'Official' Pakistan in West Indies

[Athlai]

Sammy at least applying some pressure here, I know he has detractors, I for one don't think he should be in the side, and while he is not looking too threatening he must keep things tight from his end.

He isn't the worst player in the world and can bring a half decent line and length to the table, but he certainly isn't one of West Indies Test bowlers on merit alone.

 

[Howe_zat]

Sammy at least applying some pressure here, I know he has detractors, I for one don't think he should be in the side, and while he is not looking too threatening he must keep things tight from his end.

Not that tough to bowl tight when the batsman are shutting up shop before lunch. Nothing overly bad from Sammy to be fair, but there's been no real threat either, as expected.

 

[Woodster]

Not that tough to bowl tight when the batsman are shutting up shop before lunch. Nothing overly bad from Sammy to be fair, but there's been no real threat either, as expected.

Yes, but I'm not sure they were looking to lunch from eight overs out, so that might be a tad unfair to say they were looking at being ultra cautious to Sammy. Had he given anything loose I'm sure they'd have looked to jump all over it, the fact was he didn't offer anything too loose at all.

But I agree there wasn't much threat, and his real tests lie ahead.

 

[Xuhaib]

tbh this windies attack is pretty decent even with Sammy, you rarely need more then 3 good bowlers to win a game.Bishoo is awesome Roach is always a threat and i am really starting to rate Ravi he might even be the best seamer in WI on current form.

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

I just got back from work and managed to catch the highlights of the morning session. I like what I see. Two names are worthy of mention.

I had seen Bishoo in the one-dayers and was very impressed. On this track, I look ahead to see how much purchase he can get and trouble the batsmen. An attacking leg-spinner who gets genuine drift and turn is meant for winning Test matches. One hopes that T20 and over-participation in ODIs don't kill this guy's natural talent.

This is the first time I've seen Azhar Ali in action. His technique looks good and one punch through covers in particular was marvellous (in Richie Benaud's accent). The guy's balanced on the crease and unlike many of his team-mates seems to realise the virtue of patience and the good old adage of playing each ball on its merit.

Post-lunch session should be very interesting!

 

[slowfinger]

Dodgy wicket much :L Misbah proving incapable :L Azhar looking solid
EDIT: Azhar gone :L

 

[Howe_zat]

Impressive collapse this. Bound to be a very low scoring match this, those 50 runs from the Windies tail could well prove the difference.

 

[Cevno]

Sammy picked up 2 wickets.

What happened?

Pakistan screwing up here.

 

[vcs]

OMG Bishoo looks awesome.

And Sammy's actually pulling his weight for once. Pretty good wicket-to-wicket bowling by him. Think Umar Akmal should play his natural game here and try and take the attack to Bishoo as it's bound to be a low-scoring game.

 

[vcs]

Got to overturn that! C'mon third umpire... and it's out!

 

[vcs]

Bishoo's figures - 7-2-12-2

The most impressive thing about him is not just the regular wicket-taking balls he's producing, and the number of times he's beaten the outside edge, but also that he's hardly bowled a poor ball, or a half-tracker. Pakistan's batsmen not using their feet to him has also helped him settle nicely into a good length.

 

[Howe_zat]

My my, this pitch is an absolute minefield.

Full credit to Bishoo for exploiting it - and for scoring more runs than half the Pakistan batsmen...

 

[slowfinger]

ok. defeat

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

My God, Bishoo's looking magnificent. How long have we waited to see a quality leg-spinner in action in Test cricket? Admittedly, he is not bowling against a very good batting line-up but the skill level is definitely there.

Is there any resident spin expert on this site? What do you make of this guy? Just curious.

 

[Cevno]

The Pakistan batsman are making this pitch look worse than it is ,tbh.

It is not a great surface to score quick runs on and is one where you have to grind your runs ,but the way they are approaching this is poor.

Might as well show some intent.

 

[Howe_zat]

Bishoo's Test batting average is more than double his bowling average, what a cricketer!

 

[Austerlitz]

Wow i'm on my way to be a bishoo fan.
Only now if he can add a flipper to his armoury and if his team can give him some good totals to defend with.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

We needed Moyo and Younis for this match. Bishoo is too good for the Pakistani batsmen, and they are also making Sammy look like a great bowler.

 

[smash84]

OMG Bishoo looks awesome.

And Sammy's actually pulling his weight for once. Pretty good wicket-to-wicket bowling by him. Think Umar Akmal should play his natural game here and try and take the attack to Bishoo as it's bound to be a low-scoring game.

lol@ Pak batting. Awta that Umar Akmal should play his natural game.

The Pakistan batsman are making this pitch look worse than it is ,tbh.

It is not a great surface to score quick runs on and is one where you have to grind your runs ,but the way they are approaching this is poor.

Might as well show some intent.

Good analysis. Pak can make any pitch look like a minefield tbh

 

[vcs]

The Pakistan batsman are making this pitch look worse than it is ,tbh.

It is not a great surface to score quick runs on and is one where you have to grind your runs ,but the way they are approaching this is poor.

Might as well show some intent.

Yeah, got to say a couple of very ordinary leaves in there. But WI have hardly bowled a poor ball and very few run-scoring opportunities have been given. Akmal now starting to manufacture a few gaps now. He could really take the game away quickly if he hangs in there for a while. And there's the short ball from Bishoo after he dances down the track.