Pakistan Tour of Australia 2009/10

[Dare]

:rtfl

Gayle even tried to go at Hauritz, and we all know he miserably failed :sarcasm

lol yea that's why they had to send a cameraman on the roof of the stadium and spectators had to take cover. Yea it failed big time, 346 runs, average 69 and strike rate 75.3 :sarcasm

 

[cricketmad09]

Smith shouldnt be a replacement for Hauritz. He's a good part-timer and thats it. He's got heaps of potential as a BATSMEN who can bowl a little bit, not dissimilair to Andrew Symonds with his bowling, but playing his effectively means we've got 3 bowlers, 1 all-rounder and a part-time spinner.

It seems to be you'll play for australia if you spin the ball, no matter how good or bad you are.

 

[aditya123]

With Kaneria doubtful , I wonder if it could just be a blessing in disguise for Pakistan with Ajmal bringing something unpredictable to the table. I hope Pakistan field first tomorrow, just to watch their pacemen in action on Boxing day.

Pakistan will have to do a hell lot better if they are to compete here. Checking the records, they have`nt beaten Australia since 1994/95! Thats both home and away. Australia have won 10 of their last 12 games versus Pakistan with the other two being draw. And we are talking of far better Pakistani batting and bowling sides than this one. Shows how Pakistan have struggled against Australia.

I hope they come through the first test unscathed but I think you won`t see this Pakistani side drawing too many games. If they lose the Boxing Day test, it could be a long tour from then on. Can`t wait for it to start.

Go Pakistan!

 

[aussie1st]

It seems to be you'll play for australia if you spin the ball, no matter how good or bad you are.

No mention of NSW bias? Its not just spinning the ball, Krejza can spin it but hes been overlooked. If SA didn't stuff around with Bailey he might have been a much better choice. Holland played his first Shield match of the season. So realistically there is only McGain, Krejza and Chris Simpson who have played enough games to be considered. McGain you can use the too old or smashed in SA excuse. Krejza was thrashed by this Pakistan side in the tour match and hasn't really done anything to say pick me again and selectors seem to want a leggie. I do agree Smith looks like a part timer now and he needs a fair bit of work but until SA start playing Bailey more consistently, Smith is the only leggie the selectors will consider.

 

[sifter132]

I thought they might have learned from the Cameron White experiment over in India, where White batted at #8 and played as the 'specialist' spinner. It's as though we were just hoping for draws then... But anyway, Smith has a bit more potential than White though but I can't say his bowling has been too exciting thus far.

Personally Smith would be well down the spinning ranks if I were to list them based on their CURRENT ability. Here's who would be better: Hauritz, Krejza, Cullen Bailey, Jon Holland, Bryce McGain....Gap...Aaron Heal, Steve O'Keefe, Aaron O'Brien probably even Marcus North I'd be more comfortable with than Steve Smith. So he's not in my top 5 but he's got a lot more raw talent than the other 4 I mentioned. Really, he's purely a potential pick, a punt on a prospect (Ooohhh :laugh) I guess the problem is of those 10 I've mentioned only 3 are wrist spinners - Bailey, McGain and Smith. So he's got a selection advantage in a wrist spin biased country like Australia.

 

[cricketmad09]

No mention of NSW bias? Its not just spinning the ball, Krejza can spin it but hes been overlooked. If SA didn't stuff around with Bailey he might have been a much better choice. Holland played his first Shield match of the season. So realistically there is only McGain, Krejza and Chris Simpson who have played enough games to be considered. McGain you can use the too old or smashed in SA excuse. Krejza was thrashed by this Pakistan side in the tour match and hasn't really done anything to say pick me again and selectors seem to want a leggie. I do agree Smith looks like a part timer now and he needs a fair bit of work but until SA start playing Bailey more consistently, Smith is the only leggie the selectors will consider.

However Simpsons average is higher than Einsteins IQ

 

[TumTum]

So he's got a selection advantage in a wrist spin biased country like Australia.

Well we can't bowl the doosra, so wrist spinning is the only option.

 

[Howsie]

OK Pakistan fans, there is talk of playing both spinners in this match. Thoughts? And what about Umar Gul vs Rauf? Would Gul be in your team?

Another question is Shoaib Malik. I gather he hasn't been batting well recently, but I think he'd be very handy to play as your 2nd spinner. Looking at your top 6, who else can chip in as a 5th bowler? Maybe Farhat? I think someone who can bowl 10 overs a day would be handy here in Australia, especially if you are relying on 3 pacemen and no 5th bowler. The quicks will get tired quite quickly if they are in the field for a day and a half. Maybe that's wishful Aussie-biased thinking, but I think you'll need the extra bowler.

