I agree. One reason may be the lack of consistent test cricket played by the team as a whole. As a team they haven't been allowed to find their groove. Also, lack of intensity may have a lot to do with Yousuf's captaincy and his general laid back style.
I wouldn't blame Yousuf too much.He has only recently become captain and it must be remembered that it was under him, not Younus, that Pakistan won their first test after almost three years.
Australia dropped almost as many...
That's not as news-worthy, though. :P
How does that change what I said? It means then Australia was below par on the field than anything
Australia's dropped chances didn't cost them the match did it
You said that the match wouldn't have been as one-sided if Pakistan had taken their catches. If Pakistan and Australia had both taken all their catches, the match wouldn't have been all that different.
Sigh. What do you expect him to say. "Yeah it was a pretty easy win for the boys. Wouldn't expect anything less than an easy win in the end really". There's always some way to find criticism in what Ponting says
No they didn't and arguably neither did Pakistan's. All I said was that both teams dropped the same number of catches and virtually cancelled each other out. The end result wouldn't have been too different had both teams taken their catches. Or in other words, the match would have been as one-sided.
Pakistan dropped both Katich and Watson early on in the first innings. Katich was on 8 if i recall. Australia's dropped chances made virtually no difference.
Australia would have still probably got 450 in the first innings even if those catches had been taken.
How does Pakistan taking those chances they dropped is remotely relevant to Australia's catching?
There is a huge difference between "One of my best test wins" and saying "It's a great win". I hope you understand the difference before you get your pants in a twist.
You said the match wouldn't have been one-sided had Pakistan taken their chances. I said the match would have been one-sided had Australia and Pakistan both taken their chances.How does Pakistan taking those chances they dropped is remotely relevant to Australia's catching?
Both are mutually exclusive opinions. You might be right, but you are no way contradicting my opinion. Also see the context in which I posted it. Ricky said it is one of his best test wins. I don't think so. The fact that Australia dropped 5 chances shows they were not at their best in the field.
5 dropped chances, can you name them all for me?
This is an outrageous call IMO. Misbah is not a great batsman but he's not a prank-batsman either; he looks awful when he's in poor form but looks like a real Test bat when he's seeing them - the control he shows and the way he paces his innings when he's set actually reminds me a lot of Yousuf. Even when Faisal's seeing it like a football and playing the odd glorious stroke, he still always gives the impression that it's only a matter of time before he gets himself out and, sure enough, he always does. Farhat's different in that he constantly looks dire but somehow manages to scrap sometimes but he's a level below Misbah as well for mine.
