Australia v Pakistan Dec 16-Jan 6

[flanflinger]

Shaka,

What has happened to Umar Gul, who impressed so much against India...

Why do Pakistan chop and change so often, they never seem to have a settled side?

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

With you there Beny, with the close so close, and a nice opportunity for a long rest overnight, it does not make as much sense as when they did not enforce the follow-on during the last test..

As with the last Test... I think you'll find these guys are making these decisions as entertainers and as cricketers aware of their sports commercial interests: enforce the follow on and this game could all be over by tea tomorrow.... with Pakistan so thoroughly humiliated that no one even bothers watching the next Test.

There's also the "good batting practive" consideration: several top order bats failed to step up to the plate in the first Test.. and this is a great opportunity to spend a day and a half having an overgrown "net" against Shoaib, Sami, and co.

[Shaka]

flanfinger,

Gul has been out for 6 months with a double stress facture of his back. He's nearing fitness again now and will hopefully be back for the tour of India in Feb. He's a big miss here, would have loved to see him on Aussie pitches as he gets quite a bit of bounce and he can cut and seam the ball quite sharply. It's not a case of chopping and changing, Shabbir Ahmed, another seam bowler who's done well recently would also have been here but for injury. He'll probably be back for the ODI's but he's not a ODI bowler so that's not much use.

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by Rachael

As with the last Test... I think you'll find these guys are making these decisions as entertainers and as cricketers aware of their sports commercial interests: enforce the follow on and this game could all be over by tea tomorrow.... with Pakistan so thoroughly humiliated that no one even bothers watching the next Test.

There's also the "good batting practive" consideration: several top order bats failed to step up to the plate in the first Test.. and this is a great opportunity to spend a day and a half having an overgrown "net" against Shoaib, Sami, and co.

I think Pakistan could also use the rest of this game to give the Khalil a decent bowl. The batting is a lost cause for the moment but I have an idea which direction Pakistan needs to take in this regard which I'll post up in the Pakistan Forum.

[Zainub]

6:20 PM PST, lying in my bed I break my sleep to the sound of Somewhere Only We Know emerging from my mobile phone. As opposed to a normal bed side clock alarm I find mobile phone alarms more effective, as they have the capability to repeat an alarm even if you close it initially. As sit up I realise my nose was virtually non functional, my throat felt as if I’d been screaming all night long, my whole body in general felt sore, aching. Last nights sneezes was now showing its very true color, I felt as sick as a dog, barely managing to make my way to the lavatory. Took me age to get ready for praying, for it was reasonably cold and the water in my tap was still icy cold. When I eventually finished praying Fajr by quarter to 7, I felt somewhat better. Play wasn’t going to start before half past seven so I had some time on hand to make my self comfortable. Our house is hub of activity this time of the day on weekdays, with my sisters hurrying to get ready for school and my dad for office. Me? I’ve stopped going to college since my practicals have finished, it’s a whole mess there at college, with half of the teachers absent and the other half least bothered in teaching you, I’m much better of staying at home and studying my self. Because of the bout of cold I was suffering my appetite had completely died off, I didn’t eat last night and felt nothing like having breakfast either. My mom insisted on having something, so just picked up a banana, and started reading the morning’s papers that had just arrived.

The Dawn seemed to have focused more on the sheer quality of the Australian fight back, the brilliance of Langer’s innings rather than Pakistan’s inability to make god use of the start they got. By the time I finished going through the Editorials and comics play was beginning to start in Perth. We started positively getting rid of the remaining two Australian wickets without much further ado, Langer missed out on his double century, going for 191, as Australia’s innings concluded after the addition of just 23 more runs. Shoaib Akhtar deservedly claimed his second five-for against Australia, and Mohammad Sami finished with 3 wickets for over a 100 runs. Australia’s total was big, but it wasn’t massive, I told my self if we could get through this session with the loss of one wicket we’d be off to a decent start. And it was a promising start indeed, as Dizzy and Pigeon got off to a highly uncharacteristic slightly wayward start, they were straying in their line a bit, and bowling a few deliveries way down the leg side. Salman Butt and Imran Farhat showed some composure to take the score to 32 before both fell in quick succession before lunch to keep me assured Pakistan were not going to help making me feel any better. Farhat (18) gloved a one down the leg side from Dizzy, giving an easy chance to Gilchrist, and Salman Butt (17) was drawn into edging to Gilchrist by Michael Kasprowicz – it proved to be the first of five wickets the Queensland quick was going to take, and in our case the first of many disappointments to follow. Lunch:Pakistan 51/2 (Younis Khan 11*, Inzamam-ul-Haq 1*, 21 overs)

[Zainub]

Shortly after lunch Inzi was comprehensively bowled by Caper, and soon afterwards Yousuf Youhanna was caught behind of the same bowler, both for a mere 1 run. At 4-60 we were in all sorts of trouble. The ship was stead somewhat as Younus Khan batted sensibly, entering his 40s and Abdul Razzaq settled in nicely to go into his 20s. But it was all too promising to last. Warnie had bowled with control and discipline so far but it wasn’t spinning a great deal, both batsmen appeared comfortable against him, which is why the next two dismissals were all the more questionable. Younis Khan got caught at mid on playing an atrocious shot, and as if it prove there could be an even worse way to get out to Abdul Razzaq soon followed after bowled horribly playing another expansive shot.

