**Official** India v Pakistan

[tooextracool]

Because the pitch looked horrible for batting and the fearsome Pakistani attack of Rana, Sami, Razzaq and Kaneria were going to do the trick? Have they looked capable of bowling India out for under 400? They haven't done it yet.

the pure genius of the pakistan selectors of picking 3 specialist bowlers, when 2 of them are completely garbage.

 

[marc71178]

Yes indeed. India were clearly going to lose since they were 85/1 in 17 overs!!!

They could play a few shots safe in the knowledge the game was a draw.

The fact that Younis Khan bowled suggests the game was a tad meaningless at that point.

 

[TendulkarFan]

They could play a few shots safe in the knowledge the game was a draw.

The fact that Younis Khan bowled suggests the game was a tad meaningless at that point.

I'd agree with you that 293 is not an easy target on a 5th day pitch....only if the Mohali pitch was a typical 5th day pitch. It was very much evident that the pitch was still not offering much help to the bowlers even on the 5th day. Pakistan scoring nearly 500 on the 4th & mostly 5th day of the test match attests to that.

And with the pitch offering little help, I doubt the Pakistani bowlers would have been able to trouble the Indian batsmen in any way, shape or form. The Indians have scored 1415 runs in the current series for the loss of 30 wickets at an average of 47.16/wicket. I really don't think this Pakistani attack can take 20 Indian wickets in a test match, regardless of what state the pitch is in on the 5th day.

Of course it is not a slam dunk that India would have won that game. It would be foolish to assume so. However, had the match continued on with India on 85/1 chasing 293, who would you have placed your money on? I'm sure you know what my choice is.

 

[Gangster]

They could play a few shots safe in the knowledge the game was a draw.

The fact that Younis Khan bowled suggests the game was a tad meaningless at that point.

Younis Khan bowled in India's 2nd innings at Kolkata too. Had Pakistan given up on the game by then? And of course only Younis Khan had given up runs, the other Pakistani bowlers had bowled wicket maiden after wicket maiden and applied a huge amount of pressure. I think I even saw Gambhir **** his pants.

 

[Gangster]

the pure genius of the pakistan selectors of picking 3 specialist bowlers, when 2 of them are completely garbage.

sami is not pure garbage, he's worth 50,000 pounds presently.

 

[Unattainableguy]

Younis Khan bowled in India's 2nd innings at Kolkata too. Had Pakistan given up on the game by then?.

No. As Marc has already said, Younis Khan was brought into the attack because the match at that point was clearly a draw, and because Pakistan probably wanted to avoid any unnecessary injuries to their main fast bowlers or just give them a rest in a meaningless match . However, in the 2nd game, Younis bowled because they thought he might be able to do the trick since their main bowlers, for a long time, had been unsuccessful in breaking that particular partnership.

 

[vandemataram]

In this series?

There's far from a clear gap.

To convince you, India will beat Pakistan again in the third test.

Just enjoy the show.

 

[yohanna]

Sami & Pathan, may be Sami is little better.

I think Pathan has a great future, as for Sami, i think he's useless. Both bowlers might be having poor series, but in Sami's case a poor series is the norm.

As soon as Shabbir and Gul gets back, Sami should be thrown out.

 

[Gangster]

I think Pathan has a great future, as for Sami, i think he's useless. Both bowlers might be having poor series, but in Sami's case a poor series is the norm.

As soon as Shabbir and Gul gets back, Sami should be thrown out.

I'll take him then. As for Pathan, maybe he should give up bowling and take up a full-time batting position. I was so disappointed with his bowling. He bowled at 79 mph with no swing or movement off the seam. Horrid stuff really, especially compared to Balaji.

 

[Arjun]

I'll take him then. As for Pathan, maybe he should give up bowling and take up a full-time batting position. I was so disappointed with his bowling. He bowled at 79 mph with no swing or movement off the seam. Horrid stuff really, especially compared to Balaji.

The problem with all the Indian pacers is the same- lack of pace, power and penetration to be effective anytime, anywhere. They get swing (and actually put it to good use unlike the Pakistanis) only when there is any swing, but struggle on flat pitches. The least they can do is persist with a tight line and length for a long period of time, but they'll never be as effective as the speedsters.

 

[yohanna]

I'll take him then. As for Pathan, maybe he should give up bowling and take up a full-time batting position. I was so disappointed with his bowling. He bowled at 79 mph with no swing or movement off the seam. Horrid stuff really, especially compared to Balaji.

Yeah Pathan was indeed very poor in the match but is he match fit? I think he's struggling with an injury . I don't think he can be discarded on the basis of one series.

 

[Unattainableguy]

Not so sure about ODIs, but Pathan only performs well in the tests against minnow nations.

