STUMPS: ENGLAND ARE 104-6 IN REPLY TO PAKISTAN'S FIRST-INNINGS TOTAL OF 99
Sportsmail's Paul Newman in Dubai writes: What an extraordinary day. Sixteen wickets in the day and we are now up to 35 lbws in the series, a new record for a three-match series.
You have to say much of the batting has again been below standard but i do worry that the DRS is going too far now. It is changing the game unrecognisably and all of a sudden it is very much a bowler's game. Has it gone too far? Possibly. But you can't deny it provides eventful cricket.
England really should have built up a decent lead here but it looks as though they will fall short of what they require. Unless the captain scores a century? Let's hope he does.
43rd over: England 104-6 (Strauss 41 Anderson 3)
Maiden. And that, ladies and gentlemen is stumps.
42nd over: England 104-6 (Strauss 41 Anderson 3)
Five men crowd around the bat to and force Anderson into a mistake. Nothing doing though, the big lad blocks out and we enter the final six deliveries of the day. Maiden.
41st over: England 104-6 (Strauss 41 Anderson 3)
You won't be surprised to discover that the tally of 35 is the highest amount of lbw decisions in any three-match Test series. What is that? Poor batting? Great bowling? Overly generous DRS system? You decide.
40th over: England 102-6 (Strauss 40 Anderson 2)
Pakistan appealing for abso-bloody-lutely everything now. I don't mind telling you, its getting on me wick a touch. Anderson snaffles one square of the wicket and we move into the final three overs of the day.
39th over: England 100-6 (StrauAnss 40 Anderson 0)
England lead, a sweet and precious lead! Only by one run, mind after Strauss nurdled one to mid-on to find parity and then a leg-bye edged them in front. The nightwatchman Anderson is in. Not sure who he's protecting, though.
38th over: England 98-6 (Strauss 38)
So today has returned figures of 198-16. Not a bad day's cricket if you ask me. But England's travails against spin continue. Rehman doesn't get the ball to do a lot, but it does enough.
WICKET! Matt Prior b Rehman 6
There's another. Prior plays inside the line of one which pitches on off, straightens, then rattles into the top of middle and off.
37th over: England 97-5 (Strauss 38, Prior 6)
Two more singles, England happy to see off these final few overs in the last dregs of the day. Surely there can't be yet more late drama?
36th over: England 95-5 (Strauss 37, Prior 5)
We're into that period now where England are desperate to not lose any further wickets before the close of play, but Pakistan know that one more wicket will mean it is even-stevens heading into day two. prior cracks a decent drive through the covers, but some agile work in the field reduces the run count to just one.
Another fail: Morgan trudges off after making just 10 runs
35th over: England 92-5 (Strauss 36, Prior 3)
Oooh, Matt Prior, you lucky, lucky boy. Ajmal turns one in through the gate, it slaps his back leg bang in front of middle stump, but Pakistan decide against the review. Looked as plumb as plumb could be to me. The review - for our benefit only - shows the ball clipping leg and would have stayed with the on-field umpire. Such are the margins in the game.
34th over: England 90-5 (Strauss 35, Prior 2)
Another crazy day in the United Arab Emirates. Fifteen wickets have fallen for 190 runs and there's still nine overs remaining in the day. Value for money, all right.
WICKET! Eoin Morgan lbw b Rehman 10
Morgan fails again, but to be fair it was a peachy delivery. he stays back in his crease and trying to play across the line. he's beaten by pace and bit of turn, the umpire says no, third umpire says out!
33rd over: England 88-4 (Strauss 35, Morgan 10)
Shot! A rare aggressive stoke played to the bowling of Ajmal: Morgan skips down the track and pummels the ball over long-off for SIX!
32nd over: England 79-4 (Strauss 35, Morgan 1)
So Pakistan appeal for a delivery that struck outside the line and was bouncing miles over. But when Strauss is caught in front on the sweep, not a peep. Has anyone sat the team down to explain how it works. if that one had gone upstairs the England captain was plumb.
Mobbed: Rehman celebrates after nabbing Morgan's wicket
31st over: England 77-4 (Strauss 35, Morgan 0)
Ajmal to Morgan, England's 'best player of spin'. No contest at the moment, the spinner makes Morgan sweat, no runs again and the pressure ratchets up a notch.
