***Official*** India in Pakistan

[shankar]

In overall scheme of things he may be a better bet than Harbie especially if he has improved his bowling some. How has he been doing domestically?

No way. Harbhajan's been our best bowler in ODIs by far over the last year or so despite a minor slump.

 

[adharcric]

No way. Harbhajan's been our best bowler in ODIs by far over the last year or so despite a minor slump.

Right, but being OUR best bowler doesn't make him a great bowler. Don't forget that Ramesh Powar led the domestic league in wickets. One would think it didn't happen by chance. Powar can also bat. I'm still a Harbhajan fan and would ideally like to see Bhajji and Powar used in tandem, but don't be so stuck on the idea that Harbhajan is our #1, because he hasn't exactly performed like one consistently.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

For any aussies with Foxtel the highlights of the first ODI are on.

 

[aussie]

And in my opinion this whole 'would he make the team as a batsman alone/bowler alone' criteria for an allrounder isn't always correct. Flintoff would struggle to make the Indian test team as a batsman alone (well he wouldn't be a definite, that's for sure), however he'd walk straight into the test team as a bowler and become the leader of our attack. That doesn't mean if he was playing for India he wouldn't be a genuine allrounder. Far from it.

very good point here Jono, thats why i said looking at what i've seen of Pathan since the SRI series last october he is definately a player that can be touted as an all-rounder.

 

[Jono]

LMAO! I just watched the highlights of the first ODI on Foxtel and Inzy's dismissal is absolutely hilarious.

The way he hit the ball, he played a shot rather than just trying to hit it away from him. Oh my Inzy, you never cease to amaze me. One of the unintentionally funniest cricketers ever

 

[marc71178]

He's complaining that they appealed for it - from what I've read he had to go?

 

[irfan]

Pathan is played as a pinch hitter in ODI cricket, but his technique his fine and he's more than just a slogger in test matches. He averages something like 48 over the past 2 test series with the bat, and his batting average continues to rise. I'd say he's a bit different to a Akram.

And in my opinion this whole 'would he make the team as a batsman alone/bowler alone' criteria for an allrounder isn't always correct. Flintoff would struggle to make the Indian test team as a batsman alone (well he wouldn't be a definite, that's for sure), however he'd walk straight into the test team as a bowler and become the leader of our attack. That doesn't mean if he was playing for India he wouldn't be a genuine allrounder. Far from it.

Well put Jono. I think the role of an allrounder at Test Level should represent matchwinning abilities with both bat and ball NOT will the player slot into the team on bowling and batting merits alone, because at present I feel no player at world cricket is genuinenly world class with both bat and ball, however a select few can win a Test with both bat and ball (e.g Flintoff). Pathan still has some way to go and is improving into a fine batsman, but I'd much rather him correct his thumb grip problem and increase his pace so he has a greater chance to take a haul of wickets than score centuries for India.

 

[irfan]

He's complaining that they appealed for it - from what I've read he had to go?

Inzamam had a hilarious quote on this issue it went along the lines of " I dont understand these laws. In Faisalabad (agianst England) I left the ball and got out, here I hit the ball and got out."

 

[Jono]

He's complaining that they appealed for it - from what I've read he had to go?

Well it probably was against the spirit of the game, but he's acknowledged now (after talking to the umpires) that they had no choice but to give them out. He intentionally hit the ball away when it was going towards the stumps, which is against the law. At first he said he didn't know the law and hence why he complained to the umpires when Taufel stuck the finger up.

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18079280-23212,00.html

 

[Nate]

Must say, Butt`s century was brilliant, and Tendulkar`s dismissal was needless. Arshad was laughing so hard.

 

[cricketboy29]

Hahahah, inzy seems to love weird dismissals

 

[Jono]

Must say, Butt`s century was brilliant, and Tendulkar`s dismissal was needless. Arshad was laughing so hard.

Yeah that was an incredibly stupid shot. 4/300, 5 overs left with Tendulkar and Dravid at the crease, India could have gotten 350. I reckon Sachin was just tired after batting the 45 overs, and third man was up or square (can't remember which one) so he tried a reverse sweep. He was pretty peed off after he was given out, but unlike what the commentators said in regards to maybe he got bat on it, I reckon he was just so angry at what a stupid shot he played. Set off a wicket chain reaction.

