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

[Spark]

Sarcasm much? Anyway none after that magnificent effort. Glad Australia won but I was envious of the fight Pakistan displayed. Quite the contrast compared to the way we caved against the Saffers. I was at the gabba on the 1st day. Wahab looked slippery most of the day. Amir swung the ball at good speed. Renshaw and Handscomb give Australia's supporters some hope for our batting.



nah Bird's good. I'm guessing that's the way Rod Marsh thought though. Funny to think that two blokes like Philander and Abbott, who bowl around Bird's pace, probably would have been squeezed out of the African side if Marsh had a say in selection.

Wait, Abbott bowls high-130s to 140s I thought. Philander I'll give you, though he moves the ball more.

 

[TT Boy]

Wait, Abbott bowls high-130s to 140s I thought. Philander I'll give you, though he moves the ball more.

Wasn't that quick during the test series. Around the low 130s.

 

[harsh.ag]

Cricinfo Insane Poll #521

 

[DriveClub]

Wait, Abbott bowls high-130s to 140s I thought. Philander I'll give you, though he moves the ball more.

Abbott imo has the best release and wrist position I've seen for a bowler, maximises any small help from the track

 

[morgieb]

Wait, Abbott bowls high-130s to 140s I thought. Philander I'll give you, though he moves the ball more.

Philander can bat though.

 

[Gnske]

Cricinfo Insane Poll #521

Pakistan vs the World poll

 

[the big bambino]

Wasn't that quick during the test series. Around the low 130s.

Yeah this is what I thought. He's faster than Bird but not by much. Asif is another who bowled around Bird's pace and though I havent seen Sayers I believe he's much the same. Anyway I like Bird and Marsh's resignation has been a happy break for him and bowlers like him.

 

[burr]

Will be interesting to see how Haze and Starc pull up. No doubt Smith will be ultra conservative with declarations moving forward. I feel like Australia is particularly susceptible to the 4th innings run chase. Vaguely recall West Indies in West Indies, SA in Aus

 

[listento_me]

Pakistan played through that second innings in an unusual manner, confident, calm, collected but ended it in their most usual of ways: a run out. In the end, test cricket showed us the truth of both teams, as it often does.

 

[harsh.ag]

Will be interesting to see how Haze and Starc pull up. No doubt Smith will be ultra conservative with declarations moving forward. I feel like Australia is particularly susceptible to the 4th innings run chase. Vaguely recall West Indies in West Indies, SA in Aus

Which means he will act normally.

 

[honestbharani]

Will be interesting to see how Haze and Starc pull up. No doubt Smith will be ultra conservative with declarations moving forward. I feel like Australia is particularly susceptible to the 4th innings run chase. Vaguely recall West Indies in West Indies, SA in Aus

I just wish they take these calls based on the reading of each individual pitch and the opposition and the match and series situation instead of it being a set pattern or set decision. Which is why I think in a way, Smith should have enforced the follow-on this test. They had not bowled that long and Pak were definitely down and out. And whatever resurrection attempt would have happened, it wont have meant Australia have to face the threat of losing the match while bowling.

 

[Niall]

so any changes to the Pak team needed?

Rahat needs to go, can't keep picking him hoping for a spell of magic now and then. Obviously offers nothing with bat and fielding either.

However the alternatives are uninspiring, Imran does not have the pace for Australia and Sohail in a four man attack in Australia could be a serious hindrance if Australia bat long in either innings due to his limited fitness. Tough call.

Sharjeel could play which I don't agree with. The 2 openers are a little to slow, but Khan a pretty mediocre four day player I don't see adding more than quick twenties and thirties which ultimately for a top order batsman is not enough.

 

[listento_me]

Rahat needs to go, can't keep picking him hoping for a spell of magic now and then. Obviously offers nothing with bat and fielding either.

However the alternatives are uninspiring, Imran does not have the pace for Australia and Sohail in a four man attack in Australia could be a serious hindrance if Australia bat long in either innings due to his limited fitness. Tough call.

Sharjeel could play which I don't agree with. The 2 openers are a little to slow, but Khan a pretty mediocre four day player I don't see adding more than quick twenties and thirties which ultimately for a top order batsman is not enough.

