Test Cricket - Information

[FaaipDeOiad]

Yes, you are right- ICC does 'recommend' that a particular series be played out around a certain time of the year and they better stick to that scheduling as far as test cricket goes or they face stiff fines.
However, as far as scheduling ODIs go, i think the respective boards have complete authority in that matter- as we see ODI series between two teams getting cancelled/postponed fairly often.

Yes. There is no 10 year plan for one day cricket.

 

[chekmeout]

Stefano, where are you managing to watch the Pakistan vs. West Indies test match?

 

[Stefano]

I follow the Pakistan test matches here. No TV airs cricket in Italy or in Austria (I spend 5 days every week in Austria). However, I have bought some DVDs from ebay, so I can watch them at home.

I have purchased these games:

Australia vs England - Semifinal ICC Champions Trophy 2004 (my first cricket game!).

India vs Pakistan 2005 - Second Test Match (I have watched the first 3 days - Please, don't write the score).

India vs Pakistan 2005 - Sixth ODI.

South Africa vs West Indies 2005 - First ODI

Plus, I have also bought some interesting DVDs:

- Century of Cricket
- England's Six of the Best - the 1990s
- Brian Lara: 400 not out

I think I will try to purchase one Test Match of the Ashes Series from ebay. And who knows? Maybe, next year I could fly to England to watch England vs Pakistan.

-----

About Pakistan: who are the best players at the moment? Danish Kaneria has already become one of my idols. And what about Pakistan's legends?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

About Pakistan: who are the best players at the moment? Danish Kaneria has already become one of my idols. And what about Pakistan's legends?

Best players: Inzamam-ul-Haq (batsman and captain), Shoaib Akhtar (fast bowler) and Yousuf Youhana (batsman), I reckon. As you can see, all three didn't play in the last Test match, probably why they lost (along with a pretty spineless batting effort and Fidel Edwards).

Pakistan's legends include Hanif Mohammad - great batsman in the 1950s and 1960s - Imran Khan, one of the game's great four all-rounders in the 1980s (along with Ian Botham, Kapil Dev and Richard Hadlee), and Wasim (Akram) and Waqar (Younis) - two fast bowlers who used to bowl in pairs (from each end of the pitch) and were feared around the cricketing world in the 1990s.

Probably forgotten some.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Add to that list of past Pakistani stars Javed Miandad, the only Pakistani to finish his career with a test average in excess of 50, and one of the top batsmen in the world in the 1980s, and Abdul Qadir, a legendary Pakistani legspinner, and part of the stongest ever Pakistani bowling attack when he played alongside Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

Pakistan, in contrast to India, have traditionally produced some fantastic fast bowlers and a number of good spinners, but rarely have they had a star batsman, with only Javed Miandad and Inzamam-Ul-Haq falling into the "great" category. India have consistently produced legendary batsmen and some great spinners, but struggled to find consistent pacers, with only Kapil Dev ever having much success for them.

 

[Neil Pickup]

You see, in any team sports, there are two kinds of rivalries- 'historical' rivalries that are a result of socio-political causes(like Brazil vs Argentina in football, Toronto vs ottawa in NHL, Arsenal vs ManU in footbal, etc etc) and 'best of the best' rivalries- ie, when two high quality teams are matched against each other(for eg. Australia vs RSA in rugby)..
The former rivalry is largely irrelevant of how good the two teams are- it has everything to do with history and the clash of two nations. Australia vs England, England vs West Indies and India vs Pakistan are two such encounters.

I'd put ManU-Arsenal in the latter category - it's only been a significant rivalry since 1998. Arsenal-Tottenham, Everton-Liverpool, or Inter-AC would be a better pick!

 

[superkingdave]

I'd put ManU-Arsenal in the latter category - it's only been a significant rivalry since 1998.

The Man U -Arsenal rivalry dates from the mass brawl in 1990 iirc, there's been bad blood ever since

 

[honestbharani]

I follow the Pakistan test matches here. No TV airs cricket in Italy or in Austria (I spend 5 days every week in Austria). However, I have bought some DVDs from ebay, so I can watch them at home.

