"There hasn't been anything through the air - yet. The footholes are just starting to develop so as the match progresses there will be more action for the spinner and more reverse-swing. It will just get lower - not uneven. It will be attritional stuff.
"For Alastair Cook to go out and play the way he did is a perfect example for the team. But Pakistan are well on top."
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Scott Lennon: Someone like Starc or Malinga would have a field day on this wicket. Full and straight.
Post update
AFPCopyright: AFP
Apparently there have been interview requests for Shoaib Malik, but he's too dehydrated to face the media. Wasn't it Dean Jones who ended up on a drip after batting in India?
"My mum would love to bat on there against those bowlers. My auntie Anne would have a bat too - after two port and lemons.
"There's nothing there to worry about - the only thing England can do is get themselves out. Just go and bat the rest of tomorrow."
Post update
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England all-rounder Ben Stokes on Sky Sports: "Bowling in these condition is hard, then standing in the field watching the overs and runs tick by is very hard. Everyone has tried their nuts off in the field so we're very proud of what we've done.
"Coach Trevor Bayliss told me well done for a burgling a couple of wickets. You take wickets any way you can.
"We know that subcontinent players are very good against spin. Adil Rashid especially was very unlucky - on another day he could have got three or four. I'm sure they will have a bigger part to play in this series.
"Adil is quite laid back. I'm sure he'll be hurting to not get a wicket, but he's been bowling brilliantly."
"Moeen Ali defended well - he showed more patience than when he comes in batting at eight. He was tired after five sessions in the field but he used his nous and didn't go playing silly shots. He was smart enough to just defend. And Alastair Cook has been doing this for years."
Post update
Could England have done any more? They might be disappointed with the performance of their spinners, but the seamers remained a threat throughout. The tourists simply came up against a run-thirsty Pakistan team on a flat track in blistering conditions. The big positive for England is the performance of new opener Moeen, who was calm in facing 65 balls for his unbeaten 15.
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AFPCopyright: AFP
Charles Isere: Whether this wicket turns or not later, it is unfit for international cricket. If it does suddenly turn, it's simply a joke.
On Adil Rashid: "It's disappointing for him - you like to get a wicket or two when you play your first match. But he will come up smiling tomorrow. He's fairly phlegmatic - he's been here before when people have scored off him.
"For the spinners, there was no margin for error because it was so slow. They're not the greatest spin bowlers in the world but criticising them on here is not fair."
Post update
It's seemed like a long day, hasn't it? Probably even longer if you were an England fielder. Spare a thought for Adil Rashid - his 34-0-163-0 are the worst figures for any bowler on Test debut.
"It was a batting day - to grind people down. It was no fun to be a bowler yesterday or today.
"It should be a contest - there should be something there for the bowlers. I don't think they did anything wrong - Anderson and Broad showed control and know-how and didn't give anything away. But the ball did nothing - there was no reverse-swing and it was just help-yourself batting."
"Cook and Moeen have played nicely - they've played straight. There was just that little moment off the first ball of the innings when Cook was going to handle the ball. There was big appeal for lbw against Moeen and it was 'umpire's call'."
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Evan Samuel: I'd call this track a road but you'd get a lot more movement off a road in, say, Lambeth.
"England have just got to grind it out and bat as long as they possibly can tomorrow - get through the first session, then the second, then the third. In an ideal world, they get somewhere near Pakistan and say, 'you've got a tricky third innings in the match.'
"On days four and five, England have got to make sure they're not in a position where they can have a panic. Because we've seen it can start to spin drastically."
Close of play
Eng 56-0
England and their new-look opening pair survive, reaching the close at 56-0 in reply to Pakistan's huge 523-8 declared. There's still bags and bags of work to do in order to save this match, but at least they have not thrown it away in a mad hour on the second evening. All 10 wickets will be in the bank tomorrow.
"This is exactly what the opening pair has to do in this pressure zone - in the face of a team getting such a big total. If you can just dampen it down with a nice partnership like this..."
Eng 52-0
Last over coming up, Imran Khan with ball in hand. England very close to completing their evening's work.
"Asad Shafiq has got one Test wicket and two in 83 first-class matches."
Eng 52-0
Asad Shafiq, a hundred earlier today, is given a roll later in the evening, bowling some fairly ordinary off-spin round the wicket to this pair of left-handers. I suspect this job might have gone to Shoaib Malik had he not batted for the best part of a week. Under the floodlights, Shafiq is tidy without threatening. England will do all they can to ensure the next over is the last one of the day.
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73rooks: When did England last reach 50-0 in a Test match?
Eng 50-0 (trail by 473)
It feels like it's winding down, like both sides are happy to come back and resume battle tomorrow. When Moeen nudges Khan to the leg side, it brings up the 50 partnership - that's the fourth time this pair have notched a half-century stand in four times batting together. Maybe there was some method to the madness of pairing them at the top of the order. Who could have predicted that Cook would outscore Moeen too?
"Even when Cook is in his defensive mindset, he won't miss out on the chance to score."
Eng 49-0 (Cook 35, Moeen 12)
Babar's left arm is all over the shop as he skips in towards the wide defensive stroke of Alastair Cook. The skipper is shuffling across his stumps to negate any spin that is there, edging towards the close. England have got three or four overs to survive before the close.
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John McDermott: Should the first toss in the series should alternate for the other 4 Tests? Taking it out as a win factor?
Eng 47-0 (476 behind)
England have seen off Wahab Riaz, possibly until tomorrow. Imran Khan switches ends to come back for his second burst, with Moeen growing in stature to work a couple more through the leg side. After those worries that me might be too expansive to open, the Worcestershire man has taken 51 balls to reach double figures. At the moment, England are finding this pitch every bit as placid as Pakistan did.
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Want more cricket? Can't wait until Thursday? Listen to Tuffers & Vaughan on BBC Radio 5 live at 20:30 BST when Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell and Graeme Swann will debate England's performance against Pakistan, plus you can listen to an interview with Kevin Pietersen.
Eng 45-0 (Cook 34, Moeen 9)
Babar goes through his tricks, varying his pace to Moeen. No great turn for the left-arm tweaker, another short one worked by Moeen. Mark Wood has emerged from the dressing room with his pads on, he's been asked to act as nightwatchman. He must be delighted to do that after two days of bowling. There are 20 minutes left in the day.
"What Cook and Mooen have done is create calmness. We've seen England lose quick wickets in the past. But these two have played nicely and the pitch isn't doing a great deal. So far, so good."
Eng 40-0 (15 overs)
Here's a collectors' item, an umpire has just called a no-ball in a Test match without having to ask his mate with a TV upstairs. It's a good job for Moeen Ali that Wahab Riaz did overstep, otherwise he might have been the subject of a decent lbw shout. More and more of the stadium is now covered in shadow, we're at the end of a long day. Outside the England dressing room, Paul Farbrace sits and makes a bowling gesture. You know the one - imaginary ball, hand held out, pushing it forward like a man doing the ironing. It's a coach's default mime.
Pietersen on England, 'deceit' and coaching
APCopyright: AP
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen says he is open to a coaching role with England.
Pietersen, sacked in February 2014, was told this year by director of cricket Andrew Strauss he would not play for England in the "short term".
However, Strauss offered Pietersen a role as an advisor on a board to improve the one-day side, which he turned down.
Asked if would now like to help, the 35-year-old told the BBC: "Of course I would. I haven't got a clue if I will be asked but I don't worry about it."
Babar changes the angle, taking his left-armers round the wicket to this pair of left-handers. Cook, who has looked the most comfortable of this pair (naturally, seen as he is the regular opener), takes one through the covers, while Moeen continues to suppress his attacking instincts.
"This is excellent bowling. He has looked the most threatening of the Pakistan bowlers - and the most threatening we have seen in the match. He has that extra pace."
Eng 36-0 (trail by 487)
AFPCopyright: AFP
Good licks from Wahab, who is the first bowler in the match to be hurrying the man standing 22 yards away. Arms like hams, he charges in with his black hair following behind, then gets the ball to skid on. Cook works a couple through the leg side, then Moeen has to be sharp in dropping his hands away from a bouncer.
"The leggie Yasir Shah is going to be a big miss for Pakistan. It would have been set up perfectly for him."
Eng 33-0
Babar skips towards the smaller of the two stands, the city of Abu Dhabi in the distance. There's a good chunk of desert between the stadium and the skyscrapers. Tidy from Babar, who looks set to offer Pakistan much more control than England's spinners did for Alastair Cook.
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PtheP: We're already bossing this - Pakistan were a wicket down by now! #easypeasy.
Eng 32-0 (Cook 24, Moeen 7)
AFPCopyright: AFP
Moeen should be ready to take a few up the nose from Wahab, who has the field set for the chin music. Double jeopardy too, with two slips and a gully waiting in case Moeen is camped on the back foot and edges the full ball. Shadows lengthening in the Emirati evening, Wahab charges in on an angle and bangs the ball in. Moeen, for now, is up to the task of defending.
