***Official*** Pakistan in England

[adharcric]

A lot of people don't want Razzaq as the third seamer in the test side, but are the other options really that great? With Asif spearheading the pace attack and Kaneria as the specialist spinner, two seamers can be accomodated. For me, you've got to choose between Gul, Sami and Razzaq (with Rana and Shoaib out). Gul and Sami are more like strike bowlers, but I'm not sure about their current form and Razzaq could be a handful in English conditions.

 

[tooextracool]

The fact that Afridi isn't a fantastic ODI bowler proves my point even more. That Afridi is so much better than Razzaq when it comes to bowling (much more useful, keeps it tighter, more likely to take a wicket, has much more variety) shows just how woeful Razzaq has become.

I know your stance on Razzaq's ODI batting and I agree with it, but there was a post where you claimed Razzaq > Afridi in batting and bowling, and I disagreed, saying there was no way he was a better bowler. I don't think Razzaq should ever bowl more than 5 overs in ODIs anymore UNLESS he is keeping it tight. I probably rate Astle and Styris alongside him nowdays.

that as it maybe, their bowling records are not too dissimilar. Razzaqs bowling record has been somewhat tarnished in the last year and a half for whatever reason, but a year and a half or so ago, he was still putting in perfectly decent all round performances. As such i was hoping that he would continue to perform in that manner, and considering that his bowling in tests recently have been better than his usual standards and that hes still only 27 i only consider it to be a temporary loss of form.

 

[aussie]

I don't think Razzaq should ever bowl more than 5 overs in ODIs anymore UNLESS he is keeping it tight. I probably rate Astle and Styris alongside him nowdays.

Nah even if Razzaq has declined a lot with the ball he is still a bit more effective with the ball than these two especially in conditions that assist swing bowling i.e the recent IND/PAK test.

 

[Xuhaib]

Scrappy start but i will give them the benefit of doubt since it was their first game on tour.

In defence of Razzaq, his bowling form in test cricket has been pretty good for the last one year probably the best he has ever bowled but still it could be a risk playing him as a third seamer.

 

[marc71178]

The England 'A' side look about 2 bowlers short IMO:

R Key (capt), A Cook, R Bopara, I Bell, O Shah, J Dalrymple, T Bresnan, C Read (wkt), A Loudon, S Broad, M Hoggard.

 

[Jono]

Nah even if Razzaq has declined a lot with the ball he is still a bit more effective with the ball than these two especially in conditions that assist swing bowling i.e the recent IND/PAK test.

Yeah I know but I'm talking about ODIs, and IMO nowadays Razzaq cannot do the job of keeping it tight. He's fallen dramatically off the bandwagon in the bowling part of his game. Styris pretty much always does his job in ODIs.

 

[Rajeev]

Question -

The Tour Game between Scotland and Pakistan, was that an official ODI?

Scotlands ODI Debut?

 

[Jono]

I'd assume not, it didn't even have a third umpire.

 

[Rajeev]

Cricinfo says its ODI no. 2387

There is a points competition on a different website and members raised this issue, the MOD has decided to give the points but I wasn't so sure

P.S How you doin Jonathan

 

[Jono]

Not too bad mate, just watching some Wimbledon

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Scotland would have played an ODI before, didn't they make the 99 WC in England?

 

[Barney Rubble]

Scotland would have played an ODI before, didn't they make the 99 WC in England?

Scotland have played plenty of ODIs - they were indeed in the '99 WC.

 

[Rajeev]

Cricinfo says ODI No. and in howstat.com, I randomnly checked Youhana's batting graph and the last match happens to be v.s Scotland which he played yesterday so that means its official

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Cricinfo says ODI No. and in howstat.com, I randomnly checked Youhana's batting graph and the last match happens to be v.s Scotland which he played yesterday so that means its official

Yep. Scotland, Ireland, Netherlands, Bermuda, Kenya and Canada all have ODI status. So the European Championship this year will include 3 ODIs (and England isn't even playing...)

 

[James]

A Cricket Web Fantasy Cricket competition has been created for this series.

 

[a10khan]

Abdul Razzaq is a strange bowler. He's all over the place one day and absolutely bang on target the next. The guld between the "two Razzaqs" is huge. But he's been more of the latter in the last little while, mainly due to improved fitness levels and threat from other medium-fast bowlers to take his test spot. Also, the re-emergence of Afridi has meant that Pakistan can afford to drop one of the two all-rounders.

Abdul Razzaq to me was someone whose test career seemed finished 2 years ago but he's done a good job ever since under Woolmer. He has also become an extremely efficient lower mid order test batsman. He can block for hours and hours although doesn't really have the best of techniques.

On this tour he is extremely essentially, but as the 4th seamer and not the 3rd. If he plays as the 3rd then that'll make Pak's bowling look horribly shallow. But knowing Inzamam, he will play both all-rounders and keep all his batsmen as well which means Sami, Asif, Kaneria and Razaq. And unless both Asif and Kaneria click bigtime, that lineup will not be able to bowl England out twice IMO.

 

[wpdavid]

Less than 2 weeks to go, and I'm trying to work out how England will lineup sans Fred and given the "form" of our young quicks. I certainly can't imagine another allrounder at 6, so we're probably looking at 6-1-4.

Maybe:
Tres, Strauss, Cook, KP, Bell, Collingwood, Jones, Plunkett, Hoggard, Harmison & Panesar.

 

[GIMH]

Not a bad line-up, but Harmsion will need to be at his destructive best, and I see no evidence of that thus far

 

[wpdavid]

Not a bad line-up, but Harmsion will need to be at his destructive best, and I see no evidence of that thus far

Yup - with only 3 quicks, we can't afford to carry passengers like we did at various times during the Ashes. I don't see too many alternatives though.

 

[GIMH]

Hoggard is essential of course, and Collingwood and Bell will both have to bowl their fair share.