**Official** Pakistan and England in the UAE 2015/16

[smash84]

Stuart Who?

 

[Furball]

Plunkett must be wondering why he was in the squad given two quicks got injured and he didn't get a game.

Reserve batsman.

 

[aussie]

I don't think they would have played three spinners here if Wood hadn't been injured. I think the point of Ansari more than anything else was to cover terrible form/injury to the two frontline spinners because they planned on playing two in every game. Sharjah would've been the venue they identified "well maybe three, maybe" but I definitely think the form of the fast bowlers would've come into it. No way was Wood getting dropped here if he was fit given the way he's bowled IMO.

Well yes, Wood for sure would have played - I guess they may have considered readjusting the batting a bit to accommodate Patel. For example if Ansari was fit, there was option of letting him open & dropping Moeen down the order.

Certainly Wood getting injured made it easier for them to play Patel & as you said it probably wasn't a 100% certain they were going to play 3 spinners here given how well quicks have bowled - but the plan was always in their.

 

[Black_Warrior]

I think Misbah and the management need to re think their approach. I understand the reasons behind such a cautious approach against the seam bowlers, when you have a weak batting line up known for collapses, but going at 2/2.5 po can come back to bite you when you do end up having a collapse. The problem with having players like Hafeez, or Malik in the top order is that they can play a ridiculous shot and throw it away at any point, regardless of whether they are batting on 90 or 200 or 20. So the top order falling off is always around the cards.

 

[Prince EWS]

I think Misbah and the management need to re think their approach. I understand the reasons behind such a cautious approach against the seam bowlers, when you have a weak batting line up known for collapses, but going at 2/2.5 po can come back to bite you when you do end up having a collapse. The problem with having players like Hafeez, or Malik in the top order is that they can play a ridiculous shot and throw it away at any point, regardless of whether they are batting on 90 or 200 or 20. So the top order falling off is always around the cards.

Yeah just because it works for Misbah doesn't mean it's going to work for everyone else. Maybe it makes more sense now that Wood isn't playing and Stokes is injured, but in general I think players like Hafeez and Malik aren't good enough for situational tactics; they just need to bat as close to their natural comfort zones as possible.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Yeah just because it works for Misbah doesn't mean it's going to work for everyone else. Maybe it makes more sense now that Wood isn't playing and Stokes is injured, but in general I think players like Hafeez and Malik aren't good enough for situational tactics; they just need to bat as close to their natural comfort zones as possible.

You know even with Misbah, it does indirectly effect him in a way. Misbah does have an average conversion rate and I think one of the major factors behind that is half the time, he has just crossed 50 when Pakistan are about 5-6 wickets down. And the weak tail means he then has to change gears like he did yesterday and then get out within another 20-30 runs.
A lot of his hundreds last year against came when the top order provided the cushion. The weak tail is going to hit them badly when they start touring next year.

If you look at the India/Sri Lanka wins in England last year, they all had critical contributions from at least 1-2 guys in the tail.

2nd Investec Test: England v India at Lord's, Jul 17-21, 2014 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

2nd Investec Test: England v Sri Lanka at Leeds, Jun 20-24, 2014 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

Pakistan might have ended up around 280 plus today had they had a similar contribution from 8-11 today.

 

[Niall]

I fear for Pakistan when they tour sadly. Few of them have experience in English and Australia conditions,and the strategy while successful in UAE of blocking the quicks and smashing the spinners, noot going to work in those countries. Anderson and Broad are gun, but no intent whatsoever from them Yesterday against them, which meant they had to take more risks against the rest which didn't really work out. I am not suggesting they should be smashing them, but blocking and blocking got them nowhere, its the bloody UAE not Headingley!


The tail as you say is a horror and I don't know any obvious fix. Gohar and Bilal can bat, but neither likely to play outside Asia. The last pacer you'd back to score runs outside Asia was Tanvir Ahmed ffs.

Rahat, Imran, Junaid, Babar, Hamza, Asif all rags with the bat. Yasir a let down as well, not as bad as those guys,but like Riaz pretty average as well.

 

[Burner]

Pakistan will cruise this..

 

[Black_Warrior]

Yasir is actually the best batsmen in that tail in terms of potential however he needs to work really hard. If anyone can be improved to a level you can rely on, it's him.

