**Official** Pakistan in New Zealand (3 tests)

[Black_Warrior]

Umar Akmal has once again put the so called senior and experienced Pakistani batsmen to shame, namely Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Mallik. These two players have scored a lot of runs on flat decks and have been hailed by all and as a result they are under the illusion that they are actually great batsmen. I remember an angry interview given by Yousuf after he decided to join ICL where he was saying how he broke Viv Richards' record he said he was the best Pakistani batsmen ever as his records speak for him. Well the problem is, he has never really batted like a champion outside the subcontinent, especially when the opposition seems to have a decent fast bowler in their line up.

 

[irfan]

Umar Akmal has once again put the so called senior and experienced Pakistani batsmen to shame, namely Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Mallik. These two players have scored a lot of runs on flat decks and have been hailed by all and as a result they are under the illusion that they are actually great batsmen. I remember an angry interview given by Yousuf after he decided to join ICL where he was saying how he broke Viv Richards' record he said he was the best Pakistani batsmen ever as his records speak for him. Well the problem is, he has never really batted like a champion outside the subcontinent, especially when the opposition seems to have a decent fast bowler in their line up.

Yea good post that. Umar looks like he will turn out to be a gun as his expansive strokeplay is likely to suit any number of flat pitches worldwide, however, his ability to still play his natural game convincingly despite the team situation is what's impressed me more as that suggests he has got a fantastic temperament which stands out in a batting lineup full of fair weather/FTB batsman (aside from Kamran).

 

[AaronK]

@ Black Warrior

I agree..yousuf has never been the best Batsman..

I have always rated Inzi as the best Pakistani batsman.. I may not like his personality but his batting and his talent and his approach to his game was phenminal.. this umar kid reminded me of Inzi at his young and prime.. speciall when he played that three pull shots of bond's over..Now to early to rate umar as good as Inzi.. but he is certainly heading the right direction..

 

[straw man]

Bond

Great innings by Umar - without him and his brother Pakistan would be up the creek.

We can hopefully get the last three and still have a 100 run lead - though NZ of recent times have made a habit of failing with the bat when in a good position. Pakistan certainly have some momentum.

Most of all, just hoping the rain stays away.

 

[straw man]

87.4
Vettori to Umar Gul, OUT, Gul asks for a review, Vettori tosses it up on middle and off and the ball straightens and clips his front pad, Taufel raises the finger, replays don't reveal any inside edge and Virtual Eye says the ball would have just missed the stumps, it appeared at first that the ball was hitting the stumps so fair call from the umpires

Umar Gul lbw b Vettori 6 (11b 1x4 0x6) SR: 54.54

What did people think? Fair assessment? I wonder whether Gul thought he hit it or whether he thought it was missing. Interesting that the prediction shows the ball missing but the third umpire obviously didn't think there was enough evidence to overturn the on-field decision.

 

[Days of Grace]

You might as well appeal anyway if you still have appeals left in the bank at 7 down.

The big question will be how Bond feels when he wakes up tomorrow morning after having bowled probably the most overs he has bowled in a match for over 2 years.

 

[AaronK]

^ i agree.. considering the history of his injuries...it will be a huge blow if he gets injured..

 

[Craig]

The commentator on cricinfo was already calling for Umar Akmal to get the ICC Emerging Player of the Year. The boy does look a bit special.

 

[Xuhaib]

A batting position that Inzi owned for over a decade has been passed to Shoaib Malik this just summarises current state of Pakistan team.

 

[Flem274*]

You gotta be happy with the recovery though. We can go on about how NZ choked, but Umar and Kamran took a bit of a risk taking the attack to the NZ bowlers at 5/sfa and it paid of handsomely. If they bowl well in the second dig and cause a collapse (highly likely lets face it) they can win.

 

[Xuhaib]

You gotta be happy with the recovery though. We can go on about how NZ choked, but Umar and Kamran took a bit of a risk taking the attack to the NZ bowlers at 5/sfa and it paid of handsomely. If they bowl well in the second dig and cause a collapse (highly likely lets face it) they can win.

yeah was fantastic viewing especially Umer and Bondy. Don't think Pakistan is in with a shout with this batting line up, even if Kiwis collapse we will do the follow up collapse.

 

[Zinzan]

The review system has been an absolute success so far IMO, this despite Pakistan's poor use of the appeals. I just hope the ICC stick with it.

 

[Black_Warrior]

yeah was fantastic viewing especially Umer and Bondy. Don't think Pakistan is in with a shout with this batting line up, even if Kiwis collapse we will do the follow up collapse.

Yep totally..Fawad Alam, Imran Farhat and Khurram Manzoor are all technically deficient.
Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Mallik cant score outside the subcontinent..
What else can you expect.
Even last time they were all out for measly 190 odd in the first innings, only when Shoaib skittled out NZ for 100 odd runs in the second innings did Pakistan manage to win the match.

Btw, can someone explain the review system to me? So each team gets what 3 opportunities for review per innings?

 

[Blakey]

Great performance from the lad and batted like the others should on a very flat track. Really this should have been expected but great bowling from the Kiwi's have given them a huge edge and will definitely be looking to win from here.

Can't believe NZ fans here are playing an excellent bowling day down and predicting defeat. The sky is falling! Really sad.

 

[Athlai]

Very happy with that effort. Well done to Umar as well sounds like it was a great knock.

 

[Flem274*]

Great performance from the lad and batted like the others should on a very flat track. Really this should have been expected but great bowling from the Kiwi's have given them a huge edge and will definitely be looking to win from here.

Can't believe NZ fans here are playing an excellent bowling day down and predicting defeat. The sky is falling! Really sad.

It was excellent bowling on a flat wicket, but it was disappointing they got away a bit because like you said, this wicket is flat. getting them for under the follow on, which would have been a big possibility had we held all our chances (Flynn), would have made life so much easier.

 

[Uppercut]

New Zealand failing to capitalise again.

 

[Days of Grace]

It was excellent bowling on a flat wicket, but it was disappointing they got away a bit because like you said, this wicket is flat. getting them for under the follow on, which would have been a big possibility had we held all our chances (Flynn), would have made life so much easier.

But would New Zealand have enforced the follow-on, knowing that Pakistan would have probably batted a lot better second time around and the last thing we need is to have Bond bowling 3 days in a row.

 

[Somerset]

But would New Zealand have enforced the follow-on, knowing that Pakistan would have probably batted a lot better second time around and the last thing we need is to have Bond bowling 3 days in a row.

Not unless Pakistan collapsed in a terrible heap for 120 or so after being 5/85, so I doubt Vettori would've enforced the follow on if the follow-on lead was marginal, especially going into the match without a genuine specialist fifth bowling option.

 

[Shri]

I hate these flat tracks in New Zealand. Its stumps on day 3 and look whats happening, the second innings out of 4 isn't even over yet. These tracks are killing test cricket.