That was it. Those two wickets and it seemed the flood gates had opened for Australia, after two set batsman (Younis Khan 42 and Razzaq 21) had got out play needlessly shots, the others just had to prove they could be just as irresponsible if not more. Kamran Akmal (2) was bowled by Casper after he having tried and missed a few Only-God-Knows-Why-You-Play-Them type strokes, Mohammad Khalil wasn’t expected to last long anyway but he made Pakistan’s intention of gifting away their wickets even more clear. The debutant left hander, lucky in my opinion of batting at number 9 ahead of the likes of Sami, and Shoaib, was bowled off Warne trying to heave it over the infield. Somehow we managed to not lose another wicket by tea, but 111-8 was already a terrible situation to be in, still needing 70 more runs to avoid the follow on. Tea: Pakistan 111/8 (Mohammad Sami 1*, Shoaib Akhtar 0*, 48 overs)

[Zainub]

It was 12:30 by then, and I felt hungry, not to mention disgusted over the way we’d played the game into Australia’s hands, playing such rash strokes. I fixed my self a paratha, some tea, and gargled. My throat felt instantly felt better, but the nose was still as dead as dodo, I was thankful though, at least I wasn’t sneezing like wild as I was last night. After lunch started a period of dogged resistance that saw our two new ball bowlers add 60 runs in a marathon 162 balls, it was the highest partnership of the innings, and that should embarrass some of our top and middle order batsmen.

Sami’s batting credentials are rated highly by my self, he is similar batsmen to the likes of Mathew Hoggard and Jason Gillespie, astute in defense and full of determination. Because these guys don’t play a whole lot of shots, their best one being the forward defensive, they can be stubborn customers to get out. But Shoaib Akhtar has a reputation as a batsman of being just the opposite, which is why his innings of 27 from 105 balls is even more praiseworthy. They two batted sensibly, leaving everything outside off stump, and defending positively with the full face of the bat. Australia looked frustrated, as occasional bowlers Darren Lehman, and Ricky Ponting were given a bowl. The resistance was to end sooner rather then later though, after being dropped by the skipper in the previous over, Shoaib Akhtar finally ran out of patience, edging one of McGrath to Shane Warne at 1st slip. At this stage Pakistan were just 11 runs of the avoiding the follow on. An few edges down to third man of McGrath had got Kaneria off the mark, and reduced Pakistan’s follow on target to just 5 more runs. In what proved to be the last over of our innings, Sami tried to hit out the remaining five runs all by him self having realised his new partner Danish Kaneria was no way near as accomplished a bat as his. First up he straight drove Michael Kasprowicz down the ground, and over his head, but the ball stopped just before the boundary line, and he fetched a couple of runs. Next up he tried to cut one over point but couldn’t control it and hence become Casper’s 5th wicket, caught exceptionally well running backwards by Michael Clarke for a well earned 29 off 130 balls, only Younus Khan (138) had faced more balls than him. We fell 3 short of our follow on target of 181, being bowled out for a disappointing 179.

With a lead of 202 runs, Australia decided against enforcing the follow on, just as they have many times off later. By stumps Australia had progressed to 15-0, in just 3 overs, both batsmen having survived a few close appeals. Australia finished another day, well on top, 217 runs ahead and still 3 full days to go. To cap off a disastrous day, Shoaib Akhtar was unable to complete his last over, and looked to have problems with a plaster on his left foot, later he was seen throwing his cap in disgust in the dressing room, as Abdul Razzaq finished bowled 3 balls to finish the over. To add insult to injury he was soon found out he was going to be fined 40% of his match fees after a hearing in front of match referee Ranjan Mudaglle concluded he had broken section 1.6 of the ICC Code of Conduct, according to which a member of the fielding team may not engage in "pointing or gesturing towards the pavilion in an aggressive manner [...] upon the dismissal of a batsman". Shoaib had pointed three times to the dressing-room with both fingers celebrating Hayden’s dismissal yesterday. Frankly speaking, I thought that it was harsh decision, I have seen other bowlers get away with these sorts of things, and having witness Shoaib bowl his heart out in the last couple of days and then follow it up with a dogged innings like that, all to be rewarded with only 60% of your matches fees, for once I felt sympathy for him.

