***Official*** Pakistan in England

[TT Boy]

Fantastic win nevertheless, good to see Panicstan is alive and well.

 

[TT Boy]

Here’s hoping Pakistan play Mohammad Asif or even Shoaib Akhtar in the dead rubber, got tickets for the Saturday and Sunday at the Oval. Thought of seeing Sami lead the line, makes me want to venture onto E-Bay.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Throughly professional job by us, I thought. I have to say tho that 4 run-outs in a test is very disappointing for any team, Inzi or no Inzi.

Increasingly more impresssed with Monty. Starting to think the boy really is the real deal.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I'd like anyone to look at that delivery which Monty bowled Younis Kahn with, and say Monty shouldn't be in the team with a straight face.

What idiots have been saying that? He's clearly England's best bowler right now, given that Hoggard's got a niggle.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

True, but I imagine as soon as Gilchrist comes in it will be Hoggard and Freddie time with the ball.

But Panesar is going to have to confront him at some stage surely. Gilchrist is good enough that the Flintoff/Hoggard reverse swing trick won't account for him quickly every time he bats.

 

[BoyBrumby]

What idiots have been saying that? He's clearly England's best bowler right now, given that Hoggard's got a niggle.

Step forward the guilty man:

 

[silentstriker]

 

[TT Boy]

But Panesar is going to have to confront him at some stage surely. Gilchrist is good enough that the Flintoff/Hoggard reverse swing trick won't account for him quickly every time he bats.

Realistic prospect that the Australian wickets will be conducive to reverse swing? Seen most of Australia's home series in the past years or so and I can not remember it reversing much if any. I'm sure an Australian poster will be more informed however.

Panesar could be a good threat in Australia. They’ve had problems against SLA's before though the cynic in me could see one or two of the Aussie batsman giving him some real stick, especially Hayden (if Hoggard does not snare him early).

 

[Beleg]

Congragulations England on a deserved win.

Regarding second place, well, don't forget Sri Lanka...

 

[pasag]

Realistic prospect that the Australian wickets will be conducive to reverse swing? Seen most of Australia's home series in the past years or so and I can not remember it reversing much if any. I'm sure an Australian poster will be more informed however.

Hussey doesn't think so:

Reverse swing won't be as crucial
Michael Gleeson

AUSTRALIAN conditions were such that reverse swing would not be as significant in the coming Ashes series as it was in England, Australian Test batsman Mike Hussey said yesterday.

"I don't think it (reverse swing) will be as big a factor," Hussey said. "The balls are different, the conditions are different."

Australian grounds did not scuff the balls as much and the softer balls and varied humidity to England meant it did not reverse swing as much here, he said.

"In the past, I don't think too much notice was given to reverse swing, but we're certainly starting to try to practise against it more and use it more in the nets," Hussey said.

"So the bowlers probably got the jump on the batsmen a little bit by really working on it and using it as a weapon. Now, hopefully, the batters can fight back by becoming better players of reverse swing."

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Step forward the guilty man:

I don't think he's been anti-Monty. He just wants some more depth to his game. It doesn't mean he's not a fan. Brian Lara once told Dwayne Bravo that he has to start scoring runs if he wants to remain in the West Indies team as an allrounder. Lara's always been a fan of Bravo.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Realistic prospect that the Australian wickets will be conducive to reverse swing? Seen most of Australia's home series in the past years or so and I can not remember it reversing much if any. I'm sure an Australian poster will be more informed however.

Not really, but then reverse swing has been cropping up all over the world where it wouldn't typically be. Without the asset of reverse swing, England's bowling attack looks even less fearsome.

Panesar could be a good threat in Australia. They’ve had problems against SLA's before though the cynic in me could see one or two of the Aussie batsman giving him some real stick, especially Hayden (if Hoggard does not snare him early).

The key to Panesar down under will be how he holds his head when the batsmen attack him. They will undoubtedly go after him, and whether he can continue to bowl in the same manner under that kind of pressure will make or break him.

