***Official*** India in Pakistan

[Jono]

RP Singh continues to impress. He was great during the SL/Ind ODI series in the matches he played in, but I tell you what, a brave move to play 5 bowlers. I really didn't think India would do it. I'm shocked that they dropped Ganguly and mildly surprised that they dropped Agarkar. I figured either it'd be a straight up swap between AA and Zaheer or Ganguly and Zaheer (but I didn't think they'd do that anyway). But both going and bringing in RP Singh, wow kudos to the selectors, captain, coach and whomever was involved.

Also equally amazing that all our quicks are left-armers.

 

[marc71178]

Pakistan have decided to go with an additional batter in Razzak in place of Rana Naveed for the second test match, while Asif is goin to come in , in place of Sami.In my opinion its a very defencive tactic that too on a dead track, playing a match with just 3 specialist bowlers in Akhtar,Asif and Danish!!

Erm, Razzaq is a bowler, and add in Afridi and they also have a 5 man attack, as well as a deep batting line up (Razzaq and Akmal at 7 and 8)

 

[marc71178]

Its amazing to see Razzak in Pak side as third pacer, this shows that as far as pace is concerned, it remains Pak weakness.

Akhtar on his own is better than the Indian pace attack.

 

[marc71178]

Out of interest, is there a reason Pathan has only bowled 8 overs so far?

 

[luckyeddie]

Out of interest, is there a reason Pathan has only bowled 8 overs so far?

Clairvoyance?


86.6 Pathan to Shahid Afridi, FOUR, full and outside the off, driven to
long off for a boundary that caps off a sweet over
86.5 Pathan to Shahid Afridi, SIX, another short one, at this pace it is
only going to disappear, pulled in front of square, again many
rows back into the stands at midwicket
86.4 Pathan to Shahid Afridi, SIX, another short one, it is way too slow
and just sits up, Afridi launches a perfect pull and sends the
ball several rows back into the stands at square-leg
86.3 Pathan to Shahid Afridi, no run, driven back to the bowler off the
pad
86.2 Pathan to Shahid Afridi, FOUR, short of a length and outside the
off, punched powerfully through cover

 

[Jono]

Just a demolition right now, absolute demolition.

 

[cricketboy29]

Absolutely, and this is from our so-callled spearhead, i wonder where Arjun is, and what he has to say about this. After going on about, pathan only doing so much, because his support crew were so bad.

 

[honestbharani]

I know you make perfect sense, but sometimes it is hard to ignore them. I know I'm playing perfectly into their hands when I reply, but some of their posts are really offensive! I just wish the mods would be more aggressive in taking action against them.

You are not alone...

 

[honestbharani]

I would hope so too. I am not very big on keeping myself updated on the domestic scene, but its hard to miss Munaf's current form. I agree that Agarkar is now a dinosaur in the pitch - hopelessly out of place. Indian pace department has always been a worrying issue. There was one brief period when it looked competitive with zaheer and nehra at their peaks but never after that has it looked menacing as compared to the other top pace lineups.

However, even for tommorow's match I'll be hoping against hope that they go with 5 bowlers. Or at least drop Agarkar.

They have done both.

 

[godofcricket]

Erm, Razzaq is a bowler, and add in Afridi and they also have a 5 man attack, as well as a deep batting line up (Razzaq and Akmal at 7 and 8)

I personally dont think it was a good move to play Razzaq, remember the sole purpose for picking razzaq was due to his batting, and when its a complete batting wicket u dont need batting going up to No 8. that was a pure defensive move. On the other hand Razzaq wont be effective on such a slow wicket (in bowling), he would need to do extreme effort to find himself even a single wicket, and knowing how good the indian batting line-up is, its a waste to have razzaq as a bowler.

 

[honestbharani]

Pathan bowled one @ 68 mph.

I don't think the speed gun is reliable. It recorded Pathan's normal deliveries and Kumble's normal deliveries at around the same pace for a few overs.


But even given that, it is obvious Pathan is bowling way TOO slow to create any sort of impact on this pitch. It is funny how last year he had the pace (130+ ks an hour) but lost the swing and now he has the swing and has lost the pace. Seems the only reason Pathan is in the squad is because the mgmt. thinks he can bat better than Ganguly. I think if India revert back to the 6-1-4 formula, Pathan SHOULD be the guy who should be dropped. Both RP and Zaheer have atleast shown something.

 

[honestbharani]

I personally dont think it was a good move to play Razzaq, remember the sole purpose for picking razzaq was due to his batting, and when its a complete batting wicket u dont need batting going up to No 8. that was a pure defensive move. On the other hand Razzaq wont be effective on such a slow wicket (in bowling), he would need to do extreme effort to find himself even a single wicket, and knowing how good the indian batting line-up is, its a waste to have razzaq as a bowler.

I would have thought that Rana Naveed did enough against England to earn himself more than one test against India. He is certainly the second best pace option in Pak, IMHO.

 

[luckyeddie]

I don't think the speed gun is reliable. It recorded Pathan's normal deliveries and Kumble's normal deliveries at around the same pace for a few overs.

Suddenly the words "I am Ganguly!!" rush into my head.

 

[honestbharani]

Suddenly the words "I am Ganguly!!" rush into my head.

I know. It was scarily similar to the GIF.

 

[godofcricket]

I would have thought that Rana Naveed did enough against England to earn himself more than one test against India. He is certainly the second best pace option in Pak, IMHO.

Exactly, atleast they could have selected Rana above Asif, Akhtar MIGHT get some support from asif but thats a Big might and just imagine sehwag launching an attack straight away, then where will his confidence go??? Atleast Naved has some experience and is a very hard working bowler who can be given the ball on quite many occasions.

Picking razzaq and asif above rana and sami is too much, its not even a defensive move.

 

[honestbharani]

Exactly, atleast they could have selected Rana above Asif, Akhtar MIGHT get some support from asif but thats a Big might and just imagine sehwag launching an attack straight away, then where will his confidence go??? Atleast Naved has some experience and is a very hard working bowler who can be given the ball on quite many occasions.

Picking razzaq and asif above rana and sami is too much, its not even a defensive move.

U know that a Pakistan bowler is good when he gets a LOT of praise from even Indian supporters, even though his record isn't all that great.

 

[danish]

A really good day's play today capped by Afridi's late onslaught. Pakistan recovered well from a shaky start after losing Shoaib Malik and Salman Butt early and Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan did really well to steady the innings with a 142 run partnership before making way for Inzamam and Shahid Afridi's superb contributions. I thought Rudra Singh had a great test debut on such a big stage, picking up 3-77. Kumble also put Inzamam under a lot of pressure and should certainly have picked up his wicket after 3 or 4 plumb LBW shouts. The highlight of the day for me had to be either Afridi's fireworks at the end of the day or Yuvraj Singh's spectacular catch to remove Younis Khan who was extremely well set. After a brilliant first day, Pakistan have the upper hand.

 

[PAKMAN]

agred ,razzaq for naveed not looking like a good move but i hope razzaq does well ,i dont mind the aasif for sami move tho

 

[Tony Blade]

Ditto, I just cant see Razzaq troubling India's batting line-up on this wicket.

 

[Prince EWS]

agred ,razzaq for naveed not looking like a good move but i hope razzaq does well ,i dont mind the aasif for sami move tho

Really though, people are missing the fact that it was also an Asif for Naved move as well.

The selectors opted to change the balance slightly, adding Razzaq and dropping one of the quicks. This was Sami. He was gone due to balance. Why on earth though, would you drop Rana for Asif?

I can understand playing Razzaq and I can understand playing Asif - I just cant understand playing both and hence leaving Rana out...