab, the cricket keeping me sane, my students moaning. Not quite the breakfast club."
Tweet us with the hashtag #bbccricket to get involved today
Ajmal in for his last over, Cook hits the first ball for two but is then bowled round his legs trying to sweep. His highest (and best?) ODI innings ends after 142 balls.
"Kieswetter not getting bat on ball has enabled Pakistan to pull it back here. England may only be looking at 250-260."
Now this is strange - Pakistan keep Riaz on, which means that Gul won't be able to complete his full allocation of overs. A single from Cook brings the burly Patel on strike for the first time, and after a wide he's off the mark with a single through the covers. That's better from Riaz, a fierce yorker which Cook digs out for a single. Patel steers the last ball for two.
From Adam Poole in London, TMS inbox: "Cook should be going through the gears and trying to up the run-rate at the end of the innings. Take the pressure off the batsman at the other end."
Samit Patel is the new batsman, he's the non-striker and will remain so next over after Cook nicks the strike with a single off the last ball of Ajmal's over.
"I'm not sure about Kieswetter down the order. We seem to be changing everything to accommodate Kevin Pietersen, who doesn't have a great record in one-dayers - will he still be there [at the World Cup] in three years' time?"
Ajmal replaces Afridi, Cook and Kieswetter exchange singles before the skipper fluently sweeps for four. A single brings Kieswetter on strike, he\u00a0has another big slog, and this time his luck runs out as he skies it in the air again and is caught at short third man.
Kieswetter goes for the big heave-ho, the ball skies into the air but lands safely and they run one. There's more amusement for Geoff Boycott on TMS as Akmal makes a complete horlicks of a routine gather as\u00a0Cook runs two and it nearly brings England an overthrow. Riaz also boosts England's score with a wide, Cook rounds off the over with a single - he has 126 from 134 balls, and will that be the last we see of Riaz?
From Imtiaaz: "People saying how useless the Akmal brothers are at keeping seem to have forgotten how well Adnan kept in the Tests."
Afridi in for his last over, Kieswetter and Cook manage five singles and he finishes with 2-55 from his 10 overs after those two early wickets.
From Anne Wood in Cambridge, TMS inbox: "I can see Cook running out of partners before he make 150."
Interesting - Pakistan turn back to left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz, who's only bowled two expensive overs so far, although they will have to get through three overs from either Riaz or Malik. His first ball is wide outside off stump, Kieswetter fishes at it desperately and in my humble view, Riaz is fortunate that umpire Simon Taufel does not extend his arms to signal a wide. But England have an extra delivery after Kieswetter pushes a single and Taufel signals a no-ball, earning Cook a free hit. The free hit ball is asking to be smacked, but Cook can't time it and can only smear it to long-on for one. Kieswetter plays and misses - twice - before finally connecting with a single through the covers.
From roberama: "Feeling rough all weekend, took my first sick day in two years and what a day it's been so far! Ferris Bueller had nothing on this!"
Tweet us with the hashtag #bbccricket whether\u00a0to discuss the match or make inside references to popular 1980s films...
That powerplay brought 27 runs and two wickets - Pakistan turn back to Afridi, in order to keep Gul's last three wickets up their sleeve. A characteristically rapid over from the leggie yields four singles - Cook has 120 (his highest ODI score), Kieswetter has two.
From Alex Bates, TMS inbox: "Trying to get to Pristina from Manchester since yesterday. Two delayed planes, our latest flight from Zurich got us over Kosovo airspace at 10am only to be told there was a broken tractor on the snowbound runway, so the plane took us back to Switzerland. Is this a metaphor-in-waiting for England's efforts to retain number one ranking?"
New batsman is wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter, who's previously opened for England in limited-overs cricket but has been playing in the middle order recently for the second-string England Lions side. Kieswetter is able to dig out a doosra from Ajmal and survives his first three deliveries.
