Re: Srilanka vs. Pakistan 2nd Test match April 03-07, 2006
Its pretty much evens at the mo. Srl will get 280-300, and we'll need a lead of 100-150 to have much change of a successful 4th innings chase, given the Murali factor.
Mohammed Asif is metronomic in the McGrath mould, brilliant and persistant. A great find. The best find since Akhtar himself for Pakistan.
Gul has little to no control. Rao is no better then a Grade A club bowler. Useless. He must be connected, I can think of no no other reason why that clown would be in the line-up.
Our first innings will decide this game. If we fail to achieve a lead, or at least parity, we can forget winning. Like I said, we need 100-150 on them to leave a realistic chase in the 4th dig.
Re: Srilanka vs. Pakistan 2nd Test match April 03-07, 2006
The Vanue in Past have Suited Medium fast bowlers for Pakistan, 94, 2000 all those times it was fast men who took 20 SL wickets, so i dont blame them completely for playing another Medium fast, I think Afridi got left out more bcoz of Faisal’s inning than for Iftikhar.
yeah the decision can be little confusing, but looking at history of that ground, and the way Pakistani Batting cracks under pressure, its not that bad an idea to play both Yousaf and Faisal together and leave Afridi out.
Re: Srilanka vs. Pakistan 2nd Test match April 03-07, 2006
i know its hard to comprehend dropping afridi, since he's such a fan-favourite... and i'm not going to hate on afridi for his relatively poor batting performances in the last few games...because his bowling has been exceptional, but i guess they didn't feel the need to include his bowling attack in this test.
overall, this series isn't very entertaining (other than watching mohammad asif bowl)-- i can't wait to watch the england series :D ... asif is going to KILL it on the english wickets, and shoaib is anticipating to return by then.
good times.
anyways, sorry to divert the attention- let's get back to discussing this series shall we.
Re: Srilanka vs. Pakistan 2nd Test match April 03-07, 2006
And I am most certainly not even close to being one of his biggest fans in the world, but the fact remains; with Shoaib Malik out of the team (as Umar Talib mentioned above), they should have at least kept Afridi for one more spin option, alongside Danish Kaneria, rather than the mediocre attack of Iftikhar and Gul.
Re: Srilanka vs. Pakistan 2nd Test match April 03-07, 2006
The reason to play Rao instead of Afridi was taken in consideration with, what pitch has to offer, the decision was ok as far as I go, but Rao didnt bowl that well initially as he was sent to the cleaners by the in-form Sangakara. You cannot keep everyone happy all the time, and its likely you cannot get it right all the time, same can be said for Inzi he won the toss and decided to bowl? what do you say about that, and Inzi simply justified his decision with getting some quick wickets thanks to Asif.
The question is not that Afridi was in form or out of form…etc, Afridi can never be in-form or out of form, the pressure reached its highest point when Yousef was ready to play and Faisal knocked at the doors of captain and coach that he is ready for more responsible innings.
Pakistan is still playing the similar team they played in the first test match but this time around due to injuries/sickness they have vested the 2nd all-rounder responsibility to Kamran Akmal, I know the qualm will be created with the fact that this is test match so why so much pressure on the W-keeper, we really dont know if Akmal is going to open or not, if he is I wish him goodluck :k:
Considering this is a test match, and the form carried from the recent past by Afridi validates all the reasons that he should be in the team, however when the whole squad is 100% fit I do not see Afridi playing in the test matches. and dont forget this is Rao’s first game, and he has only played the first ever test innings of his life, and many of you have said that he is below par! I disagree and I am sure many of us had said the same thing about Asif when he played his first test in Australia, Right give this guy a chance, he didnt bowl very badly at all, there are always nerves and you are bowling right up to Sangakara, who is no less then Gilchrist in caliber, mind you not comparing against which team you debut, but simply the nerves of youngster. To me he is not a bad bowler at all, just need some more support from Inzi, here I might say Inzi is a bit bad, Inzi come’s in and employ what he has decided, he does’nt adapt himself quickly enough to the situation. As far as the spin department is considered I think Kaneria has taken care of with many wickets in the first innings and the tempo is set for the 2nd innings already, bowl Kaneria from one end and from the other end rotate your quickies and give an odd rest to Kaneria and bowl Razzy instead.
Re: Srilanka vs. Pakistan 2nd Test match April 03-07, 2006
Woolmer does an Afridi ??
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/slvpak/content/current/story/243057.html
Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, has played down suggestions that he was interfering with the preparation of the pitch, after being reported to the match referee ahead of the second Test against Pakistan, at the Asgiriya Cricket Stadium in Kandy.
Woolmer was reported to Alan Hurst, the ICC referee, for inserting a thin tent peg on the edge of the pitch to test moisture levels the day before the game, a practice he has followed for several years. He was spotted by Sri Lanka’s head curator, Anuruddha Polonowita, who asked him to leave the area.
Polonowita was of the opinion that such actions were against ICC regulations and duly reported the incident to Hurst. But Woolmer told Cricinfo: "This incident has been blown out of all proportion.
“I have been involved at first-class level since 1968,” he added, “and at no time would I attempt to interfere with any part of the pitch which would in any way affect the playing surface. I love the game too much.”
Re: Srilanka vs. Pakistan 2nd Test match April 03-07, 2006
oh so now you are awake ^^ we know that cricindia posted this but whats the truth, like I posted it last night, here is the another spin with maal and masala
Re: Srilanka vs. Pakistan 2nd Test match April 03-07, 2006
Arey Afridi Mian mein bhi aapkay saath halkee phulkee GupShup laga raha tha, ab bhala mein nay Acrobi Jee to thoree na bulana hai itni dhoor sey dhakka laganay kay liyey. Saath wali parosan kiss din kaam aayengee. :D
give this guy a chance, he didnt bowl very badly at all, there are always nerves and you are bowling right up to Sangakara, who is no less then Gilchrist in caliber, mind you not comparing against which team you debut, but simply the nerves of youngster. To me he is not a bad bowler at all, just need some more support from Inzi, here I might say Inzi is a bit bad, Inzi come’s in and employ what he has decided, he does’nt adapt himself quickly enough to the situation. As far as the spin department is considered I think Kaneria has taken care of with many wickets in the first innings and the tempo is set for the 2nd innings already, bowl Kaneria from one end and from the other end rotate your quickies and give an odd rest to Kaneria and bowl Razzy instead.
