Anderson Vs Khan

[Jono]

Had he gone down against the West Indies they'd have been heavily criticised for resting Sachin, Gambhir etc. (or giving them recovery time) and not Zaheer. So there is no winning really. The fact is he's injury prone, and you've just gotta cop it as an Indian fan, and as a cricket fan who enjoy watching him bowl. I imagine there'd be quite a few.

Such a shame nevertheless.

 

[vcs]

Nasser was making the same point as Top_Cat in commentary today. Hard to say, really.

 

[Top_Cat]

Lawl, come on. hammie pull = lack of condition.

If he'd ripped it off the bone, that's an injury. Of course I'm guessing but I'd be checking his couch for a recent arse groove if I was coach. His fitness was even commented on here;

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-india-2011/content/current/story/524213.html

 

[Jono]

There are plenty of sportsmen who are more prone to groin and hamstring injuries then others, despite their workload.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm saying had he gone down whilst playing WI there would have been a ****storm.

 

[Top_Cat]

Yes but does that apply to Zaheer? I thought his injury record was largely one of joint problems.

 

[GIMH]

There are plenty of sportsmen who are more prone to groin and hamstring injuries then others, despite their workload.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm saying had he gone down whilst playing WI there would have been a ****storm.

Test Cricketer gets injured playing Test Cricket and there'd be a ****storm. Sad state of affairs really, isn't it.

(not sarcastic, FTR)

 

[slowfinger]

Test Cricketer gets injured playing Test Cricket and there'd be a ****storm. Sad state of affairs really, isn't it.

(not sarcastic, FTR)

+1 right there.

 

[Cevno]

Yep,sad to see Westindies cricket in such a state.

 

[kingpin]

Khan as of now

 

[Howe_zat]

Jimmy looked a bit slow today, and I suppose we've come to expect better, really. Looks like Zaheer is finished for this match though, so he's got a chance to pull it back.

 

[Jacknife]

Jimmy looked a bit slow today, and I suppose we've come to expect better, really. Looks like Zaheer is finished for this match though, so he's got a chance to pull it back.

I said in the other thread, Jimmy looks undercooked, I think all summer he's only played 2 tests and a Roses match, which for a bowler like Jimmy, who thrives on rhythm, isn't anywhere enough. Jimmy usually gets better as the series goes on anyway but defo looked a bit short of match practice.
It's good though, that Broad picked up the slack because he was going to have a poor day, by his standards, sooner or later.

 

[FBU]

I said in the other thread, Jimmy looks undercooked, I think all summer he's only played 2 tests and a Roses match, which for a bowler like Jimmy, who thrives on rhythm, isn't anywhere enough. Jimmy usually gets better as the series goes on anyway but defo looked a bit short of match practice.
It's good though, that Broad picked up the slack because he was going to have a poor day, by his standards, sooner or later.

Don't forget he didn't bowl in the second innings of the 2nd Test.

Broad and Tremlett played a first class game for their county a week ago while Anderson hasn't had any first class cricket for 5 weeks. His speed was also down by about 5mph.

This season before this Test
Broad 233.3 overs
Tremlett 212.0
Anderson 152.3

Tremlett also looks undercooked and there might be a problem with his knee.

As for Zaheer Khan I don't know why he came out with a runner when he was seen pedalling furiously on a bike in the gym the day before. Maybe he needs an extra day and will bowl tomorrow.

 

[Jacknife]

Don't forget he didn't bowl in the second innings of the 2nd Test.

Broad and Tremlett played a first class game for their county a week ago while Anderson hasn't had any first class cricket for 5 weeks. His speed was also down by about 5mph.

This season before this Test
Broad 233.3 overs
Tremlett 212.0
Anderson 152.3

Tremlett also looks undercooked and there might be a problem with his knee.

As for Zaheer Khan I don't know why he came out with a runner when he was seen pedalling furiously on a bike in the gym the day before. Maybe he needs an extra day and will bowl tomorrow.

That's been the problem for him, not being able to play any first class cricket in that long. Jimmy especially, needs overs under his belt, to be at his best because he relies on rhythm so much, which he needs to be able to control swing, along with line and length.
Nothing wrong with his speeds though today, all way through the Ashes and last year, he operates around 82-85mph, when he's looking for swing.

 

[Howe_zat]

Thinking about it, yesterday says a lot about how far Anderson has come, because he was having a bad day. After his poor second spell where Tendulkar and Dravid got the better of him, the old Anderson would have just wilted. Instead he came back later on, sorted his **** out and helped clean up at the end. Turning 0-120 into 2-87, while still keeping the odd 5-40 that comes his way, has been what's made him one of the best in the world.

Ftr I don't necessarily buy the "undercooked" argument either. He was just having an off day. Disappointing, yeah, but he has been bowling plenty this summer if not FC, and he's been training with the rest all summer. We saw during the world cup what happens with too much cricket anyway, so we can't call out slightly less work than that undercooking him.

 

[Spark]

It's a fair point. 2/87 isn't terrible when you consider it's probably the worst he's bowled in quite a long time (with the red ball, that is)

 

[honestbharani]

It is a funny one. I think right now Zak is a better bowler than Anderson (over all conditions) but then again, what is the point of being better if you can't stay fit?



Then I saw AA among the options.. So the Almighty gets my vote.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

It is a funny one. I think right now Zak is a better bowler than Anderson (over all conditions) but then again, what is the point of being better if you can't stay fit?

This has basically been the main argument us English have had all along. No point being a great bowler if you only play half the matches. We all admire and respect Zaheer but in a way he is also a liability as you never know how many matches you will get from him.

 

[centurymaker]

This has basically been the main argument us English have had all along. No point being a great bowler if you only play half the matches. We all admire and respect Zaheer but in a way he is also a liability as you never know how many matches you will get from him.

plus getting injured during a game and therefore costing your team a win should count against him too.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

plus getting injured during a game and therefore costing your team a win should count against him too.

When you look unfit before the game starts then questions need to be asked. I bet Fletcher is noting all the unprofessionalism down and will give various team members a real rocket once the tour is over.

 

[Jono]

This has basically been the main argument us English have had all along. No point being a great bowler if you only play half the matches. We all admire and respect Zaheer but in a way he is also a liability as you never know how many matches you will get from him.

This is true, but at the end of the day, Zaheer has massively helped get India to no. 1 and win a ODI World Cup. You'll take him being a liability every now and then in a match, because he's going to win you a lot more than he loses.