Scorecard update
England 32-0 (10 overs) - trail by 491
Batsmen: Cook 24*, Moeen 7*
Bowling figures: Rahat 4-0-12-0, Khan 2-0-9-0, Babar 3-1-7-0, Riaz 1-0-4-0
"Moeen Ali has never opened before but this is at the extreme end of the spectrum. If he can come through this, he will take a huge amount from it, because this is a horrible mini-session for an opening batsman."
"Technically, this is easy, by the standards of Test cricket - against seam especially. Predominantly, this is a physical challenge - it is at the limit."
Eng 32-0 (trail by 491)
At his best, Babar looks to have the ball on a string. He floats it up into the cloudless evening sky, teasing the batsman, before yanking it back with a dip that has it pitching on a length. His bad ball looks to be a shorter one that Cook whips through the leg side for three. There are 13 overs left in the day, but they have to be bowled by 14:30.
"Tonight, I'd put an arm round Rashid's shoulder and say, 'Listen mate, extenuating circumstances: flat pitch, against a good Pakistan side.'
"But the worst figures on debut - that does hurt; it doesn't matter how tough you are as a character.
"It's a difficult job when it's flat and you're bowling slowly. But it's not always going to be like this - there will be better pitches, better circumstances."
Eng 28-0 (Cook 21, Moeen 6)
A different kind of left-arm threat for England, with the pacey Wahab Riaz into the attack. It was Riaz who had the feisty confrontation with Shane Watson in the World Cup and he is already up at 90mph. His pace is slightly negated by the slow pitch and Alastair Cook swivels to pull a bouncer for a single. Will Moeen play the short stuff quite so well? The one bumper he gets is so high it is called wide.
Post update
Eng 24-0 (trail by 499)
Nature in action in Abu Dhabi, with what looks like a falcon ripping another bird to pieces on one of the grass banks that are square of the wicket. In the middle, Moeen can suppress the urge to attack Babar no longer, slog-sweeping aerially into a vacant spot on the leg side for a couple.
"That's the area that attacks will be looking at with Moeen Ali..."
Eng 21-0 (Cook 17, Moeen 4)
Pakistan, remember, are playing an extra seamer in this match because gun leg-spinner Yasir Shah got injured and they couldn't get a replacement over in time. Rahat Ali has been slightly inaccurate so far and errs on both sides of the wicket to Cook, getting cut for four and then worked for three. When Rahat goes short to Moeen, the defence isn't the most convincing, with the ball looping and landing short of gully.
"Moeen Ali is the first England player to open in the first innings of a Test who hasn't opened before."
Eng 14-0 (Cook 10, Moeen 4)
Babar, run to the crease and arms like a whirlwind, has a slip, leg slip and short leg to Moeen. How will Moeen play this? He likes to attack the spinners. Nice loop from Babar, landing the ball outside Moeen's off stump and looking for turn back towards the stumps. Nice maiden, suggesting Babar could provide both control and a wicket threat.
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Will Collins in Yorkshire: Just play yourselves in boys… three days should do it.
Eng 14-0
Now the real game begins. Spin in only the sixth over. Here come the left-arm tweakers of Zulfiqar Babar.
Post update
Ramiz Raja
Ex-Pakistan captain & Test Match Special pundit
"Moeen Ali has late on getting around that one with a half-push forward. Pakistan would look to bowl that length and look to bowl that channel - not worry about the shorter stuff and varying the pace."
"If he had given that out nobody would have complained."
Eng 14-0
Not out on impact, but here is a potential problem with DRS. The point of impact is adjudged to be umpire's call. But what if umpire Paul Reiffel had given Moeen not out because he thought he hit it first? Reiffel may have thought the impact was in line? Do we actually know what the umpire's call for impact actually was?
"The slips and the keeper are convinced. I think this is a really good shout."
Umpire review
Eng 14-0
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Now then, Pakistan are excited. Moeen the batsman, Rahat the bowler. Lbw shout. Not out on the field, but another look requested. Bat or pad first? Has it hit him in line?
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Eng 13-0 (trail by 510)
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Khan, a circle and a skip at the end of his run-up, is already around the wicket to Alastair Cook, who has his tongue poking out as he jabs down the ground for a couple. Ooohh, that's a lovely way for Moeen to get his first runs as a Test opener, a push through the covers for three. I'm trying to think if anyone has ever had a bigger promotion in the batting order from one Test to another. Moeen has gone from eight to two.
Post update
Ramiz Raja
Ex-Pakistan captain & Test Match Special pundit
"Wahab likes to bowl with an older ball. In one-day cricket too, he is the first-change bowler. But Pakistan clearly believe a right-arm, left-arm combination is the way to go here first up."
Eng 7-0 (Cook 7, Moeen 0)
Rahat Ali has a stuttering run-up, one which almost stops as he jumps into his delivery stride, picking the ball from a spot somewhere near his trouser pocket to a release point at about 11 on the clock face. Sun still bright but shadows lengthening, England currently going along without alarm.
Next cab off the rank...
Eng 4-0 (trail by 519)
Imran Khan (not that one) shares the new ball, a straight run-up into a chest-on right-arm over action. Three slips and a short leg for Cook, who breathes hard as he waits then nudges a single on the leg side. Moeen, shirt flapping but beard still, is calm in defending his first deliveries as a Test opener.
The hosts were thankful for MS Dhoni's brilliant unbeaten 92 off 86 balls, leading their recovery from 124-6 to post 247-9 in Indore. He and Ishant Sharma added an unbroken 22 for the last wicket but Ishant was only required to face one ball.
Dale Steyn finished with 3-49 and there were two wickets apiece for Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir.
Close!
Eng 1-0
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
What did we say about it looking a different game as soon as England start batting? Second ball, Alastair Cook nearly comes a cropper. Shortish ball, chopped into the ground, heading towards the stumps. For a second, Cook thinks about pushing it away with his hand, which would have seen him out handled the ball. He withdraws his paw and is relieved to see the ball bounce safely. The rest of Rahat's over isn't much to write home about, with Moeen leaving the only ball he faces.
Eng 0-0
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Cook will take strike to Rahat Ali, a man who has had his feet up for two days. Catchers waiting. Game on.
Post update
It's hard to overestimate how big the next hour or so is in the context of this match and the series. Get through tonight no more than one down and England have a decent chance of saving this match. Sleep with three or four wickets lost and it will be incredibly tough to salvage. Here come the England batsmen, somehow managing to jog out.
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Post update
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
So, Moeen Ali. You've just bowled 30 wicketless overs for 121 runs. It's hot enough to make a camel cry. You've got 10 minutes to prepare for your first stab at opening the batting in your first-class career. Good luck, old chap.
"Too many times England have flopped as a team. That's not good enough - it puts you under pressure too often."
Pakistan declare on 523-8
Misbah, the emperor in the colosseum, waved a hand to show his will. Pakistan have declared on 523-8, a huge score that has batted England out of this match. Mercifully for the tourists, two days baking in the field is over. A different kind of heat will be on over the next 23 overs or so - the battle to survive.
WICKET
Babar c Anderson b Stokes 0 (Pak 523-8)
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
They're dropping like flies now. Zulfiqar Babar swings at a Ben Stokes bouncer, gets a top edge to James Anderson on the leg side and then...
"You've got to make sure you don't make a silly mistake. You need to move those feet - you're tired from being them on them for such a long time. Get your brain thinking, then it falls into place."
Pak 523-7 (151 overs)
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Alastair Cook, complete with wound between his fingers, looks absolutely shattered underneath his sun hat. It will be such a touch ask for the skipper and Moeen to go out to open the batting after the best part of two days in the field. You can almost sense that it will look a different game when England come to bat. Mark Wood trudges in, Riaz almost swings himself off his feet to get a couple over mid-on.
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Matthew Williams: I have a horrible feeling that the roller between innings will suddenly make this wicket unplayable.
Pak 521-7 (Stokes 17-2-57-3)
How long might Pakistan go on for? If England keep going like this, they might bowl them out. Quietly, Ben Stokes has nipped in with some decent figures. Zulfiqar Babar is the new man - he averages 23 in Test cricket.
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What We Learnt Today: Ian Bell catches two in a row in quick succession. The word irony doesn't do it justice... any suggestions?
WICKET
Malik c Bell b Stokes 245 (Pak 521-7)
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
It was coming, but finally Shoaib Malik has gone. Out on his feet and with 245 to his name after 10 hours of batting, Malik wearily slogs Ben Stokes straight to Ian Bell at short mid-wicket (I know, he's caught another!). Malik gets a pat on the back from Stuart Broad, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali as he departs and is also given a rousing reception by the few Pakistan fans inside the ground. The end of an epic knock.
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Chris Ward: Never mind Ian, only about 30 hours too late to start holding your catches.
Pak 517-6
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Still Pakistan continue, with Wahab Riaz joining Malik in the middle. Before that wicket, captain Misbah-ul-Haq showed great concern for his batsman by staying in his chair and just about summoning the energy to raise an arm as if to say "do you want to come off?" Riaz, by the way, averages nine in Test cricket - England into the tail. A few of you have rightly pointed out it was Del Boy who fell through the bar. Trigger was next to him with a pork pie in his pocket.