 

[yohanna]

Not so sure about ODIs, but Pathan only performs well in the tests against minnow nations.

He's not all that bad, he has potential and i think with hard work he might prove to be a very good fast bowler for India.

 

[wahindiawah]

Not so sure about ODIs, but Pathan only performs well in the tests against minnow nations.

This from soneone who's country's openeing bowling happen to be Khalil

 

[wahindiawah]

I thought Kaarthick was pretty noisy behind the wickets as well. But, it was good that it was all in good humour.


BTW, do u guys know that Sami claimed that Pakistan were "in control of the game" going into day 5........ Talking of overconfidence, that has to take the cake for this series. I think it is ****iest thing said during the series so far.

Well Sami is Sami, whether he bowls or talk, there is onething common about it, its always rubbish.

I wonder why Pakistan played Khalil in the test match? maybe a ploy on the part of management to have look Sami look better by pairing him with a pre-school standard pacer.

 

[wahindiawah]

Dravid praised, Woolmer criticised

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan spinner and ex-chairman of the national selection committee Salahuddin Ahmed praised Rahul Dravid for his stellar performance in the second Test at Kolkata while lashing out at the PCB Chairman and national team coach Bob Woolmer following the tourists’ 195-run defeat on the final day of the match.

"Hats off to Dravid who played such wonderful knocks. He was the difference between the two teams; he showed how destructive the combination of technique, patience and skill can be," Salahuddin said.

Dravid scored 110 and 135 to win the man-of-the-match award as India took a 1-0 lead by winning the Kolkata Test.

"Our batsmen came good but couldn’t show the same consistency as shown by Dravid. But I’m confident our batsmen must have learnt a great deal from Dravid and also from Sachin Tendulkar who scored 52 in both the innings," he added.

He also praised the effort of Asim Kamal who showed a lot of fighting qualities in the two Tests.

"Asim once again showed that he is a great asset and a jewel in the Pakistan crown. Let us hope that the ‘imported coach’ doesn’t preserve him in a cold storage as he did prior to this tour," Salahuddin said with reference to Bob Woolmer’s decision to play the left-hander in only his third out of seven Tests since taking charge in June last year.

"Woolmer is best at giving excuses and blaming everyone except himself. Let’s see what he has to say after the Kolkata defeat," he stated.

The South Africans were branded chokers during his time and now it seems that the techniques the Pakistan young batsmen are showing, we will soon be known as jokers," Salahuddin said.

 

[SJS]

The problem with all the Indian pacers is the same- lack of pace, power and penetration to be effective anytime, anywhere. They get swing (and actually put it to good use unlike the Pakistanis) only when there is any swing, but struggle on flat pitches. The least they can do is persist with a tight line and length for a long period of time, but they'll never be as effective as the speedsters.

I am reminded of an old cricketing joke from my younger days. A new ball bowler complained that the wicket was no good for bowlers since he couldnt swing the ball on it. For those who dont get the joke, the wicket is supposed to have nothing to do with swinging the ball in the air.

At my slow medium (Mohinder Amarnaths pace), I was able to bowl inswingers on any and every wicket with the new ball in all conditions and all weathers. Same for my new ball partener who bowled out swing. Of course he was much fater and a better bowler

Swing has to do with grip, wrist and body action and , it will swing more in heavier conditions and with a more pronounced seam. The moisture in the air. swells the seam and increases the resistance to the air flow, therby creating a lower pressure are behind the ball and moving it in that direction.

Balaji went to Srinath for advice and, by accident or design(I suspect the latter), copied Srinaths bowling action and lost his swing comletely. Srinath never had it himself. When it was noticed by T Shekhar, he was told to forget all that he had tried to imbibe fro Srinath and the swing came back !!

 

[wahindiawah]

Balaji went to Srinath for advice and, by accident or design(I suspect the latter), copied Srinaths bowling action and lost his swing comletely. Srinath never had it himself. When it was noticed by T Shekhar, he was told to forget all that he had tried to imbibe fro Srinath and the swing came back !!

I thought Srinath denied all this, infact Srinath said that he was upset that Akram has come up with such a claim and he hoped that Akram had been mis-quoted.

 

[Unattainableguy]

This from soneone who's country's openeing bowling happen to be Khalil

What's that gotta do with the fact that Pathan only does well against minnows?

 

[SJS]

I thought Srinath denied all this, infact Srinath said that he was upset that Akram has come up with such a claim and he hoped that Akram had been mis-quoted.

I am not surprised Srinath said that after all he is still aspiring to be India's bowling coach. There couldnt be worse publicity than this.

The fact is that Balaji did go to him. Then had a problem. Then went to Sekhar and then the problem got resolved.

Rest , who knows for sure