da 888： The ground is under construction and the tickets are overpriced, but you won’t complain if you get to sit in front of the Pakistan dressing room and also watch a brilliant rearguard effort
da betsul： Saad Qureshi09-Aug-2010The game
Pakistan v England at Edgbaston. Having watched both Pakistan’s victories against the Aussies in the Twenty20s here, I was anxiously waiting for a chance to watch a Test in Birmingham. Despite the unevenness of the first contest and first day’s play here, the third day seemed intriguing. Despite the overpriced tickets, people are always excited when the circus rolls up and it was the same for Salman Butt’s band of merry men.Team supported
Pakistan. Like many before me, I bear witness to the mental scars of Pakistan cricket. But like a hopeless romantic I am pulled in for one more roll of the dice. The attraction of a frenzied Pakistan in full flow is often nullified by their ability to squander chances of success, and their frequent forays into the woeful. But on their day there is no other.Key performers
Graeme Swann and Zulqarnain Haider. The latter’s rearguard action was a pleasure to witness, particularly after he narrowly avoided the ignominy of a king pair on debut. His innings was a lesson to the batsmen above him in the order, as he showed guts and character. For England, the evolution of Swann from a feisty bits-and-pieces cricketer into a genuine match-winner is indeed a stunning turnaround. He spun the ball a lot and tore through the Pakistani top order in a manner his fast-bowling cohorts have become accustomed to. Undoubtedly, England hold an important trump card when they travel to Australia.One thing I’d have changed
Haider scoring a century would have been a terrific way to end the day. Umar Akmal, perhaps utilising some common sense when deciding to pad up to Swann’s sharp offbreaks? It would also have been nice to have more spectators in the ground, especially given the excellent weather throughout the day.Accessories
The Pakistan Supporters’ Bag: two horns (one as back-up), a flag, face paint and a newspaper. The newspaper is for reading during the customary collapse. However, horns were banned, to my dismay.Interplay I enjoyed
Stuart Broad and James Anderson probing away in the morning to a resolute Azhar Ali and Imran Farhat. Also, Ajmal and Haider’s fightback.Filling the gaps
I read the Mike Gatting.Entertainment
Kamran Akmal ran five laps of the outfield during the lunch break. Punishment for his failings in the last Test? May have been a typical masterstroke by Ijaz Butt. He then proceeded to put on a “catching clinic” with David Dwyer. Kamran with gloves on is always entertaining.Tests or limited-overs?
Tests are the true examination of a cricketer, both physically and mentally. A crucial performance that goes a long way in determining the outcome is far more exhilarating in a Test than in any of the shorter versions.Overall
It was a great day. The atmosphere was enjoyable and the weather excellent. As a Pakistan fan I was pleased with the first hour, but Swann’s spell made me sink into my seat. It looked like it was all going to be over soon enough but Pakistan’s lower order batting showed some real spine and attempted to make a contest of it. If the batsmen had put together a poor total in the first innings, say 170 or 180 as opposed to a pathetic one, there would be a serious game on our hands right now.Marks out of 10
8. If Haider and Ajmal had remained at the crease at the close of play, the points would have been higher but the back-and-forth nature of the day made it worthwhile.