***Official*** Pakistan in England

[James]

I'd have guessed it's because we don't of a picture of Gul or Asif or anyone who did anything significant today, but there is one of Gul, maybe Harry just missed it or decided Sami was more appropriate for some other reason.

We do have a photo of Umar Gul, which I've changed it to.

I'm sure Harry had his reasons

 

[Fusion]

I was watching the recording of the day's play, when I hear the most heartbreaking news: Sally, the gorgeous Npower blond, said this was her last day!! She got me through those trying days of Pak crap bowling and stupid batting collapses! Oh well, at least now I have some exciting cricket to watch (from Pak’s perspective).

 

[honestbharani]

Well i was going by the actual results and i really think by actual results there is no clear cut #2. In terms of players quality and team depth i will be the first person to admit that we are behind both Engand India.

Pakistan is def. not behind India as a test team, AFAIC. Not THIS Indian test team.

 

[honestbharani]

Where is the 3rd test match link?

The 3rd test wasn't a docile batting track.

 

[Swervy]

Admittedly not that hard when you're competing with Harmison, niggly Hoggard and Collingwood/Bell.

silly comment to make when you consider both Harmison and Hoggard are ranked in the top 10 in the world at the moment, and are probably in the top 2 of new ball pairings

 

[Swervy]

Does anyone?

yeah they do!!!

For me, I think he has got a hell of a lot potential.

 

[honestbharani]

Asif really must make a difference to this attack, Akhtar, Asif, Gul, Kaneria looks pretty good to me when fully fit.

throw in Naveed there as well. He can be expensive but he does pick up important wickets.

 

[adharcric]

throw in Naveed there as well. He can be expensive but he does pick up important wickets.

Absolutely. Rana Naved and Umar Gul are both solid first-change seam options. I'd take Naved on most occasions because of his batting. Razzaq really doesn't belong in a full-strength Pakistan team because of the standard of these guys.

Malik-Farhat-Younis-Yousuf-Inzamam-Afridi-Akmal-Naved-Akhtar-Asif-Kaneria, with Hafeez/Hameed, Iqbal, Razzaq and Gul as reserves. Damn good.

 

[aussie]

Absolutely. Rana Naved and Umar Gul are both solid first-change seam options. I'd take Naved on most occasions because of his batting. Razzaq really doesn't belong in a full-strength Pakistan team because of the standard of these guys.

Malik-Farhat-Younis-Yousuf-Inzamam-Afridi-Akmal-Naved-Akhtar-Asif-Kaneria, with Hafeez/Hameed, Iqbal, Razzaq and Gul as reserves. Damn good.

What about Asim Kamal as another back-up batsman surprised he hasn't played for Pakistan list early last year, because from what i saw of him a middle order of Younis/Yousuf/Inzi/Kamal looks brilliant.

 

[adharcric]

What about Asim Kamal as another back-up batsman surprised he hasn't played for Pakistan list early last year, because from what i saw of him a middle order of Younis/Yousuf/Inzi/Kamal looks brilliant.

I was considering including him as well, but he doesn't seem to be in the frame of things at the moment for some strange reason. He looked to have an excellent temperament when he was given an opportunity but he probably has to wait till Inzy retires for a genuine chance. Afridi will probably occupy that #6 spot because of his bowling and his craziness.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

silly comment to make when you consider both Harmison and Hoggard are ranked in the top 10 in the world at the moment, and are probably in the top 2 of new ball pairings

And that means they've been bowling well, right?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

yeah they do!!!

For me, I think he has got a hell of a lot potential.

Potential doesn't make you ready for Test cricket. Everyone in the West Indies team has potential...

 

[Tomm NCCC]

Covers are off, play has started

 

[alternative]

Anyone know what happened to Hafeez Overnight that he was shown retired hurt on Cric Info..

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Some leg muscle ailment mefinks.

 

[Beleg]

Pakistan are in a commanding position going into lunch. Too bad Farhat lost his cool and wasn't able to get to hundred.

 

[wpdavid]

silly comment to make when you consider both Harmison and Hoggard are ranked in the top 10 in the world at the moment, and are probably in the top 2 of new ball pairings

Is Harmison really in the top 10? He wasn't last time I looked, although admittedly that was before the Old Trafford test. As for Hoggard, his place in the top 10 says as much about standards elsewhere at the moment as it does about his own form. imo both are in danger of becoming one-trick ponies that are over-dependent on conditions that won't crop up very often nowadays. Hoggard's been poor for most of the summer, and Harmy's been poor for most of the last 20 months.

I can't see that they're in the top 2 new ball pairings. Aus will be better with McGrath & anyone simply because of Mcgrath's excellence. Pakistan's first choice top 2 are better - let's face it, Asif has completely shown them up in this test. Ntini's current form must make SA a better prospect with the new ball too.

For years, we've been told that England's main need is a decent spinner. Well, we probably have one of those now. One day people will wake up to the fact that what we now need is a better pair of opening bowlers.

 

[andyc]

It is absolutely dead quiet out there in the crowd. They're all either asleep or stunned at England's inadequacies

I didn't know Nick Borcich was English

 

[silentstriker]

Pakistan is def. not behind India as a test team, AFAIC. Not THIS Indian test team.

Agreed. It pains me to say this, but India can never be a solid #2 team without a better pace bowling attack. Come to think about it, I don't really mind Pakistan being #2, or SL. Subcontinental bias, I guess.


Anyway, India has the better batting, but Pakistan has better bowling and overall they are easily better than India at the moment.

 

[Beleg]

Rain halts play.