***Official*** India in Pakistan

[Sudeep]

Pakistan, still maintaining a run-rate of over 4 and keeping the attack. Good to see some positive approach being adopted by Pakistan in this face of adversity. They want to blast themselves out of this situation than score at around 2 runs an over.

But one more wicket, and they could be bowled out for less than 100. I'd have thought that when Afridi was there, they would approach positively, but after that, it'd be playing out the session without losing any further wickets.

 

[deeps]

I think what has happened is, that the pakistani batting has become a little complacent. They have been freely scoring and being able to play all their shots till now.

So they've got into that habit, and all of a sudden, the ball is moving.


Mind you, pathan's hat trick seems to have been due to swing, rather than seam, so the pitch doesnt' come into the equation at all.

 

[Robertinho]

Now, if Pathan is overrated, then what is this Pakistan bowling. Take it, India has the most underrated pace-bowling attack in the world. Pathan has been a genuine pace bowler and the find of the last 3 years for India and Zaheer is on the peak of his form. RP Singh, is trying to prove a point or two, he is a bowler with a slightly extra-pace and can swing the ball as well.

But, then also look at this amazing performance. They just get a pitch which has something in it for fast bowling and they reduce Pakistan to 39/6.

The way Pakistan are going, we are going to see a repeat of Sharjah 2002, remember? That 59, 53 might just be repeated if the Indian bowlers continue to bowl the way they are doing. I do feel for Pakistan though.

I was joking. It was a joke... the guy had just taken a hattrick ffs..

 

[aussie]

has pathan's feat ever been done before in test cricket?

 

[adharcric]

I think Pakistan was plotting to prepare two dead tracks and catch the Indian batsmen off-guard against Shoaib and co. Look what happened to them.

 

[andyc]

has pathan's feat ever been done before in test cricket?

A hattrick?

 

[Sudeep]

A hattrick?

I'm sure he meant hat-trick in the first over...

 

[aussie]

Razzak is a good batter but rubbish as a bowler.

nah i think Razzaq is a bit better than a rubbish bowler.

 

[aussie]

I'm sure he meant hat-trick in the first over...

uh huh...

 

[SJS]

It's terrible batting, IMO. The ball is swinging, there's no need to play extraordinary drives. They could have rather let the first session go by, even if that meant scoring hardly any runs.

The ball is moving a bit but if test players cant play the moving ball what are they supposed to be doing there in the first place.

I saw nothing so far that one doesnt see day in and day out in England.

Pakistani batsmen exposed their lack of technique PLUS the bad habits picked up on dead tracks.

Zaheer wasted the new ball initially at the other end. It was so irritating to see him hitting short while pitching up was all he had to do.

Twice he pitched up on a good line and it got him two wickets.

I think Dravid over bowled him. Pathan should have come back faster. This ball doesnt last, not the seam..

 

[SJS]

Once the first two wickets fell in two balls, Pakistan should have got Akmal to pad up and sent him after Mohammad Yusuf.

 

[BlackCap_Fan]

uh huh...

Vaas did it in an ODI but don't know about tests.

 

[deeps]

Once the first two wickets fell in two balls, Pakistan should have got Akmal to pad up and sent him after Mohammad Yusuf.

or razzaq.

 

[SJS]

or razzaq.

Although Razzaq is till there with 30+ I would have prefered Akmal since he plays the new ball well.

 

[adharcric]

Vaas did it in an ODI but don't know about tests.

It is indeed a record, the first test hat-trick in the first over by Irfan Pathan on this occasion. It's not the highest number of wickets lost for no score though, as I thought it might be. India went 0 for 4 in 1952, after that this is the worst, Pakistan's 0 for 3 today.

 

[deeps]

Although Razzaq is till there with 30+ I would have prefered Akmal since he plays the new ball well.

fair enough, though my counter argument would be that Razzaq spent alot of his early years batting at number 3. The reason i would prefer razzaq is purely because he is the more experienced of the two

 

[Pratters]

Pathan!!!!

Mr. Sanz thinks Prabhakar>Pathan. With an average of 37 bowling wise for Prabhakar I really don't know where that comes from.

 

[Blaze]

Gosh what an effort from Pathan. Still overrated hehe.

 

[SJS]

What is Kamran Akmal doing at number eight !

I can understand the terrace-fans showing a preference for Afridi over Akmal but what about Inzy and Woolmer ?

Akmal needs to open (ideal since Pakistan is struggling to find an opener) or bat in the middle order, never below six.

He doesnt suffer in comparison to Yousuf and Younis except for experience and 'brand-name' . He is good enough to play for Pakistan as a pure batsman. Doubt if Afridi or Razzaq can qualify for that.

 

[godofcricket]

Akmal needs to open (ideal since Pakistan is struggling to find an opener) or bat in the middle order, never below six.

Well the workload on Akmal is going to be huge if he starts to open, wicket keeping alone is probably the hardest job and imagine Akmal keeping for a day or two in a test and immediately goes onto bat!!!!