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

[Mr Casson]

You're right he has only opened twice, but the first time he opened he got a duck following a duck in his previous match - that is where I got mixed up.

He opened once against Sri Lanka for a duck and the other time he opened he scored 102* his two times at three he has scored 16, one against Sri Lanka, the other against Zimbabwe.

Well this is a chance to improve the record.

 

[Mister Wright]

Well this is a chance to improve the record.

What, improve on an average of 102?

 

[Mr Casson]

What, improve on an average of 102?

Improve at the top of the order. I don't think anyone gives him much credit for the innings against the Zimboks though.

 

[Mister Wright]

Improve at the top of the order. I don't think anyone gives him much credit for the innings against the Zimboks though.

Neither should they when he left a straight one from Mahwire.

 

[Mr Casson]

Neither should they when he left a straight one from Mahwire.

I still have nightmares about that ball!

 

[Mister Wright]

I still have nightmares about that ball!

I'm still laughing.

 

[Jono]

I'll be at the MCG tomorrow. Second cricket match I'm going to in a week. You beauty

I hope Lara scores tomorrow, it'd be a dream come true. I've been up late watching the SA vs. England test match, so I've been on an absolute cricket feast this week.

 

[V Reddy]

I'll be at the MCG tomorrow. Second cricket match I'm going to in a week. You beauty

I hope Lara scores tomorrow, it'd be a dream come true. I've been up late watching the SA vs. England test match, so I've been on an absolute cricket feast this week.

I'm preparing to watch my first full match on TV in probably six months as SPN-STAR channels are available again in Hyderabad from today

 

[tooextracool]

This Pak allrounder Mohd Hafeez is very talented, i was impressed when i saw him the first time. I wonder why Pak kept him out for so long ? I think this guy should be preffered over S Malik.

pakistan kept him him out because his performances were poor for a sustained period of time, a batting average of 19 after 22 ODIs is clearly underperformance. i wouldnt be surprised if it was a loss of form though because i too think that hes talented, and i certainly wonder what his performances at the domestic level have been as of late?

 

[tooextracool]

I only remember him opening twice, and once he got a hundred!! And even if it was against Zimbabwe, 100 is always a good effort.

Whatever his record, it's a good chance for him to show his versatility in the order. Admittedly, though, his record opening for NSW was pretty poor.

i wonder if the name damien martyn propped up into the openers dilemma, considering he averages over 100 in 7 games at the top, although admittedly his last 2 performances at the top in the vb series last year werent anything brilliant. personally i think he would be a better option than clarke at the top.

 

[tooextracool]

Yes even that. Amazes me how Hogg always manages to manage a place in the side.

because hes the only spinner capable of taking wickets at a decent ER? seriously, what is wrong with a bowler who has an ER of 4.39? not to mention of course that in his last game he took 3 wickets and played a significant role in the victory.

 

[PaX]

Tooextracool are you indian?

The reason Hafeez was kept out of the team was a lack of form/brain and talent , all while batting though.

His performance with the bat was the worst that i've seen of a Pakistani batsmen . In one of the matches he faced 20 odd balls for duck!
Inzi went on to say that he'll never play for Pakistan again.

 

[tooextracool]

Tooextracool are you indian?.

no

The reason Hafeez was kept out of the team was a lack of form/brain and talent , all while batting though..

no no one can possibly say that he didnt have talent, certainly no one who watched his 53 in dambulla or his 69 at old trafford, both in conditions that assisted seamers considerably, would say that.

His performance with the bat was the worst that i've seen of a Pakistani batsmen . In one of the matches he faced 20 odd balls for duck!
Inzi went on to say that he'll never play for Pakistan again.

i certainly dont remember inzi making such a comment. and i dont remember any 0 from 20 balls either. but i do know what you are referring to, he was a slow starter in the mold of the classic ODI batsmen in that he would get himself set before playing his strokes. nothing wrong with that IMO, especially if you are an opener.

 

[PaX]

It was a 20 ball 1.

Mohammad Hafeez c Boucher b Nel 1 22 20 0 0

His limitations as an opening batsmen were really exposed by some L&L stuff from Pollock.

 

[imranrabb]

I am sure Hafeez has made major improvements to his batting as his domestic league form has been excellent and his bowling IMO was better then shoiab malik.

 

[tooextracool]

It was a 20 ball 1.



His limitations as an opening batsmen were really exposed by some L&L stuff from Pollock.

on what appears from the scorecard to be a seaming wicket. just on hafeez. i think his ability would be better used at the test match level because from what i saw off him, he had a good technique and temperament.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Right, so less than 4 hours away now. Here's hoping the boys can at least give a good showing, if not get a victory.

My team would be...

CH Gayle
S Chanderpaul
WW Hinds
BC Lara *
RR Sarwan
MN Samuels - over Powell due to some match practice on tour.
DJJ Bravo
CO Browne +
IDR Bradshaw
M Dillon
PT Collins

I'm thinking they'll be favouring Hinds to open though. They'll may also find a spot for Powell and neglect Collins. I'd be hesitant to go in with just 2 specialist seamers, but I'm almost certain they will.

Plan of attack: win the toss and chase. This is purely for the purpose of getting some form under lights. Traditionally WI chases well, but I'm concerned about the struggles under lights, as that could be huge against a bowling attack such as Australia's. We need to get some exposure and confidence there ASAP.

 

[Mister Wright]

Right, so less than 4 hours away now. Here's hoping the boys can at least give a good showing, if not get a victory.

My team would be...

CH Gayle
S Chanderpaul
WW Hinds
BC Lara *
RR Sarwan
MN Samuels - over Powell due to some match practice on tour.
DJJ Bravo
CO Browne +
IDR Bradshaw
M Dillon
PT Collins

I'm thinking they'll be favouring Hinds to open though. They'll may also find a spot for Powell and neglect Collins. I'd be hesitant to go in with just 2 specialist seamers, but I'm almost certain they will.

Plan of attack: win the toss and chase. This is purely for the purpose of getting some form under lights. Traditionally WI chases well, but I'm concerned about the struggles under lights, as that could be huge against a bowling attack such as Australia's. We need to get some exposure and confidence there ASAP.

I'd find a spot for King if I were the selectors, he has been very impressive in the warm-up games, and bowls a tight line early.

I'd go with something like:

Gayle
Hinds
Chanderpaul
Sarwan
Lara*
Samuels
Bravo
Browne+
Bradshaw
Dillion
King

You can't play Australia with only 2 specialist seamers.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I'd find a spot for King if I were the selectors, he has been very impressive in the warm-up games, and bowls a tight line early.

I'd go with something like:

Gayle
Hinds
Chanderpaul
Sarwan
Lara*
Samuels
Bravo
Browne+
Bradshaw
Dillion
King

You can't play Australia with only 2 specialist seamers.

I don't like Hinds facing the new ball out of the hands of McGrath and Gillepsie. I'd much prefer Chanders there.

As for King, I didn't see any of his warmup game bowling, so I can only judge on figures, which weren't the worst. I'm thrilled to hear he's looking good though. He definitely has the desire and a good head.

 

[Mister Wright]

I don't like Hinds facing the new ball out of the hands of McGrath and Gillepsie. I'd much prefer Chanders there.

As for King, I didn't see any of his warmup game bowling, so I can only judge on figures, which weren't the worst. I'm thrilled to hear he's looking good though. He definitely has the desire and a good head.

Yeah, Hinds is a bit of a hit & miss player, but Gayle and he seem to like batting together. I'm sure we'll both get it wrong and the team will look nothing like the teams we have chosen.