A future rivalry and afternoon tribulations... ENGLAND V PAKISTAN TALKING POINTS

NICK HOWSON: Ollie Pope and Naseem Shah go head-to-head, England suffer another post-lunch dip and Shane Warne proves his worth

• India-England white-ball tour postponed
• The secret success of Babar Azam

Shah prevails in the battle of the apprentices

Test cricket has always been about the mini rivalries which emerge within a series. That is why we moan when they are limited to just a pair of meetings. Even in this COVID-19 era, at least we have retained much of what was intended at the start of the year.

Ollie Pope v Naseem Shah is a rivalry that could illuminate Test cricket for the next 15 years. If the form is indeed struggling to entice new fans, this is surely a clash to capture the imagination. In one corner, you have the eighth youngster scorer of a Test century in Pope, a clinical stroke-maker and already among the busiest batsmen at the crease. Whatever the situation, he is eager to make things happen.

In the other, you have the youngster seamer to take both a Test five-for and a hat-trick. Shah has both pace to burn and an insatiable desire to attack. He probes at the stumps with a frightening fearlessness. He's not 18 until next February.

The duel on the second evening lasted 25 balls but the clash on day three felt like the fulcrum of the battle, with England looking to fight back. It was a look into the future of the sport. And what a wonderful sight it was.

Pope had looked as unflappable as Babar Azam or Shan Masood during his knock and though he had reached fifty by the time Shah was thrown the ball, he was immediately unsettled by his directness. First up, he played at a full ball, missing by a distance.

Shah got the whole of the 39th over at Pope and the Pakistan youngster made him wince at every opportunity. He cranked up the pace, reaching 89mph at one point as the Surrey poked and prodded at the ball outside off-stump. Even for a man who has faced Vernon Philander and Tim Southee, this was an examination to rival either of those stalwarts.

The right-hander did manage a single and a boundary off successive balls but that was the last success he would have. Shah unleashed a stinging ball, which crashed into Pope's blade and into the safe hands of Shadab Khan at gully. It was a brutal delivery from a boy quickly becoming a man at this level.

QUIZ! MOST RUNS BY PAKISTAN BATSMEN IN ENGLAND

Another messy afternoon

As yet without an international Test call-up, I cannot attest to the quality of the meals provided to players at Emirates Old Trafford. Having spent plenty of time there as a member of the media I can confirm, however, that they provide sustenance to rival any ground in the country.

But what are feeding England? Or, more pertinently, what are they eating? England have saved their worst sessions of the year for the afternoon of this Test match, and the third day was no different.

Jos Buttler, who is enduring one of his worst Tests with the gloves, conceded four byes in the second over, Joe Root caught one on his right thumb which forced him off temporarily, Ben Stokes put Abid Ali down as he dived across the reach of his captain and the tourists grabbed a 107-run lead. It was all rather calamitous.

England have dodged questions regarding their record in the first Test of a series. Their responses, from Stokes to Root to Dom Bess to Chris Woakes, have been rather unconvincing. It is a bit of a mystery.

Having had three Tests to reach top speed, there is little excuse for this latest slip-up. It points to a deeper problem. Without an antidote and an ability to sustain periods of dominance, any ambition of returning to world No.1 in the Test rankings or reclaiming the Ashes are a mere pipedream.

^{Joe Root was forced off temporarily after taking a blow on the thumb}

Record-breaking Yasir Shah impresses Warne

Shane Warne was positively eulogising over Yasir Shah, who ripped through England's lower order to give Pakistan a healthy first-innings lead.

Australia's leading Test wicket-taker might not be everyone's cup of tea with the commentary mic in hand. Warne has the unique ability to make inaudible observations both dull and irrelevant at the same time. It is quite a skill.

But there is no doubt that when it comes to spin bowling, particularly his chosen art of leg-spin, there are few on god's green earth better to listen to. Half the enjoyment of watching Shah at Emirates Old Trafford was listening to Warne analyse his every move.

It is not unfair to observe that Shah is a shadow of the player he was upon breaking into the Test arena six years ago. He topped the ICC bowling rankings in 2016 but the importance of his role has diminished. He was dropped from the team after the Australia series having endured a nightmare time Down Under.

Shah's tendency to attack the stumps meant he was easy pickings at times for the likes of Pope. He went at 3.66 per over from his 18, with just two maidens. He won't exactly hold up an end.

When you have 327 runs behind you, of course, this is largely inconsequential. Shah had free reign, going after that magic ball, which he delivered. Buttler's defences were breached with a ripper, Woakes was surprised by one which zipped through and Asad Shafiq took a blinder at slip.

It was a sight for the eyes and the ears.

With 217, the 34-year-old now has more wickets after 40 Tests than any right-handed leg-spinner in history. More than Warne, Anil Kumble, or Mushtaq Ahmed. He mightn't threaten the reputation of that trio, but it is a record not worth dismissing out of hand.

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