***Official*** India in Pakistan

[Xuhaib]

Great day for Pak
Tommorow first session will be crucial if we can get thru it without much damage then 600 looks on and hopefully put presure on India but i doubt Pakistan will be able to eek out 20 wickets on this dead track.

 

[ClownSymonds]

Great day for Pak
Tommorow first session will be crucial if we can get thru it without much damage then 600 looks on and hopefully put presure on India but i doubt Pakistan will be able to eek out 20 wickets on this dead track.

Pakistan shouldn't be looking to get through day 2 - they should be looking to get 600 before the end of it and put India in to bat for an hour. That would give them a great chance of winning the match, and is definitely a possibility considering the fact that Afridi will be batting.

 

[Prince EWS]

Dravid does come in a lot but Tendulkar not as often.

Also virtually counts for nothing. Laxman loves batting at No. 3. But he has struggled as an opener. There is a mental adjustment required as well.

Says the one who supported Yuvraj opening based on one innings in a first class match, while batting at #3...

You cant have it both ways.

 

[Pratters]

Says the one who supported Yuvraj opening based on one innings in a first class match, while batting at #3...

You cant have it both ways.

No. Its not based on one inning.

Between a Ganguly and Yuvraj option I would like to see Ganguly up there because I feel he is more comfortable against pace.

Also, it would depend upon the mentality of the player - is he prepared to play that role and does he have it in him to play that role.

I hope I have clarified my stance.

 

[no1_gangsta_786]

Does anybody know why Mahendra Dhoni had stitches above his left eye?

 

[godofcricket]

If wickets remain then Pakistan will give india the last session and by that time they would want to score 600. that means 274 more runs in 2 sessions.......with Afridi and Inzamam still to come that seems very possible.

 

[Pratters]

I think Pakistan should target at least 700 if not more on this pitch.

 

[godofcricket]

What are your comments on Irfan's bowling? Wasim Akram said he's giving it away by exposing the shine on the ball, so the batsmen know which way the ball will move.

Yeah well the thing is it was never swinging to an extent that it could trouble the batsman, even if he didnt expose the shine.

 

[godofcricket]

Also, it would depend upon the mentality of the player - is he prepared to play that role and does he have it in him to play that role.

I think wherever dravid decides to send him he has to go, he would always be under pressure either if he comes at No.1 or No.5, he would really need to bat well to stand a chance of cementing his place in the team.

 

[marc71178]

Its only 12 months ago he wasn't selected against South Africa despite being fully fit when India went in with 1 seamer and 3 spinners. Zaheer was chosen ahead of him.

If he was the leading pace bowler all his career he probably wouldn't be dropped when fit.

I'd forgotten about that.

Still don't thin he can still be deemed a rookie by now though.

 

[marc71178]

No. Because poor performances of Gambhir isnt the benchmark to see if he has done the job required.

If he performs better than the player he's replaced, he's surely vindicated the selectors?

Except the bowling isnt an added bonus like it is made out to be. He is no better than an Adam Hollioake (for want of a better example).

I'd think he isn't anywhere near Hollioake was, since he was a proper bowler.

 

[marc71178]

Yep. But even the Pakistani bowlers wont be happy with the wicket I am sure.

I think it'd be best to wait to see how they fare on it before commenting.

 

[marc71178]

Bit harsh on Udal there.

It's impossible to be harsh on Udal.

 

[marc71178]

Harbhajan Singh.

You seem completely closed minded to the fact that spinners can bowl first change.

No, I just think that unless the pitch is stupidly in favour of spin, a side with only 2 seamers will struggle.

 

[Pratters]

If he performs better than the player he's replaced, he's surely vindicated the selectors?

Not necessarily. If the player he replaced had been poor. And the new player performs slightly better - the new selection wouldnt be called paying off either.

 

[Pratters]

I think it'd be best to wait to see how they fare on it before commenting.

Obviously there would be more varaible bounce on the wicket, an Akhtar could extract more from the wicket and Kaneria could prove a handful on a wicket with more cracks.

But the point is - the wicket isnt offering much purchase off the pitch and is slow. That aspect would bother the Pakistani bowlers regardless of how they fare. Imran too felt the Pakistani bowlers wouldnt be too happy with that aspect.

 

[vandemataram]

I think Pakistan should target at least 700 if not more on this pitch.

With just 2 recognized batsmen left (inzi and Afridi) 700 does't look possible.I think Pak should be happy if they get a score of about 500-525.

If India do manage to get Younis and Yousuf early in the morning , then they can bowl out Pakistan team for a score of as less as 425-450

 

[Sanz]

With just 2 recognized batsmen left (inzi and Afridi)

Last I checked Younis and Md. Yusuf were still batting and Akmal has scored centuries than afridi in last one year..so that makes 5 batsmen for me.

 

[aussie]

christ what kind of pitches are Pakistan producing these days, dalm

 

[vandemataram]

Last I checked Younis and Md. Yusuf were still batting and Akmal has scored centuries than afridi in last one year..so that makes 5 batsmen for me.

I was talking about 2 recognized batsmen in pavillion. If India is able to get rid of Yousuf and Younis early, then Inzi and Afridi will be the last recognized pair left, as such i don't think Pakistan will be able to get to a score of even near 700.