"Coming up at the interval on TMS: How do England adapt to subcontinental conditions? We ask Geoffrey, Sunil Gavaskar and Ramiz Raja. Plus we speak to the captain of the Guernsey team, as his team warm up in the UAE ahead of ICC World Cricket League (div 5) in Singapore."
(Tim is standing in for Adam Mountford as TMS producer for the one-day series)
...and the ball-tracker has it hitting leg stump, so that's the end\u00a0for the Dubliner.
Morgan reverse-sweeps, misses and is hit on the thigh... he's given out but wants a review....
From David Jones, TMS inbox: "Do you know how the England Physical Disabilities\u00a0 XI got on against Pakistan over the last few days?"
David, England lost both T20 games against Pakistan. On Saturday, they lost by 14 runs and the margin of defeat was 20 runs on Sunday.
Centurion Cook guides Gul through the vacant slip cordon for four, then rather changes his mind when it looked like he was eyeing up a pull shot. Morgan is hit on the pad and Pakistan appeal... but it looked like that was going down leg.
"Ireland have completed a thrilling 10-run victory over Kenya in the ICC\u00a0Intercontinental Cup in Mombassa after being bowled out for 75 in their first innings. Chasing 119 to win, Kenya were bowled out for 108, with Albert van der Merwe taking 6-27."
Eoin Morgan is the new batsman\u00a0and he immediately goes on the attack against Ajmal, lifting him over his head for two.
From Tkay79: "I'm so grateful to the Akmal brothers for making me look like a nearly competent wicketkeeper. Long may their reign continue!"
NB This was sent before the Bopara dismissal!
A drinks break often brings a wicket in all forms of cricket, and Bopara proves the maxim true as he dances down the track and is stumped in a rare example of competent wicketkeeping from an Akmal brother.
And a reminder that we need you to put your name on texts or we can't use them (even the rather negative one about "Bopara's score buying him another 10 failures").
From Robin Hiney (and others), TMS inbox: "The only way is Essex for England."
"England need to reassess the situation - earlier they'd have been happy with 240 or 250, but they should be looking at 270 at least here."
Pakistan's pace spearhead Umar Gul is back into the attack to bowl in the powerplay, but Cook and Bopara are keeping the run rate up with ones, twos, and even a four lifted through the covers by the England skipper which beats the diving Younus Khan's chase to the rope. "That was like a swimming-pool dive where you don't come up with anything," notes Simon Mann on TMS. Two more singles, and\u00a0Bopara has his seventh ODI fifty from 67 balls. And we have drinks, which often come in the middle of the batting powerplay since the regulation change.
From Leon in Yorkshire, who is working from home and letting phone go to voicemail, TMS inbox: "Centuries from both these boys, with electrifying and run-rate defying cameos from Morgan and Kieswetter. 315 on the cards."
It's the Batting Powerplay! Don't panic, Corporal Jones, it's the Batting Powerplay! Under the new ODI regulations introduced last year, it has to be taken before the 40th over - so England have taken it at the last possible interval, so there will be a maximum of three men outside the circle for overs 36-40. But that's a gimme from Ajmal (back on in place of Afridi), a short ball is punched through point for four by Cook and that's his third ODI century from 110 balls, as well as being England's first hundred of the tour. The man decried by many as a "plodder" keeps plodding along with a two, a single\u00a0and a leg bye, as well as surviving a half-hearted lbw appeal for one which was going over the top.
From pdscrib: "We're OK, so long as no one mentions the\u00a0two deadliest words in English ODI cricket: Batting Powerplay."
Tweet us with the hashtag #bbccricket to join in the fun!
More steady-Eddie batting from Cook and Bopara, three singles added to the score as their former Essex team-mate Andy Flower looks on with a furrowed brow.
"Alastair Cook, the man who seemingly few wanted as England one-day captain, averages 52 when leading the side, compared to 30 as a mere foot soldier."