Ian Bell has caught one! Do not adjust your screens, this is not a mistake. Admittedly it was an absolute dolly, but we have to be thankful for small mercies. Sarfraz Ahmed gets a leading edge off Ben Stokes, the ball loops up to Bell at short mid-off and England have their sixth wicket - they are on a roll. Only problem is, Sarfraz looks suspiciously at the pitch as he walks off. Not great for the team batting next.
"In a boxing match this is a technical knockout. This is the most discomfort Pakistan's batsmen have suffered at any stage of this Test match - and it's because of cramp."
Close!
Pak 514-5
All sorts happening here. Malik takes a quick single and would have been miles out had Stuart Broad's throw from mid-off hit. Malik pulls up, waves to the dressing room, then does a comedy fall to the ground - like Trigger falling through the bar. He's flat out, needing some attention. Cramp? Exhaustion? Buckling under the weight of all the runs he's got?
"England know that Malik is tired, they know he is looking to clear the boundary, so they are posting fielders where the ball might land. Problem is, when you're on 243, you tend to hit it where you want."
Pak 514-5
Thanks, Higgo. I'm struggling to remember a time when Shoaib Malik wasn't batting. This is his first Test match for five years. He looks like a bloke intent on batting for the next five. At the other end Sarfraz is a bundle of energy, all shuffles across the stumps and scampers between the wickets. Also, all this chat about the pitch not doing a great deal. It has actually turned throughout. Not good for England.
Post update
Pak 510-5 (Wood 20-5-54-1)
AFPCopyright: AFP
Mark Wood is doing well to contain Shoaib Malik, bowling a mixture of cutters and 90mph yorkers. Maiden over.
And with that, allow me to hand over to Stephan 'I'm currently eating three sandwiches for my lunch' Shemilt. See you soon.
"Pakistan have got nothing to lose. They have a new man who scores at a good lick and a man on 240 who has just smashed one of our great fast bowling hopes back over his head for six."
Pak 510-5 (Malik 241, Sarfraz 1)
Pakistan wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who has a Test average of 50, is the new batsman. Handy.
I'll reliably informed Sarfraz likes to tee off, so this should be fun. He has a similar stance and movements at the crease to Eoin Morgan - albeit a right-handed version.
"Pakistan will just look to be as aggressive as they can in this session and give England a nasty half an hour or an hour to bat as dusk arrives."
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Nigel in Leeds: Excellent! A wicket every 2 sessions, so 10 sessions to get the last 5 we will have bowled them out by Saturday tea!
Pak 510-5
AFPCopyright: AFP
The Durham boys are tasked with trying to keep a lid on any final Pakistan assault. Ben Stokes is given the ball, after Mark Wood broke the 248-run partnership in the last over, and Shoaib Malik dismissively belts a length ball back over the bowler's head. All that was missing was a Marlon Samuels-like salute.
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bROCKerz: Glad to see the BBC wicket alerts are still working, I was worried they'd broken this morning.
Pak 501-5 (Malik 232, Sarfraz 1)
Before dismissing Asad Shafiq, England had not taken a wicket since 13:30 BST yesterday. I was clean shaven then. Now I've got a Moeen Ali-like beard, it's been that long.
"This looked absolutely stone dead. It was nowhere near short enough to pull. It would have hit middle and leg stump about halfway up."
WICKET
Shafiq lbw b Wood 107 (Pak 499-5)
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
And there it is. Pakistan took the review more out of hope than expectation and Asad Shafiq is on his way. England pick up their first wicket since the 75th over. We're now into the 145th!
Batsman review
Wahey! I think England have a wicket. Asad Shafiq plays a wild heave across the line and misses. Mark Wood's delivery rushes into the batsman's pads and the finger goes up. The batsman reviews...
Pak 499-4
Mark Wood's back into the attack! It's as though Alastair Cook has that many bowling options, he'd forgotten about the Durham man. Wood's first delivery strikes Asad Shafiq on the pads but it's sliding down leg.
Pak 499-4
Pakistan have emerged to bat after tea. England's toils continue.
"When England get in tonight, the first thing they have to think of is to survive. You to remember that you are tired, nothing reacts as quickly as it should."
How's stat?!
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Jonathan in Bolton: It's pitches like this that you wished Jonathan Trott was still playing. Attritional cricket, wear down the bowlers and allow those more expressive to cash in when the bowlers are tired. Cook needs to do that when we get a chance to bat.
"Excellent from Pakistan and particularly Shoaib Malik. They are right in the box seat.
"England have tried everything to no effect. The spinners have been milked; the seamers have lacked pace. England will have a little breather and then they'll be in the field for another hour. Then it's all about the batting."
Tea report
APCopyright: AP
England continued to toil on the second afternoon of the first Test as Pakistan racked up 499-4 in Abu Dhabi.
Shoaib Malik (231 not out) compiled his highest first-class score and Asad Shafiq (107 not out) his eighth Test hundred in an unbroken stand of 248.
England's bowlers were unable to create a chance, with Ben Stokes even resorting to bowling off-breaks.
Leg-spinner Adil Rashid has bowled 34 overs for figures of 0-163, the worst return for any bowler on Test debut.
The hosts seem set to push on towards 600 in the final session, before declaring to give England a tricky time before the close.
"England should be watching the way that this pair have played and following suit. I'll be interested to see how England bat, because all summer they attacked. That style is high-risk on these surfaces. Jayawardene has told them to look for low-risk shots"
Tea scorecard
Pakistan 499-4 (144 overs)
Batsmen: Malik 231*, Shafiq 107*
Fall of wickets: 5-1 (Masood 2), 173-2 (Hafeez 98), 247-3 (Younis 38), 251-4 (Misbah 3)
Hang on... Ben Stokes is ambling up to bowl some offies. A modern-day Mike Watkinson.
I didn't know he had this in his locker. He's trying to tweak it but no joy. Worth a try, I suppose. That's tea.
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Pak 494-4 (143 overs)
Big appeal from England as Shoaib Malik tickles one down leg. Jos Buttler and Joe Root are convinced he's feathered it. The umpire isn't. He's probably right - but worth a review, surely? England don't agree.
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James Latimer: Everyone blaming Ian Bell for the drops, but the fact that there haven't been any other chances is someone else's fault, surely.
Pak 491-4 (Malik 227 off 389)
Shoaib Malik is seeing the ball like a football now. He gets down on one knee and slog-sweeps Moeen Ali for four. He then charges down the track like a rhino, dismissively hammering another boundary down the ground.
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Pak 483-4 (Root 4-1-12-0)
Steady from Joe Root, who chooses to bowl in shades. At least England's over rate has been good today and it means Pakistan will have fewer overs to take wickets if they declare later. There's 36 left in the day.
Wikipedia truths?
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Nathan Cooper: Tim Bresnan was on Wikipedia for a while as a fat medium bowler
Pak 480-4 (Malik 217, Shafiq 104)
Poor Adil Rashid. I feel for him - he's bowled more overs than anybody else in the England team when he was picked as a luxury bowler who was likely to be more useful in the second innings. Tea-time can't come quick enough for a beaten-down England.
"The most runs conceded by an England bowler on debut was 166 by Devon Malcolm in 1989."
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Evan Samuel: No pressure, Mr Bell, but the two blokes you dropped have an extra 250 runs between them right now. Have fun batting.
Pak 477-4 (run-rate in last 10 overs: 4.20)
Just joining us? Where've you been? If you failed to set the alarm for 7am, you haven't missed much - England are still waiting for their first wicket of the day. Pakistan? Well, they're scoring runs for fun.
It's almost tea-time in the UAE, where the Pakistan bowlers will no doubt be priming themselves for a crack at Cook & Co. James Anderson is now bowling military medium, the keeper standing up and unable to stop a little tickle bringing four leg byes.
Wikipedia truths?
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Pak 471-4 (run-rate 3.41)
Here comes the charge - Shoaib Malik coming at Adil Rashid again and lofting the ball just wide of Jonny Bairstow at mid-off.
"Malik has decided that he may resist Anderson, but he's going to play some shots off Rashid."
Pak 469-4 (Malik 213 off 377)
Adil Rashid's demeanour never changes. He never gets too excitable while looking despondent is not his game. His mood can't be helped when Shoaib Malik clobbers him for a maxium over extra cover, mind.
And again... this time high over mid-wicket. 12 off two balls.
"I might try to have a conversation with that wall. It will be more interesting than what I have seen in the hour. It's good from Pakistan, though. They have played the right style on this surface."
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Pak 458-4 (Anderson 21-7-40-2)
Why has Ben Stokes only bowled 13 overs? He was superb yesterday when ruffling a few feathers and he got a hint of reverse swing into the bargain. James Anderson is bowling as well as can be expected, however, as he tries every trick in the fast bowlers' book. He's getting nice shape into the right-handers, almost getting Shoaib Malik to play on.
"That was the game in one ball. Runs for a Pakistan batsman, a chase for the England fielders and frustration for the spinners."
