Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
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Forum par stickey check karo by teaser.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
Excellent batting by inzi and yousuf. Good to see yousuf getting runs.
Pathetic piece of umpiring when yousuf was given out. The first thing which came to my mind was that bell should get 5 match ban just like rashid latif got. It was evident from his looks that he knows that the catch was not taken cleanly.
And I have no words for Afridi. He has certainly been the cricketer of the year for Pakistan. Thank god management realized that they made a mistake by dropping him in the first match.
When inzi and afridi were exploding in the latter stages of the day, it looked like a planned strategy. For some reason it looked that they have decided to score runs quickly before the new ball since English bowlers are good in getting quick wickeks with the new ball. And therefore they decided to play some risky strokes as well. But all went well. Pakistan almost have now a platform set for a 2-0 lead, Inshallah.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
^^Shahid Afridi can play the new ball too...don't worry...when he got to get out...he will... :)
PS: Shahid Afridi & Pakistan Zindabad!
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
The way Yusuf, Inzi and Afridi batted was just amazing, a treat to watch. Brilliance of these three batsmen has once again provided cover for our inept opening players, in particular Shoaib Malik. We will be reading and writing about Yusufs timing, Inzi's resolute batting and Afridi's blistering attack, but what about the once again failed experiment of Shoaib Malik? We cannot expect Butt to cover Malik's butt in every match, how long do we have to experiment? Why do we have to copy other's and try to recreate a player? Has'nt the Afridi experience taught us a lesson? Afridi was never comfortable opening for Pakistan in test matches, yet team management kept on experimenting with this hugely talented player. His place was never confirmed not because he lacked talent or potential but the simple fact our team managements kept on messing it up by changing his position one match after the other. Since he has been given the comfort that his place in the middle order will not change, Afridi is a totally different player. His confidence level has sky-rocketed, his batting averages are zooming and his bowling has found a new zest. Afridi is Afridi.
Same can be said for Shoaib Malik. Another talented all-rounder whose career is being compromised because the 'thinkers' of our team management want to refashion this honest team player into something which he is not.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
The experiment will continue throughout the series. Woolmer isn’t likely to try another opener or drop Shoaib Malik from the squad.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
^ Problem is, that unless Shoaib Malik opens, he has no place in the current team. Who will you drop? Inzi, Younas and Yousaf are guaranteed slots. Right now, with Razzaq unavailable, we have one slot of all-rounder open that is filled by Afridi. Akmal is the keeper and then we have 4 specialist bowlers. So either Shoaib Malik quickly grows into the role of a good opener, or he has to wait for Inzi's retirement.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
I think this is a pathetic rule by ICC. It’s a fielder’s job to claim a catch and the umpire’s job to make a correct decision. That’s why Rashid Latif’s ban sucked. How about when a batsman knowingly stays at the crease when he knows he’s nicked the ball? Shouldn’t the batsman be banned too for cheating?
Ian Bell shouldn’t be banned, the umpires should.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
spot on faisal, and now problem with his bowling action, the only way we can utilize him is as a batsman. Now contunuing such an experiment which is likely to fail on overseas pitches is becoming more and more senseless.
Right now the team combination looks perfect except that there is a need of a specialist test batsman in place of shoaib malik. Also have to see how rana will perform in the test series. It will be really wonderful if this sensational ODI all rounder will become a test match asset for Pakistan.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
I agree, he has no place in the current side. His competition is with Afridi, unfortunately for him right now Afridi is in a totally different league, he can make no mistakes in batting, bowling or fielding.
Shoaib is young, he has a confirmed place in the one day side therefore he can wait till Inzi/Yusuf retire and work on his batting to get back into the test team. When people say Woolmer has said that Malik will open for the entire series, then why was the strategey of not playing Afridi reversed? Simply because it is the rigth thing to do. Malik is the wrong choice as an opener in test cricket, Pakistani team management has to come out of this comfort zone in which they have boxed themselves. They will have to show initiative, imagination and most importantly confidence in the available pool of domestic talent. We will have to look beyond this series and find a permanent opening pair with readily available substitutes.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
My gut feel is that over the last two years, all promising domestic talent that can fit in the opener role has been tried and failed. There is a long list of failed openers. Depending upon who you ask, many of them were not given enough chances to prove themselves or were given too many chances even when they consistently failed. Salman Butt is the lone exception. Its difficult to settle down as a confirmed opener in test matches at top level cricket. It takes exceptional talent, hard work and confidence. Unfortunately, the magic combination of these three is in acute short supply. Thus the team management has decided to take a person with exceptional talent (Shoaib Malik) who, unfortunately has no place in the current team due to abundance of other talented and experienced cricketers, and hoping he can gel into the open position. Whether it works or not, time will tell. But there can be no doubt that, his vattas notwithstanding, Malik is a valuable cricketer.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
In the last two years Pakistan has played 6openers with 11 different pairs. Out of the six tried, four were regular batsmen (Tauseef, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed and Salman Butt) other two were Afridi and Shoaib Malik. Very few players have gotten a chance to show their talent at the top level, we need to have more confidence in our domestic talent.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
I think one part of the problem is that year after year we have seen that our top performers in domestic cricket are shown to be a dud on international level. Speaks volumes about the quality of our domestic cricket, as well as points to a risky future devoid of superstar greats.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
^ I don't see how it speaks volume about anything. They have performed brilliantly against the national lineups including Pakistan national team itself. It's all matter of giving 'em some confidence and polish up and we'll me handful of upcoming superstars insha'Allah. We need to learn to live with the fact that not everyone can be as successful as Afridi in their debut inning.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
is there anyone watching the game?
please tell me if there are any source where i can find
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
Thank God the ball isn't swinging like it was for the last over yesterday. Otherwise, I was betting on Pak getting all out for 330 or so.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
First ball and Afridi tries to hit.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
afridi with lofted cover drive.... just short of kevin P
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
Salman Butt is the lone exception because we haven’t given him enough time. A couple of years ago, Taufeeq Umar had the same hype, he was the next best thing after Saeed Anwar. That was the time when him and Imran Farhat were building century partnership after century partnership against South Africa. Yasir Hameed was also scoring centuries, but look where all three are now. The same fate might befall Salman if he fails a few times.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
inzi on 95
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
big appeal against inzi for lbw... whewww... not given