2nd Test: England v Pakistan at Old Trafford

Pakistan riding high after their win at Lords. England have trimmed their 14-man squad down to 12 with Finn and Ball making way. Anderson returning is welcome news. Rumours circulating that England may opt to play two spinners - Mo and Rashid.

Okay, so who here is cheering for Pakistan? Go on, you know you are ... I'm in it for England, but my gf likes to cheer on the visiting team. It becomes a bit of a friendly rivalry between the two of us, winner getting some kind of preordained prize.

England win the toss and elect to bat. Rashid misses out. Pakistan unchanged.

Amir gives Hales a working over that over and gets one to swing back through the gate. Hales not looking anywhere close to as assured as he did against Sri Lanka. Early breakthrough for Pakistan. 25/1.

I'd like to think that England would be wanting payback for the last defeat, and I'd liked to think that after winning the toss they would bat now with a lot more confidence than what they are doing at the moment.

It's early days of course, but that early breakthrough for Pakistan won't have helped the England confidence either.

Cook has looked fantastic early going. Very disciplined with some crunching boundaries. Hales, on the other hand, continued to look a little out of his depth. The jury is still very much out on his ability to play Test match cricket. He struggled in South Africa, scored heavily against a weak Sri Lankan attack, and has struggled again early going in this series.

Full credit to Amir, mind. That was a fantastic spell of bowling to Hales. Pushed the ball across him, then got one to swing back in through the gate.

Yasir into the attack in the 14th over. England 47/1.

50 partnership up between Cook and Root. England 75/1.