2nd Test: England v Pakistan at Old Trafford

Rooooooooooooooooooot. Ton up for Joe. A high class innings. Measured and controlled. Really need him to push on with a big daddy hundred. 244/3.

Congrats to Joe !

Rod Tucker goes to inspect Yasir's footmarks now... just to point out how close

he is getting, I think. Ah, no, it's his first warning for running on the pitch .

CHOP ON! Ballance tries to cut a ball that's far too straight and falls for 23 with a quarter of an hour left

Moeen Ali must be as good a number 9 as England have ever had

314 - 4 after 89 0vers

88.6
Yasir Shah to Woakes, no run, tossed up and this time the big stride comes out.

Woakes survives, and England are thriving at stumps  ..

An excellent day for England, though indebted, as almost always to Cook and Root. Losing Cook on the stroke of tea and then Ballance at the end of play stings a little, but England will have their sights firmly set on a weighty first innings score.

Not to be a Debby Downer on what was a great day for England, but the performances of Hales, Vince and Ballance continue to be a cause of great concern.

kinda getting routine ....one comes to expect that of that Trio  :-[

An excellent morning so far for England. Root motoring along to 170 and Woakes is continuing his purple patch with a 50. 400/4.

Woakes chips one back to Yasir for a comfortable caught and bowled. Gone for 58. He played very well. He has had an incredible summer so far. The persistence from the selectors has paid off. England 414/5.