**Official** Pakistan in Australia Thread

[Gangster]

Thinking or even hoping that Afridi should open because he will score something while he lasts, is symbolic of all that is warped about the
pakistani establishments handling/understanding of what is required for test matches. Until the one day cricket and its difference from test matches is not understood, Pakistan's downward slide, particularly outside the sub continent will not be arrested.

Tests and ODIs are different. No one disputes that. But Afridi's Test Average is 32.5 and his Test bowling average is 31.47. That is a good bating average and a very good bowling average for someone who is an all-rounder. His average is certainly more than the other potential openers' averages, or around the same, and his high score of 141 can't be topped either. An opening combination of Butt and Afridi would be ideal: it's a left-hand/right-hand combination, they're both aggressive attacking openers in the mould of Matthew Hayden, and Afridi especially won't sit back and have the game be dictated to him. That's a critical quality, especially on tours, and especially on tours to Australia. The game cannot be dictated to you, or the game is already half lost.

 

[imranrabb]

yeah i think its a good idea to bring afridi in

 

[SJS]

Tests and ODIs are different. No one disputes that. But Afridi's Test Average is 32.5 and his Test bowling average is 31.47. That is a good bating average and a very good bowling average for someone who is an all-rounder. His average is certainly more than the other potential openers' averages, or around the same, and his high score of 141 can't be topped either. An opening combination of Butt and Afridi would be ideal: it's a left-hand/right-hand combination, they're both aggressive attacking openers in the mould of Matthew Hayden, and Afridi especially won't sit back and have the game be dictated to him. That's a critical quality, especially on tours, and especially on tours to Australia. The game cannot be dictated to you, or the game is already half lost.

I am not refrerring only to his attacking game. Thats the major issue. There are plenty of aggressive and successful openers in the world today. My worry is Afridi's , predominantly front foot batting. His defense of the backfoot is not great and in Australia, thats not ideal.

 

[Gangster]

I am not refrerring only to his attacking game. Thats the major issue. There are plenty of aggressive and successful openers in the world today. My worry is Afridi's , predominantly front foot batting. His defense of the backfoot is not great and in Australia, thats not ideal.

He's not the most technically ideal opener. But Woolmer should start thinking outside the box. Farhat's more technically sound, but how many runs did that get you? I know that's rather short-term thinking but Farhat's had chances before. So has Afridi, but I believe Afridi has more potential. Give him a try in Melbourne, if he makes two ducks, discard him. But I believe he'll pull a 50 off of 55 balls out of his magic hat.

 

[maxpower]

yeah i think its a good idea to bring afridi in

does PAK already need to gamble ? if so then yes bring afridi in, coz thats all you would be doing is taking a chance, with more chance of a failure and a big hope that he will play well.

 

[maxpower]

IMO the whole concept is stupid and ridiculous. i simply cannot understand why the fielding side is fined or used to be docked overs in ODIs because the batsmen wasted time between overs, calling for drinks and changing bats, or even if the ball was out of shape. is it really that hard to find out which players were involved in wasting time in the game and fine that player?

true, but it happens coz the match refrees have a very hard job to do!!! so keeping up with who waisted how much time is a very hard task added on to them, I hope ICC will make it simplified for them so using common sense will become easy.

 

[PAKMAN]

i say just keep farhat u just learn from your mistakes and the new guy will have the same problems he had in the first test

 

[Choora]

, Pakistan's downward slide, particularly outside the sub continent will not be arrested.

Actually away from subcontinent Pakistan have done relatively better as compared to what they have been doing while playing in Subcontinent!

 

[Choora]

i say just keep farhat u just learn from your mistakes and the new guy will have the same problems he had in the first test

He has NOT SCORED enough runs in any of the matches which Pakistan have played so far in Australia!

Farhat simply shouldn't play in the remaining 2 test matches atall.

 

[maxpower]

Actually away from subcontinent Pakistan have done relatively better as compared to what they have been doing while playing in Subcontinent!

True, PAK is the only team with better away record than home.

 

[Choora]

Afridi should open, he can do no worse than Farhat. If he actually played his natural game, he could be a Sehwag player, but he tempers himself in the tests and doesn't back his natural ability.

Yes he can't do worse than Farhat (noone can) but Pakistan should be looking for the best available option. I think the best bet would be Shoaib Malik for an opener and not Afridi.

Interestingly most of the ppl here wants to see Afridi in the next test match.The one big reason for which i want to see Afridi in is coz he's very enthusiastic and can lift the spirit of a side.Also i think he can be an effective bowler though i don't think he would met much success with the bat, however if he's lucky, he might get quick 30-40 runs.

 

[maxpower]

Shoaib Mailk is not on the team ? the dude is winning games for PAK left and right, what gives ?

