Sohail’s memorable return puts pressure on England

Tea England 184 for 5 (Ballance 49*, Moeen 15*) v PakistanLive scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Sohail Khan made a memorable return to Test cricket on the opening day at Edgbaston as he bagged four wickets before tea to encourage Misbah-ul-Haq that he had not erred by bowling first. At the break, England were 184 for 5 with Gary Ballance unbeaten on 49 as he held the innings together amid the debate about his position in the team.

This was the first time Pakistan had played a right-arm seamer in the series and almost five years since Sohail played the second of his previous two Tests. His average sat at a stratospheric 245 but by tea that had been slashed to 61.20 as he cut through England’s top order in two hardworking eight-over spells. He removed Alex Hales and, crucially, Joe Root in the morning session then added James Vince and Jonny Bairstow during the afternoon.

Rahat Ali, who had retained his place as Wahab Riaz made way for Sohail, claimed the other scalp when he trapped Alastair Cook lbw for 45 with the England captain playing freely. Vince, who is under scrutiny having yet to pass fifty in five Tests, had appeared to be settling in during the afternoon as he and Ballance steadied England in a stand of 69 but became Sohail’s third wicket when Younis Khan managed to get his fingers under a low catch at second slip.

No side has won batting first at Edgbaston since the famous 2005 Ashes Test (and only then by …

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