England flogged by Pakistan as Chris Woakes struggles to play James Anderson’s role

Forget James Anderson the bowling coach. For the first time since his retirement, England missed James Anderson the bowler.

Anderson’s late arrival for the tour to play in a golf pro-am was signed off by the England management and is in keeping with their life-is-for-living creed.

But there was little fun to be had for those toiling away on a hot day and still feeling England’s autumn chill in their bones as Pakistan built a good platform at 328 for four through captain Shan Masood’s first hundred for four years.

The final session balanced out proceedings a bit, England taking three for 95 and tightening up at 2.8 an over, a credit to their team spirit, but it was a day of dirty work and toil as Pakistan made the most of batting first on a belter.

Two years ago, Anderson was masterful, conjuring miserly spells in a stunning whitewash, averaging 18 and giving nothing away at 2.6 an over.

On the fresh, juicy pitches at home, Anderson’s absence was rarely felt against West Indies and Sri Lanka as Gus Atkinson announced himself while England’s seamers averaged 22 in six Tests. But on flat ones in Asia, Anderson’s skills with the ball were like summer clouds in Multan, rarely seen and a sight to behold.

Without him, England conceded 4.8 an over in the first session, and Chris Woakes at 35 struggled to don Anderson’s clothes.

Woakes had a trying day until the penultimate over when a nip-backer with the second new ball had Babar Azam leg before. The look of relief on his face said it all, as did his never-give-in attitude. It gave England heart for a par score of 450, and Pakistan have plenty of scope left to implode, especially as the Bazballers will go hard on a flat pitch.

Until then Woakes looked like every other English seamer who has died a death on a Pakistan pitch, flogging the body in the hope of extracting something, anything, from the surface as the mercury edged to 36C.

Woakes was costly at five an over in his first spell, bowling the leg-stump half-volleys you rarely see from him in England, and when he was given the second new ball, his fourth delivery, a wide half-volley, was flogged for four. He shook his head in anger.

Overall, the three seamers conceded at four an over, as Masood fulfilled his promise to be positive and England missed the Ben Stokes conjuring act as captain. Ollie Pope missed a run out, dropped a half-chance and suffered from not being Ben Stokes. He determinedly went through the card of tactics but England were mainly hanging in for most of the day hoping for a mistake when two years ago Stokes made all the running – but then again he had Anderson and Mark Wood.

After winning a crucial toss and batting first, Masood scored a stylish century, chancing his arm early on with some big shots before settling into cruise mode in a 253-run stand with Abdullah Shafique, who made 102 as the right-hand, left-hand combination ran England ragged.

They went 40 overs without a maiden and 55 without a wicket. Brydon Carse and Atkinson manfully sent down exhausting spells of bouncers. Carse bowled to an umbrella field of all men in front of the bat for surely the first time in his career, no need for fancy-dan fields on Durham’s green seamers, and Atkinson kept up his pace all day.

Pope messed up a run out, missing Shafique on 34 with a throw from short midwicket, and dropped a low catch off Masood on 133. The first should have been taken, the second was very tough but in Pakistan conditions, teams bowling first cannot miss.

The pick of the bowlers was Jack Leach, playing his first Test since January and the only one to offer control, bowling three maidens in a row to carve out his only wicket. He knows the rhythm of Test cricket in Pakistan and the day ended with him restored as England’s No 1 spinner.

It was difficult for Shoaib Bashir, conceding 71 from 18 overs as Pakistan targeted the callow cog in the attack, Masood hitting him for four fours in his first five overs, never allowing him to settle. The second over of his second spell cost 14.

Masood’s innings was huge for him personally after five defeats in a row as captain and no hundred since a Covid Test at Old Trafford. He is a limited player but selflessly threw the bat early on and will earn respect for this determined 151 off 177 balls, hitting 13 fours and two sixes.

Masood brought up his hundred off only 101 balls, the fastest by a Pakistani against England, and while Shafique was slower, taking 165 deliveries, he showed much more control. He raised his bat in style too, skipping down the pitch and launching Leach for six.

The only wicket to fall in the first session was a gift: Saim Ayub gloving a nothing ball from Atkinson down the leg side in the fourth over. The heat also took its toll on the batsmen; Shafique suffered cramp before playing a tired drive to cover. Masood popped a return catch to Leach.

England deserve sympathy. Not for the decision over Anderson. That is Brendon McCullum’s way. He is laid-back. His team could not play in this style if he was not, but it does mean they can be loose with details.

The reason for giving them leeway is the fact that this is the shortest-ever turnaround – 28 days – between the last English Test of the summer and the first of the winter.