30th over: England 77-4 (Strauss 35, Morgan 0)
Howizaaaaaat? Huge appeal for lbw, the wicketkeeper gives Misbah the nod and so it is sent upstairs. But its a howler. It struck out side the line and was bouncing over. Pakistan's use of the reviews has been pretty poor.
29th over: England 75-4 (Strauss 33, Morgan 0)
'C'mon Saeed bowl that teesra, yeah, bowl the teesra, c'mon, c'mon' chirps Akmal behind the stumps. Trust me, it's as annoying listening to the constant chuntering as it is writing it. Still, another great over for Ajmal, and in comes Eoin Morgan who is in dire need of some runs.
WICKET! Ian Bell (st) b Ajmal 5
Another failure for Ian Bell who is undone by Ajmal's doosra, the ball skirts past his defences, hits Akmal's gloves and ricochets back onto the stumps. His foot is *this far* out of his crease, but that's all it takes.
28th over: England 72-3 (Strauss 33, Bell 3)
It has now been 25 deliveries since England last scored a run. That's a long time ago. Strauss and Bell are staying well back in the crease too. I'm worried.
For whom the Bell tolls: Pakistan have another wicket after the England No 5 strayed out of his crease
27th over: England 72-3 (Strauss 33, Bell 3)
Another maiden over. But that doesn't tell the story. Ajmal's over is full of variation: the doosra, the straight-oner. It's all Strauss can do to hang on in there. Pressure building, England have been going at just one an over in the last ten overs.
26th over: England 72-3 (Strauss 33, Bell 3)
Dot, dot, dot, dot, dot, dot. That's a maiden over in old money.
25th over: England 72-3 (Strauss 33, Bell 3)
'C'mon boys, c'mon, c'mooooooon', implores Akmal behind the stumps. One or two more wickets before stumps and this game is back in the balance. The umpire asks for a review of a stumping decision, I'm not sure why as Strauss' back foot is well in his crease. However, 4,458 TV replays later, the third umpire gives the England captain the green light. Maiden over.
24th over: England 72-3 (Strauss 33, Bell 3)
Bell's been very cautious so far, you can';t blame him really, but in trying to keep hold of his wicket he loses the dynamism which makes him such an exciting batsman. I digress, Bell whips a couple of runs to midwicket.
23rd over: England 70-3 (Strauss 33, Bell 1)
Shot! Strauss fires back down the ground to score his fourth boundary of the innings. England move to 70 and it is time to take some drinks.
Captain's job: Strauss is in dire need of some big runs for England
22nd over: England 66-3 (Strauss 29, Bell 1)
Rehman continues and in parsimonious fashion, too. Just a couple of singles from the over as we move into what should be the last hour of play, but with 21 overs remaining, I fancy we will be eating well into the extra half hour allowed to fulfil the required amount.
21st over: England 64-3 (Strauss 28, Bell 0)
KP's changed and on the balcony, chuntering away in an animated fashion. I can deduce he's not too happy with the decision which has just been given against him. In other news, that was a maiden.
20th over: England 64-3 (Strauss 28, Bell 0)
Excellent work from Rehman who breaks up what was promising to become a very damaging partnership for England. Sky reveal the HawkEye boffins have said the ball was clipping leg stump by 2.2 milimetres. How's your luck? Wicket maiden.
WICKET! Kevin Pietersen lbw b Rehman 32
KP goes to left-arm spin again. But it's a harsh one. Umpire Simon Taufel gave it, but HawkEye shows barely a milimetre of the ball was touching leg stump.
19th over: England 64-2 (Strauss 28, Pietersen 32)
Two spinners on, overs are zooming by now. Just one from the over.
Same old story: Left-arm spinner Rehman celebrates taking Pietersen's wicket
18th over: England 63-2 (Strauss 28, Pietersen 31)
Excellent over from Abdur Rehman. Full of guile, flight, variation of speed and England don't like it. Both Strauss and KP crab up in their crease and I slowly start weeping, mourning the passing of the forward defensive stroke - certainly in this England side, anyway.
