England

The game was certainly a better performance from England, bar a couple of notable exceptions...

Trescothick needs to get his feet moving. It is reported that he's unwell, but if he's THAT unwell then he shouldn't be in the team.

Pietersen needs to start showing more of that restraint and control he keeps telling us he is working on.

On the upside though, good to see Broad and Mahmood in the same side, and they certainly show some talent.

I also believe that the bowlers generally performed well, despite the loss, strengthening my view that Gough shouldn't be in the squad (let alone the team).

Still England can come back.but pakistan 2up at this stage in a better postion.
As far as the 3rd game,English top order looked that they have bit organised than the other two games.Even after loosing the first wicket they did not bog-down,scored with a better rate.That was'nt case in the first two games.
in the next few months plenty of cricket coming they have to take the positives from this as well as make new plane to step up a bit during the power play.
The bowling is concerned looked inexperience.

Don't be fooled into believing England have turned the corner after this performance.

Throughout the chase the result was never in doubt, and only some poor shots by Pakistan's middle order made the victory margin look so narrow.

To lose after batting first in a day night game in England is not a great effort. The batsmen were again guilty of not going on after getting some good starts, and that was the difference between posting 270 and 300. And the bowlers did not exert enough pressure, yet again. Younis, Yousuf (who was crocked) and Inzy never looked in danger.

Having said that, Dalrymple looks a good one day player, Broad looks promising, and Jon Lewis continues to make a mockery of his non-selection earlier in the summer.

Pretty pathetic performance by Pakistan yesterday and yet they still won. They were so terrible in the field, easily gave away 30-40 runs. The bowling wasn't upto the mark as well. The batting except for the big three was poor and got out while playing awful shots, especially Akmal, Razzaq and Rana.

Congratulations England for showing a much better performance. There were certainly the signs of improvement in all the departments from England side. I am happy that Pakistan had to go through this tough test of nerves. Inzi once again shows himself to be a cool customer in all situations.

I think England were only allowed to play better when they were batting, because Pakistan were so poor in the field, I mean it was like a village team that was fielding at times. Inzi seemed to be the only one dropping to the floor and saving 4's and that's saying something.

Clarke and Mahmood were rubbish, noballs, wides etc and off line, got tonked all around the park.

Yardy should have played instead of Clarke hands down.

I think the England selectors need to go back to the drawing board and do one thing now before it's too late.

Go through all the domestic competition averages and pick the best 11 on that basis and see how they do. South Africa did a similar thing earlier this year as a trial against Australia in a Twenty20 match and they pulled it off.

Get specialists back.

Just look at the extra's and you will see why we lost.

Thought England were hopeless!! action is needed now. Strauss isn't up to it, the bowlers were all 2nd string this is very worrying. Cant help feeling the selectors are changing too much. Mahmood is a victim of this, he bowled fantastically for Lancs at Lords then was dropped for the ODI??? he is our fastest bowler and will love the Australian pitches as will Chris Broad, Harmison and Hoggard make up our main attack not forgetting Freddy. Although Strauss's buddy Drylmple ( sorry for spelling) had a good match he was lucky to be there...what happened to Yardy who had a good 20/20?? trescothick and Strauss haven't really shined neither has Gough....what was that all about??? I am a fan of Gough but at his age then forget give some youngsters a go. The form of several players seems to have gone ie: Pieterson. I think we can forget the world cup next year lets put youth in Alastair Cook should be there and I say NEW CAPTAIN why not? Strauss is dire.

Furnessman i don't think Strauss is to blame in all of this he can play with the team given to him. The change needs to happen with the selectors who keep getting it wrong why can't we have a fresh approach with new selectors.

I was also lucky enough to be at the game yesterday. I thought England played well but never thought they had scored enough and Pakistan always looked in control.

I am sorry to hear that Spirtfireforlife had trouble as my impression of the organisation by those responsible at the ground was positive. We live about 30 miles away and having heard about the chaos at the last international decided to catch the train to Southampton Parkway.

We got off the train and there was a bus waiting to take us to the ground. After the game we found the right bus and within 15 minutes we were back at the Railway Station.

At this point British Rail stepped in. Having missed the right train by seconds we had to watch 2 almost empty trains go to Southampton Central before, after 40 minutes, a train arrived to take us to Bournemouth. Didn't British Rail know there was a game on?

Finally a word on the crowd. I thoroughly enjoyed the good natured banter between the sets of supporters. Most supporters of both sides applauded the good shots, bowling and fielding by the other side. It is a testament to cricket supporters that they can spend the day drinking and yet there was virtually no trouble. If only we could go back to a day when football fans did not have to be segregated for fear they would kill each other.

Of course there had to be a few brainless idiots who want to spoil it for everyone else. Near us were some so called England supporters who were looking for a fight because the Pakistani's were enjoying themselves. The phrase "just because you're losing" sprang to mind and well done to the stewards who calmed everything down before it got out of hand.