I have purchased these games:

Australia vs England - Semifinal ICC Champions Trophy 2004 (my first cricket game!).

India vs Pakistan 2005 - Second Test Match (I have watched the first 3 days - Please, don't write the score).

India vs Pakistan 2005 - Sixth ODI.

South Africa vs West Indies 2005 - First ODI

Plus, I have also bought some interesting DVDs:

- Century of Cricket
- England's Six of the Best - the 1990s
- Brian Lara: 400 not out

I think I will try to purchase one Test Match of the Ashes Series from ebay. And who knows? Maybe, next year I could fly to England to watch England vs Pakistan.

-----

About Pakistan: who are the best players at the moment? Danish Kaneria has already become one of my idols. And what about Pakistan's legends?

I recommend you to purchase the DVD of the India Vs Pakistan WC 2003 game at Centurion in South Africa. Juz to give you a feel of the rivalry at the biggest stage of them all.

 

[Stefano]

I'd put ManU-Arsenal in the latter category - it's only been a significant rivalry since 1998. Arsenal-Tottenham, Everton-Liverpool, or Inter-AC would be a better pick!

Milan vs Inter is one of the greatest rivalries in italian football. However, in the last 10-15 years Milan has definetely taken the edge: Milan has won lots of titles (in Italian League and in Europe), while Inter hasn't won a title since 1989. Milan vs Juventus is the TOP rivalry at the moment: these two teams have split 13 of the last 15 Italian league titles, so we can consider them the two best italian teams. Of course, we don't have to forget other great rivalries: Roma vs Lazio, Juventus vs Torino, but also Juventus vs Roma and Juventus vs Inter. If we go outside Italy, Real Madrid vs Barcelona is really a great rivalry.

You see, in any team sports, there are two kinds of rivalries- 'historical' rivalries that are a result of socio-political causes(like Brazil vs Argentina in football, Toronto vs ottawa in NHL, Arsenal vs ManU in footbal, etc etc) and 'best of the best' rivalries- ie, when two high quality teams are matched against each other(for eg. Australia vs RSA in rugby)!

If I think about Rugby, the greatest rivalry which come to my mind are:

England vs Scotland or Wales.

England vs France - they are the best teams in Europe (even though, Wales won the 6 Nations this year).

New Zealand vs Australia - although, only since the 1980s did this become a TRUE rivalry. Before, New Zealans was too strong for Australia.

New Zealand vs South Africa - In my opinion, THIS is the ultimate rivalry in rugby.

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Going back to cricket: what do you think about Danish Kaneria, Shahid Afride and Younis Khan?

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Going back to cricket: what do you think about Danish Kaneria, Shahid Afride and Younis Khan?

Kaneria is a very promising young bowler. He generally impresses most people when he plays these days, although he hasn't put in any really great performances yet to set himself among the best spinners in the world. Younis Khan hasn't had a particularly great career to date, but he's probably the main hope for a world class batsman in Pakistan once Inzy retires, and perhaps his amazing effort in India recently will help him make that leap. Shahid Afridi is a very exciting player, but is far too inconsistent for test cricket, at least right now. He's a good player in ODIs, though, simply because despite his inconsistency he can also be a matchwinner.

 

[Richard]

Best players: Inzamam-ul-Haq (batsman and captain), Shoaib Akhtar (fast bowler) and Yousuf Youhana (batsman), I reckon. As you can see, all three didn't play in the last Test match, probably why they lost (along with a pretty spineless batting effort and Fidel Edwards).

Hakon, purleese explain how Youhana is a better player than Kamal and Younis Khan?

 

[Richard]

Add to that list of past Pakistani stars Javed Miandad, the only Pakistani to finish his career with a test average in excess of 50, and one of the top batsmen in the world in the 1980s, and Abdul Qadir, a legendary Pakistani legspinner, and part of the stongest ever Pakistani bowling attack when he played alongside Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

Pakistan, in contrast to India, have traditionally produced some fantastic fast bowlers and a number of good spinners, but rarely have they had a star batsman, with only Javed Miandad and Inzamam-Ul-Haq falling into the "great" category. India have consistently produced legendary batsmen and some great spinners, but struggled to find consistent pacers, with only Kapil Dev ever having much success for them.