100 for Asad Shafiq
Pak 458-4
Every ball is a party for Pakistan at the moment - Asad Shafiq, who was dropped on 10 by Ian Bell, bringing up his eighth Test century with a sweep to the boundary. Another supremely paced knock.
"It's a special moment. He'll be quite pleased that he's done something because his wife Sania Mirza keeps winning tennis tournaments. He said he was feeling the pressure."
"That's the fifth double century at this ground - it has only hosted eight Test matches."
200 for Shoaib Malik
Pak 452-4
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Shoaib Malik takes his time to collect his thoughts and crouches down before facing up to Jimmy Anderson. The ball's there to be hit and the right-hander obliges with two down past gully. Huge celebrations from those in attendance, with the batsman removing his helmet and placing his forehead to the ground. What a fine knock - and what an occasion to bring up his highest first-class score.
"What should comfort England is that there's no gremlins in this pitch, but I've said that for a few years watching England and they have on a few occasions let themselves down."
Pak 449-4 (Malik 199 off 366)
The sparse crowd gets excitable with Shoaib Malik facing Adil Rashid on 199 not out. The cameras pan to his family in the stands. The celebrations have to wait though as a length ball is patted back.
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Pete Naylor: Meanwhile, Rashid continues his quest to beat Pankaj Singh for the worst test debut this century. At least Pankaj was unlucky...
Pak 445-4 (14 extras)
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
It's been a tough old day for England, but I reckon Shoaib Malik will be getting a DVD of the last two days. Every ball. It's been a superb innings of determination and skill - certainly one to show the grandchildren.
James Anderson still looks good after two days in the field. Not a hair out of place and a spot of designer stubble. Just one from the over. This game is bobbing along.
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Wikipedia truths?
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Pak 444-4 (132 overs)
All the fours. 444-4. Just two singles from Adil Rashid's latest set of six.
"Moeen will get runs wherever he bats because he's got some talent, but I don't think opening is his best spot."
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The umpires are having a well deserved cool down - Paul Reiffel dabbing his head with a cold towel. Which other jobs involve standing still in the sunshine for seven hours a day?
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Lyndon Ryan: During a club game between Chorleywood CC and Totteridge Millhillians a few years ago in the Saracens Herts league, Division 1, Chorleywood number 8 ('the Duke') dispatched ex-England international Peter Such for 3 sweetly struck sixes. He then proceeded to add this information into Peter's Wikipedia page - via a 700 word ball by ball description of his innings. We haven't seen Suchy around these parts since.
"This pitch is set up for my mum, my brother, all my family to have a bat. If I had one of these in the back yard, my mum would take preference because she's in charge. She would bat first and it would be very hard to get her out."
Drinks break
Pak 442-4 (Anderson 18-5-34-2)
James Anderson is coaxed back for another burst. He's relying on skill to find a wicket now, hiding the ball in his run-up as he tries to bamboozle the batsmen. Unlike to Stuart Broad, however, Jos Buttler is not standing up to Anderson - sometimes it comes down to a bowler's preference. Maiden - and drinks.
Scorecard update
Pakistan 442-4 (130 overs)
Batsmen: Malik 195*, Shafiq 92*
Fall of wickets: 5-1 (Masood 2), 173-2 (Hafeez 98), 247-3 (Younis 38), 251-4 (Misbah 3)
Paul Sherriff: Jade Dernbach's Wikipedia entry once gave his nickname as "Worst Cricketer of All Time".
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Pak 440-4 (run-rate 3.40)
Adil Rashid skips in - arms whirring, collar upturned and flannel hanging out of his trousers. His bowling figures are not looking too healthy at the moment, and they are not helped by four overthrows which make a push into the off side into a five for Shoaib Malik. Is there a Test debut reset button?
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James: The Ian Bell nickname The Sledgehammer of Eternal Justice was coined by comedian and huge cricket fan Andy Zaltzman, so that wiki entry is accurate
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Pak 435-4 (Malik 190, Shafiq 90)
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Nice from Joe Root, who pushes one through a little quicker and it squares up Shoaib Malik. Asad Shafiq prefers to sit back in his crease and watch the ball onto the bat - a tactic which helps him cut a boundary through point.
"In the last three Test matches that have been played here, in the first-innings spinners have combined figures of 3-817."
Pak 427-4
Adil Rashid is back into the attack and he is easily cut through point for a single by Asad Shafiq. Shoaib Malik is a little less subtle when he dances down the track and belts six back over the bowler's head.
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David: This series should be played in countries developing the game who will have an interest in watching a Test, in PNG, China & Kenya.
Pak 420-4 (Root 2-1-3-0)
Chance! Almost. Asad Shafiq goes aerial to Joe Root but his lofted on-drive drops just short of Jonny Bairstow. It's just not England's day.
"It is lacking in atmosphere, but England have to carry on. They are representing their country and have a chance of going second in the world. They want to be an all-round team, so they have to dig in."
Pak 417-4 (Malik 181, Shafiq 81)
With spin on from both ends, Shoaib Malik is wearing a cap. Always a good look on a batsman, which makes them seem at ease with the game. Malik continues to milk Moeen - there must be some cattle in the UAE who haven't been milked as much as Moeen in the last two days.
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AFPCopyright: AFP
Karim in Essex: Are people seriously questioning this England team? Everyone knows that UAE is hot, humid and the pitches offer nothing. Okay, catches were dropped yesterday but that happens everywhere in the world. We haven't even batted yet!
Pak 411-4 (125 overs)
Round the wicket from Joe Root, who is spearing the ball into the feet of the right-handers. Maiden.
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Scott Cumming: According to Wikipedia, Aggers is the inventor of the pot noodle.
Pak 411-4
Let's have a toot for Root. He's into the bowling attack. About time...
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Paul Fletcher: England looking quite average, the question is did England win the Ashes or just beat an under-performing Australian team?
Pak 411-4 (Shafiq 76 off 154)
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
The TMS team are having a little chuckle about false Wikipedia entries. Apparently Tuffers was once listed as a chartered surveyor on there while Ian Bell's nickname is The Sledgehammer of Eternal Justice. There's got to be a debate in this? Best cricketing Wikipedia entries?
Another Moeen Ali over passes by. Nothing to see here.
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Khalil: Get the feeling England struggle with the bat. Players look physically and mentally shattered. Hope I'm wrong though.
Pak 409-4 (Malik 179 off 337)
Stuart Broad is sending them down at 80mph now, going through his range of cutters and offies, but when he strays down leg he is tickled to the boundary for four more runs. Joe Root is finally getting loose - why have England been so reluctant to use him? Because they've picked two other spinners? Another decent shout for England when it appears Shafiq might have edged behind. Nothing doing though.
"I'm feeling it for England, they are looking a bit weary."
Pak 405-4 (Moeen 27-2-102-0)
Moeen Ali has now conceded 100 runs without taking a wicket. What is the term for a century of runs conceded? An Ian Salisbury?
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Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Innocent Bystander: You know what would brighten up this ground? A monorail passing by...
Pak 399-4 (run-rate 3.30)
Stuart Broad is trying every trick in the book now - flicking out his arm in his delivery stride to try and distract the batsman. He and Mark Wood have been having a little chuckle during this afternoon session too, with the latter giving the imaginary horse a gallop.
Broad, to his credit, has a decent record in this part of the world - taking 14 wickets at 22 in the UAE. Still Pakistan bat though.
Live Reporting
By Stephan Shemilt and Marc Higginson
All times stated are UK
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And that's your lot for today. England have made a decent start in reply to Pakistan's huge total, but that's all it is.
There's plenty more work to do tomorrow and we'll be here to see if the tourists can get back into this match. Join us then.
The report
Shoaib Malik registered his maiden Test double century to put Pakistan in a commanding position on the second day of the first Test against England.
The right-handed Malik hit 245 and shared in a record fifth-wicket partnership of 248 with fellow centurion Asad Shafiq (107).
England toiled in the Abu Dhabi heat, failing to take a wicket until the final session of the day.
However, Alastair Cook and Moeen Ali saw the tourists to 56-0 at the close.
Read the full report here.
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Just joining us? You've missed it all. Luckily, we've got a close-of-play report to bring you bang up to speed.
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"There hasn't been anything through the air - yet. The footholes are just starting to develop so as the match progresses there will be more action for the spinner and more reverse-swing. It will just get lower - not uneven. It will be attritional stuff.
"For Alastair Cook to go out and play the way he did is a perfect example for the team. But Pakistan are well on top."
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Scott Lennon: Someone like Starc or Malinga would have a field day on this wicket. Full and straight.
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Apparently there have been interview requests for Shoaib Malik, but he's too dehydrated to face the media. Wasn't it Dean Jones who ended up on a drip after batting in India?
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"My mum would love to bat on there against those bowlers. My auntie Anne would have a bat too - after two port and lemons.
"There's nothing there to worry about - the only thing England can do is get themselves out. Just go and bat the rest of tomorrow."
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England all-rounder Ben Stokes on Sky Sports: "Bowling in these condition is hard, then standing in the field watching the overs and runs tick by is very hard. Everyone has tried their nuts off in the field so we're very proud of what we've done.
