England v Pakistan: first one-day international – live!

Impact just in line and clipping the bails – the decision is upheld! Pakistan are in a world of pain as Saqib celebrates his third wicket. Fantastic pace, up around that 90mph mark – what a handful.

7th over: Pakistan 26-4 (Fakhar 8)

DOES SAQIB HAVE A THIRD? Shakeel is given out lbw on the field but the left-hander is sending it upstairs. Round the wicket, is the impact in line? That’ll be the main query for the ball tracker.

6th over: Pakistan 24-3 (Fakhar 7, Shakeel 4) Gregory very tidy again, a couple behind point for Fakhar the only runs on offer, the big all-rounder down low to stop a straight drive in his follow-through to finish. We get a look at a graphic on Sky showing that the ball Fakhar edged would have hit off-stump flush had it maintained its original line, reinforcing that it was just about the perfect ball.

“England have now won the toss in their last ten ODIs (odds of 1 in 1,024),” reports my old mate Messy Jez on twitter. “The last time they lost was on 4 August 2020, when Ireland beat them. In the last 9 they have won 4, lost 4 & 1 no result.” Oooh! What if they go 12/12?

5th over: Pakistan 22-3 (Fakhar 5, Shakeel 4) Shakeel is off the mark for Pakistan, flicking with ease through midwicket for four. Nice. Meanwhile, that’s the second time that Saqib has located an inside edge with that extra yard of pace, Fakhar lucky not to chop on.

A little plug for a Guardian Cricket Live (online) event coming up on the evening of 2 August. I’m on the panel with Izzy Westbury and Taha Hashim, with the delightful Emma John steering the ship.

4th over: Pakistan 17-3 (Fakhar 4, Shakeel 0) Two left-handers now, with Shakeel – the other man on ODI debut – joining Fakhar, who has been watching the carnage from the non-strikers’ end. Four dots to complete Gregory’s successful over – talk about hitting your mark on debut without any nerves to speak of. Getting Rizwan early is huge.

“Hello Adam.” Allo, Andrew Cosgrove. “It’s nice to have some cricket to burble away in the background while working this afternoon. Also having a whole new team provides something new to be thinking/talking about. I appreciate you’re not likely to be any more informed than I am, but how come Lewis Gregory is playing? He’s supposed to be injured – he didn’t play in Somerset’s championship match this week because of that, and has missed at least one Blast game. Let’s hope he doesn’t break down in his first over.”

I can’t speak to that but I’ve been a huge fan of his bowling in the last year or so – he’s quicker now and lands it in a shoebox. So pleased that he’s been fit enough to take this opportunity.

Just about unplayable from Gregory! He finds Rizwan’s edge with the perfect delivery, pitching middle and seaming away. Simpson does the rest – his first international dismissal. Stunning cricket.

3rd over: Pakistan 14-2 (Fakhar 1, Rizwan 13) Shot. Rizwan, who is class, square drives Saqib on the up – delightful shot. Ooh, inside edge later in the over, great pace, skipping away for four more.

“Hi Adam.” Afternoon to Séin Healy in Ireland. “As a regular sender of emails looking for the TMS overseas link, it gives me immense pleasure to share said link for this. Enjoy the days cricket!” Ta!

2nd over: Pakistan 4-2 (Fakhar 0, Rizwan 4) Lewis Gregory now, on ODI debut – not the last time I’ll say that today. I’m glad he’s been thrown the new ball, as I said off the top, a vastly improved bowler and someone who could have a three-format future for England if he can take opportunities like this. And he begins with the tidiest of maidens to Fakhar, who slotted 193 (155) and 101 in his last two ODIs.

1st over: Pakistan 4-2 (Fakhar 0, Rizwan 4) A thick edge from Rizwan through fourth slip to finish the over, too quick for third man. Ruins what could have otherwise been a double wicket maiden to begin an ODI. Blimey. How many of these have started with two wickets in three balls? I’m sure the statisticians will tell us shortly.

TWO WICKETS IN THREE BALLS! Saqib finds Babar’s edge, taken by Crawley at second slip! Outstanding bowling! WHAT A START!

Great referral! Just pitching in the tram tracks, three reds, hitting leg. It was Simpson who convinced his captain to review – the perfect start to his international career and the perfect start for the hosts.

REVIEW FIRST BALL! Has Saqib trapped Imam? It’s given not out – just pitching outside leg, perhaps? Stokes wants another look!

The players are on the field. It being the start of a new series, England are marking a moment of unity (alongside Pakistan), wearing their anti-discrimination shirts. “Ben’s babes,” as they are being dubbed on TV, which works quite nicely. Saqib Mahmood has the ball in his hand – giddy up. Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman are opening up for the visitors – a wonderful pair. PLAY!

“Hello Adam.” Hello, Andrew Benton. “Are you mandated to give occasional updates on Gloucs vs Middx? No Tanya and county blog today, and it looks like it could go down to the wire: Middx with 7 wickets but 270ish behind and two more sessions to bat.

Don’t worry, we’ll keep an eye on that – the only domestic game today. Of course, both Simpson and David Payne were both subbed out there after one day to join England in Cardiff. What a world.

Right, so let’s go through some of these names.

Phil Salt BELTS it. Plenty of experience on the T20 circuit, was in great form to start the Blast with a couple of rapid 70s before Sussex had five games rained off in the space of a couple of weeks. Hits long and straight, backs his swing. Perfect for the power play.

Lewis Gregory is a vastly improved cricketer; might take the new ball with Saqib Mahmood. Brydon Carse, from Durham, will make a case for that too – has wheels, can also bat. A very modern player.

Matt Parkinson is a twitter favourite, so it’ll be no surprise that I’ve been pushing his cause for about five years. After spending three months on tour this winter without playing, this is the perfect time to get him back into England colours (… and then the Ashes).

As for John Simpson – what a story. As I noted off the top, one of the four players in this squad not picked in the extended training group of 55 ahead of last season’s Covid-secure games. Had a great Blast season in 2020 and played a wonderful innings against Hants out at Radlett a couple of weeks ago. Some of the best gloves in the country with his best hitting between long off and cow corner.

Oh, and Saqib was bowling at 90mph swinging it both ways in the Roses game I was at in late May. He’s taken the next step. Fun!

Jimmy Anderson fancied a game today. Of course he did. Busy earlier in the week, was the ageless quick, snaring his 1000th First Class wicket. Here’s a lovely piece by Tanya Aldred, who saw it live.

And here’s Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Sohaib Maqsood, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf.

Saud Shakeel, the left-handed batsman, is their one debut.

England XI: Phil Salt, Dawid Malan, Zak Crawley, James Vince, Ben Stokes (c), John Simpson (wk), Lewis Gregory, Craig Overton, Brydon Carse, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson.

“We have been a successful team bowling and just because we have a change of personnel doesn’t mean we’ll change our way. It’s an exciting time for everyone involved here at the moment. When something like this comes along, and we can bring together a group of this callibre, it shows we are in a strong position.”

11 changes, Stokes jokes, with five players on debut, but struggles to remember all of them. Fair enough! We’ll have the full XI shortly.

The TV coverage begins. “What an opportunity,” says Ian Ward. That’s how Tim Gilkison feels about it as well. “Is it wrong to be more excited about this series because of all the debuts? I mean, I shouldn’t say I’m happy with what’s happened, but …”

Perfectly reasonable, I say. And here’s the toss…

Here was Ben Stokes speaking yesterday. Sitting in a captain’s press conference just 48 hours after it was said that his return to national colours wasn’t going to be rushed. But needs, must.