Australia v Pakistan Dec 16-Jan 6

[vosser]

The sign of a great side that when in trouble and no doubt today they were, someone steps up to the plate and delivers. The Australians are doing this so often stepping up and taking responsibility never totally relying on a single player to bail them out time after time. This I feel is the difference between Australia and the rest of the world with regards to consistency. The problem is I dont feel confident that any of the other nations are close to bringing that same consistency to the table.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Rachael

The end of day bowling figures look diabolical, really.. with Akhtar in particular seemingly having leaked runs like a village park player (allowing 23 scoring strokes off 61 balls to Langer is just plain poor, suggesting least 2 poor balls an over... and is especilly poor given reports that Langer was playing cautiously and looking to leave when he could against the new ball.. but that's capped by giving Gilchrist of all people 9 balls to hit out of 15 bowled and going for 21 runs.. and going for 4.11 an over to a tailender like Gillespie).

Sami actually went for fewer runs than Akhtar in the end.. but given the cricinfo report one wonders if that was in part because he was so erratic in the morning (until that one over to Martyn) that Langer and Ponting (in particular) were able to just watch pointless delivery after pointless delivery just sail on by.

Sami certainly went at more than a run a ball against the lower-middle order (40 runs off 36 balls to Lehman, Gilchrist, WArne, Gillespie and Kasprowicz).

With the lead bowlers leaking like that it's no surprise that the support bowlers followed suit..

Rachael, I agree in part with you - the bowlers did let some of the pressure off in the latter part of the innings, especially in the second session, and the Aussies counter-attacked well. However, the ball was older so batting was easier.

In any case, you are over emphasising over rates and runs per over, based entirely on cricinfo reports and statistics. This is not a ODI, and its wickets which win Tests, not runs per over. Apart from a certain period of play in the middle, no batsmen apart from Langer looked totally comfortable, and even Langer had his chances in the first two sessions; he was dropped off Shoaib when on 13, and had quite a few plays and misses against Khalil and Sami in session 2.

I really cannot fathom your aversion to good attacking bowling; taking wickets is what Akhtar and Sami are about and today they did that well; yes they could have taken some more, and not let Gilly or Langer stay together for so long, but then these are class batsmen.

Some further points for you:

{i} you said a few days earlier that if Pakistan compete in two sessions a day, and lose a third, they should be very happy. Here, we comprehensively won the first session, lost the second by a margin, and were at least even (if not better) in the third ... I'd say well done to the bowlers, as would most neutrals, if they were being objective.

{ii} you said earlier that even if Aus are 380-3, Woolmer should take heart from it and you could see many positives in it. Well its better than that, they are 360 for 8, and yet you cannot bring yourself to say a word in support of the bowlers, and still seem intent on being negative and castigating them.

{iii} you said Aus would score 550-5 invariably against most teams, so Pakistan should not be concerned if that happens to them; well here, that has not happened. In fact, all teams would be delighted on the first day of a series in Aus, they had the hosts for 360 for 8. Much better than England's first day at the Gabba! So why can't you acknowledge and appreciate that, and also comment on the positives - bowlers all over the world have a tough ask, so let's not be over critical, some objectivity and balanced comment from us should be good!

{iv} The cricinfo verdict states:

Originally Posted by cricinfo

Before the Test, Shoaib talked about being smarter with the ball, and his mouth and brain were finally bowling from the same body. Shoaib's run-up was as long as a straight stretch of the Nullarbor railway crossing, but he and Sami reduced their pace – it was still fast – and the first hour was most unlike a WACA Test. The batsmen weren't jumping around protecting their fingers, and were even given balls to drive.

{v] One of the other posters, an Aussie supporter, actually went to the match, here is his summary:

Originally Posted by BlueyM

I have been at the WACA today, (you can tell from the sunburnt nose )

There were three things that stand out, -
1. the sheer pace and dedication of Akhtar
2. the line and length of Sami, despite his reputation of being "erratic"
3. the grit and determination of Langer at the crease.

