The First test began with the long awaited announcement of the
team selection from England. Four or five bowlers? One or two spinners? Finn or
Tremlett? These were the main questions in focus. The team selected was: A
Strauss (C), A Cook, J Trott, K Pietersen, I Bell, E Morgan, M Prior (WK), S
Broad, G Swann, C Tremlett and J Anderson. An almost identical squad to the one
from their last test against India, except for Tremlett in for the injured Tim
Bresnan (elbow). Pakistan went for a slightly different approach with team
selection by including three spinners and only two spinners. The Pakistan team
were as follows, M Hafeez, T Umar, A Ali, Y Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (C), A Shafiq,
A Akmal (WK), A Rehman, U Gul, S Ajmal, and A Cheema. A very different side
from the one England played their last test against in 2010.

The highly anticipated event of the toss was won by England
captain Andrew Strauss who decided that his team would bat first. Umar Gul
opened the bowling for Pakistan with both of the England openers getting off
the mark during the first over; the score was 2/0 after the over was finished.
Aizaz Cheema opened the bowling from the opposite end and began with going for
3 runs. Spin was first introduced by the 6^th over, with Misbah-ul-Haq
bringing Mohammad Hafeez into the attack. This risk paying off for the
Pakistani captain immediately with Hafeez removing Cook with the third ball of
the over. Cook went caught behind for 3 runs. Trott came into bat at number
three, and stayed in to make 17 runs before also being caught behind, but this
time off the bowling of Aizaz Cheema. Pietersen joined Strauss with the score
on 31/2. The leading wicket taker of 2011 was introduced to bowl the 19^th
over, striking with the last ball of his over to remove the England captain for
19. Ian Bell came in at 4 but was removed first ball by Saeed Ajmal, a golden
duck for the man who averaged over 100 last summer. Pietersen was the next
batsmen to be removed, lbw to Ajmal for 2 runs. Morgan and Prior were now at the
crease together. Probably England’s best two players against spin. The pair
joined with the score on 43/5. Lunch came with the score on 52/5. England would
need to dig in deep after lunch.

Morgan and Prior returned to bat after lunch and made a
partnership of 39 before Morgan getting out lbw to Ajmal for 24. England’s
current highest and longest partnership. Broad joined Prior on 15. Broad became
Ajmal’s 5^th victim of the innings by getting out lbw for 8, not even
the review system could save him. Swann then joined Prior to create the highest
partnership for England’s first innings of 57. Swann was bowled by Rehman for
34 and was replaced by Tremlett. Matt Prior reached his half century during the
62^nd over off 115 balls with only 2 fours. Tremlett was removed in
the 67^th over lbw to Ajmal for 1. Last man in James Anderson joined
Prior on 57*. England’s innings ended on 192 all out when Anderson was removed
by Ajmal for 12 runs. Matt Prior ended on 70 not out. A stand out innings from
him. The Pakistani bowlers finished on; Gul 12-4-35-0, Cheema 12-0-43-1, Hafeez
6-3-5-1, Rehman 18-5-52-1 and Ajmal with the outstanding figures of
24.3-7-55-7.

Pakistan’s innings began with James Anderson opening the bowling
with three slips and a gully. Anderson begins with a maiden. Tremlett also
opening the bowling. Strauss brings Broad into the attack to replace Tremlett
and opens with a maiden in the 8^th over. Pakistan reached 31/0 after
10 over’s. Strauss brings Swann into the attack to replace Anderson and his
first over goes for four runs. Pakistan finish the day on 42/0, with Umar on
18runs off 42 balls and Hafeez on 22 runs off 49 balls. Anderson finished with
figures of 5-1-16-0, Tremlett with 30-13-0, Broad with 4-2-3-0 and Swann with
3-1-9-0.

Stand out players for each
team were; Saeed Ajmal for Pakistan and Matt Prior for England. The England
bowlers have a tough day tomorrow and will need early breakthroughs.