*Official* Pakistan in Australia

[Ausage]

I couldn't care less about standings, or the politics of cricket, or who is the weaker team overall. Today was just a fantastic day of cricket, with some brilliant performances to force the most unlikely of results. If Australian fans are not allowed to be excited about today, then what is the point of following cricket?

Top post this.

Really amazing stuff. Still had butterflies when I left work with Umar/Gul in, but I walked past the nearby pub to see "Umar Akmal - 49 c Johnson, b Dougeh!! You beauty!!!

Stoked for Hussey. Deserved MoM! One of his best innings.

Reckon the win is really important for this team. This kind of from the grave victory will instill a belief that will be hard to shake. Reckon we took a step towards winning back the Ashes today.

Feel for the Pakistani supporters though

Wish I'd taken the day off too

 

[Ikki]

The point is hot spot and snicko should be everywhere.

Should be everywhere, I agree. But if some place has it, use it. If it doesn't, get it and until then use the best technology available.

 

[Xuhaib]

WOW.This is really hurting like a bitch.

 

[Sir Alex]

Call the Whambulance TBH! Quiting stroking your own ego would be a good start

Sorry I didn't get you.

 

[Streetwise]

Ponting played his part here, winning the toss and batting was his best chance if it is correct that Aus are no good at chasing small totals. Using hindsight he made the correct decision.

 

[GIMH]

Just seen the score, wow! Not checked back through the thread but I'm pretty sure this is exactly what SS said would happen.

Well done Australia

 

[pasag]

This is the best thread in the history of the internet:

link

 

[Sir Alex]

edited

 

[Sir Alex]

This is the best thread in the history of the internet:

link

That is hilarious but truth be told 99% of even Australian fans would not have xpected an Aussie win today.

 

[GotSpin]

This is the best thread in the history of the internet:

link

So good

 

[silentstriker]

Haha, loved the massive swing there. Pakistani batting lineup != Indian batting lineup, I think it's fairly clear to say at this point.

 

[NZTailender]

Australia's spinning stock isn't as dire as everyone is making out, and there are plenty of 'pure' spinners if we're talking about guys who make the side on their bowling alone.
Australia are ignoring former internationals in Nathan Hauritz and Cullen Bailey, while Bryce McGain was a shoo-in to play before being injured, not to mention Cassons sudden departure after WIndies.

I guess I'm one of the few people on this board who actually rates Nathan Hauritz. Unfortunately for Australia, he moved to NSW and has thus played a handful of of FC matches in the last couple of seasons.

Yes the current crop of Australian spinners have ordinary records, and yes the two that are in the test squad are hardly good but I don't think there are absolutely no spinners at all in Australia who aren't of a decent skill level.

Though whether or not one should be picked for the sake of playing a spinner in India is another matter. In this case, I think one is deserved a shot in at least one test, and he should be the best spinner available bar injuries. Otherwise I think Australia could try and win it with pure seamers and part time spinners.

Hauritz looking good in domestic cricket of late, would actually like to see him recalled, and at least, should be ahead of Krejza, White, Casson et al.



IMO.

Get Hauritz over to India

Probably one of the few times I can gloat. **** you haters.

Well Hauritz is one of the worst bowlers I've ever seen IMO, and if he, Cullen, Casson and the like are honestly better than the Krejzas, Whites etc. then it begs the question of why they're not putting in performances which suggest that.

Much as I'd love to see Hauritz play more Tests so his bowling-average went up, I don't see that there's any sense in picking Krejza ahead of either Jaques or the likes of Noffke. If McGain was fit he'd probably deserve some sort of shot, but he's not and hence I don't see any point playing a specialist spinner purely because "you should play four bowlers because that's the way everyone's done it historically".

Reckon Richard will be dismayed that it's not shot up with more Tests...

 

[pasag]

I also called him one of the worst bowlers in the world. Happy to have egg on my face. Then you have guys like aussie who still ramble on about how he shouldn't be in the side....

 

[Noble One]

I would yet to be concerned if I was a Pakistan fan. This is one flat pitch now, few demons. Nathan Hauritz is hardly going to turn the ball square, and if he was to extract wickets, he will likely concede 100 in the process.

Pretty average bowling from Hauritz, don't see him bowling Australia to victory.

I like Hauritz as a bowler, he offers a nice option for Ponting. But he is never going to be one of those cricketers that takes 5/20 on the final day of play. His style relies on tempting the batsmen into playing the false stroke, when you have runs to play with that is fine, but he will generally concede 80-100 runs in the process of taking 3-4 wickets.

One of those days I don't mind being proved wrong.

 

[roseboy64]

Awful cricket by Pakistan really. Deficiencies in their opponents papering over the cracks of Australia.

 

[SmityNZ]

Ponting played his part here, winning the toss and batting was his best chance if it is correct that Aus are no good at chasing small totals. Using hindsight he made the correct decision.

The cracks, in this case Ponting making a terrible decision to bat first on a dirty green one, have been papered over by even worse Pakistani captaincy early on day four, and late on day three, and a team who couldn't chase 170-odd because they don't have a winning mentality.

Merely winning does not vindicate the choice at the toss. The fact that Australia conceded 200 on the first innings dictates that, especially when you consider the 4th innings batting failure was not down to the pitch.

Don't let the CH9 cheerleaders talk you into different.

 

[sirdj]

WHAT THE ****. How did Pakistan manage to lose this????

Bah!

 

[Streetwise]

The cracks, in this case Ponting making a terrible decision to bat first on a dirty green one, have been papered over by even worse Pakistani captaincy early on day four, and late on day three, and a team who couldn't chase 170-odd because they don't have a winning mentality.

Merely winning does not vindicate the choice at the toss. The fact that Australia conceded 200 on the first innings dictates that, especially when you consider the 4th innings batting failure was not down to the pitch.

Don't let the CH9 cheerleaders talk you into different.

I think Ponting summed it up perfectly, he banked on making more runs in the first innings than the fourth innings. It was a good decision and he stuck by it and was proven right in the end. Australia or any team for that matter dont chase 4th innings totals very well. Its not that hard to give credit when due is it.

 

[SmityNZ]

Agree to disagree then. I've got no problem giving credit where it's due - for example, his declaration in Melbourne was outstanding. It was out of the box and was proven to be spot on.

But if Pakistan does what it should have, and doesn't drop Hussey thrice, and chases a meagre 4th innings total, then what do you say of the toss? Yes I know, 'what if'...but it happened because of Pakistan's failures, not Australia's tactics.

 

[Streetwise]

Agree to disagree then. I've got no problem giving credit where it's due - for example, his declaration in Melbourne was outstanding. It was out of the box and was proven to be spot on.

But if Pakistan does what it should have, and doesn't drop Hussey thrice, and chases a meagre 4th innings total, then what do you say of the toss? Yes I know, 'what if'...but it happened because of Pakistan's failures, not Australia's tactics.

And if Australia had of done what they should have and scored 400 runs in the first innings....................Ponting weighed up everything and though they had a better chance batting first and not fourth...............good decision end of.