Pakistan = Unpredictable?

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Razzaq is NOT, I repeat NOT an underachiever, certainly not in ODI's. His records are there, innings are there - he has been one of Pakistan's most consistent customers in ODI cricket, and he can tonk the best of them to every corner of the ground [Has done so multiple times] and helped Pakistan out of plenty sticky situations.

His bowling though is another matter.

Well then he's an underachiever if in the second half of his game he has underachieved.

 

[Jono]

Razzaq shouldn't be playing test cricket. To see him come in at 6 is a worry when you compare the #6 for other sides. He's a great ODI player though. I still remember his knock against NZ earlier in the year in the 5th ODI. Brilliant.

 

[Richard]

Hell no. They are becomming very predictable - predictably rubbish that is!

The way in which they collapsed today was reminiscent of Bangladesh Under 15 girls team, heck -even they would have put up more of a fight.

I was expecting at least some form of resistance from the pakistani 'batsmen" (note: the term 'pakistani batsmen' has become somewhat of an oxymoron of late!) but nothing!...

After watching the way our batsmen handled McGrath, Im begining to think they would be better off with a fishing rod in their hand standing by the lake rather than embarrasing themselves in front of millions - it was ridiculous.

So where now for pakistan?....The pak fans now see 'lasting 5 days against the aussies' as some sort of a victory!...if we lose the next test by 10 wickets on the final day - expect some sort of parade in Lahore, a victory speach by inzamam perhaps.

Its about time Woolme realised there is no place for razzaq in a test team. Its about time he realised that Imran Farhat has no business playing in my local club team, let alone for pakistan.
And its about time the Pakistani Batsmen learn how to OCCUPY THE CREASE.


Arrrrghhh

This isn't exactly the greatest Pakistan side to play, no.
Imran Farhat, Mohammad Sami and Younis Khan are IMO nowhere near Test-class and if they never played another Test it'd probably be best all-round.
Youhana has never performed against the best nations in challenging conditions - he's very good when you've got a nothing-special attack that needs thrashing on a flat pitch, though.
If first impressions count, Mohammad Khalil's not going to amount to much. One Test isn't a fair judgement, no.
I'd reckon Inzamam-Ul-Haq will make some runs at some time in this series - which will at least reduce the embarrasment factor a little.
Still not at all sure about Salman Butt as a Test-player.
Nor Yasir Hameed.
Why the hell Asim Kamal wasn't selected at Perth is totally beyond me, but it probably helped him in the end, judging by the capitulation.
The sooner Shabbir Ahmed gets back the better.
If Razzaq is going to play at all I'd prefer him to bat at three myself, I hope his especial problems will be confined to the completely unique WACA pitch.

 

[imranrabb]

pakistan are missing 4 players who i believe should get in the side and are better then the ones now.Shabbir ahmed,umar gul are both out with injuries and are much better then sami.Taufeeq umar is pakistans best test opener and i dont know why he wasnt selected along with a wicket keeper who can bat maybe zulqernain who is 19 but lacks experience but certainly is a better batsman then kamran.

 

[godofcricket]

At this moment of time, theres not one Pakistani batsman who is reliable, not even Inzamam as he is very inconsistent. I cant imagine the performance they gave in this match, had there been no Shoaib the match would have been finished in 2 days. First of all we need to sort out our opening batman as we need solid starts, we cant just see an opener making a fifty one day and in the next 5 matches completely failing. As for the middle order, its the most unpredictable side of pakistani team, on one day they seem to have gained some form, and on the very next match they look like losers. For me theres alot to work out on these batsman then anything. And at the moment they cannot even take a match to the fifth day becuase of the reason, so if they want to compete, the batsman need to deliver and make runs consistently.

 

[Richard]

pakistan are missing 4 players who i believe should get in the side and are better then the ones now.Shabbir ahmed,umar gul are both out with injuries and are much better then sami.Taufeeq umar is pakistans best test opener and i dont know why he wasnt selected along with a wicket keeper who can bat maybe zulqernain who is 19 but lacks experience but certainly is a better batsman then kamran.

I've never been convinced about Taufeeq myself - always performed against the African teams, not done much against the other decent sides (averages 15.66 against Australia, 18.40 against India, 25.66 against New Zealand, 12.50 against Sri Lanka, 31 against West Indies - and 75.81 against South Africa and Zimbabwe)
Umar Gul, meanwhile, has never convinced me either - he's only played 2 authentic Tests, one on an incredibly green wicket, and his accuracy leaves a lot to be desired (as demonstrated by his Test economy-rate of 3.72 and First-Class of 3.51).

 

[imranrabb]

true richard but gul is only 19 and taufeeq is only 22 so are quite young yet.Did you see what gul did to india when he destroyed the top order of india getting 6-31.

 

[Richard]

5-31 - yeah, certainly did, but it was an incredibly green pitch.
Like I say, I can't help wondering what he'd do on a less green one.
I'm amazed he's only 19, though. First thing he's got to do is get over the injury - then we'll see.

 

[marc71178]

true richard but gul is only 19 and taufeeq is only 22 so are quite young yet.

So what's wrong with going with experience?!

 

[Richard]

Well - really, the fact that there isn't any!
The only proven class experienced bowler in Pakistan is Shoaib Akhtar.
Well, unless you count Saqlain who's injured and has been for a while.
Of course, he'll presumably come back into contention whenever (if, indeed) he regains fitness.

 

[marc71178]

What about batsmen?

 

[Richard]

Even the batsmen there aren't that many (Inzamam, Youhana - whose ability is highly debatable).