Aus vs Pak: 3rd Test (Jan 2-6), Sydney

[Zainub]

Both teams have made changes to their sides that played in Melbourne.

For Pakistan, these changes were largely expected, owing to both form and injury which has forced as many as four players (Inzi-back injury, Razzaq-dizziness/blood pressure related problems, Sami-bruised heal and Malik-split webbing) out of the Sydney test. It is not certain who will replace Sami - it will either be Mohammad Khalil (who played in the 1st test) or Mohammad Asif (the only other genuine seam bowler in our squad). Otherwise I expect Rana Naveed-ul-Hassan to play in stead of Razzaq and Shahid Afridi will get another crack at test cricket in place of Malik. There are rumors too that Hameed might open the innings with Butt and Farhat will be dropped making a place for Asim Kamal in the middle order, and promting Younus Khan back to three.

Pakistan XI (Likely): 1 Salma Butt 2 Yasir Hameed 3 Younus Khan 4 Yousuf Youhanna 5 Asim Kamal 6 Shahid Afridi 7 Rana Naveed-ul-Hassan 8 Kamran Akmal 9 Shoaib Akhtar 10 Mohammad Khalil/Mohammad Asif 11 Danish Kaneria

I do think this XI is by unspoken consensus the weekist team we can pick from our squad of 17, but unfortunately such is the size of our injury/illness list we have no other options.

The Aussie selectors on the other hand took some bold steps by dropping Michael Kasprowikz and Darren Lehman to give a chance to highly rated all rounder Shane Watson and legspinner Straurt McGill. Remember that Brett Lee had already been released of test squad even before the announcment of the 13 man test squad for the final test. In a pre match press briefing Punter insisted neither had been "dropped" but instead they had "just been left out" to accomodate the team balance for this particular test match.

Australia 1 Justin Langer, 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Damien Martyn, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 7 Shane Watson, 8 Shane Warne, 9 Jason Gillespie, 10 Glenn McGrath, 11 Stuart MacGill.

At this point I can only describe this selection u-turn from the Aussies as "interesting" and it certainly sends a clear signal in terms of what the pitch is going to be like. Australia don't play 2 spinners too often after all, and they are not renowned for picking all roudners in their test team either, or are they? You have to feel for Casper though, he has been bowling splendidly all season, and did nothing to merit being "left out" of the side. I can understand though the selector's point of view, if they wanted to play 2 spinners, they only other person from the bowling attack they could drop was Casper - they had no option. Terribly unlucky Casper, but I expect him to be back in the team whenever Australia play next time, I guess that would be in NZ. Not sure I can say that about Darren Lehman - Shane Watson I understand bats at 3 and bowls as second/third change for his state side - he's principally a batter who can bowl , and if he proves him self here, and with someone like Katich already waiting in the wings, it is really hard to see how he will come back into the Aussie team - I don't see it happening despite Ricky's insistance on the case being other wise. He's 34 already.

Other news in the build up to this test match has (again) seen Shoaib Akhtar being at the centre of a discussion surrounding his accused lack of effort. Earlier in the week both Punter and Langer were quoted as saying they were surprised Shoaib didn't bolwed with a full run up in Australia's 2nd innings. Punter said "I would have been very disappointed if I was the captain and that was my bowler running in and bowling like that." Justin Langer then joined in the debate, hinting that Akhtar didn't go full pelt in that innings: "I don't know whether he had niggles or was still tired from the first innings or they would save him up for Sydney. But Sydney comes and the series is over.

Bob Woolmer, Pakistan's coach however defended Shoaib saying "Shoaib showed a lot of guts during the game and at a particular stage he was just shattered, basically. He bowled more than he normally does because there were so few bowlers available. He gave it his all for a little bit, and then I think he was probably just tired. To criticise Shoaib is a little bit unfair, but Ponting is entitled to his opinion." Responding to Ponting's comments that Akhtar should have shown more aggression in the Australian second innings, Woolmer told The News: "He [Akhtar] is the one bowler that the Australian batsmen know can decimate them by his pace. We have to remember that, and I'm happy that Ricky is stirring him up. I think it's good.

I also think like wise Common Shoaib - let's go and finish 'em off !!!

Good luck to both teams, best of luck to us

I hope we win the toss and bat first.

[Seamer]

Ponting should perhaps mind his own buisiness and worry about his own team rather than attacking Shoab. He should have asked himself how Australia would have gone had we lost one of our pace bowlers that early in the match. It was a gutsy performance from Shoaib and Ricky had better make sure his helmet is on nice and tight in Sydney

[Shaka]

I think Ponting should worry about his own form...of the two I think Shoaib has less to worry about. As for the Pakistan side, it more or less picks itself as we are down to the bare bones. My only input would be to pick Asif ahead of Khalil to replace Sami. Having seen Khalil at length in the first test he looks pretty mediocre so I would go for Asif on account that he can at least get some swing (or so I've heard).

It will be good to see Afridi get a run out, if only for his enthusiasm. I don't expect him to have too much impact with either bat or ball though. He's a ODI specialist and I think he'll come into his own during the One Day series.

[Paoli]

Time to turn our attention to Sydney's usual New Years test where we are likely to give the Pakistanis their 3rd belting in a three test series.

