Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
^Interesting stats
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
Records could tumble at Karachi
At the risk of making Karachi sound like a tourist hotspot, the port city is bathing in sunlight, temperatures are idling in the mid-20s and a cool sea breeze is blowing across the National Stadium. For the important business of Test cricket, conditions are ideal.
The good cheer has slipped into the West Indian camp as they attempt to build on a draw in Multan with what would be a memorable, nay, historic win in Karachi. It’s arguable whether they should be so cheery given their recent away record: It’s been over six years since they won a Test abroad against a major Test nation, a harum-scarum innings triumph at Edgbaston.
During this period, they have only drawn six of their 44 away Tests against the upper cricketing echelon. They haven’t even drawn a major series abroad since 1995. Precisely why, perhaps, Brian Lara attached such significance to the Multan Test. “We are very optimistic and the drawn Test is a great template for us,” Lara told the media. “We can walk around with that Test in our back pocket.”
History is not lost upon him. “One of the motivating factors on the last day in Multan was the fact that we hadn’t won abroad against a major side for so long. First we have to start playing good cricket - that is the first step. But that record shouldn’t affect us negatively and the guys are looking forward to the challenge.”
His geography isn’t bad either, correctly locating Karachi in the south, where the sun is out earlier and for longer. He might have added that the combination helps in producing what the local curator called “win-loss tracks.” The last two Tests in Karachi, against India and Sri Lanka, have produced crackerjack Tests for everyone’s tastes: fast bowlers have thrived (even Abdul Razzaq has a five-wicket haul here), spinners have prospered (Danish Kaneria’s last ten-wicket haul was here in 2004), batsmen have been rewarded and officials and spectators have gone home smiling. And even if the pitch currently appears dry and grassless, it is worth bearing in mind that only one of the last ten Tests at this ground has ended in a draw.
A draw would be good enough for a series win for Pakistan, though probably not enough to assuage doubts that have gathered around them since the England series. Pre-series scripts didn’t see West Indies dominating a drawn Test (though they probably didn’t expect Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif to be out on drug charges). There are concerns aplenty, though some are greater than others.
Inzamam-ul-Haq’s recent form - without a fifty in eight innings - is one such though it still seems inconceivable that he won’t come good sooner rather than later. Of more concern is Abdul Razzaq’s place. It says much about his career that even a pivotal 80 in his last innings isn’t enough to remove uncertainty about his true worth to the Test side (only his third fifty in 26 Tests). But Karachi has been kind to him; apart from his only Test five-for, his most memorable all-round performance came here, in January against India, seven wickets and scores 45 and 90.
The other lingering question is that of Mohammad Sami. One of the problems of non-performing allrounders is the space they deny specialists but what Sami’s primary occupation is remains open to question. It is suspected he is here as a tearaway. His form in domestic cricket has been good, though no-balls continue to plague him. “Sami brings pace if he plays and if he does, hopefully he will perform well. Our bowlers Gul and Nazir have done well for us but the pitch here supports fast bowlers usually so we will see.”
**Many things can be expected from this Test. Mohammad Yousuf might break one of the longest-standing batting records in international cricket (that of Viv Richards for the most runs in a calendar year). Inzamam might come back into form. Corey Collymore might receive the luck that is so emphatically his due and hustle out Pakistan. Brian Lara might become the first man to score over 12,000 Test runs (he needs 96 more runs). If he does, it is likely that he will move alongside Sachin Tendulkar as the top century-maker in Test cricket. **Above all, a result other than a draw, can also be expected.
Pakistan (probable): 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Mohammad Yousuf, 5 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Abdul Razzaq, 7 Shoaib Malik, 8 Kamran Akmal (wk), 9 Shahid Nazir, 10 Umar Gul, 11 Danish Kaneria
**West Indies **(probable): 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Daren Ganga, 3 Brian Lara (capt), 4 Runako Morton, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Denesh Ramdin, 8 Dave Mohammed, 9 Darren Powell, 10 Jerome Taylor, 11 Corey Collymore
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
class mat balls runs wkts bbi bbm ave econ sr 4 5
sami 76 3764 3093 109 5/10 5/10 28.37 4.93 34.53 3 1
raz 220 9503 7352 243 6/35 6/35 30.25 4.64 39.10 8 3
rana 52 2473 2259 82 6/27 6/27 27.54 5.48 30.15 4 1
Rao 22 1038 782 17 2/13 2/13 46.00 4.52 61.05 0 0
Check for yourself.You need sami for the world cup cause his record in one dayers is not that bad ..infact its better than some of the bowlers in the one day team right now in his place.Rana is struggling ,Arafat is not good enough so whos gonna be your 4th fast bowler in the world cup?thats why you need to start playing sami right now with world cup just a few months away.