While days like this continue, Test cricket will never die.

The Pakistan team had been written off in the media after some poor showings against WA sides in their lead up matches, but today I saw courage and endeavour worthy of the best traditions of the game.

I would have expected you of all people to concur, and not be critical just for the sake of it.

Yes, I have often agreed with you in castigating lacklustre performances by Sami and Shoaib; I saw the game today and it was not one of those days. They tried hard, but if Langer was too resolute for them, Gilchrist too skilled, then one should praise the Aussies but not be intent on criticising the pace men - fast bowlers have a hard enough job anyway!

Yes Pakistan could have done better, but there is always room for imprvement, especially in an inexperienced and uncoached team like this. What must not be forgotten by you is that they showed great improvement from their recent past, and also did much better than both you or I were expecting...so let's be honest and give credit where it's due!

[Shaka]

Peter Roebuck the ex-Somerset captain seems to have seen Shoaib's and Sami's spell quite different which does show that statistics don't always tell the full story:



Sourc: http://www.smh.com.au/news/Cricket/A-sleeping-giant-wakes/2004/12/16/1102787218629.html?oneclick=true

A sleeping giant wakes
By Peter Roebuck
December 17, 2004

Australia's top-order batting has been exposed by the controlled fury of an opponent relishing a pitch that awoke (like many at this time of year) slightly green about the gills. Ricky Ponting's side was in serious trouble till Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist joined forces in brilliant fashion to turn the match upon its head.

Still, the enduring memory of the first day was of Australian batsmen struggling to come to terms with a purposeful and passionate opening attack. Mohammad Sami and Shoaib Akhtar bowled with pace and heart as they ripped through a shaky batting order. Mohammad Khalil was not far behind as he sent down some left-armers that slithered like a snake through grass. As far as the Australian top order was concerned, it was a combination altogether too hot to handle. Had the supporting cast sustained the pressure the locals might not have escaped the leash.

Akhtar and Sami proved to be ideal partners. Over the years, it has been found that contrast is the very essence of the harmonious relationship, a point those scouring the personal columns are inclined to forget. Lindwall and Miller, Trueman and Statham, Laurel and Hardy, Morecambe and Wise, it is all contrast and counterpoint. The Pakistani pair may not belong in this company but they caused plenty of headaches. Few of the locals will want to watch replays of their dismissals.

Akhtar is the firebrand of the pair. He charges to the crease to sling down his thunderbolts and with unapologetic hostility sets about shattering stumps and clattering skulls. Others might yearn for respectability. When he swaggers into town he wants the civilised to cower in the shadows and rivals to start shaking.

He does not mean it, of course, and that is part of the fun. He scowls and smiles, glowers and grins and generally wears his heart upon his sleeve. Doubtless he is also infuriating, especially to captains and coaches convinced that he does not train hard enough and spends too much time in nightclubs, charges he might be hard pressed to deny. Sometimes the Rawalpindi Express does splutter along like a goods train. When he is hot, though, he brings the game to life.

Akhtar fulfilled his hype here by cutting through the opposing ranks. Not that taking wickets was all that hard. Matthew Hayden looks exhausted and is batting like a man with too many cookery books to his name. Nowadays he talks about building an innings. In the past, he imposed himself from the first ball. Darren Lehmann's shuffle across his crease put his stumps and his place in danger. Michael Clarke's nibble suggested that the newcomer needs to improve his game against pace, a point also raised by his alarmed reaction to a first-ball bumper.

Although Akhtar deserved his four wickets, his partner was the most impressive of the visiting leather-flingers. Thrown the ball at the start of play and working into a blustery wind, Sami maintained pace and accuracy throughout an opening spell of 12 overs. Whereas Akhtar relishes the theatrical, the streamlined paceman from Karachi delivers the ball, awaits the outcome, turns and walks quickly back to his mark in the manner of a man eager to have another go. Probably he does not need as much rest as his illustrious partner.

