*Official* Australia in Pakistan 2022

[Spark]

Not sure why Smith was getting so far across there, even by his standards

 

[morgieb]

Yeah this feels like another "look unflappable until he gets to 70 and randomly gets out" knock. Not good enough for the circumstances.

Yep.

Fair ball from Naseem, though. Head HAS to score runs here. Otherwise this seems 300 all out, and that frankly isn't going to be good enough on this deck.

 

[Aritro]

If he keeps reversing it like this we might have something worth watching

 

[Gnske]

We still have Alex Carey you fools. He's the key to all of this.

 

[Xix2565]

View attachment 31209

why am i wasting my life

Good job.

 

[trundler]

Fantastic from Naseem. Kept it tight throughout.

 

[Gnske]

Oh good no footwork already and plodding outside the body to point.

 

[Xix2565]

This is 2017 India tour level of ominous from Smith so far

Smith looking ****ing ominous. Last time he started like this he made a 100 that was only cut off by the brilliant fielding of sir jadeja.

If Smith goes without a 50 we know who to blame.

You two are lucky he got past 50, you know that right?

 

[morgieb]

There does seem something to this deck. By no means a minefield, but certainly a bit more going for the bowlers than in Karachi, to say nothing about Rawalpindi.

 

[Xix2565]

I think that’s true in general but I haven’t really seen it in this innings. They haven’t gone for the behind square tactic on the leg side to dry him up and they’ve had blokes back for the spinners. He just seemed to be calm himself this knock.
Maybe he was making sure he got through that reverse swing period because he’s scored a bit more freely again since Naseem bowled that really good spell after lunch

edir: as I type that naseem is back and getting some reverse again and got him

It's not just the strike rate that's a problem, he's having trouble making runs off pace bowling now when before he was a god at that. Apparently from Sep 2014 to Sep 2019 (during that 2019 Ashes) he averaged close to 100 against it, but now that seems to have gone down the drain.

 

[Burgey]

Yep.

Fair ball from Naseem, though. Head HAS to score runs here. Otherwise this seems 300 all out, and that frankly isn't going to be good enough on this deck.

I think 350-400 wouldn’t be awful tbh. This is already keeping a bit low and up and down would suit the Aus attack pretty well

 

[Shady Slim]

Can I just say. I've been back in the office at a new company for a month and its the one thing I hate that I can't work and watch the cricket at the same time.

Those times were true bliss.

i've been in the office since lockdown ii finished and i still can lol

though tbf i've sequestered myself a private office on my floor because nobody was using it so i just sort of, moved in

 

[trundler]

**** off Khawaja

 

[Burgey]

This seems to be the least corrosive Pakistan team culture I think I’ve seen. It’s almost like they’re a normal side instead of an argumentative pack of in-fighters

 

[Nintendo]

Still think green should be at 5 over head even with the last ashes in mind. Let the guy who loves to counterattack come in at 6.

 

[morgieb]

I think 350-400 wouldn’t be awful tbh. This is already keeping a bit low and up and down would suit the Aus attack pretty well

Yeah this is fair. Does seem to be doing something at least. Guess we'll see if it breaks up.

 

[trundler]

Yeah keep it right there

 

[social]

Don’t know what people are on about with Naseem

Very young & bowling heat & quality

Seriously talented

 

[morgieb]

That's a bad drop.

 

[trundler]

Reflexes not what they used to be eh Sajid