**Official** Pakistan in New Zealand (3 tests)

[Zinzan]

Anyone else think that the scheduling this summer is rather odd? No more games until Feb! we have such crap weather in NZ and we dont even use a whole month of summer, mind bathling! Perhaps so the blackcaps can play more T20's?

It's ashame there's no cricket in January (or a boxing day test), but to me it's just indicative of the extent to which NZ cricket revolves around the ICC & the suitability of other nations as opposed to the India's, Australia's & England's of this world. It's a commercial world.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Nup, doesn't fit the pattern sorry. You'll have to head off to cricinfo to find some obscure rubbish bower whose name ends in ee.

Yuvee.

KPee will testify.

 

[Howsie]

Right, dropped on 6 but forget the other 114 runs or the presence of mind to put it behind him and keep going. What is this? The resurrection of the FCA? Right, played and missed for 46 attacking runs. Yep, he should have been out if only... But forget the patient, grafting half century and the other quickfire 52. Forget also the chutzpah of taking on Vettori, or after having given a near chance at zero, smacking a six to get off the mark today.

You are right, he may never become a great batsman despite having more talent than most of the current NZ batting line-up combined. There are too many variables left to make a judgement on that. But he has been a class batsman this tour, and your (in my view) bs about luck does him discredit.

FCA?

Anyone that actually thinks that he's gone through this series without lady luck following him around has got to be kidding himself. How many times has he just left his bat hanging out and somehow guided the ball through the slips/gully area? His second innings when he was almost caught by 3/4 players after jabbing a Shane Bond bouncer into the air.

But yea ****, saying he's had a bit of luck here and there means I think he's rubbish right

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Southee is the only one looking like they are threatning with the new ball with great seam position. who else has got batsman playing and the ball shaping away outside the offstump?

i say keep southee on while the clouds are still around.

I've missed all of todays play so can someone tell me how Southee bowled today? Was he getting much swing at all?

southee got the odd ball to shape away from the right handers, more so seam position then swing. beating the outside edge when pitched on off. i think they need to bring him back

Cheers.

Another Howsie multi?

 

[Howsie]

Rchard seems to have a new FCA. that would say 6 out and then 114 out. Giving 120 over 2 innings.

If Umar Akmal was a Kiwi Howsie would be singing his praises.

Oh gee really A 19 year old averaging 50 odd in FC cricket and scoring runs in his first test series, who wouldn't.

 

[_Chandan]

It's ashame there's no cricket in January (or a boxing day test), but to me it's just indicative of the extent to which NZ cricket revolves around the ICC & the suitability of other nations as opposed to the India's, Australia's & England's of this world. It's a commercial world.

Three countries can't have boxing day cricket because that'd mean 6 test nations having a go at test cricket at the same time.

And who can you call? England is playing in SA, Pak is playing Australia, India will just finish its ODI series vs Lanka. So you can only call WI, in my opinion or Bangladesh. WI, would decline to oblige you because they've just had a gruelling series with Aus and Bangladesh are busy preparing to face India, next month.

Who would youy call to play?

 

[Howsie]

Indeed, he's either blind or in denial if he can't see that Umar's unbelievably talented. Can't wait to see the young lad take on the Aussie's on those decks.

Luck = No talent around here does it?

 

[Jono]

It's not that you said he's lucky, its that because he has been lucky you've claimed that at 19 he definitely won't become anything spectacular.

 

[JBH001]

Anyone that actually thinks that he's gone through this series without lady luck following him around has got to be kidding himself. How many times has he just left his bat hanging out and somehow guided the ball through the slips/gully area? His second innings when he was almost caught by 3/4 players after jabbing a Shane Bond bouncer into the air.

But yea ****, saying he's had a bit of luck here and there means I think he's rubbish right

Some inane comments above regarding batting and cricket, but I really dont care to get into this.

So I'll just end on your last comment with your direct quote:

"Tbh I haven't really been that impressed with how he's gone about some of his innings, he's had a crap load of luck in most of them."

(And that is to ignore the other gem which was "never become a great batsman")

After which you knocked his 100 and his 46 - belittling his batting on this tour. I hardly think that counts as saying he has just had a "bit" of luck "here and there" or that you think he really is a talented batsman. If that is not what you meant then you clearly need to learn to write a little more clearly.

 

[Zinzan]

Luck = No talent around here does it?

No need to be facetious, after all you did categorically state the below....

As for never becoming a great batsmen, well that's my opinion. I've seen it happen to a heck of a lot of Pakistan batsmen in the past where they've started of really well at a young age and just fell away.

&

Yea. I reckon he'll never become this "great" batsmen some people are making out he'll be. Tbh I haven't really been that impressed with how he's gone about some of his innings, he's had a crap load of luck in most of them.

 

[JBH001]

Nah, strikes me as having a more steely & resilient look in his eye than a lot of their other flash-in-the-pans. Also, he has a great mentor in his brother Kamran who's has been a magnificent ambassador for Pakistan cricket despite a couple of lean spells in the middle of his career.

Agreed. But dont forget that other important point, internal politics in Pakistani cricket.

He still has a ways to go, and we will know better after his second year, but I reckon he has some class in him.

 

[Howsie]

It's not that you said he's lucky, its that because he has been lucky you've claimed that at 19 he definitely won't become anything spectacular.

Pakistan's history of young batsmen that have looked good but faded away, it's quite long. That's why, nothing to do with Akmal really.

 

[Howsie]

No need to be facetious, after all you did categorically state the below....

Did I?

 

[Jono]

Pakistan's history of young batsmen that have looked good but faded away, it's quite long. That's why, nothing to do with Akmal really.

I can't recall any good young batsmen looking good overseas though to be fair.

 

[Zinzan]

Some inane comments above regarding batting and cricket, but I really dont care to get into this.

So I'll just end on your last comment with your direct quote:

"Tbh I haven't really been that impressed with how he's gone about some of his innings, he's had a crap load of luck in most of them."

after which you knocked his 100 and his 46 - belittling his batting on this tour. I hardly think that counts as saying he has just had a "bit" of luck "here and there" or that you think he really is a talented batsman. If that is not what you meant then you clearly need to learn to write a little more clearly.

Yeah, with the greatest respect to the lad, it smacks of a young mind governed by it's own emotions and no doubt blinded to the fact that almost every batsman needs an element of luck (few plays/misses, french-cut,miscue etc) during any significant test innings.

Probably wouldn't have registered to him that Ross Taylor's probably been equally is lucky with the bat throughout this series

 

[Howsie]

I can't recall any good young batsmen looking good overseas though to be fair.

Salman Butt in Australia five years ago.

 

[Zinzan]

Agreed. But dont forget that other important point, internal politics in Pakistani cricket.
.

Would never discount that, but as previously mentioned, think having a brother who managed to stay away from the politics helps

 

[Howsie]

Yeah, with the greatest respect to the lad, it smacks of a young mind governed by it's own emotions and no doubt blinded to the fact that almost every batsman needs an element of luck (few plays/misses, french-cut,miscue etc) during any significant test innings.

Probably wouldn't have registered to him that Ross Taylor's probably been equally is lucky with the bat throughout this series

Agree. Maybe even more so tbh.

 

[Zinzan]

Did I?

Yup, have edited my mistake

 

[Nate]

Will be watching intently for a Kiwi victory tomorrow.