Pakistan Tour of Australia 2009/10

[TumTum]

North have to play for his career in the 2nd innings.

Same goes for Ponting and Hughes :laugh

 

[piriyanth]

Nah not Hughes, he still young.

 

[TumTum]

Nah not Hughes, he still young.

and....?

If he doesn't perform, he'll get wiped off the injury list.

 

[aussie1st]

North springs to mind right away tbh.

His form when under pressure and in the 2nd innings is definitely becoming a worry. His bowling would give him a longer run than a pure batsmen though. Also it seems Watson is being groomed for a spot down the order so that his bowling can be used more.

 

[Howsie]

He's still playing for his "short career" though, and by that I mean if he fails here we might not see him play test cricket for quite a while. I mean let's be honest here, Hughes played a rather poor innings. Now you can put that down to the pitch if you want to, or maybe nerves but IMO he's just not a "test" cricketer yet.

 

[Mihir Doshi]

Ponting Just Lost the plot by batting first... Even Yousuf said he would have bowled first..

I hope the pakistanis do not throw it awy..

 

[Dabi]

Oh my god, Sami :laugh. He's going to get pummeled!

He got thrashed all over Sydney today! :laugh

 

[Fatal Shot]

I called this. On page 60.

Australia strong favorites unless a Pakistan shock the World

And knowing them, they well could.

Amazing stuff from Pakistan. Watching the highlight's right now, instead of our match.

 

[mattfb]

Our middle order has some real issues. Changes have to be made. If not personal changes, then changes in the order because something just isn't clicking. The 3,4,5 and 6 have struggled to score consistent runs in the past 12 months. Ponting and Hussey have both scored up to 15 runs below there average in the last 12 months. Clarke has scored 3 more than his average, but North is averaging under 40.

Batsmen / Career Average / Last 12 month average
Ponting / 55.00 / 37.08
Hussey / 51.63 / 36.17
Clarke / 49.11 / 52.25
North / 39.50 /39.50

So obviously the middle order has problems, with 3 of the 4 averaging under 40. But not only that, the partnerships just haven't been key. Ponting has struggled with Watson, and has a good average with Katich but it is clearly boosted by a not out and one 239 run partnership. He averages 40 with Hussey which isn't terrible, but its only a start and is very frustrating to lose wickets jut when a partnership is starting to form. Our number 4 and 5, Clarke and Hussey, have serious problems batting together averaging under 30. In fact, Hussey only averages over 50 with Katich.

Ponting and openers
Batted with Katich 12 times - 630 runs - 239 High - 57 average (Take out that 239 and if I'm not mistaken the average is below 40)
Batted with Watson 7 times - 221 runs - 31 average

So ponting clearly has a problem with our openers, not doing too well in the last 12 months.

Hussey and Clarke last 12 month
Batted together 15 times - 409 runs - 27 average

This could be one of Australias most vital partnerships. Batting at 4 and 5 this is extremely important, batting 15 times together in just 12 months. The fact that these 2 can't muster over 30 consistently is extremely worrying. Many times this wicket has put has in strife, and if these 2 could click we would reach scores of 450+ a lot once more. One of the reasons we have been so successful in the past is Hussey and Clarke

Hussey and Clarke career
36 innings - 1498 runs - 42.80 average

North has been extremely good with Clarke (57 together), Haddin (63 together) and Johnson (67 together) but it's been consistent low scores that have brought his average down.

But the point of this is that the order really is in need of a reshuffle. Hussey and Ponting have been amazing together, averaging 58 after 33 innings so maybe getting them to bat together more often could be the answer. Bringing Clarke up the order gives him a chance to score more runs and take his time which he is known to do. Not to mention Clarke has opened numerous times in the past. Clarke to 3 and Ponting to 5 might not be such a bad idea.

 

[TumTum]

^ no need for the mumbo jumbo, we already know our middle order has problems.

And I am blaming it solely on Ponting, last 2 years he has been shocking. Why can't he just bat like Steve Waugh when he's out of touch?

Rather than that, he decides to throw his wicket away

 

[Dabi]

Tbf that was a excellent ball, Watson couldn't really do much better.

Howsie added 1 Minutes and 43 Seconds later...



It's quite simple really. He's played a lot of his cricket in the Sub-con when the ball isn't doing anything and the pitches are flat. He's a fullish type bowler so you can see why he goes for runs.

It's not that mate, he bowl waaaaay too short and waaaay too wide generally. There are occasional spells liek this whe we Pakistanis see his potential but generally he bowls them short and wide instead of full and swinging and he's been very unlucky throughout his career as well (lots of plays and misses and drop catches).

 

[Fatal Shot]

Sami used to bowl like the current Gul. Some really good balls, but generally too full, and wide of off stump, and would get hammered a lot. Getting dropped, has really helped him straighten up almost everything about his bowling. Instead of trying to hit 90+ each time, he is now better focusing on line and length and it's paying dividends to him.

 

[nikhil_99]

What a bowling performance by Asif, 6/41 in 20 overs; if Pak bastman play well, they can ceraintly get good lead, lets see,should be an interesting Day 2.....

 

[Dabi]

Sami used to bowl like the current Gul. Some really good balls, but generally too full, and wide of off stump, and would get hammered a lot. Getting dropped, has really helped him straighten up almost everything about his bowling. Instead of trying to hit 90+ each time, he is now better focusing on line and length and it's paying dividends to him.

I'd be cautious of calling this Sami's second coming, (I think it might actually be the third though). He has produced spells like this before.

Gul is a serious liability, I mean on a green wicket, he's still bowling bullet straight! (except the last wicket). IF he ain't gonna seam em here, he ain't gonna be seamin em anywhere!

 

[BKB1991]

Didnt see the game but the rumours at school were unbeleivable! Couldnt believe it until I came home. Bad news is that the channel that shows the game here is having signal problems so it is unlikely that I get to see some action. Any sites where I can see teh highlights. How was the pitch today and was it good bowling by the Pakistanis or poor batting from the Aussies? I hope rain stays away.