Group B - 9th Match Netherslands v Pakistan

[Master Khan]

I don't understand why Pakistan don't open with Afridi. If he fails or not it's not like the other openers are doing all thaat. With the field up if Afridi clicks he would be so dangerous even for a few overs, instead of him coming when the field is spread and he get's out pretty quick.

Just don't understand it.

Yeah that is true..He scored all his centrys when he open the batting
And in T20 he needs to open the batting.
look at Chris Gayle something he goods and something he is poor

 

[Ollie_H]

No he scored 3 of his 4 ODI century's there! None of his test centuries came when opening.

 

[Howsie]

Swann and Rashid will play today by the looks of this pitch, the slower bowlers for SA did a real good job as did Haq for Scotland. England also need to think about picking Napier.

 

[Skater]

Who I'd pick today:

1. Ravi Bopara
2. Luke Wright
3. Graham Napier
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Paul Collingwood (c)
6. Dimitri Mascarenhas
7. James Foster (wk)
8. Adil Rashid
9. Stuart Broad
10. Graeme Swann
11. James Anderson

 

[Howsie]

Who I'd pick today:

1. Ravi Bopara
2. Luke Wright
3. Graham Napier
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Paul Collingwood (c)
6. Dimitri Mascarenhas
7. James Foster (wk)
8. Adil Rashid
9. Stuart Broad
10. Graeme Swann
11. James Anderson

The batting looks really thin in that team, Wright, Napier, Mascarenhas and Foster are all pretty hit and miss.

 

[Ollie_H]

We only have Key and Morgan in reserve? We either go for it or we fail!

 

[Howsie]

We only have Key and Morgan in reserve? We either go for it or we fail!

Get Key or Morgan in the team and drop one of the bowlers, you don't need Broad, Anderson, Swann, Rashid, Mascarenhas, and Napier. England would still have Wright, Bopara, and Pietersen to bowl a few overs.

 

[King Pietersen]

South Africa have proven that bowling all-rounders are massively important. Lee's team is the team that should be picked given the Squad provided. Just a shame the squad itself is pretty poor, especially the selection of Key. I don't think it's weak on batting either. Swanny proved for Notts that he's more than capable with the bat, playing a massive innings the other week, so we bat well all the way down to 10. Napes and Dimi should definitely be in the side, and if Morgan and Key are picked ahead of them today, the Collingwood/whoever's picking the side is a moron. The XI that played against the Netherlands was poor. KP should be batting ahead of Napier though Lee, Napes is way too hit and miss, and if we lose a wicket early, isn't the man to come in.

Sir Ian Botham's finally swallowed his pride and been persuaded to commentate on T20 cricket. Knew he'd give in to the cash eventually, probably trying to get himself a stint in the IPL next year.

 

[Skater]

Morgan > Napier is a possibility, but Key can't get it off the square at the moment.

 

[Howsie]

Who I'd pick today:

1. Ravi Bopara
2. Luke Wright
3. Graham Napier
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Paul Collingwood (c)
6. Dimitri Mascarenhas
7. James Foster (wk)
8. Adil Rashid
9. Stuart Broad
10. Graeme Swann
11. James Anderson

If England pick that batting line-up they wont make more then 140.

 

[King Pietersen]

I'm not convinced by Morgan yet tbh. He should be in the ODi side, but he's not got the hitting power to be a class T20 middle order player. Napes and Dimi should be in ahead of him.

 

[Howsie]

I'm not convinced by Morgan yet tbh. He should be in the ODi side, but he's not got the hitting power to be a class T20 middle order player. Napes and Dimi should be in ahead of him.

Napier should get in as a bolwer alone shouldn't he?

 

[The_gas]

After the victory against West Indies i got a false sense of security about the England team.

Then came the Netherlands game, and now i think we're bull plop.

We really lack some quality hitters. I know Dimi can hit the the ball, and he should be in the side but most other sides seem to have people that can smash sixes almost all the way through the line up. We seem terribly mediocre without Fred and Kp. I know very little about Napier, but it seems we need him in the side, lets hope he can help us clear the ropes.

Every time i have predicted an England win, we lose. So, i predict a comfortable victory for Pakistan.

 

[King Pietersen]

Napier should get in as a bolwer alone shouldn't he?

Dunno. He's talented, but I'm not convinced he should be picked as a pure bowler ahead of the likes of Anderson, Broad, Sidebottom and Swann. As an all-rounder he should definitely be in though. His hitting may be inconsistent, but if he gets going he'll smash bowling attacks around. I don't agree with you saying that Lee's batting line-up wouldn't get more than 140 either. There may be quite a few all-rounders in there, but no-one in that line-up is a dud with the bat except Jimmy. It'd certainly be a stronger batting line-up than the one that played against Netherlands.

 

[Howsie]

Dunno. He's talented, but I'm not convinced he should be picked as a pure bowler ahead of the likes of Anderson, Broad, Sidebottom and Swann. As an all-rounder he should definitely be in though. His hitting may be inconsistent, but if he gets going he'll smash bowling attacks around. I don't agree with you saying that Lee's batting line-up wouldn't get more than 140 either. There may be quite a few all-rounders in there, but no-one in that line-up is a dud with the bat except Jimmy. It'd certainly be a stronger batting line-up than the one that played against Netherlands.

If everything went right with that line-up then yes they would make more then 140. But if Wright was to go early I could just see Napier going right away and England would be two down for not many. The Aussie's were two down early and only made 160 and there team is a lot beter then England's. Kevin Pietersen needs to be bat at three I feel.