Stumps: England await verdict of Ben Stokes injury after bowling out Pakistan in Sharjah — Day 1

Live from the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Paul Radley brings session-by-session updates of the third and final Test between Pakistan and England.

Lunch — Pakistan 87 for two

SHARJAH // All the testimonies suggest Alastair Cook is a jolly splendid chap. He must have been the most unpopular man in the England dressing room by some distance this morning, though, when he lost a third successive toss.

Misbah-ul-Haq, the captain with the golden touch when it comes to flipping a coin, gave an apologetic slap on the arm to Cook, before saying his side were going to bat.

At least England might not have to spend forever in the field this time around. There was pronounced spin in the opening session, for each of the three slow bowlers England picked for this Test — Samit Patel, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid.

After James Anderson tasted early success by dismissing the returning Azhar Ali for a duck, Moeen also celebrated a wicket.

It was little to do with the amenable pitch, though. The offpsinner dragged one down to Mohammed Hafeez, who holed out when on 27.

Shoaib Malik (37) and Younis Khan (21) were the not out batsmen at the lunch interval.

Stumps — England 4 for no loss, Pakistan 234 all out

Tea — Pakistan 148 for five

The bosses at Sharjah Cricket Stadium said if there is turn on Day 1, it is unlikely the Test will last to a fifth. In which case, everybody might have some free time come Thursday.

Even though each of England’s spinners was moving the ball a sizeable distance, their seam bowlers still remained their most reliable performers.

By tea, Stuart Broad and James Anderson had combined figures of 18 overs, three wickets for nine runs. In the afternoon session, Broad accounted for Shoaib Malik (38) and Younis Khan (31) fell to Anderson.

The one wicket that fell to spin came about when Asad Shafiq edged Samit Patel to slip when on just five.

Stumps — England 4 for no loss, Pakistan 234 all out

England’s delight at bowling Pakistan out on the first day will have been largely offset by the serious injury suffered by Ben Stokes.

The all-rounder injured his right shoulder diving to attempt a catch. He left the field with his shirt wrapped over his arm to form a makeshift sling. He will have a scan on the morning of Day 2 to assess the extent of the damage.

A man down, England at least enjoyed success with the ball in the evening session. James Anderson ended the day with four for 17, including the wicket of top-scorer Misbah for 71.

Stuart Broad took two for 13 off 13 overs, while Samit Patel and Moeen Ali took two wickets apiece.

England navigated the two overs they had to face before the close without losing a wicket.