Sharjeel SHOULD play. How they go about including him is a hard one. Also, Pakistan need 5 bowlers, I've been saying that for so long now. Once again, how he is included is a tough one to decide. Nawaz just isn't ready for test cricket, I feel that is painstakingly obvious...can they maybe fly Imad out? He seemed to have more about him with the ball and he is more of a physical presence with the bat.

A possible team could be:

1. Ali
2. Sharjeel
3. Khan
4. Misbah c
5. Shafiq
6. Sarfraz wk
7. Imad
8. Amir
9. Riaz
10. Shah
11. Sohail Khan

I know the batting would be an issue but it's an issue right now so why not strengthen the stronger suit. It gives the bowlers less spells = they can stay fresher for longer and the two trump cards, Amir and Shah won't need to bowl as much. Plus Sohail's nagging length can be Bird like or even Hazlewood. He is similar in terms of pace and mentality too. Plus a right hander perfectly compliments 2 left handers. Imad would be a good addition and should be called to the squad.

 

[burr]

All credit to Pakistan, they've really lit up this summer with that 4th innings effort. Maybe this will be the classic series we've been missing in Aus the last few years.

 

[Zinzan]

All credit to Pakistan, they've really lit up this summer with that 4th innings effort. Maybe this will be the classic series we've been missing in Aus the last few years.

I thought the recent SA series was classic

 

[Nate]

Lyon isn't bowling well. He is consistently bowling 90 kph when he should be 10 kph less. If he starts to throw them up at slower place he would be a much better bowler because he has all the tools for a good Orthodox finger spinner

This this this.

 

[Burgey]

He's warming up for India. Knows he has to bowl faster and flatter there. Will take 25 wickets at seven in our series win come February.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Only time a side not being made to follow-on winning the thing: South Africa v Australia, Kingsmead, 1950 (to go with the three that followed-on and won [1894–95 Ashes; Botham's Ashes; Eden Gardens 2001]).

Pakistan would have been in elite company if they'd scored those runs.

 

[Niall]

Sharjeel SHOULD play. How they go about including him is a hard one. Also, Pakistan need 5 bowlers, I've been saying that for so long now. Once again, how he is included is a tough one to decide. Nawaz just isn't ready for test cricket, I feel that is painstakingly obvious...can they maybe fly Imad out? He seemed to have more about him with the ball and he is more of a physical presence with the bat.

A possible team could be:

1. Ali
2. Sharjeel
3. Khan
4. Misbah c
5. Shafiq
6. Sarfraz wk
7. Imad
8. Amir
9. Riaz
10. Shah
11. Sohail Khan

I know the batting would be an issue but it's an issue right now so why not strengthen the stronger suit. It gives the bowlers less spells = they can stay fresher for longer and the two trump cards, Amir and Shah won't need to bowl as much. Plus Sohail's nagging length can be Bird like or even Hazlewood. He is similar in terms of pace and mentality too. Plus a right hander perfectly compliments 2 left handers. Imad would be a good addition and should be called to the squad.

Pakistan don't really think outside the box, so no Wasim. Nawaz will be feeling perplexed if he plays the second test and bowls a bit, as he wasn't trusted in the UAE against inferior opponents in what should be more comfortable settings for him. He'd ease the load somewhat, but don't see him taking wickets.

Long term they need Ammad Butt to progress to fill the pace bowling all rounder role which is a huge issue for them outside the UAE.

I'd bin Azam if Sharjeel must play, Sami needs to up his strike rate somewhat, but has done more in his short career than Azam.

Also Sohail won't be batting at eleven if he plays!

 

[the big bambino]

However the alternatives are uninspiring, Imran does not have the pace for Australia

Just how slow is he? I mean can he be that much slower than Philander, Bird and Sayers? Two of whom have bowled well in tests here this season and the other has bowled brilliantly in our fc conditions for some few years now. I don't think its all about the pace. O'Keefe summed it up well enough - to succeed a fast bowler needs 2 out pace, bounce and movement. If Imran has skills 2 and 3 on that list he's worth a try.