"Coach Trevor Bayliss told me well done for a burgling a couple of wickets. You take wickets any way you can.
"We know that subcontinent players are very good against spin. Adil Rashid especially was very unlucky - on another day he could have got three or four. I'm sure they will have a bigger part to play in this series.
"Adil is quite laid back. I'm sure he'll be hurting to not get a wicket, but he's been bowling brilliantly."
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"Moeen Ali defended well - he showed more patience than when he comes in batting at eight. He was tired after five sessions in the field but he used his nous and didn't go playing silly shots. He was smart enough to just defend. And Alastair Cook has been doing this for years."
Post update
Could England have done any more? They might be disappointed with the performance of their spinners, but the seamers remained a threat throughout. The tourists simply came up against a run-thirsty Pakistan team on a flat track in blistering conditions. The big positive for England is the performance of new opener Moeen, who was calm in facing 65 balls for his unbeaten 15.
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Charles Isere: Whether this wicket turns or not later, it is unfit for international cricket. If it does suddenly turn, it's simply a joke.
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
On Adil Rashid: "It's disappointing for him - you like to get a wicket or two when you play your first match. But he will come up smiling tomorrow. He's fairly phlegmatic - he's been here before when people have scored off him.
"For the spinners, there was no margin for error because it was so slow. They're not the greatest spin bowlers in the world but criticising them on here is not fair."
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It's seemed like a long day, hasn't it? Probably even longer if you were an England fielder. Spare a thought for Adil Rashid - his 34-0-163-0 are the worst figures for any bowler on Test debut.
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"It was a batting day - to grind people down. It was no fun to be a bowler yesterday or today.
"It should be a contest - there should be something there for the bowlers. I don't think they did anything wrong - Anderson and Broad showed control and know-how and didn't give anything away. But the ball did nothing - there was no reverse-swing and it was just help-yourself batting."
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"Cook and Moeen have played nicely - they've played straight. There was just that little moment off the first ball of the innings when Cook was going to handle the ball. There was big appeal for lbw against Moeen and it was 'umpire's call'."
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Evan Samuel: I'd call this track a road but you'd get a lot more movement off a road in, say, Lambeth.
Close-of-play scorecard
England 56-0 (21 overs) - trail by 467
Batsmen: Cook 39*, Moeen 15*
Bowling figures: Rahat 4-0-12-0, Khan 5-0-16-0, Babar 7-1-16-0, Riaz 4-1-10-0, Shafiq 1-0-2-0
Pakistan 523-8 dec: Malik 245, Shafiq 107, Hafeez 98; Stokes 4-57
Full scorecard
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"England have just got to grind it out and bat as long as they possibly can tomorrow - get through the first session, then the second, then the third. In an ideal world, they get somewhere near Pakistan and say, 'you've got a tricky third innings in the match.'
"On days four and five, England have got to make sure they're not in a position where they can have a panic. Because we've seen it can start to spin drastically."
Close of play
Eng 56-0
England and their new-look opening pair survive, reaching the close at 56-0 in reply to Pakistan's huge 523-8 declared. There's still bags and bags of work to do in order to save this match, but at least they have not thrown it away in a mad hour on the second evening. All 10 wickets will be in the bank tomorrow.
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"This is exactly what the opening pair has to do in this pressure zone - in the face of a team getting such a big total. If you can just dampen it down with a nice partnership like this..."
Eng 52-0
Last over coming up, Imran Khan with ball in hand. England very close to completing their evening's work.
How's stat?!
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"Asad Shafiq has got one Test wicket and two in 83 first-class matches."
Eng 52-0
Asad Shafiq, a hundred earlier today, is given a roll later in the evening, bowling some fairly ordinary off-spin round the wicket to this pair of left-handers. I suspect this job might have gone to Shoaib Malik had he not batted for the best part of a week. Under the floodlights, Shafiq is tidy without threatening. England will do all they can to ensure the next over is the last one of the day.
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73rooks: When did England last reach 50-0 in a Test match?
Eng 50-0 (trail by 473)
It feels like it's winding down, like both sides are happy to come back and resume battle tomorrow. When Moeen nudges Khan to the leg side, it brings up the 50 partnership - that's the fourth time this pair have notched a half-century stand in four times batting together. Maybe there was some method to the madness of pairing them at the top of the order. Who could have predicted that Cook would outscore Moeen too?
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Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"Even when Cook is in his defensive mindset, he won't miss out on the chance to score."
Eng 49-0 (Cook 35, Moeen 12)
Babar's left arm is all over the shop as he skips in towards the wide defensive stroke of Alastair Cook. The skipper is shuffling across his stumps to negate any spin that is there, edging towards the close. England have got three or four overs to survive before the close.
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John McDermott: Should the first toss in the series should alternate for the other 4 Tests? Taking it out as a win factor?
Eng 47-0 (476 behind)
England have seen off Wahab Riaz, possibly until tomorrow. Imran Khan switches ends to come back for his second burst, with Moeen growing in stature to work a couple more through the leg side. After those worries that me might be too expansive to open, the Worcestershire man has taken 51 balls to reach double figures. At the moment, England are finding this pitch every bit as placid as Pakistan did.
Coming to a radio near you...
Want more cricket? Can't wait until Thursday? Listen to Tuffers & Vaughan on BBC Radio 5 live at 20:30 BST when Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell and Graeme Swann will debate England's performance against Pakistan, plus you can listen to an interview with Kevin Pietersen.
Eng 45-0 (Cook 34, Moeen 9)
Babar goes through his tricks, varying his pace to Moeen. No great turn for the left-arm tweaker, another short one worked by Moeen. Mark Wood has emerged from the dressing room with his pads on, he's been asked to act as nightwatchman. He must be delighted to do that after two days of bowling. There are 20 minutes left in the day.
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"What Cook and Mooen have done is create calmness. We've seen England lose quick wickets in the past. But these two have played nicely and the pitch isn't doing a great deal. So far, so good."
Eng 40-0 (15 overs)
Here's a collectors' item, an umpire has just called a no-ball in a Test match without having to ask his mate with a TV upstairs. It's a good job for Moeen Ali that Wahab Riaz did overstep, otherwise he might have been the subject of a decent lbw shout. More and more of the stadium is now covered in shadow, we're at the end of a long day. Outside the England dressing room, Paul Farbrace sits and makes a bowling gesture. You know the one - imaginary ball, hand held out, pushing it forward like a man doing the ironing. It's a coach's default mime.
Pietersen on England, 'deceit' and coaching
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen says he is open to a coaching role with England.
Pietersen, sacked in February 2014, was told this year by director of cricket Andrew Strauss he would not play for England in the "short term".
However, Strauss offered Pietersen a role as an advisor on a board to improve the one-day side, which he turned down.
Asked if would now like to help, the 35-year-old told the BBC: "Of course I would. I haven't got a clue if I will be asked but I don't worry about it."
Read more here
Eng 37-0 (Cook 29, Moeen 7)
Babar changes the angle, taking his left-armers round the wicket to this pair of left-handers. Cook, who has looked the most comfortable of this pair (naturally, seen as he is the regular opener), takes one through the covers, while Moeen continues to suppress his attacking instincts.
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Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special
"This is excellent bowling. He has looked the most threatening of the Pakistan bowlers - and the most threatening we have seen in the match. He has that extra pace."
Eng 36-0 (trail by 487)
Good licks from Wahab, who is the first bowler in the match to be hurrying the man standing 22 yards away. Arms like hams, he charges in with his black hair following behind, then gets the ball to skid on. Cook works a couple through the leg side, then Moeen has to be sharp in dropping his hands away from a bouncer.
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Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"The leggie Yasir Shah is going to be a big miss for Pakistan. It would have been set up perfectly for him."
Eng 33-0
Babar skips towards the smaller of the two stands, the city of Abu Dhabi in the distance. There's a good chunk of desert between the stadium and the skyscrapers. Tidy from Babar, who looks set to offer Pakistan much more control than England's spinners did for Alastair Cook.
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PtheP: We're already bossing this - Pakistan were a wicket down by now! #easypeasy.
Eng 32-0 (Cook 24, Moeen 7)
Moeen should be ready to take a few up the nose from Wahab, who has the field set for the chin music. Double jeopardy too, with two slips and a gully waiting in case Moeen is camped on the back foot and edges the full ball. Shadows lengthening in the Emirati evening, Wahab charges in on an angle and bangs the ball in. Moeen, for now, is up to the task of defending.
Scorecard update
England 32-0 (10 overs) - trail by 491
Batsmen: Cook 24*, Moeen 7*
Bowling figures: Rahat 4-0-12-0, Khan 2-0-9-0, Babar 3-1-7-0, Riaz 1-0-4-0
Pakistan 523-8 dec: Malik 245, Shafiq 107, Hafeez 98; Stokes 4-57
Full scorecard
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Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"Moeen Ali has never opened before but this is at the extreme end of the spectrum. If he can come through this, he will take a huge amount from it, because this is a horrible mini-session for an opening batsman."
