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*Official* Australia vs Pakistan in England

BoyBrumby

Englishman
Fair to say Pup still has problems with movement. I know movement will trouble any batsman, but he looked all at sea and was plumb at least once before Gul cleaned him up.

Aamer's ball to Mitch is a bit special tho. Pitched middle, slanting into the left hander and hit top of off. Pearler. Swing and seam.
 

Nate

You'll Never Walk Alone
Fantastic bowling from Pakistan. Australia just don't know which bowlers to pick and how to bowl in these conditions. Can't fault the batsmen too much, just amazing to watch.
 

BoyBrumby

Englishman
Watto found a fair bit of swing when he bowled at a fullish length. DtR's and (especially) Hilfy's natural lengths probably a fair bit shorter, but you'd hope international bowlers would be a little adaptable.

Still, any lead short of 250 and I wouldn't put the house on Pakistan. Batting does look genuinely woeful on paper.
 

Jezroy

State Captain
Aussies got OWNED.

However... for those that wonder how much bearing day 1 will have on the rest of the test... check these odds from NZ TAB.

Aus 3.00
Pak 1.55
Draw 9.00

Pretty fair in my opinion. If Australia manage to roll Pakistan for around 230, then make 450 - Pakistan will still have to get around 300 to win.

Good luck Pakistan, but watch the choke against Australia factor.
 

Son Of Coco

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
:laugh:

What the hell happened? Forgot this was on last night after checking the scores at school. Probably a good thing.
 

Top_Cat

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Obviously a top bowling effort by Pakistan but the Aussies really are woeful when the ball is moving a bit in the air, aren't they? Just got to look at how many of the line-up were downed LBW or bowled today, it's just not conditions they encounter at Shield level very often and why they're so good on the flat decks everyone else struggles on, which happen to be the majority of decks at international level though. Against a Pakistani attack like this one, not only talented but bowling so well together (and it's beautiful to see), any deficiencies in technique are being fairly ruthlessly exposed. One gets the feeling they're taking Gul a bit lightly too, he'd be one of the better 1st change bowlers in Tests surely?

Watto, Clarke, Ponting, Norf, Paine, all of them play well forward with big strides when English conditions necessitate the ability to play low off the back foot like Steve Waugh, Allan Border etc., used to do. Aussies have never really been good in swinging conditions with bat or ball. It's why a lot of the most notable knocks by Aussies have come when the ball is hooping, such is the surprise to see one of them stand up and do well! Mind you, it's not as if the ball was doing that much, Pakistan just bowled good areas with the ball nipping around a bit really. The aforementioned were out in almost identical fashion to how Pakistan nailed them in Sydney and England did last year.

Similarly, again because they don't happen to often in OZ, the bowlers see the green and cloud and lose their **** then get pummelled. This knock they're going for about 4 runs per over, length too short, etc.

Need a monumental effort from here to get back in the game. No team who scores 88 in the first dig deserves to even be in the running, don't care how much the ball was moving. Anything less than a 200 lead will be woefully inadequate from a Pakistani perspective. 250+ and they're in the box seat. The Aussies should thank whatever Gods they pray to that Pakistan's batting is so woeful and that those most likely to do well against them are back in the pavillion.

:wub: Pakistan
 
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Jezroy

State Captain
One gets the feeling they're taking Gul a bit lightly too, he'd be one of the better 1st change bowlers in Tests surely?
I think a lot of people think Gul is a "Limited Overs" bowler - but was really impressed with him in the tests Pak played in NZ - his yorker to dismiss McCullum in Dunedin - Shooper delivery that.

If Pakistan can keep their 3 seamers fit, plus maybe get a couple of class batsmen back in their team (and also hold their catches) LOOK OUT.
 

Top_Cat

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If Pakistan can keep their 3 seamers fit, plus maybe get a couple of class batsmen back in their team (and also hold their catches) LOOK OUT.
Haha, heard it before for years when Inzi, , Malik, Anwar, Wasim, Waqar and the rest were in the side. No matter what raw talent is in the side, never, ever underestimate the Pakistani ability to fall to bits. Raw talent has never been a problem for Pakistan. They've always been my number 2 team but if you're a fan, you can't get too carried away by a few good sessions. I'm sure every Pakistan fan here would testify to the emotional rollercoaster supporting the team is.