Only eight days ago, most of this team were either playing one-dayers against Australia or county cricket in chilly conditions. It is an unfair schedule.

01:37 PM BST

Close: Pakistan 328/4 (Saud Shakeel 35* Naseem Shah 0*)

Pakistan’s day. Two centuries, including one for the skipper Shan Masood. They got after the England bowlers, targeted Bashir successfully, and none of the seamers was a consistent threat. Leach did a good containing job. England didn’t give up and they removed the two centurions. Pakistan are a flaky outfit and there’s no reason England cannot rattle them out tomorrow. And they might have to, because the pitch has already started to misbehave....

Thanks for following.

01:34 PM BST

OVER 86: PAK 328/4 (Saud Shakeel 35* Naseem Shah 0*)

Carse running in hard, getting some movement.  Saud flicks away for four and that is the end of the day.

01:29 PM BST

OVER 85: PAK 324/4 (Saud Shakeel 31* Naseem Shah 0*)

Naseem Shah comes in as a nightwatchman. Survives three balls. Only just. Uncomfortably defends the first. Plays and misses at the second. Third ball, seams back in but keeps very low. A proper shooter. Alarming for Naseem but on the other hand, a welcome sight if you’re batting first with runs on the board.

01:27 PM BST

WICKET! Babar Azam lbw Woakes 30

Chris Woakes beats Babar on the outside edge, nicely bowled. Next ball angles back in, hits Babar on the front pad as he plays across the line. That looks very out to me! Babar reviews, but that’s more in hope than expectation. And a forlorn hope at that. FOW 324/4

01:22 PM BST

OVER 84: PAK 324/3 (Babar Azam 30* Saud Shakeel 31*)

Atkinson certainly giving the ball every chance to swing, but it doesn’t. Driven hard for three by Babar. Now Saud smashes a cut and Pope manages to half stop it, practically taking his hand off in the process.

01:18 PM BST

OVER 83: PAK 319/3 (Babar Azam 26* Saud Shakeel 30*)

Woakes gets a ball to nip away from Saud, finding the edge, but he cannot follow it up and the next delibery is a wide gimme. Crunched for four.

01:16 PM BST

OVER 82: PAK 315/3 (Babar Azam 26* Saud Shakeel 26*)

Suggestion of swing from Gus. Extra pace on it seems to suit Saud, who drives for three, and indeed Babar, who creams one for four.

01:04 PM BST

OVER 81: PAK 308/3 (Babar Azam 22* Saud Shakeel 22*)

England’s spinner wheeling away in a low-impact and low-thrill period of play that takes us up to the availability of the new ball. Will England take it? Not immediately and they give Bashir another over. That takes us to 81 overs.

But now. Yes. They will. And Atkinson will bowl with it.

12:54 PM BST

OVER 75: PAK 299/3 (Babar Azam 21* Saud Shakeel 15*)

Great bit of bowling, draws Saud forward and beats him with a ripper. Bowling, Bashir.

12:46 PM BST

OVER 74: PAK 298/3 (Babar Azam 20* Saud Shakeel 15*)

Carse withdrawn after two overs. Leach is back. Maiden.

12:45 PM BST

OVER 73: PAK 298/3 (Babar Azam 20* Saud Shakeel 15*)

Wonder if Babar will look to get after Bashir? Take options away from Pope. Uses his feet here to stroke a boundary.

12:43 PM BST

OVER 72: PAK 293/3 (Babar Azam 16* Saud Shakeel 14*)

Carse plugging away, likewise your live blogger. Looks like there will be an extra half an hour, for a 5.30pm local finish.

12:31 PM BST

OVER 71: PAK 290/3 (Babar Azam 15* Saud Shakeel 12*)

Tough assignment for Bashir today but this over kind of sums it up: five decent balls and then the pie, Babar tucks in with a cut for four.

12:28 PM BST

OVER 70: PAK 286/3 (Babar Azam 11* Saud Shakeel 12*)

Carse back into the attack and he begins with a maiden.

12:26 PM BST

Coach departure

12:18 PM BST

OVER 69: PAK 286/3 (Babar Azam 11* Saud Shakeel 12*)

Shoaib Bashir comes on and that is a maiden. A leg bye. Time for drinks. A good hour-and-a-bit there for England.

12:15 PM BST

OVER 68: PAK 285/3 (Babar Azam 11* Saud Shakeel 12*)

Woakes varying his paces and lengths a bit like a one-day bowler at the death. Pace off. Anyway, it works in as much as Babar cannot pierce the field. Maiden.

