***Official*** England in Pakistan

[Slow Love™]

I'm a little disappointed for Pakistan, 'cause it seems implausible they could keep turning the screws like this on England, and should the Poms come good in the last, I think England will be a little happier with 1-1 after it all than Pakistan will (even if they'd have been less happy with it at the outset of the series). I guess neither team was going to take the game by the scruff of the neck today, and in a sense I don't really blame either captain.

Still a very interesting series anyway, and far from over. I'll be looking forward to Tuesday.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Tough. They've not been spinners' wickets - witness Kaneria's 0/126 match figures at Faisalabad. Pakistan have had a specific plan to target Giles whilst they've played Udal on merit ball-by-ball. Udal has two Test wickets, both of them Salman Butt. Neither have caused any inordinate worry to any Pakistani batsmen. As it stands, it's down to Udal to displace Giles as number one, and he hasn't done so.

 

[magsi23]

England can only get better (and win some more crucial tosses).

yeh it is tosses lol

 

[Pedro Delgado]

England can only get better and win some more crucial tosses.

Don't start sounding like some of the Aussies during the Ashes, Scaly.

 

[magsi23]

I think England will white wash Pakistan 3-0

lol

 

[Scaly piscine]

Don't start sounding like some of the Aussies during the Ashes, Scaly.

There's no doubt the toss has been a significant factor in both of the two games so far. You have to be pretty dominant to beat a team that is batting first on a road that wears out.

 

[wpdavid]

Tough. They've not been spinners' wickets - witness Kaneria's 0/126 match figures at Faisalabad. Pakistan have had a specific plan to target Giles whilst they've played Udal on merit ball-by-ball. Udal has two Test wickets, both of them Salman Butt. Neither have caused any inordinate worry to any Pakistani batsmen. As it stands, it's down to Udal to displace Giles as number one, and he hasn't done so.

All true, but if Giles isn't fit then he shoudn't play IMHO. Still, nice to see both Giles & Udal outperforming Kaneria in this test.

Pakistan must be really disappointed. They know that if they'd held their chances they'd have won this one easily and the series would be all over. As it is, England live to fight another day against a slightly weaker pakistan side with most of their top 7 having made some runs now. They know that they've been really lucky to get away with it in this test, and that can sometimes breed a bit of confidence. I'd be really tempted to unleash Plunkett in the 3rd test on the basis that he can't be any less threatening than our spinners. tbh though, I don't really know a lot about him. I'd be interested to know if he is genuinely fast, and whether he swings it, for instance.

 

[SJS]

It was exhilerating watching Shoaib and Rana's opening spell today. I honestly dont recall anything this good in the Ashes series. It was 8-9 overs of great stuff.

Shoaib swinging the ball in both directions at that pace was a treat. I wish he knew hoe to bowl a slower delivery that wasnt 30 MPH slower than the normal one ! Naved has always bowled far better than he gives the impression he can.

I wish Inzy had attacked more though. The moment the bowler wanted a short leg he reduced the slip corden. Hardly the stuff to give to bowlers bbowling out of their skins.

 

[howardj]

From what I've seen, England really need to start blooding players like Cook and Joyce - if there is an injury/absence. They're not getting anywhere with Collingwood, and frankly if they revert to him now that Strauss's tour has finished, then they've lost the plot.

 

[Scaly piscine]

From what I've seen, England really need to start blooding players like Cook and Joyce - if there is an injury/absence. They're not getting anywhere with Collingwood, and frankly if they revert to him now that Strauss's tour has finished, then they've lost the plot.

Love the way people write someone off after 4 Tests spread out (in which he contributed strongly towards a draw in two of them)... Flintoff would have been milling about for Lancashire for the past few seasons if you continue that sort of attitude, Bell would also be finished because against his first real Test class opposition he averaged 17 over 5 Tests.

