***Official*** India in Pakistan

[luckyeddie]

I can't believe that so many of you are taking Neil's statement at face value.

Well, actually I can.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Yeah that'll be the first time in 14 000+ ODI runs he comes up against a quality attack eh Forget McGrath/Warne, forget Wasim/Waqar and let's also forget Donald/Pollock. He's not proven untl he faces England. Its besides the point anyway. You point blank claimed "Inzy > Sachin", simply because he seemed to score at will against the great English team. Firstly, the test arena is different from the ODI arena. Whilst Sachin has been inconsistent in the test format since the beginning of 2003, he's still been belting attacks worldwide in the ODI arena, and I pointed this out on CW before. People talk about his decline but forget there is a difference between tests and ODIs. His only poor year in ODI cricket since he became an established name was in 2005 where he was basically playing with one arm anyway.

Secondly, that same Inzy who flayed the English attack has been outscored by Sachin despite facing a far inferior attack that includes that allrounder that apparently not only cant bat, but can't bowl too named Irfan Pathan as well as the might of Sree Santh, Zaheer, Agarkar and let's not forget Sachin bowling some seam ups himself. Sachin may not have come up against Shoaib in this ODI series, but Asif is a real talent who managed to take 2-14 against England, and Rana and Afridi were good enough to 9 wickets at 24.77 and 6 wickets at 18.33 against England as well. But forget that, not a good attack at all.

There's always an excuse. First there's clams that Pathan can't bat, he goes on to show that whilst he's no world beater and far from a Flintoff, he can actually bat saving India's behind on various occasions. Dhoni starts flaying attacks, and just because of a few idiot Indian fans who begin claiming he's a God and better than Gilly, the knee-jerk reaction is that he's overrated and one or two knocks don't make a summer. Well by my count that's more than a couple of brilliant knocks from him, many coming in pressure situations chasing large totals. Some including runs against the same Murali and Vaas that have bowled SL to 2 victories against Australia. If Symonds and Ponting can score runs against Murali and Vaas and it be claimed as fantastic knocks (which they were), then Dhoni's performances against the SL attack should be rated just as well.

Probably should have added the smily winky thing.

 

[shankar]

Probably should have added the smily winky thing.

 

[Jono]

I know looking at the scorecard, it looks like it was a regular innings on a flat-track. But, you need to have seen the first 15 overs of the Indian innings - Asif (and btw this guy will definitely be the find of the year for World cricket) and Gul were bowling brilliantly, moving the ball dangerously. This inning was definitely one of the better ones of his career.

Well Dravid has come out and said that its one of his best innings ever.

"I think he assessed the situation beautifully," he said. "He realised there was something happening with the ball, realised we needed to keep wickets. The way he controlled the game, played positively without doing anything risky, was great to watch. He scored at a great pace on a difficult wicket in difficult conditions. I thought it was one of his best. There are so many he has played but this was really a special one."

Sachin has played so many memorable ODI knocks in his career that its hard to pick out his best, and hence this one on the scorecard won't stand out as much as his twin tons against Australia at Sharjah stadium in 1998, his 186 not out against New Zealand in 1999, his 141 against Pakistan in 2004 etc. where he has hit a huge score and its obvious that it was a brilliant knock. His knock today was probably comparably to his 98 against Pakistan in the WC, not as in the way he played, as today's knock was more cautious where he had to see off the new ball and compensate for the loss of early wickets compared to his smas-smash approach in the WC game, but in the fact that whilst on the scorecard he didn't singlehandedly dominate the match as other players scored as well, but the contribution he made opening the innings and getting India in a winning position was extremely vital.

 

[Jono]

Probably should have added the smily winky thing.

Yes, you probably should have

 

[luckyeddie]

Probably should have added the smily winky thing.

Nope - it was obvious enough as it was that you were joking.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Yes, you probably should have

For future reference, any post of one sentence or less (yes, it's possible) is likely to be tongue in cheek. Especially when referring to any of CW's favourite players.

