***Official*** Pakistan in Australia 2016/17

[Rootfan]

If being the operative word. You'd have to think they'd need to do it in the first 10 overs or there could be an upset on the cards. I don't disagree entirely with your POV and I think wanting to bowl at Pakistan under lights was the right move. My only complaint is that they should have batted another 15 overs and swung their bats around. Another 70 runs and 550 to chase, this becomes an absolute no contest. When you're leaving the opposition 7 sessions on a pancake, you want 550 on the board ideally. 550 is an insurance vs a couple of big hundreds and a couple of drops...489 not quite. Smith may have underestimated Pakistan or read too much into the rain prediction.

Still about 70-30 to Australia I'd say but if Australia somehow lose, then Smith should cop a lot of flak(and rightly so).

 

[DriveClub]

It's not about runs but time, they could have batted at least until dinner. That extra hour of batting wasn't going to cost them the match with rain. It's pretty stupid imo this ultra aggro declarations

 

[DriveClub]

More like 90-10 to aus, pak win is highly unlikely.

 

[Jono]

How does that extra hour of batting change the match if they end up on the same total?

Some of Clarke's declarations were ultra-aggressive I can understand that criticism, but declaring with a lead of 500 in order to bowl under lights with rain around isn't the type of stupid aggression for aggression's sake surely? You can disagree with the decision but its not the type of ****** declaration that Shane Warne asks for on commentary.

 

[Jono]

More like 90-10 to aus, pak win is highly unlikely.

Aus are paying like $1.05. Its more 95-5.

 

[ImpatientLime]

are we really arguing about the pros and cons of two scores no team has ever chased?

 

[Bijed]

There are valid criticisms to be made of the declaration, but if Pakistan chase down this target, I don't think it should cop more flak than the fact Australia failed to defend 489. Probably won't end up being a discussion that needs to be had, though.

 

[Rootfan]

Wouldn't call it ultra aggressive but definitely bordering on stupidity considering 1)It's the first test of a series 2)They've just lost a series at home to a side without their 2 best players and 3)There are 7 freaking sessions left. If you're that concerned that rain's going to play spoilsport then actually be aggressive and enforce the follow on. This ended up a neither here nor there decision and I really hope it doesn't come back to haunt him.

 

[DriveClub]

How does that extra hour of batting change the match if they end up on the same total?

Some of Clarke's declarations were ultra-aggressive I can understand that criticism, but declaring with a lead of 500 in order to bowl under lights with rain around isn't the type of stupid aggression for aggression's sake surely? You can disagree with the decision but its not the type of ****** declaration that Shane Warne asks for on commentary.

Well we agree to disagree then

 

[ImpatientLime]

if pakistan chase 489, top of the agenda shouldn't be 'australia should have set 550, they've shot themselves in the foot there'. a chase of that size is unprecedented.

people should be asking 'how the **** did australia fail to defend 489?'

 

[Rootfan]

are we really arguing about the pros and cons of two scores no team has ever chased?

This Pak side has a history of doing well on such pitches of late(admittedly not outside UAE/SL but still). They chased down 300 in 50 overs once and 380 in a day or something and that's unheard of in the subcontinent. Pointing to past records is all well and good but how many times had made 400 in the 4th innings before this?

 

[morgieb]

I do kinda agree with Rootfan's point, but I don't think the declaration was absolutely awful. Or at least, it won't be the reason why Australia lost if they do. Certainly it shouldn't have been an issue at 5/180 or whatever.

 

[Rootfan]

if pakistan chase 489, top of the agenda shouldn't be 'australia should have set 550, they've shot themselves in the foot there'. a chase of that size is unprecedented.

people should be asking 'how the **** did australia fail to defend 489?'

Yes that should be looked into but it shouldn't have come down to them defending 489 in the first place. Really for a side that's so averse to follow ons because of 1 freak partnership 15 years ago, they really shouldn't be talking aggression.

 

[Rootfan]

I do kinda agree with Rootfan's point, but I don't think the declaration was absolutely awful. Or at least, it won't be the reason why Australia lost if they do. Certainly it shouldn't have been an issue at 5/180 or whatever.

The thing is in such cases there are invariably 2 big partnerships somewhere. The batting side don't feel the pressure because they think the game is beyond them and the bowling side take their foot off the gas too(inadvertently). Suddenly there are 2 big partnerships and a tailender has a fluky 50 and all of a sudden you're worried as a fielding side. Uncanny resemblance to Hobart and Sangakkara but at least then they had a better bowling attack. This Aus bowling attack is the weakest I've seen in a long time. A stepdown from Stuart Clarke, Harris and MJ. Fit Cummins would make it better but fit Cummins is an oxymoron.

 

[anil1405]

Pakistan to win and shut Channel 9's 'declaration obsessed' syndrome forever.

 

[DriveClub]

The thing is in such cases there are invariably 2 big partnerships somewhere. The batting side don't feel the pressure because they think the game is beyond them and the bowling side take their foot off the gas too(inadvertently). Suddenly there are 2 big partnerships and a tailender has a fluky 50 and all of a sudden you're worried as a fielding side. Uncanny resemblance to Hobart and Sangakkara but at least then they had a better bowling attack. This Aus bowling attack is the weakest I've seen in a long time. A stepdown from Stuart Clarke, Harris and MJ. Fit Cummins would make it better but fit Cummins is an oxymoron.

Current bowling isn't weak, starc and haze are gun and bird is steady. In that hobart test the bowlers were clarke,mj, lee and mcgill. Mcgill actually was on his last legs. It wasn't that great a bowling lineup.

 

[ImpatientLime]

This Pak side has a history of doing well on such pitches of late(admittedly not outside UAE/SL but still). They chased down 300 in 50 overs once and 380 in a day or something and that's unheard of in the subcontinent. Pointing to past records is all well and good but how many times had made 400 in the 4th innings before this?

you can't take pakistans team sports equivalent of bi polar disorder into account. 9 times out of 10 they're likely to just collapse in a heap when in this position.

 

[Rootfan]

you can't take pakistans team sports equivalent of bi polar disorder into account. 9 times out of 10 they're likely to just collapse in a heap when in this position.

I agree but this being the first test why even take that chance? Frankly I was a little baffled at Smith's declaration but to be very honest I didn't expect Pak to cross 300 max. Of course the dropped catches played a part but fairly or unfairly these decisions will always be judged on the end result. Even if Aus win by 1 run he'll get away with it...otherwise...

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

This is not a pancake pitch ftr. Certainly not under lights.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Shafiq is such a gun.

Think the criticism of him not shielding Wahab is slightly unfair too. The thinking may have been that they'd much rather lose Wahab this evening than Shafiq. This atleast keeps them, however remotely, in the match.