Firstly, disappointment for Darren Lehmann, who could've played his last test as he has been omitted. And poor Michael Kasprowicz, who has had a super consistent summer, has also been omitted.

But congratulations to Stuey MacGill who gets a test recall, and he always seems to take a few wickets here. And a big congratulations to Shane Watson who will play his first Test Match.

For the Pakis, Sami and Shoaib---luckily for them, of the Malik variety, will not be playing, while Inzy will hope to improve his current series average of 0.50 with a return. Abdul Razzaq is improving but their side will be named tomorrow:

Australia: Hayden, Langer, Ponting (c), Martyn, Clarke, Gilchrist (wk), Watson, Warne, Gillespie, MacGill, McGrath.
Pakistan (likely): Salman, Imran, Younis, Inzamam, Youhana, Afridi, Akmal, Khalil, Akhtar, Naved, Kaneria

[Zainub]

Inzi and Razzaq both won't play, they've failed their respective fitness tests I presume. We're expected to give Shahid Afrid, Naved-ul-Hasan and Asif/Khalil a chance in place of Shoaib Malik, Razzaq and Sami respectively. We might also drop Imran Farhat for Asim Kamal - who will bat at 5, promting Younis Khan back at 3. I already commented on the Aussie selections in another thread (here) but here I go again anyway...

• I do too think Casper is terribly unlucky, but if the wicket is suited to playing 2 spinners he was the only person who could make way for McGill. I'm certain he'll be back whenever Aus play next, I guess that is in NZ. I'm a little surprised they opted for another leggie, I personally thought they could have given Nathan Hauritz another chance, he is an offie who made his debut in Mumbai and got the wicket of Tendulkar for those who don't know...that would have given them a bit of vareity.
  
• Shane Watson's selection is also very very interesting, Cricket Info have listed him to bat at 7, which I do think is very low for a person of his batting calibre - my understanding beiing he is a first rate batter, and a second-third-change bowler. Unless Australia lose their top 6 for not many, he'd probably not get much of chance to show his batting skills. I saw his bowling in the ODIs vs NZ, he didn't look anything out of this world but was alright - not quick but nippy sort of bowler. Looked better though from the last time he played for Aus, that was before the WC I think. Looked an improved player over all. Should be interesting his performance. I hope for our sake that he doesn't make a big impression ;-)
  
• As for Lehman, Punter has insisted it's not all over for him, but honestly speaking I can't see how his test career can reemerge from the present situation with guys like Hussey , Hodge, Katich all waiting for their chances. I seriously don't think he'll be picked again.I also think it should be a very good surface to bat on, with turn later on from day 3, 4 and 5. I hope we win the toss and put up 500.

[Paoli]

yeah i just found out on Cricinfo 20 minutes ago. I too thought Watto will bat at seven....allowing Gilly a chance at 6. Unfortunate for Inzy but he will be hoping for a big one day series.

Also, Zainub, I'm one of the few Aussies to have seen a fair bit of Yasir Hameed, and i reckon he is useless, especially batting at such an important position like No.3. What are your thoughts?

[Zainub]

I'm really in two minds about Yasir Hameed, I'm reluctant to say he's useless, cause I've seen him get a few good runs against decent attacks (but on fairly easy paced wickets) I do think he has some ability but I agree certainly that 1,2 or 3 is not the place for him to bat - his shot selection out side of stump is way too shaky to expose him to the new ball and he plays all his shots way too much away from his body...no way near what a conventional top order player should be doing...and is pridominantly front footed...so he's always going to be struggling in these sorts of conditions against the new ball...he'd have his best chance at something like 5 or 6 I reckon...But unrfortunately at this point we have no other option because Imran Farhat on the other hand has been equally disapointing...if only we had picked Taufeeq Umar...

[Shaka]

Paoli, Yasir isn't useless, but he's extremely stupid which isn't much better. He has lots of great shots, and if you watch him, he stays in 'pose mode' after playing a shot, which quite often costs a run or causes a run out. He doesn't like to be tied down so if you can bowl accurately to him and stop him playing his shots there is a great chance he will get himself out. Like many modern Pakistani batsmen, he is never "in" and is as likely to get out on 40 as he is on 0.

To sum up...lots of talent, zero brains, zero discipline and zero application.

[Zainub]

I read this in in a chain email yesterday, "Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, we can use our flaws to our advantage. Nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and see what happens. Know that in our weakness we find our strength."

Without trying to sound very phiolosophical, I guess I just want to suggest that if we work on Yasir Hameed we could get him to improve his mentality - like getting him to understand that sometime you can look ugly but still make runs. I do like you think he has lots of talent (like do most of our players)...but no way near enough application required for success at the highest level. I personally think he would benefit with a stint in the English County Championships - just get use to that sort of enviroment where you're playing every other day and you have to earn respect by playing well. I think he'd really benefit from something like that.

[Shaka]

Zainub, I have watched Yasir try and curb his aggressive game and he looks hopelessly lost. For this test match i would just let him go out and play his natural game. A confident, aggressive Yasir is better than a player struggling to play within himself. I don't think county cricket can be used to resolve all our problems either...not to mention, counties aren't in the habit of signing Pakistani batsmen anyway.

Maybe Yasir needs to go back to domestic cricket and score a few back to back centuries for what it's worth. When he's making regular 3 figure scores it will be a big pointer to the fact he has matured into a proper batsman.