Re: Can we safely call Pakistan as the winning power?
I wouldn't read too much in this loss, I believe in Misbah when he said that they lost focus because what happened on 2nd day and it was very clear in my opinion as well. Pak could've gone to score 400+ with Hafeez, Misbah, Asad, Sarfaraz but that morning was unpleasant for cricket. Hopefully things will get back to normal soon.
Re: Can we safely call Pakistan as the winning power?
The question is 'winning power' which we certainly can't call our team. There are lots of things that factor in in Test cricket. When majority of those factors are in Pakistan's favor we see remarkable results. So last six weeks are prime and excellent proof of that. There is so much clarity in the last 5 tests that Pakistan played to read for the analysts. I don't think its that complicated to understand. This is still a struggling Pakistani side with plenty of technique related issues, as there have been in last 12 or so years. We are still in that spiral somewhere.
Re: Can we safely call Pakistan as the winning power?
^ No question about that, winning 1 full series in favoring conditions can't be used to judge a team and call them a winning power/team regardless of who the victory was against.
Re: Can we safely call Pakistan as the winning power?
ODI's will judge.
The last match loss is not a big deal unless Pak side goes low in morale.
Re: Can we safely call Pakistan as the winning power?
I wouldn't read too much in this loss, I believe in Misbah when he said that they lost focus because what happened on 2nd day and it was very clear in my opinion as well. Pak could've gone to score 400+ with Hafeez, Misbah, Asad, Sarfaraz but that morning was unpleasant for cricket. Hopefully things will get back to normal soon.
Nope.It would have been more tormenting one for the Kiwis.Williamson who scored 192 was more emotionally attached to Hughes.
It was Kiwis who had excelled in all the forms in the Third Test but of course Pakistan played some fantastic games in the past 6 weeks or so.
Now,ODI's will decide the real mettle of the team.
Re: Can we safely call Pakistan as the winning power?
^ Its not just about emotional attachment, Pakistan team was the first to bat after the traumatizing news, don't forget Ahmed Shehzad was also injured by a bouncer in this same series.
Re: Can we safely call Pakistan as the winning power?
One thing we can safely say is that we have found a solid wicket keeper that is also a reliable late middle order batsman and could be versatile opener in limited over matches.
Though I like to see his performance outside Asian pitches, but his technique is very basic and patience is the much quality our team is looking for in Tests and even ODI (a lot of times we have not played full 50 overs in recent times).
One thing that I see in him is the ability to shift gears according to the situation, like Miandad and Inzi. He can play fast on top or in death overs in lower order, at the same time he can hold one end if there is a batting collapse (that we often witness). Quiet a few times I see him coming with middle order and seeing a collapse on the other end, then he holds the end and makes the most out of the remaining overs with tailenders. One good partnership with a tailender and he sails through smoothly.