The best chance for the Kiwis is winning the toss and putting Pakistan in then hoping the batters can do the job although won't be an easy feat when you have Gul and Rana reverse swinging it late in the match and the spin twins being hard to play.
2nd semi final: New Zealand vs Pakistan
- Thread starter angryangy
- Start date
BKB1991
Panel of Selectors
I think the bowlers are going to dominate the game. the pitch favours the bowlers too much and also what matters is how each team plays them. Bond and Mills are potentially hazardous against us, they can swing the bowl and their speed is pretty decent too.
On the batting side, we have a much better batting order on New Zealand (on paper) but our players struggle against swing bowling and pitches that have alot of bounce.
I hope there isnt variable bounce. It was rather disapointing to see the England-New Zealand game in that aspect.
Our spinners are definetly going to cause problems for the NZ batsmen, but remember we struggle against left-arm spinners (remember Herath and Harris?) and Vettori's spell becomes crucial.
Overall this game looks great and hopefully lives up to the expectations
On the batting side, we have a much better batting order on New Zealand (on paper) but our players struggle against swing bowling and pitches that have alot of bounce.
I hope there isnt variable bounce. It was rather disapointing to see the England-New Zealand game in that aspect.
Our spinners are definetly going to cause problems for the NZ batsmen, but remember we struggle against left-arm spinners (remember Herath and Harris?) and Vettori's spell becomes crucial.
Overall this game looks great and hopefully lives up to the expectations
the pitch going to be used in Wanderers is different from the difficult pitch where the scores have been under 200. The pitch for semi-final is the one used in NZ vs SL game where nearly 600 runs were scored.
So it should be ok for both teams. However, I am concerned because rain is expected on Saturday, and NZ will go through if match is abandoned. The defeat by Aus will really hurt if that match is rained off.
So it should be ok for both teams. However, I am concerned because rain is expected on Saturday, and NZ will go through if match is abandoned. The defeat by Aus will really hurt if that match is rained off.
Agree that Pakistan has a better batting line up, however I don't think it's better all the way down. Pakistan just have key players like Younis and Yousuf. It's important we get those guys out. Also Misbah seems very consistant and Malik seems in decent form. I guess it depends on who we play. With a few guys out our batting doesn't go as low as usual, but it's still pretty good.
Legend_Killer
School Cricketer
Well ! Both teams are my favorite and i will support both team.
Both team have key players so it will be the great match i think...:sarcasm
Both team have key players so it will be the great match i think...:sarcasm
ali_ed2001
Club Cricketer
Misbah better not play if Pakistan want to win. The way he played today was ridiculous. He's been out of form for a long time now. Bring back Imran Nazir.
It will be tough for Pakistan to chose the bowling attack with Asif showing form. Gul, Asif, Aamer, and Rana. Tough to pick 3 out of 4 of them...
It will be tough for Pakistan to chose the bowling attack with Asif showing form. Gul, Asif, Aamer, and Rana. Tough to pick 3 out of 4 of them...
if its a seamer friendly pitch then we can do away with Saeed Ajmal instead.
Gul, Asif, Aamir & Rana (if that is not one of the best fast bowling attack, I don't know what is... I am drooling in anticipation to watch them play together)
RoboRocks
Chairman of Selectors
Pakistan are clear favourites, with a good batting line-up and a balanced bowling attack. Although New Zealand play as a unit and Vettori is a good leader and I'll expect them put up a good fight.
ali_ed2001
Club Cricketer
No we have to play Ajmal..NZ can play fast bowlers, they do have weakness against spin, so we need the 2 spin twins Afridi and Ajmal bowling together..
Legend_Killer
School Cricketer
Right.
Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal are good..
And if we have Yousuf,Younus,Umar we don't need Misbah in a very special match...
I hope Misbah will be drop.
Okay I'm officially sick of those comments. We'll hear it all the way up until the game starts. "NZ are a team of hard-workers, they work well as a team, they're a no frills team, they're not the most talented team but they'll put up a fight"
I swear (btw this isn't directed at you Robo
) anyone that writes anything about the New Zealand cricket team just copies and pastes sections of old articles. Tbh I would much rather they just come out and say we have no chance and that our team is poor
Insomniac
Title Recipient
I wonder if Younus will bring Afridi at #3 or #4 like in the T20 WC Semi-final.
It's an interesting proposition, Afridi is past the time where he can come in at the last over and smash 24 runs off it - he has to play himself in somewhat.
So then, Pakistan could go in like this:
1) Imran Nazir
2) Kamran Akmal
3) Younus Khan
4) Shahid Afridi
5) Mohammad Yousuf
6) Shoaib Malik
7) Umar Akmal
And the 4 bowlers, whoever Younus chooses. That will be another difficult decision because you have Aamir, who was rested, Asif, who bowled fantastically well in his 2nd spell, and Rana, who was absolutely lethal at the death.
Can Pakistan afford to drop Umar Gul? (Obviously we shouldn't drop Ajmal because NZ haven't seen him and he's done nothing wrong in the past 3-4 months).
Nevermind, NZ did see Ajmal in the T20 game where Umar Gul took 5/6. Maybe we should play Gul for the "fear factor" where he destroyed NZ in his last game against them..
I feel sorry for Younus who has to make this decision..
It's an interesting proposition, Afridi is past the time where he can come in at the last over and smash 24 runs off it - he has to play himself in somewhat.
So then, Pakistan could go in like this:
1) Imran Nazir
2) Kamran Akmal
3) Younus Khan
4) Shahid Afridi
5) Mohammad Yousuf
6) Shoaib Malik
7) Umar Akmal
And the 4 bowlers, whoever Younus chooses. That will be another difficult decision because you have Aamir, who was rested, Asif, who bowled fantastically well in his 2nd spell, and Rana, who was absolutely lethal at the death.
Can Pakistan afford to drop Umar Gul? (Obviously we shouldn't drop Ajmal because NZ haven't seen him and he's done nothing wrong in the past 3-4 months).
Nevermind, NZ did see Ajmal in the T20 game where Umar Gul took 5/6. Maybe we should play Gul for the "fear factor" where he destroyed NZ in his last game against them..
I feel sorry for Younus who has to make this decision..
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If Gul can destroy NZ with his reverse swinging yorkers then Rana Naved can do the same as well. The problem is that Gul is crap with the new ball and if the Asif-Aamer new ball combination works then Rana can come in to bowl when there's reverse swing later on in the innings.
And not to mention, Rana is much better lower order batsman than Gul so I think Gul is the ideal man to leave out but yeah it's gonna be really tough for Younis to decide
And not to mention, Rana is much better lower order batsman than Gul so I think Gul is the ideal man to leave out but yeah it's gonna be really tough for Younis to decide
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