ICC Champions Trophy 2017

One thing I am impressed by is the commitment in the field by new players. Shadab Khan has been electric and Fahim Ashraf is looking really good.

Shows that they are paying attention to it at domestic level, rather than developing it in the international circuit.
 
Last edited:
I`m starting to think if Pakistan made a good choice by bowling first. If SL can scrap to 260-odd here, Pakistan have a task in hand in a high-pressure game. Given the fact that Pakistan are`nt great at chasing usually, this is going to be close.
 
I think the approach from Sri Lanka is to bat Pakistan out of the game. Score around 300+ and watch Pakistan struggle to chase it. Pakistan needs to attack and make sure this doesn't happen.
 
Runs are leaking easily. They are taking singles and doubles and having no problem at all. Pakistan need to pick wickets now. Otherwise 300 is clearly on board.
 
Sri Lanka is going to win the ICC CT :)
 
What I meant was that if the Pak-SA game had gone the distance (50 overs), Pakistan would`ve found it really hard. If you have watched any Indian cricket over the last year or so, our real strength has been the pace attack. I believe that we have a better seam attack than India, and by that I do not mean the attack that played y`day (Shami, Bhuvi, Umesh, Bumrah). Just see the way the Indian seamers (Bhuvi, Shami, Umesh and even Ishant) bowled in the WI last year and compare it to the struggles of the Pakistani seamers in the WI. That was followed by some real good pace bowling on dead pitches at home. Pakistan have traditionally had the upper hand but that is not necessarily true here.

If you want to go only by one game, then every side this tournament has conceded big scores. SL were on top with the bat against SA as well and Pakistan got pummelled by India. NZ got carted around by Bangladesh and England and so did Australia. Some of the tracks have been really flat this tournament and despite that India`s bowling over the course of 5 games (including the warmups) so far has conceded 181/10 (v NZ), 84/10 (v BAN), 163/10 (v PAK), 322/3 (v SL) and 191/10 (v SA). On 4 out of 5 ocassions, they`ve been really good. Compare that to Pakistan who have conceded 350/6 (v BAN), 319/5 (v IND) and 220/9 (v SA). Pakistan have surely struggled more than India with the ball so far in England. Even in the past year or two, their ODI bowling has really struggled. That, and not their batting alone is a reason for Pakistan`s ODI struggles currently.

If you can rewatch the SA bat against Pakistani pace attack relative to Yesterday's game. You can see the clear difference of skills and talent. The reverse swing and seam were almost perfect, While yesterday game had two massive run outs which proved the actual turn around. Indian bowling may have been better than the past if you guys feel so but it is nowhere has an upper hand over Pakistan's pace attack still. I have seen Bhuvi, Ishant and Bumrah, They are pretty average to sometimes good. Haven't seen Shami and Umesh much so don't know. Many a times when you see on the board 300 to 350 runs, Your team bound to get out because of extra pressure of chasing. Means, The batting line up is giving some extra strength to bowling. I am not sure how well Indian bowling was over the year in ODI Cricket when they are bowling first to the top sides.

PS: On the current match, Sarfraz is doing some strange stuff.. Too many bowling changes so early.. Why just 4 overs to Hasan Ali when he is your wicket taking option....
 
Shadab should have played in this match. He is not a usual leg-spinner, which I guess Mickey is not understanding.
We are making the same selection mistakes that we did against India.
 
Shadab should have played in this match. He is not a usual leg-spinner, which I guess Mickey is not understanding.
We are making the same selection mistakes that we did against India.

Plus I am seeing drastic bowling changes. Only 4 overs to Hasan Ali when he was starting to fire. Some really crazy Captaincy Sarfraz. Like a kid messing up with spells. Using the bowlers so badly so far..
 
If you can rewatch the SA bat against Pakistani pace attack relative to Yesterday's game. You can see the clear difference of skills and talent. The reverse swing and seam were almost perfect, While yesterday game had two massive run outs which proved the actual turn around. Indian bowling may have been better than the past if you guys feel so but it is nowhere has an upper hand over Pakistan's pace attack still. I have seen Bhuvi, Ishant and Bumrah, They are pretty average to sometimes good. Haven't seen Shami and Umesh much so don't know. Many a times when you see on the board 300 to 350 runs, Your team bound to get out because of extra pressure of chasing. Means, The batting line up is giving some extra strength to bowling. I am not sure how well Indian bowling was over the year in ODI Cricket when they are bowling first to the top sides.

PS: On the current match, Sarfraz is doing some strange stuff.. Too many bowling changes so early.. Why just 4 overs to Hasan Ali when he is your wicket taking option....

Ishant is nowhere in the dicussion. Bhuvi, Shami and Umesh are some of the most skilled seam bowlers around in test cricket. I`m not speaking on the basis of this tournament alone. I talk on the basis of all the 17 tests that India played since Sep 2016. On basis of overall skill level, the Indian seamers are right up there. Forget this CT. Everyone has got carted around here.
 
Plus I am seeing drastic bowling changes. Only 4 overs to Hasan Ali when he was starting to fire. Some really crazy Captaincy Sarfraz. Like a kid messing up with spells. Using the bowlers so badly so far..
Looks like Sarfraz is not groomed properly and this idea of not allowing seniors to give suggestions is very bad. He looks little timid to me, trying to save runs rather then going for the kill when they were 3 down.
 
Srilanka is well ahead unless Pakistan quickly get couple of wickets in next 5 overs.
 
Ishant is nowhere in the dicussion. Bhuvi, Shami and Umesh are some of the most skilled seam bowlers around in test cricket. I`m not speaking on the basis of this tournament alone. I talk on the basis of all the 17 tests that India played since Sep 2016. On basis of overall skill level, the Indian seamers are right up there. Forget this CT. Everyone has got carted around here.

I was actually talking about the ODI cricket. Test is different perspective, I may not discuss about it at this stage. I am sorry, I cant forget this CT because a skilled or good bowler always shows his good colors. You may consider them great bowlers but there is a space of difference of opinion here which is good.
 
Hence proved Sarfraz is a very inexperienced captain. If the ball is seaming in 34th over it means it would have been more seaming in 15th over, where I feel he should have reintroduced Amir and Junaid. Only the time will tell that how crucial was that 4th wicket partnership.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top