And it looks like a pretty long tail for Pakistan too. Can any of your bowlers bat?? Because the stats aren't very good.

Well I'm not a Pakistan fan obviously but having watched them play our boys for the last two months I can give you a few answers here.

Gul V Rauf: I don't really know about this tbh, that's because I haven't see Rauf bowl ever. He bowled well against the NZ XI in the warm-up game before last months test series and from what I've heard he bowled well the other day, he might be worth the punt tbh as he has form behind him. Umar Gul IMO wasn't bad in New Zealand, he bowled some very good spells at time (he was also very economical at times).

Shoaib Malik is a big no no selection, he was atrocious in New Zealand and really didn't like the extra bounce. He looked like a man playing with no confidence as he also dropped catch after catch. If I was the coach I wouldn't want him anywhere near my team at the moment.

Pakistan's tail is decent, they were able to bail the top order out from time to time in New Zealand (but let's not forget, New Zealand suck at getting the tail out). Aamer looks like a batsmen when he's at the crease, but eight is probably just a spot to high for him at the moment (That's probably the case for all the batsmen from eight down tbh). Gul can hit a ball and on his day is probably capable of making 25-40 as he has a decent technique but Asif and Kaneria are both number 11 in international cricket, bunny's to good bowling.

 

[BKB1991]

OK Pakistan fans, there is talk of playing both spinners in this match. Thoughts? And what about Umar Gul vs Rauf? Would Gul be in your team?

Another question is Shoaib Malik. I gather he hasn't been batting well recently, but I think he'd be very handy to play as your 2nd spinner. Looking at your top 6, who else can chip in as a 5th bowler? Maybe Farhat? I think someone who can bowl 10 overs a day would be handy here in Australia, especially if you are relying on 3 pacemen and no 5th bowler. The quicks will get tired quite quickly if they are in the field for a day and a half. Maybe that's wishful Aussie-biased thinking, but I think you'll need the extra bowler.

And it looks like a pretty long tail for Pakistan too. Can any of your bowlers bat?? Because the stats aren't very good.

Rauf is decent. He played in the series against Sri Lanka and wasnt sensational but was ok. I wont pick Gul over him due to much more experience, and I am having a strange feeling Gul is going to do well there.

Malik is horrendous at Test match level. Too many times he has given his wickets away cheaply in this version of the game and struggles against the short balls. Johnson will love him. I would also like to chuck Misbah out and bring in Alam. Alam isnt alot better then Misbah, but Misbah has a poor technique against the quicker bowlers and Alam is pretty young, so it would be best in the long run to have him play here. Although that is an unlikely move, seeing that would make Yousef as the most experienced player in the middle order, with the likes of Umar Akmal, Faisal Iqbal, and Kamran Akmal

The tail with Aamir there can add some runs. I dont see him scoring too may runs since he likes to poke balls outside the off stump. Then You get players like Umar Gul that can add some valuable runs at times. Kaneria also did it in NZ. Asif is the next Chris Martin.

I wouldnt have minded if we had bought in Afridi. He adds the balance being a vital spinner and a pretty ok batsman. His Test record isnt bad, and he can score some runs and turn out to be a handy batsman

Overall we have got an unpredictable squad. We can have players like Yousef going for ducks whereas Aamir scoring 50s.

What do you guys think off Misbah Vs Alam?
And should Afridi had been part of the team?

 

[Howsie]

I'd go Misbah tbh, Alam in that first test didn't seem to like bounce too much, Johnson and Bollinger would fancy there chances against him.

And Afridi has "retired" from test match cricket.

 

[BKB1991]

Didnt he come a week later?

 

[drainpipe32]

Not sure Smith is the right choice. Would have been better off with Casson, but we just had to go and shatter his confidence......

 

[TumTum]

I don't get the selection with Smith either. The selectors are hoping he develops into a specialist bowler IMO.

 

[z33]

I just heard Pakistan's coach talking to a tv channel , he said we are going with 3 fast bowlers and 1 spiner.
Spinner was going to be kaneria but since he is doubtful we have decided to go with Saeed Ajmal however if kaneria shows positive signs on the match morning he will be back.

Kaneria has 70% chances of making into the team , they say he can play but we dont want to risk him for rest of matches.

 

[ajdude]

How is Kaneria doubtful?