**Official** Pakistan in Australia Thread

[andyc]

The first one hour today was rivetting. Akhtar and Sami provided some of the most aggessive ans sustained hositie fast bowling one has seen for a long time.

On song, this has to be the best fast bowling pair in world cricket today. If only they had better back up bowling.

Intimidation wise, most definetely, but performance wise, I'd say McGrath and Gillespie would be consistently better.

 

[SJS]

Intimidation wise, most definetely, but performance wise, I'd say McGrath and Gillespie would be consistently better.

I specifically meant sustained fast. Mcgrath is no better than medium and Gillespie has also lost almost 10 kms in speed.

Yes , as quality new ball bowlers, they are better than the Pakistani duo. But it was after a long that one saw true fast bowling against a quality batting and it was a great spectacle.

 

[andyc]

I specifically meant sustained fast. Mcgrath is no better than medium and Gillespie has also lost almost 10 kms in speed.

Yes , as quality new ball bowlers, they are better than the Pakistani duo. But it was after a long that one saw true fast bowling against a quality batting and it was a great spectacle.

Oh my bad. I thought you just meant pace bowling as a whole as opposed to fast bowling. In which case I agree with you.

 

[Mr Casson]

The authorities should leave this stuff alone, and only intervene when the behaviour goes beyond the pale.

I'm sure they believe that is what they are doing. What needs to change is what the authorities consider to be acceptable.

Therefore I think what Cricket needs is a character, maybe even Shoaib himself to just forget about being docked portions of match fees and play the game without holding back his character. Then, perhaps in time, if he is fined for another show like Thursday's, people will realize that it is actually good for the game and make it known to the ICC.

That's really the only way I can see the standard of what is acceptable changing.

 

[Slow Love™]

Great decision by Bowden just now on a caught behind appeal against Langer. Tony Greig was out of his seat, saying "that must be out!", but on the replay, there was a fair gap between bat and pad, and it was evident that the ball had brushed part of Langer's upper sleeve on the way to the keeper.

 

[Slow Love™]

Therefore I think what Cricket needs is a character, maybe even Shoaib himself to just forget about being docked portions of match fees and play the game without holding back his character. Then, perhaps in time, if he is fined for another show like Thursday's, people will realize that it is actually good for the game and make it known to the ICC.

On the other hand, he could just lose a lot of money, get suspended or banned, and have his career ended to the delight of some of the hacks in the Pakistani administration and press that have been calling for his head for years now.

Maybe someone else could do it. I don't see much future in this strategy though - perhaps the players' associations should get tougher with the various boards/ICC reps.

 

[Slow Love™]

Jeeeeeezus, Waqar's commentary is woeful. "Langer just LOVES to bat!!!"

 

[Sehwag309]

Jeeeeeezus, Waqar's commentary is woeful. "Langer just LOVES to bat!!!"

Its like a double-double cheeseburger (heavy heavy accent)

That would be pronounced LAUVES (Loves)

 

[LongHopCassidy]

On the other hand, he could just lose a lot of money, get suspended or banned, and have his career ended to the delight of some of the hacks in the Pakistani administration and press that have been calling for his head for years now.

Maybe someone else could do it. I don't see much future in this strategy though - perhaps the players' associations should get tougher with the various boards/ICC reps.

I agree. It's a pity that all the larrikinism is being squashed out of international cricket at a furious rate, and that people are desperate to see their countrymen fail.

Cricket today is less like a sport and more like a business.

 

[telsor]

Ch9 Just advised that Akhtar is going for a shoulder scan, and wont be bowling again today.

 

[GotSpin]

Ch9 Just advised that Akhtar is going for a shoulder scan, and wont be bowling again today.

*sigh* hoping this isnt a serious injury, he was bowling quite well

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Ah ****. Langer goes for 97.

 

[Pratters]

Ponting says captaincy doesnt effect his batting even though there is a 14 points difference before this inning in his avg ad a captain and without the captaincy.

Then he manufactures a situation by not enforcing a follow on to get easy runs when Pakistan is down and out.

bah

 

[Slow Love™]

Very interesting incident just now. Facing Kaneria, Martyn hit the ball back up the pitch. Kaneria collected it, noticed Martyn was out of his crease, and had a throw at the stumps. Martyn actually hit the ball, deliberately, with his bat.

The commentators believe it could be a case for obstructing the field, presumably because Martyn's focus was on preventing the ball hitting the stumps, rather than making his ground. No Pakistan player appealed though, so it was never tested.

Anybody really familiar with the laws on this? Does it come down to whether or not Martyn was in his crease when he hit the ball, or does it not matter?

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Ah ****. Langer goes for 97.

Why is everyone suddenly missing out on twin centuries all of a sudden? (Martyn in India as one example)

 

[Pratters]

Ian Chappell : "Langer misses a century by three and 'obviously' also misses the chance to score a centry in each inning by three runs"

Dude this guy never ceases to surprise me with his no pointers.

 

[Pratters]

Very interesting incident just now. Facing Kaneria, Martyn hit the ball back up the pitch. Kaneria collected it, noticed Martyn was out of his crease, and had a throw at the stumps. Martyn actually hit the ball, deliberately, with his bat.

The commentators believe it could be a case for obstructing the field, presumably because Martyn's focus was on preventing the ball hitting the stumps, rather than making his ground. No Pakistan player appealed though, so it was never tested.

Anybody really familiar with the laws on this? Does it come down to whether or not Martyn was in his crease when he hit the ball, or does it not matter?

If the fielding team had appealed, Martn would have been out 'obstructig the field'. Its one of the 10 ways a player can get dismissed in cricket match.

 

[vandemataram]

.

On song, this has to be the best fast bowling pair in world cricket today. If only they had better back up bowling.

Best????? australia are placed comfortably at 247 for 2 in second innings against the so called best attack.

 

[vandemataram]

Ch9 Just advised that Akhtar is going for a shoulder scan, and wont be bowling again today.

Whats the use of having a bowler that can't last a test match??

I think akhter should be dumped by PCB for good, someone like Umer Gul seems much better prospect for me.

 

[shaka]

Pakistans has the problem of not having guys who can be as successful as Akhtar and Sami, so for this reason they are not looking comfortable, especially as Akhtar hasnt bowled much today.