17th over: England 61-2 (Strauss 27, Pietersen 30)
Now my rough guestimation of the turn out today must be no more than two thousand. I was hoping we'd get a few more in, what with this being a holiday day in Dubai. And there's no Billy the Trumpet today to gee up the Barmy Army, either. Mores the pity. Three from the over, Strauss pushes a couple to mid-off.
16th over: England 58-2 (Strauss 24, Pietersen 30)
Shot! KP has been a model of restraint so far: all straight bat and forward defensive shots. But he throws caution to the wind with a delightful sweep backward of square for four runs. That shot brings up the 50 partnership, too.
15th over: England 52-2 (Strauss 23, Pietersen 25)
Trial by spin now for England: Ajmal and Rehman in the mix. Nice shot from Strauss, chopping down against the spin, turning it down towards fine leg for two runs. Tidy.
14th over: England 50-2 (Strauss 21, Pietersen 25)
Hang tight, Abdur Rehman's on. Left arm spin to Kevin Pietersen, there can be only one result, right. Wait there, I'm off to find my tin hat. Strauss pushes one to mid-on to bring up England's half century at a pretty nippy 3.61 an over.
On the attack: KP has taken the game to Pakistan after the tea break
13th over: England 49-2 (Strauss 20, Pietersen 25)
Shot(s)! Strauss rocks back in his crease and fires a wide one through the covers for four - KP gets in on the act with a classy drive back down the ground to the long-on boundary - and the over ends with a dashing cut just backward of square for four more. A total of 14 from Gul's over. Bowling change on the way soon, I fancy.
12th over: England 34-2 (Strauss 13, Pietersen 17)
Misbah's seen enough of the seamers and called on Saeed Ajmal who you fancy will bowl for a great deal of this session now. Andrew Strauss is immediately back in his crease and I'm immediately sweating on him looking like an lbw candidate. Four from the over, KP takes a couple past point.
11th over: England 30-2 (Strauss 12, Pietersen 14)
Hang on, what happened there? I opened a banana, took a bite and realised the over had finished. Didn't miss much, just the one run, goes to KP. Let's move on and never talk of this again, OK?
10th over: England 29-2 (Strauss 12, Pietersen 13)
Aizaz Cheema joins Gul in the attack in this post-tea spell. No sign of spin then as Misbah is hoping the seamers can repeat the efforts of the England pair Stuart Broad and James Anderson earlier this morning. Shot! KP rattles a delightful drive through covers for four runs. A real morale-boosting shot, that one.
9th over: England 24-2 (Strauss 12, Pietersen 8)
So England will edge through this session, adding runs on the loose deliveries, but holding on to all of their wickets, right? yeah, right. There's still 35 overs left in the day and it is anyone's guess as to the state of the game by the time we reach stumps. Umar Gul begins the attack for Pakistan, KP clips one forward of square and Strauss punches towards cover for a couple more.
TEA: ENGLAND ARE 19-2 IN REPLY TO PAKISTAN'S FIRST-INNINGS TOTAL OF 99
Sportsmail's Paul Newman in Dubai writes: What an incredible day's Test cricket we have had so far. Twelve wickets down at tea? Amazing. It's hardly a minefield out there. Really good bowling, some poor batting and, of course, the decision review system to quicken things up! It really has changed the game and, yes, I accept that a lot of what it has done has been for the good of the game, ie encourage spin. But it still sits uncomfortably with me.
Who would have thought Jonathan Trott would walk off without reviewing his lbw? To the naked eye it looked leg-side. He's usually the most reluctant of batsmen to accept a decision like that. Means both he and Alastair Cook, the run-machines, have gone already. England desperately need their misfiring middle order to get it right now.
Would be lovely if Andrew Strauss could get a big one and it would be typical of Kevin Pietersen to go big now and silence his critics once again. A century for one of them would win this Test for England.
Long walk back: Trott heads back to the hutch after being trapped lbw
8th over: England 19-2 (Strauss 9, Pietersen 6)
Here we go, Saeed Ajmal is given the final over before tea and there's some light relief for Andrew Strauss who rocks back on his heels and slaps four runs via backward point. And that is tea.
7th over: England 12-2 (Strauss 5, Pietersen 3)
Dot, dot, dot, dot, dot, dot. Umar Gul has been dangerous today and ends his last over before tea with a maiden.