 

[alternative]

Hhahhaha just had to laugh at inzy's comment..
lmao

 

[honestbharani]

Reverse sweeps.... Whenever anyone tries that shot, a quote by Geoffrey Boycott comes to mind.. "The best players don't NEED that shot. Did Lara or Richards or Bradman play reverse sweeps?"

 

[shankar]

Right, but being OUR best bowler doesn't make him a great bowler. Don't forget that Ramesh Powar led the domestic league in wickets. One would think it didn't happen by chance. Powar can also bat. I'm still a Harbhajan fan and would ideally like to see Bhajji and Powar used in tandem, but don't be so stuck on the idea that Harbhajan is our #1, because he hasn't exactly performed like one consistently.

He's had a rough period of about a year where he wasn't picking up wickets regularly, but still maintained an ER of just about 4.2. Of late he seems to have got back to his old self ( ER of 3.54 and average of 30 in last 10 matches). So quite clearly, despite his slump he's been our best bowler in ODIs by far and our attack would be much poorer without him.

 

[Nate]

Yeah that was an incredibly stupid shot. 4/300, 5 overs left with Tendulkar and Dravid at the crease, India could have gotten 350. I reckon Sachin was just tired after batting the 45 overs, and third man was up or square (can't remember which one) so he tried a reverse sweep. He was pretty peed off after he was given out, but unlike what the commentators said in regards to maybe he got bat on it, I reckon he was just so angry at what a stupid shot he played. Set off a wicket chain reaction.

I agree he was tired, has to be the main reason. But when you`ve played a fine, pretty much chanceless innings, it seems a bit weird to start playing one.

Not his fault though, brilliant ton.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I agree he was tired, has to be the main reason. But when you`ve played a fine, pretty much chanceless innings, it seems a bit weird to start playing one.

Yeah, I agree, apart from being bowled from a no-ball it didn't look like he gave any chances, and the shot was completely un-neccesary.

 

[Jono]

Whilst we've mentioned Sachin and Butt's awesome tons, what about Malik's 90? It was freakish, and whilst he's always been a top class ODI batsman, I've never seen him bat so well like that. When you already have aggressive batsman down the order like Afridi, Razzaq etc. its an even bigger asset to have players such as Butt, Malik and Akmal that can score at a very quick pace too. Then there's Inzy and Yousuf who are brilliant in ODIs always scoring well and quickly. Amazing batting order really, the only one that rivals Australia in terms of talent, depth and versatility IMO. Even India's falls short.

 

[PAKMAN]

Whilst we've mentioned Sachin and Butt's awesome tons, what about Malik's 90? It was freakish, and whilst he's always been a top class ODI batsman, I've never seen him bat so well like that. When you already have aggressive batsman down the order like Afridi, Razzaq etc. its an even bigger asset to have players such as Butt, Malik and Akmal that can score at a very quick pace too. Then there's Inzy and Yousuf who are brilliant in ODIs always scoring well and quickly. Amazing batting order really, the only one that rivals Australia in terms of talent, depth and versatility IMO. Even India's falls short.

yup wahta fine innings by malik ,imran khan still thinks that he should come down the order and younis khan should be at number 3,i saw this match live in lahore in 2003 pak v s.africa malik hit about 80 odd of 40 balls and was hitting nearly every ball of pollock and kallis for six ,i remember pollock had bowled brilliantly b4 that he had about 11 runs of his first 8 overs but Malik sure made his figures look bad in the end ,awsome player when on song

 

[Scaly piscine]

And in my opinion this whole 'would he make the team as a batsman alone/bowler alone' criteria for an allrounder isn't always correct. Flintoff would struggle to make the Indian test team as a batsman alone (well he wouldn't be a definite, that's for sure), however he'd walk straight into the test team as a bowler and become the leader of our attack. That doesn't mean if he was playing for India he wouldn't be a genuine allrounder. Far from it.

Give over, you've got Yuvraj and Ganguly in the team - he'd be ahead of either of these two over the past 3 years. If you only remove his bowling then with his fielding he'd be an even bigger certainty to play, then of course he'd bat better because he's not bowling as well.