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• McCullum: England not missing Anderson's coaching

  Brendon McCullum does not believe England were missing James Anderson's coaching during a difficult start to the first Test against Pakistan.

  Gus Atkinson got England an early wicket, but they soon struggled as Shan Masood, whose 43-ball half-century is the second-fastest by a Pakistan skipper in Tests, and Abdullah Shafique both struck centuries.

  However, they made a strong finish to the first day, taking three wickets in the final session, with Pakistan reaching stumps on 328-4.

  Anderson, who has been acting as England's fast-bowling consultant since his retirement, was not in Multan on Monday but is set to join up with the team on day two.

  After a tough day in the field, McCullum insisted Anderson was still on hand to coach the players despite not being present, and believes this shows the impact he has already had on the side.

  "Two months ago, you guys were saying that he didn't deserve to be a coach just yet," McCullum told Sky Sports.

  "Now, it's like, 'We're missing him' - and I think that's a great affirmation of how good an impact Jimmy Anderson has made in a short period of time.

  "He's got [WhatsApp] groups set up with the bowlers and is always feeding information through Jeetan Patel. We live in a world where you can still communicate without being face-to-face… I don't have any qualms whatsoever.

  "I'm absolutely delighted for him that he gets the opportunity to do something he loves doing and when he gets here, he'll be right in the thick of it as he has done as bowling coach since he came in."

  Masood and Shafique added a 253-run partnership for the second wicket but fell softly to Atkinson and Jack Leach before Chris Woakes had Babar Azam lbw as England gave themselves some hope in the closing stages.

  Assistant coach Jeetan Patel, who was working with the fast bowlers in Anderson's absence, was particularly proud of how they kept pushing despite the heat.

  "I couldn't commend them any more," Patel said. "I think the toil they put in today was high-end: the way they tried different things to take wickets, the different fields they had, the way they fielded.

  "To take those three wickets tonight was a testament to the work they'd done in the first two sessions. We're pretty happy with how it's ended up, with them four down."

• Late wickets give England hope after difficult start to Pakistan Test

  Three wickets in the final session kept England within reach on day one of the first Test against Pakistan, for whom Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood struck centuries in an impressive start.

  The hosts reached stumps at 328/4 in Multan, but things could have been worse for England on a day that started with both teams keen to bat on a pristine surface. 

  Masood won the toss and elected to bat, and it was his excellent knock of 155 off 177 deliveries – his first Test ton in four years – that helped to put them in a commanding position at 261/1 soon after tea.

  England actually made a fast start as Gus Atkinson – playing in his first overseas Test – had Saim Ayub (4) caught behind by Jamie Smith, but if the tourists thought they had an early breakthrough, those thoughts were soon dispelled. 

  Shafique put a poor run of form behind him with his watchful century, hitting 102 runs off 188 deliveries as Pakistan batted out the best part of two sessions without further loss.

  He then fell victim to Atkinson in the 60th over of the day, playing a tired shot straight to England's stand-in captain Ollie Pope at cover, and within three more overs, Jack Leach had the wicket the tourists desperately craved.

  Fatigue also looked to play a part as Masood tamely chipped Leach's delivery straight back to the bowler, bringing an end to his magnificent innings.

  It was then time for Chris Woakes, who – like the rest of England's attack – had bowled expensively early on, to get in on the act.

  He pinned Babar Azam lbw for 30, with a Pakistan review in vain as England gave themselves a chance to attack the middle order on Tuesday, the hosts only adding four more runs before stumps.

  Data Debrief: Pakistan's progress slows

  Pakistan knew they needed early runs to put Brendon McCullum's high-scoring tourists on the back foot, and early runs are exactly what they got.

  Captain Masood led from the front, with his 43-ball half-century being the second-fastest by a Pakistan skipper in Tests, as he bids to halt the team's five-match losing run with him at the helm.

  But things became steadier for Masood and his team-mates as the day went on. Pakistan's run rate stood at 4.88 by lunch, 4.48 by tea and 3.81 by stumps. England will hope they have weathered the storm and can go on the attack on day two.

• Guyana to host inaugural Global Cricket League in November 2024

  Guyana is set to make history this year with the launch of the inaugural Global Cricket League, a premier T20 tournament scheduled from November 26 to December 7, 2024. The event, which will take place annually, will feature five established T20 teams from five different countries, including the home team, the Guyana Amazon Warriors, competing for a significant prize fund of USD $1 million. This tournament marks South America’s first standalone cricket event and is expected to become a major fixture in the global cricket calendar.

  Sanctioned by Cricket West Indies and fully supported by the Government of Guyana, the Global Cricket League aims to attract top cricket talent and fans from around the world. The tournament will be held at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence, featuring 11 matches in a mini-league format. Each team will play four matches, with the top two advancing to the final, promising intense competition throughout.

  His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, expressed his enthusiasm for the event and its significance for the nation.

  "The Global Super League has the full support of the Government of Guyana as we build a world-class sports tourism product. Cricket is part of our cultural history; it is that unifying force, part of our heritage, and an integral part of our strategic objective in economic diversification with a strong emphasis on tourism. As Guyana positions itself as a global shaper in energy, food, and climate landscape, we will use this platform to bring a world-class tournament to our shores," President Ali said.

  The Global Cricket League not only represents an exciting opportunity to showcase Guyana's passion for cricket but also aligns with the government’s broader goals of enhancing tourism and economic diversification. By hosting this annual tournament, Guyana is positioning itself as a premier sports tourism destination, bringing international cricket stars and fans to the country year after year.

  Chairman of the Global Super League, Sir Clive Lloyd, praised the initiative, acknowledging its potential to captivate cricket fans worldwide.

  "I would like to welcome cricket fans from around the world to this exciting new event. The passion for cricket in Guyana rivals that of fans anywhere, and we look forward to celebrating our love of the game and our rich and vibrant country with those both visiting in person and watching from around the world. I would like to thank His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali for his vision of a new cricket event for Guyana, one that will captivate the world," Lloyd said.

  Each year, the tournament will invite different international teams, further elevating Guyana’s reputation in the global cricketing community. With the 2024 edition promising to bring together top talent and competitive matches, local fans and international viewers alike can expect a thrilling start to this historic event.