12:13 PM BST

OVER 67: PAK 285/3 (Babar Azam 11* Saud Shakeel 12*)

No width really from Leach but a classy back cut from Babar. Four.

12:10 PM BST

OVER 66: PAK 280/3 (Babar Azam 5* Saud Shakeel 12*)

Chris Woakes is on. 80mph, fourth stump, keeping it tight. No reverse swing in so far as I can tell. Couple of catching midwickets.

12:04 PM BST

OVER 65: PAK 279/3 (Babar Azam 5* Saud Shakeel 12*)

Saud Shakeel carries the fight to England. Three sweeps in this over, two conventional and one reverse, and all three of them pinged to the boundary.

12:02 PM BST

OVER 64: PAK 267/3 (Babar Azam 5* Saud Shakeel 0*)

Streak boundary from Babar! Past his own stumps.

11:56 AM BST

OVER 63: PAK 263/3 (Babar Azam 1* Saud Shakeel 0*)

Saud Shakeel is in at five and England now have two new men to bowl at.

11:52 AM BST

WICKET! Shan Masood c & b Leach 151

Well bowled, well caught, and well captained. England pack the offside field and encourage Shan to go straight and hard. The ball grips just a touch and he slices a return catch to Jack Leach. FOW 263/3

11:50 AM BST

OVER 62: PAK 263/2 (Shan Masood 151* Babar Azam 1*)

Atkinson with a full toss, nice easy way for Babar to get off the mark. England need to zero in.

11:49 AM BST

OVER 61: PAK 261/2 (Shan Masood 150* Babar Azam 0*)

Leach keeping it tidy with a maiden. Can England rouse themselves for a big period before the close? Pakistan, remember, have been in dreadful form and have the look lately of a side that can lose from anywhere.

11:47 AM BST

OVER 60: PAK 261/2 (Shan Masood 150* Babar Azam 0*)

Slightly tame ending but it was a very good knock. Gives England an end to bowl at. That end is now occupied by Babar, who leaves his first ball. That’s over.

Shan, incidentally, past 150 in the over.

11:40 AM BST

WICKET! Abdullah Shafique c Pope b Atkinson 102

Fatigue looks to be a factor in this dismissal, maybe the short stuff from Carse in the previous over as well, or maybe he just hasn’t resettled after the ton. A very wide ball from Atkinson, a tired and loose drive, and it skews to Pope at point. FOW 260/2

11:38 AM BST

OVER 59: PAK 260/1 (Abdullah Shafique 102* Shan Masood 149*)

Leach with a welcome maiden.

11:38 AM BST

OVER 58: PAK 260/1 (Abdullah Shafique 102* Shan Masood 149*)

Carse plugging away, manages to hit Abdullah on the glove. It lands short of leg slip.

11:33 AM BST

OVER 57: PAK 256/1 (Abdullah Shafique 100* Shan Masood 147*)

Masood reverse sweeps Leach for four. Shot.

11:26 AM BST

OVER 56: PAK 251/1 (Abdullah Shafique 100* Shan Masood 142*)

Flashing blade from Shan as he cuts Carse away for four.

11:24 AM BST

OVER 55: PAK 246/1 (Abdullah Shafique 100* Shan Masood 137*)

Leach to Abdullah Shafique, and he reaches his century with a straight six! Magnificent shot - what a way to get there.

11:13 AM BST

OVER 54: PAK 239/1 (Abdullah Shafique 94* Shan Masood 136*)

Carse. Masood cuts. The ball flies to Pope at point, very low to the ground. He cannot get his fingers under it. A matter of judgement whether you call it a chance or not.

11:11 AM BST

OVER 53: PAK 236/1 (Abdullah Shafique 94* Shan Masood 133*)

Leach beats Shan first ball! Misses off though.

A couple of minutes after the lunch resumption, Masood had the physio on for a tablet/sachet thing. Now done exactly the same an over into this one....

11:04 AM BST

Players are back out for the evening

Here is Leach.

10:54 AM BST

Here’s the McCullum interview I mentioned

10:50 AM BST

TEA: Pakistan 233/1 (Abdullah Shafique 94* Shan Masood 130*) off 52 ov

An unblemished session for Pakistan who have made efficient and indeed largely untroubled progress to a very handy score. If they can push on from here they can bat England out of the Test and the questions for the tourists are already mounting up.

