***Official*** Pakistan and England in UAE

[Pothas]

Such a shame really, what a player

Miss him so much.

 

[Spark]

Morgan is probably out of his depth. Bell has always had real trouble picking quality spinners (Warne's slider, Kumble's googly & now Ajmal's doosra).

It's not just that he doesn't pick them - plenty of batsmen haven't picked tough variations over the years - but I've rarely seen someone have so little idea what to do with it once he does. I mean it's as if he forgets the first thing about playing spin as soon as he realises he can't pick it.

 

[amanuensis]

It's not just that he doesn't pick them - plenty of batsmen haven't picked tough variations over the years - but I've rarely seen someone have so little idea what to do with it once he does. I mean it's as if he forgets the first thing about playing spin as soon as he realises he can't pick it.

What's he meant to do then?

 

[Furball]

Only seen a few press reports, but to what extent is Strauss beginning to cop it over his form? I haven't seen whether he's getting out the same way or not, but is it a concern bein widely talked about in the media yet?

It's been a concern for a while now but I think the consensus is that as long as Strauss continues to lead as well as he does then he can score what he wants.

 

[Jono]

**** amazing last hour.

I think it'll be silly to argue that England don't have an issue playing in Asia. That is just a fact. But they can go a long way to fixing that in this test.

 

[Spark]

What's he meant to do then?

First rule of playing spin bowling (and any bowling, for that matter) - play the length. He's playing almost every ball half-forward and neither here nor there, and inviting all manner of dismissals because he's not getting near the pitch but not giving himself enough time to read the ball off the pitch.

 

[Furball]

**** amazing last hour.

I think it'll be silly to argue that England don't have an issue playing in Asia. That is just a fact. But they can go a long way to fixing that in this test.

Like I said, it's clearly not a talent issue - all the Asian sides have been to England in the last 18 months and all of their spinners bar Ajmal and Shakib got belted.

What England's batsmen seem to be particularly bad at is wresting the initiative back once the spinners are on top, particularly when there's spin from both ends.

 

[amanuensis]

First rule of playing spin bowling (and any bowling, for that matter) - play the length. He's playing almost every ball half-forward and neither here nor there, and inviting all manner of dismissals because he's not getting near the pitch but not giving himself enough time to read the ball off the pitch.

I agree heartily, but (trite though this sounds) your feet have to be moving to do that - Bell's aren't. Take no real competitive cricket since September, add no meaningful experience of facing Ajmal (whom he's confronted with immediately, having been shunted back down the order) & it's no real surprise.

 

[Prince EWS]

Curious as to who should be batting 6 for England according to CPL.

Prior; it fancies five bowlers for England at the moment, as long as Bresnan is fit anyway.

Bell I imagine.

Yeah, it'd be Bell if it wanted to pick six specialist batsman, because the bloke it'd bring in for Morgan would be Ramprakash and he'd have to bat three or four. Incidentally it'd brng Ramprakash in for Strauss anyway as long as Trott was comfortably opening.

It'll have Tresco opening with Cook IIRC

Yeah, it would do that if Trescothick was considered available. Then again England probably would too.

---

I think the realistic answer to Furball's question is probably Taylor though. He's the next batsman batsmen available out of those not playing (and Morgan) who isn't Ramprakash, according to CPL.

 

[Jacknife]

I agree heartily, but (trite though this sounds) your feet have to be moving to do that - Bell's aren't. Take no real competitive cricket since September, add no meaningful experience of facing Ajmal (whom he's confronted with immediately, having been shunted back down the order) & it's no real surprise.

I'd actually forgotten that Bell was injured last time we played Pakistan.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Adam Wheater, IMO.

Seriously though, just noticed Wheater's playing First Class in Sri Lanka at the moment. Really good idea for the lad. Doesn't look like he went well in his first match for Badureliya, but the kid's trying. First playing in Zimbabwe FC and now Sri Lankan FC. Must have some real determination. Hope it helps him kick on.

 

[Faisal1985]

Like I said, it's clearly not a talent issue - all the Asian sides have been to England in the last 18 months and all of their spinners bar Ajmal and Shakib got belted.

What England's batsmen seem to be particularly bad at is wresting the initiative back once the spinners are on top, particularly when there's spin from both ends.

that must be pretty rough indeed

 

[Furball]

I don't get it...

 

[Faisal1985]

I guess it belongs to the lame joke corner....


just having a go at the English batsmen as usual.

 

[tooextracool]

Yeah, it'd be Bell if it wanted to pick six specialist batsman, because the bloke it'd bring in for Morgan would be Ramprakash and he'd have to bat three or four. Incidentally it'd brng Ramprakash in for Strauss anyway as long as Trott was comfortably opening.


I think the realistic answer to Furball's question is probably Taylor though. He's the next batsman batsmen available out of those not playing (and Morgan) who isn't Ramprakash, according to CPL.

Seems like a strange time to call for Ramprakash given that he's just had his worst season in over a decade. A bit hard to make a case that its just a temporary blip at 42. I was for Ramps as a stop gap solution a couple of years ago.

 

[Prince EWS]

Seems like a strange time to call for Ramprakash given that he's just had his worst season in over a decade. A bit hard to make a case that its just a temporary blip at 42. I was for Ramps as a stop gap solution a couple of years ago.

I wasn't actually suggesting it at all. I've got a computer program that picks lineups, and it's picking him. It's be ridiculous at this point.

 

[smash84]

Like I said, it's clearly not a talent issue - all the Asian sides have been to England in the last 18 months and all of their spinners bar Ajmal and Shakib got belted.

.

Really? Last I heard Ajmal got owned in England

 

[tooextracool]

morgan out steve davies in imo

Don't really think Steve Davies is any better than Morgan. Though, I'd rather both of them over Bopara. In short, I miss Collingwood.

 

[BeeGee]

So where all those Pakistani fans getting over the top with their celebrations?

Ajmal failed as I predicted. Gul is as bad as he was in the last game. I preferred Wahab Riaz over Junaid as I wanted a 'backup' strike bowler for Ajmal which Junaid really is not.

Lots of time left but I can see England making a mammoth lead here.

3 for 67 isn't failure.

 

[Xuhaib]

massive drop.