"Technically, this is easy, by the standards of Test cricket - against seam especially. Predominantly, this is a physical challenge - it is at the limit."
Eng 32-0 (trail by 491)
At his best, Babar looks to have the ball on a string. He floats it up into the cloudless evening sky, teasing the batsman, before yanking it back with a dip that has it pitching on a length. His bad ball looks to be a shorter one that Cook whips through the leg side for three. There are 13 overs left in the day, but they have to be bowled by 14:30.
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Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"Tonight, I'd put an arm round Rashid's shoulder and say, 'Listen mate, extenuating circumstances: flat pitch, against a good Pakistan side.'
"But the worst figures on debut - that does hurt; it doesn't matter how tough you are as a character.
"It's a difficult job when it's flat and you're bowling slowly. But it's not always going to be like this - there will be better pitches, better circumstances."
Eng 28-0 (Cook 21, Moeen 6)
A different kind of left-arm threat for England, with the pacey Wahab Riaz into the attack. It was Riaz who had the feisty confrontation with Shane Watson in the World Cup and he is already up at 90mph. His pace is slightly negated by the slow pitch and Alastair Cook swivels to pull a bouncer for a single. Will Moeen play the short stuff quite so well? The one bumper he gets is so high it is called wide.
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Eng 24-0 (trail by 499)
Nature in action in Abu Dhabi, with what looks like a falcon ripping another bird to pieces on one of the grass banks that are square of the wicket. In the middle, Moeen can suppress the urge to attack Babar no longer, slog-sweeping aerially into a vacant spot on the leg side for a couple.
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Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"South Africa will be looking, that's for sure."
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Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"That's the area that attacks will be looking at with Moeen Ali..."
Eng 21-0 (Cook 17, Moeen 4)
Pakistan, remember, are playing an extra seamer in this match because gun leg-spinner Yasir Shah got injured and they couldn't get a replacement over in time. Rahat Ali has been slightly inaccurate so far and errs on both sides of the wicket to Cook, getting cut for four and then worked for three. When Rahat goes short to Moeen, the defence isn't the most convincing, with the ball looping and landing short of gully.
How's stat?!
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"Moeen Ali is the first England player to open in the first innings of a Test who hasn't opened before."
Eng 14-0 (Cook 10, Moeen 4)
Babar, run to the crease and arms like a whirlwind, has a slip, leg slip and short leg to Moeen. How will Moeen play this? He likes to attack the spinners. Nice loop from Babar, landing the ball outside Moeen's off stump and looking for turn back towards the stumps. Nice maiden, suggesting Babar could provide both control and a wicket threat.
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Will Collins in Yorkshire: Just play yourselves in boys… three days should do it.
Eng 14-0
Now the real game begins. Spin in only the sixth over. Here come the left-arm tweakers of Zulfiqar Babar.
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Ramiz Raja
Ex-Pakistan captain & Test Match Special pundit
"Moeen Ali has late on getting around that one with a half-push forward. Pakistan would look to bowl that length and look to bowl that channel - not worry about the shorter stuff and varying the pace."
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Charles Dagnall
BBC Test Match Special
"If he had given that out nobody would have complained."
Eng 14-0
Not out on impact, but here is a potential problem with DRS. The point of impact is adjudged to be umpire's call. But what if umpire Paul Reiffel had given Moeen not out because he thought he hit it first? Reiffel may have thought the impact was in line? Do we actually know what the umpire's call for impact actually was?
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Charles Dagnall
BBC Test Match Special
"The slips and the keeper are convinced. I think this is a really good shout."
Umpire review
Eng 14-0
Now then, Pakistan are excited. Moeen the batsman, Rahat the bowler. Lbw shout. Not out on the field, but another look requested. Bat or pad first? Has it hit him in line?
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Eng 13-0 (trail by 510)
Khan, a circle and a skip at the end of his run-up, is already around the wicket to Alastair Cook, who has his tongue poking out as he jabs down the ground for a couple. Ooohh, that's a lovely way for Moeen to get his first runs as a Test opener, a push through the covers for three. I'm trying to think if anyone has ever had a bigger promotion in the batting order from one Test to another. Moeen has gone from eight to two.
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Ramiz Raja
Ex-Pakistan captain & Test Match Special pundit
"Wahab likes to bowl with an older ball. In one-day cricket too, he is the first-change bowler. But Pakistan clearly believe a right-arm, left-arm combination is the way to go here first up."
Eng 7-0 (Cook 7, Moeen 0)
Rahat Ali has a stuttering run-up, one which almost stops as he jumps into his delivery stride, picking the ball from a spot somewhere near his trouser pocket to a release point at about 11 on the clock face. Sun still bright but shadows lengthening, England currently going along without alarm.
Next cab off the rank...
Eng 4-0 (trail by 519)
Imran Khan (not that one) shares the new ball, a straight run-up into a chest-on right-arm over action. Three slips and a short leg for Cook, who breathes hard as he waits then nudges a single on the leg side. Moeen, shirt flapping but beard still, is calm in defending his first deliveries as a Test opener.
India v South Africa latest
Elsewhere in the cricket world, South Africa need 248 to beat India and take a 2-0 lead in the one-day series.
The hosts were thankful for MS Dhoni's brilliant unbeaten 92 off 86 balls, leading their recovery from 124-6 to post 247-9 in Indore. He and Ishant Sharma added an unbroken 22 for the last wicket but Ishant was only required to face one ball.
Dale Steyn finished with 3-49 and there were two wickets apiece for Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir.
Close!
Eng 1-0
What did we say about it looking a different game as soon as England start batting? Second ball, Alastair Cook nearly comes a cropper. Shortish ball, chopped into the ground, heading towards the stumps. For a second, Cook thinks about pushing it away with his hand, which would have seen him out handled the ball. He withdraws his paw and is relieved to see the ball bounce safely. The rest of Rahat's over isn't much to write home about, with Moeen leaving the only ball he faces.
Eng 0-0
Cook will take strike to Rahat Ali, a man who has had his feet up for two days. Catchers waiting. Game on.
Post update
It's hard to overestimate how big the next hour or so is in the context of this match and the series. Get through tonight no more than one down and England have a decent chance of saving this match. Sleep with three or four wickets lost and it will be incredibly tough to salvage. Here come the England batsmen, somehow managing to jog out.
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Post update
So, Moeen Ali. You've just bowled 30 wicketless overs for 121 runs. It's hot enough to make a camel cry. You've got 10 minutes to prepare for your first stab at opening the batting in your first-class career. Good luck, old chap.
End of innings scorecard
Pakistan 523-8 dec (151.1 overs)
Fall of wickets: 5-1 (Masood 2), 173-2 (Hafeez 98), 247-3 (Younis 38), 251-4 (Misbah 3), 499-5 (Shafiq 107), 514-6 (Sarfraz 2), 521-7 (Shoaib 245), 523-8 (Babar 0). Not out: Riaz 2.
Bowling figures: Anderson 22-7-42-2, Broad 21-8-44-1, Stokes 17.1-3-57-4, Wood 22-5-58-1, Rashid 34-0-163-0, Moeen 30-2-121-0, Root 5-1-13-0.
Full scorecard
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Alex Norton: Barring a disastrous collapse and subsequent follow-on... we'll bat last and settle for a manful draw. Excellent.
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"Too many times England have flopped as a team. That's not good enough - it puts you under pressure too often."
Pakistan declare on 523-8
Misbah, the emperor in the colosseum, waved a hand to show his will. Pakistan have declared on 523-8, a huge score that has batted England out of this match. Mercifully for the tourists, two days baking in the field is over. A different kind of heat will be on over the next 23 overs or so - the battle to survive.
WICKET
Babar c Anderson b Stokes 0 (Pak 523-8)
They're dropping like flies now. Zulfiqar Babar swings at a Ben Stokes bouncer, gets a top edge to James Anderson on the leg side and then...
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"You've got to make sure you don't make a silly mistake. You need to move those feet - you're tired from being them on them for such a long time. Get your brain thinking, then it falls into place."
Pak 523-7 (151 overs)
Alastair Cook, complete with wound between his fingers, looks absolutely shattered underneath his sun hat. It will be such a touch ask for the skipper and Moeen to go out to open the batting after the best part of two days in the field. You can almost sense that it will look a different game when England come to bat. Mark Wood trudges in, Riaz almost swings himself off his feet to get a couple over mid-on.
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Matthew Williams: I have a horrible feeling that the roller between innings will suddenly make this wicket unplayable.
Pak 521-7 (Stokes 17-2-57-3)
How long might Pakistan go on for? If England keep going like this, they might bowl them out. Quietly, Ben Stokes has nipped in with some decent figures. Zulfiqar Babar is the new man - he averages 23 in Test cricket.
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What We Learnt Today: Ian Bell catches two in a row in quick succession. The word irony doesn't do it justice... any suggestions?
WICKET
Malik c Bell b Stokes 245 (Pak 521-7)
It was coming, but finally Shoaib Malik has gone. Out on his feet and with 245 to his name after 10 hours of batting, Malik wearily slogs Ben Stokes straight to Ian Bell at short mid-wicket (I know, he's caught another!). Malik gets a pat on the back from Stuart Broad, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali as he departs and is also given a rousing reception by the few Pakistan fans inside the ground. The end of an epic knock.
