***Official*** Pakistan and England in UAE

[BoyBrumby]

Fine piece on the common tendency of cricket watchers to mistake good cricket with "character" and v. v.

A Cricketing View: On Tests of Character

Falls largely into tl;dr territory, but from the bit you quote he contradicts his own point:

Nothing illustrates this more than the astonishingly indifferent shot Cook played in England's first innings at Dubai. It was a poke to nothing, away from the body, with no hope of getting any serious runs (may be a single if it went far enough away from point). It was the sort of shot that one would not expect Alistair Cook to play.

As it's not a technical glict as such, it's surely a flaw in character or whatever you want to call it? The Cook of the last twelve months has largely had the character/gumption/concentration to not play such a low percentage shot.

Seriously think there's manscaping involved there.

Lol. Either manscaping means something different down under (ha) or there's no way you can tell.

 

[Uppercut]

363/9 ? Quite the comeback by England from 320/3 when I last checked.

Yeah they've given themselves a chance, now for the hard part: not batting like stoned clowns.

 

[kingkallis]

Gul should try and score some quick some runs here...

 

[kingkallis]

Excellent spell of bowling from Monty and Swann...

England has given themselves a serious chance to restore some pride.

 

[Furball]

Would it have been more or less demoralising for England if Pakistan had reached 370~ off 100 overs instead of off 150?

More. When you consider how badly England have batted I reckon it would be pretty demoralising to see the opposition blast their way to 370.

 

[grecian]

Well done Monty, he definitely is a better bowler than when he last played Test cricket, bowls a lot less four-balls.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Well done Monty, he definitely is a better bowler than when he last played Test cricket, bowls a lot less four-balls.

Outbowled Swann pretty comfortably. Very much a Panesar kind of pitch, but making best use of the favourable conditions.

Shouts on the margin of victory? Pakistan by 220, IMHO.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Shouts on the margin of victory? Pakistan by 220, IMHO.

And I am supposed to be pessimistic

 

[ganeshran]

If England can chase this down, it will be a huge confidence booster for them to carry on to the ODIs

 

[Furball]

Outbowled Swann pretty comfortably. Very much a Panesar kind of pitch, but making best use of the favourable conditions.

Shouts on the margin of victory? Pakistan by 220, IMHO.

England by 8 wickets.

 

[BoyBrumby]

And I am supposed to be pessimistic

Realism is often mistaken for pessimism by less enlightened minds.

 

[Daemon]

Someone just voted for Pakistan in the poll again, it's up to 39 now

 

[hazsa19]

Well done Monty. Lovely stuff. Shame about your knuckle-head team-mates.

Margin of victory? England batsman will flatter to deceive. Strauss and Cook will put on a good opening partnership, but not a great one. Trott will look comfortable but will make no more than 70. 263ao.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

If Pakistan win, who should be man of the match, Younis or Azhar.

For me it has to be Younis for the class innings.

 

[Uppercut]

Realism is often mistaken for pessimism by less enlightened minds.

And vice versa

I wouldn't expect England to get over 200 but if a partnership gets going you never know. Getting in has been the hard part on this tour.

 

[hazsa19]

And vice versa

I wouldn't expect England to get over 200 but if a partnership gets going you never know. Getting in has been the hard part on this tour.

Hitting the ball has been the hard part of this tour.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Realism is often mistaken for pessimism by less enlightened minds.

100% correct. Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Gul's getting good swing. Now that the pressure is off he is in rhythm.

 

[Black_Warrior]

if pakistan win, who should be man of the match, younis or azhar.

For me it has to be younis for the class innings.

yk yk yk yk yk yk yk yk

 

[Burgey]

Fine first over by Gul.