***Official*** Pakistan in England

[Scaly piscine]

TBF you kinda provide Strauss's defence yourself there; as you point out Monty really isn't much cop with the bat (to put it politely), so I imagine Strauss thought he'd keep our destiny in our own hands & make a fairly positive declaration. Psychologically speaking it must be better to call a halt yourself than be forced off by being dismissed.

Do you honestly think Monty would've lasted long?

Given he smashed 26 in a match before anything is possible - now something like that WOULD have a psychological effect. Declaring just makes yourself look like a tit when the inevitable happens and Pakistan's middle order continues its run-fest against England.

 

[superkingdave]

think we could be in real trouble if we don't get Afridi early. If they get close i can quite easily see us collapsing to Kaneria and Afridi in the second innings and Pakistan cruising home

 

[Scaly piscine]

The declaration was correct. Making Pakistan bat with an hour, hour and a half to go in the day is a completely different scenario to making them bat a quick 20 mins at the end and then still have the openers at the crease the next day. The uncertainty of the first situation helped create those three wickets, virtually four with the inclusion of the verylateeveningwatchman.

Overall today was Pakistan's, however England are still in contol of this test. If they can get the final 3 wickets for no more than 50 more runs, a lead of around 70-80 would be very handy indeed. Then bat the rest of the day and see if Pakistan can chase 350-ish on a last day wicket.

20 overs wasn't that awkward (it's practically a full session by modern over rate standards) and given Bell and Panesar would have been chancing their arm, to reduce that 20 overs to 'a quick 20 mins at the end' they'd have scored another 100 runs anyway (which is very unlikely obviously) which would have just saved getting those runs in the second innings (a very good thing)

 

[Scaly piscine]

We only had one wicket left, you would have bemoaned Strauss if Bell and Panesar spent an hour at the crease adding only twenty more runs. The declaration was correct IMO, considering the innings had already lost it's potency.

Though I agree with your point in regard to Monty Panesar thought he was very average today. We all know Mohammad Yousuf is one of the finest players of spin in world cricket, his made far better spinners (Shane Warne) look very ordinary but Panesar was completely useless today (how many times did he drop the ball short) even KP was getting more turn and bounce. Could be a hard long summer for Monty.

Hopefully spent at Northants.

Monty shouldn't have been needed at all for England this season, but now the groundsmen have decided to nullify any home advantage he's still toothless.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

We all know Mohammad Yousuf is one of the finest players of spin in world cricket, his made far better spinners (Shane Warne) look very ordinary

Just curious as to when this happened? Yousuf has an awful record against both Australia and Sri Lanka, the top three bowlers against him in terms of dismissals are all spinners in Murali, Kumble and MacGill, and he's only made runs against Warne a couple of times. The most notable time (111 in 04/05 at the MCG) was in a test in which Warne dismissed him in both innings.

Yousuf is a fine player quite a lot of the time, and much improved in the last couple of years, but his record against quality spin is somewhat lacking, India excluded.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Its amazing, a year ago Akmal was seen as a good keeper and just a usefull bat now he looks more like a batsman who can keep aswell.

Judge him on how he is in the Third and Fourth Tests. Wicketkeeping in England is not like wicketkeeping anywhere else bar NZ.

 

[TT Boy]

Just curious as to when this happened? Yousuf has an awful record against both Australia and Sri Lanka, the top three bowlers against him in terms of dismissals are all spinners in Murali, Kumble and MacGill, and he's only made runs against Warne a couple of times. The most notable time (111 in 04/05 at the MCG) was in a test in which Warne dismissed him in both innings.

Yousuf is a fine player quite a lot of the time, and much improved in the last couple of years, but his record against quality spin is somewhat lacking, India excluded.

You just mentioned it, the innings where he spanked Warne relentlessly over his head and got out after trying one big shot to many.
Also in respect to the comment regarding Mohammad Yousuf being a fine player of spin. Shane Warne had a Q&A at Hampshire a year ago, a question was asked best players of your bowling and he said the usual suspects but than said Yousuf Youhana primarily for that innings. Though he said he was always a threatening player to bowl against because of his ability to pick length effortlessly and his desire to attack spin. (Incidentally which Warne argued was his weakness because that overly aggressive nature to dominate the spin was usually his downfall not his inability to play it).

Though Faaip, I give you his failures against Murali, he can not read his doosra for love or money.

 

[FRAZ]

Asif returns home.

Congrats, series to England.

Dang it , Man this is serious ....... I always wanted to see Asif performing there ... The conditions in England are just perfect for a bowler like Asif . Great loss ,but one thing Sami will have to prove his worth and this is the best chance that Sami has . And I guess he should go for what he normaly does and that to bang the ball on the pitch. It is going to be more effective .

 

[Neil Pickup]

He should go for what he normaly does and that to bang the ball on the pitch. It is going to be more effective .

What he normally does is concede lots of runs and get no wickets.

 

[Sanz]

What he normally does is concede lots of runs and get no wickets.

Aren't you forgetting something ?? Something like saying 'Road Road'

 

[FRAZ]

If one will ask Afridi to change his style . Will he be effective ?
Sami's only strength that I could see was his pace and thats it .Now he seems like acting upon one advise that , "No matter what happens do not bowl a no-ball or a wide". So I guess he should go for the pace if he has some left in him ,because that is the only thing positive in his bowling otherwise he and Agrakar are like the same .

 

[SJS]

We only had one wicket left, you would have bemoaned Strauss if Bell and Panesar spent an hour at the crease adding only twenty more runs. The declaration was correct IMO, considering the innings had already lost it's potency.

Though I agree with your point in regard to Monty Panesar thought he was very average today. We all know Mohammad Yousuf is one of the finest players of spin in world cricket, his made far better spinners (Shane Warne) look very ordinary but Panesar was completely useless today (how many times did he drop the ball short) even KP was getting more turn and bounce. Could be a hard long summer for Monty.

At least he offered a change from the up, down, straight, short pich, half, volley, repitition of the rest of the attack.

I thought Inzy was the least active and unimaginative of all captains in the world. Strauss has made me think again.

 

[Xuhaib]

You just mentioned it, the innings where he spanked Warne relentlessly over his head and got out after trying one big shot to many.
Also in respect to the comment regarding Mohammad Yousuf being a fine player of spin. Shane Warne had a Q&A at Hampshire a year ago, a question was asked best players of your bowling and he said the usual suspects but than said Yousuf Youhana primarily for that innings. Though he said he was always a threatening player to bowl against because of his ability to pick length effortlessly and his desire to attack spin. (Incidentally which Warne argued was his weakness because that overly aggressive nature to dominate the spin was usually his downfall not his inability to play it).

Though Faaip, I give you his failures against Murali, he can not read his doosra for love or money.

Most of his games against Murali were a while back.

 

[superkingdave]

hmm, doesn't look good imo, body language this morning screams "please don't hit me afridi"

 

[superkingdave]

and the perfect bowler for him Hoggard is on, expect fireworks

 

[BoyBrumby]

Pretty decent LBW shout there from Hoggy. Hawkeye had it going down, but I thought it was out first up.

Very defensive field tho. Giving Afridi too much respect IMHO.

 

[Fusion]

What a nervous start by Afridi.

 

[BoyBrumby]

He won't die wondering, will he?

Wonder if Strauss puts a third man in now?

 

[Fusion]

Even Yousaf playing risky shots now!

 

[Fusion]

Man that slow-mo shot of the ball hitting Afridi on the thumb looks PAINFULL.