England v Pakistan: first Test, day four – live! – The Guardian

Moving day at Lord’s. In fact the movement was often imperceptible as the game sometimes proceeded at a 20th century pace. Wary batsmen gleaned their runs at under three per over. But movement there was. Eleven wickets fell, five of them to the irrepressible Chris Woakes and one side will be celebrating victory before Monday evening. The beauty of it is that we are not quite sure which one it will be.

This is when the cricket can be compelling even if there is not a six in sight, although Misbah-ul-Haq did his best to become the first man to clear the boundary in this Test during his brief and barren innings; the runs may be trickling but every boundary and most certainly every wicket changes the balance of the game deliciously. By the close Pakistan were 214 for eight, a lead of 281, already a substantial target, which was once achieved here by England in 2004 against New Zealand. This pitch is not quite so benign as 12 years ago.

The Pakistan batsmen had to battle hard to get their runs especially when Woakes had the ball in his hand. The Brummie Botham, as we shall try never to describe him again, took five more wickets, to give him 11 in the match. Once again he was England’s most potent bowler cruising up to the crease, never straining for rhythm and pace. England will be rejuggling their attack for Old Trafford with the return of Jimmy Anderson and Ben Stokes. But Woakes will definitely be there. Now his name is written on to the teamsheet in ink before just about everybody else.