***Official*** England in Pakistan

[luckyeddie]

Cricket Web day 1 match report

 

[ClownSymonds]

You can't say for sure that the ball hit Terra Firma, though. The replays looked quite inconclusive to me.

Well, it wasn't 100% clear, but I'm pretty sure it did. In any case, it was probably a good decision for Pakistan - it got Afridi in just at the right time.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I only caught the last half-session (alarm was set, went off, was turned off & I slept til 10.45!). Afridi's fun to watch, isn't he? Vaughan dropped a dolly, but you make your own luck. A great little knock & a brave one too in the circumstances; although given the abandon with which he played I doubt he ever thought about playing any other way! We're really behind the 8-ball here, anything over 450 & I think we're not going to win.

Pretty ordinary captaincy from Vaughan too, or the bit that I saw anyway. Afridi was having a bit of a mow but for Gilo & Udal we only had one catching fielder. Tacit acceptance that we've got nothing Mr Afridi, sir, so would you mind very much holing out? There's a good chap....

FWIW I didn't think Bell's c & b was outrageous. His hand momentarily opened but I don't think the camera showed it hit the ground. As I understand it the umps can only refer catches if both were unsighted & they cleared weren't. At full speed (which is all the umps get, obv) it looked fine.

Udal looked pretty ordinary today, Gilo only marginally better. At least Gilo actually beat the bat once (his quicker ball to Afridi) which GoJo obligingly shelled, even if it didn't take the edge.....

 

[luckyeddie]

Well, it wasn't 100% clear, but I'm pretty sure it did. In any case, it was probably a good decision for Pakistan - it got Afridi in just at the right time.

Sorry about the earlier 'bread' gag (you guys all get it in turn though).

My first thought on the Bell 'catch' was that it was a stunning grab, but the replays revealed that there was certainly more than an element of doubt when he opened and closed his fingers. If the third umpire had been called upon to adjudicate, there is no way the appeal would have been upheld.

That Afridi innings was simply breathtaking - 4 sixes already (8 all told by Pakistan in the day). It'll be interesting to see how he goes against the new ball, although of course he's used to it in ODI's

 

[Slow Love™]

Cricket Web day 1 match report

Might seem a bit of a thankless task, but you do a great service for those (like me) who can't watch any of the game. Cheers, mate.

 

[howardj]

Yeah, tidy work.

Likewise, I didnt get to watch it today either, as Foxtel has other programming on. Therefore, your match report was my only in-depth source. Hope you get to write about a few more wickets tomorrow, though!

 

[Shoaib]

Great performance by Pakistan today.Extremly poor bowling by english spinners.In desperation,they r using their old cheap tactics i.e by claiming the dropped catches.Now,England should worry about saving the series rather than dreaming about winning the series against "The Most Unpredictable" team of the world i.e Pakistan.

 

[luckyeddie]

Yeah, tidy work.

Likewise, I didnt get to watch it today either, as Foxtel has other programming on. Therefore, your match report was my only in-depth source. Hope you get to write about a few more wickets tomorrow, though!

Ta.

someone else's turn tomorrow.

 

[luckyeddie]

Great performance by Pakistan today.Extremly poor bowling by english spinners.In desperation,they r using their old cheap tactics i.e by claiming the dropped catches.Now,England should worry about saving the series rather than dreaming about winning the series against "The Most Unpredictable" team of the world i.e Pakistan.

Don't know so much about winning the series - I'd settle for winning the toss.

 

[Jono]

I'm watching the Fox Sports full replay now. Very much looking forward to Afridi's innings.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Ta.

someone else's turn tomorrow.

David's go. Then Harry gets his first Test cap on Tuesday, Alex covers day four and I get to pick up the day five pieces.

 

[atlanta]

pretty good day for pak. but like beleg said, you never know with pakistan. I wouldn't be surprised one bit if they crash to 350 or declare after scoring 600.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

More congrats on the match report Eddie, it was very good indeed. Unfortunately my poverty-stricken student lifestyle deprives me of pay TV right now, so I'm stick with cricinfo and CW.

