Australia v Pakistan 1st Test - Perth

[Shaka]

With the match less than 12 hrs away it's time to start an official thread on proceedings at the WACA.

Thoughts: I hope Woolmer and Inzi don't go for a defensive approach and include too many allrounders as the only chance we have of winning this one is if we can bowl Australia out cheaply. I'm sorry but I just can't envision Pakistan batting their way to a win in Perth. Three genuine seamers are a must and for me malik should make way for either Khalil or Asif the two newcomers to the squad. I haven't seen them play but assuming they haven't come to carry the drinks, one of them needs to be included. Perth is a wicket for fast bowling and to go in with only two plus a medium pace all rounder is too negative.

[Shaka]

You can close this thread I didn't see there was already one open.

[Zainub]

Was there?

[Shaka]

http://www.world-a-team.com/showthread.php?t=1736

OK,, I just realised that's for the whole series. My mistake.

[Zainub]

No problem Shaka, anyway let's get this discussion started.

What do you think the skiper winning the toss will do?

I'm not quite sure what our think tank might have decided. I know there has been a lot of talk about how the wicket is green, and it is obviously is the WACA pitch, so it is going to fast and bouncy, but every time we have played here the Aussies have racked up big scores, its bit of catch 20 situation really...what do you think we should do if we win the toss?

In Ponting's case, I'm quite sure, he'll put us in.

[Shaka]

Zainub, realistically the best chance of putting the Aussies on the back foot is through our bowling. Include Khalil in the line up and hope that all the pacers hit the right areas and exploit the conditions. It would be a massive boost if we could knock them over for less than 300 but not impossible by any means. Us scoring 300 plus on the first day at the WACA seems like a pipe dream in comparison.

I know that there is a school of thought that we can put up a big score but I think trusting our batting line up to knock up a big score at the WACA when far more experienced teams have failed would be a mistake. If we could knock the Aussies over cheaply though it would be a massive confidence boost to the team when we came in to bat. Does that sound reasonable?

[Rachael]

What'syour priorities for this first Test?

In Woolmer's place, mine would be (in order of importance)

1. Make the Test last at least to day 4.
2. Avoid an innings defeat.

I think I'd gamble on avoiding the follow on.. or on the Aussies not enforcing the follow on... and put the Aussies in: I'd expect them to make something upwards of 450.. and be prepared for them to end up declaring on 550+... and just hope that against all the odds the Pakistan batsmen can muster 300 or so from somewhere... leading to a 2nd Aussie innings and a final innings effort to bring some semblance of respectability to the scoreline.

Better being batted out of the game like that electing to bat and risking being ripped apart on day one, quite possibly inside 2 sessions, and being a dead duck before the bowlers have even had a run out.

[flanflinger]

My priority would be to try and win.

There is no point going into a game with any other attitiude. Going into any game with an attitide about not getting beat too badly is completly the wrong way to view it, even if you are playing Australia.

[Rachael]

The players on the field need to be giving their all.. but I doubt anyone has aany illusions as to the scale of the challenge.. and the coach needs to be realistic: setting an all but unattainable goal is not going to motivate anyone or get the best out of anyone.. setting realistic targets for each session HAS to be the focus.

The big picture here is too bleak: it's the little tussles in each session that will be more important.

If Pakistan can come away having at least made each Test go into a 4th day.. and having done passably in 2 sessions out of 3 on each full day of play... whether that be by restricting the Aussies or batting with resolve.. then I think they'll be able to come home with their heads held high and with something positive to build on.

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

My priority would be to try and win.

There is no point going into a game with any other attitiude. Going into any game with an attitide about not getting beat too badly is completly the wrong way to view it, even if you are playing Australia.

My view exactly. This is precisely why I talked about putting Australia on the backfoot. We don't have the players with the application to defend. Incidentally I am hearing that Inzimam is saying on tv we might be going in with 3 genuine seamers which is the only way to go for me. Sami and Shoaib with only Razzaq as a backup is asking for it at Perth.

I haven't seen Mohammed Khalil who is the left arm seamer likely to come in, but other people tell me he's tall and gets lift from the wicket and that might be more useful than taking a chance with an extra batsman. Khalil and Asif, the two pace rookies both were among the wickets in the first tour match.