England's Warm Up Game in Pakistan

[Teatime FatCat]

It had completely escaped my notice that we were playing a warm up game today, and in typical 'knee-jerk' fashion some things are coming to light - Straussy still can't buy a run (hmmm Prior might nick his spot at this rate) and goodness me isn't KP going to be hit and miss. Isn't Freddie playing - no doubt he is exhausted by the ridiculous amount of bowling he had to do in the tests - can Kabir Ali cut the mustard on dead pitches? I must go back to the scorecard and have a look.

[Trescothick]

Harmison, Flintoff and Tresco had a rest...

I would say based on that, Prior could have a chance as just a batsmen at elats on one of the ODI games... Solanki has pushed himself above Strauss... We will ahve to see what happens in the bowling department

[Teatime FatCat]

Did you read how Solanki got out? He smashed an on-drive, which hit Colly's bat at the non-strikers end and lobbed up to midwicket for a catch!

[Collyisamackem]

Oops!

Nice to see Colly top scoring and being the most economical bowler with two wickets. Udal got carted and Plunkett was more economical than Ali, taking two wickets. I'd go for this team:

Tresco (c), Prior, Strauss, Pietersen, Collingwood, Flintoff, Jones (wk), Blackwell, Plunkett, Harmison, Anderson. Supersub - Solanki.

Bell could be considered, but Strauss has a average of 38, more experience and a bigger range than Bell. He does not deserve to be dropped. Prior's knock today screams for his inclusion.

[Occasional Fan]

Pakistan A won by one wicket. Still, it could be worse for England. Have a look at this scorecard which the ladies turned in in their 50 over encounter with India earlier today.

England Women innings (50 overs maximum                         R   M   B  4 6
*CM Edwards                              b Goswami              0  11   9  0 0
RA Birch                                 b Goswami              3  18  14  0 0
SC Taylor             lbw                b A Sharma             0   2   6  0 0
LS Greenway                              b A Sharma             5  23  16  0 0
A Brindle             c Rawat            b Goswami              0  10   3  0 0
JL Gunn               c Jain             b David               13  68  53  1 0
BL Morgan                                b Goswami              0   6   7  0 0
NJ Shaw               lbw                b Goswami              8  26  21  0 0
+J Smit               c Goswami          b David                9  29  23  1 0
IT Guha               not out                                   1  20  15  0 0
JK Watts                                 b Al Khader            0  14  18  0 0
Extras                (lb 2, w 8, nb 1)                        11
Total                 (all out, 30.4 overs)                    50

FoW: 1-3 (Edwards, 2.3 ov), 2-4 (Taylor, 3.6 ov), 
     3-4 (Birch, 4.5 ov), 4-9 (Brindle, 6.5 ov),
     5-13 (Greenway, 9.1 ov), 6-18 (Morgan, 10.6 ov), 
     7-33 (Shaw, 16.4 ov), 8-44 (Gunn, 23.5 ov),
     9-49 (Smit, 25.2 ov), 10-50 (Watts, 30.4 ov).

For the record, India won by ten wickets.

[Captain]

that was expected wasn't it. The ashes heros and hearoines are going through rough times.

[Occasional Fan]

To tell the truth, I don't follow the ladies' game at all, and to that extent it's a bit unfair for me to highlight this woeful performance. It is woeful though.

As far as the blokes are concerned, they don't have a ghost of a chance in the ODI series against Pakistan, IMO. They came close to a win today, with Pakistan A's eleventh man coming in when still ten runs were needed. But I guess some sensible tactics won it for Pakistan A (perhaps also some great cricket: I've not been following this all that closely either). I see from the card, though, that Pakistan A were sensible enough to ensure that the number eleven didn't face a ball. It suggests someone was thinking about the situation.

[Collyisamackem]

The ladies are improving in leaps and bounds. They did well to win the Ashes and then the first game in India, and the last game was disappointing but they competed well for the first two games.

[Zainub]

That some one was Bazid Khan, son of Majid. 90 not out he made.

Positives for England, Matt Prior is scoring runs, Jimmy A is getting wickets.

[Vrock]

Good to see Prior getting some runs, he could break into the side for a regular place. I think England should have Jimmy Anderson back in the one day side as he is a good quality bowler and can make the white ball swing. It would also allow for other bowlers to rest from the tests. Colly looking good as well and should play a vital role in the side. Although I still think that Pakistan will win the series as they have confidence and form on their side.

A word on England's women. They played well and are improving all the time, they could become a very good side in 3-5 years time.