 

[Mecnun]

Any bowler who has his sleeves buttoned down is unsure of his own action, so why should anyone else be sure?

You could be right although it's a bit of a generalistaion but that was not the question.

 

[SpeedKing]

Great performance by Pakistan today.Extremly poor bowling by english spinners.In desperation,they r using their old cheap tactics i.e by claiming the dropped catches.Now,England should worry about saving the series rather than dreaming about winning the series against "The Most Unpredictable" team of the world i.e Pakistan.

OOOIIIIII!!!!!!! One doesn't go on such a run for two years by giving up a third of the way there. All the inspiration they need is the last Test. I might be one of the more optimistic people one wil meet [especially when it concerns the England cricket team], but after Pakistan lost the first three days of the first Test, i didn't see light at the end of the tunnel for them. So, just don't write us off too soon.

I feel that all England need now is to be reminded about the last Test in the 2003 summer against the Saffies where we came back after beeing punished similarly on the first day. the score was actually 364-4 at stumps. We won.

It might be falsely placed confidence but i have found out in the last two years that just a little hope and belief can go a long way. And the last thing i wouuld want England to do now is focus on a drawn series as i don't theink they are very good at drawing tests. They are better off playing the attacking cricket that has brought them so far in the last two years.

 

[Pratters]

Bell: medium pace, goodish control, pitches it on the stumps and gets it to reverse swing.

I thought the captaincy by Vaughan was superb. Some of the fielding positions really helped stem the flow of runs.

At one stage Inzy and YoYo were both in their 30's and now YoYo has raced to 70 odd while Inzy is still stuck on 38.

Shouldnt it be Mo Yo now?

 

[Barney Rubble]

I feel that all England need now is to be reminded about the last Test in the 2003 summer against the Saffies where we came back after beeing punished similarly on the first day. the score was actually 364-4 at stumps. We won.

SA scored 484 in their first innings, Tresco racked up 219 in reply and we won well - if England can get a 1st innings lead of 150 or so (i.e. dismiss Pak for 400-420 and make 550+) then a win is certainly not out of the question. Still a lot of time left in this game.

 

[SpeedKing]

Well played Pakistan, refused to lie down in the first test and took full adavntage of some complacency from the england batters. What i wonder is, doesn't hurt freddie from time to time, that he puts so much effort into bowling teams out and then gives his wicket away??????. The other bowlers are foirgiven because they are not as good batters as Freddie is.

 

[SpeedKing]

SA scored 484 in their first innings, Tresco racked up 219 in reply and we won well - if England can get a 1st innings lead of 150 or so (i.e. dismiss Pak for 400-420 and make 550+) then a win is certainly not out of the question. Still a lot of time left in this game.

Welcome aboard my fellow ridiculously optimistic England supporter. I feel we have got a window of opportunity tomorrow morning where we have to run the over.

Someone just needs to slap Harmy tonight or something. i am not enjoying this negativity that has creeped into his bowling in this innings so far. I want him to run in and give them some. One doesn't knock the heads of the Aussie top three in the space of a few deliveries and then go and plod around like he is doing today. It just doesn't suit him.

C'mon Harmy, you ain't Grevious Bodily you know who for no reason. get stuck in.

I feel they are going to try and get on with it tomorow, especially with you know who not out with the Sultan.

 

[Mecnun]

Agreed Speed King, this is only the first day and England have it all to play for and try to come back strong. I thought they played really well to take to the first three wickets on a dead flat wicket. The catch by flinty was simply outstanding or 'maagic' as David lloyd is apt to put it. the catch by Bell of MoYo equally baffling and disgusting although I have not seen it yet but if he is found guilty he should be banned for a few matches, like latif was.

Inzy ..well he is worth his weight in gold and given his weight that is probabloy half of the world supply right there.

Aaaahfridi , well cant wait for highlights!!