Hi OF.
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I can't seem to understand all the sudden fuss about Shoaib Akhtar's absence and people left, right and centre claiming we 'missed' him in the first test, those people on the left, right and centre also included Imran Khan and Wasim Akram, much rather to my dissapointment. Also much to my dissapointment I didn't actually manage to see any of the first test, but I'm inclined to believe from viewing our score cards that it was our batting (and primarily its vast inexperience compared to the West Indies side) that led to our down fall - our attack, at least I thought, fared fairly well, respectably if not spectacularly. We did, let's not forget manage to take 20 wickets. When you get the opposition out for under 350 in the first innings (345 to be precise) and under 400 in the second innings (371 to be precise) then you should at least, if not draw the game, take it to day 5. But by getting out for a sub 200 score in the first innings (144, in a mere 43.4 overs to be precise) and then following that up with a another relatively low score in the 2nd innings, then you really do not leave many chances of any result other then a big loss for your self inside 4 days, and that's exactly what we got, and deserved.
In fact, I don't even understand why there should be any fuss at all about "why" we lost - the reason is fairly obvious to me. Most sides lieing in the middle of the ICC's ranking table would struggle for balance and results if you take out of them they're two best players, and another player whose probably in line to replace one of them. As if Inzi and Malik already being suspended wasn't bad enough, Youhanna's father unfortunately got sick at just the wrong time (through no fault of his own obviously, and I have my full sympathies with him, it's hard to argue how many people could have done anything different then what he did when in his position, the claims in some news agencies that he came back because of a few 'internal rifts' between the team is henceforth in my eyes utter hogwash)...add to that a determined looking West Indies side who put in a well collaborated effort to give themselves and their fans something to cheer about at the fag end of an otherwise horrible season...all this equals to a few blows too many to take for a side that already was young and relatively inexperiened. It's to West Indies' credit that they took the opportunities they were presented with with both hands.
Yes, it's arguable that our bowling might have lacked the 'fire power' we are used to see Pakistani attacks of the past having, but we managed to do quite alright in 3 test in India with more or less similar attacks, and even managed to win a test against Sri Lanka in Karachi last year withour either of Sami and Shoaib, and even managed to do quite abnoxiously with both Sami and Shoaib in the team not so long ago. As a matter of fact, both Shoaib and Sami have become so injuiry prone off late, that I sometimes get the feeling we spend more time ticking down the days to the time they'll be fully fit then actually seeing them perform. If anything, we've got used to, and adapted to missing them, and we've seen in their absence, less glamorous players come and make their mark, and in some cases proved themselves to me much more affective then either of Shoaib and Sami put together.
I don't have a perpeptual dislike for either of Shoaib and Sami, I'd have both in my side given they're up to it fitness and attitude wise, but some of my country men and women have this ridiculous habbit of talking them up like they're the be all and end all for our side.When we win in their presence we put down everything to their credit, when we lose in their presence, then it's because they didn't do well enough, and when we lose in their absence, it's because they weren't playing at all!?! Common, give me a break! All reactions are totally unjustified, both on the individuals them selves and the rest of the team. We need to stop talking about Shoaib, Sami or about XYZ individual and take about team Pakistan, I know this is cliche, but it's a bloody (hate to use this word, but have to in this case) important one.
Cricket is a team game, so when teams do well the whole team takes credit, and according when teams lose, the whole team takes the blame. Hence, to bring up the issue of Shoaib's non-selection in the aftermath of this defeat is not only unacceptable to me, but it's also fundamentally incorrect. We lost because we batted poorly, and we batted poorly because we were inexperienced and missing some of our best batsmen. Simple as that. With Inzi and Malik back, we'll have some more depth, and much needed experienced coming into the side, and hopefully, things will come around for the better.
31-05-2005, 06:25 AM
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