6th over: England 12-2 (Strauss 5, Pietersen 3)
In all honesty, I was steeling myself for a turgid three-match Test series. But it has turned out to be quite the opposite. A combination of some wonderful bowling, average batting and wickets with plenty of life in them have made me consideration buying a ticket for the next series in the United Arab Emirates. Seriously.
5th over: England 9-2 (Strauss 5, Pietersen 1)
To add insult to injury, replays show the ball would have gone on to miss Trott's leg stump. England need to stick in here for a bit, this could get a bit Lionel (messy). KP moves off the mark with a positive push back down the ground.
WICKET Jonathan Trott lbw b Gul 2
Oh really very dear me. Trott choked, trying to play across the line and he's hit in front of leg. Plumbasyoulike.
Out! Gul is mobbed after nabbing Trott's wicket
4th over: England 7-1 (Strauss 4, Trott 2)
We stand around, kicking our heels, waiting for Jonathan Trott to take his guard. I could probably was the car, or clear out the loft in this time. Trott works a single square.
3rd over: England 6-1 (Strauss 4, Trott 1)
Not the start England wanted and it is yet another poor shot - on a day of poor shots - which has removed the opener. Two day Test, anyone?
WICKET! Alastair Cook c Akmal b Gul 1
Oh dear. Short, wide, Cook goes chasing after it - well away from his body - and Akmal takes a very neat, athletic catch, diving to his left.
2nd over: England 5-0 (Strauss 4, Cook 1)
The danger with Aizaz Cheema is that he can come sliding across the left-handers, but he decides against that ploy, angling his deliveries in at Cook's stumps. One really big lbw shot goes up, but there's no review. The right choice too as it pitched well outside leg.
1st over: England 4-0 (Strauss 4, Cook 0)
Anyone need reminding how important this innings is for the England captain? Thought not. Umar Gul begins Pakistan's, angling successive balls across off stump, then sliding one down leg which Strauss clips fine for four runs.
PAKISTAN ALL OUT FOR 99
You really couldn't ask for any more from England's bowlers this morning. Once again they build a platform from which the batsmen can develop a big lead.
But then things haven't worked quite like that for the visitors on this tour.
Huge credit to Stuart Broad who impressed the most. His figures of 16-5-36-4 were excellent considering his scalps came at the top of the innings, too.
Game over: Gul's stumps are rattled to end Paksitan's innings on just 99 runs
WICKET! Umar Gul b Anderson 13
Full, straight, jagging back in from just outside off and Gul's middle and off stumps are rattled. That's it!
44th over: Pakistan 99-9 (Gul 13, Cheema 0)
Another maiden for Monty. Tidy bowling, that man.
43rd over: Pakistan 99-9 (Gul 13, Cheema 0)
Tim Bresnan has tweeted his approval of the action on offer so far today: 'Nice morning for some fielding practice. -2. See the boys have bowled out of their skin in Dubai. Mine could be freezing off this morning.' Which segueways neatly into Paul Newman's exclusive that Bresnan is set to rejoin the England squad later on this tour. Full details on that story here. Gul clips a couple of his ankles for four more runs. Tidy shot, that one.
42nd over: Pakistan 95-9 (Gul 9, Cheema 0)
Boom! Umar Gul shows some defiance and desire to take his team into three fingers by taking a knee and creaming Panesar high over mid-on for SIX runs. A mighty blow which sends the gaggle of Pakistan fans (is gaggle the collective noun?) into raptures. Monty doesn't looks best pleased, mind. As you wouldn't. Time for drinks... slurp.
41st over: Pakistan 86-9 (Gul 0, Cheema 0)
Review! Looks out to me, but HawkEye says not enough of the ball is touching leg stump for umpire Steve Davis' decision to be overturned. One leg bye from the over.
40th over: Pakistan 85-9 (Gul 0)
Not a bad morning's work. England need one more wicket before they can begin their reply and you must fancy England from this point. Surely they can't let this one slip through their fingers.
Full Monty: Panesar celebrates his second wicket of the mornign for England
WICKET! Asad Shafiq lbw b Panesar 45
There ends Pakistan's solitary decent knock and its plumb. Shafiq hangs back in his crease, trying a late cut, misses the ball and is hit half way up middle. Very out.