10:44 AM BST

OVER 52: PAK 233/1 (Abdullah Shafique 94* Shan Masood 130*)

Shafique sweeps Root hard, four runs, and he is into the nineties. Pushes to the covers for a two a few balls later and that is tea

10:41 AM BST

OVER 51: PAK 227/1 (Abdullah Shafique 88* Shan Masood 130*)

Another tidy over from Jack Leach, one off it. Here is Will Macpherson on just that matter:

10:38 AM BST

OVER 50: PAK 226/1 (Abdullah Shafique 87* Shan Masood 130*)

Tyers here, retaking control after a skillful and committed spell from Tom Ward that sadly failed to yield a wicket. Root wheels away. Four off the over, comfortable, Shaf onto the Aussie bogey number.

10:32 AM BST

OVER 49: PAK 222/1 (Abdullah Shafique 86* Shan Masood 127*)

Leach is yet to find any noticeable turn on this pitch but his areas remain consistent and that’s reflected in his economy. Just one from that set.

10:30 AM BST

OVER 48: PAK 221/1 (Abdullah Shafique 86* Shan Masood 126*)

Joe Root – so often the man to come up with big wickets for England in these kinds of situations – is going to have a bowl. Wigmore on the money. Certainly worth the gamble for Pope this. The over is fairly easily negotiated by these two Pakistan batsmen.

10:24 AM BST

OVER 47: PAK 217/1 (Abdullah Shafique 84* Shan Masood 124*)

Leach is back into the attack in relief of Bashir. Can he be the man to build some pressure here? A maiden would not go amiss. That dream is swiftly extinguished as a Shafique cuts beats Bashir at point and trickles out to the man on the cover boundary.

10:20 AM BST

OVER 46: PAK 214/1 (Abdullah Shafique 82* Shan Masood 123*)

You’d think this will be the last in this spell for Woakes. He is looking a touch weary at the moment and Pakistan are milking England with ease.

10:14 AM BST

OVER 45: PAK 209/1 (Abdullah Shafique 81* Shan Masood 119*)

Bashir just struggles to reduce the single count. A touch short, a touch full...there are always chances for batsmen to get off strike against him thus releasing the pressure valve.

10:10 AM BST

OVER 44: PAK 207/1 (Abdullah Shafique 80* Shan Masood 118*)

Woakes finds the edge but England only have one slip in and it’s too far away from Crawley to be counted as a chance. These are the kinds of days that really test your metal as a Test cricketer.

10:05 AM BST

OVER 43: PAK 202/1 (Abdullah Shafique 76* Shan Masood 117*)

England review...desperately at that. They were hoping Masood got an edge of sorts as he tried to play a sweep. He didn’t and thus Ollie Pope’s woeful record of reviewing rolls on. That was about as speculative as a review gets.

10:01 AM BST

OVER 42: PAK 199/1 (Abdullah Shafique 75* Shan Masood 115*)

Woakes floats the ball up fuller. Masood goes after it and gets two for his efforts but it’s uppish and not without risk. England are going to have to get creative here. These are very well set and are already far enough ahead of the game whereby they won’t mind a quiet scoring period if one of the England bowlers really hits their straps. In short, boring one of them out will become increasingly difficult.

09:55 AM BST

OVER 41: PAK 194/1 (Abdullah Shafique 75* Shan Masood 110*)

Turn...finally! Bashir beats Masood’s outside edge with one that really does turn. England are a touch unlucky to have not got more from that delivery, the ball canoning off Masood’s back pad.

09:52 AM BST

OVER 40: PAK 189/1 (Abdullah Shafique 72* Shan Masood 109*)

This might well be wishful on my part but I think there may just be a hint of movement for Chris Woakes here. My lack of certainty betrays the reality that it’s minimal at best but it’s certainly better than nothing for England right now. Woeakes drops too short and Masood cashes in through point. Back when he was playing James Anderson was always superb at maintaining control in these kinds of situations. England’s best course of action here is to build pressure through dot balls.

09:46 AM BST

‘A personal triumph’

How important will that century from Shan Masood be for Pakistan? A personal triumph, coming into this Test under pressure of his job, but he has set the tone with a stylish century off 101 balls - Pakistan’s fastest against England. He has attacked as he promised he would and seized Pakistan’s chance to capitalise on a good toss to win. We have seen recently Pakistan throw away good positions in Test cricket. They cannot let this one go.

09:45 AM BST

‘It stamps his authority’

Ricky Ponting would be pleased if he was commentating in Multan. The century by a captain in the first innings of the opening Test was his speciality. It stamps his authority on the whole series.

09:43 AM BST

OVER 39: PAK 184/1 (Abdullah Shafique 72* Shan Masood 104*)

Atkinson goes tumbling over the boundary but does well to deny Shafique a boundary before Masood picks up three with a tickle around the corner. Bashir perhaps looks the more threatening of England’s two spinners but he lacks the control of Leach.