Single from Bopara... then that's too short from Afridi, Cook rocks back and unleashes one of his favourite cut shots for four - that's the century stand. Cook blasts another four through the covers, just out of the reach of the tumbling Hafeez on the cover boundary. A quick single past the bowler\u00a0and suddenly he's on 95. Bopara tries a cut shot of his own, without Cook's power, and they run two as the cover sweeper runs round.
From pappidoll: "A year ago Cook was not good enough for ODIs, did not play in World Cup. Now ODI captain and on way to a ton... Experts wrong again!"
Cook helps himself to a two and a single, Bopara advances down the track but plays the ball straight back to Malik, who threatens to throw the stumps down and has Bopara quickly retreating into his ground. A single takes England's new number four to 43 from 60 balls.
From ADMunro: "I am loving Geoffrey Boycott's absolute glee at how terrible Pakistan's keeper is. Really brightening up my dissertation writing."
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Pakistan rotate their spinners as Afridi replaces Ajmal, and he's going to bowl round the wicket to Cook who chips a single wide of the bowler. The atmosphere is building as more fans arrive at the stadium after finishing their work for the day, but England are chugging along quite nicely as the Essex pair plunder ones and twos against Afridi.
From Dan Bradley in Manchester, TMS inbox: "Quite a bit of negativity on here today. The old logic of double your score at 30 overs would leave us competitive. Wickets in hand and Morgan to come (the ODI player of course, opposed to the Test one) we could get 280-300. Come on England."
Cook and Bopara continue to push the singles against Malik, three from it. This stand is now worth 88.
Single from Bopara, then Cook sweeps Ajmal for four, sparking a burst of music that sounds like a combined steel band/1980s disco number. Three more singles mean it's eight from the over, and I almost don't dare write about how impressive this partnership has been for fear of a commentator's curse...
From Noaman Talati in London, TMS inbox: "Bopara hit 100 in 52 balls for his school. That was the fastest century until last year when my mate beat him by hitting 100 in 51 balls. Would like to see more of that right now from Bopara."
Bopara tries to help Malik down the leg side, they run a couple of leg byes before a more orthodox off-drive brings two more, and a wristy flick off his legs ensures the strike is rotated again. Two more singles mean Cook has 71, while Bopara has 38 - this is his highest score from his last seven ODI innings.
From Will Rider: "Yes. Hafeez and Ajmal are top of the ODI bowling rankings, but look at against who and where they've played over the last six months: Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka in the UAE, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Statistics only tell half the story..."
Bit of hesitation between the Essex pair, Bopara pushes the ball into the covers, sends Cook back and the skipper has to dive full-length to regain his ground at the bowler's end. He survives another lbw appeal from Ajmal with one that looked like it was spearing down the leg side, while more hapless wicketkeeping from Umar Akmal brings England a bye as he completely misses one through his legs. "They're all hopeless!" guffaws Geoff Boycott, before suggesting the Akmal brothers' mother could do better catching the ball in her pinny... could be a big day for Boycott Bingo at this rate!
From domesticdad: "Geoffrey's weapon of choice + England batting against Ajmal = Stick of rhubarb crumble?"
"Bopara's had a big slice of luck with the missed stumping and that early lbw shout, but he's played well and you can see his confidence has gone up as he's playing the ball into the gaps nicely."
Riaz is off after two expensive overs and former skipper Shoaib Malik - who got a late recall to the squad for this series at the request of current skipper Misbah-ul-Haq - comes on as the fourth spinner. He's another off-spinner, More steady accumulation from the Essex pair brings three singles, before Bopara prods forward, Pakistan appeal for a stumping and it goes upstairs to the third umpire... but Bopara's back toecap remained grounded. Bopara, who was lucky not to be out twice early in his innings, fluently on-drives for three.
From Matt Myatt, TMS inbox: "Typical England - struggle through the middle overs and a mad dash ensues where they\u00a0lose wickets. This has got\u00a0210 written all over it."