The younger man bowled at a lively pace here and kept a full length. Towards the end of that initial spell he started to swing the ball around. Certainly the missile that defeated Damien Martyn left him flicking at shadows. Ricky Ponting fell to a delivery that took advantage of a gap provided by a batsman unable to find a settled rhythm. Had Pakistan's inexperienced gloveman held a gloved leg-side catch offered by Langer the paceman might have been properly rewarded for his efforts. Nevertheless, he took two wickets and did not allow his opponents any respite.

Six wickets fell to these faster bowlers. It was not quite enough. Once again, Adam Gilchrist rode to the rescue. Australia would be much more vulnerable without him. Gilchrist is arguably the most valuable cricketer in the world, a remarkable feat for a wicketkeeper who bats at fifth drop.

Langer also produced another superb innings. Without doubt he's the best opening batsman around. He has difficulty with inswingers bowled at pace but every technique has a weak point. It is time to give him the credit he deserves. He scores many runs and alone among the Australian batsmen seems to be on top of his game. Maybe missing the one-day matches is not such a bad thing. Regardless, and not for the first time, the left-hander served with distinction.

[Maranello]

Peter Roebuck the ex-Somerset captain seems to have seen Shoaib's and Sami's spell quite different which does show that statistics don't always tell the full story

Shaka, I am not sure if that bit of your comment was addressed at me or at anyone else; as for me, those were my exact thoughts even before I had read Roebuck and I do agree with all of his article!

I strongly feel that criticising and ridiculing Shoaib and Sami for runs per over on the first day of an important series is something no serious observer of the game would do, at least not someone who understands fast bowling and watched them bowl today. Yes, they could on other occasions be criticised for bowling consistently too short - not today; on other days, I have felt exasperated at their obsession with speed at the expense of accuracy - not today; many a time we have all lamented their never sticking to a plan - not today (yes, they bowled a few at the legs to the left-handers but did not bowl consistently wild lines and lengths).

Hence, people such as Rachael should be more objective/balanced and give credit where its due. Pakistani bowlers definitely surprised me by their performance, and I am sure many of us concur. Sure, Australia may still get 500+, and Pakistan may still be out for 200 and 150 in their two innings; all that would show is the gap in class between the two teams, and the fact that Australia have been on the summit of K-2 for a while, and Pakistan have just began the upward journey from Base Camp 1. However, everyone should accept that today has confirmed that Pakistan has abundant talent and skill, and it is a team on the upward curve. Sure, the journey is long, but the direction is the right one, and days such as today every so often are encouraging signs indeed.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Maranello

Hence, people such as Rachael should be more objective/balanced and give credit where its due.

Can we distinguish {a} what should please Woolmer; and {b} how far this Pakistan team is from the finished article.

{a} I think Woolmer should be grinning from ear to ear right now: the first session of the day went sensationally well for him.. and the end of day result is still one he'd surely have taken before play started.

{b} I think the lead bowlers need to do what they did today.. whuilst going for no more than 2.5-2.8 an over.. which is what virtually all great bowling partnerships manage.. and which (if backed up by others able to manage similar control) might have seen Australia end the day with 220-240 runs rather than 357.

Woolmer can simultaneously take away the positives (357/8 is good) and recognise the downside (that's 120 more runs.. or 3 batsmen's contributions.. that Pakistan have to find from somewhere... or (alternatively) an extra session or two that the Aussies will have to bowl at the Pakistan batsmen because they have reached a decent total a a gallop.

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by Maranello

Shaka, I am not sure if that bit of your comment was addressed at me or at anyone else; as for me, those were my exact thoughts even before I had read Roebuck and I do agree with all of his article!

No I was backing up your view on this one in fact. My comments were more with racael in mind as she perhaps didn't see the bowling and was relying on stats alone.

