Re: Pakistan v Australia 1st Test Melbourne , Dec 26-30
^^ oh Ehsan sahib…who is thrashing…we r just bracing our selves for 1 likely scenario…
har aik ka tarika different hota heay…remember someone’s post 1 or 2 days ago? 
Re: Pakistan v Australia 1st Test Melbourne , Dec 26-30
^ Maybe. I don't share the extreme pessimism shown here. OK, at most we will lose, but I think the team will put up a good show. Too much negativity is not a good thing. So what if this team loses the match and series in Aus. Which Pakistani team has won a series there. Zilch, so why be so critical of this one especially as it does not have the superstars of yesteryears when they still use to lose the match.
I remember a match in mid 70's when the team had players like Miandad, Zaheer, Majid, Mushtaq, Sarfraz etc. Pakistan in its second innings required 110 to win. On my way to work I switched on the radio in full anticipation of a victory news only to be hit by the news that we had lost.
criticising is fashionable now a days. carry on.
Re: Pakistan v Australia 1st Test Melbourne , Dec 26-30
^^ I am reading DKL's bio these days and he mentioned that game and he himself didnt even expected AUS to win and with an injury bowled with half of his run up and took 5 wickets.
sour puss…
criticism is not a fashion…“tension na lo” is…laugh it off is the name of the game…get it:wwnn:
Re: Pakistan v Australia 1st Test Melbourne , Dec 26-30
The recent Pakistan teams in Australia have put up a good fight in patches, but in the end they end up on the losing side, primarily because of batting and fielding, and missed chances. This team is no different. Expect them to dominate on certain days, but then let the unprofessionalism to take over.
Contest between two flawed teams
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Ian Chappell: “A lot will depend on Ricky Ponting’s fitness - if he isn’t fit that will make things a lot easier for Pakistan” © Getty Images
*Australia and Pakistan are all set to face off in a Test series that will pose challenges for both teams. Australia are coming off the back of a surprisingly hard-fought series against West Indies, which gave rise to questions regarding both their batting and bowling departments. *
Pakistan who have come off a battling, drawn Test series in New Zealand, are still struggling to come to grips with their return to cricket. And while Australia have lost their aura of invincibility in recent times, they are still formidable at home. And while there is no doubting the talent in the Pakistani side, their tendency to implode will be one of their biggest hurdles. Add to that their less than positive performances in Australia. In their 29 Tests there, Pakistan have won just four and lost a whopping 18. Clearly a place they have struggled to come to terms with. Cricinfo’s Pakistan editor Osman Samiuddin looks at some of the challenges in store for Pakistan.
Osman Samiuddin: This will be Pakistan’s first tough Test tour in some time. If you look at their batting in New Zealand I think a lot of their batsmen are still getting re-used to the idea of playing Tests. That will be an ongoing challenge. And for some reason since the late 1970s Pakistan have sort of been appalling tourists in Australia. The bouncy pitches, the crowds and the aggressiveness of the Australian teams really gets to Pakistan. Combating that will probably be the biggest challenge that Pakistan will have.
But Australia enter this series with their own problems. Perhaps the biggest blow, says former Australia captain Ian Chappell, could be the possible absence of captain Ricky Ponting, who is racing to get fit from his elbow injury.
Ian Chappell: I am not sure Pakistan will prove to be a tougher opponent than West Indies- certainly West Indies in the last two Tests. A lot will depend on Ponting’s fitness - if he isn’t fit that will make things a lot easier for Pakistan. I think the Pakistan top order is very dicey and the Australian bowling has been a bit of a mixed bag. Doug Bollinger has added quite a bit to the attack. I really think Pakistan will play equal to the way West Indies played in the last two Tests. Now if they can capitalise if Ponting is not there, then it could be a very hard-fought Test in Melbourne.
"No. 3 could be a real problem for Pakistan. Mohammad Yousuf seems like he doesn't want to play at No. 3 which is a bit disappointing given his stature and the fact that he is captain" Osman Samiuddin
- Pakistan’s biggest problem in recent times has been their opening batsmen. They have tried ten different pairs in the last 30 innings, and have had only two century partnerships. Adding to their problems is the No. 3 position. In the absence of Younis Khan, Pakistan tried Fawad Alam, Umar Akmal, Faisal Iqbal and Mohammad Yousuf with varying degrees of success in New Zealand.
*OS: The opening problems are now something that Pakistan has to live with until they find an exceptional opener somewhere. There are probably a couple of good openers worth looking at at the domestic level. Sadly, the selectors haven’t had the foresight to try someone. In saying that we have to acknowledge that Imran Farhat and Salman Butt ultimately had a pretty decent series in New Zealand, even after all the criticism that they got. So as far as the opening issue goes Pakistan will have to just make do with what they have.
No. 3 could be a real problem for them. Younis Khan over the years has become a very fine and steady No. 3 batsman, just the kind you needed to come and calm things down after a poor start. That actually will be the bigger loss. Mohammad Yousuf seems like he doesn’t want to play at No. 3 which is a bit disappointing given his stature and the fact that he is captain.
