Jamie Smith is proving to be England's man for a crisis, while Ollie Pope is struggling to avoid a crisis of his own, writes Stephan Shemilt.

Key has admired Smith ever since he watched him play a breakthrough innings in Galle 18 months ago, hitting eight sixes in his 126 off 82 balls for England Lions. He had shown his adaptability across his first eight Tests, scoring three half-centuries and a hundred, but the circumstances made this his finest innings yet.

Jamie Smith smashed a counter-attacking 91 to rescue England from a top-order meltdown and steer them to 244-8 at tea on the opening day of the deciding third test against Pakistan on Thursday. Englan