Re: Pakistan vs England at Lords, 4th Test, Thu Aug 26 - Mon Aug 30
if Kamran drops a single catch in this match, he's got to go. this has been going on for far too long. time for Sarfraz and Zulqarnain to fight it out.
we can't play a keeper who can't be trusted to take the simplest of catches. our poor bowlers must be worried sick. they work so hard to create a chance only to see Kamran drop it.
Re: Pakistan vs England at Lords, 4th Test, Thu Aug 26 - Mon Aug 30
Because Asim Kamal competed with him for the spot. After the openers, we had 3 solid batsmen, Younus, Yousaf and Inzamam, that left place for only one newcomer. It could be either him or Faisal or Malik.
Re: Pakistan vs England at Lords, 4th Test, Thu Aug 26 - Mon Aug 30
A Review on cricibuz … .MOYO we love you
Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul" This quote from the French Renaissance writer Michel de Montaigne is an apt description of Pakistan’s performance at the Oval. Many felt that Pakistan once again lost the initiative when England decided to bat on a flat deck. However, Pakistan’s bowling attack scuttled England’s plans and gave them victory - a victory that exorcised the horrors at this venue in 2006, when the Inzamam ul-Haq led side were accused of ball-tampering. The series now shifts to Lord’s, where both teams have everything to gain and everything to lose.
England seemed invincible at the start of the series, but they now have quite a few worries. If one has a closer look at England’s batting during this series, it has been the case of individuals contributing at crucial times rather than a collective team effort. The opening stand and the middle order have so far failed to consolidate. Cook’s rising from the ashes act has ensured that he lives to fight another day, but one is not so sure about Kevin Pietersen. Apart from his 80 in the second Test, he has really struggled to make a mark in this series. Morgan has faded away following his brilliant century in the first test, but these are early days in his test career. Credit has to be given to Matt Prior for masking the frailties in the England batting with such effectiveness. He has the best average in the team right now and he will be the main threat for Pakistan on a ground where he has enjoyed tremendous success. England’s problems this series has been the lack of good starts at the top. Now that Cook has turned the corner, many will look upto the captain, Andrew Strauss, to play a series-defining innings. What can one say about Pakistan? Their volatility and nervous batting displays continue to thrill the cricketing world but also at the same time give their fans a heart attack. One man’s entry has totally galvanized their fragile batting. Mohammad Yousuf’s return has been a shot in the arm for a Pakistan team that has looked all at sea against the English pacers. His return reiterates the foolishness of the PCB in banning him in the first place. The supposed return of another veteran, Younis Khan, at Lord’s, will make the Pakistan middle order very strong. The rest of the batting still has work to do, but they are slowly making progress. Azhar Ali’s 92 was a joy to watch, while Hameed’s confidence at the top was a welcome sight, but he could unfortunately face the axe following his first ball duck in the 2nd innings at the Oval.
Both teams are more or less equal when it comes to the bowling, though one can argue that Pakistan have a slight edge. Aamer has been superb with the new ball, backed up by the class of Asif. Ajmal has the English batsmen clueless about his doosras, but his potency could increase if he included more variations. Wahab Riaz has filled the third seamer’s boots admirably in the absence of the injured Umar Gul. He could be lethal if he develops good control on his line and length. Broad, Anderson and Swann will be a huge challenge for the Pakistanis. Swann, in particular, has been a thorn in Pakistan’s flesh with his ripping off-breaks. The motto for Pakistan is very clear - negotiate Swann, dominate the Test match.
Re: Pakistan vs England at Lords, 4th Test, Thu Aug 26 - Mon Aug 30
1.14pm Salman Butt called correctly at the toss and Pakistan will bowl first in overcast conditions. And in Pakistan team news, Wahab Riaz will play ahead of Umar Gul, who is short of match practice.
Pakistan
*1 Yasir Hameed, 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Salman Butt (capt), 4 Azhar Ali, 5 Mohammad Yousuf, 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Kamran Akmal (wk), 8 Mohammad Amir, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Mohammad Asif *
England
*1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Eoin Morgan, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Graeme Swann, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steven Finn *
Re: Pakistan vs England at Lords, 4th Test, Thu Aug 26 - Mon Aug 30
2.1 Mohammad Amir to Cook, no run, oh no! Pakistan oh Pakistan. Dropped!, easy chance too. Perfect delivery from Asif, full, jagging away, squaring Cook up to take regulation edge that flies straight to Umar Akmal at third slip, who spills the chance. Amir is furious, and rightly so.
signs of things to come. It would have been wonderful to have one down at 7. I guess we only have 1 or two to make any inroads then pitch will become batting friendly