Aus vs Pakistan >> score prediction

[Zainub]

Pakistan have never won a test in Australia, Australia have won the last 6 test matches played between these two sides: there are no two ways about it Australia will start as over whelming favorites to win a three test match series against us which will be played either side of Christmas (first test starts December 16) - your task is cut out again: predict the result.

I'm saying 0-0 draw because that's the first realistic thing that has come to my mind, other wise I think we can win 3-0!!

[Maranello]

Pakistan have actually won 4 Tests in Australia Zainub, out of 26. So we have not done that badly.

Australia have only 3 wins in Pakistan, out of 20 Tests.

Ful list of Pak v Australia Test series here. Australia clearly have the upper hand historically, and even more so in the current climate.

[Zainub]

I'm having a really bad stats day Maranello - first I confused Richard Illingworth with Ray Illingworth and than confused Sri Lanka never having won a test in Aus with Pakistan...I think I should take a rest

[Beny]

I'm still not convinced by the Pakistan team. However as a few of you have pointed out, If PAK have a good test they can show us the unboubted talent that exsists in the team. Even at that though, Australia are the better team at this time.

What's the deal with this guy who made 108* with cramps against India? I saw some highlights and he looked a bit like a Darren Lehman except he wasent hitting the ball as cleanly as you would hope for a guy who was on the road to a ton.

[Zainub]

That "guy" happens to be a 20 year old named Salman Butt. I've been a close follower of his career right from the time he's been representing us at Under 19 level and for the Pakistan Acedemy side (he scored a double century against the SA Academy side in SA) and I can tell you that he is a very clean striker of the ball and absolutely loves playing his cover drives. As he approached his maiden ton though he was understandably a bit nervous, but I thought he was lucky in the respect to have a guy like Inzi at the other end at that time, he guided him well past any nerves, and he eventually got there with single down to the fine leg area, but not before he'd cramped again while taking it. Made his test debut during Pakistan's famous 1 wicket victory over Bangladesh (making 12 and 37) in Multan last year.

[Beny]

Somebody to watch out for?

[Zainub]

Definately. I don't think though that he'll get a test (perhaps only if we get very, very desperate and Umar, Farhat and Hameed have all been tried and failded misrebally - which I obviously don't think will happen). He should be an automatic choice for the one-day though after that hundred against India.