Australia has great depth of superve international and first class cricketers although this is similiar to India and Pakistan. The difference is the Australian selectors and the public show trust in the cricketers even if they are failing. Whereas the Pakistanis call for heads if they lose even two one day matches in a row e.g Salman Butt. Sure Imran Farhat played well but it is highly likely he will fail soon and then they will have to replace him with Salman Butt who will take extra games to prepare himself or that international level again.
I was also reading on this forum that people where saying Shahid Afridi needs runs to retain his spot. This is bizarre to me , even if Afridi failed 15 innings in a row in both forms of the game if he is dropped it is an absolute joke. Speaking from an Australian perspective, he and Shoaib Akhtar are the two players were fear can take a cricket game and the world cup away from us.
The Pakistani batsmen do not score quick enough and we all know that this current generation do not perform to their ability against Australia except for Shahid and Shoaib. Even though Shoaibs stats don’t show it his speed is the fear factor. Shahid hammered us in the VB series last year and he is the biggest hitter ever to come to Australia. Also i was looking at his record and he has dismissed the best batsmen in the world Ponting the most in ODI"'s.
Also for Pakistan to chase down a large total of 300 plus they have to play Afridi at number 3. Even if it is a 10 ball 30 that that he often provided during the vb series it gains his team momentum. He should bat at first drop because usually the new ball will not swing that much and it will allow Afridi to play his natural game and be able to hit through the line of the ball. This is imperative for the state of the game. Shahid Afridi has fans all over the world a lot in Australia to i might add. And we don’t want to see him like last night come in with 25 to get when he can make no real impact. What i am asking is for Pakistani cricket to send in Shahid for the crowds sake and Pakistans sake early.
You need to develop his outstanding talent and play him 1st or 2nd drop so he is ready for Australia. If not in the world cup next year Australia will be able tp post a huge score and Shahid will come in at 5 for 110 and they will be all out for 160 cause he is batting with the tail. For Pakistanis cricket sake and for world cup success they need to batt him up the order to develop him (he can get his eye in unlike yesterday) . Although i don’t see this happening and that is why Pakistan won’t make it past the semis at the world cup…
