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

[Jono]

I think the key was Afridi is not an opener, and should never open an innings. He's much better off down the order, doing what he did today. The batsman should get the runs, and Afridi should be left to get as many runs as he can, in whatever fashion he can, in the last 10 overs.

That was very entertaining.

 

[Sehwag309]

I think the key was Afridi is not, and should never open an innings. He's much better off down the order, doing what he did today. The batsman should get the runs, and Afridi should be left to get as many runs as he can, in whatever fashion he can, in the last 10 overs.

That was very entertaining.

Bob basically must have called him...and told him, u r crazy man..u just wanna hit sixes and get out up the order..just sit tight, come down the order and go wild

If it works, fanstastic, if not..we took a chance

 

[Beleg]

Good game. Great to see Inzamam carrying over his ODI form from India. I still think 272 is very gettable, uncle Shoaib wrecks some good havoc in the aussie ranks. [And no Gillie! the saving grace of aus]

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Geez Afridi has talent!

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

If it was a perfect yorker it would have hit the base of the stumps.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Good game. Great to see Inzamam carrying over his ODI form from India. I still think 272 is very gettable, uncle Shoaib wrecks some good havoc in the aussie ranks. [And no Gillie! the saving grace of aus]

Gilchrist has the lowest averages among the Australian top order! People are making far too big a deal out of his presence. They scored 301 the other day without Gilchrist doing anything but use a few balls.

 

[Eclipse]

If it was a perfect yorker it would have hit the base of the stumps.

It would have hit the base of middle...

didn't you see it ?

 

[Eclipse]

Gilchrist has the lowest averages among the Australian top order! People are making far too big a deal out of his presence. They scored 301 the other day without Gilchrist doing anything but use a few balls.

yeah but he has been avrageing around 40 or something in the last 2-3 years.. and at well above his carear strike rate of 94..

 

[Beleg]

McGrath isn't the king of yorker anyway, so his perfect yorker isn't necessarily as perfect as Wasim Akram or Waqar Younis'. [Besides being a few k's slower] :P I wanted to watch this match so match, kept awake till 4:30 A.M, but somehow or the other sleep overtook me at that point. Next I know 47 overs have been bowled and I am staring at Pakistan 6-230 odd.

To those who watched the whole game: how did Butt play? And did Inzamam look in really good touch?[Meaning plonking the ball at will and stuff]

 

[Zinzan]

Imagine Afridi and Cairns in Partnership and running hot in the last 10 overs.....maybe 150 could be on

 

[Beleg]

Gilchrist has the lowest averages among the Australian top order! People are making far too big a deal out of his presence. They scored 301 the other day without Gilchrist doing anything but use a few balls.

Gichrist is their deadliest batsman hands down. He can score quickly, he can score at any venue, he isn't predictable which makes it hard to ball at him and if he gets out for a quickfire 30, it sets a positive tone to the innings, a mental attitude which can be helpful for the players. And he can whack them like no one else, be it Shoaib or Hafeez.

 

[Tim]

Afridi is best utilised when Pakistan have a platform of say 200/4 or 5 off 40 overs. He doesn't seem to need much time to settle so he can come in at #6 or #7 and play his natural game against an older ball.

 

[Jono]

McGrath isn't the king of yorker anyway, so his perfect yorker isn't necessarily as perfect as Wasim Akram or Waqar Younis'. [Besides being a few k's slower] :P I wanted to watch this match so match, kept awake till 4:30 A.M, but somehow or the other sleep overtook me at that point. Next I know 47 overs have been bowled and I am staring at Pakistan 6-230 odd.

To those who watched the whole game: how did Butt play? And did Inzamam look in really good touch?[Meaning plonking the ball at will and stuff]

Butt and Inzamam were both fantastic. Butt's dismissal was very soft, but he was batting well. Inzamam took a little while to get going, but when he did he just kept hitting it into the gaps like a baby could do it, it looked so simple. In the end, Inzy's dismissal was almost a blessing because it brought Afridi to the crease.

 

[Tim]

I think Gilchrist's presence has a huge influence on the opposition.
You can be rest assured the Pakistan bowlers will be feeling alot happier seeing Brad Haddin walk out than Gilchrist (despite the fact that Gilchrist only has an average of 32)

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

It would have hit the base of middle...

didn't you see it ?

But it didn't. Therefore it wasn't a perfect yorker.

 

[Jono]

Gilchrist has the lowest averages among the Australian top order! People are making far too big a deal out of his presence. They scored 301 the other day without Gilchrist doing anything but use a few balls.

You are totally underestimating what a 60 off 9 overs can do to a fielding team. It totally demoralises them, and even if Gilly does throw away his wicket, that start is crucial.

And WI don't exactly have an Akhtar do they? I'm not saying Australia's top order will fail, but if Akhtar can get a few early wickets, I'd give them much more of a chance at victory. And those early wickets could come with less runs on the board since Gilly isn't there.

 

[Slow Love™]

I think Gilchrist's presence has a huge influence on the opposition.
You can be rest assured the Pakistan bowlers will be feeling alot happier seeing Brad Haddin walk out than Gilchrist (despite the fact that Gilchrist only has an average of 32)

I thought it was closer to 36 or so... Agree with the rest though. Any team would breathe a sigh of relief and consider themselves a better chance with no Gilchrist to wreak havoc and set up the Aussie innings.

 

[Tim]

I think a perfect yorker can also save runs though.
But considering in this case that Afridi hit a 4, it's questionable whether it was a perfect yorker.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

yeah but he has been avrageing around 40 or something in the last 2-3 years.. and at well above his carear strike rate of 94..

And I'm fairly certain the rest of the top order has been going at at least as much, if not more.

 

[Dydl]

Why are we still talking about the yorker that McGrath bowled?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I think a perfect yorker can also save runs though.
But considering in this case that Afridi hit a 4, it's questionable whether it was a perfect yorker.

I believe a perfect yorker is unplayable. Whether it be circumstance or the brilliance of the delivery, an unplayable yorker is perfect.