PAKISTAN v ENGLAND - THIRD TEST. LAHORE 29 NOV-3 DEC 2005

DAY 1

Finally the tour has turned full circle and we are back in Lahore, or "Pakistan Lite" as I tend to call it. Tree lined avenues and, as much as you will get anywhere in Pakistan, a more cosmopolitan feel. And finally away from the hotel environment and back in our own house, complete with security guard and maid!

Yesterday I saw my first England victory of the tour. Having missed the first warm up game in Rawalpindi, match results have been loss-loss-draw but yesterday England's Barmy Army cricket club, fresh from a tied match in Bahrain a few days ago, completed a victory with two balls to spare chasing 198 in 30 overs against local Lahore side Modeltown Whites. A momentous occasion for me (and most England fans) this was the first time I have seen the Barmy Army win on tour. Money raised by the charity event will go to the Earthquake fund.

Perhaps this victory was a good omen as Vaughan finally won a toss and chose to bat. The previous two days have been quite cloudy but this morning the sun was out though a breeze kept the temperature down to borderline chilly in the shade of the stands. Both teams have been forced to make changes by outside circumstances - Younis Khan has stepped down from the team following a death in the family, Afridi is out for reasons we all know. Hassan Raza returns with batsman Kamal the 12th man in Faisalabad. England are missing Strauss (and before you ask it may be the girlie view but I do agree with the decision to go home!) and Ashley Giles loses the battle for fitness. Collingwood is the expected replacement for Strauss, slotting in at number 4 with Vaughan to open with Trescothick, whilst Plunkett is chosen ahead of Anderson for the final bowling spot.

Only one spinner - but playing the two together has hardly been effective. I think it is right to go with the extra seamer - our pace attack has always been our strength - and whilst I have every sympathy with James Anderson I think it is the right move to give Plunkett his debut. Those who saw the first warm up game in Rawalpindi said though he was wayward at times when he got the line right he had the batters hopping around. He certainly looked sharp in the nets on Sunday. And this is a must-win match - we need 20 wickets and quickly as I cant see us getting much more than 75 overs play each day - essentially a 4 day Test. A gamble maybe, but no guts, no glory.

Plan A. Win toss. Bat first. Score lots of runs. And some. Then bowl out Pakistan cheaply. Twice. Simple, especially since first bit achieved. Trescothick opens with Vaughan - must be a bit like an illicit night out with the ex for old times sake. But with Shoaib Akhtar trying to knock your head off. Trescothick gets a single in the first over - no, its a leg bye. Batting against the new ball not easy, both Akhtar and Naved getting some help from this pitch. Vaughan settles the nerves with a straight driven 4 off Naved in the 4th over. But there are no gimmes for Trescothick and time and overs tick by whilst he is still to get off the mark. Eventually a scoring stroke - a cover drive for 4 - in the 10th over. It has taken 48 minutes (according to my unofficial pet scorer) to get a run on the board. As unofficial pet Somerset officionado I am asked if this is a record. I certainly remember Trescothick's debut test at Old Trafford where he held out for a similar length of time against Courtney Walsh and Curtley Ambrose before a bowling change meant he had a playable ball. I'm sure there is someone out there who can tell me.

Sami replaces Akhtar in the 11th over, Naved continues an opening spell of 9 overs at the other end. England move on to 50 when Vaughan pulls Naved for 4 in the 18th over. Spin is introduced in the 20th over in the shape of Shoaib Malik; Kaneria replaces Sami in the 25th. Despite what is probably the most seamer-friendly conditions we have seen on the opening day of a Test this series Pakistan have failed to break the opening partnership. Vaughan reaches 50 in the 26th over (70 balls, 9x4) and three overs later lunch is taken after just a two-hour session. The score is 93-0, Vaughan on 52, Trescothick 40.

After lunch it is a twin-pronged Shoaib attack - Akhtar at one end, Malik the other. A hundred opening partnership and its just like old times. Unfortunately it must have made Vaughan misty-eyed with the recollection as he (apparently) fails to see Yousuf and sweeps the ball from Malik directly to him at square leg. The look of astonishment on Yousuf's face was a picture, the frustration on Vaughan's face lasted rather longer. 101-1 and an opportunity lost.

But Ian Bell has not been short of form this series so all is not lost. Unfortunately someone must have told him the captain leads by example - an almost replica shot, the ball goes a bit finer but Yousuf doesnt have to move much to take the catch. 114-2 and Collingwood comes to the crease.

I take the opportunity to tell all those England fans within earshot, who were not in Multan, what I had said then is that to me Collingwood is not a number 4 Test batsman. This statement will put me in a win-win situation. Either he gets out in single figures, thus proving what a fine judge of a Test cricketer I actually am. Or, equally if not more likely, he goes on to make 150. Whilst the latter could cause me some embarrassment I am quite happy to take some flak if it helps the cause.

But enough of Collingwood as Trescothick reaches 50 (115 balls of which 93 were dots and 9 x 4). Then next over he becomes the third and most unlucky sweep shot victim as the ball bounces off the bat, onto the front foot and ballons upwards and forwards. It takes a fine diving catch by keeper Kamran and a slow-mo for the third umpire before Trescothick has another freak dismissal to add to his already quite extensive collection. And it wasn't my fault this time - no camera, I was in the pub! The 101 opening partnership has become 115-3.

Pietersen settles in well with Collingwood and for once doeant look like he is trying to outscore his batting partner. Indeed it is Collingwood who has the better scoring rate, looking to put plenty of egg on the saggy eared one's face. With the total on 138 Pietersen survives a massive lbw shout off dangerman Malik. Rudi Koerzen is unmoved - did he think there was an edge there? Replays show Mr P was a lucky boy indeed. The next ball is typically deposited over the boundary for 6.

The 150 is up in the 46th over, followed by the 50 partnership. Then in the final over before tea Pietersen tries to steer Naved to fine leg. The ball is a little close to him and possibly there is a little more bounce - the shot is cramped. But the credit must go to Kamran who takes a fine diving catch on the leg side to send England to tea on 183-4. Collingwood is still there on 33, just a few runs short of his Test best. I spend tea wondering where I can find non-curry-flavoured humble pie in Lahore.

After tea it is Naved to continue with Kaneria. Both teams have agreed to use the permanent floodlights should the light deteriorate and at about 3.25 the lights are starting to come on - it takes a while to get them fully lit and I'm hoping that unlike every other electrical device in the ground (or so it seems) they are not wired off the Sky TV cables. The 200 is posted in the 65th over, a milestone which pre-empts the next wicket as Flintoff top edges a hook to Akhtar at long leg. 201-5 is looking a bit under par. But Collingwood has sailed past his previous best and reaches 50 in the 67th over (83, 8)

In the 70th over Jones becomes Pakistan's fourth sweep victim of the day - missing completely he is bowled by Kaneria. 225-6. By 4.20pm the floodlights are starting to take over the role of illumination - without these play would have probably been called off soon after 4pm. as it is they last another 10 minutes or so before the umpires decide they havent been booked for a day-night fixture and call time, 13 overs short for the day. England are 248-6, with Collingwood steadfast on 71 and Udal 10. Unfortunately I fear the arrival of the new ball three overs into play tomorrow morning may deprive Colly of the partners he will need to reach my confidently predicted 150, but you never know

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