***Official*** Pakistan in England

[Steulen]

I don't think there's a better sight in current cricket than Pakistan's opening bowlers operating. They were once again utterly brilliant. And it's not just the seam and swing movement they're getting in helpful conditions (though it's a fair question why England bowlers seem incapable of it, bar Jon lewis of all people), but their impeccable line and length which makes them so outstanding. It seemed Asif just missed the outside edge every other ball.

 

[simmy]

They were incredible.

Could have made for a great test series if both teams were at full strength as I didnt think the English batters were overly tested.

I can't see Eng winning a single one day all summer now

 

[Laurrz]

Asif/Akhtar

are just as good as when

McGrath/Lee are operating

two best bowling openers for me

 

[social]

England's problem in the ODIs are all selection related.

An attack of Gough, Lewis, Broad, Dalrymple, Collingwood, Clarke etc is simply not international class.

They should simply play their test attack as virtually every other nation does.

 

[SJS]

How can we be so useless?

Believe me, THATS the easy bit. It comes so naturally to England.

Kidding. I am just as disappointed at the appaling display by England.

 

[Jono]

Asif you ripper!

The fact that Pakistan have my two favourite bowlers in world cricket opening their bowling is unbelievable. If only they played the tests

 

[Nate]

What a class opening pair. Can`t wait to see them against a decent line-up mind.

 

[Run like Inzy]

The test series could've been so different with those two playing. And just wait till Rana starts finding his form too....

 

[Magrat Garlick]

England's problem in the ODIs are all selection related.

An attack of Gough, Lewis, Broad, Dalrymple, Collingwood, Clarke etc is simply not international class.

They should simply play their test attack as virtually every other nation does.

You mean Harmison (crocked), Hoggard (7-an-over), Flintoff (crocked), Jones (crocked), Mahmood (accuracy issues), Plunkett (likewise) or Panesar (can't field or bat)?

 

[BoyBrumby]

I can't see Eng winning a single one day all summer now

You're clearly forgetting plucky little England surprising the mighty Irish...

 

[marc71178]

They should simply play their test attack as virtually every other nation does.

And that would help how exactly at the moment?

The only experienced fit quick we have is Hoggard.

 

[marc71178]

The test series could've been so different with those two playing.

And by the same token, England were also missing their main bowlers, so the losses were fairly equal in their effect.

 

[social]

You mean Harmison (crocked), Hoggard (7-an-over), Flintoff (crocked), Jones (crocked), Mahmood (accuracy issues), Plunkett (likewise) or Panesar (can't field or bat)?

They rarely pick all their test bowlers even when fit.

Hoggard is a much better bowler than when he was an ODI regular

Jones very rarely played.

Panesar should play now - u say he cant field or bat, how does that justify including a guy who cant bowl in his place?

Mahmood, Anderson and Plunkett need experience - let them bowl in as many meaningless ODIs as are available

Guys like Gough, Dalrymple and Lewis arent doing the job and are probably incapable of ever doing so

Results have proven that Eng's policy of selecting bits and pieces players doesnt work.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Guys like Gough, Dalrymple and Lewis arent doing the job and are probably incapable of ever doing so

I'll give you Gough & Dalrymple, but you can't really fault Lewis's performance yesterday. The pitch might've been designed for his style of bowling, but it was a decent effort for mine, much as I'm not really a fan of his.

 

[marc71178]

Hoggard is a much better bowler than when he was an ODI regular

And yet every time he's been tried when he's been this better bowler he's still been useless in ODIs...

 

[TT Boy]

Hoggard is a much better bowler than when he was an ODI regular

Results have proven that Eng's policy of selecting bits and pieces players doesnt work.

Though his performances in India would suggest otherwise…

Results also show that picking the test team does not help either.

 

[IndianByHeart]

Never seen an umpire declaring a ball "no-ball" when it clearly wasn't one, that was very poor umpiring by Doctrove.Had England got rid of Younis early then England might have created an upset in the match.Overall Pak played better and deserved to win.

 

[Steulen]

Never seen an umpire declaring a ball "no-ball" when it clearly wasn't one, that was very poor umpiring by Doctrove.Had England got rid of Younis early then England might have created an upset in the match.Overall Pak played better and deserved to win.

At least he can't be accused of anti-subcontinental bias.

 

[open365]

Never seen an umpire declaring a ball "no-ball" when it clearly wasn't one, that was very poor umpiring by Doctrove.Had England got rid of Younis early then England might have created an upset in the match.Overall Pak played better and deserved to win.

I don't think getting rid of Younis would have really helped that much because Inzy looked on fire today and even if he got out cheaply they still had Yousuf, Afridi, Razzaq and Akmal which would have been enough IMO.

And if anyone says Hoggard should in the one day team again, i'm going to flip.

Scoial, how can you say Plunket and Mahmood deserve to be in the side? How they got this far is a mystery to me, Plunkett looks like an average county bowler at best, and Mahmood was playing for Lancashire seconds last year, and from what i can see hasn't improved very much.

 

[open365]

Never seen an umpire declaring a ball "no-ball" when it clearly wasn't one, that was very poor umpiring by Doctrove.Had England got rid of Younis early then England might have created an upset in the match.Overall Pak played better and deserved to win.

Meh, it was close, personaly i think the call was a bit harsh but i don't see how you can say it clearly wasn't a no ball, you had to check the slow motion replays about 5 times and even then it wasn't entirely clear.