'Official' Pakistan in West Indies

[vic_orthdox]

Don't understand the hype over Edwards TBH, Ishant and Sree have better records than him but get tons of **** on here. Think his injuries have inflated his reputation a bit. His FC record is also pretty average.

He was crap for a long time, and picked when he was super raw. In the year or so before his injuries, he was bowling some really impressive stuff by the end of it.

 

[salman85]

Good stuff from Shehzad.Not his natural innings since he's a more attacking batsman than this,but he's been out of form and took his time to settle down and get a ton.

Ajmal was fantastic as usual.The stats won't tell you the complete story,but he is the real difference between the sides right now IMO.The WI batsmen have no idea how to play him.

Junaid Khan finally had a decent game,but not one that would suggest that he's one for the future.I think he'll play the next game and if Pakistan manage to wrap the series up,Sadaf will probably come in for the final two matches.I would welcome that move TBH.But i think it's fair to give Junaid one more game.

Anyway.personally what i like best about this team is the fact that they're not going in with the 'One bad match for a youngster,and you're dropped' strategy.They've identified a few talented players and they're giving them a decent amount of time to prove their worth.Shehzad being the prime example here.The Pakistan of yesteryear would have dropped him instantly after the the poor WC and we would have never heard of him again,but he's still here and he's played a match winning,albeit un-natural century.I think Junaid Khan will get a proper chance to prove his worth too.So will other guys like Usman Salahuddin if we win the 3rd match.I'm still waiting for Sadaf's inclusion in the team though.Hopefully it happens soon.Hopefully Hammaz Azam can get a chance to prove his worth too.I liked his bowling today,thought he generated decent pace.Let's see how he bats.

All in all,Pakistan is the greatest team on the planet.Haters can suck it

 

[Howe_zat]

I wouldn't say Ajmal is the difference tbh, it's more than just him. Pakistan have a much better all-round attack.

Other than that I'm right with you Salman, great post.

 

[Beamer]

Well played Pakistan, they are clearly the better team (unfortunately). We would be the underdogs even with Gayle, Sarwan, Shiv, Taylor and Edwards but without them it's not even a contest.

Still, Simmons appears to have bought a more mature approach to his batting which is good to see and Bishoo has been a joy to watch. I think we've found a truly world class spinner at last.

 

[salman85]

I didn't mean that Ajmal is the only thing that seperates the sides.I was merely implying that he has been the best bowler on either side for the first two ODIs.

Poor choice of words in my first post perhaps.

 

[smash84]

Good stuff from Shehzad.Not his natural innings since he's a more attacking batsman than this,but he's been out of form and took his time to settle down and get a ton.

Ajmal was fantastic as usual.The stats won't tell you the complete story,but he is the real difference between the sides right now IMO.The WI batsmen have no idea how to play him.

Junaid Khan finally had a decent game,but not one that would suggest that he's one for the future.I think he'll play the next game and if Pakistan manage to wrap the series up,Sadaf will probably come in for the final two matches.I would welcome that move TBH.But i think it's fair to give Junaid one more game.

Anyway.personally what i like best about this team is the fact that they're not going in with the 'One bad match for a youngster,and you're dropped' strategy.They've identified a few talented players and they're giving them a decent amount of time to prove their worth.Shehzad being the prime example here.The Pakistan of yesteryear would have dropped him instantly after the the poor WC and we would have never heard of him again,but he's still here and he's played a match winning,albeit un-natural century.I think Junaid Khan will get a proper chance to prove his worth too.So will other guys like Usman Salahuddin if we win the 3rd match.I'm still waiting for Sadaf's inclusion in the team though.Hopefully it happens soon.Hopefully Hammaz Azam can get a chance to prove his worth too.I liked his bowling today,thought he generated decent pace.Let's see how he bats.

All in all,Pakistan is the greatest team on the planet.Haters can suck it

Great post. awta

What do you think of Wahab Riaz's future though? I find Riaz a real gun. Xuhaib is not too impressed by him. I think with his SR he can be a real weapon for the future especially if he can bring down that ER.

Poor choice of words in my first post perhaps.

awta even more

 

[GotSpin]

Some real talent in those two, I don't think their problem is finding the raw talent, but it's in developing that potential into actual top class consistent performers. They do need to find more quality, they also need the experienced players to play a huge role in sharing their knowledge at this level and producing the kind of performances that mean the side are not too reliant on big contributions from the youngsters. That will be difficult in the ODI format as they seem to have expelled all experience from the side, but it will be vital in Test cricket.

The real problem is that Roach is continually forced to hold up the bowling attack by himself. I think he's a lot better in test matches anyway IMO. But he needs support, and having Sammy trundle in from the other end doesn't help.

Also, injuries and the relation between players and WICB has held the team back immensley

Just look at the current players not participating right now

Gayle
Sarwan
Shiv
Barath
Jerome Taylor
Fidel Edwards

The only positive thing has to be the performances of Bishoo.

 

[TT Boy]

Some real talent in those two, I don't think their problem is finding the raw talent, but it's in developing that potential into actual top class consistent performers. They do need to find more quality, they also need the experienced players to play a huge role in sharing their knowledge at this level and producing the kind of performances that mean the side are not too reliant on big contributions from the youngsters. That will be difficult in the ODI format as they seem to have expelled all experience from the side, but it will be vital in Test cricket.

Your right it doesn’t seem a problem. Amidst all this crap, the ongoing Gayle saga and ditching their best players, their U19 side just beat Australia and in the last U19 WC they reached the semi finals and they had the bowler of the tournament (Jason Holder). But how many of those talented kids will go on to bigger and better things? In 2001 West Indies U19s beat England in England, the guy who dominated the series, overshadowing the likes of Ian Bell and Chris Tremlett was Devon Smith, fast forward 10 years, Devon Smith is regarded as a joke while Bell and Tremlett are regarded as top cricketers.