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Chris Ward: Never mind Ian, only about 30 hours too late to start holding your catches.
Pak 517-6
Still Pakistan continue, with Wahab Riaz joining Malik in the middle. Before that wicket, captain Misbah-ul-Haq showed great concern for his batsman by staying in his chair and just about summoning the energy to raise an arm as if to say "do you want to come off?" Riaz, by the way, averages nine in Test cricket - England into the tail. A few of you have rightly pointed out it was Del Boy who fell through the bar. Trigger was next to him with a pork pie in his pocket.
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Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"If you throw an orange to someone in your kitchen, that's how difficult that catch was. Pakistan collapsing to 514-6..."
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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"Well done Ian Bell!"
WICKET
Sarfraz c Bell b Stokes 2 (Pak 514-6)
Ian Bell has caught one! Do not adjust your screens, this is not a mistake. Admittedly it was an absolute dolly, but we have to be thankful for small mercies. Sarfraz Ahmed gets a leading edge off Ben Stokes, the ball loops up to Bell at short mid-off and England have their sixth wicket - they are on a roll. Only problem is, Sarfraz looks suspiciously at the pitch as he walks off. Not great for the team batting next.
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Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"In a boxing match this is a technical knockout. This is the most discomfort Pakistan's batsmen have suffered at any stage of this Test match - and it's because of cramp."
Close!
Pak 514-5
All sorts happening here. Malik takes a quick single and would have been miles out had Stuart Broad's throw from mid-off hit. Malik pulls up, waves to the dressing room, then does a comedy fall to the ground - like Trigger falling through the bar. He's flat out, needing some attention. Cramp? Exhaustion? Buckling under the weight of all the runs he's got?
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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"England know that Malik is tired, they know he is looking to clear the boundary, so they are posting fielders where the ball might land. Problem is, when you're on 243, you tend to hit it where you want."
Pak 514-5
Thanks, Higgo. I'm struggling to remember a time when Shoaib Malik wasn't batting. This is his first Test match for five years. He looks like a bloke intent on batting for the next five. At the other end Sarfraz is a bundle of energy, all shuffles across the stumps and scampers between the wickets. Also, all this chat about the pitch not doing a great deal. It has actually turned throughout. Not good for England.
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Pak 510-5 (Wood 20-5-54-1)
Mark Wood is doing well to contain Shoaib Malik, bowling a mixture of cutters and 90mph yorkers. Maiden over.
And with that, allow me to hand over to Stephan 'I'm currently eating three sandwiches for my lunch' Shemilt. See you soon.
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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"Pakistan have got nothing to lose. They have a new man who scores at a good lick and a man on 240 who has just smashed one of our great fast bowling hopes back over his head for six."
Pak 510-5 (Malik 241, Sarfraz 1)
Pakistan wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who has a Test average of 50, is the new batsman. Handy.
I'll reliably informed Sarfraz likes to tee off, so this should be fun. He has a similar stance and movements at the crease to Eoin Morgan - albeit a right-handed version.
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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"Pakistan will just look to be as aggressive as they can in this session and give England a nasty half an hour or an hour to bat as dusk arrives."
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Nigel in Leeds: Excellent! A wicket every 2 sessions, so 10 sessions to get the last 5 we will have bowled them out by Saturday tea!
Pak 510-5
The Durham boys are tasked with trying to keep a lid on any final Pakistan assault. Ben Stokes is given the ball, after Mark Wood broke the 248-run partnership in the last over, and Shoaib Malik dismissively belts a length ball back over the bowler's head. All that was missing was a Marlon Samuels-like salute.
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bROCKerz: Glad to see the BBC wicket alerts are still working, I was worried they'd broken this morning.
Pak 501-5 (Malik 232, Sarfraz 1)
Before dismissing Asad Shafiq, England had not taken a wicket since 13:30 BST yesterday. I was clean shaven then. Now I've got a Moeen Ali-like beard, it's been that long.
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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"This looked absolutely stone dead. It was nowhere near short enough to pull. It would have hit middle and leg stump about halfway up."
WICKET
Shafiq lbw b Wood 107 (Pak 499-5)
And there it is. Pakistan took the review more out of hope than expectation and Asad Shafiq is on his way. England pick up their first wicket since the 75th over. We're now into the 145th!
Batsman review
Wahey! I think England have a wicket. Asad Shafiq plays a wild heave across the line and misses. Mark Wood's delivery rushes into the batsman's pads and the finger goes up. The batsman reviews...
Pak 499-4
Mark Wood's back into the attack! It's as though Alastair Cook has that many bowling options, he'd forgotten about the Durham man. Wood's first delivery strikes Asad Shafiq on the pads but it's sliding down leg.
Pak 499-4
Pakistan have emerged to bat after tea. England's toils continue.
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"When England get in tonight, the first thing they have to think of is to survive. You to remember that you are tired, nothing reacts as quickly as it should."
How's stat?!
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Jonathan in Bolton: It's pitches like this that you wished Jonathan Trott was still playing. Attritional cricket, wear down the bowlers and allow those more expressive to cash in when the bowlers are tired. Cook needs to do that when we get a chance to bat.
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"Excellent from Pakistan and particularly Shoaib Malik. They are right in the box seat.
"England have tried everything to no effect. The spinners have been milked; the seamers have lacked pace. England will have a little breather and then they'll be in the field for another hour. Then it's all about the batting."
Tea report
England continued to toil on the second afternoon of the first Test as Pakistan racked up 499-4 in Abu Dhabi.
Shoaib Malik (231 not out) compiled his highest first-class score and Asad Shafiq (107 not out) his eighth Test hundred in an unbroken stand of 248.
England's bowlers were unable to create a chance, with Ben Stokes even resorting to bowling off-breaks.
Leg-spinner Adil Rashid has bowled 34 overs for figures of 0-163, the worst return for any bowler on Test debut.
The hosts seem set to push on towards 600 in the final session, before declaring to give England a tricky time before the close.
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"England should be watching the way that this pair have played and following suit. I'll be interested to see how England bat, because all summer they attacked. That style is high-risk on these surfaces. Jayawardene has told them to look for low-risk shots"
Tea scorecard
Pakistan 499-4 (144 overs)
Batsmen: Malik 231*, Shafiq 107*
Fall of wickets: 5-1 (Masood 2), 173-2 (Hafeez 98), 247-3 (Younis 38), 251-4 (Misbah 3)
Bowling figures: Anderson 22-7-42-2, Broad 21-8-44-1, Stokes 14-2-45-1, Wood 18-4-52-0, Rashid 34-0-163-0, Moeen 30-2-121-0, Root 5-1-13-0.
Full scorecard
Tea
Pak 499-4 (Stokes 14-2-45-1)
Hang on... Ben Stokes is ambling up to bowl some offies. A modern-day Mike Watkinson.
I didn't know he had this in his locker. He's trying to tweak it but no joy. Worth a try, I suppose. That's tea.
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Pak 494-4 (143 overs)
Big appeal from England as Shoaib Malik tickles one down leg. Jos Buttler and Joe Root are convinced he's feathered it. The umpire isn't. He's probably right - but worth a review, surely? England don't agree.
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James Latimer: Everyone blaming Ian Bell for the drops, but the fact that there haven't been any other chances is someone else's fault, surely.
Pak 491-4 (Malik 227 off 389)
Shoaib Malik is seeing the ball like a football now. He gets down on one knee and slog-sweeps Moeen Ali for four. He then charges down the track like a rhino, dismissively hammering another boundary down the ground.
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Pak 483-4 (Root 4-1-12-0)
Steady from Joe Root, who chooses to bowl in shades. At least England's over rate has been good today and it means Pakistan will have fewer overs to take wickets if they declare later. There's 36 left in the day.
Wikipedia truths?
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Nathan Cooper: Tim Bresnan was on Wikipedia for a while as a fat medium bowler
Pak 480-4 (Malik 217, Shafiq 104)
Poor Adil Rashid. I feel for him - he's bowled more overs than anybody else in the England team when he was picked as a luxury bowler who was likely to be more useful in the second innings. Tea-time can't come quick enough for a beaten-down England.
How's stat?!
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"The most runs conceded by an England bowler on debut was 166 by Devon Malcolm in 1989."
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Evan Samuel: No pressure, Mr Bell, but the two blokes you dropped have an extra 250 runs between them right now. Have fun batting.
Pak 477-4 (run-rate in last 10 overs: 4.20)
Just joining us? Where've you been? If you failed to set the alarm for 7am, you haven't missed much - England are still waiting for their first wicket of the day. Pakistan? Well, they're scoring runs for fun.
It's almost tea-time in the UAE, where the Pakistan bowlers will no doubt be priming themselves for a crack at Cook & Co. James Anderson is now bowling military medium, the keeper standing up and unable to stop a little tickle bringing four leg byes.
Wikipedia truths?
