Pakistan v India, 1st Test at Mohali, 8-12 March 2005

[workkey]

Hello to everyone and where is every one

Please post all comments about the Pakistan-India Test match in this thread.

Just read the pitch report that it will assist the seamers so thought about writing my playing eleven.

taufeeq
salman
younis
inzamam
youhana
asim
razaq
akmal
sami
rana
kaneria

[Chuck Palumbo]

Originally Posted by workkey

just read the pitch report that it will assist the seamers so thought about writing my playing eleven.
taufeeq
salman
younis
inzamam
youhana
asim
razaq
akmal
sami
rana
kaneria

I think this will be the team as well because it was the team that played the warm up game but I don't agree with it. In my view, there needs to be an extra bowler. A bowling attack of Razzaq/Sami/Rana/Kaneria will not win you any test matches, let alone test matches in India. Either Arshad Khan or Mohammed Khalil needs to come in for Kamal if Pakistan are going to get 20 Indian wickets. Even Shahid Afridi with his fast leg spinners would be a better choice.

Maybe they are playing for the draw?

[workkey]

here we go with the toss
pakistan batting first with 4 without loss and i agree that we are on the defensive frame of mind
with this bowling attack we wont be able to get 20 indian wickets especially the likes of sehwag ,sachin and laxman

[vvvrulz]

What a cracker this will be !

Pathan strikes early, Salman Butt gone for four.

[workkey]

younis also goes ...but i doubt this decision ...the ball was pitched outside the leg stump..but then rudi kertzen can be expected for this...
inzamam is in now and looking very composed but taufeeq is still very nervous and can loose his wicket any time ..scores..65/2
anil kumble is in now with his first over

[Paoli]

Pakistan are currently 2 for 80...Scores here

[Maranello]

India won the toss and put Pakistan in. Pakistan 91 for 3, a wicket each to all three Indian seamers. Taufiq, Salman and Younis Khan back in the pavilion. Pathan, Balaji and Khan have all bowled beautifully on a green-top (relatively speaking) - Kumble has only bowled two of the first 25 overs. Quite a rarity for India to play only one spinner at home.

Pakistan's bowling attack is slightly weaker, with Sami, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Abdul Razzaq carrying the pace department and Kaneria being the sole spinner. Taufiq batted reasonably well: gritty though not in command; Inzamam has played beautifully so far, and looked in command.

[Paoli]

191/6 at Tea. Asim 33 not out, Kamran yet to score.

[Shaka]

Not surprised to see Balaji among the wickets he was a big miss against Australia. I didn't actually see the early play but when I switched on I was greeted by the sight of Inzamam being hit on the pad while taking a long stride forward, and Pakistan's umpiring nemesis Rudi Koertzen raising his finger to a disbelieving Inzimam. The camera then switches to the other end and lo and behold it's fellow dinosaur Daryl Hair standing at the other end. The match referee is Chris Broad who was involved in the recent series against Australia as well. I have already made my feelings clear that I have no confidence in three umpires in particular in world cricket and lo and behold here they are again.

I should add here that for all I know, Pakistan may well have had the benefit of the umpiring decisions, I only saw one decision which was very similar to many given against Pakistani batsmen in the last series we played. The point is I wouldn't be unhappy if Koertzen, Hair and Harper never umpired another match involving Pakistan as long as I live. For some reason though, every time I turn on the tv there they are adjudicating in yet another Pakistan match.

[Maranello]

A couple of relatively poor calls by Koertzen, though not as bad as Pakistan's woeful batting so far! All but Inzamam and Kamal have struggled, and some threw in the towel by gifting their wickets, namely Youhana and Abdul Razzaq. More application was needed from these guys, though Inzamam was definitely unfortunate; he was looking in sublime form, unntroubled by both pace and spin.

Koertzen had three marginal decisions; giving Younis and Inzamam out LBW to shouts which could have gone either way, and then there was Youhana's dimissal - it seemed a distinct edge on TV, Youhana walked immediately, whilst Koertzen stood there with hands in pockets, and a very confused look... had Youhana not walked, the appeal would probably not have been upheld.

I am getting stronger in my conviction that Youhana is not a Test player; he is probably Pakistan's equivalent of a Bevan or a Fairbrother, albeit more talented as a batsmen. Yes, he is a good finisher in ODIs, has some breath-taking strokes, and can find the gaps with exquisite timing and touch; but does he really have the temperament and the mindset to play Test cricket? Do we remember any occasions where Youhana won or saved a Test for Pakistan by scoring a gritty, hard-fought innings when the chips were down? He is the sort of guy who will score heavily when in the mood or when its easy, but when the going gets tough, Youhana just goes...back to the pavilion! Shoaib Malik might be a better bet in this series, and in the longer term we seriously need to consider Hasan Raza.