 

[silentstriker]

For future reference, any post of one sentence or less (yes, it's possible) is likely to be tongue in cheek. Especially when referring to any of CW's favourite players.

Damn it, and you got me all angry too.

 

[Armadillo]

Remember what you were doing today- The Little Master is back!

 

[silentstriker]

If you did bring it up suggesting that 2 ball ducks means a player can't bat I would probably just reply with "I guess Salman Butt, the same guy that dealt out some nice spankings to England's quality pace attack in both forms of the game, can't bat either

I think what it means is that Don Bradman couldn't bat because he also made '0' a couple of times.


/Yes, I found an occasion to compare Bradman to Pathan
//Holy crap, did I just compare Irfan Pathan to Don Bradman?

 

[vandemataram]

Just like i predicted earlier, the match ended with a big win for India

There are some more bad news for Pakistan, Akhtar is already out of series and now Afridi is also out with injury!! This will not only future weaken a lowsy Pakistan bowling lineup, but will also weaken Pak batting which isn't in great form.

I think Pak should dump Rana Naveed, which is proving to be a butt of a joke in the series , but considering the lack of talent in pace of department in Pakistan, there seems to be noone to take his place other than the "tried and tested" Sami.All in all it appears to be a very grim situtation as far as Pakistan are concerned.

I think India will win the series 4-1, and its also possible the the remaining onedayers will be toally one sided with India completely demolising Pakistan team

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I think Pak should dump Rana Naveed, which is proving to be a butt of a joke in the series

I see the tears have dried since he demolished India with 15 wickets in 6 games in the last series. I'm so proud of your strength.

but considering the lack of talent in pace of department in Pakistan

Interesting that Mohammed Asif is perhaps as good or better than any of India's front line "tried and tested". There's talent, but injuries are a difficult thing to cope with, especially when the biggest injury is to one of the best bowlers in the world.

I think India will win the series 4-1, and its also possible the the remaining onedayers will be toally one sided with India completely demolising Pakistan team

Undoubtedly. In fact, I've heard India plan to play those matches with no pants on.

 

[vandemataram]

Yes, we all saw the quality of the English attack in Pakistan. Get a real spinner, then come back and talk.

I would take the Pakistani attack over the English attack anyway. Australia and Pakistan have better bowling attacks then England. England bowlers had a fantastic year leading upto and including the Ashes, but they've been found out. Let's see how they do in India.
.

There is no point denying the greateness of Sachin, but i must say that there is no way you can rate this Pak attack better than England, maybe there are better than Bangladesh, but certainly England are light years ahead of them.

Pakistan has just two match winners in Akhtar (who is not playing ) and Danish (who is pathetic in ODI).With those two out of OD team, the rest of the bowling attack is pretty much sub-average. Asif is decent, but Yasir,Gul, Razzak,Afridi,Malik are very ordinary fellows, and Rana Naveed is in horrible form and the probably the most over rated cricker ever.

 

[Pratters]

There are some more bad news for Pakistan, Akhtar is already out of series and now Afridi is also out with injury!! This will not only future weaken a lowsy Pakistan bowling lineup, but will also weaken Pak batting which isn't in great form.

Sehwag and Bhajji are likely to go home as well.

It must be said though that with Rana being so way ward (so unlike him) and Akhtar missing, it is hurting Pakistan and showing. Md. Asif has been pretty good though.

Hopefully Rana Naved will show some of the accuracy and variation which made him such a potent force in 2005.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Yes, we all saw the quality of the English attack in Pakistan. Get a real spinner, then come back and talk.

Like Pakistan?

Arshad "I'm Pakistan's Ashley Giles" Khan? Last 26 matches: 24 wickets, 39.04 average, 4.25 econ.
Shoaib Malik? Last 13 matches: 46.28 average with 5.22 econ.
Shahid Afridi? Last 10 matches: 38.42 average with 5.18 econ.
Danish Kaneria? Career: 46.25 average with 4.57 econ.