09:38 AM BST

OVER 38: PAK 177/1 (Abdullah Shafique 69* Shan Masood 100*)

Woakes returns to the attack and sees his first ball pumped through cover for four. England are hoping Woakes is going to be able to get this ball reversing and as such he will have to bowl a fuller length. The old risk-reward issue. Two more to Masood take him to 99 off the same number of balls – this really has been a lovely knock thus far. England put the squeeze on with Masood but Woakes slides leg side giving the Pakistan captain an easy single. Tremendous hundred.

09:32 AM BST

OVER 37: PAK 170/1 (Abdullah Shafique 69* Shan Masood 93*

Bashir is back into the attack. Pope needs a decent little spell here from his young spinner with the seamers starting to tire in the conditions. Should Pakistan go after Bashir and hit him out of the attack, England really will have a problem. Masood is clearly eager to take him on but settles for a nudged single out into the covers. Decent over in the end – just one from it.

09:28 AM BST

OVER 36: PAK 169/1 (Abdullah Shafique 69* Shan Masood 92*

Ugly sequence. Rank long hop from Atkinson, ugly but effective swipe from Shafique, flailing effort from Brook at leg slip. Would not have looked out of place in division nine of the Cherwell League that. Ironically though, it’s as close as England have come to a wicket in this session. Shafique ends theover with a delightful punch off the back foot for four.

09:23 AM BST

OVER 35: PAK 161/1 (Abdullah Shafique 61* Shan Masood 92*

The Leach grind continues. He’s been economical if not threatening thus far but in truth getting a touch of control back will have been welcome to Ollie Pope. As I type, Masood smashes Leach back over his head for six...

09:19 AM BST

OVER 34: PAK 154/1 (Abdullah Shafique 60* Shan Masood 86*

Atkinson hacks in. England feel like they are wilting a touch here. Flat pitch, swealtering day – this will be as much about mental character as it is about the quality of the bowling. Masood picks up a couple out to deep sqaure.

09:15 AM BST

OVER 33: PAK 151/1 (Abdullah Shafique 59* Shan Masood 84*)

Leach airs this one out a little bit but Abdullah meets the challenge. Single into the covers. Another low-threat over if we are honest. I’m going to hand you over to Tom Ward for a while.

09:12 AM BST

OVER 32: PAK 150/1 (Abdullah Shafique 58* Shan Masood 84*)

Atkinson the next man to try and roll the chin music dice. Dug in. And dug out by Shan - he’s helped this one on its way over fine leg for six! Suggestion of the top edge there and with the man back, Gus Atkinson is entitled to look a little aggreieved, which he does.

09:10 AM BST

OVER 31: PAK 142/1 (Abdullah Shafique 58* Shan Masood 76*)

Pakistan win has gone odds on. England pushed out to 5/1 or worse.

Masood starting to ask some questions of Leach. Hard sweep for four. I’ve always liked Shan. Intelligent batsman and person. Was something of a walking wicket in 2015 and 2016 when England played Pakistan in UAE and then in England. But he made some changes and came back at England with that super 156 at Old Trafford in 2020.

09:03 AM BST

OVER 30: PAK 137/1 (Abdullah Shafique 58* Shan Masood 71*)

Think you need to be proper rapid to trouble Test batsmen with the short ball on this pitch and Carse’s bumper is a bit of a sit-up-and-beg so far. Shafique cracks a short one to the boundary.

09:01 AM BST

OVER 29: PAK 132/1 (Abdullah Shafique 54* Shan Masood 70*)

This pair happy to treat Leach with caution, and he’s not posing any particular questions, so another quiet over.

08:56 AM BST

OVER 28: PAK 130/1 (Abdullah Shafique 53* Shan Masood 69*)

Carse. Short. Masood. Pulls. Crunchy four runs to the midwicket fence.

08:53 AM BST

OVER 27: PAK 124/1 (Abdullah Shafique 53* Shan Masood 62*)

Lord Gower is complaining about Jack Leach’s overly defensive mindset. Men back on both sides, one run is on offer for free. I suppose you need your roundheads as well as your cavaliers but I do see what Gower means.  In fairness he does have a slip and a short leg. One off the over.

08:48 AM BST

OVER 26: PAK 123/1 (Abdullah Shafique 53* Shan Masood 62*)

Carse with some short stuff, as decent a plan as any, and just one off the over.

08:45 AM BST

Talking of commentators

I am enjoying the work of Urooj Mumtaz Khan. She has the superb wiki intro of

“Urooj Mumtaz Khan (born 1 October 1985) is a Pakistani cricket commentator, television host, dentist, and former cricketer”

A renaissance woman and no mistake! Unlike some commentators who are more like pulling teeth etc etc and so on.

