'Official' Pakistan in West Indies

[Borges]

Rehman gets Baugh. Pakistan's spinners have been awesome today. They've given us a huge edge. How valuable does that last wicket partnership look now?

Yeah Pakistan have bowled well today, as did WI yesterday.

But to me this test so far looks like an exhibition of utter failure of batsmanship.

It's time now for the WI tail to show the way to the top order.

I just love watching Ajmal bowl.

I don't. Never have, never will. Marginally less of an eyesore than Botha, though.

Sorry, just seen the doosra in slo mo and I'd like to retract that.

To the naked eye, it looks really bad. Slo Mo just makes it look even worse.

 

[Howe_zat]

He's much more than an opener who bowls some handy off-spin.

If anything he's an offspinner who happens to open the batting.

Sorry, just seen the doosra in slo mo and I'd like to retract that.

Was spluttering into my diet coke when I read your original post.

I just assumed z was being sarcastic.

 

[BoyBrumby]

That's a beautiful lofted off drive straight down the ground from the skipper.

Absolutely ram-rod straight bat. Lush.

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

Good to see the skipper and Samuels show some intent. Allowing the spinners to get on top is what got them to 6-down in the first place. Samuels does look in very good touch right now. Just heard from Holding that he's been scoring heavily in domestic cricket. Yeah, the hunger (2 years out of cricket) and good form is visible.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Good to see the skipper and Samuels show some intent. Allowing the spinners to get on top is what got them to 6-down in the first place. Samuels does look in very good touch right now. Just heard from Holding that he's been scoring heavily in domestic cricket. Yeah, the hunger (2 years out of cricket) and good form is visible.

He's one of those very frustrating players who looks an awful lot better when one sees him in action that his stats would suggest. Think his prob is the bit between his ears.

Ha, fences at a wide nothing ball as I type to prove my point.

 

[Fusion]

That was a brilliant catch by Umer!

 

[Howe_zat]

Interesting discussion on why Riaz's wrist postion and isn't getting any inswing today when he's done it before. Seems more like Mitchell Johnson every day.

Ha! Just as I type this, Rameez brings up Johnson.

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

Some good comments from Ian Bishop on Riaz's action. He does look to slant the ball across and the wrist position isn't classically upright like Akram's or Vaas' or even Irfan's.

Too many left-armers seem to be slanting the ball across the right-hander nowadays instead of trying the keep an upright wrist so as to give themselves the maximum chance of swinging it both ways. Mitch Johnson is a classical example and no wonder he has little or no control over his inswingers.

 

[Fusion]

Gritty, valuable fifty for Samuels.

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

Interesting discussion on why Riaz's wrist postion and isn't getting any inswing today when he's done it before. Seems more like Mitchell Johnson every day.

Ha! Just as I type this, Rameez brings up Johnson.

Beat me by a minute. I should have also mentioned Zaheer as one with a lovely wrist position there.

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

He's one of those very frustrating players who looks an awful lot better when one sees him in action that his stats would suggest. Think his prob is the bit between his ears.

Ha, fences at a wide nothing ball as I type to prove my point.

Very true. But I see something very positive here. After two years in the wilderness, Samuels looks to be hungry for runs and that wasn't a term (run-hunger) that I would have used for Marlon, say five years back.

The half-century he just completed is an example of that new-found application. I've just seen the glimpse, but if this man applies himself well and delivers what he is capable of, sky is pretty much the limit for him. Let's hope that another immensely talented West Indian doesn't sell himself short in the long run.

 

[salman85]

I take back everything i've said about Tanvir.

Tanvir > Bradman + Richards + Marshall + Warne + Imran

 

[Howe_zat]

Misbah simply cannot catch. Shocking.

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

Looks like the old Samuels has finally managed to kill the new one. Ah! Do some things never change?


Second great catch of the innings for the hosts. Amazing!

 

[salman85]

Misbah is God!

Anyway who says anything against him is Satan after 11 shots of Tequila.

 

[Fusion]

Misbah keeps dropping sitters while others around him take difficult chances. Samuels gone.

 

[salman85]

You're Satan.

Pakistan to will win this and draw the series.

GO GREENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Prince EWS]

Misbah simply cannot catch. Shocking.

He was, by all reports, an excellent slipper in his prime. I think he's just struggling to let go of what's clearly not 'with him' at this age.

 

[Howe_zat]

Misbah is God!

Anyway who says anything against him is Satan after 11 shots of Tequila.

I don't like tequila much, but I can confirm that I am satan.

 

[Borges]

That too was a fine catch. Looked quite cleanly taken to me.