***Official*** Pakistan in England

[shankar]

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

Not sure we have the better batting either. There's Dravid and Sehwag - But if Sachin continues to struggle in tests, with Yuvraj and Kaif yet to step up, our line-up looks very shaky.

 

[silentstriker]

Not sure we have the better batting either. There's Dravid and Sehwag - But if Sachin continues to struggle in tests, with Yuvraj and Kaif yet to step up, our line-up looks very shaky.

Yea, its definatly not as clear cut as it was two years ago. But IMO we still hold the edge. I don't know if it remain for long.

Sehwag-Dravid-Tendulkar in full form will pretty much rival any batting line up. Laxman has a lot of class, and I hope he makes a comeback.

 

[Jono]

Pak > India easily with Asif and Shoaib. Easily.

Man I am so ****ed off I missed Thursday's play! Argh shattering. Asif is probably my favourite non-Indian player at the moment, just love the way he goes about his cricket, not to mention how unbelievably talented he is. Without a doubt will be a star, I made a prediction somewhere that he'll be the #1 fast bowler (or was it top 3, hope its top 3) by 2008. Looking damn possible considering how often he's churning out these performances.

If Asif, Shoaib, Freddy and Simon Jones played, this series would have exceeded expectations. Sad it didn't happen

 

[Fusion]

Great century by Yousaf! Those early drops really costing England now.

 

[Beleg]

Yousuf has now scored more then 600 runs in this series and still has two innings left.

Does anyone know the record for a four test series?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Yousuf has now scored more then 600 runs in this series and still has two innings left.

Does anyone know the record for a four test series?

712. Kallis v West Indies, 2003-04.

 

[Langeveldt]

Whats with this vomit inducing filth during the drinks interval that they call music..

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

How lacklustre to England look? I've never been a huge fan of Harmison, but he looks as bad right now as he did in South Africa in 04/05. Real worry there with the Ashes coming up. Hoggard also looks a shadow of the bowler that he's been over the last couple of years (Ashes excluded, somewhat). They were making the Pakistan batting look absolutely unstoppable today.

 

[Beleg]

This Pakistan team really is enigmatic. The way they catipulated on the fifth day at Leeds is in stark contrast to the way they have batted here, in pretty similar conditions. (though admittedly not as much pressure)

 

[Fusion]

This Pakistan team really is enigmatic. The way they catipulated on the fifth day at Leeds is in stark contrast to the way they have batted here, in pretty similar conditions. (though admittedly not as much pressure)

And therein lies the problem doesn't it? Eliminate that inconsistency and you have IMO the second ranked team in the world, without question. But we do have that inconsistency…and hence the doubts about whether we can be called the second best team and challenge Aus for the top spot.

 

[Beleg]

I think the problem at this stage lies not with talent or its application but mental toughness. Inzamam just isn't a good enough motivator.

 

[Fusion]

So let's say that they're unable to play much more today due to bad light. What's Pak's strategy tomorrow? Play till all wickets are gone and build a massive lead, and hope not to bat again? Or give themselves enough time to possibly bat again by declaring at a set total tomorrow?

 

[Xuhaib]

There is no clear cut 2nd ranked team and once McGrath and Warney retires then there will be no clear cut top ranked nation, it will all boil down to conditions and injuries.

 

[Beleg]

So let's say that they're unable to play much more today due to bad light. What's Pak's strategy tomorrow? Play till all wickets are gone and build a massive lead, and hope not to bat again? Or give themselves enough time to possibly bat again by declaring at a set total tomorrow?

Defnitely try to bat only once. They'll try to get a lead of 300+ and get england out. In any case, we'll see England batting after tea tommorow, weather permitting.

 

[silentstriker]

There is no clear cut 2nd ranked team and once McGrath and Warney retires then there will be no clear cut top ranked nation, it will all boil down to conditions and injuries.

Thats a lot of speculation. Australia will stop being #1 when they stop winning, not when specific players retire.

 

[TT Boy]

How lacklustre to England look? I've never been a huge fan of Harmison, but he looks as bad right now as he did in South Africa in 04/05. Real worry there with the Ashes coming up. Hoggard also looks a shadow of the bowler that he's been over the last couple of years (Ashes excluded, somewhat). They were making the Pakistan batting look absolutely unstoppable today.

Well the one day games start soon so the bowlers have to get into there grove of bowling short and wide. Harmison and Mahmood perfecting the technique to an art form.

On a serious note they were a complete shower of **** today and it was a perfect illustration on how England can not go into the Ashes with only four bowlers. As you say a real concern with the Ashes approaching. Especially with Hoggard who can not even bowl line and length now it would seem and when he does bowl a good ball, it usually gets dropped.

 

[Tomm NCCC]

Yeah, we were hammered today, but its little more than can be expected.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Day two report now up:

http://www.cricketweb.net/article.php?CategoryIDAuto=1&NewsIDAuto=2295

 

[aussie]

I think after today i'm convinced England are going to play 5 bowlers in Australia.

 

[TT Boy]

Yeah, we were hammered today, but its little more than can be expected.

Why because the series was already in the bag?

If so, there is nothing to suggest that this current bowling line up would have faired much better if the game had more significance. The batsman can have a few excuses but the bowlers deserve nothing but harsh criticism and it is good to see players such as Matthew Hoggard are candid enough to realise what has occurred today and yesterday is not good enough.