Right then. To the cricket. Carse to bowl.

08:43 AM BST

Players are back out

for the afternoon session. England need to hit the ground running.

08:43 AM BST

Nice to have DI Gower

on the telleh. He’s working for the world feed / host broadcaster thing that Sky are porting in.

08:41 AM BST

Here’s Shan looking class earlier

08:32 AM BST

Interesting interview with McCullum

in the interval on Sky Sports with Brendon M and Mike Atherton. Atherton rightly puts it to him as to why England’s bowling consultant James Anderson is off playing golf, surely the most important time to impart his know-how is before the first Test? Baz says that they have tech these days so you can still be connected. Athers doesn’t look entirely convinced.

08:20 AM BST

Lunch interval

gives England plenty to ponder, including a bungled run out chance from the greenhorn skipper and the fact that Bashir is being targeted. Successfully. Woakes looking pretty friendly as well. Carse and Atkinson solid but unspectacular. Pakistan have been in dreadful form though so don’t rule out a collapse.

08:03 AM BST

Lunch: Pakistan 122/1 (Abdullah Shafique 53* Shan Masood 61*) off 25 ov

One gifted wicket, but otherwise Pakistan have taken control here.

Will Macpherson: “Hard work, that, for England. Nice batting from Pakistan, especially Abdullah Shafique, who scored more slowly than Shan Masood, but looked in much greater control. They have a clear strategy to hit Shoaib Bashir out of the attack, which would mean more and more overs for the seamers in searing heat...”

08:01 AM BST

OVER 25: PAK 122/1 (Abdullah Shafique 53* Shan Masood 61*)

Poor old Jack Leach gets the token over before lunch. One off it. Bit of encouragement in that the last ball of the over grips.

07:59 AM BST

OVER 24: PAK 121/1 (Abdullah Shafique 53* Shan Masood 60*)

Shafique has been quiet but unloads on Bashir here. Slapped over mid on for four. Now he gives himself room to cut for four. And then finishes off the over with a six! Battered over long on and that’s a chastening experience for the young spinner. Half century for Shafique.

07:54 AM BST

OVER 23: PAK 105/1 (Abdullah Shafique 38* Shan Masood 59*)

Atkinson with an eight-ball over, feat. a no ball and an aerial wide. You’re going to get pretty tired pretty quickly in this heat if you are doing 33 per cent more work.

07:48 AM BST

OVER 22: PAK 98/1 (Abdullah Shafique 35* Shan Masood 59*)

One off the Bashir over.

07:47 AM BST

‘Effect on the world’

07:44 AM BST

OVER 21: PAK 98/1 (Abdullah Shafique 35* Shan Masood 57*)

Masood tucks Atkinson to leg for a couple to bring up his 50. And then celebrates by creaming a four a couple of balls later. Looking in the mood.

07:41 AM BST

OVER 20: PAK 89/1 (Abdullah Shafique 35* Shan Masood 48*)

Masood playing young Bashir with real authority here and Bash needs to find a way to bride the experience gap. Can Pope help him? Probably not, I would suggesrt.

07:39 AM BST

OVER 19: PAK 86/1 (Abdullah Shafique 35* Shan Masood 45*)

Gus A trying out some short stuff but no particular concerns for Shafique in this maiden.

07:35 AM BST

Swing is limited

There has only been 0.55 degrees of swing today, which is the fourth-lowest in the first session of day one for a Test in Pakistan since the start of 2021.

Three of the bottom four for swing movement are Tests involving England with the 2022 Test in Multan also being a part of it.

07:30 AM BST

OVER 18: PAK 86/1 (Abdullah Shafique 35* Shan Masood 45*)

Masood came down the pitch previously to Bashir, which might have got in the head of the young bowler, who drops short here. Shan’s onto that quick. Four. Now Bashir is too wide, and that is punished as well with another four. England have some issues.

07:25 AM BST

OVER 17: PAK 78/1 (Abdullah Shafique 35* Shan Masood 37*)

Crazy run from Masood! And Pope should have done much, much better from short midwicket. He misses by miles with the throw from short range. And then punches the stumps in frustration. Settle down, Bloodaxe,

07:22 AM BST

OVER 16: PAK 76/1 (Abdullah Shafique 34* Shan Masood 36*)

Masood taking the fight to Bashir! Brace of fours, the first one a bit rough and ready.

07:21 AM BST

OVER 15: PAK 67/1 (Abdullah Shafique 33* Shan Masood 28*)

Masood starting to look tasty. Strokes Carse through cover for four.

