Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

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Vaughan out of first Test
Michael Vaughan has failed to recover sufficiently from a knee injury, and will take no part in the first Test against Pakistan at Multan. Marcus Trescothick will take over as captain, the second time he has led England in Tests.
The chances of Vaughan making the Test looked slim from the moment he fell down with the injury on the second day of England’s warm-up match against Pakistan A in Lahore. Although the injury is not considered serious enough to end his tour at the moment, the loss of Vaughan, even for one Test, is a major blow to England.

But Trescothick is confident England can overcome the loss: "Michael has a superb record as captain and to lose him for the first Test is a major blow. But we can take strength from the fact that we have played some outstanding cricket over the past 18 months and we are all up for the challenge on Saturday.

“For me personally, it is always a great honour to lead your country. I have fond memories of doing the job before against New Zealand at Lord’s in 2004 and I am happy to take on the responsibility again.”

Vaughan has suffered from knee problems for the last few years and was forced to pull out of the Lord’s Test against New Zealand in 2004. Trescothick took over, Andrew Strauss made his debut, and England won by seven wickets.

Adding to England’s problems is the form of their batsmen. Ian Bell, Vaughan’s likely replacement in the order, has suffered a poor start to the tour. Alastair Cook is making his way to Pakistan but doesn’t arrived until later today.

SOURCE: http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/pakveng/content/story/224827.html

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

I don’t think Freddie will get any help on the first day.

Saturday: Mainly sunny. High 81F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.

May be Akhtar and Shabbir can get sharp edges during the morning session only if the new dose from Akram on swing still in effect. If nothing happens during the first three hours then it will be upto spinners for the next four days. Ofcourse, unless they leave the grass on track which will help seamers and fasties equally.

I say water it in last 48 hours and see the result of this match;) othewise :stuck_out_tongue:

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

and i say lay some pipes (just like those in the nursaries) with leaks underneath the pitch ...... in case ENG wins the toss let water run through and the pitch becomes juicy ...... if we win the toss just save the water ...... aaahhhhh i've been working too much lately

to all Toronto Guppies.
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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

15,000 free tickets for the Multan test has been distributed so hopefully we will see good crowd during the match.

Pakistan likely 11 would be:
Malik
Butt
Younis
Inzi
Yousuf
Hasan
Akmal
Sami
Shoaib
Shabbir
Kaneria

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

Best of Luck to Pakistani Guppies...
Just play fire with fire. That's what British did to Australia and count on being lucky.
The Test match England won by 2 runs, even when 2 runs were required England didn't go on defensive.
Hope Inzaman would do that, since he tends to go defensive quickly..

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

pak needs to win the toss and bat

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

I think you forgot Afridi mate. Hes coming off a test century. Theres no way he could be dropped for this test.

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

3 pacers
1 specialist spinner
1 all rounder
1 Keeper
5 specialist batsmen

This is an ideal combination for Pakistan. Given that Pakistan play only one all rounder that slot is almost confirm for Shoaib Malik. To include Shahid Afridi, Pakistan has to drop a specialist batsman which can be dangerous

Salman Butt
Inzi
Yousuf
Younus
Hasan Raza/Asim Kamal

Who will you drop from above 5 to include Afridi? If Pakistan play 3 pacers and Kaneria (who is almost confirm to play) that leaves Pakistan tail spineless as far as batting is concerned so Pakistan NEED to play with 5 specialist batsmen

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

i think afridi brings such an aggressive nature to the team and his ability to take crucial wickets its hard to leave him out of the side! i think you play 5 specialist batsmen, 4 specialist bowlers, and 1 all rounder with the keeper! (malik is included as specialist batsman)

butt
malik
younis
inzi
yousuf
afridi
akmal
shoaib
sami
shabbir/rana
dani!

theres no question hasan raza has been in excellent form and asim kamal in horrible form, butg i think this side has a lot of match winners in it. inzi, younis, afridi, shoaib,dani! Also according to woolmer pitch will take turn later in the innings, so u have dani and afridi both of them apply pressure, along with malik who can bowl offspin!

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

Yar woolmer is already playing a gamble by playing malik as an opener. Keep in mind that malik will play a dual role. He will also be a back up spinner. Keeping afridi will be a too risky. Thats why they will have 5 specialist batsmen (butt, younis, yousuf, inzi and hasan), 4 speciialist bowlers (shoaib, sami, shabiir, and kaneria), akmal and 1 allrounder (malik).

PIYAASI
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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

Can't wait for the match to start. I took off early from work so I can go home and seelp and be up all night to watch the match and lucky enough next day is weekend. Yahoo.

And some stats on Pak vs Eng (Test only) since 1950.

Pakistan



                       P   W   L  T   D
v England             60  10  16  0  34
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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

**Trescothick ‘had captaincy doubt’ **](BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Trescothick had captaincy doubt)

Marcus Trescothick has admitted he was in two minds about accepting the England captaincy for the first Test against Pakistan in Multan on Saturday.

Trescothick was given the job after injury ruled out Michael Vaughan.

Trescothick said: "I talked to my wife about it, asking if she thought it was the right thing to do.