Australia’s batting line-up has its own problems. Their frailties were exposed when they were bowled out for just 150 in the second innings in Perth against West Indies. In the 92 games Australia have won that Ponting has featured in, he averages a whopping 61.74. Australia have Phillip Hughes in as cover and Ian thinks, should Ponting not play, Australia could open with Hughes and Simon Katich with Shane Watson coming in at No. 3 or in the middle order. But Ponting’s possible absence could be crucial.
IC: Ponting makes a huge difference to the Australian batting line-up. If he is batting well it makes the others look better. And the thing to bear in mind is they have been getting pretty good starts. Katich and Watson have been in very good form but it was no coincidence that Ponting was batting down the order and they lost an early wicket when Australia made 150 in Perth.
That’s the problem for Australia: if they lose an early wicket and Ponting is not there, then they have some concerns with the batting, particularly with Pakistan’s attack. They have quite a well balanced attack especially if they bowl well. So there are some concerns for the Australian batting line-up. I don’t know if there are some futures on the line but if things go awry on this series then there will be some serious questions asked.
Ponting has described Pakistan’s bowling attack as formidable. Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer will spearhead the pace attack, with Danish Kaneria and Saaed Ajmal providing the spin element. According to Osman, Pakistan’s fortunes will rest heavily on their bowlers.
OS: Whatever hope Pakistan have - and this time around they have more hope than they have had on any of their recent trips to Australia - resides mostly in their bowling attack. Australia’s attack has been a bit suspect; Michael Hussey hasn’t been in the greatest form. And you have guys like Asif and Aamer who can really come of age on this tour. So I think Pakistan has enough variety in their pace attack to really trouble Australia. If Pakistan have any cheer on this series it will be coming predominantly from their bowling attack.
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Osman Samiuddin: " If Pakistan have any cheer on this series it will be coming predominantly from their bowling attack" © Getty Images
Australia are not without their bowling worries. Injuries to key bowlers and Mitchell Johnson’s loss of form have haunted them. Ian thinks the selectors could face some tricky decisions.
IC: I am going to be very interested to see what the Australian selectors do if Peter Siddle turns out to be fit. At the moment Bollinger is the best bowler. In fact they could have been in trouble in Perth had he not bowled so well. I guess that Clint McKay would be the one to go out for Siddle. Should they get Ben Hilfenhaus back that will be a big headache for the selectors. It’s a good selection problem to have, but Bollinger has certainly made his point and there is no way you can leave him out at the moment.
Bollinger has been Australia’s best bowler in the last two Tests. Mitchell Johnson has been down on form but every now and then he has a patch where he gets two or three wickets and that can make a big difference in the game. Certainly spin bowling has been a problem for Australia. Nathan Hauritz didn’t get a wicket in the second innings and he really struggled for penetration in the Perth in the second innings. But Hauritz will not have much of a problem if he doesn’t have to bowl to top-order batsmen who are well and truly set. It’s shaping up to be a series between two teams that have some serious flaws. It might be interesting to see how the Sydney Test goes because if Pakistan are batting well they have the balanced attack to do well in Sydney. Australia at the moment is struggling with one spinner, never mind having to find a second one
Contest between two flawed teams | Spotlight | Cricinfo Talk | Cricinfo.com
Re: Pakistan v Australia 1st Test Melbourne , Dec 26-30
Good Luck Pakistan :k:
[quote=“Antumul_alona”]
**
**
n win the other one for Pakistan
Re: Pakistan v Australia 1st Test Melbourne , Dec 26-30
About 7 hours to go. We’ll find out what’s all the fuss about.
Go 
Re: Pakistan v Australia 1st Test Melbourne , Dec 26-30
^^ can hardly wait ..
Go Pakis go
So what's the news on the playing 11 today?
Mohammad Yousuf (c)
Abdur Rauf
Danish Kaneria
Faisal Iqbal
Fawad Alam
Imran Farhat
Kamran Akmal (wk)
Khurram Manzoor
Misbah-ul-Haq
Mohammad Aamer
Mohammad Asif
Mohammad Sami
Saeed Ajmal
Salman Butt
Shoaib Malik
Umar Akmal
Umar Gul
Re: Pakistan v Australia 1st Test Melbourne , Dec 26-30
looks like Danish will be out. Dr has allowed him to play with TAPED finger (due to injury) but ICC does not allow that ...so there is good chance that Ajmal will play. Umer gul might sit out too ...
The queston is will Sami play? If Gul's out that means Malingi is in. Ya Allah khair.
Re: Pakistan v Australia 1st Test Melbourne , Dec 26-30
Gul is injured..........sami aint even in aus yet........Abdur rauf will play
The queston is will Sami play? If Gul's out that means Malingi is in. Ya Allah khair.
Abdur Rauf is likely to play ... Sami ..highly unlikely
You obviously didnt get my joker post. It was a sarcastic comment on how certain people view our team, not my sentiments. 
Re: Pakistan v Australia 1st Test Melbourne , Dec 26-30
Boxing day test main reh gaeey chaar ghantey,
2 aarzoo main kut jaeengai, 2 intezaar main
wah wah .. @ my self !
laundry kartey kartey shair bhi bun gay. 
waisay abhi 5 1/2 ghantey rehtey hain.
Re: Pakistan v Australia 1st Test Melbourne , Dec 26-30
Allama Iqbal must be so proud. :D