***Official*** England in Pakistan

[Jono]

Awesome picture, looks like Shoaib bowled some good balls.

That pic is just amazing. Wow.

 

[wpdavid]

I'm trying to work out why you are quoting my post.

Are you agreeing with what I said (Pakistan have won games from far worse positions and were definitely in with a chance)?

If so, why apologise for the 'I told you so' bit?

It's akin to saying "I'm really sorry, Eddie, but you are right".

Maybe I'm being thick here - help me out.

I was only saying that you weren't the only one saying Pakistan were far from out of it. In my report at the end of Day 3, I wrote that Inzi may well be the more relaxed captain, and at some point in Day 4 I suggested somewhere in this thread that chasing anything over 150 would be afr from a formality. I was basically showing off, hence the apology for the "I told you so" bit. And no, that probably doesn't make you thick.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Indeed. I also think that there was a certain mentality that we'd get away with being undercooked going into the 1st test because that's what happened in SA. It is hard to avoid the impression that there was a certain level of complacency, whatever Vaughan & co said to the contrary. Probably it was only on a subconcious level, but I think it was there, certainly with the batting, anyway. That doesn't mean that Pakistan didn't bowl well, but we let them off the hook in the 1st innings after reaching 250odd for 2, and you just can't afford to do that and get away with it every time. Again, there might be a slight attitude that it was OK because we did much the same a couple of times in WI and again in the 1st test in SA, but you really have to bat the opposition out of games in these situations.

As for the middle order, we'll learn a bit about them this winter. Around now, some folks will remember that if KP hadn't been dropped twice before reaching 20 in *that* innings, we'd be looking at a pretty unedifying run of scores. Bell will probably get a chance to establish himself, but he needs to go on with it when he does get a start. I don't see Collingwood as a test number 4: I know he's usually had to bat in difficult situations, but sometimes in life you just needs to take an opportunity, and I wonder if he's good enough.

But I do wonder why so many of them can't read Kaneria. Surely there's enough footage available to take a goood look at him before the tour and get the batsmen sorted on that front. It was hardly news that he'd be a major threat.

Re Kaneria - Bell seems completely happy against him - perhaps he ought to be giving tips on picking the wrongun!?

 

[Scaly piscine]

"That's a bewdy!"

Any pictures floating around of a Uruguayan doing that?

- Just curious

 

[Jono]

"That's a bewdy!"

HAHAHAH!

SL that's gold.

 

[Slow Love™]

I had to get in there before you did, because when I got home from a net session and saw Pakistan in with a real chance of victory I immediately thought of his idiotic post. Then I saw your post implying you will quote him, so I had to beat you to it.

It doesn't matter the order - you trip him up and I'll kick him in the nuts when he's down.

Saying such a thing after a bad day or two as if it proved his point really did seem like asking for trouble though....

 

[Slow Love™]

Any pictures floating around of a Uruguayan doing that?

- Just curious

Funny thing is, as I have zero interest in soccer, I have to admit to kinda laughing when the Aussies (inevitably) go down, ridiculously hyped as they are, god help me. It may soon be possible to imprison me for this under new terrorism legislation, though.

 

[Beleg]

So, what changes do you think both teams will make for the second test?

English Team:

1. Trescothick
2. Strauss
3. Vaughan (If fit)/Bell
4. Cook?
5. Pieterson
6. Flintoff
7. Jones
8. Giles
9. Loudon
10. Harmison
11. Hoggard

Pakistan:

1. Shoaib Malik
2. Salman Butt
3. YoYo
4. Inzamam
5. Younis
6. Kamal
7. Afridi
8. Akmal
9. Shoaib
10. Kaneria
11. Shabbir

Though I have a sinking feeling the Pakistani team will retain Sami...

 

[luckyeddie]

I was only saying that you weren't the only one saying Pakistan were far from out of it. In my report at the end of Day 3, I wrote that Inzi may well be the more relaxed captain, and at some point in Day 4 I suggested somewhere in this thread that chasing anything over 150 would be afr from a formality. I was basically showing off, hence the apology for the "I told you so" bit. And no, that probably doesn't make you thick.

You blooming showoff.

What do you mean, probably doesn't make me think?