You play Cook if you think he's going to be a very good player (45+ Test average sort of player), not because "they're not getting anywhere with Collingwood" so we'll just pick someone else for one Test for the sake of it.

 

[wpdavid]

From what I've seen, England really need to start blooding players like Cook and Joyce - if there is an injury/absence. They're not getting anywhere with Collingwood, and frankly if they revert to him now that Strauss's tour has finished, then they've lost the plot.

I'd be happy to see Cook play, especially as it's an opener who's going home. I think Colingwood's been unlucky in some respects, but I don't see him as a test number 4. Whether they'd be willing to hand out 2 new caps (+ Plunkett) in the deciding test is another matter. Personally I would - I don't think losing a series is the end of the world, and they should be aware that they have nothing to lose, so maybe that'll relax them.

 

[Barney Rubble]

You play Cook if you think he's going to be a very good player (45+ Test average sort of player), not because "they're not getting anywhere with Collingwood" so we'll just pick someone else for one Test for the sake of it.

That is why they're picking Cook. He's the best young batting prospect in this country by a long way, Collingwood's not being picked on either potential or current form. Cook's being picked on both.

 

[honestbharani]

sounds like Pakistan are climbing their way up the test match team rankings.

 

[nick-o]

Cook was brought out to Pakistan specifically to cover as opener for the third test given that the selectors knew there would be a need.

With Vaugno in bad form, there's really no excuse but to pick Cook.

The only other option -- far-fetched -- is to move GoJo up to open; he's opened in ODIs I think. But although his performance in the series so far hasn't been bad, I don't think it's anywhere near good enough to justify him opening.

As for Gil-o, I think he should be rested given his performances so far and his injury -- if we know he needs treatment and isn't playing the one-dayers, what's the point in risking further injury? Unless, when they examine the pitch they feel absolutely that it will suit him, he shouldn't play. The question then is whether to replace him with another spinner or someone to take the pressure off Fred-o and give him fewer overs; I'd go for the latter.

 

[Beleg]

A Pakistani attack of Rana, Shoaib, Shabbir, Kaneria and Afridi is probably the best bowling combination that has emerged since the retirement of the two W's and the decline of Saqlain.

 

[Adamc]

sounds like Pakistan are climbing their way up the test match team rankings.

If they win or draw the next Test, they'll jump three spots to fourth. Aus, England and India still a fair way ahead though.

 

[jack_sparrow]

A Pakistani attack of Rana, Shoaib, Shabbir, Kaneria and Afridi is probably the best bowling combination that has emerged since the retirement of the two W's and the decline of Saqlain.

I'd say so. Petey had to eat this from Akhtar. Right in the ribs. That should make him run back to south africa to his mommy.

 

[nightprowler10]

If they win or draw the next Test, they'll jump three spots to fourth.

Really?!

 

[nightprowler10]

Cook was brought out to Pakistan specifically to cover as opener for the third test given that the selectors knew there would be a need.

With Vaugno in bad form, there's really no excuse but to pick Cook.

The only other option -- far-fetched -- is to move GoJo up to open; he's opened in ODIs I think. But although his performance in the series so far hasn't been bad, I don't think it's anywhere near good enough to justify him opening.

As for Gil-o, I think he should be rested given his performances so far and his injury -- if we know he needs treatment and isn't playing the one-dayers, what's the point in risking further injury? Unless, when they examine the pitch they feel absolutely that it will suit him, he shouldn't play. The question then is whether to replace him with another spinner or someone to take the pressure off Fred-o and give him fewer overs; I'd go for the latter.

Your spinners don't have any experience in Pakistan (barr Giles), and your pacers are doing well even though they haven't played much in this part of the world, so it should be a no brainer to play another seamer. With the out-of-form Strauss and Giles out of the side, you guys might have the edge in the next test match.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I'd say so. Petey had to eat this from Akhtar. Right in the ribs. That should make him run back to south africa to his mommy.

Along with the 142 runs he scored in this test