For a few stubborn fans who might still watch this match.
Avoiding humiliation is probably as great a motivator as anything and it is only the thought of preventing the second-ever 5-0 whitewash in their history that will spur Pakistan to seek their first win of a long and increasingly arduous tour. That the first came under the captaincy of Imran Khan, against West Indies in 1988, will be of little consolation.
Mohammad Yousuf’s men have cut sorry, disparate figures as the tour has progressed since the Sydney Test. They were expected to put up a fight in the ODIs and though they have been in most of the games at various stages, 4-0 remains an accurate reflection of the gulf in class. Their batting has been shaky; only three fifties through the series and the middle order giants - the two Y’s - have a paltry 145 runs between them.
Mohammad Asif apart, their bowling has missed as much as it has hit. Umar Gul is horrendously out of sorts; Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has been committed as ever, yet still gone for well over six an over. The death overs are a mess. Most damagingly, the spinners have been neutralised. Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal have been picked off for five runs an over each and have seven wickets to show between them. **Yousuf talks of the team having improved under him, but a more delusional assessment is not possible. **
By contrast, Australia are shining and they haven’t even played Mitchell Johnson yet. They’ve used three new-ball pairings and all are among the wickets. Ryan Harris has two consecutive five-fors, Clint McKay is taking wickets and Shane Watson, who has been rested for the Perth ODIs, still has more wickets than any Pakistani bowler.
Five of their top six have scored at least one fifty, they have the series’ only century and even Nathan Hauritz joined the fun in the fourth ODI. The only blot is, of course, the ongoing concern over the captain’s form. Ricky Ponting has struggled through the ODI series, with only 70 runs; as opposed to the Tests, he hasn’t looked comfortable in any of the games.
But then it would be entirely in keeping with the Australian way for the captain to find form in the last game and lead his side to a whitewash.
Pakistan have lost eight of their last ten ODIs.
Cameron White has scored just eight runs less than Pakistan’s entire top three in the series.
Friday’s win was Australia’s first over Pakistan in an ODI at Perth.
Younis or Younus – I want to know why he was called back. He abandoned the team for no real reason. It triggered the whole downfall and now he is back in the team playing one-down position with his bateesi out after playing and missing outswingers.
How loyal are you? Are your really playing for the country? Show us or make room for Umar Akmal.
If I was the captain…I would have placed at least 8 fielders (5 slips) on the off-side…while reminding the bowlers constantly to bowl on the off-side…hmmmmmmmmmm
PS: I don’t think that Pakistan cricket is that bad at the moment…but they are performing like from bad to worse at this moment…but for all mysterious reasons…the stands…
PS1: Those were the days my friend ( in the 80’s) when we use to thrash Australia…
PS2: I think…back at home…our crickters should train themselves on green pitches to perform better internationally…
PS3: Australians are studying our cricketers more than we do the Aussies…
PS4: We are the most dangerous, fearful and unpridictable crickters even lived on Earth…
Younis and Yousuf (man in form says Yousuf) have score 145 runs between them in 4 ODIs. Imagine what if he was out of form, how depressing would that be...
don't see why Yousuf has to drop himself. he's our only world class ODI batsman in the 11. what we need to do is change the batting order. either Younis has to come down the order or be dropped. and I would play Malik.
stands!
abhiii 5th match baqee thaaa 