That said, the bowling unit looks as outwardly united as I've seen a Pakistani attack.
 
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cric

Cricket Spectator
Haha, heard it before for years when Inzi, , Malik, Anwar, Wasim, Waqar and the rest were in the side. No matter what raw talent is in the side, never, ever underestimate the Pakistani ability to fall to bits. Raw talent has never been a problem for Pakistan. They've always been my number 2 team but if you're a fan, you can't get too carried away by a few good sessions. I'm sure every Pakistan fan here would testify to the emotional rollercoaster supporting the team is.

That said, the bowling unit looks as outwardly united as I've seen a Pakistani attack.
Yer, been following Pakistan cricket since 04, TBH, couldn't agree more, If Pakistan were to loose or draw this test match from here on, just saying, no one would be "shocked". But I think they can win it this time, lol.
 

Black_Warrior

Cricketer Of The Year
I think a lot of people think Gul is a "Limited Overs" bowler - but was really impressed with him in the tests Pak played in NZ - his yorker to dismiss McCullum in Dunedin - Shooper delivery that.

If Pakistan can keep their 3 seamers fit, plus maybe get a couple of class batsmen back in their team (and also hold their catches) LOOK OUT.
Gul used to be a very good test bowler too.. Back in 2004, he destroyed the mighty Indian batting that Sir Alex was talking about...and since I consider that batting to be the best, I thought it was a phenomenal acheivement. But he got injured.

Then he had a great series against West Indies at home in 2006.
But since then, he has looked pretty flat in test cricket.

The last two test matches should he is finding his rhythm and confidence back. Lets hope he can maintain it this time
 

Top_Cat

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Reckon people are just worried what it'll mean for subsequent series'. There are other teams out there with slightly inferior bowling line-ups but far, far superior batting line-ups who would do (and have done) similar damage to the batting but wouldn't let them off the hook afterwards. Winning the Sydney Test took a lot of typical Pakistani implosion, other sides won't be quite as generous even in home conditions.
 

Andre

International Regular
Pretty seriously interesting day of Test cricket.

Unfortunately, I reckon it has confirmed a few suspicions I had about the Aussie Test side:

- That, as outstanding a cricketer as Shane Watson is, I don't think he is a Test opening batsman. He has to be in the side somewhere - even as high as 3 or 4 - but I don't see him piling on runs regularly at the top of the order as he struggles against the moving ball. Has to be in the side, but warrants a place in the middle order alone now on performance which he didn't 12 months ago.

- Marcus North at 6 instead of another specialist opener at the top of the order is to our detriment. I reckon a middle order of Ponting, Watson, Clarke and Hussey with a Rogers or the like opening the batting would be the best scenario of us. Despite North's 6-fer, I can't see him playing much of a role in the future with the ball other than being used when someone wants to change ends or as a partnership breaker. He's too inconsistent to bat at 6 - rocks or diamonds are great when you are 3/400, but those days with our batting line up are gone.

- Tim Paine might not be that far off knocking Haddin from his perch. Watch this one develop over the next 18 months.

- Doug the Rug might be coming back to earth a bit. I know, in these conditions, I'd have much prefered a Siddle or Ryan Harris type who would ask more questions of the batsmen than Ruggie. Johnson's the wildcard, Hilfenhaus (when fit) is the banker, 3rd paceman spot is much more up for grabs than we suspect, I reckon.

All that being said, Pakistan were outstanding. They've got an outstanding attack for these conditions - and they will all only improve. Massive Umar Gul fan, reckon he's just about the most underrated bowler on the scene at the moment. Add to the mix Kaneria and you've got a pretty serious Test attack. Scary to think that Aamer is only 18 as well - heaps of improvement left in him.

Thought Butt did a good job as skipper today too - admittedly great conditions to bowl in, but they almost looked unified and in control of the game today which is no mean feat for a Pakistan side.

Throw Younis Khan into the mix and it's a Test side worth keeping an eye on.
 
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Spark

Global Moderator
Paine has been excellent. His batting for the most part has looked composed and intelligent and his keeping has been high-class.

Bollinger not really suited to these conditions, not really a bang it in back of a length kind of pitch.
 

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