39th over: Pakistan 85-8 (Shafiq 45, Gul 0)
Brilliant bowling, Sahfiq guides an outside edge right down the throat of the man at third slip... but there's no one there. Anderson looks rueful as the third man races round to tidy up. There's three more via a flashing drive through cover point.
38th over: Pakistan 80-8 (Shafiq 40, Gul 0)
Dot, dot, dot, dot, dot, dot. Gull faces all six from Panesar, without too much trouble. Maiden.
37th over: Pakistan 80-8 (Shafiq 40, Gul 0)
Bowling change: Jimmy Anderson is introduced in Stuart broad's stead. Replays show Broad petulant kick out at the wicket from a couple of overs ago. fancy Strauss is giving him time to cool his head. Shafiq jabs a couple wide of third man.
36th over: Pakistan 80-8 (Shafiq 38, Gul 0)
Shafiq's running out of partners here at an alarming rate. England will hope to wrap this innings up for less than 100 and then they can start the task of ending their spin jinx.
Lone stand: Only Shafiq has managed to score a significant number of runs for Pakistan
WICKET! Saeed Ajmal lbw b Panesar 12
Another wicket, another lbw decision but there's no doubt this one. Ajmal prods forward to a ball which pitched on middle and went straight on.
35th over: Pakistan 77-7 (Shafiq 37, Ajmal 12)
Shot! I say shot, more poor delivery as Broad dips one in short, but there's no pace on it and Shafiq swivels to cut square for four more. Broad angrily boots the turf as he strolls back to his mark, kicking up a huge bowl of dust, exemplifying just how dry this track is.
34th over: Pakistan 70-7 (Shafiq 31, Ajmal 11)
Caaaaatchiiiiit is the strained cry from behind the stumps, but Ajmal's huge bat/pad effort drops well wide of Cook at short leg.
33rd over: Pakistan 69-7 (Shafiq 30, Ajmal 11)
Shot! Now there's a moment to bring fleeting joy into the hearts of the (ever-growing number of) Pakistan fans. Ajmal pulls proficiently to the deep square boundary for four precious runs. Still no sound on my TV, the picture is back now so no need to worry that I'm making this up.
32nd over: Pakistan 64-7 (Shafiq 29, Ajmal 7)
My computer's bust. Can't hear commentary and the picture is flickering on and off. Not ideal when you're trying to cover a test match. I could do a blow-by-blow account of Homes Under the Hammer from 10am, if you fancy?
In a spin: Panesar has been in the wickets once again for England
31st over: Pakistan 61-7 (Shafiq 28, Ajmal 5)
We're running about five overs behind schedule and that total is increasing rapidly. England's rate has been woefully slow today. Matt Prior's shout of 'caaaaatch' falls on deaf ears, well, KP fails to pick up the flight of the ball in time. But it would have taken something special to pouch Ajmal's pull just wide of square leg.
30th over: Pakistan 59-7 (Shafiq 28, Ajmal 3)
Let's not get carried away with England's gains so far this morning. Pakistan's woeful total so far isn't short of the total they needed to win the match in Abu Dhabi. The Saeed Ajmal factor is never far away from any conversation about this Test. Ajmal pushes to kid-on for a single to retain strike.
29th over: Pakistan 58-7 (Shafiq 28, Ajmal 2)
Ouch. Broad bangs one in short of a length, rattling in at speed into Saeed Ajmal's crown jewels. It hits him with such vigour that it breaks his box and a new one is required. The poor old chap looks in all kinds of agony. Just one from the over as Ajmal guides the ball towards third man.
28th over: Pakistan 57-7 (Shafiq 28, Ajmal 1)
Shot! Shafiq waits an age, rocks on the back of his heels and thumps through cover for a rare boundary. Oh, worth noting that it is Panesar who will join the attack with Broad for the time being. Sky show us some stats relating to Graeme Swann and Panesar's effectiveness against left and right-handers looks like Swanny will have to wait a while for his next bowl.