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Pak 471-4 (run-rate 3.41)
Here comes the charge - Shoaib Malik coming at Adil Rashid again and lofting the ball just wide of Jonny Bairstow at mid-off.
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Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"Malik has decided that he may resist Anderson, but he's going to play some shots off Rashid."
Pak 469-4 (Malik 213 off 377)
Adil Rashid's demeanour never changes. He never gets too excitable while looking despondent is not his game. His mood can't be helped when Shoaib Malik clobbers him for a maxium over extra cover, mind.
And again... this time high over mid-wicket. 12 off two balls.
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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
"I might try to have a conversation with that wall. It will be more interesting than what I have seen in the hour. It's good from Pakistan, though. They have played the right style on this surface."
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Pak 458-4 (Anderson 21-7-40-2)
Why has Ben Stokes only bowled 13 overs? He was superb yesterday when ruffling a few feathers and he got a hint of reverse swing into the bargain. James Anderson is bowling as well as can be expected, however, as he tries every trick in the fast bowlers' book. He's getting nice shape into the right-handers, almost getting Shoaib Malik to play on.
Asad Shafiq century - where the runs were scored
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Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"That was the game in one ball. Runs for a Pakistan batsman, a chase for the England fielders and frustration for the spinners."
100 for Asad Shafiq
Pak 458-4
Every ball is a party for Pakistan at the moment - Asad Shafiq, who was dropped on 10 by Ian Bell, bringing up his eighth Test century with a sweep to the boundary. Another supremely paced knock.
How's stat?!
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"This is Pakistan's record fifth-wicket stand against England, beating the 197 added by Nasim-ul-Ghani and Javed Burki at Lord's in 1962."
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"It's a special moment. He'll be quite pleased that he's done something because his wife Sania Mirza keeps winning tennis tournaments. He said he was feeling the pressure."
How's stat?!
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"That's the fifth double century at this ground - it has only hosted eight Test matches."
200 for Shoaib Malik
Pak 452-4
Shoaib Malik takes his time to collect his thoughts and crouches down before facing up to Jimmy Anderson. The ball's there to be hit and the right-hander obliges with two down past gully. Huge celebrations from those in attendance, with the batsman removing his helmet and placing his forehead to the ground. What a fine knock - and what an occasion to bring up his highest first-class score.
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"What should comfort England is that there's no gremlins in this pitch, but I've said that for a few years watching England and they have on a few occasions let themselves down."
Pak 449-4 (Malik 199 off 366)
The sparse crowd gets excitable with Shoaib Malik facing Adil Rashid on 199 not out. The cameras pan to his family in the stands. The celebrations have to wait though as a length ball is patted back.
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Pete Naylor: Meanwhile, Rashid continues his quest to beat Pankaj Singh for the worst test debut this century. At least Pankaj was unlucky...
Pak 445-4 (14 extras)
It's been a tough old day for England, but I reckon Shoaib Malik will be getting a DVD of the last two days. Every ball. It's been a superb innings of determination and skill - certainly one to show the grandchildren.
James Anderson still looks good after two days in the field. Not a hair out of place and a spot of designer stubble. Just one from the over. This game is bobbing along.
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Wikipedia truths?
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Pak 444-4 (132 overs)
All the fours. 444-4. Just two singles from Adil Rashid's latest set of six.
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"Moeen will get runs wherever he bats because he's got some talent, but I don't think opening is his best spot."
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The umpires are having a well deserved cool down - Paul Reiffel dabbing his head with a cold towel. Which other jobs involve standing still in the sunshine for seven hours a day?
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Lyndon Ryan: During a club game between Chorleywood CC and Totteridge Millhillians a few years ago in the Saracens Herts league, Division 1, Chorleywood number 8 ('the Duke') dispatched ex-England international Peter Such for 3 sweetly struck sixes. He then proceeded to add this information into Peter's Wikipedia page - via a 700 word ball by ball description of his innings. We haven't seen Suchy around these parts since.
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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"This pitch is set up for my mum, my brother, all my family to have a bat. If I had one of these in the back yard, my mum would take preference because she's in charge. She would bat first and it would be very hard to get her out."
Drinks break
Pak 442-4 (Anderson 18-5-34-2)
James Anderson is coaxed back for another burst. He's relying on skill to find a wicket now, hiding the ball in his run-up as he tries to bamboozle the batsmen. Unlike to Stuart Broad, however, Jos Buttler is not standing up to Anderson - sometimes it comes down to a bowler's preference. Maiden - and drinks.
Scorecard update
Pakistan 442-4 (130 overs)
Batsmen: Malik 195*, Shafiq 92*
Fall of wickets: 5-1 (Masood 2), 173-2 (Hafeez 98), 247-3 (Younis 38), 251-4 (Misbah 3)
Bowling figures: Anderson 17-5-34-2, Broad 21-8-44-1, Stokes 13-2-40-1, Wood 18-4-52-0, Rashid 29-0-137-0, Moeen 29-2-112-0, Root 3-1-10-0
Full scorecard
Wikipedia truths?
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Paul Sherriff: Jade Dernbach's Wikipedia entry once gave his nickname as "Worst Cricketer of All Time".
Pak 440-4 (run-rate 3.40)
Adil Rashid skips in - arms whirring, collar upturned and flannel hanging out of his trousers. His bowling figures are not looking too healthy at the moment, and they are not helped by four overthrows which make a push into the off side into a five for Shoaib Malik. Is there a Test debut reset button?
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James: The Ian Bell nickname The Sledgehammer of Eternal Justice was coined by comedian and huge cricket fan Andy Zaltzman, so that wiki entry is accurate
Wikipedia truths?
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Pak 435-4 (Malik 190, Shafiq 90)
Nice from Joe Root, who pushes one through a little quicker and it squares up Shoaib Malik. Asad Shafiq prefers to sit back in his crease and watch the ball onto the bat - a tactic which helps him cut a boundary through point.
How's stat?!
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"In the last three Test matches that have been played here, in the first-innings spinners have combined figures of 3-817."
Pak 427-4
Adil Rashid is back into the attack and he is easily cut through point for a single by Asad Shafiq. Shoaib Malik is a little less subtle when he dances down the track and belts six back over the bowler's head.
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David: This series should be played in countries developing the game who will have an interest in watching a Test, in PNG, China & Kenya.
Pak 420-4 (Root 2-1-3-0)
Chance! Almost. Asad Shafiq goes aerial to Joe Root but his lofted on-drive drops just short of Jonny Bairstow. It's just not England's day.
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Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"It is lacking in atmosphere, but England have to carry on. They are representing their country and have a chance of going second in the world. They want to be an all-round team, so they have to dig in."
Pak 417-4 (Malik 181, Shafiq 81)
With spin on from both ends, Shoaib Malik is wearing a cap. Always a good look on a batsman, which makes them seem at ease with the game. Malik continues to milk Moeen - there must be some cattle in the UAE who haven't been milked as much as Moeen in the last two days.
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Karim in Essex: Are people seriously questioning this England team? Everyone knows that UAE is hot, humid and the pitches offer nothing. Okay, catches were dropped yesterday but that happens everywhere in the world. We haven't even batted yet!
Pak 411-4 (125 overs)
Round the wicket from Joe Root, who is spearing the ball into the feet of the right-handers. Maiden.
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Scott Cumming: According to Wikipedia, Aggers is the inventor of the pot noodle.
Pak 411-4
Let's have a toot for Root. He's into the bowling attack. About time...
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Paul Fletcher: England looking quite average, the question is did England win the Ashes or just beat an under-performing Australian team?
Pak 411-4 (Shafiq 76 off 154)
The TMS team are having a little chuckle about false Wikipedia entries. Apparently Tuffers was once listed as a chartered surveyor on there while Ian Bell's nickname is The Sledgehammer of Eternal Justice. There's got to be a debate in this? Best cricketing Wikipedia entries?
Another Moeen Ali over passes by. Nothing to see here.
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Khalil: Get the feeling England struggle with the bat. Players look physically and mentally shattered. Hope I'm wrong though.
Pak 409-4 (Malik 179 off 337)
Stuart Broad is sending them down at 80mph now, going through his range of cutters and offies, but when he strays down leg he is tickled to the boundary for four more runs. Joe Root is finally getting loose - why have England been so reluctant to use him? Because they've picked two other spinners? Another decent shout for England when it appears Shafiq might have edged behind. Nothing doing though.
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Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"I'm feeling it for England, they are looking a bit weary."
Pak 405-4 (Moeen 27-2-102-0)
Moeen Ali has now conceded 100 runs without taking a wicket. What is the term for a century of runs conceded? An Ian Salisbury?
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Innocent Bystander: You know what would brighten up this ground? A monorail passing by...
Pak 399-4 (run-rate 3.30)
Stuart Broad is trying every trick in the book now - flicking out his arm in his delivery stride to try and distract the batsman. He and Mark Wood have been having a little chuckle during this afternoon session too, with the latter giving the imaginary horse a gallop.
Broad, to his credit, has a decent record in this part of the world - taking 14 wickets at 22 in the UAE. Still Pakistan bat though.