***Official*** Pakistan in England

[SJS]

As long as you have to let Rikki Clarke (legend that he is) bowl the 49th over, you can have Kevin Pietersen filling up all five top order batting spots, you still won't stand a chance.

A side which has to have Sajid Mehmood as a leading bowler should be pitied and not castigated.

 

[Steulen]

You mean the guy who got the cramps on an English september evening?

 

[TT Boy]

Hmm Pietersen:

At 6 : 112 runs @ 56
At 5 : 581 runs @ 116.2
At 4 : 521 runs @ 34.73
At 3 : 77 runs @ 77

I really do think that stats tell a story there.

Sure they do and he scored three tons in that position but his currently are best one day player and I always believe get your best players in early. Pakistan have the advantage of having a world class middle order, so Inzy can afford to come in at five, we don’t. Because even if are boys ‘survive’ the first fifteen overs. The likelihood is, the run rate will be substandard and numbers three and four, Bell and whoever are not going to improve it much.

With Flintoff coming back, KP at three is a more realistic proposition because you have the knowledge that there is at least one more cricketer left who can hit a ball. As it goes at the moment with KP coming at three and if by chance he does go early (the downside), the innings will just meander along with Collingwood and Dalrymple. Who play the spin of Afridi and Hafeez as if they will playing Saqlain in pomp.

 

[silentstriker]

Tim Bresnan?

He said it was hard, not impossible. But the English would be up to the challenge.

 

[Barney Rubble]

It appears Pietersen may well open the batting for England tomorrow. Hmmm.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/5322948.stm

 

[open365]

Tim Bresnan?

Note, he's not playing anymore, and neither should Saj.

 

[open365]

KP opening the batting?

Waste of our best player, i agree with keeping him at 5.

I know that in most cases you should get your best players in early but i think KP would do bbetter at 5 when he can play against the spinners and have a greater chance of being there at the end where he can do serious damage.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

It appears Pietersen may well open the batting for England tomorrow. Hmmm.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/5322948.stm

I'm going to rant furiously if Joyce isn't selected now.

What on earth was the point of picking him for ONE solitary ODI - against his native country no less - then promptly leave him out of all consideration afterwards, thus ruling him out of playing in the World Cup at all?

 

[Barney Rubble]

I'm going to rant furiously if Joyce isn't selected now.

What on earth was the point of picking him for ONE solitary ODI - against his native country no less - then promptly leave him out of all consideration afterwards, thus ruling him out of playing in the World Cup at all?

Chill, Hakon. If KP opens with Strauss, Joyce is almost a dead cert to bat at four.

 

[silentstriker]

KP opening the batting?

Waste of our best player, i agree with keeping him at 5.

I know that in most cases you should get your best players in early but i think KP would do bbetter at 5 when he can play against the spinners and have a greater chance of being there at the end where he can do serious damage.

ONe of the best thing to happen to Indian ODI side in the 90's was Sachin became an opener. You do want your most destructive player up there.

 

[Barney Rubble]

ONe of the best thing to happen to Indian ODI side in the 90's was Sachin became an opener. You do want your most destructive player up there.

Things are complicated somewhat when you only have one batsman, though.....

 

[steds]

Things are complicated somewhat when you only have one batsman, though.....

Yeah. Collingwood can't open from both ends...

 

[aussie]

So how come he's been so much more successful when coming in at 5 and being able to play himself in during the "down" period between 20odd and 30 before unleashing an onslaught?

even so thre is no need IMO to keep him @ 5, if you think so who would be your top 4 in England ODI team?

 

[open365]

ONe of the best thing to happen to Indian ODI side in the 90's was Sachin became an opener. You do want your most destructive player up there.

But that's Sachin though, Kp is a different type of player and one who i don't think is bet served opening the batting.

I hope he does well tommorow and that i'm proved wrong(though one performance either way doesn't really prove anything) but i think his aggressive nature will get him out a lot more when he opens than when he bats lower down.

Sachin is a special player, he had a hell of a lot more ability than Kevin does, and Sachin is one of those players that i think scores quickly because he is good, not because he is especcialy agressive, if you get my drift.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Yeah. Collingwood can't open from both ends...

 

[Barney Rubble]

Tresco's troubles

 

[marc71178]

even so thre is no need IMO to keep him @ 5, if you think so who would be your top 4 in England ODI team?

At the moment, I'd go with Cook, Bell, Strauss and Joyce in some order if it means Pietersen can bat where he has proven time and again to be his most effective.

Probably it'd be
Cook
Joyce
Bell
Strauss

 

[marc71178]

Hearing on 27th and 28th then.

Interesting to read the comments from Malcolm Speed about the tampering charge - of course if it is proven, can we expect a deluge of apologies on here?

 

[Fusion]

Hearing on 27th and 28th then.

Interesting to read the comments from Malcolm Speed about the tampering charge - of course if it is proven, can we expect a deluge of apologies on here?

And if it isn't, can we expect a deluge of criticism of Hair?

 

[Sanz]

And if it isn't, can we expect a deluge of criticism of Hair?

I dont trust the Asians.