27th over: Pakistan 53-7 (Shafiq 24, Ajmal 1)
'Listen here, mate, any more of that nonsense and we'll be stripped to the waist for some bare knuckle recriminations during the innings break. You understand, old boy?' Well, that's how I like to think the conversation between Safiq and Ajmal went after the spinner's airy waft outside off stump comes very close to sending another wicket tumbling. Stuart Broad begins the attack after lunch with a maiden.
Hat's your lot: Broad makes his exit at lunch after a fabulous session for England
LUNCH: PAKISTAN ARE 53-7
Sportsmail's Paul Newman in Dubai writes: What an incredible morning again and what a bowling performance from England.
The batting disasters here have overshadowed the fact that Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson have really learned how to bowl in sub-continental conditions on this tour and this morning they have been magnificent. Michael Vaughan has compared them to Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie at their best and I think he is spot on.
Brilliant stuff from England and they need to complete the job quickly this afternoon. Then we will see what happens to England's batsmen!
26th over: Pakistan 53-7 (Shafiq 24, Ajmal 1)
Shot! Shafiq ends the over - and session - with a flurry. A stunning slap past cover point raves to the boundary and that is lunch.
25th over: Pakistan 48-7 (Shafiq 20, Ajmal 0)
Broad continues, his figures of 11-4-21-4 aren't too bad for a morning's work. Sahfiq adds another couple and I think we'll squeeze one more over in.
24th over: Pakistan 46-7 (Shafiq 18, Ajmal 0)
Last couple of overs before lunch now, don't even get me started on the woeful over rate. Well behind. I know, I really shouldn't complain given the fact that seven wickets have gone. Swann's cameo extends to just the one over after removing the left-hander, Anderson's back on, just one run conceded, towards midwicket.
Spin the zone: Swann took a wicket in his first over of the day
23rd over: Pakistan 45-7 (Shafiq 17, Ajmal 0)
So the inquest begins. England have barely broken sweat and they're well into the Pakistan tail. Pitch/bowling/laziness? Probably a combination of all three, weighted heavily towards the last two. One from the over as Shafiq clips through square leg.
22nd over: Pakistan 44-7 (Shafiq 16, Ajmal 0)
Swann does what he does best: taking a wicket in the first over of a spell. I'll go out on a limb here and say I fancy this could be England's session.
WICKET! Abdur Rehman c Pietersen b Swann 1
Rehman goes trying an impossible heave over covers but skies to Kevin Pietersen who takes takes the catch.
21st over: Pakistan 44-6 (Shafiq 16, Rehman 1)
Further to my promise earlier of discovering what Pakistan's lowest Test score was.. I've come up trumps: 53 all out v Australia in Sharjah, Oct 11, 2002. Couple of singles from the over and Rehman moves off the mark with a one with a fortuitous dab past the slips.
20th over: Pakistan 42-6 (Shafiq 15, Rehman 0)
Panesar continues, as you fancy he might in the spell up to lunch. If for no other reason than to improve the over rate. Shafiq clips three behind square to edge Pakistan closer to the 50 mark.
You're out: Akmal starts the long walk back as Pakistan collapsed in the morning session
19th over: Pakistan 39-6 (Shafiq 12)
Wicket maiden. They're the kinda overs I like.
WICKET! Adnan Akmal lbw b Broad 6
Plumb as you like. Akmal plays a stinker outside the line of a ball which started straight, jagged in a touch and rattle him bang in front. Review shows the ball was sliding on to hit leg stump.
18th over: Pakistan 39-5 (Shafiq 12, Akmal 6)
Dot, dot, dot, dot, dot, dot. A maiden over for Monty who is generating a modicum of turn. Exciting times!
17th over: Pakistan 39-5 (Shafiq 12, Akmal 6)
Decent reply by the Pakistan pair in the middle who have temporarily stopped the rot. But the size of the task facing them is huge. They certainly can't risk losing another wicket before the break for lunch which is on the way in 35 minutes - or about four overs at the rate England are going. Shafiq pushes though cover point for a couple.
16th over: Pakistan 35-5 (Shafiq 9, Akmal 5)
Monty's over zooms by. General comments of approval over the amount of bounce he's generating. Just one from the six deliveries as Akmal clips just behind square leg.