As England pass the halfway mark in their innings, a fire bell goes off in the vicinity of the TMS box ("Jonathan says it's all my hot air which has set it off," notes Geoff Boycott), while Cook and Bopara help themselves to a couple of singles against Ajmal, who looks less threatening now he's not got three or four close fielders around the bat like he did in the Tests. A single takes Cook to 68.
From matt_clark1986: "Essex duo nurdling the scorecard up nicely at the moment. Keep this up and 250+ has to be in sights with some late pinch hitting."
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Bopara clips Riaz into the leg side, they scamper back for a second run. Riaz is leaking runs here, after a couple of singles Bopara lets fly with a classy cover drive for four to bring up the fifty stand before blasting another boundary to the same area\u00a0- I have to wonder,\u00a0is Riaz the weak link of this attack?
From Gary Pratt, who is trying to work in Basingstoke, TMS inbox: "Re: Any relation to the Gary Pratt of '2005 Ashes substitute fielder' fame? No, I am not but wish I was. Tears for Punter!"
Bopara pushes Ajmal for a single to point, while Geoff Boycott on TMS thinks Pakistan are giving him too many easy singles - he wants the field up, even though we're no longer in powerplay mode. Cook paddle-sweeps a single to bring up three figures for his side, Bopara pinches the strike. Cook has 65 from 78, Ravi has 14 from 29.
"The average one-day\u00a0score on this ground is about 250 batting first, so England would probably take anything above that."
Left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz replaces Afridi - he's got a bit of history with England, having been involved in a scuffle with Jonathan Trott in the nets at Lord's in the wake of the spot-fixing drama a couple of years ago, when Trott and Riaz were reported to have thrown pads at each other. But there's no sign of that now as Cook smacks a loose delivery straight to a fielder in the covers. Riaz sends down the second wide of the innings, Cook guides a single and Bopara finds the boundary for the first time with a wristy flick between fine leg and deep square leg.
From MikeyBlighe: "Re: Gary Pratt (19th over) - Mark, that Gary Pratt currently resides in my hometown of Bishop Auckland, and plays for Barnard Castle's team as their pro!"
The unbroken spell of off-spin from the main stand end\u00a0continues as Hafeez is replaced by Saeed Ajmal, bowling round the wicket to the left-handed Cook. A single brings Bopara on strike - what will he make of Ajmal's beguiling spin? He can't get him away, but survives the over. A tight first over from the ICC's top-ranked ODI bowler (who succeeded the number two-ranked Hafeez).
From AJSpizz: "Listening to TMS through an earphone running up my sleeve during lectures today. Handel vs Boycott."
Whether you think Geoffrey could have played Handel's Water Music with his famed\u00a0stick of rhubarb or not, you can join in with the hashtag #bbccricket
Afridi bounces, hops and skips into his bowling action as Cook adds a two and a single to the score. He has 61 from 67 balls, and Ramiz Raja on TMS wonders whether Afridi should take a rest after taking 2-29 from his first six overs.
From George, Chesterfield: "This is just embarrassing cricket from England, supposedly the number one team in the world. I've seen Derbyshire play better cricket."
They're a long way from being number one in ODIs though...
Hafeez will indeed bowl his overs straight through, Cook and Bopara punch a couple of singles and Cook squeezes one just out of the bowler's reach. Bopara drills a single to long-on, we're approaching "Middle Overs Syndrome" here as Cook helps himself to the fifth single of the over, and Hafeez takes his cap with figures of 0-30 from his 10 overs.
From Mr_Drylunch: "These umpires have had\u00a0three decisions to make and got all\u00a0thre wrong. Mare in the desert!"
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Bopara and Cook try to force the pace with a few singles against Afridi but then the skipper goes aerial, lofting him towards cow corner for a four to bring up his fifty. Another whipped four off his legs forces Afridi to change his field, opening up a gap from which Cook steers a single off the last ball.
From Gary Pratt, who is trying to work in Basingstoke, TMS inbox: "Re: Nathan in Winchester: Luke is Francis Benali's son and plays for Romsey Town. Francis is the manager of the reserves."
