Pakistan v Australia in England, June-July 2010

[Mike23]

Why not? That's a stupid post, Butt and Farhat could both be class batsmen for Pakistan.

Who said anything about class? I was talking about performance. Okay butt has done well in the recent past but Farhat and Hameed don't deserve a spot in the test XI. This post says it all -

Butt deserves but not Farhat. He is in the squad due to reasons other than performance.

 

[drainpipe32]

There's something called potential too, and that's why Pakistan was one of the powerhouse teams at the turn of the decade, they had put in the bargains and selected 17-20 year old fast bowlers and batsmen who had come through.

Admittedly Farhat is a bit older than that but the raw talent in Pakistan is no longer nurtured to well at a young age as it was, due to politics and other reasons. Farhat looks technically stronger than Butt and IIRC offers a very useful and under used leg spin option. You have to stick with an opening combo, or it'll never flourish.

 

[LongLegs?]

There's something called potential too, and that's why Pakistan was one of the powerhouse teams at the turn of the decade, they had put in the bargains and selected 17-20 year old fast bowlers and batsmen who had come through.

Admittedly Farhat is a bit older than that but the raw talent in Pakistan is no longer nurtured to well at a young age as it was, due to politics and other reasons. Farhat looks technically stronger than Butt and IIRC offers a very useful and under used leg spin option. You have to stick with an opening combo, or it'll never flourish.

Umar Amin, Fawad Alam, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal and Azeem Ghumman say hello. They're done superbly in domestic cricket and some of them have got chances, while others are just making it into the team. Not been happy with the treatment of Alam, but can't really do anything about it. Amin looks a better Test player than ODI player. Very good technique, but looks a tad bit defensive.

Add to that Babar Azam, who was great at the U-19s, and was 15 when he played in that, Hammad Azam and there was a spinner - Raza Hossain? - who are all talented. Pakistani talent was never nurtured, imo. It was always about raw talent. It just takes some time to get used to international cricket for some people, while others adapt immediately. Just need to give them some time.

Can't say I'm a fan of Farhat, but he looked good today, so let's see if he can produce the goods. Yasir Hameed had a great start to his international career, but faded after a while. He's 32 now, so this is probably his last chance at international cricket. Younis Khan being left out is horrific. I think he's scoring a lot of runs in county cricket too, which makes it all the more strange that he isn't picked for this series.

Also, I really hope they don't put too much responsibility on Amin. While he's a talent, he's never played abroad since U-19s, iirc. On the other hand, Umar Akmal, who has shown he can battle it out with the big guns, should be told to value his wicket. Throws it away after getting a start way too often. He's young, though, and I reckon he'll mature into a very good cricketer.

 

[drainpipe32]

I swear I thought you said Awad Falam

But yeah, it's not the same as it was, whatever the current case might be. Having seen vids of young Wasim's and Mohammed's there's no comparison....

Which isn't really the point. The point is, there's too much politics in Pakistani cricket to be trying out young players and FFS they should stick with a pairing that is reasonably consistent.

 

[TumTum]

Aus Test squad for VB Pakistan Series

Ricky Ponting(c) TAS 35
Michael Clarke (vc) NSW 29
Doug Bollinger NSW 28
Brad Haddin NSW 32
Ryan Harris QLD 30
Nathan Hauritz NSW 28
Ben Hilfenhaus TAS 27
Mike Hussey WA 35
Mitchell Johnson WA 28
Simon Katich NSW 34
Usman Khawaja NSW 23
Marcus North WA 30
Steven Smith NSW 21
Shane Watson NSW 29

 

[Robelinda]

Good! Reports I read said that Shaun Marsh is the likely spare batsman, but he really hasnt done enough at FC level to justify that spot, Usman has had a bumper season. Hilfy got into form amazingly at the very last possible minute, how lucky is he!!!!! I guess Haddin was passed fit.

 

[TumTum]

Hilfy is the sort of bowler we need in England.

But how awesome would it be if Khawaja debuts against Pakistan He can be our The Interpreter

 

[Insomniac]

I don't know how much Urdu Usman will be able to speak or understand, I've heard him talk and he says his own name wrong

But worst come to worst, we can start speaking punjabi or pashtu, then he's definitely screwed

 

[angryangy]

It's not like Pakistan have any tactics to talk about :laugh

 

[TumTum]

It's not like Pakistan have any tactics to talk about :laugh

They might say who's day it will be to drop catches, then we'll taget him

 

[deathrevenge9]

It's not like Pakistan have any tactics to talk about :laugh

Class :laugh!