All smiles: England have enjoyed a great morning session with Broad at the heart of the action
15th over: Pakistan 34-5 (Shafiq 9, Akmal 4)
'Looks like he's got a flock mattress in there!' chirps Bumble on spotting Akmal's enormous chest guard. While I guffaw my approval, Pakistan get in a horrible mess: an indecisive run call leaves Akmal in No Man's Land, but Eoin Morgan's shy at the stumps misses by *this much*. An hour and 20 in and we've only just reached the 15 over mark. Woefully slow from England.
14th over: Pakistan 26-5 (Shafiq 1, Akmal 2)
Bowling change: Monty Panesar is asked to turn his arm over for the first time since his now-forgotten exploits in Abu Dhabi. Not his fault, mind. If England had chased down the 145 they needed, Monty would have been a hero. Two singles from the over.
13th over: Pakistan 24-5 (Shafiq 1, Akmal 2)
So, what is Pakistan's lowest total? Gimme a minute and I'll find out. But I fancy if the openers are out of nick, I'm not sure this tail can come in and blast a couple of hundred. Just one from the over.
12th over: Pakistan 23-5 (Shafiq 1, Akmal 1)
I'm not one for cod psychology, but there must be something going on in the Pakistan bowlers heads this morning. The seamers are making inroads as if this is a cloudy mornign at Headingley. Great news for the hosts as the new bats Akmal and Shafiq add a single a piece.
11th over: Pakistan 21-5 (Shafiq 0, Akmal 0)
England have ad worse mornings than this right. And still Saeed Ajmal lurks in the back of my mind. Damn you!
Packed house: A modest crowd has arrived early for the start of the third Test
WICKET! Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Anderson 1
There's another! Captain gone, Anderson's in-swinger does the damage as Misbah is trapped playing straight across the line.
10th over: Pakistan 21-4 (Misbah 1)
Not heard the last of that one. We'll be watching replays of that decision for some time to come. HotSpot was not conclusive for me but the third umpire decided to ignore that and use the HawkEye technology. I'm not sure. Hafeez claps mockingly as he leaves the field, which will surely land him in hot water.
WICKET! Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Broad 13
Another controversial decision involving the DRS system. Broad appeals for lbw, declined by umpire Simon Taufel. maybe a hint of an inside edge before the pads, nothing conclusive. HawkEye suggest the ball is going on to hit leg stump.
9th over: Pakistan 21-3 (Hafeez 13, Misbah 1)
Three slips, gully and even a short leg involved. And we've not even had an hour yet. Misbah's off the mark with a streaky inside edge that zooms through his legs. And Hafeez whips one off hs pads square to retain strike.
8th over: Pakistan 18-3 (Hafeez 11, Misbah 0)
I was just pondering about waxing lyrical over a beauty of a drive through midwicket by Khan for the first over. In fact the first real shot in anger of the day. And then he plays an absolute stinker.
Five alive! England have steamed through the Pakistan top order
WICKET! Younis Khan c Prior b Broad 4
Horrible, horrible shot by Khan. Playing waaaaaaaaay outside his body he edges Broad behind for Prior to take a regulation catch at head height.
7th over: Pakistan 14-2 (Hafeez 11, Khan 0)
Worth noting England's bowlers have been good, but not outstanding. Yet they are making Pakistan look very very average. Do Pakistan have their mind on the job now that the series has been won? Or is this just one of those slow sleepy starts?
6th over: Pakistan 10-2 (Hafeez 7, Khan 0)
A very good start by all accounts. If England can bowl this lot out for a bout 50-60-odd they might have a chance of winning. I said might.
WICKET! Azhar Ali c Prior b Broad 1
Two down. The umpire doesn't spot the inside edge but HotSpot makes no mistake. Broad gets one to move through the gate, Ali's half-hearted prod plays outside the line and Prior takes the catch.
5th over: Pakistan 8-1 (Hafeez 7, Ali 1)
Ooohs and aaahs and all manner of whathaveyou comes from behind the stumps as Anderson gets a couple to zoom past the outside edge. A controlled beginning for England. But then the bowling has never been the problem on this tour. Another maiden.
Broad appeal: England have made inroads into the Pakistan batting line-up this morning
4th over: Pakistan 8-1 (Hafeez 7, Ali 1)
An email has flooded in: 'No, no, no, Tom. There's a 100 at most in the ground.' My guestimation of a couple of hundred spectators needs to go on a diet. Maiden for Broady.