 

[shaka]

isn't Shoaib Malik (according to the PWC rankings) in the top 5 all rounders in the one day game at the moment?

 

[Choora]

Shoaib Mailk is not on the team ? the dude is winning games for PAK left and right, what gives ?

Well basically he has been winning onedayers for Pakistan and not test matches.


I believe he is the only player that has drastically improved ever since BOB woolmer became the coach of Pakistan , for which Bob has been given enough credit.A month back many former Indian players (Sidhu,Maninder Singh,Ravi) were critisizing Indian coach ( John Wright ) saying that he has done nothing much for India while under Woolmer Pakistan was progressing.The whole argument was based on Pak's win in oneday matches against India and the improvement in Malik's play ever since Bob took over.
I just wonder what those players have to say now? now that Pakistan are struggling bady in Aus?

Its not that BOb has done a terrible job, but he and INZI made some terrible mistakes too for which Pakistan had to pay a big prize.Some of them were,

1 Dropping of Taufeq Umar , a much better opener than the one playing in Pak team right now ( Note : BOb had a big say in the selection of Pak team, this he had made clear that he would like to see when he was appointed the coach)

(now the news is that Taufeq is being considered to flown to Aus)

2 Opting for a non-batting WK in Akmal while Rashid and Moin were still available. Moin was not in the best of form (batting) but he is still a fighter and would have done much better than Akmal. Also both Rashid and Moin would have give valuable suggestion to Clueless captain Inzi when chips are down.

( now the news is that both are being considered for tri series)

3 Playing with totally messed up team composition. I mean on a pitch like Perth who would wanna go with just 5 regular batters, one allrounder and a non-batting WK??????????????? This is something which Pakistan did against SL recently and lost the test match. Woolmer admitted later that the team composition was wrong and that they made a mistake by not opting for specialist players. Yet he made the same mistake again.
I think its high time that Pakistan realise that just like any other cricket nation they too should have a specialist batsman comming in at number six slot.Whether the batsmen is Asim Kamal, Younis Khan or Hasan Raza, that is something that they need to figure out, but Abdur Razzak is certainly NOT ideal for an important number six slot.

 

[GotSpin]

3 Playing with totally messed up team composition. I mean on a pitch like Perth who would wanna go with just 5 regular batters, one allrounder and a non-batting WK??????????????? This is something which Pakistan did against SL recently and lost the test match. Woolmer admitted later that the team composition was wrong and that they made a mistake by not opting for specialist players. Yet he made the same mistake again.
I think its high time that Pakistan realise that just like any other cricket nation they too should have a specialist batsman comming in at number six slot.Whether the batsmen is Asim Kamal, Younis Khan or Hasan Raza, that is something that they need to figure out, but Abdur Razzak is certainly NOT ideal for an important number six slot.

yer the Pakistan battling line up seems rather small with only 5 good batsman and then a very very long tail that unlike the aussie one doesn't wag that much. Even though for India patel wasnt the greatest keeper he chipped in with 40, 50 which helps the team alot so other specialist batsmen have someone to hang around with

 

[GotSpin]

Also who to replace langer if his injured: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=18798

 

[Mister Wright]

Also who to replace langer if his injured: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=18798

It says in the article that Katich should replace Langer, which is feesable because he has opened before, and that's what I thought he would do when he moved to N.S.W.

The other candidates are Elliot (although, he's proved he's not test class against pace), Hussey & Maher.

 

[Mister Wright]

Katich has been brought into the side for the Boxing Day test as back-up for Langer & will open the batting with Hayden if Langer is not fit.

I think this is a bit strange. They've been looking to get Lee into the side, this is the perfect opportunity, surely he can get in their & open the batting & make up for all the runs he may conceed.

 

[shaka]

It'll be a big loss if he is unable to play, but will be a relief for Pakistan.

 

[Prince EWS]

My Pakistan Team:

Salman Butt - looked solid against the Aussies, and scored runs in the tour matches
Yasir Hameed - why hasnt anymore mentioned him as an opener? Hes definately better than Imran and Afridi!
Younis Khan - is in genuine good form lately
Yousuf Youhana - no explanation needed
Inzamam Ul Haq - no explanation needed
Shoaib Malik - has really improved of late, and deserves a spot
Abdur Razzaq - quality allrounder, and actually did decently at Perth compared to the others
Mohammed Sami - no explanation needed
Kamran Akmal - for lack of anyone else
Shoaib Akhtar - no explanation needed
Danish Kaneria - no explanation needed

Also, just for a matter of interest, how well did Younis Khan 'keep in those one dayers against Zimbabwe? Was he good enough to justify dropping Akmal and giving him the gloves, in order to pick another bowler?