Not So Even - 3rd Test Eng v Pak

A quick brush over the scores might indicate that things are pretty even at the The Oval, with Pakistan having a 75 run lead after first innings have been completed but two crucial things point to Pakistan being well in charge and the first innings deficit isn't one of them.

The most important of the two points is the memory that England were 7-94 a half hour after lunch on the first day and only 119 run 8th wicket partnership between Prior and Broad put a semblance of respectability back into their first innings of 233.

The second was a double play from Andrew Strauss wh rarely makes one mistake, let alone two. First a dropped catch which cost England an additional 38 runs and then a poor shot to lose his wicket as stumps beckoned. The catch at slip was low but players at this level should snaffle these and the non shot he poked at Amir was unconvincing.

With the speed at which Test cricket is played it almost ensures a result, something which officials are happy about, even if matches rarely last longer than four days. More people over four days is better than less people over five. Here, England lost a wicket every six overs whilst hitting a four every second and posted their total at a rate of 3.72 per over. Pakistan were slower at 3 an over but gone are the opening days when things favour the bowlers so the skipper wins the toss and grinds out 5-170 by stumps and we all say well done. There is no doubt that the shortened forms of the game have influence the how Test cricket is played and the way captains play it. Unfortunately this also includes six and seven on the leg side and five of them on the boundary when a batsman and a tailender are in partnership - surely the most boring tactic ever used in Test cricket.

The three captains who led Test cricket to this change from the middle 90's were Mark Taylor, Sanath Jaysuriya and Shaun Pollock. Benaud-like, they fixed their gaze on exciting Test cricket and targetted the removal of draws from their own lexicons and mindset. Where ever possible, they played for a result. Look how it caught on.

England are in trouble at The Oval. One down and still a significant distance behind. Cook, in particular needs to stand up in the second innings but it's hard to see it happening. His feet are moving but mostly into the wrong position and he seems to be going through that mid career slump that many lefties have where they play too far from their body outside the off and around their front pad to the leg. Despite the first innings failure, the English batsmen rarely fail twice as a group and with so much time to play in this game, guys like Peitersen and Collingwood should knuckle down and bat their side back into the game over the next two days.

Prior has certainly answered the murmurs of discontent which floated through Fleet St before this series. He batted very well in the first dig and isn't frightened of attacking when defending seems the convention.

If you are yet to be convinced on Swann, see if you can get a look at the Riazz dismissal. Off spinner round the wicket to a right hander getting an lbw? His most dangerous quality isn't anything he does on the ball or his flight or his changes of pace and length ... its the way he thinks, mostly from right outside the envelope. That's why he'll bother the Aussies. That and the fact he'll enjoy doing it!