***Official*** Pakistan in England

[wpdavid]

Nasser: those four deliveries were rubbish

(discussing Hoggard's first over while looking at the Hawkeye pitch map)

Well, he had a point - allowing a new batsman to leave 4 out of 5 deliveries isn't great bowling. My earlier comment about a decent start was immediately after the first ball of the over.

 

[SJS]

Well, he had a point - allowing a new batsman to leave 4 out of 5 deliveries isn't great bowling. My earlier comment about a decent start was immediately after the first ball of the over.

He should have been bowling round the wicket to the left hander and made him play. Its amazing how so many bowlers just dont seem to be able to bowl from both sides of the wicket in modern day cricket.

 

[Steulen]

Well, he had a point - allowing a new batsman to leave 4 out of 5 deliveries isn't great bowling. My earlier comment about a decent start was immediately after the first ball of the over.

Oh, I totally agreed with what he said. It was just so typically Nasser to not hold back on an opening bowler who had just done a wicket maiden in the first over of the fourth innings in a match where there's just 80 overs available to take all 10.

 

[andyc]

I really do hope Pakistan decide to go for it, cause they certainly don't seem to be right now. I guess that, given Woolmer's comments of it being a 'new-ball pitch,' they may just be trying to see off the new ball before going for it. I just hope Afridi comes in while I'm still up

 

[wpdavid]

He should have been bowling round the wicket to the left hander and made him play. Its amazing how so many bowlers just dont seem to be able to bowl from both sides of the wicket in modern day cricket.

Agreed on your second point. But he was bowling to Iqbal, who's a righthander.

 

[Steulen]

Ah, and now a rerun of the GBH 7/12. Good job, Nasser

 

[SJS]

1.6 Harmison to Imran Farhat, no run, short outside off, left alone by Farhat
Three slips, two gullies and a short-leg. Right on the attack, England
1.5 Harmison to Imran Farhat, no run, touch straight, Farhat drives fluently if a touch uppishly and it’s squirted to fully
1.4 Harmison to Imran Farhat, no run, fuller and quick, again, rapped on the pad – big appeal from the slips but it’s drifting down leg. Good start this, by Harmison
Short-leg comes in
1.3 Harmison to Imran Farhat, no run, very controlled run-up by Harmison who appears to be jogging, rather than sprinting. This one pitches on leg and cuts slightly away from the batsman, hit on the pad
1.2 Harmison to Imran Farhat, no run, bouncer, very quick, left-hander flicks and misses
1.1 Harmison to Imran Farhat, no run, fuller, just outside off and left alone by the left-hander

Thats his first over all six balls od it.

 

[SJS]

Sorry. Misunderstanding. I meant Harmison.

 

[wpdavid]

I really do hope Pakistan decide to go for it, cause they certainly don't seem to be right now. I guess that, given Woolmer's comments of it being a 'new-ball pitch,' they may just be trying to see off the new ball before going for it. I just hope Afridi comes in while I'm still up

It's a fair approach. Neither Hoggard or GBH are likely to do much with the older ball, so seeing them off before picking up the pace after lunch isn't such a bad idea.

 

[wpdavid]

Sorry. Misunderstanding. I meant Harmison.

Oh right. Yes, you'll get no disagreement from me about GBH's inability to make batsmen play often enough.

 

[silentstriker]

I really do hope Pakistan decide to go for it, cause they certainly don't seem to be right now. I guess that, given Woolmer's comments of it being a 'new-ball pitch,' they may just be trying to see off the new ball before going for it. I just hope Afridi comes in while I'm still up

There is no WAY they are going for it. The required run rate is five runs an over. They aren't doing that. If they get close, they know England will just slow down the over rates. Either way, they aren't making it.

 

[wpdavid]

There is no WAY they are going for it. The required run rate is five runs an over. They aren't doing that. If they get close, they know England will just slow down the over rates. Either way, they aren't making it.

Granted it's unlikely, but I'd only query whether England slowing down the over rate would affect anything. Bad light won't be a factor until about 21.00 hours.

 

[wpdavid]

You can see why Strauss was cautious - most of what we're seeing from the England bowlers is awful. GBH didn't show up yet again, Hoggard isn't making them play, and Plunkett's been all over the place in his first over. Not very good at all.

 

[Steulen]

You can see why Strauss was cautious - most of what we're seeing from the England bowlers is awful. GBH didn't show up yet again, Hoggard isn't making them play, and Plunkett's been all over the place in his first over. Not very good at all.

It's all going down leg...well, most of it.

 

[wpdavid]

Amazing what happens when you make them play - 2 down.

 

[Scaly piscine]

They are not just batting but playing clown cricket.

The reason they are batting is due to how poorly they played in the last session yesterday. They were not aggressive enough and were not in a position to delare overnight.

Its rubbish really and is driving me a little crazy.

Yep, depriving themselves of a second new ball by simply not bothering to attack is just so unprofessional as far as I'm concerned. England should not give Pakistan an inch, but they've given them a mile with the tentative rubbish last night.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Time to prove you're worth your place Monty...

I hope KP gets a fair bowl.

 

[wpdavid]

Well, I reckon we need 3 wickets as an absolute minimum to keep the game alive this afternoon.

 

[silentstriker]

Monty is bowling very well.

Its unfortunate that so far he has only played India - SL and Pak...which are all good players of spin. It would have been better for him to get some experience before being faced with that.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Monty is bowling very well.

Its unfortunate that so far he has only played India - SL and Pak...which are all good players of spin. It would have been better for him to get some experience before being faced with that.

He's also fortunate he's had so many very spin friendly wickets to bowl on. He was abject in the first innings and if he can't take 5 wickets on this there's just no point picking him.