 

[PY]

After OT, he didn't even say that Monty had bowled well. I can understand keeping the lad's feet on ground but honestly, it left a sour taste in the mouth given Fletcher's fascist-like tendencies when it comes to selection of Gilo.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

After OT, he didn't even say that Monty had bowled well. I can understand keeping the lad's feet on ground but honestly, it left a sour taste in the mouth given Fletcher's fascist-like tendencies when it comes to selection of Gilo.

There was an interview in the Times this Sunday with Panesar that indicated to me that he thrives on the manner in which he's being handled by Duncan Fletcher. I'm not one to second guess Fletcher. Fantastic coach.

 

[UncleTheOne]

After OT, he didn't even say that Monty had bowled well. I can understand keeping the lad's feet on ground but honestly, it left a sour taste in the mouth given Fletcher's fascist-like tendencies when it comes to selection of Gilo.

This was exactly what I thought, seemed like he didn't want to talk Monty up because he already has Giles pencilled in for the Ashes. But can you imagine if one of his favourite multi-taskers like Plunkett had taken the wickets, he'd have been foaming at the mouth.

 

[PY]

There was an interview in the Times this Sunday with Panesar that indicated to me that he thrives on the manner in which he's being handled by Duncan Fletcher. I'm not one to second guess Fletcher. Fantastic coach.

He is and I'm very grateful for what he's done for England but it doesn't stop him from annoying the crap out of me sometimes with his stubbornness.

They were saying on TMS this afternoon that there's talk that during the selection process for OT, Fletcher only agreed to let Monty play if Jones played too. You'll remember that Dalrymple (or however you spell it ) was sent home the day before the Test began and there were lots of rumours all week surrounding him.

 

[superkingdave]

England should bat Monty at no9 at the Oval and give him Hoggards nigh****chman duties if required. Criticism has been levelled at his batting but he's done a decent job a number of times already in his test career and i think Hoggard takes his batting role in the side for granted at the moment and needs some impetus to get back to Hoggard the batsman of 18 months ago.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

He is and I'm very grateful for what he's done for England but it doesn't stop him from annoying the crap out of me sometimes with his stubbornness.

They were saying on TMS this afternoon that there's talk that during the selection process for OT, Fletcher only agreed to let Monty play if Jones played too. You'll remember that Dalrymple (or however you spell it ) was sent home the day before the Test began and there were lots of rumours all week surrounding him.

The way I see it, Fletcher's taken the hard line with Panesar. He's basically said, get in or I'll get you out. The pressure has been on Monty from the start to repay the hype and live up to the enormous expectations, and I think that he needs that kind of pressure. Had it been a more low key entry into Test cricket, I don't think he's the kind of bowler who would have met it with success.

I'm not saying that this is all part of Fletcher's masterplan, but I believe that he's seen Panesar as one who has to prove something and is basically forcing him to prove it. He's essentially forcing him to become a superstar.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

England should bat Monty at no9 at the Oval and give him Hoggards nigh****chman duties if required. Criticism has been levelled at his batting but he's done a decent job a number of times already in his test career and i think Hoggard takes his batting role in the side for granted at the moment and needs some impetus to get back to Hoggard the batsman of 18 months ago.

Played a gorgeous cover drive in the second innings.

 

[no1_gangsta_786]

As a Pakistan supporter i am deeply disappointed by the performance in the second innings. Once again the openers did not set the platform for the middle order and some more idiotic running resulted in Mo Yousuf losing his wicket. Faisal Iqbal got out to a good catch but Akmal's poor series still going on. I was hoping to go to the fifth day of the Oval and watch Pakistan to play and hopefully level or win the series if they drew or won this match, but no point now. Also, does anybody know what has happened to Imran Nazir...my brother is always on about him opening for Pakistan...is he any good and what are his stats so far??