 

[Daemon]

Just found out about Zafar Gohar -

Zafar Gohar the 20-year-old left-arm spinner, was also among the wickets for SSGC with a match haul of 4 for 124. The bowler could have been a part of the Tests against England had he not missed his flight to the UAE Dubai. Gohar, who played against England in their tour game before the Tests, was expected to replace an injured Yasir Shah and was expected to fly in overnight to join the Pakistan squad for the first Test in Abu Dhabi. Instead, Gohar - who had a visa and other logistical arrangements ready - missed his flight after sleeping through departure announcements, and Pakistan went into the Test with three seamers.

 

[Howe_zat]

it's ok alastair you are a strong beautiful batsman who don't need no shots

 

[Black_Warrior]

I fear for Pakistan when they tour sadly. Few of them have experience in English and Australia conditions,and the strategy while successful in UAE of blocking the quicks and smashing the spinners, noot going to work in those countries. Anderson and Broad are gun, but no intent whatsoever from them Yesterday against them, which meant they had to take more risks against the rest which didn't really work out. I am not suggesting they should be smashing them, but blocking and blocking got them nowhere, its the bloody UAE not Headingley!

This strategy is quite recent though. As I pointed out earlier, they scored far more against Anderson and Broad when they got bowled out for 99 in 2012.

Plus YK has runs in England against Harmison, Flintoff, Hoggard and he did score runs.

I am hoping guys like Azhar Ali and Shafiq step up.. Just when I was starting to warm up to Shafiq, (given his amazing form over the last 1 year, averages 50 plus), he badly let me down yesterday.

It is also absolutely essential that PCB manages to arrange another test series with someone (even Bangladesh if need arises) because they need to find out before going to England that Malik does not belong at the test level. I find that 245 at the beginning has given him another series..so I just hope that series is before the England series.

 

[Howe_zat]

Commentary has just informed me that Moeen just got off the mark with that four despite him starting the day on 4*

 

[Black_Warrior]

Commentary has just informed me that Moeen just got off the mark with that four despite him starting the day on 4*

You gotta do everything yourself these days, can't rely on others

 

[Howe_zat]

This strategy is quite recent though. As I pointed out earlier, they scored far more against Anderson and Broad when they got bowled out for 99 in 2012.

Plus YK has runs in England against Harmison, Flintoff, Hoggard and he did score runs.

I am hoping guys like Azhar Ali and Shafiq step up.. Just when I was starting to warm up to Shafiq, (given his amazing form over the last 1 year, averages 50 plus), he badly let me down yesterday.

It is also absolutely essential that PCB manages to arrange another test series with someone (even Bangladesh if need arises) because they need to find out before going to England that Malik does not belong at the test level. I find that 245 at the beginning has given him another series..so I just hope that series is before the England series.

If Misbah retires then Malik could be a bit more comfortable as a #6 who bowls. Don't think they will take him on tour at #3, they have Azhar Ali for that.

~

That's an completely crap over from Rahat.

 

[Daemon]

is moeen ali the worst best looking batsmen in the world?

 

[Niall]

It is also absolutely essential that PCB manages to arrange another test series with someone (even Bangladesh if need arises) because they need to find out before going to England that Malik does not belong at the test level. I find that 245 at the beginning has given him another series..so I just hope that series is before the England series.

He'd probably be fine against Bangla though if they load up on average spinners.

 

[Daemon]

If Misbah retires then Malik could be a bit more comfortable as a #6 who bowls. Don't think they will take him on tour at #3, they have Azhar Ali for that.

Was Ali forced to open because of injuries or something when he did against SA and Australia (iirc)? Because he might very well be asked to do it again given the lack of proper openers Pakistan have.

 

[Black_Warrior]

He'd probably be fine against Bangla though if they load up on average spinners.

Not sure about that..not at the test level.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Was Ali forced to open because of injuries or something when he did against SA and Australia (iirc)? Because he might very well be asked to do it again given the lack of proper openers Pakistan have.

He was forced to open because there was no other room for him thanks to Malik's 245. Problem is, I actually want him to open. But his failure in this match means Pakistan are already regretting it. Most of the analysts are saying it doesn't work when the poor guy has barely been given a few innings to make his mark there.