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

[Bijed]

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.

From the cricinfo description, I don't thing Shafiq would have got out to that ball, but I do agree that the criticism is a little unfair given that Wahab was doing well enough to have reached 30.

 

[Daemon]

Yet another failure from Lyon. Just can't deliver when needed.

Good thing he's got the Smith and Wade excuses ready though.

 

[listento_me]

Man this is why I love cricket. Pakistan were hammered for about 70% of the match and yet, 2 gutsy performances later, they are in with a chance...a slim one but far more than just a day earlier.

 

[mackembhoy]

Saker wahhing about the extra 30 mins seemingly blaming the umpires.

So he's still a complete clown then.

Australia assistant coach David Saker unhappy with extra half hour | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[vcs]

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?

Yeah, both those chases were pretty incredible. Pakistan do seem to have a knack for this kind of stuff in recent times.

Also, I've given Shafiq a fair amount of criticism for being a fair-weather player, well he's definitely proved me wrong here.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Good crowd of about 5 at the Gabba today.

Ironically the best day's cricket by far.

 

[honestbharani]

Yep and it is pretty special regardless of how flat the deck is to perform like this. This Pak team really are doing some amazing stuff and no matter what happens after this, I am just glad that they put on a performance worthy of a #1 side at the moment. If they can only catch properly...

 

[centurymaker]

Rootfan has a point..
You lead by close to 300 & you don't enforce the follow-on..
And then declare with just another 200. 490 to be precise.

At least if they had enforced the follow-on, the worst case scenario wouldve chasing a small total... (which they in all probability would have chased down even if it was like 150), whereas now it's a possibility of defeat.. although Australia are still very likely to win.

 

[Tangles]

Top effort from Pakistan in this innings. If they get within 50 then there's going to be some on field clenching going on. I think the declaration was dismissive and too early. All just to play to the new ball under lights theme. Have them follow on or add quick runs to set them 550+. It probably won't matter but take out the oppositions chance to win completely when you can.

 

[Tangles]

yeah and i have to take public transport in and out to penrith from the mountains tomorrow

phone data to save me

Ha. The old stomping ground. Mum still lives up in Lawson.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

It's Stuart Clark ffs you muppets

 

[Daemon]

Yeah, both those chases were pretty incredible. Pakistan do seem to have a knack for this kind of stuff in recent times.

Also, I've given Shafiq a fair amount of criticism for being a fair-weather player, well he's definitely proved me wrong here.

They also had a really good chance and made a great match out of that last test in NZ.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Top effort from Pakistan in this innings. If they get within 50 then there's going to be some on field clenching going on. I think the declaration was dismissive and too early. All just to play to the new ball under lights theme. Have them follow on or add quick runs to set them 550+. It probably won't matter but take out the oppositions chance to win completely when you can.

Pakistan particularly is a team you want to grind into the dust. It wasn't exactly leaving the door open by letting them have a go at chasing 490, but England did keep leaving the door open for them and reaped what they sowed.

 

[Furball]

I reckon the 'new ball under lights' factor is massively overstated.

 

[listento_me]

I reckon the declaration is becoming massively overstated. 490 runs, for a team who were out for less than 200 just 2 days ago is still 490...i.e. Australia shouldn't be in the position where they are having sweaty palms. The reason for this is simple, Pakistan rolled up their sleeves and went to work. They fought it out. Hard as nails.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I reckon the 'new ball under lights' factor is massively overstated.

In this game it has been, because it really hasn't done that much. The first 2 D/N tests in Adelaide were a different matter though, the ball went crazy all of a sudden under lights.

So you can understand why they'd overstate it.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I reckon the declaration is becoming massively overstated. 490 runs, for a team who were out for less than 200 just 2 days ago is still 490...i.e. Australia shouldn't be in the position where they are having sweaty palms. The reason for this is simple, Pakistan rolled up their sleeves and went to work. They fought it out. Hard as nails.

It's not massively overstated. It's just pure stupidity and arrogance. Why give your opponent even a 1% chance when you can give them a 0.01% chance? How often does losing half a dozen overs cost you a win in that scenario?

 

[Chrish]

Pakistan is not chasing this guys.. Australia should be able to wrap things up within 15 overs

Still great effort

 

[Tangles]

Making a big statement win in the 1 st test is understandable. Worrying about bowler workload and not wanting to make them follow on is understandable. Given these I would just bat them out of the game. Hell, pretend your AB and give them 600 to chase. You lose the quick win if you won't put them back in IMO. That's your best opportunity for a quick win.

 

[Red]

It's not massively overstated. It's just pure stupidity and arrogance. Why give your opponent even a 1% chance when you can give them a 0.01% chance? How often does losing half a dozen overs cost you a win in that scenario?

it's hardly stupidity and arrogance to set a team 490 to win when in the whole history of test cricket the most anyone has chased down is 418.