LIVE: England v Pakistan – The action on day three of the first Test as it happens in Dubai

Stay up to date with all the action on
day three of the first Test between England and Pakistan with
Sportsmail's unrivalled team. We'll deliver over-by-over coverage as the
action unfolds at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium while our brilliant team of writers
will update with their insights from the ground.

England v Pakistan: Essentials

England: Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook,
Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wk),
Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett.

Pakistan:
Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq
(capt), Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal (wk), Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Saeed
Ajmal, Aizaz Cheema.

Umpires: Billy Bowden (New Zealand) and Bruce Oxenford (Australia)

England won the toss and elected to bat

Click here for a full scorecard

Sportsmail's Paul Newman in Dubai writes: Morning from the desert. Huge day today, one that could decide this whole series, not just the first Test. England ended on such a high last night that they think they can pull off a great escape here but the big question is how they will play Saeed Ajmal second time. First they have to get rid of Pakistan's last three wickets quickly.

105th over: Pakistan 288-7 (Akmal 24, Umar Gul 0)

So, wrap up these three wickets nice and early and then set about the business of reducing the deficit and building a lead. Piece of cake, no James Anderson has three deliveries to finish off the over which was interrupted by the late wicket of Abdur Rehman. Nowt much going on.

5.50: Right, 10 minutes to go before play restarts, time enough to have a read of Martin Samuel's thoughts on yesterday's events. Nothing much to report… unless you love cricket.

5.45: The other essentials you need ahead of the resumption of play are: Nasser's observations (He thinks England have done well, but Saeed Ajmal remains key) and – of course – Bumble's musings on events so far.

5.38: Playing catch u-up on the action in Dubai Have a read of Paul Newman's report of the action on day two to bring you right up to speed.

5.30am: It's such things as two wickets in the final two overs on which Test matches can turn.

England's travails in the field on day two paid dividends. But they were made to wait for it.

After England posted 192 in the first-innings Pakistan looked primed to bat Andrew Strauss's side out of the game.

But some very disciplined work with the ball maintained England's competitiveness and the two late strikes mean a game which looked lost now remains firmly in the balance.

James Anderson and Graeme Swann took the key wickets late on and with Pakistan having just three wickets remaining England will hope to keep the deficit around the 100 mark.

And then it's up to the World's No 1 Test side to bat with the kind of confidence and dominance we have been accustomed to over the past 18 months or so. Simple, right

I'll bring you the action from 6am and you can direct your thoughts thusly: EMAIL or TWITTER. Many thanks.

Late gains: England struck twice in the closing stages to give them fresh hope heading into day three