Any relation to the Gary Pratt of "2005 Ashes substitute fielder" fame?
Hafeez into his ninth over, is he going to bowl all 10 off the reel? Cook prods a single, his Essex team-mate Bopara steers a single to long-on. But Pakistan keep it tight in the field as Cook keeps finding the man at mid-wicket as he tries to hit against the spin.
From Greg in Blyth, TMS inbox: "This is what I was \u2018Afridi\u2019 of... change of bowler, a few quick wickets and England back to batting nervously."
"Pakistan are spoilt for choice with spin against England, they have Shoaib Malik and Saeed Ajmal still to turn to, and you can sense the pressure they're putting on the batsmen. They're all quality spinners, even Hafeez who was a makeshift bowler at first but has drastically improved over the last 12 months."
Afridi is quickly through his overs, Pakistan bowling at an excellent rate here, and Bopara must surely be very thankful for Pakistan having already used their only DRS review, given his continued presence at the crease. Just two singles from Afridi's over, he has 2-14 from four, and it's time for a drinks break.
From jameshart6whu: "Bat and pad together. Bat and pad together. The most simple thing in cricket. Shocking from Trott, too lazy and arrogant that shot."
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Pakistan take the fielding powerplay at the earliest opportunity, so it'll be three men outside the circle for overs 16-20. Cook manages a two, he has 43 from 50 balls.
From Giles in London, TMS inbox: "Re: Tom in Bristol [11th over]: I suppose you were smashing 'switch hits' before you were out of short trousers too?"
That looks like a shocker from umpire Ahsan Raza, as Bopara is hit on the kneecap right in front of the stumps but the Pakistan official turns down his compatriots' appeal. The ball-tracker show it hitting the middle of middle stump, and Afridi is absolutely furious - as well he might be. Two singles and a legside wide are\u00a0added to the score.
Pakistan persist with Hafeez, who's into his seventh over, Cook and Bopara manage three singles between them, but then there's an awful missed stumping chance as Umar Akmal fumbles one behind the timbers. "An Akmal special", notes Aggers on TMS as England run a leg\u00a0bye. "You could put all the Akmals in a hat, pull one out and you'd still get the same performance." Meanwhile, Boycs thinks England wicketkeeping coach Bruce French would have a job for life out here, coaching the Akmal brothers. (Umar Akmal is in the side for his brother Adnan, who kept in the Tests).
From Nathan in Winchester, TMS inbox: "Mark, could you please ask Luke Benali (7th over) what relation, if any, he bears to Southampton's finest ever left-back, Francis?"
Ravi Bopara is in at number four for England, while Boycs is continuing his praise of Shahid Afridi ("I even\u00a0told Yorkshire to sign him, but he went to Hampshire"), but there's no hat-trick for the former Pakistan skipper as Bopara defends his first ball.
"That's poor cricket. Bowled through the gate, you could drive my car through that!"
Jonathan Trott is the new batsman, and is bowled first ball by a googly! Afridi on a hat-trick!
"Afridi's a good bowler, he's difficult to get away as the ball comes on to you so quickly, you can't change your mind. Pietersen was so far out of his crease, falling over, if he hadn't been bowled he would have been stumped."
Afridi drops it short and that's meat and drink to Cook, chopping the ball square of the wicket for four. A single brings Pietersen on strike... and he's bowled through the gate as he prods forward!
Hafeez wheels away for his sixth over, Pietersen can't get him away and that's a maiden over. KP wants a change of gloves though, 12th man Jonny Bairstow runs on with a fresh pair.
From Wolfie Kutner, TMS inbox: "Disappointing to see Ian Bell dropped. Such great batting talent, yet both of his stints in the England team have ended very quickly, as soon as his form starts to drop."
