*Official* Australia vs Pakistan in England

[Faisal1985]

no they're not. They're a good team as they have got some serious hitters and some good fast bowlers in their team. But Pakistan is probably the best T20 team in the history of the format.

So does West Indies! Some good hitters and good fast bowlers but they are also a fluke T20 team....

 

[Umar_Akmal]

 

[akilana]

So does West Indies! Some good hitters and good fast bowlers but they are also a fluke T20 team....

so the bottom line is every team is a fluke T2o team except for Pakistan

 

[Furball]

Of course Pakistan are one of, if not the top side in the format, they consistently win series, have 4 of the best bowlers in the format going and consistently do well at the World Cup.

Should actually be a good series against England, because despite historically being utterly dire, they got their act together seriously in the West Indies, where they were by miles the best side.

 

[King Pietersen]

Just started watching the Australia innings, and I have to say, I am enjoying Michael Clarke's innings. Moving him to the top of the order alongside Warner permanently could be a good move I think. With just 2 fielders on the boundary it allows Clarke to get full value for his shots early in his innings, which in turn boosts his confidence and will allow him to play those big shots late on. It wouldn't disrupt the side too much, as you could move Watto to 3. It's clear the selectors want to keep Clarke around this side, so he might as well bat in a position that best allows him to score quickly. Very promising innings, Jayawardene-esque.

Forgot to mention Shoaib's bowling too, which was very pleasing to watch. He looked to be really up for the contest and was bowling very quickly. I reckon at Lords, where the speed gun generally reads higher it'd have been reading genuinely quickly, looked up there with the Tait spell from the other day. Love Shoaib's run up too, it's ridiculous in length, must be 40 yards, great to watch.

 

[Umar_Akmal]

Shoaib fastest 95.3 mph
Tait fastest 94.2 mph

From both 20/20 matches 35 year old Akhtar is still the fastest bowler ever.

 

[Top_Cat]

Wouldn't hang your hat on that speed-gun measurement. CricInfo's had Tait's quickest around the 160Km/h mark.

EDIT: Wait, no it was the Sky gun.

 

[Nate]

Dire line-up from Australia though.

Can anyone tell me how O'Keefe bowled? Did he dart them in as per usual? Good figures regardless.

 

[Spark]

Well played by Pakistan, a quality T20 lineup.

Pleasantly suprised to see 30(17) from Clarke, smart innings - no need for the idiotic back-away-and-smash-over-extra-cover he seemed obsessed with before, just good, well placed shots. And I've never seen him play the up-and-over shot before...

Apart from that, not a whole lot to say.

 

[Burgey]

Shoaib fastest 95.3 mph
Tait fastest 94.2 mph

From both 20/20 matches 35 year old Akhtar is still the fastest bowler ever.

"Hi..."

 

[Faisal1985]

Just saw the highlights. Clarkey can bat! lol.

I don't really care what people say about Akhtar but some of those deliveries brought back the memories of the younger Akhtar..some rip snoters there.....

Now i am really looking forward to the test series with Australia....hopefully that would be a good one for Pakistan as well...

 

[Faisal1985]

"Hi..."

I would love to see some highlights if any...also, how do we know for sure that he was the fastest or among the fastest?

 

[Top_Cat]

Don't know for sure (different measurement tech). Here's some Thommo highlights;

YouTube - The Empire of Cricket - Australia : Dennis Lillee & Jeff Thomson

Plenty more around on YT.

 

[Spark]

Hm. Thinking it through, Clarke opening could be a good idea...

...but I can't say the same for Paine at 3. Haddin, please uninjure yourself. Quickly.

And Hopes? Last I heard he was terrible...

 

[Xuhaib]

Just saw the highlights. Clarkey can bat! lol.

I don't really care what people say about Akhtar but some of those deliveries brought back the memories of the younger Akhtar..some rip snoters there.....

Now i am really looking forward to the test series with Australia....hopefully that would be a good one for Pakistan as well...

Nah it will be a battering when your best bat is a 20 yr old rookie you know you are in trouble. The 20-20 have been quality really enjoyed them ofcourse Pak winning made it feel better though tbf the umpiring dicked Aus yesterday.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Dire line-up from Australia though.

Can anyone tell me how O'Keefe bowled? Did he dart them in as per usual? Good figures regardless.

First time I've ever seen him, but was definitely spearing them in yesterday. Hard to get away and the tail obligingly missed some straight ones when the slog was on. Don't think he turned one that I saw.

Not that that's a bad thing necessarily in limited overs. Been quite a few careers built around slow/medium left arm darts up to and including Yardy.

Before the widespead availability of internet pornography touring parties had to make their own entertainment. Here, Jeff keeps the troops' danders up with his Rudolf Nureyev impression.

 

[Burgey]

I would love to see some highlights if any...also, how do we know for sure that he was the fastest or among the fastest?

Well I suppose we never will, but when guys like Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards say you're "scary", "dangerous", facing you is "like being in a war" and say you were the fastest they ever faced, then I guess you belong in the argument.

That's not to decry Shoaib btw, whose pace is undoubtedly right up there.

If you get a chance to see some YouTube portions of "The Chappell Years" you'll see some pretty awesome Thommo highlights. The man was seriously rapid.

Edit: at that clip TC posted, around the three minute mark.. LMAO as the poor bugger (I think it's Duleep Mendis or Siddath Wettimuny at the 75 WC) gets his foot hit and is limping away, Thommo strolls down very slowly, then suddenly picks the pill up and has a shy at the stumps as the poor bugger tries to hobble back. WAC.

 

[Burgey]

Before the widespead availability of internet pornography touring parties had to make their own entertainment. Here, Jeff keeps the troops' danders up with his Rudolf Nureyev impression.

Haha Brumbers.. quality.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Did David Hussey really just open the innings with a wicket maiden?
Really?

Thats what you get when you open the bowling against Pakistan..not much difference between the number 11 and number 1

 

[Top_Cat]

In fairness, Dussey is a better bowler than his mere figures would suggest.