***Official*** England in Pakistan

[Mecnun]

Honestly I'm not sure...I'm sure it has some religious significance though, considering Islamic clerics generally go by the title of Sheikh.

There is no relgious implication and there was nothing wrong with clown's remark.

 

[nightprowler10]

So that will be why Bell and Pietersen both have tons and Collingwood (only in as a reserve) nearly got one then?

I wouldn't call England's middle order weak, just not very reliable. Every test team has atleast one real class batsman in their middle order with the exception of England. Now this may sound like blasphemy to many English fans, but its true. Flintoff is a class bowler but just a GOOD batsman. Pietersen, too soon to say anything, but he's good not great. Bell shows a lot of promise, and Collingwood's 96 was nothing impressive, just a bunch of luck.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

I wouldn't call England's middle order weak, just not very reliable. Every test team has atleast one real class batsman in their middle order with the exception of England. Now this may sound like blasphemy to many English fans, but its true. Flintoff is a class bowler but just a GOOD batsman. Pietersen, too soon to say anything, but he's good not great. Bell shows a lot of promise, and Collingwood's 96 was nothing impressive, just a bunch of luck.

Where's this class Kiwi batsman? I bet all New Zealanders are curious

 

[honestbharani]

I honestly think Shoaib Akhtar should be talked about more, atleast for his batting. I am sure the last bits of doubt about his commitment would have vanished by now. It is interesting to see some larger than life characters going back to basics and doing well.... Harbhajan, Yuvraj, Shoaib...

 

[nightprowler10]

Where's this class Kiwi batsman? I bet all New Zealanders are curious

I said TEST teams. Kidding, yah you got me there. But you see my point.

 

[steds]

Bangladesh?

 

[PY]

Doubtful. The Lord's Test day two/three felt worse.

Think I'll take 22/5 at Lord's actually.

Or this http://uk.cricinfo.com/link_to_data...N_AUS/SCORECARDS/ENG_AUS_T1_07-11NOV2002.html

or this http://uk.cricinfo.com/link_to_data...N_AUS/SCORECARDS/ENG_AUS_T2_21-25NOV2002.html

or this http://uk.cricinfo.com/link_to_data...US/SCORECARDS/ENG_AUS_T3_29NOV-03DEC2002.html

Those bottom three merely because of the joke bet I made with you which came very close to coming true after 3 Tests. I think it was England would lose by 300 runs in each Test match (an innings counted for 250 if innings win occurred) and I was up by 47 runs at the end of three Tests!!

Short memories, things have definitely been worse for England before.

 

[cricketer2005]

Bangladesh?

In disguise.

But it is infact England.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

where were they in the ashes then ?

The Ashes was one series. Hayden and Langer both average around about 50 opening the batting, and are comfortably the second most prolific opening pair of all time in tests, with a very healthy average. Strauss and Trescothick have a fair way to go yet.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Short memories, things have definitely been worse for England before.

Exactly. We've all (well, most of us) lived through the Test careers of Darren Maddy, Ryan Sidebottom, Ronnie Irani, Ed Smith, Usman Afzaal, Alan Mullally and Dominic Cork (doesn't sound too bad, but when you consider he was batting no7.....) - and I'd take the likes of Trescothick, Harmison, Flintoff, Pietersen, Vaughan, Hoggard and Jones over them any day, regardless of one bad series.

There's always better days to come.

 

[wpdavid]

Think I'll take 22/5 at Lord's actually.

Or this http://uk.cricinfo.com/link_to_data...N_AUS/SCORECARDS/ENG_AUS_T1_07-11NOV2002.html

or this http://uk.cricinfo.com/link_to_data...N_AUS/SCORECARDS/ENG_AUS_T2_21-25NOV2002.html

or this http://uk.cricinfo.com/link_to_data...US/SCORECARDS/ENG_AUS_T3_29NOV-03DEC2002.html

Those bottom three merely because of the joke bet I made with you which came very close to coming true after 3 Tests. I think it was England would lose by 300 runs in each Test match (an innings counted for 250 if innings win occurred) and I was up by 47 runs at the end of three Tests!!

Short memories, things have definitely been worse for England before.

Yes, but we always knew we were likelt to get stuffed in Aus, especially when the injuries kicked in. Given how successful we've been lately, this is one of the most disappointing series I can remember. In relation to expectations, that is. In my time, only India in 1992/3 and Aus in 1989 come close. Eddie will tell you about Aus in '58/9.

EDIT
Oh, you can add NZ in 1983/4 to that list.

 

[steds]

Exactly. We've all (well, most of us) lived through the Test careers of Darren Maddy, Ryan Sidebottom, Ronnie Irani, Ed Smith, Usman Afzaal, Alan Mullally and Dominic Cork (doesn't sound too bad, but when you consider he was batting no7.....) - and I'd take the likes of Trescothick, Harmison, Flintoff, Pietersen, Vaughan, Hoggard and Jones over them any day, regardless of one bad series.

Agreed (except over Corky), but on the other hand, Shaun Udal. Where are Tufnell, Croft, Such, even Salisbury when you need them?

 

[Barney Rubble]

Agreed (except over Corky), but on the other hand, Shaun Udal. Where are Tufnell, Croft, Such, even Salisbury when you need them?

I think Corky was pretty good, too - but when you consider that he was our all-rounder for a while, wouldn't you rather have Freddie? Thought so.

 

[steds]

I'd rather have them both than Freddie and Udal.

 

[Barney Rubble]

I'd rather have them both than Freddie and Udal.

Me too. I'm with you on Udal, don't worry.

 

[steds]

Funny how nobody was with me on Udal before the series.

 

[wpdavid]

I'd rather have them both than Freddie and Udal.

Poor old Udal. He really is going to go down as one of the great "completely out of his depth" guys. Up there with Salisbury, Chris Adams, Irani, Blakey and others too painful to mention.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Funny how nobody was with me on Udal before the series.

I never condemn anyone as "not good enough" before they've even played Test cricket. Now he has, I can condemn him all I like. Not good enough.

 

[Hazza]

I've gotta say it's one of the worst selection decisions made that I've ever seen. To play two spinners on tracks that don't turn for the first two tests was a mistake, but to continue with him?

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Its sad to think that in a country of 60 odd million Giles and Udal are the best we got

Surely it would be better to play a 17-18yo leg spinner to give him some experience. No way would they bowl worse than Udal / Giles has.