*Official* Pakistan v New Zealand in the UAE 2018

[Flem274*]

ajaz has been dubbed a declaration bowler numerous times in the domestic thread so this will be his chance to shut cw up

 

[Black_Warrior]

Five in this lineup, four in any overseas Tests they wanted Azhar to open in.

So basically one spot higher. I really don't get Babar batting ahead of him.

What about Haris batting ahead of him in UAE?

 

[Moss]

Honestly that ball from CdG was a pure gem. You don't see too many jag like that in the UAE.

You really don't know what you're getting next from CdG, equal parts awesomeness and filth.

 

[vcs]

Decent start with the ball for NZ, need to keep chipping away very frequently if they want to stay in this.

 

[Prince EWS]

What about Haris batting ahead of him in UAE?

I think that's fine tbh. It wouldn't bother me much if they went in the other way but I'd probably bat Haris ahead if it were up to me.

Haris is such a weird player in general though. He's played precious little cricket at all for his age, partly due to an extended injury not long after his ODI debut but still... he's spent his whole domestic career never batting above 4 (often at 5, even) even though he has a great technique and averages over 50 in it, and never bowling even though he's really accurate and gets turn in helpful conditions. It always kind of struck me that he just wasn't very highly by others in and around the domestic circuit for some reason despite being awesome. I really rate him so I've got no gripes with him batting ahead of Shafiq, but given how few Tests he's played and where he batted domestically it is a bit odd in a way, yeah.

 

[91Jmay]

Clearly not a normal road but still Pakistan should win the game tomorrow if they bat sensibly. NZ still feel a bit Williamson and the rest.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Did they called Hafeez for chucking again?

 

[smash84]

Pleasantly surprised to see NZ getting bowled out cheaply and Pak didn't lose too many either

 

[NUFAN]

Haha I'm fully aware that shoe is considered pad but I don't think it hit his shoe at all.

I thought that you thought a ball hitting shoes (yes, shoes) was worth 2 runs.

#sanka

 

[NUFAN]

Hafeez has to make runs with Dale Steyn coming up

I do wonder if this is just is all horses for courses and Fakhar replaces him for SA

I cant believe that Fakhar got dropped. I know Hafeez made runs vs. Australia but Fakhar looked terrific on debut. He is also 28 years old so probably in or close to his prime so its a dubious move.

 

[straw man]

Would be happy having Pakistan 2 down and having limited their scoring rate if our total was 100 higher.

How did Ajaz bowl? No overs for sodhi, I guess it's not really the time to attack and go looking for wickets.

 

[Flem274*]

ajaz was straight break central. i'll always support him because he's from central districts but he wasn't getting as much from the deck as the pakistani bois.

god lathams dismissal pisses me off. it might sound unfair to single him out, but he's the third most experienced specialist bat in the team, unlike ross and cdg he was there for 40 balls, and he played one of his usual soft chips to the midwicket fielder. you expect this from the newest players in the side, not someone with 36 tests and the future captain tag.

he has the talent and the technique to be so much better, and his record is heavily boosted by going large against crap pace attacks at home. he's a ross taylor level batsman giving us the results of our usual opener merry go round.

 

[Flem274*]

also how ****ing good was the pakistani discipline? even the part timers gave away very little, and once they got the one two strike with the kane strangle and the reverse swing to cdg nz were boned.

 

[hendrix]

ajaz was straight break central. i'll always support him because he's from central districts but he wasn't getting as much from the deck as the pakistani bois.

god lathams dismissal pisses me off. it might sound unfair to single him out, but he's the third most experienced specialist bat in the team, unlike ross and cdg he was there for 40 balls, and he played one of his usual soft chips to the midwicket fielder. you expect this from the newest players in the side, not someone with 36 tests and the future captain tag.

he has the talent and the technique to be so much better, and his record is heavily boosted by going large against crap pace attacks at home. he's a ross taylor level batsman giving us the results of our usual opener merry go round.

Agree 100%. It's so so soft.

 

[Gnske]

Does he have the technique for better though? He hasn't really changed it in the last four years, if not at all.

 

[Flem274*]

latham has an lbw issue when he starts getting tired and falling to the side a bit but usually he gets to 40 and plays a lazy drive or chip. it's very predictable.

 

[SteveNZ]

ajaz was straight break central. i'll always support him because he's from central districts but he wasn't getting as much from the deck as the pakistani bois.

god lathams dismissal pisses me off. it might sound unfair to single him out, but he's the third most experienced specialist bat in the team, unlike ross and cdg he was there for 40 balls, and he played one of his usual soft chips to the midwicket fielder. you expect this from the newest players in the side, not someone with 36 tests and the future captain tag.

he has the talent and the technique to be so much better, and his record is heavily boosted by going large against crap pace attacks at home. he's a ross taylor level batsman giving us the results of our usual opener merry go round.

Agree fully on Latham but not Ajaz. I thought he was outstanding. No he didn't turn it square but what orthodox spinner does? He did get a fair bit of purchase at times, its a day one pitch, his loop was pretty good, I thought he was great for a debutant. Lot of good signs. Haven't seen him enough to know if he's got a slider, hope one is there

 

[Zinzan]

I was furious with Raval's dismissal which started the rut. Actually thought the openers were superb against some good bowling prior to his dismissal.

The he hits a half volley straight to the fielder, looked a little frustrated, then edged the next one, pushing away from his body with hard hands.

Frustrating to see KW strangled down leg yet again. It was about the only way Pakistan were going to dismiss him, he looked that good. As one of the commentators said, it looked like a different wicket when he was on strike.

It's tough to see us restricting them to anything less than a 100 run lead, if we can somehow achieve that, we'll still be in with a sniff.

 

[Flem274*]

ffs commentators they're not giving it to boult because he'll put pace on the ball. the cdg opening the bowling trolling revolves around the batsman having to go hard at the moving ball to get it off the square, especially on a slow pitch like this one.

 

[straw man]

Just tuned in, I don't know why they started the day with CDG either. Boult has looked dangerous every ball this over.

FFS, really needed that catch