It was a frustrating day all round for me, by stumps I’d caught a bit of a fever, and was almost lost, virtually buried under a mountain of handkerchiefs and tissues lying down in front of my TV set. Soon after I said my Jumma prayers, I felt asleep, not waking up until after 5 o clock, by this time England’s first test against SA was well and truly underway, and they were doing alright, my illness meant I found it hard to take pleasure out of anything, not even seeing one of my most favorite cricketers Freddie Flintoff bowling with pace and venom. I still felt incredibly tired, as if the weight of all the world’s miseries was on my shoulder, even though in fairness I had done nothing but lie down all day long, the cold was just draining energy out of me. My mom fixed a nice chicken corn soup for me after Maghrib, and that made me feel a whole lot better, my throat was still sore, albeit I had seen the back of the body-ache that made me feel so weak all day long. I decided to hope online, and jot down what a miserable day I’d had, and share it with others in the hope that theirs had hopefully been better. I hope everyone’s enjoyed reading. Cheers!Stumps, Day 2: Pakistan 179, Australia 15/0 (Langer 3*, Hayden 7*, 3 overs)

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

Shoaib Akhtar was unable to complete his last over, and looked to have problems with a plaster on his left foot, later he was seen throwing his cap in disgust in the dressing room, as Abdul Razzaq finished bowled 3 balls to finish the over. To add insult to injury he was soon found out he was going to be fined 40% of his match fees after a hearing in front of match referee Ranjan Mudaglle concluded he had broken section 1.6 of the ICC Code of Conduct, according to which a member of the fielding team may not engage in "pointing or gesturing towards the pavilion in an aggressive manner [...] upon the dismissal of a batsman". Shoaib had pointed three times to the dressing-room with both fingers celebrating Hayden’s dismissal yesterday. Frankly speaking, I thought that it was harsh decision, I have seen other bowlers get away with these sorts of things, and having witness Shoaib bowl his heart out in the last couple of days and then follow it up with a dogged innings like that, all to be rewarded with only 60% of your matches fees, for once I felt sympathy for him.

Just saw extended highlights of the Pakistan innings and both Gillespie and McGrath were sledging the batsmen, McGrath clearly uttering obscenities towards Razzaq after a refusal to walk. I've never had a problem with this side of it, you give as good as you get, but if Shoaib's going to be fined I would think the Aussie fast bowlers will be too, unless I am missing something.

[Zainub]

I certainly hope it turns out that way. Personally I was fine with the sledging the Aussies did, I don't think any of it was personal, and as long as that's the case I think even the players are fine with it, everyone knows that this is part of the game, nothing unsporting in a having a little go at the batsmen, neither in celebrating a wicket. But logically if you're fining Shoaib for what he did, you should fine them as well. I'm really not satisfied with the consistency with which these rules are applied. Some times some people seem to get away with things and at others time decisions are way too harsh.

Some of the clauses in the ICC's code of conduct are down right ridiculous. In the PK-SRI series Kamar Sangakkara was fined because when he got out he threw his bat up in frustration and it went on to hit the stumps, I thought that was ridicolous, you don't get fined for Racket Abuse in tennis... why should you be fined for equipment abbuse in cricket, especially when its not meant to be abuse of equipment in the first place. Its natural for people to be disapointed with them selves, fining them for that makes no sense what so ever.

The decision to fine Shoaib is very harsh indeed, even more so since you see batsmen get such send offs very frequently, at almost every level at which cricket is played. And since I don't think bowlers or fielding sides mean any real harm, its not as such an act of racisism/disgracefulness/unsporting or something on those line, but merely a way of celebrating a dismissal. Utterly harmless. Its stupid really that some one should be fined for doing something like that, and especially when even Matty Hayden didn't seem too offended by that. That's just as stupid as giving a red card to footballers who celebrate goals by taking off thier shirts.

Robert Craddock, for the Daily Telegraph comments on the fine imposed on Akhtar, in an excellent article below, voicing similar concerns as my self: Loosen the top botton

[Rachael]

Further to the discussions of the Pakistan batting and the refusal to enforce the follow-on: see http://www.world-a-team.com/search.php?searchid=19877

Originally Posted by Geoffrey Dean

Pakistan came into this first Test with little form with the bat, but their approach smacked of a side with no real stomach for a fight. Only when Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami added 60 for the ninth wicket in 29 overs was any real application or defiance displayed. Had Australia not dropped five catches, none of them especially easy, Pakistan may not have made much more than 100. The follow-on would surely have been enforced, an option ultimately rejected to the relief, no doubt, of Cricket Australia’s accountants. A three-day finish had been a distinct possibility.

This bit is pretty damning:

Originally Posted by Geoffrey Dean

The Pakistan batsmen nevertheless assisted far too eagerly in their downfalls. Salman Butt overindulged himself fatally with a wristy glide outside off stump; Imran Farhat flicked lazily to be caught down the leg side; Inzamam-ul-Haq’s feet might just as well have been tied together and Yousuf Youhana nibbled like a nervous hamster to be caught behind. Even more culpable were Shane Warne’s three victims — Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq and Mohammad Khalil — all of whom got out playing slog-sweep shots. Only Kamran Akmal could consider the manner of his dismissal worthy, Kasprowicz bowling him off an inside edge thanks to lift and cut.

Maybe Shaka should cut Kamran Akmal some slack :-)