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
^ Sami 76 ODI matches with 109 wickets at an average of 28.37 and an economy rate of 4.93 and strike rate of 34.53
Razzaq 220 matches with 243 wickets at an average of 30.25 with an economy rate of 4.64 and strike rate of 39.10
Rana 52 matches with 82 wickets at an average of 27.54 and economy rate of 5.48 and strike rate of 30.15.
Nothing much to choose, so how come sami is essential for the world cup?
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
sami can come in place of arafat and a ridiclous spinner that pakistan had in odi squad for champions trophy if am not mistaken.rana has been in poor form and he goes for more runs than sami anyway.rao iftikhar and omar gul are your only 2 strike bowlers.razzaq cant get you wickets as we saw in champions trophy.so sami is needed.
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
Yes Sami is pretty useless as a test bowler. I cannot think of many international bowlers who have such a high bowling average after playing 25 odd test matches. Agarkar is not far behind.
**SAMI: **TestMatches (28) wkts (73) average (48.36) SR (81.94)
Agarkar: 26 58 47.32 83.74
Interestingly both have respectable ODI figures
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/41324.html](http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/41324.html)
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/india/content/current/player/26184.html](http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/india/content/current/player/26184.html)
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
I will say it will be fair to compare Sami with Harmison. They may blow cold, but any good delivery from them, on any track could make a good batsman like Ponting, Dravid or Tendu to dance.
There is no comparison between Agarkar and Sami; we could only compare Agarkar with Razzaq or Rana the best. Agarkar is like Kapil Dev of India, about whom Imran said, if K. Dev was born in Pakistan, he may not have gotten the test cap. Same would be true for Agarkar.
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
Quiet, everybody. The greatly deserving Sami is back. Cherish the moment with me.
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
There is no comparison between Agarkar and Sami; we could only compare Agarkar with Razzaq or Rana the best. Agarkar is like Kapil Dev of India, about whom Imran said, if K. Dev was born in Pakistan, he may not have gotten the test cap. Same would be true for Agarkar.
With a strike rate of 82 balls per wicket he has not made many batsmen dance on the wicket but I am sure many batsmen around the world dance in anticipation of the boundaries they are going to hit him .
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
I hope Pakistan dont play the Razzaq, Shahid, Umar, and Kaneria attack again, otherwise its safe to say after 1st test Inzi was looking to draw the next two.
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
sami 76 3764 3093 109 5/10 5/10 28.37 4.93 34.53 3 1
please, this is "3rd **Test **match" thread, so respect that, and join Dhobi_Bhai's thread for welcoming Sami if you so wish :p
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
In Karachi if they go with a flat pitch, still it will crack like Gabba pitch due to heat, and will help spinner in the later part of the match, and evening breeze will help seam bowlers, like Collymore, Gul and Nazir/Niazi. However, it could prove as a good batting track from post lunch on day 1 to the end of day 3, except last 10-20 overs of each days, when breeze will play a role.
With new ball, bowlers like Taylor, Gul and Sami could make a difference on this ground, new matter what type of pitch we get.
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
You guys are stuck too much on statistics. In sports, players are judged on their match-winning abilities rather statistics. Cricinfo sucks...get over it.
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
Just saw the two teams heading towards teh stadium .. on my way to office...
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
match kinni der maiN shuru theo weo geo 
???
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
Kiyaa sub inteqaal farmaa gaYe theo weo 
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
bus apni saansay zoor say rook kar rakhey, match kuch ghantay mein shuru howa chahta hai. 
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
Pakistan chose to bat theo weo 
Allah khair karaY theo weo 
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
That's an excellent choice.
insha'Allah ab Mohammad Yousuf will break the record without much worry.
Re: 3rd. Test @ Karachi on Nov. 27 PAK vs WI
I hope so too theo weo :halo: