*Official* Pakistan v Australia in UAE 2014

[Spark]

Yeah he's improved his legside play out of sight - he's actually strongest off his pads now.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Again I'm not sure about this. IIRC he'd had a sensational season in Shield cricket in 2008/09 - and I think with ridiculously talented players like Smith you have to throw them in at some point. If he doesn't adjust straight away, fine, get the armbands back on and get him back in the shallow end, but at least he knows what the deep end feels like.

Smith's problem was that he probably did too well as a LO spinner (particularly T20) so his role in the Australian team for 18 months was as a biffer down the order who could send down some leggies. IMO that stunted his development a bit when he should have been concentrating on Shield cricket and working on his batting so he'd be a bigger success next time he pulled on his baggy green. But I definitely think Smith debuted at the right time.

Credit to the Australian selectors over the intervening period on letting him play more Shield cricket, and not picking him in ODIs too, even when it did look like he'd improved. Let him settle into Test cricket, make sure he'd ticked that off before recalling him to the shorter form.

 

[Dan]

they should have been the leading wicket taker of the 2013 Ryobi cup then

Renowned second leading wicket taker of the 2013 Ryobi cup Andrew Tye robbed of ODI debut by Mitchell Johnson, who didn't take a single wicket in the 2013 Ryobi cup.

He's drowning the sorrows of his non-selection by bowling medium pace pies being slaughtered everywhere by Trent Lawford.

 

[adub]

Credit to the Australian selectors over the intervening period on letting him play more Shield cricket, and not picking him in ODIs too, even when it did look like he'd improved. Let him settle into Test cricket, make sure he'd ticked that off before recalling him to the shorter form.

That was certainly a good decision from them. His decision to also pretty much not bother with working on his bowling in that time also looks to have paid off. He was always going to be a batsman who might bowl some handy overs. Once there was no pressure on him to be the next big thing in spin he could just work out his batting in the right environment.

 

[Jono]

This Pakistan batting lineup is crapper than usual, which is a low bar already.

 

[eroticfishcake]

Junaid Khan out of the series with a knee injury,trouble for Pakistan,this bowling attack looks really thin

 

[Burgey]

The World Cup should just be a tourney between India, SA and Australia,, with SL and NZ playing off for the right to finish fourth in the big dance. Pakistan, England, Zimbabwe, WI and Bangas are just wasting oxygen. They shouldn't bother turning up.

 

[morgieb]

The World Cup should just be a tourney between India, SA and Australia,, with SL and NZ playing off for the right to finish fourth in the big dance. Pakistan, England, Zimbabwe, WI and Bangas are just wasting oxygen. They shouldn't bother turning up.

I'd argue that Sri Lanka and New Zealand are better one-day sides than India, at least in Australian conditions.

 

[hendrix]

NZ had a particularly dark period in ODIs before the new squad got things sorted. But yeah, 4-0 was pretty comprehensive.

 

[Flem274*]

Can you imagine if the endless India v SL odis were played in New Zealand or Aussie? In the lands where finger spinners go to die 300 plays 300 would become 500 plays 500...

 

[Flametree]

The World Cup should just be a tourney between India, SA and Australia,, with SL and NZ playing off for the right to finish fourth in the big dance. Pakistan, England, Zimbabwe, WI and Bangas are just wasting oxygen. They shouldn't bother turning up.

I'd argue that the Windies have enough talented players who can do something ridiculously good on the day that they will always have a chance in a tournament format. Not consistent enough to win it probably but they can certainly surprise one of the favourites. And though I wouldn't be at all surprised to see NZ crumble to Johnson / Steyn / Herath (basiclly insert any quick bowler or decent spinner), I also wouldn't be in the least surprised to see Southee and Boult reduce anybody to 40-6. I think this World Cup is as open as any in memory.

 

[Burgey]

Flametree is windieweathers and I claim my five pounds.... :-p

 

[morgieb]

Doherty got a recall. Oh dear....

 

[Maximas]

The World Cup should just be a tourney between India, SA and Australia,, with SL and NZ playing off for the right to finish fourth in the big dance. Pakistan, England, Zimbabwe, WI and Bangas are just wasting oxygen. They shouldn't bother turning up.

ok Ian Chappell, short memory though (unless troll), SL have really pushed the Aussies in ODIs on the last two tours, would have won the bilateral series last time had we not spent the night waiting for the grass to dry in Sydney.

 

[dermo]

pretty sure clint mckay was still rated our best bowler back then though so it doesn't count

 

[Singh Is King]

Pakistan are Indias bitch in World Cups. 0 wins in that many World Cup matches against India ! Soon as they play us in a World Cup they **** themselves

 

[Valer]

There's no more improved cricketer in Australia than TPC is there? The bloke's had a Merv Hughes-type transformation from an international cricketing parody account to a serious contributor. Fmd he must have worked hard at his game.

Johnson's return from his 2 years averaging 45 in tests?

 

[OverratedSanity]

Pakistan are Indias bitch in World Cups. 0 wins in that many World Cup matches against India ! Soon as they play us in a World Cup they **** themselves

It's going to end in 2015, unfortunately, because I heard Jono's attending that game.

 

[BeeGee]

The World Cup should just be a tourney between India, SA and Australia,, with SL and NZ playing off for the right to finish fourth in the big dance. Pakistan, England, Zimbabwe, WI and Bangas are just wasting oxygen. They shouldn't bother turning up.

I don't think India's ODI team is as good as people think. They were beaten 2-0 in SA, 4-0 in NZ and they've just lost the first game of a home series against a WI team with zero morale. I honestly think the WI and Pakistan have a better chance of winning the WC than India.

Back on topic, I'm going to put my balls on the line and call Pakistan to win the next two ODIs against Aus.

 

[OverratedSanity]

I don't think India's ODI team is as good as people think. They were beaten 2-0 in SA, 4-0 in NZ and they've just lost the first game of a home series against a WI team with zero morale. I honestly think the WI and Pakistan have a better chance of winning the WC than India.

Yeah, been saying this for a long time. Don't know how we're number 1, either. We've lost plenty in the last year or so.