07:19 AM BST

OVER 14: PAK 61/1 (Abdullah Shafique 32* Shan Masood 23*)

No obvious signs of turn in that first over from Bashir.

07:18 AM BST

Zak attack

It’s felt a bit like every time I’ve looked up this morning, Zak Crawley has been chasing the ball to the boundary. Says a bit about the state of play – Pakistan being given ample scoring opportunity by England – but also the slowness of the outfield.

07:17 AM BST

Stat attack

It’s 31 days since the start of England’s third Test against Sri Lanka at the Oval, 28 since the end of it. That’s the shortest gap they have ever had between their last home Test of a summer and the first away Test of the winter.

07:07 AM BST

England turn to spin

Scyld has his answer - it is Bashir.

07:06 AM BST

‘Pakistan’s hour’

Good first hour for Pakistan apart from the lame dismissal of Saim down the leg side. Masood has been lucky, a few leading edges have landed safely and he overturned an lbw on 16. But he has taken the attack to England, leading the way for his team and Pakistan have scored at a brisk rate - 4.3 an over. Woakes has suddenly rediscovered the leg side half volley that plagues him overseas and his first five overs went at 5 an over. Carse was lively, reaching a touch under 90 and his eighth legal ball brought him the wicket of Masood before hawkeye rubbed it out for pitching outside leg. It is time for spin, you would think.

07:05 AM BST

OVER 13: PAK 56/1 (Abdullah Shafique 31* Shan Masood 19*)

This looks like what a certain Yorkshireman would describe as a “book in for bed and breakfast.” Shafique creams a ball from Carse to the cover fence. The Nautical Bottom has his work cut out on debut.

Carse and his new teammattes can review their progress over drinks

06:59 AM BST

OVER 12: PAK 50/1 (Abdullah Shafique 26* Shan Masood 18*)

Woakes going quite straight at Shafique  and hits him on the pads, high.

06:57 AM BST

Spin choices

Big psychological decision for Ollie Pope coming up: does he bring on Shoaib Bashir or Jack Leach first? Bashir is the incumbent. Leach outbowled him in their last game for Somerset.

06:55 AM BST

Woakes in need

A change of ends for Chris Woakes, who just needs a wicket in his first overseas Test appearance since Grenada 2022, the defeat that sparked the Bazball revolution. The runs have started to flow off Woakes; given he is the experienced head, at the very least he needs to be parsimonious.

06:54 AM BST

OVER 11: PAK 49/1 (Abdullah Shafique 25* Shan Masood 18*)

Carse thinks he has a maiden Test wicket when he pins Shan on the pads and it is given. Masood wastes no time in asking for a review

And rightly so because it pitched outside leg.

06:51 AM BST

OVER 10: PAK 42/1 (Abdullah Shafique 25* Shan Masood 12*)

Woakes with a wide one, Shafique throws everything at it and luckily for him, misses.

06:44 AM BST

OVER 9: PAK 36/1 (Abdullah Shafique 19* Shan Masood 12*)

Carse begins with a maiden.

06:39 AM BST

Carse

to bowl.

06:37 AM BST

OVER 8: PAK 36/1 (Abdullah Shafique 19* Shan Masood 12*)

Abdullah Shafique timing the ball nicely as he attacks Atkinson. Gus is bowling quite quick. Drawing some false shots but runs are coming.

06:35 AM BST

OVER 7: PAK 27/1 (Abdullah Shafique 14* Shan Masood 9*)

This pair are settling well and beginning the process of recovery from the early setback.

06:20 AM BST

‘Shocker’

Absolute gimme for England as Saim caught down the leg side off a nothing ball from Atkinson. It is the seventh consecutive single figure stand for these openers - an all time record according to TMS statistician Andy Zaltsman - and on a flat pitch that one is a shocker.

06:19 AM BST

OVER 4: PAK 8/1 (Abdullah Shafique 1* Shan Masood 0*)

Skipper Shan Masood comes in, sooner than he would have been hoping having won the toss and batted.

06:17 AM BST

WICKET! Saim c Smith b Atkinson 4

Oh dear that is a poor way to get out. Legside ball from Atkinson, bit of extra bounce but no way a Test match opener should be fiddling at that and gloving it behind. Weak. FOW 8/1

Will Macpherson: “Gus Atkinson’s 35th Test wicket, in just his seventh Test. Definitely not the prettiest, but they all count, especially in these conditions.”

06:13 AM BST

OVER 3: PAK 5/0 (Abdullah Shafique 1* Saim Ayub 4*)

First boundary of the morning, an attractive square drive from the left-hander Saim Ayub. Four, and a very nice way to get off the mark.

