Another Day, Another Controversy

The second Test is delicately poised with Pakistan 199 ahead with four wickets in hand. However, there was another controversial incident when Salman Butt had a run disallowed as the umpire used the full extent of the law to punish him for running on the pitch after an earlier warning. This unusual incident would have been nothing more than a footnote in the match had Butt not been out LBW the next delivery. Inzamam-ul-Haq appeared to run on the pitch later in the match, nearly colliding with the bowler Flintoff (the physicist in me was disappointed, we may have discovered what happens when an irresistible object hits an immovable post) and on this occasion the umpire did nothing. This has led to allegations of inconsistency, along with suggestions that the umpire found it easier to penalise an inexperienced 21-year old than the veteran Pakistani captain. At least the umpires are from neutral countries.

We are set for a nail biter of a finish tomorrow. The new ball is due in 14 overs and so it seems unlikely that the Pakistan tail will be able to bat England out of the game. However, England failed to chase 198 in Multan and whatever happens, they'll be chasing more than that tomorrow.

A draw is most likely, but all results are definitely still possible.