Live - England v Pakistan

Live video scorecard - England v Pakistan (UK only)

LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY (all times BST)

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By Ben Dirs

Peter from Sandhurst in the TMS inbox: "I think it's unfair labelling Kamran Akmal as having hands of stone - personally I think 'handen zoals voeten', as our Dutch neighbours would say, is much more apt - hands like feet, 'according to Babel fish."

1052: Some info on Zulqarnain Haider, Pakistan's debutant behind the stumps: he's 24, from Lahore and he's played 70 first-class matches and scored 3,078 runs at 34.58, with three tons and 17 fifties, so he can bat a bit. We'll soon find out what his glovework's like, maybe even today...

marvmark on 606 "Pakistan should have bowled first. Especially now they have a proper keeper!"

Tim, London, in the TMS inbox: "I cannot believe that Salman Butt has put Pakistan in - is he some kind of masochist? The only thing Pakistan have got going for them is their bowling attack, why would they not put England in and put them under pressure?"

1042: As I say, it's cloudy in Birmingham but no rain as yet - however, showers are forecast for later in the day. Jimmy Anderson will be salivating up in the dressing room like a thirsty old bulldog, he should be a real handful again today. Softish pitch apparently, which suggests it should seam around as well...

England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wk), Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Steven Finn

Pakistan: Salman Butt (capt), Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Zulqarnain Haider (wk), Mohammad Amir, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Asif

1036: Butt comes over all philosophical chatting to Athers, pointing out that while the half-built portions of Edgbaston might look ugly now, one day they will be part of a palace - just like the Pakistan cricket team. Like it. No Mohammad Yousuf for Pakistan - he only rocked up in England a couple of days ago and was considered to be a bit rusty.

1032: The big news from the Pakistan camp is that Kamran 'Manos de Piedra' Akmal has been canned meaning Zulqarnain Haider will make his debut behind the stumps. Spinner Danish Kaneria is also out and has been replaced by Saeed Ajmal, playing in his sixth Test. Salman Butt has won the toss and Pakistan are going to have a bat - cloud cover at Edgbaston...

1030: Hello. Yes, it's me again, doing this. Hope you're all well. The second Test match between dear old England and the touring Pakistanis starts at 1100 BST and is taking place in Birmingham. England are one-up, and are red-hot favourites to go two-up. Stick around and I'll tell you what happens...

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