3rd over: Pakistan 8-1 (Hafeez 7, Ali 1)
Worth noting this is by far and away the smallest crowd we have had so far in the first over of the three Tests. Numbered in a couple of hundred at most. Still, it should get busier what with Friday being a holiday day in Dubai. Just one from the over as Ali moves off the mark with a nudge square.
2nd over: Pakistan 7-1 (Hafeez 7, Ali 0)
Dropped/missed/left/dreadful. Stunning start for Broad who finds Hafeez's outside edge, the ball zooms between wicket keeper and first slip, Strauss gets a hand to it but the pace takes it through and for four runs. It's all going on at the moment - Pakistan should be two down.
1st over: Pakistan 1-1 (Hafeez 1, Ali 0)
Early breakthrough will settle England's nerves. The less said about the Barmy Army's rendition of Jerusalem, the better. truly woeful sounding noise without the aid of Billy the Trumpet.
WICKET! Taufeeq Umar lbw b Anderson 0
What a start! The in-swinger does for Umar who's rattled just below the knee-roll, plumb in front and that is as out as anyone will ever be.
Early wicket! Anderson celebrates after taking a scalp in the first wicket of the day
5.58: Here come the players. Another failure over the next five days and some established players could find their positions in the side in trouble. Not quite night of the long knives, but there will be several sweating on their futures.
5.49: A touch over 10 minutes before the action commences. Just enough time to have a read of Paul Newman's thoughts on the third test and a warning from captain Andrew Strauss that no player is assured of their place in the side. Have a look.
5.41: Oh, and how smart does our new Twitter feature look? You can follow the musings of Sportsmail's dynamic cricket duo Paul Newman and Lawrence Booth as it happens. Eyes right...
5.38: So the team news is that there isn't any news. However, we have learned that Tim Bresnan will be making his way back to the United Arab Emirates for the one-dayers. More news on that here.
5.30: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat! No changes for England, Monty Panesar retains his lace in the side. As does Eoin Morgan whose place was feared to be under the most pressure. Pakistan bring in Aizaz Cheema for Junaid Khan
Have a bat: Pakistan win the toss and England will start the third Test in the field
5.15: Contrary to popular opinion - and no little empirical evidence - Kevin Pietersen says he DOESN'T have a problem to left-arm spinners (ahem). Still he makes his case to Sportsmail's Paul Newman in an exclusive interview here.
5am: Morning everyone and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage on day one of the third Test between England and Pakistan from the Dubai International Stadium.
This isn't how it was supposed to pan out, was it? England arrive back in Dubai staring a 3-0 series whitewash in the face and are in real danger of losing their world No 1 status.
The perennial achilles heel of playing spin on the subcontinent has undone Andrew Strauss's side. The 72 all out performance a low point since the watershed defeat to the West Indies in 2009.
Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, Ian Bell and Strauss all have question marks hanging over them and yet there is still there is plenty to play for.
England face away series to Sri Lanka and India later this year (just after becoming the world's best, they are scheduled three series away on wickets they can't bat on, nice one ECB!) and must use every opportunity to shake off the spin demons.
Or at least try play some positive shots to the bowling of arch Nemesis Saeed Ajmal.
Pride and Test ranking points at stake, England need to put a lacklustre last fortnight behind them and focus on winning this final match in Dubai.
I'll bring you the team news as soon as I get it and you can make merry your thoughts in this direction: EMAIL or TWITTER.
In the swing: Mancini has opened the door for Tevez to return to City
Out of action: Tevez hasn't played for City since September
Sidelined: Hargreaves has featured just four times for City
Plenty to ponder: Strauss side have already conceded the series - it's now about pride for the No 1 Test team
In demand: Sergio Aguero is Real Madrid's top target
High price: Real Madrid are keen to sell Gonzalo Higuain (right) to Chelsea
Not interested: Ferdinand doesn't want to succeed Terry as England skipper
Stripped: John Terry has lost the England armband for a second time
Collision course: Capello told the FA he wanted Terry to keep the armband
Charge: Terry is embroiled in a race row after alleged comments he made to Ferdinand
Second time: Terry was originally axed as England captain in 2010
