***Official*** Pakistan in South Africa

[Prince EWS]

Anyone else feel Inzamam is to low at number 5.They always talk about your best player batting there and seeing yousuf's not playing why not 4?.You can get a pietersen case where Inzamam is battting with the tail and say ending 40notout

Inzamam seems to like doing that though.

 

[Beleg]

I don't get the selector's preocupation with Iqbal. IMO, Kamal is a much better batsman than Iqbal'll ever be.

For my money, Inzy should bat at three, but I think he prefer to bat lower down. The reasons for that have always been nebulous.

 

[nightprowler10]

Haha, Inzi tempted to pull again. Kami and Inzi need to build a partnership here if we are to set a halfway respectable total. We've got a long tail in this XI.

 

[Fusion]

And both looked good to make a 100. 300 would be a good total now.

Everything rests on Inzi and Akmal now. Right about now would be a good time for Akmal to find his form with the bat.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Kamal IMO is a perfect number 6 and I don't understand why he isn't in this team ahead of Iqbal who's been given to many chances and not really delivered.He can bind the middle order together as he is renowned for having a very tight defence and not giving his wicket away easily.I know sats don't tell you everything but at the moment faisal averages 27 whereas kamal averages nearly 38.Take the hint selectors and drop Iqbal

 

[silentstriker]

IMO 350 isn't a bad score on this pitch, if they can get there.

 

[silentstriker]

I mean, Ideally they'd want 400-450, but 350 wouldn't be horrible. They still have a shot at a lead if Asif fires.

 

[Fusion]

IMO 350 isn't a bad score on this pitch, if they can get there.

Asking a lot methinks. We have a very long tail to follow.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Gee Inzamam really is a fine player.Has so much time when batting and never lloks in any trouble.Just hope I haven't put the curses on him

 

[silentstriker]

Asking a lot methinks. We have a very long tail to follow.

Nah, IMO they can get 100 more runs.

 

[nightprowler10]

Its over for the day methinks. South Africa's day IMO. Hameed should be bitch slapped, and Iqbal should be dropped after this test.

Okay, I'm done.

 

[Beleg]

The match hangs in balance right now.

 

[silentstriker]

Its over for the day methinks. South Africa's day IMO. Hameed should be bitch slapped, and Iqbal should be dropped after this test.

Okay, I'm done.

Dead even for mine. Good pitch for batting, and I think they'll be able to add 100 more for the last five wickets, with Inzy and Akmal still around. 350, is a decent (though not great) total.

 

[pasag]

Yeah, to state the blatantly obvious, tomorrows first session will be vital for both teams and depending on whether the tail can wag or not will determine which side will take control of this match. As it stands it's rather even, didn't look like it would be that way at stumps when Khan and Hameed were piling on the runs but meh. Good day of cricket though.

 

[Pup Clarke]

I'll make a first day scorecard so people can refer to it

Mohammed Hafeez cBoucher bNtini 19
Correct ball to leave but ball just cliped the glove and boucher did the rest

Imran Farhat cAmla bNtini 26
Risky attempted cut to gully and didn't roll wrists to keep the ball down,good catch from amla

Yasir Hameed cNtini bNel 65
Attempted hook but ball got big on him,easy catch for Ntini

Younis Khan cNel bPollock 68
Another hook shot but straight down the throat of fine leg,another good catch by nel

Inzamam ul-Haq not out 35

Faisal Iqbal cBoucher bKallis 1
Poor shot to a good bouncer which just lobed up to boucher,could cost him his place

Kamran Akmal not out 18

242-5 after 84 overs

 

[silentstriker]

Yeah, to state the blatantly obvious, tomorrows first session will be vital for both teams and depending on whether the tail can wag or not will determine which side will take control of this match. As it stands it's rather even, didn't look like it would be that way at stumps when Khan and Hameed were piling on the runs but meh. Good day of cricket though.

You know, really thats why I love test cricket. Not only do you get a whole night to worry and stew about what happened but in just a single session the whole momentum can completely be reversed. In India's 3rd test, India went from (according to bookies) 80% favorites to win, to 30% favorites, back up to 75% in the course of just one day.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Today has confirmed my suspicions that Iqbal is just not a test player and never has been, get his out.

 

[Fusion]

Woolmer wanted Azhar in the team but was rejected by PCB

 

[silentstriker]

Woolmer wanted Azhar in the team but was rejected by PCB

IMO if the captain or a coach specifically want a player for a reason such as this, the selectors should at least give that player a fair analysis.

The selectors are not there to rubber stamp the coach and the captain, but they are the closest to the team and know what type of thing is needed and the selectors should be sensitive to their concerns. If Woolmer wanted Azhar due to experience, maybe the panel can recommend other experienced players also in good form, if for whatever reason they don't want Azhar.

Also, what does preparing for WC have to do with the test team?

 

[shortpitched713]

IMO if the captain or a coach specifically want a player for a reason such as this, the selectors should at least give that player a fair analysis.

The selectors are not there to rubber stamp the coach and the captain, but they are the closest to the team and know what type of thing is needed and the selectors should be sensitive to their concerns. If Woolmer wanted Azhar due to experience, maybe the panel can recommend other experienced players also in good form, if for whatever reason they don't want Azhar.

Also, what does preparing for WC have to do with the test team?

Typical PCB BS, thats what it is. We need an allrounder in this team right now, since we're laking the services of both Razzaq and Malik, but damned if the PCB will let you pick a player who has fallen out of their favor.