***Official*** Pakistan in Australia 2023/24

[Spark]

Wait, the umpires are allowed to check for excessive bouncers with the third umpire on wickets? Has that ever happened?

 

[Prince EWS]

Wait, the umpires are allowed to check for excessive bouncers with the third umpire on wickets? Has that ever happened?

No I don't think so, but excessive bouncers are no balls so I think they were given that power accidentally.

 

[Starfighter]

Wait, the umpires are allowed to check for excessive bouncers with the third umpire on wickets? Has that ever happened?

I think there was actually one in a very recent match - possibly one of the WI-England T20s?

 

[Prince EWS]

Overstepping aside, properly good bowling from Marsh here.

 

[Starfighter]

Waqar diverging rather remarkably from reality there. Shaheen was bowling slower than ever at Melbourne, even though he bowled a few decent spells. Really he needs a longish break and proper rehabilitation on his knee, which won't happen of course.

 

[Starfighter]

Noticing that they're very cagey about the number of spectators actually at the ground.

 

[Qlder]

Lowest 1st innings scores at SCG in last 10 years:

326 (Aus 2014) Aus Won
330 (WI 2016) Draw
338 (Aus 2021) Draw
346 (Eng 2018) Eng Lost

So you'd think Pakistan would need at least 350

 

[Starfighter]

There's an article with the SCG groundsman talking about how he's hoping the pitch will take more turn.

Not sure anyone seems to remember that a big feature of the SCG's prior spin was the surface being bereft of grass - or certainly any live grass - which this isn't.

 

[Starfighter]

Pakistan really making Australia pay for that let off. He played that nearly identically too.

 

[Spark]

There's an article with the SCG groundsman talking about how he's hoping the pitch will take more turn.

Not sure anyone seems to remember that a big feature of the SCG's prior spin was the surface being bereft of grass - or certainly any live grass - which this isn't.

When they've tried that of late it's just turned the thing into the biggest pudding deck imaginable tbf, so I much prefer this.

 

[King Kane]

No let off for Masood this time.

Pakistan could be struggling to bat past tea now.

 

[Starfighter]

When they've tried that of late it's just turned the thing into the biggest pudding deck imaginable tbf, so I much prefer this.

I thought the recent Sydney pitches tended to have a fair amount of dead grass rolled into the surface, which is a recipe for the aforementioned puddings.

 

[Starfighter]

Another poor review.

 

[morgieb]

Another poor review.

Cummins is generally a more sensible reviewer than Paine or Smith, but I still think he gets more wrong than the average captain. Those two aren't the worst I've seen reviewed but neither really felt out either.

 

[King Kane]

Another good knock from Rizwan, hard to believe he didn't play in the first test, he's a class act.

Cummins is generally a more sensible reviewer than Paine or Smith, but I still think he gets more wrong than the average captain. Those two aren't the worst I've seen reviewed but neither really felt out either.

Surely he isn't silly enough to rely on the advice from Marnus, he thinks everything is out.

 

[GotSpin]

Noticing that they're very cagey about the number of spectators actually at the ground.

Seems like a solid crowd tbh

 

[Starfighter]

Haze might try throwing a few a bit wider to Rizwan to exploit that lofted drive.

 

[morgieb]

Surely he isn't silly enough to rely on the advice from Marnus, he thinks everything is out.

I mean his style of appealing can be very persuasive.

Think that was more Hazlewood that felt keen anyway.

Fair innings this from Rizwan. Hopefully he doesn't perish too quickly.

 

[GotSpin]

Seems like a solid crowd tbh

Also very knowledgeable

Might have had time for the beach and shops too

 

[quincywagstaff]

Leaving Rizwan out of the 1st Test seems as misguided as leaving Head out of the first Test of the India tour.

Especially so considering how passive Pakistan's batting was in Perth; his counter-attacking would've been perfect in that 1st innings especially.