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by Rachael

{b} I think the lead bowlers need to do what they did today.. whuilst going for no more than 2.5-2.8 an over.. which is what virtually all great bowling partnerships manage.. and which (if backed up by others able to manage similar control) might have seen Australia end the day with 220-240 runs rather than 357.

Rachael, I think the style of Shoaib and Sami's bowling which tends to be spearing in quite full length deliveries at high speed makes it a little tougher to control the ball especially if the ball is swinging. Razzaq in contrast can normally pitch the ball on a sixpence every time, but because there is little threat, quite often he has to wait for a batsmen to gift a wicket or as today, batsmen like Gilchrist start laying into him once they get comfortable.

While Sami and Shoaib might be a little more wayward, the Aussies were clearly more uncomfortable while they were bowling. all five wickets which went down early were to fast, swinging full pitched deliveries.

[Beny]

Well I can't say I was surprised that we came back as I'm starting to get used to it.

From my view the Pakistan bowlers bowled as they should have and not as superman. You would expect nothing less from players of thier quality. The pace of the deliveries probebly accounted for some wickets... as it should do. Shoaibs first spell was inconsistant, I dont think he knew where the bowl was going but fortunetly for the PAK fans he bowled a beuaty to get rid of Hayden. You can't really crictisise Hayden for that, it was just low, fast and on line, very hard to play. Sami bowled well the whole way through, he pitched it up and got some good pace eventualy getting Ricky Ponting out with a ball that perhaps should have been blocked. e.c.t

At the end of the day the Pakistani bowling was nothing to rave about. Shoiab was innconsitant and the second string bowlers were simply not good enough. Sami bowled well though.

Langer played the rock of the innings and bumped his averege up a bit. Hopefully he can make it a double ton today.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Shaka

No I was backing up your view on this one in fact. My comments were more with racael in mind as she perhaps didn't see the bowling and was relying on stats alone.

When you missed the coverage you have little more than the reports to go on.... which is why I started the day as follows:

Originally Posted by Rachael 28578

I've started a thread elsewhere with player-vs-player breakdown. Maybe those who watched session-by-session could throw some light on it

[and]

ps. Anyone got the bowling figures from lunchtime and tea? I'd love to see just how things changed

I'm still not clear just how the day went on a session by session basis.. and I'm finding most of the comments unhelpful: "Only six fours came in the first session, and the discipline yielded results, as three wickets fell in the last six overs before lunch" is about as detailed as I've found.

I've worked the following out though:

1st 50 runs came at 3.03 / over
2nd 50 runs came at 3.49 / over
3rd 50 runs came at 4.83 / over
4th 50 runs came at 7.14 / over
5th 50 runs came at 4.05 / over
6th 50 runs came at 3.61 / over
7th 50 runs came at 5.17 / over

Langer's first 50 was scored at 2.78, his 2nd was at 5.17 and his third was a 5.00.

The morning session yielded runs at 2.89 / over, the 2nd session yielded runs at 5.48 / over and the final session yielded runs at 4.03 runs / over.

This all suggests to me that there is substance to the notion that "Ricky Ponting and Langer steadied the innings, but at no stage of the partnership did either batsman dominate".. which kinda misses the key question of whether they were LOOKING to dominate (I wouldn't have been: batting was only ever going to get easier, the bowlers were only ever going to get more tired, and it was a good moment to bide one's time)... but also to the notion that "The momentum shifted drastically, and even Shoaib and Sami couldn't do much to restore the balance when they came back into the attack" (which is what most teams exxperience bowling at Australia :-) ).

By the standards of what was anticipated from Pakistan I think that's a sensational day for them. By the standard of what's needed to compete with Australia.. it's a day that saw 120+ runs gifted to a team that needs no such gifts.

[Beny]

Aus all out for 381.

Langer was the last wicket to fall going the slog for 191. Fantastic innings.

Shoaib gets 5 wickets although it was not his best bowling proformance.