 

[sami ullah khan]

They might say who's day it will be to drop catches, then we'll taget him

So they will target Kamran Akmal . On a serious note, Pakistan have got no chance if Mr Butterfingers keeps his spot. I am flabbergasted as to how, he is keeping his place in the team.

 

[BKB1991]

Well the reports coming out regarding Younis exclusion has to do with the fact that he didnt apologixe to the PCB regarding his banning. The governing board of PCB acted like a bitch, and hence havent included him. An out of sorts Younis is still better than a new Pakistani batsman in England.

As Regards to Farhat he is in the team for the wrong reasons but at the same time he has played well in domestic circuit, so you can possible include him. I would prefer Manzoor instead him, he is young and has got the grit and he has showed that. Technique is a bit faulty but he can learn as he still is young.

We have already lost the series with our exceptionally poor team selection, cant think who is gonna bat in the middle order for us. No Younis, Yousef, and even now Alam. When these arent there the next person in the team should have been Alam. Its so annoying a random fan can make better selection calls then the PCB, I say the PCB because the not all the selectors were consulted when the team was chosen.

Lol at the fact that our most experienced player in the England Tests is Farhat with about 30 Tests :sarcasm

 

[Insomniac]

Well the reports coming out regarding Younis exclusion has to do with the fact that he didnt apologixe to the PCB regarding his banning. The governing board of PCB acted like a bitch, and hence havent included him. An out of sorts Younis is still better than a new Pakistani batsman in England.

As Regards to Farhat he is in the team for the wrong reasons but at the same time he has played well in domestic circuit, so you can possible include him. I would prefer Manzoor instead him, he is young and has got the grit and he has showed that. Technique is a bit faulty but he can learn as he still is young.

We have already lost the series with our exceptionally poor team selection, cant think who is gonna bat in the middle order for us. No Younis, Yousef, and even now Alam. When these arent there the next person in the team should have been Alam. Its so annoying a random fan can make better selection calls then the PCB, I say the PCB because the not all the selectors were consulted when the team was chosen.

Lol at the fact that our most experienced player in the England Tests is Farhat with about 30 Tests :sarcasm

Kaneria and Akmal have plenty of test experience as well though.

Farhat although in the team based on sifarshi, does make starts of 20-30 usually. If Butt can also bat well, then we should have about a 50 run opening partnership consistently throughout the entire tour, which I guess is acceptable.

I think Umar Amin can take Mohammad Yousuf's spot for now, while in all likeliness Malik will have to bat at #3 (or #4, and Amin bats at #3) - then Umar at #5.

Then obviously Afridi at 6, and Khatmal at 7, with 4 bowlers (Aamer, Gul, Kaneria, and Asif).

It's a good team, if the batting fires.

 

[BKB1991]

Kaneria and Akmal have plenty of test experience as well though.

Farhat although in the team based on sifarshi, does make starts of 20-30 usually. If Butt can also bat well, then we should have about a 50 run opening partnership consistently throughout the entire tour, which I guess is acceptable.

I think Umar Amin can take Mohammad Yousuf's spot for now, while in all likeliness Malik will have to bat at #3 (or #4, and Amin bats at #3) - then Umar at #5.

Then obviously Afridi at 6, and Khatmal at 7, with 4 bowlers (Aamer, Gul, Kaneria, and Asif).

It's a good team, if the batting fires.

Yeah, I misread that part, and it was the batsmen they were talking about in terms of experience.

Farhat has been getting those good starts but failing to convert, o the opening is prettylso Butt has the tendency tp score big against the Aussies, so the opening atleast for this series shouldnt be much worry.

Malik and Amin look a decent middle order, but Amin or whoever in his place is playing in his debut series and Malik has never really been a satisfacory TEST level batsmen. Afridi may be in good form of late, but in testing conditions where the bowl swings more and the quick bowlers are a much dangerous threat, we may struggle. U Akmal is probably our finest batsman of the lot and alot will depend on KAkmals performances as well.

The bowling is our strong suite but with Afridi there I wouldnt be shocked if Ajmal gets the nod over Kaneria, due to Afridi being a leg spinner as well. Asif, Gul and Aamir are a potent fast bowling trio.