Shahid Afridi into the attack with his fast leg-breaks, and Cook is immediately facing a different kind of attack, he tries to force the ball into the off side and gets an edge past slip! Pietersen brings up the fifty stand - he won't have had too many of those with Cook in ODIs - with a single, Cook dabs another and KP has to defend against a delivery which hurries on. A single off the last ball means he has 14, Cap'n Cook has 33.
From Tom in Bristol, TMS inbox: "KP doesn't appear to be able to play a forward defensive shot with a straight bat, strange as I learnt to do that when I was 7."
So, despite three DRS reviews, England's opening pair remain intact, but Hafeez whistles through the rest of his over and they've made it through the first powerplay without loss.
Hotspot picks up an inside edge, you could tell from the speed of Cook's signal for a review that he knew he'd hit it. The Captain remains on the bridge.
After a single from Pietersen, Hafeez bowls round the wicket to Cook, traps him lbw but Cook immediately wants a review...
From crazy_horse_uk: "The great thing about DRS is that at last everyone is seeing cricket the same way I have for 50 years!"
Tweet us with the hashtag #bbccricket to discuss the DRS, cement mixers or anything else at today's game!
As you may have noticed, Test Match Special have employed some squad rotation for the ODIs - with Simon Mann and Simon Hughes replacing Henry Blofeld and Christopher Martin-Jenkins on commentary duty - but Simon H keeps the spirit of Blowers alive in the TMS box by spotting a cement mixer driving past the ground. Pietersen and Cook exchange singles against Gul, KP scampering a quick one to mid-on, then Cook guides a two off his legs. He has 30 from an even 30 balls, Pietersen has 11 from 24.
Still now bowling changes as Hafeez tries to keep Pietersen tied down, but the tall Surrey man earns a single with a controlled check-drive to mid-on. Cook cuts, more successfully than earlier, and it disappears for four to the point boundary. The ODI skipper then waits before blasting another four through mid-on, and the eardrums of the Abu Dhabi spectators are going to be tested if we get thumping bass music after every boundary all day...
From Neil Prestridge, TMS inbox: "Seems a strange selection going for Jimmy Anderson ahead of Jade Dernbach. Dernbach has been our most impressive bowler in recent ODIs whereas Jimmy has been ineffectual at best on sub-continent wickets in ODIs. Think we will miss Dernbach\u2019s variations and his ability to bowl yorkers."
Geoff Boycott on TMS is purring with admiration over Shahid Afridi's bowling, but there's no sign of the bearded leg-spinner into the attack just yet as Gul continues into his fourth over, and Cook seems a little becalmed for the moment against Gul's line and length. The England skipper eventually breaks the shackles by working one which pitches outside off stump, through wide mid-on for four, despite the efforts of the tumbling Afridi on the boundary.
From Luke Benali: "As a Hampshire fan, it's great to see Briggs involved with the England set-up. He didn't look out of place at all in our spin attack last year, which is no mean feat when it also contained Afridi and Tahir. He's a great talent!"
As a fellow Hampshire fan, I agree!
Although the stadium is far from full, there are decent pockets of fans around the ground, the Pakistan supporters are making a bit of atmosphere and Hafeez is quickly through his over, just two singles from it.
And I'm pleased to bring you news of another victory for England's women, who won their latest warm-up game against New Zealand's Emerging Players in Lincoln. Sarah Taylor starred with 43 not out from 34 balls as they chased down NZ's 86-6 with seven overs to spare.
From lewmagoo91: "Wonder if\u00a0KP will fare any better opening the batting, should suit him more batting alongside a plodder in Cooky?"
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Pietersen, who opened in last year's World Cup before he was forced out by injury midway through the tournament, works Gul well off his legs and the ball disappears for four wide of mid-on. A single ensures he keeps the strike.
He did come across his stumps, it hit him high on the top of his left pad... ball-tracker says "wickets missing" (high over the stumps) so KP survives!
Gul sends one down the leg side which disappears for four leg byes, then we have more lbw shenanigans... KP is given out, but calls for a review!
