Pakistan Tour of Australia 2009/10

[z33]

How is Kaneria doubtful?

injured fourth finger in practice , the one he uses more while bowling flipper and googly

He picked up this injury while attempting a return catch in New Zealand.

 

[piriyanth]

Australia's batting against spinners in all recent series has been very average and considering those spinners have been Harris, Swann and Benn, I hate to think what a good Paki spinner could do.

 

[ajdude]

Ugh, that's right, I remember his finger being buggered in NZ. It always seems to be the main spinning finger for everyone doesn't it? Haha.

 

[Aoun13]

Kaneria is most likely to miss the first test but by the 2nd test he will be perfect to play so this is a good news.

 

[sami ullah khan]

I really don't mind Kaneria going out. I rate Ajmal much higher. He can be attacking and also very economical. Kaneria is good but most of his wickets are very costly for his team as well.

 

[pcfan123]

Yea but how many world class leg spinners are there nowadays, and his form in NZ was outstanding, heck he was even batting well!

 

[z33]

I really don't mind Kaneria going out. I rate Ajmal much higher. He can be attacking and also very economical. Kaneria is good but most of his wickets are very costly for his team as well.

Its more of a case of liking :

More wickets(being expensive) V Less Wickets(being economical)
Kaneria V Ajmal

You cant win a Test unless u take wickets , but you cant give too many runs away and expect to win a match :laugh
so it all depends on the situation and current form.

 

[sifter132]

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

Ah yes the sad tale of Beau Casson. Well, I don't care really. If he didn't come back stronger after being dropped, I don't think we want him anyway. Harsh I guess, but it's character building to be dropped, and it can make you a better player. If you can't come back, then you're probably a dud anyway.

That's why I really like dropping batsmen occasionally. Worked for many of the guys in the recent Aussie teams: Steve Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting. It made them go back and work hard at their game, prove they have the passion to be the best and makes them hungrier. When all these guys came back they played awesome. That's why we shouldn't have been scared of dropping Phil Hughes or even Mike Hussey.


Oh and forgot to add some anecdotes about the upcoming match:
First, I don't think Australia will like either of the spin bowlers. In their mind, they probably think Kaneria can be scored off easier, but I think he'll end up suckering a few poor shots even if he does end up going for a few runs. I think they are more fearful of the Ajmal doosra and I think he could really tie down the less confident players of spin like Katich and probably Hussey, Watson and North too. Ponting will be vulnerable early to spin as always, but usually does well once he's going. And Clarke and Haddin have the opposite problem, too much confidence against spin.

Second, the first session will be a great tone setter (to quote Warney, man I'd love a dollar for all the time he said 'set the tone' during the Ashes...).
If the Aussies bat, it'll be particularly interesting to watch Asif and Aamer versus the front pads of Watson and Ponting. Both those guys get very tempted by the gap at mid wicket and get suckered into playing across the line too early which is a little frustrating for fans since they are both excellent straight drivers too, particularly Ponting. Hopefully against Aamer in particular they are focusing on playing straight. And hopefully Watson has that back pad turned around as far as possible so he doesn't clip it with his bat, which he is prone to do in defence.
And if the Pakis bat, it'll be very interesting to see how the top 3 does against the pace and bounce of Johnson, Siddle and Bollinger. If they cave early, it won't be a good omen for the rest of the series.

 

[aussie1st]

''STEVEN SMITH? [Is he] Australian?'' a bemused Mohammad Yousuf replied at yesterday's pre-match media conference.

The Pakistani captain apologised sincerely when he realised he was being asked about the latest addition to the Australian squad, but many of the occasional Australian cricket fans who watch today's match would be similarly oblivious.

Pakistan v Australia Boxing day test

Can't blame him really, Smith has only played for about a season. Opposition seem to be doing this a bit this summer
If Smith does get the nod today, he could be in a no win situation depending on how he handles pressure. As if he performs the media will be all over it ala Hughes and Warner. If he fails the media will be throwing him to the wolves.

 

[Howsie]

If Steven Smith play's today I'd love to see him get smacked around (I've got nothing against Smith however) I'd just love to see the Australian selectors get shot down, which they should he he was to fail. They've made so many bad selections over the past year it isn't funny, I'd love to see one cost them a match (Without trying to sound really mean here )

 

[Robelinda]

The selctors have already made crap decisions which not only cost us The Oval test, but the whole test tour to India last year, and the home Sa series- where Lee shouldve been dropped, and Symonds and Hayden. Soon as those guys were out of team for the SA tour which followed we won!

 

[sifter132]

Definitely agree on Symonds, he's been one of the worst Test selections of recent times. Along with White in India.

But Lee? Don't agree. He'd been successful against NZ in 2 Tests and only played the one bad Test in Perth v SA. Are you gonna drop a 300 wicket bowler after one bad Test? Where no else did the job either, except for Mitch's 5 overs of fame? Then when he fractured his foot in Melbourne, the rest of the bowlers couldn't get out Dale Steyn. That was the real problem...

 

[aussie1st]

Heard of another forum that Smith is real chance of making his debut and Hauritz more than likely won't last 5 days.

 

[TumTum]

Bahahhahaha Kenarie is almost going to cry after he got told he won't play :laugh

Rauf and Ajmal in for Kenarie and Gul.

Sammy not going to play, people got their wish.

 

[Robelinda]

Punter in! Go Punter!