Australia v Pakistan Dec 16-Jan 6

[Shaka]

I don't think the itinerary has helped either, Pakistan had played 17 ODI's and two tests under Woolmer before this match. But that's just part of it. The batsmen went into this game as underdogs and should have approached this game with nothing to lose and a positive attitude but they didn't look like they were relishing the opportunity to prove themselves. I think that's where Bob might be looking at the psychology side of it.

[Shaka]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...E23212,00.html

Packing it in without a fight
Comment by Robert Craddock
December 20, 2004


INSIPID. Spineless. Disorganised. Unprofessional. Or just plain sad.



http://[img]http://adserver.news...os=1[/img]
Choose whatever word you like to describe Pakistan's performance in the first Test against Australia. Everything fits.

No criticism is too hard.

It is hard to believe an international side could play as badly.

Australia were terrific and we must salute their standard of excellence which has reached a supreme level. But it's been a long time since we have seen an opposing team so shamefully uncommitted on Australian soil.

Even Zimbabwe and Bangladesh fought harder - and by a considerable margin. Coach Bob Woolmer did his best to instil some organisation into the most disorganised team in the world.

But media reports that at least one member of his team was seen out on the town at 2.30am towards the end of a Test have raised question marks over their commitment.

At their pre-match training sessions the Pakistanis' intensity was about five notches below the Australians with players milling around like brown cows. It's nothing new for Pakistan to be an off-field rabble. Previous Pakistan sides have been hopelessly disjointed and won but they had rich natural talent and strong leadership from the likes of Imran Khan and Wasim Akram.

Inzamam just doesn't have the same charisma.

Pakistan are not the first international side to be foiled by Perth's bounce. A few years ago England had a team meeting here and decided the only way to play in Perth was to have your bat perfectly straight or perfectly horizontal. Anything angled was bound to get an edge.

The logic was sound enough but the next day seven batsmen fell to pokes with angled bats. It's one thing to know what to do. It's quite another to retrain instincts honed in a different world.

The gap between Australia and the cricketing world is alarmingly wide - and getting wider.

Australia have not lost a series on home soil for 12 years and as proud as Australia are of that record, even their most loyal fans yearn for a contest.

Two years ago when Australia wrapped up the Ashes in just 11 days of cricket, Adam Gilchrist said to Steve Waugh: "It would be nice to have a real battle." There must have been similar emotions floating in an Australian dressing room yesterday.

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Robert Craddock

Previous Pakistan sides have been hopelessly disjointed and won but they had rich natural talent and strong leadership from the likes of Imran Khan and Wasim Akram. Inzamam just doesn't have the same charisma.

At the moment, he is the best we can offer. We don't have an option, or do we? Yousuf Youhanna is I know vice captain, but he's got to work on his batting still, we must let him concentrate on that bit for a while. And for Godness sakes we need some continutiy, how many captains / coachs have we choped and changed in the last ten years...I've honestly lost track.

Originally Posted by Robert Craddock

The gap between Australia and the cricketing world is alarmingly wide - and getting wider.

Hahaha..England are just about to win 8 test matches in a row...We'll see what happens next summer....

Originally Posted by Robert Craddock

Australia have not lost a series on home soil for 12 years and as proud as Australia are of that record, even their most loyal fans yearn for a contest.

Do they? Really? I never knew...

Originally Posted by Robert Craddock

Two years ago when Australia wrapped up the Ashes in just 11 days of cricket, Adam Gilchrist said to Steve Waugh: "It would be nice to have a real battle." .

I'll leave this for Erne....

[fair_&_balance]

Game has started on 3rd day.
I must say rain has helped Pakistan a lot yesterday and will do same if it keeps interrupting game.Not only it unsettles batmen's concentratin but also give a breather to Shoib and he keeps coming back fresh and firing all cylinders.

[fair_&_balance]

This is so great about this Australian team.There is always some Lehman,martyn,Poting ,
Langer or Gilchrist to get them out of hole.

I hate it.

[imaginarydiva]

Exactly!That is what makes Australia so succesful.Theres always somebody in the team who does a very good job in rescuing the team from precarious positions and their bowlers always help their cause.