Ashley Giles
Last 26 matches: 24 wickets, 36.87 average, 4.09 econ.

Shahid Afridi:
Last 26 matches: 25 wickets, 35.76 average, 5.02 econ.

Shoaib Malik:
Last 26 matches: 11 wickets, 42.18 average, 5.52 econ.

Ian Blackwell
Career: 28 matches: 19 wickets, 34.05 average, 4.43 econ.

Get a real spinner, then come back and insult England's.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Like Pakistan?

Arshad "I'm Pakistan's Ashley Giles" Khan? Last 26 matches: 24 wickets, 39.04 average, 4.25 econ.
Shoaib Malik? Last 13 matches: 46.28 average with 5.22 econ.
Shahid Afridi? Last 10 matches: 38.42 average with 5.18 econ.
Danish Kaneria? Career: 46.25 average with 4.57 econ.

Ashley Giles
Last 26 matches: 24 wickets, 36.87 average, 4.09 econ.

Shahid Afridi:
Last 26 matches: 25 wickets, 35.76 average, 5.02 econ.

Shoaib Malik:
Last 26 matches: 11 wickets, 42.18 average, 5.52 econ.

Ian Blackwell
Career: 28 matches: 19 wickets, 34.05 average, 4.43 econ.

Get a real spinner, then come back and insult England's.

You forgot one thing - Arshad Khan can't bat.

 

[Arumpnoo]

Couple of wins and the whole forum is going up in fireworks. I am waiting for the series decider and than I guess it will blow up.

 

[aussie]

i've been Kinda surprised at how expensive Rana has been in this series, but also been very impressed by India's batting in the last 2 games, India top 7 seems have a very flexibilty these days...

 

[vandemataram]

I see the tears have dried since he demolished India with 15 wickets in 6 games in the last series. I'm so proud of your strength.

.

That was in past, cricket is a tough game , you cannot merit a place in the team on the basis of your performance in previous years.Fact remains that Rana is a failure in test cricket and is doing terribly in ODI, and for India's sake i hope he plays the next two games .

But then again if he doesn't play, Sami will be in (since Pakistan have shortage of good pacers), who is good enough to get thrashed by Indians.

Can't decide which would be better for a meal

Interesting that Mohammed Asif is perhaps as good or better than any of India's front line "tried and tested". There's talent, but injuries are a difficult thing to cope with, especially when the biggest injury is to one of the best bowlers in the world.

I already said that Asif is good, however he's no Pathan, who is certainly the best pacers from the two teams (not taking into account Akhtar as he's injured).
Injuries are difficult to cope, but still one should have a decent backup.India have Nehra, Khan, Balaji as replacement, Pakiatn have what ??? Just Sami who is a joke.

Undoubtedly. In fact, I've heard India plan to play those matches with no pants on.

Considering the way the Pakistanis are fielding these days, india might win the matches even without playing with their bats

 

[vandemataram]

Like Pakistan?

Arshad "I'm Pakistan's Ashley Giles" Khan? Last 26 matches: 24 wickets, 39.04 average, 4.25 econ.
Shoaib Malik? Last 13 matches: 46.28 average with 5.22 econ.
Shahid Afridi? Last 10 matches: 38.42 average with 5.18 econ.
Danish Kaneria? Career: 46.25 average with 4.57 econ.

Ashley Giles
Last 26 matches: 24 wickets, 36.87 average, 4.09 econ.

Shahid Afridi:
Last 26 matches: 25 wickets, 35.76 average, 5.02 econ.

Shoaib Malik:
Last 26 matches: 11 wickets, 42.18 average, 5.52 econ.

Ian Blackwell
Career: 28 matches: 19 wickets, 34.05 average, 4.43 econ.

Get a real spinner, then come back and insult England's.

Both suxs as far as spinners are concerned.The last good spinner that Pak had was Saqlain, now they don't even have a single decent specialist spinner in their 16 man squad

Though unlike Pakistan,England can be respected as they have world class pacers!