“But I’m unofficial second in command and I believe it was the right thing to step up. It is exciting to think I could be in charge for a few weeks.”

Trescothick led England to victory at Lord’s against New Zealand in 2004, the last time Vaughan’s knee prevented him from playing.

But he insists he has no interest in taking over as skipper on a more permanent basis.

“I know there is a chance I maybe won’t be a one-match wonder this time - it could be the whole series,” he said.

"But being very close to Michael, I’ve seen the things it (captaincy) does to you.

"I’ve seen him go through tough times, and that’s probably put me off a little bit.

"It’s a 24-hour-a-day job. Even when he’s back home I know he spends a lot of time on the phone.

“There are a lot of other problems outside when the games are on that you have to deal with. Whoever takes over, it is a tough job to do.”

Chairman of selectors David Graveney believes Trescothick will not have to look far for support and advice, if he needs it.

"I’m sure he’ll lean on the senior players like Freddie (Flintoff), Ashley (Giles) and Straussy.

“It will not be easy - but he’s done it before and he is the right guy,” Graveney told BBC Five Live.

Ian Bell, who missed the defeat to Pakistan A in Lahore, is set to come back into the team for Multan.

And Essex youngster Alastair Cook set off for Pakistan on Thursday to supplement the batting ranks.

“When your captain goes down it is not a great thing, but we have a good squad and we hope all the guys who are not involved stay ready in case they are needed,” said Bell.

“We have enjoyed every minute of the tour so far - when you are in this part of the world you have to adapt very quickly.”

Although scans on Vaughan’s injury have not pinpointed obvious serious damage, he had surgery on his right knee in 2002 and missed a Test two years later with a problem in the same joint.

An England spokesman said: "Trescothick will continue to lead the side if Vaughan is unavailable for any remaining matches on the tour.

“Vaughan will continue to receive treatment and a further update will be issued in due course.”

England had a net session on Thursday which Vaughan watched from the sidelines. There will be a heavy police presence during England’s stay in Multan with 3,000 officers on hand to provide security. District police officer Munir Ahmed Chishtie said: “The security will be tight round the clock.”

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

I'd definately include Afridi as it gives us a 3-tier spin attack with Kaneria and Malik as the pitch deteriorates. They would supplement the pace attack of Shoaib, Sami and Rana.

My team would be:-
Butt
Malik
Inzi
Y Khan
Yousaf
Afridi
Akmal
Akhtar
Rana
Sami
Kaneria

Thats a lot of batting all the way down to Rana in case the top order collapses.

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

^^ Thats the time I would pick as well. In both warm up matches the English batsmen struggled agaisnt the seamers. I dont think we need to include two spinners just cause we think they will struggle agaisnt them like they did in the past. Plus with the above team we will still have Afridi, Malik and Kaneria as spinning options plus three seamers.

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

Your team line-up looks good to me, but some comments.

1) Hoping that Butt can start off well in the 1st test, as he usually can be unpredictable, esp. after scoring 30 odd & looking weel-settled.
2) Let's keep our fingers crossed that Akhtar doesn't break down, as usual.
3) Hope Rana can finally realize his true potential in Tests.
4) I would bat Younis Khanji at no. 3 & Inzi at 4.
5) Somehow, I'm confident that Malik, Akmal, Sami & Kaneria will do well. I feel it.

Any news about the wicket?? I read in one paper that the Multan wicket looks like a classic dead-spinning track as usual. And another article refers to the lush green Multan stadium ??
Any confirmed info ??

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

Surprise Surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Malik has surprisingly been dropped to accomodate Afridi at the top of the order(According to secret source:P )
This team will play the first test:

Butt
Afridi
Younis
Inzi
Yousaf
Hasan Raza (best move)
Akmal
Sami
Akhtar
Shabbir
Kaneria

I think Malik was a better option especially when opening. He has a brain to play according to the situation which unfortunately Afridi lacks. I think it's a dumb move!!!!
I am not sure how effective Shabbir is going to be with his new action...........maybe Rana was a better option.

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

Bholey Badshah today gave a strong indication that Hasan 'Diamond' Raza would be hard to leave out of the starting 11; given how well he's been batting as of late, which means Asim Kamal will be dropped.

Afridi won't play either as we are sticking with 1 all rounder malika sialkotia, unless Mysterious Guy ki secret source knows' something we don't.

Also latest reports indicate that, we are going to deploy a 3 seam + 1 spinner attack, matlab no Mushy & for me Rana and Shabeera fighting for the 3rd seamer slot.

I'd say Fkkhan's team is spot on

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

let uz chat# sirjee, aap khud hi dekh lena kal. Woh source hidden nahi, it's on another forum and lot of peple know about it.

Khair...............i m disappointed to see Afridi instead of Malik.

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

Apnaa tu hay hee long weekend so I will spend the while friday sleeping to be up all night:D

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Re: Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Multan

Aray yaar, i recieved an interview call for a job but i told them i am unavailable JUST because of match tomorrow:p . I wasn't highly interested in that job but i would have certainly gone for the interview if it wasn't for Eng-Pak match.

My case is easier, i m still up (it's 4:30 am in Aus) and once i sleep, i will wake up just before the match:) .

Can't wait!!!!!!!!