Seriously (yeah), that's the beauty of cricket. We got away with the close squeaks against Australia so the mental toughness is there on occasion, but I don't think any of us (well, ok, one or two of us) thought that Pakistan would just roll over and let us win.

It's one thing doing it in front of your own supporters though, and Nasser's reign apart, our record on the subcontinent leaves a lot to be desired. And as for Freddie's aberration - well, someone once said "deprive a population of three meals and you have anarchy".

Being in Pakistan for 10 days has deprved Freddie of three barrels and counting, so what should we expect?

The man needs his refreshment.

 

[Beleg]

Jono and Slow_Love:

Heh. You both reached that post before I did. Can I have my way with howardj when you are finished?

 

[Shahid Afridi]

wohhoooo gwan pakistan !!

 

[wpdavid]

Re Kaneria - Bell seems completely happy against him - perhaps he ought to be giving tips on picking the wrongun!?

Well, someone needs to be! I just thought it come to something when Agnew could spot them from the commentary box: and he would be batting at number XI even in this Pakistani tail.

 

[luckyeddie]

So, what changes do you think both teams will make for the second test?

English Team:

1. Trescothick
2. Strauss
3. Vaughan (If fit)/Bell
4. Cook?
5. Pieterson
6. Flintoff
7. Jones
8. Giles
9. Loudon
10. Harmison
11. Hoggard

Pakistan:

1. Shoaib Malik
2. Salman Butt
3. YoYo
4. Inzamam
5. Younis
6. Kamal
7. Afridi
8. Akmal
9. Shoaib
10. Kaneria
11. Shabbir

Though I have a sinking feeling the Pakistani team will retain Sami...

I'm beginning to think that England ought to ditch the idea of playing two spinners. Perm any one from three, but I would be far happier with Liam Plunkett (or Anderson) coming into the side.

Bell will definitely play - he was England's best batsman in the second innings (and that's saying something). If Vaughan is fit, he comes in for Collingwood. If not, Cook does.

You're spot on with the Pakistan side (and face it, Sami did take key wickets in the second innings). I'd love to see Afridi in though.

 

[shaka]

good victory, im guessing a lot of englishmen are returning to earth after their Ashes victory right about now.

 

[Pratters]

I am overjoyed that Kaneria, Butt and Akhtar have done well. Akhtar could do with being a bit less expensive.

 

[luckyeddie]

good victory, im guessing a lot of englishmen are returning to earth after their Ashes victory right about now.

With a bump, but given the choice of series to win, I know which I would have chosen beforehand.

I'm waiting to see the headlines in our gutter press tomorrow - that's where the over-reaction will be.

 

[magsi23]

I guess collingwood's 3-0 whitewash is out of the window

Terrific performance by pakistan, they clearly showed what they are capabale of, good come back by shoaib akhtar

 

[wpdavid]

You blooming showoff.

What do you mean, probably doesn't make me think?



Seriously (yeah), that's the beauty of cricket. We got away with the close squeaks against Australia so the mental toughness is there on occasion, but I don't think any of us (well, ok, one or two of us) thought that Pakistan would just roll over and let us win.

It's one thing doing it in front of your own supporters though, and Nasser's reign apart, our record on the subcontinent leaves a lot to be desired. And as for Freddie's aberration - well, someone once said "deprive a population of three meals and you have anarchy".

Being in Pakistan for 10 days has deprved Freddie of three barrels and counting, so what should we expect?

The man needs his refreshment.

Fred certainly needs something when he bats overseas. Which is tough, cos his bowling's been completely heroic, but he does have a job to do at number 6 as well.

Whilst there is a lot to criticise about our batting, some of it does come down the point I made earlier about the lack of experience, especially in the middle order. We've rarely seen much from youngsters that we've sent to the subcontinent, which actually makes Bell's performance quite commendable. Whether KP & Fred will work out that they can't bat there like they do in England remains to be seen though.

 

[Jono]

Any pictures floating around of a Uruguayan doing that?

- Just curious

Aus just scored a goal. 1-0. Not that I care too much, but hey if it annoys you then I'm all for it.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

good victory, im guessing a lot of englishmen are returning to earth after their Ashes victory right about now.

Nothing I think, not even a win down under, will ever be sweeter than that win. I will never return to Earth from it, I remain an emotional satellite, objectively floating around Multan at the moment, soaking up the atmos and looking forward to the next installment.