Pietersen survives the rest of the over from Hafeez, doubling his score with a single\u00a0from the last ball.
This may depend on whether it hit him in line... Simon Mann on TMS thinks it could be "umpire's call"... and it is. So Pakistan have lost their only review.
Cook is hit on the pad by Hafeez, there's an appeal but that was sliding down leg side (just). They run a leg bye. Pietersen is then the subject of a big lbw\u00a0appeal, and Pakistan call for a review!
"People talked about whether it would be Anderson or Finn, but Finn bowled so well in the one-dayers in India, I wonder whether actually it was Anderson or Bresnan."
Pietersen is off the mark with a scampered single to mid-on, then England find the boundary for the first time as Cook off-drives past the diving man at short cover for four, to the musical accompaniment of "Axel F" (aka the theme from Beverly Hills Cop) played by what sounds a bit like a German oompah band. Cook nibbles at one which edges past slip and they run a single. Pietersen can't get the ball off the square at the moment, although he's hardly had any of the strike - he has one from four balls, Cook has scored 12 from 14.
With plenty of spin options in their ranks, Pakistan hand the second over to Mohammad Hafeez's right-arm off-spin, which means\u00a0Hafeez is\u00a0likely to open both the bowling and batting (like those ridiculously talented kids you were at school with did). His two compulsory close catchers are at slip and leg slip, but Cook nudges a two past leg slip before whipping another two through mid-wicket. Then we have a quick flashback to the Test series as Cook cuts and nearly plays the ball onto his stumps...
From kennyismyname: "Turned on the cricket to hear a Boycott rant about tax. Brilliant."
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Gul has a couple of slips in for Captain Cook, while Boycs on TMS has a moan about his taxi driver. ("He didn't speak any English, which at least meant I was able to swear at him and he couldn't understand me!"). But can England stay in the driving seat after winning the toss? Cook gets England's motor running with a square-driven three, Pietersen's push back past the bowler is fielded at mid-on.
And an interesting change in the Decision Review System today - each team is only allowed one unsuccessful DRS review per innings, rather than two as in Tests.
Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen to open, Umar Gul taking the new ball.
While news reaches us that Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has been sacked, thanks for your patience while we try to sort the technical side. Umpires coming out.
But we'd like to hear from you as ever - you can email tms@bbc.co.uk (with "For Mark Mitchener" in the subject line), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as the first word), or tweet us with the hashtag #bbccricket. A short parish notice - please put your names on your contribution or we won't be able to use them.
From NMyers90: "Where is Jos Buttler?!"
He's been ruled out with a hand injury, having had stitches after splitting the webbing between his left thumb and forefinger. A hand injury which may spare him from carrying the drinks with Bresnan, Jade Dernbach, Jonny Bairstow and Danny Briggs.
"If England bat well against the spinners, I think the England bowling can do a good job against most people. But there's always a question-mark against the batsmen - you never know what you're going to get."
While Geoff Boycott gets stuck into England on TMS\u00a0("How the hell are they going to play? They don't even know what their best team is!"), a bit more detail on Tim Bresnan. Although he told us that he was ready and available, England have ruled that Big Tim's not quite match-fit yet. So Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Steven Finn are England's triple-barrelled pace attack, with Graeme Swann and Samit Patel providing the spin options.
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal (wk), Shoaib Malik, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz.
England: AN Cook (capt), KP Pietersen, IJL Trott, RS Bopara, EJG Morgan, C Kieswetter (wk), SR Patel, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, ST Finn.
Apologies for the various technical gremlins which affected our football text commentaries over the weekend and are still affecting us now. We've managed a temporary fix which will hopefully save you from having to manually refresh the page. But please bear with us, it'll be worth it! Test Match Special is now across the airwaves...
Morning, everyone - and welcome to the start of England's four-game one-day international series against Pakistan. News of the toss from Abu Dhabi is that England have won the toss and ODI captain Alastair Cook has elected to bat. Tim Bresnan misses out with injury.
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