***Official*** England in Pakistan

[Beleg]

So, do you people think Pakistan should step on the gas a bit for the rest of the session?

Time is going to play a big factor here, and If Pakistan are looking for a win, they would want to give themselves enough time to acquire a lead in excess of 200, get England out AND chase whatever target that may be set. And as things stand, they'll have to do all this in a maximum of 170 more overs.

 

[sqwerty]

Yeah, what's happened here is that England's luck has finally deserted them, at least in this last Test. They're getting a taste of their own medicine, with Yousuf going on to dominate them after putting him down on 16.

Yep...Freddy won them the ashes but lost them the ....whatever this trophy is called

 

[Dasa]

I was just looking at the series stats to date.....Can anyone explain why Kaneria who had such a good first test is averaging nearly 50 with the ball in the series so far. Poor bowling or just not turning tracks ?? I was suprised with his lack of success to date

The tracks aren't turning a great deal, and in the second Test he could hardly bowl comfortably due to Hair warning him for running on the pitch twice, leading to a loss of confidence.

 

[wpdavid]

So, do you people think Pakistan should step on the gas a bit for the rest of the session?

Time is going to play a big factor here, and If Pakistan are looking for a win, they would want to give themselves enough time to acquire a lead in excess of 200, get England out AND chase whatever target that may be set. And as things stand, they'll have to do all this in a maximum of 170 more overs.

Way things are going, Pakistan will look to bat only once & win by an innings. They'd be happy to bat to teatime tomorrow.

 

[ClownSymonds]

Or maybe youre just assuming something that wasnt implied at all.

Probably best if we all moved on.

Exactly. I thought the title was positive one.

 

[ClownSymonds]

Yep...Freddy won them the ashes but lost them the ....whatever this trophy is called

The Bank Alfalah Cup. It's bigger than the Ashes, you know.

 

[pakster]

The Bank Alfalah Cup.

Yup..The OTHER ashes.

 

[Beleg]

Ah, of course. But the thing is, they can quite easily overestimate the potency of their own bowling attack - I assume England won't be so generous with their wickets second time over - in getting the opposition out. Pakistan has already played around 120 overs in this innings, England will need to survive around 90 and IMO they have the potential of doing that very easily. All of this applies If they really want to WIN the game though.

Though as you mention, sometimes the very pressure of such a big defecit looming over your shoulder (in excess of 250, say) is enough to eek out mistakes where none should be made.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Absolutely shocking performance from England - I leave the house for a couple of hours and return to find we still haven't taken a wicket. We might as well give Pietersen/Trescothick/anyone else a bowl and save the front-liners for tomorrow - the series is gone now anyway, we just need to salvage some pride with a draw, and for that we'll need our best bowlers to have a rest, they've been bowling for far too long today (not that it's anyone's fault other than their own, and the pitch's).

Good batting from Kamran and Yousuf, although it sounds like Yousuf has continued to be outrageously lucky with edges/balls dropping into gaps/almost playing on, etc. Still, you make your own luck. Well done Pakistan, a good series victory.

 

[shaka]

Tresco drops akmal on 95

 

[Barney Rubble]

Now one of the world's safest pairs of hands shells one off Akmal, on 95. Brilliant.

 

[ClownSymonds]

Absolutely shocking performance from England - I leave the house for a couple of hours and return to find we still haven't taken a wicket. We might as well give Pietersen/Trescothick/anyone else a bowl and save the front-liners for tomorrow - the series is gone now anyway, we just need to salvage some pride with a draw, and for that we'll need our best bowlers to have a rest, they've been bowling for far too long today (not that it's anyone's fault other than their own, and the pitch's).

Good batting from Kamran and Yousuf, although it sounds like Yousuf has continued to be outrageously lucky with edges/balls dropping into gaps/almost playing on, etc. Still, you make your own luck. Well done Pakistan, a good series victory.

You're right, Pakistan have been incredibly lucky this match. But England were incredibly lucky throughout the other two matches.

More luck for Pakistan - Kamran dropped in the 90s by Trescothick.

 

[andyc]

Would it be mean for me to say I'm loving this?

 

[social]

Plunkett has bowled much better today.

Quicker, straighter, and with a bit of movement.

Last feature should be a concern for Eng second time around.

 

[steds]

The Bank Alfalah Cup. It's bigger than the Ashes, you know.

England's opponents made it more of a contest than the Ashes. That's for sure.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Would it be mean for me to say I'm loving this?

You'd be perfectly justified. I've had a sneaking feeling ever since the Ashes that we had a hiding somewhere just around the corner - it wouldn't be English cricket if we didn't. You'd be perfectly justified in laughing at our performances this series, we've been terrible for the most part. God knows what'll happen if we're this bad in India.

 

[andyc]

Pakistan really should be looking to declare as soon as possible if they want a win, probably when Yousuf gets 200.

 

[social]

It would, but I guess Fred's entitled to a bit of grace there. He doesn't drop many, tbh. My moan with the batting is that there deosn't seem to have been any thought about how to approach it beyond " we got away with being undercooked in SA and batting positively worked against Aus". Truth is we got away with it in SA primarily because they aren't nearly as good as they were, and they helped matters by picking 3 or 4 duds for the 1st test. Against Aus, we got away with it because they were kind enough to take wickets with noballs & drop rather a lot of catches.

That isn't to say there haven't been numerous aspects to the side over the last few years, and only a fool would say otherwise. But we just seem to have assumed we can go out and bat as we want In Pakistan without thinking about the conditions and showing their bowlers a bit of respect.

I agree with all you have said.

Plus, it certainly appears to me that Eng have suffered from an Ashes hang-over.

There have been numerous injuries indicating that they're not as fit as they should be and strategically, Vaughan has been out-gunned by Inzi (a notoriously conservative captain) indicating a lack of planning.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Pakistan really should be looking to declare as soon as possible if they want a win, probably when Yousuf gets 200.

They've got two days left - if I were them I'd just bat, bat and bat some more, they've still got Inzy to come back remember. If they get to tea tomorrow and they're still there then the declaration is a possibility, but they'll have 600-650 by then so they'll have more than enough. At the rate they've been going, England's batsmen won't last four sessions. And besides, it's not like Pakistan need the win. I'd be happy with 1-0 if I was them.

 

[andyc]

They've got two days left - if I were them I'd just bat, bat and bat some more, they've still got Inzy to come back remember. If they get to tea tomorrow and they're still there then the declaration is a possibility, but they'll have 600-650 by then so they'll have more than enough. At the rate they've been going, England's batsmen won't last four sessions. And besides, it's not like Pakistan need the win. I'd be happy with 1-0 if I was them.

Ohhhhhh I thought this was the fourth day for some reason

Then yeah, what you said.