06:12 AM BST

OVER 2: PAK 1/0 (Abdullah Shafique 1* Saim Ayub 0*)

Gus Atkinson begins with a maiden. Watchful Shafique.

06:09 AM BST

‘Bad toss to lose’

A bad toss for England to lose, you’d say. Certainly that was my immediate instinct when my alarm went off this morning, and I rolled over bleary-eyed this morning. The dynamic between Leach and Bashir will be fascinating; senior man Leach was bowling beautifully for Somerset in September, while first choice Bashir’s season rather fell away.

Zak Crawley true to his word on not fielding in the slips. He’s England’s best athlete, but that was a filthy run out attempt. Saim would surely have been safe either way.

06:06 AM BST

OVER 1: PAK 1/0 (Abdullah Shafique 1* Saim Ayub 0*)

Woakes accurate and getting a bit of seam movement. Promising start.

Hoult: “This pitch is very dry. There are footmarks at Chris Woakes’s end after just one over. It will turn. The grass will burn off quickly and expect it to crumble. Batting last will be a massive challenge.”

06:04 AM BST

Here is Carse getting his cap earlier

06:01 AM BST

Anthems done

It looks jolly hot! Chris Woakes has the new ball. David Gower is on comms. Woakes will bowl to Abdullah Shafique.

05:47 AM BST

Zak Crawley

“We have a lot of good memories from here and we haven’t changed too much, to be honest. The surface looks greener (now) but we were brave when we had to be last time.”

05:37 AM BST

‘The pitch looks green’

The hessian cover has been peeled off and the pitch looks green, making it important England make the most of the new ball after Pakistan won the toss and bat first. The grass will not last long under the hot sun so a wasteful performance with the new ball could cost England the game. Brydon Carse received his Test cap from Ben Stokes this morning, making his debut at 29 which is unusually old for the Bazballers.

It is baking hot already and the black kites have been circling the ground all morning, swooping down towards the players warming up on the outfield. There are far more England fans here than two years ago, probably several hundred filling the few hotels in Multan that accept westerners. Credit to them because this is not an easy city to be a visitor but if this Test is as entertaining as the one here in 2022 it will be worth it.

05:35 AM BST

Ollie Pope speaks

“Obviously I did the Sri Lanka series and I came here ready to captain. Hottest conditions I have played in. Would have batted. There is a little bit of moisture in the pitch so hope we can make the msot of that early.”

Pakistan: 1 Saim Ayub, 2 Abdullah Shafique, 3 Shan Masood (capt), 4 Babar Azam, 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Salman Ali Agha, 8 Aamer Jamal, 9 Shaheen Afridi, 10 Naseem Shah, 11 Abrar Ahmad

England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope (capt), 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jamie Smith (wk), 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Jack Leach, 11 Shoaib Bashir

05:34 AM BST

The toss

Ramiz Raja is doing the toss. Pakistan win the toss and bat.

05:33 AM BST

The weather

Scorchio!

It’s already 84 degrees there at 9am and the forecast is for 97 degrees.

Here is the toss.

05:26 AM BST

The toss

will happen at half past the hour.

05:07 AM BST

Day one preview

Good morning and welcome to our live blog of the first Test between Pakistan and England, in Multan. England arrive distinctly short of a gallop, they have only just arrived in the country. That’s not to say that the England cricket team haven’t been busy: after all, they were contesting a one-day series in England only last week, playing Australia with a white ball under grey skies. Conditions-wise, this is a different challenge and there’s no getting away from the fact that England are undercooked.

It seems absurd really, and there are personnel questions to answer alongside the structural ones about fixture congestion. With James Anderson having been retired, Mark Wood injured and Ollie Robinson out in the cold, none of the seamers who played on England’s successful last trip here are present. England take on Pakistan with a pace bowling attack of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson. Woakes, splendid fellow and a force in English conditions, has played 20 Tests overseas and taken 36 wickets at 52, far inferior to his record in Blighty. The other two haven’t played Test cricket at all outside the UK. And talking of inexperience, with Ben Stokes out injured still, Ollie Pope skippers.

All that said, the hosts have plenty of problems of their own, they have lost five Tests in a row and the build up to this one has been a bit of a shambles, it wasn’t even really clear where the opening match would be played. But in Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Aamer Jamal, they have some quality bowling and skipper Shan Masood has the batting genius of Babar Azam to call upon. It would take a brave person to predict this one and to be honest the wheels could come off for either, or indeed both, sides.

The toss will be at 5.30am UK time and the action starts at 6am UK.