Seemingly Marlon Samuels was a U19 batting prodigy. Yet even with two years out in the wilderness he is still the same mediocre cricketer we know him to be. What's the odds that Kraigg Brathwaite will be another Devon Smith?

 

[Xuhaib]

another efficient performence. This series (atleast the odi's) is all about allowing young players to find their feet at the top level and so far it is achieving its objective.

 

[Xuhaib]

same thing happens with Pakistan. I think the problem is these young players come in a dressing room which is always in turbulance and hence gets lost in the shuffle.

 

[smash84]

same thing happens with Pakistan. I think the problem is these young players come in a dressing room which is always in turbulance and hence gets lost in the shuffle.

With the WI I don't think it is the dressing room issue. That problem seems to be peculiar to Pakistan only.

The WICB seems to be a bit like the PCB. The management seems to take some very silly decisions at time.

 

[salman85]

Great post. awta

What do you think of Wahab Riaz's future though? I find Riaz a real gun. Xuhaib is not too impressed by him. I think with his SR he can be a real weapon for the future especially if he can bring down that ER.

I think he's OK.I have phases where i'm impressed by him,and phases where i loathe him.With no Shoaib and Amir now,he's here to stay and looks most likely to support Gul in the attack for the future,unless ofcourse Junaid and Sadaf turn out to be good enough to kick him out.

 

[vcs]

Another good win for Pakistan. I thought they were struggling to pace their innings properly at one stage, but seem to have recovered pretty well.

 

[smash84]

Another good win for Pakistan. I thought they were struggling to pace their innings properly at one stage, but seem to have recovered pretty well.

agreed. Pacing the innings has been a problem for quite some time and it seems that it will continue to be so

 

[Woodster]

Pakistan ensured a very comfortable conclusion to the game with a sensible innings from Ahmed Shehzad, who did well to maintain his concentration and discipline. When he was around 40-ish (his S/R at that time was just above 50), he looked to be really struggling to find the gaps or boundaries, I personally thought a rash shot was inevitable, but he knuckled down, gradually got back to timing the ball and played a mature innings without giving away a good start that he'd made. It was impressive stuff.

Misbah played a little gem of an innings too, he ensured Shehzad didn't feel the pressure too much by keeping the board ticking, his run a ball 43 went seemingly unnoticed.

Was disappointed by Kemar Roach's return spells, he was decent in his opening burst of five overs, but when he returned his pace was down and his threat nullified by sensible batting. Bishoo was once again on target and remains one to watch for the future, and I think the WI management will be pleased with what they saw of Anthony Martin's darting leg spinners, there was little spin for him, but on that pitch he was difficult to get away.

A professional performance from the visitors, who always looked in control during the chase.

 

[smash84]

Pakistan ensured a very comfortable conclusion to the game with a sensible innings from Ahmed Shehzad, who did well to maintain his concentration and discipline. When he was around 40-ish (his S/R at that time was just above 50), he looked to be really struggling to find the gaps or boundaries, I personally thought a rash shot was inevitable, but he knuckled down, gradually got back to timing the ball and played a mature innings without giving away a good start that he'd made. It was impressive stuff.

Misbah played a little gem of an innings too, he ensured Shehzad didn't feel the pressure too much by keeping the board ticking, his run a ball 43 went seemingly unnoticed.

Was disappointed by Kemar Roach's return spells, he was decent in his opening burst of five overs, but when he returned his pace was down and his threat nullified by sensible batting. Bishoo was once again on target and remains one to watch for the future, and I think the WI management will be pleased with what they saw of Anthony Martin's darting leg spinners, there was little spin for him, but on that pitch he was difficult to get away.

A professional performance from the visitors, who always looked in control during the chase.

Interestingly enough Misbah couldn't do that in the semi-final.........cost Pakistan the WC

 

[Woodster]

Interestingly enough Misbah couldn't do that in the semi-final.........cost Pakistan the WC

Yes that was certainly one of Misbah's more confusing innings in that semi-final. Yesterday though without any real eye-catching strokeplay he was already nearly 30 and looking in control. Just what Pakistan needed at that point to avoid any jitters towards the end of the innings.

 

[smash84]

you must be really looking forward to the Eng-Ind series this summer??

 

[Woodster]

you must be really looking forward to the Eng-Ind series this summer??

Absolutely, am already in the process of booking as much of that series off work as is possible. First up for us though is Sri Lanka, and it's important we continue the momentum we've built up with the Ashes victory with a good solid win against SL. Looking forward to the WI-Pakistan Test series, although as ever, I am hugely disappointed with it only being a two-Test series.

Apart from a Pakistan series victory, what are you hoping to see from this Pakistan side in the upcoming two Tests ?

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Great post. awta

What do you think of Wahab Riaz's future though? I find Riaz a real gun. Xuhaib is not too impressed by him. I think with his SR he can be a real weapon for the future especially if he can bring down that ER.



awta even more

Xuhaib is looking out for another Wasim, Waqar or an Amir, that is why he isn't much impressed. He'll just have to put up with the Wahab's and Junaid's because I don't think we'll uncover another gem for at least 5 more years.

I was also thinking of going to the England-India tests at Edgebaston but the prices are a bit expensive if someone wants to attend all 5 days. Maybe the prices might go down.

@ Woodster, I'm hope for Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq to get their maiden test centuries. I also want Junaid Khan to perform well with a five wicket haul, and would like to see Sadaf Hussain and Usman Salahuddin to get a chance at playing at least one test match.