**Official**VB Series 2005 Australia,Pakistan,West Indies.

[roseboy64]

It's Australia! We were batting under lights! Do you not watch West Indies cricket?

Yes but I thought we'd at least get past 200.

 

[roseboy64]

The WI bowling figures wasn't so much a surprise but the batting let me down a bit.

 

[garage flower]

Finally worked out how to wrap quotes so here goes:

I'd prefer Sarwan at 4 actually, as I think Chanderpaul is also an excellent finisher and he's more reliable in a crisis. That is, of course, if Chanders isn't opening. If he's not opening the batting, I think Marshall should be. Let the young man bat in his position and let Hinds do the same.

I just feel that Sarwan is capable of scoring quickly straightaway if required, whereas Shiv, as we know, can take a while to get going. I'm inclined to agree with Marshall opening.

Kind of harsh on Dillon there. Yes, he was terrible, but that shouldn't rule him out of the series. He's still one of the bowlers with experience in Australian conditions and he's had good success there in the past. They MUST go with a 3-seam attack next time around and Collins MUST play. Not sure what fear the selectors seem to have of picking Collins in ODIs. He's arguably our best seamer.

With Dillon it's the attitude as much as the actual performance (or lack of it) that irritates me. I know he's a laid back character and often appears to be giving less than 100% even when he's on song, but on Friday he just seemed to be putting the ball down rather than really bowling it. Also seems to have lost some fluency with this change of action. I wonder whether Collins is still paying for the Klusener "catch" in the World Cup! Has to play if he's fit and could have been just the man to deal with the right-handers at the top of the Aussie order.

In fairness to Bravo, his real struggles have been against the spinners and batting where he does he'll be doing a lot of a) getting in against spinners, and/or b) hitting quick runs. I think he'd fair better up the order, so that he's set by the time the spinners are on. However there's no space for him there right now.

Fair point - he looked all at sea aginst Giles in the Summer and couldn't get it off the square against Hogg. Perhaps ought to try using his feet to get to the pitch, but that would have been risky on Friday with Hogg turning it both ways.

I actually envision Samuels getting a score very soon, but Hinds is like Trescothick in my eyes. I never expect him to score runs, even when he's doing so.

I know what you mean about Hinds and hope you're right about Samuels. I'm still not convinced that he's a star in the making with the bat, though he bowled and fielded very well.

 

[Beleg]

any predictions about tommorow's match?
what team do you folks think pakistan should field?

 

[roseboy64]

Of course that's the only way Samuels could be a star.Hi bowling and fielding are good but his batting his the main reason he's selected and will be if he's dropped.

 

[Tom Halsey]

I'd be highly surprised if Pakistn win tomorrow.

 

[bryce]

The one he got Sarwan with was average at best. The Marshall delivery was more outstanding IMO.

looked to me like all he could of done was leave it or snick it

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

looked to me like all he could of done was leave it or snick it

Exactly. He should have left it. It wasn't threatening his stumps at all. Marshall's was a better delivery.

 

[bryce]

yeah it was, but the point i was trying to make at that pace it's quite difficult to judge whether to play it as you could see with sarwan being in two minds even though it was a fair way from his off stick

 

[Tom Halsey]

It's Australia! We were batting under lights! Do you not watch West Indies cricket?

Still, certain shots were not the best.

 

[Jono]

Fielding Hoggy. Haha

Lehmann won't be too happy.

 

[Slow Love™]

I'd be highly surprised if Pakistn win tomorrow.

Naaaah, really?

Although at 4/186 in the 41st with Inzy and Youhana set, this could develop into an interesting match, yet...

 

[Jono]

Go Afridi! GO GO!

 

[cric_manic]

he's played some amazing shots off mcgrath and lee

 

[Tim]

The shame about Afridi is that he'll probably now go on to score less than 10 in his next 5 innings.

 

[Zinzan]

I did always wonder how Afridi had the best six per match ratio in the history of one-day cricket having not seen much of him.

After that innings, I now know.

That was up in Cairns proportions

 

[Sehwag309]

Heheh, AHEM!..so the chances of AUS winning this one (sounds odd and weird to write)

Should be a fantastic game but no fireworks w/o Gilly

 

[Sehwag309]

I did always wonder how Afridi had the best six per match ratio in the history of one-day cricket having not seen much of him.

After that innings, I now know.

That was up in Cairns proportions

Kudos to Bob W. who basically had defined his positon and role

Applying it beautifully..

 

[Eclipse]

Geez Afridi has talent!

That four he hit off McGrath down the ground was off an absoulutely perfect yorker, never seen that done before..

 

[Slow Love™]

That was some exciting hitting from Afridi. I couldn't help laughing when he was 36 off 15 balls or so, and Lawry was berating him for "mucking around" because he missed a shot or two.

Having said that, some intelligent bowling in his final two overs from Lee, particularly given how rampant Afridi was. He mixed it up, followed him around the crease, and bowled a nice little slow one in that last over that could have easily bowled him (I still dont' know how he quite made contact with that one).