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

[Furball]

Yeah, agreed.
Disappointing that one of the batsmen or Swanneh didn't completely dominate in this game. Selectors might've been tempted to give Bopara a run then, or opening with Davies and Panesar would've been able to get some overs under his belt.

On the contrary, I don't think we'd have learned anything by crushing the associates, I'm quite pleased that we've been given a good workout and won, and that the rustiness of the batsmen has been discovered in a game that's pretty meaningless.

 

[Jarquis]

Not a crushing, but let's say that Cook went on to get a ton in the first dig and then it was he who made the 70 odd today instead of Strauss. We could've conceivably let him put his feet up for the 2nd game and either bumped Trott up in order to bring in Bopara or give Davies another game but at the top of the order.
Similarly had Swann been able to take to the field this morning and then wrapped up the ICC innings and finished with 5/30 or something, there would've been the option of giving Panesar a game.

I'm not suggesting that I wish we'd made 600/2dec and then won by an innings and 380 runs.

 

[theegyptian]

earlier today i was relatively secure in thinking that tremlett would be the 3rd seamer but thinking about it I don't know how they can play him. He hasn't played any cricket since July 25th - that eye infection has really cost him his chance at playing in the series imo. It would be a massive gamble to play a player who has played one warmup game in 6 months when you've got a guy like steven finn in the background.

 

[BoyBrumby]

It's not something I advocate lightly, but Ravi might be a darkhorse for the test side with Bres out. There's no way the two Andys will go for five specialist bowlers shorn of the big lad, Ravi's mediums are a (slightly) better option than Trott's and Morgan couldn't buy a run versus the Ass/affs.

 

[Woodster]

earlier today i was relatively secure in thinking that tremlett would be the 3rd seamer but thinking about it I don't know how they can play him. He hasn't played any cricket since July 25th - that eye infection has really cost him his chance at playing in the series imo. It would be a massive gamble to play a player who has played one warmup game in 6 months when you've got a guy like steven finn in the background.

Don't think there's any guarantee that Tremlett will make the next warm-up game yet. Hopefully he does, but I agree it could be a big gamble going in with him with so little cricket behind him. Finn on the other hand has been doing all he can to put himself in the frame in terms of getting the overs bowled.

It's not something I advocate lightly, but Ravi might be a darkhorse for the test side with Bres out. There's no way the two Andys will go for five specialist bowlers shorn of the big lad, Ravi's mediums are a (slightly) better option than Trott's and Morgan couldn't buy a run versus the Ass/affs.

Don't think it's a crazy option, of course Bopara would have to be selected for Wednesday's warm-up and show some nick with the bat before they'd consider it I'd have thought. I do think Morgan's skill in playing spin bowling still has him ahead at this point.

 

[GIMH]

England will lose, or at best draw this series. That will mark the beginning of the end for their India-like period of "blow smoke up our own arses, we've been good for18 months" which their supporters on here have fallen for so easily.

Pakistan being Pakistan, they'll fall by the way side, as will the chokers in SA. India are on the slide too. SL and NZ don't feature in this discussion because they're SL and NZ.

Looks like we'll rightly be number one again by the end of 2013, most likely for a good 6-8 years too.

LOL look at this prick, two wins over India and all of a sudden it's a dynasty

 

[L Trumper]

It's not something I advocate lightly, but Ravi might be a darkhorse for the test side with Bres out. There's no way the two Andys will go for five specialist bowlers shorn of the big lad, Ravi's mediums are a (slightly) better option than Trott's and Morgan couldn't buy a run versus the Ass/affs.

Morgan won't be dropped now, the next two series will be make or break for him. Anyway if both Ravi and Eoin play in the next warmup, I am pretty sure Eoin will outscore Ravi.

 

[Burgey]

LOL look at this prick, two wins over India and all of a sudden it's a dynasty

Channeling my inner Pom

 

[Viscount Tom]

Ravi shouldn't be allowed at a ground that plays tests let alone allowed to play in a test.

Seriously the man's got a thicker mental block than Ramprakash and only half as much talent.

 

[Spikey]

yeah but it's frickin Morgan.

 

[Viscount Tom]

I'm not a fan of either but at least Morgan doesn't look terrified while batting against everything.

Ideally I'd just get Colly back and not give a damn about anything else. Either that or play Davies as well as Prior.

 

[Daemon]

What happened to James Taylor

 

[benchmark00]

So whose home series is this?

i.e. who has to bring the boundary markers, take the covers off and bring afternoon tea??

 

[weldone]

Will be interesting to see how Anderson, Broad and co. bowl in these conditions. My respect for the English side will certainly increase if they do reasonably well here (restricting Pakistan under 300 consistently here should count as doing reasonably well, IMO). Will also be interested to see how Cook and Trott play spin here. Bell is a good player of spin. Pietersen and Strauss are OK against spin, too.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Curious you should say that Strauss and KP are only OK against spin, last test series we had in India I recall them 2 do doing quite well, along with a certain Man of supposedly limited talent.

 

[Fusion]

So whose home series is this?

i.e. who has to bring the boundary markers, take the covers off and bring afternoon tea??

It's Pakistan's home series. The only other time you might see Pakistan play in a neutral venue when it's not their home series is when they play India.

 

[benchmark00]

Tough crowd.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

More bad news for England (although at the moment it's only a doubt and not certain).

Tremlett and Swann are doubts - Yahoo! Eurosport

 

[Viscount Tom]

Odds on Tremlett been declared unfit and Rankin getting added to the squad?

 

[MW1304]

I would say nil.