England in Pakistan

[aussie1st]

Vaughan will replace Strauss as opener, Bell at 3. Number 4 is favoured to go to Collingwood.

Full article - http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/pakveng/content/story/227474.html

 

[Sureshot]

Especially when the umpire calls lunch :

No please not Colly, rather have Prior, Loudon or Cook.

I'd go for Prior/cook as both practice vs leggies last season Kaneria and Cook at Essex and Mushy and Prior at sussex.

 

[m_vaughan]

No please not Colly, rather have Prior, Loudon or Cook.

I'd go for Prior/cook as both practice vs leggies last season Kaneria and Cook at Essex and Mushy and Prior at sussex.

That makes sense. But I must also say that Collingwood is a much better player than what we've seen of him so far in the test arena. Everyone cannot have an immediate impact like KP, so we must give Collingwood another chance.

 

[sid_19840]

Monday,November 28th 3rd Test-Preview Article

The third and the final test of the series is here.With changes in both sides expected and much expectation among both sets of fans,this test promises to be a decider of a close and well contested series.

This test poses as a must win situation for the visiting English team as they have to win this test to level the series and thus they should be looking to be postive and aggressive from the outset.Andrew Strauss has returned home for this test and hence captain Vaughan would most likely open the batting alongside Marcus Trescothick.Giles is doubtful for the test with an injury and hence England could opt for a 4 pace attack or a 3-1 spin attack with either Anderson or Udal playing.

Pakistan enter this game with one change calling in fast bowler Mohammad Asif in the squad,who was very sucessful again the visitor's in one of the tour games in place of Shahid Afridi who misses out due to a ban.Overall Pakistan seem to have a settled lineup and would be reasonably happy with a draw.

Expectation's

Pakistan

Pakistan would once again depend upon their captain Inzamam and spinner Kaneria along with the pace of Shoib Akhtar going into this test.Apart from them they would expect useful contribution's from some of the youthful and experienced player's.

England

England needs some brilliant and inspiring perfomance's like they put up in the Ashes series from the likes of Flintoff,Harmison,Pietersen,Vaughan and co.Although conditions probably might be against the visitor's they need to press the situation and push for a win if they are to have any chance in the series.

Chances

Much depend's on how the first day pannes out,momentum is the key.The team which takes the first few strides has more chances,although comback's are always possible as Pakistan showed in the first test.But overall Pakistan seem to be favorites as two of the three results favour them.England need inspration and a team effort if they are to pull this one off.60-40 Pakistan.

 

[m_vaughan]

60-40 is fair enough I think.

 

[sid_19840]

60-40 is fair enough I think.

Thanks,I thought that it looked fair from a neutral perspective.

 

[aussie1st]

That makes sense. But I must also say that Collingwood is a much better player than what we've seen of him so far in the test arena. Everyone cannot have an immediate impact like KP, so we must give Collingwood another chance.

I agree, I've seen Collingwood's potential in the ODI arena. His batting technique is very good and his has the mentality to bat for a long time. Hes very handy if a team collapses as well cause he always steps up. We however haven't seen this in the test matches yet.

 

[Stephen Bailey]

I think he and Symonds are similar when it comes to the test arena. They both try and cut down on their attacking instinct's too much. Someone should tell him to just play his natural game.

 

[aussie1st]

I think he and Symonds are similar when it comes to the test arena. They both try and cut down on their attacking instinct's too much. Someone should tell him to just play his natural game.

Collingwood is less of an attacker from what I saw, he scored slowly when England collasped in their ODI matches. His 50s got England a better total than what they would have had. I would have thought he would have settled into test cricket alot quicker than Symonds as Symonds aggressive nature may not always come off. But Symonds trying to go defensive isn't his way. Ponting needs to produce one of those career saving talks again.

 

[ZexyZahid]

England has won the toss and elected to bat.

Here are the teams:

England team:
ME Trescothick, *MP Vaughan, IR Bell, KP Pietersen,
PD Collingwood, A Flintoff, +GO Jones, SD Udal, MJ Hoggard,
SJ Harmison, LE Plunkett.

Pakistan team:
Shoaib Malik, Salman Butt, Asim Kamal, Mohammad Yousuf,
*Inzamam-ul-Haq, Hasan Raza, +Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami,
Naved-ul-Hasan, Shoaib Akhtar, Danish Kaneria.

England have made two changes, Plunkett and Collingwood in for Strauss and Giles
Pakistan also make two changes, Afridi and Younis Khan out and in come Asim Kamal and Hasan Raza

 

[aussie1st]

Should be interesting seeing how Plunkett goes. And lets see how Malik goes as opener. And of course how Vaughan goes back at opener for the first time in a while.

Should be a good game.

 

[Gilchrist]

why isnt anderson playing?

 

[aussie1st]

Plunkett is more a bounce bowling like Harmisson, Anderson is more a swing bowler. They didn't want a swing bowler thus Plunkett was picked.

 

[aussie1st]

At lunch England 93/0 (29.0 ov)
Slow but steady start by England. Vaughan looking really good with 52 and Trescothick has really picked things up after taking 20 balls to get of the mark.

 

[Bilal91]

England off to a terrible start after lunch as they stumbled to 115/3 but kevin and collingwood steadied them as they reach 181/3 after 55 ovs...

Pakistan has got some work to do..