Srinath wasn't too far behind Kapil.
You might add that this pattern is only one of the 1970s-post period - in the old days India had many fine seamers.
Incidentally, I'm always amazed that people think Pakistan have had so many good spinners. Honestly, they've had home-happy Abdul Qadir (who turned-out to be nowhere near as good as some people think), Mushtaq Ahmed who was very good in his early career and hopeless later on, and turner-friendly Saqlain Mushtaq.
Pakistan's great strength has always been seam-bowling, not spin.

 

[Richard]

Australia vs England - Semifinal ICC Champions Trophy 2004 (my first cricket game!).

Very good choice, that one.
If you can get it, I'd recommend Australia vs England in World Cup 2003, too.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Srinath wasn't too far behind Kapil.
You might add that this pattern is only one of the 1970s-post period - in the old days India had many fine seamers.
Incidentally, I'm always amazed that people think Pakistan have had so many good spinners. Honestly, they've had home-happy Abdul Qadir (who turned-out to be nowhere near as good as some people think), Mushtaq Ahmed who was very good in his early career and hopeless later on, and turner-friendly Saqlain Mushtaq.
Pakistan's great strength has always been seam-bowling, not spin.

I said that, didn't I? Pakistan's strength has been pace bowling, with some good spinners and few good batsmen. India's strength has been batting, with lots of good spinners and few good pacers.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Hakon, purleese explain how Youhana is a better player than Kamal and Younis Khan?

One word: ODIs.

Though it's a close run for third place. I really struggled to find someone, but didn't think two were enough.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

I said that, didn't I? Pakistan's strength has been pace bowling, with some good spinners and few good batsmen. India's strength has been batting, with lots of good spinners and few good pacers.

Think he was just making a general comment about people's perception of Pakistani bowling.

 

[Richard]

Kaneria is a very promising young bowler. He generally impresses most people when he plays these days, although he hasn't put in any really great performances yet to set himself among the best spinners in the world. Younis Khan hasn't had a particularly great career to date, but he's probably the main hope for a world class batsman in Pakistan once Inzy retires, and perhaps his amazing effort in India recently will help him make that leap. Shahid Afridi is a very exciting player, but is far too inconsistent for test cricket, at least right now. He's a good player in ODIs, though, simply because despite his inconsistency he can also be a matchwinner.

Shahid Afridi has only recently started looking like a matchwinner again, having had 3 years of being utterly useless.
Younis Khan, meanwhile, has always had plenty of ability and looks, finally, like he might be making a Test-class batsman of himself - not before time. But he's only 8 years younger than Inzamam, not a spring-chicken.
As for Kaneria not putting-in great performances, you've missed these, then? All exceedingly good efforts, barring the 3rd one which influenced the winning of matches. Kaneria's problem is that he's done it far too infrequently - out of 22 Tests he's bowled really well just 4 or 5 times.

 

[Richard]

One word: ODIs.

Strictly speaking, of course, that's 3 words.

Though it's a close run for third place. I really struggled to find someone, but didn't think two were enough.

Fine, then, explain how Youhana is a better TEST batsman than either of the two.
Being a better ODI batsman than Younis Khan is not a difficult task, he must be the worst batsman ever to play 102 ODIs.
Kamal, of course, hasn't had the chance in ODIs.

 

[Richard]

I said that, didn't I? Pakistan's strength has been pace bowling, with some good spinners and few good batsmen.

I'd say it's more a case of the odd good spinner - "some" implies that there have been quite a few.
And before Abdul Qadir... how many were there?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Strictly speaking, of course, that's 3 words.

Nope.

Fine, then, explain how Youhana is a better TEST batsman than either of the two.
Being a better ODI batsman than Younis Khan is not a difficult task, he must be the worst batsman ever to play 102 ODIs.
Kamal, of course, hasn't had the chance in ODIs.

Ah, but I won't try that. I reckon he's on fairly equal footing with Asim Kamal and Younis Khan in Tests. However, the ODIs swing it so that he becomes one of Pakistan's three best players overall, as Stefano asked "who are the best players at the moment".