Australia v Pakistan: build-up

[Zainub]

Good signature again Maranello. Glad about Butt getting a 100, concerned that the next highest score was in the mid 20s, but as said before this was only a 50 over game, a festival match, probably more about having a bit of fun than serious practice for the test series coming up - the game against Western Australia should be able to serve that purpose. I look forward to that.

ps: just in case anyone is wondering why Shoaib Malik, Sami or Akhtar aren't playing here's why:

As reported by Fox Sports:

A GAME of table soccer has dealt another blow to Pakistan's preparations for next week's first Test against Australia. Emerging allrounder Shoaib Malik has been ruled out of today's one-day match at Lilac Hill after injuring his wrist while playing the arcade game with teammates. Malik is also in doubt for the four-day clash against Western Australia starting on Thursday - Pakistan's final match before the first Test starts at the WACA Ground on Thursday week. Malik, who averages 40.62 with the bat from seven Tests and is a useful off-spinner, won't be the only Test regular absent in today's match against the Cricket Australia Chairman's XI. Pakistani selectors said yesterday they would rest new-ball pair Mohammad Sami and Shoaib Akhtar, depriving the festival match of two of its biggest drawcards. The tourists have already been shaken by a shock loss to the WA second XI last week and a bout of bronchitis for captain Inzamam-ul-Haq. Inzamam is expected to play today and said yesterday he was feeling much better after missing the tour opener. "I'm fine. The last four or five days I wasn't great but I'm feeling better now," Inzamam said. "I just had an infection but I've recovered from that and hopefully I will be right to play." Inzamam said Shoaib and Sami were being preserved for the three-Test battle against Australia. "They played the three-day game and they are playing the four-day game later in the week," he said.

[Zainub]

I couldn't have agreed more with Woolmer, it's not that Inzi is slow, he just doesn't like running, and I'm sure as well that he can beat Lehmann. I'll look forward to that spirit of the snails race.

[King Aragorn]

Good win for Pakistan though it will be interesting to see how they fare in the upcoming 4 day match. Butt certainly looks is great touch but Hameed's form remains a worry. He hasn't really made any 'substantial' score yet. Farhat too seems to get good enough starts but then throws his wickets away. Hopefully they will learn to be more patient and get more used to the pitches.

According to The Age, Malik just got a minor injury and will be ready for the 4 day match against Western Australia.

[Beny]

I couldn't have agreed more with Woolmer, it's not that Inzi is slow, he just doesn't like running, and I'm sure as well that he can beat Lehmann. I'll look forward to that spirit of the snails race.

Yes, I've often said the same about maths. It's not that I can't do it... I just dont like to.

[Zainub]

For those interested: snaps of Pakistan 43 run victory over Chairman's XI are available to view here

[Realcharm]

Pakistan names top side for WA

Wednesday December 8, 08:08 PM

Test opener Justin Langer will be Australia's scout to monitor Pakistan's unproven top order during the four-day cricket match starting at the WACA Ground on Thursday.

Pakistan has named a full-strength side to play the Warriors as a final hit-out before the first Test, starting on Thursday week.

The tourists need their batsmen to get runs on the WACA's fast, bouncy wicket and for opening bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami to get overs under their belts.

Akhtar and Sami have bowled just 27 overs between them on tour, while several of Pakistan's batsmen have form and injury clouds hanging overhead.

Opener Imran Farhat has made just 35 runs in three innings, while Shoaib Malik has not yet reached double figures and is no certainty to play on Thursday because of the wrist he injured playing a game of table soccer. He faces an early morning fitness test.

Even captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has played only one innings on tour - the 16 he made against the Chairman's XI on Tuesday.

Langer, who will captain WA while his Australian teammates have their minds on the one-day game, said the match would be useful given two thirds of Pakistan's squad have never toured Australia.

"I've spoken to (Australian coach) John Buchanan and (captain) Ricky (Ponting) and it's a good opportunity for me to play and have a good look at them and we'll go into the first Test match prepared knowing how we can attack their batsmen," he said.

"It's one thing seeing a bit on TV and seeing a few highlights, but if we can play against them hopefully pretty quickly we'll be able to sum most of their players up, so doing that there's going to be no surprises when we get to the first Test." Inzamam and Yousuf Youhana aside, Pakistan's batsmen are under constant pressure because of the their inexperience and the side's high turnover rate.

"When the Test comes also knowing they've got those other little pressures on them can't be an easy thing, particularly for young batsmen," Langer said.

Langer, who regards his match-winning partnership with Adam Gilchrist in the Hobart Test against Pakistan in 1999-2000 as his career highlight, expects the tourists' quicks to bowl "full throttle".

He is itching for another contest against Akhtar, who he regards as the fastest bowler he has faced - or ever will.

"It's always tough going into a Test series when you don't really know your opposition, so this way it will give me good preparation regardless of how long I bat against them, just to see what they've got to offer and to get it clear on my mind the approach I take," he said.

Western Australia (from): Justin Langer (capt), Michael Hussey, Ryan Campbell, Beau Casson, Brett Dorey, Ben Edmondson, Murray Goodwin, Kade Harvey, Steve Magoffin, Shaun Marsh, Marcus North, Chris Rogers.

Pakistan (from): Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Khalil.

[Zainub]

I like the look of the team we have picked here, hopefully we'll get a good result out of this match. Should be a real test as this Western Australian XI is a more than decent team, and will give our side no let offs. Will be nice if we can get Langer out for a pair in this match. That would be really nice.

Yasir Hameed and Imran Farhat must get runs in this match. They've got nothing to show for themselves so far in this tour. I hope they get some runs. Just hope we click as a batting unit and as a team in general. More concerned about the batting at this stage, bowling has looked penetrative and threatenning all the way through. We must aim to bat at least 100 overs in each innnigs weather permitting.

[Beny]

http://aus.cricinfo.com/link_to_data...08DEC2004.html

Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan allrounder, will seek the opinion of biomechanics experts at the University of Western Australia with regard to his bowling action. Malik's action had come under scrutiny in October and the matter was reported to the International Cricket Council.

[Beny]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/Cricke...182359867.html

Such a gentlemen's agreement hinges on the batsman accepting the word of the fielder on a contentious catch, rather than relying on the often-inconclusive video technology available to the third umpire.

[Realcharm]

WA 1/20 (5 overs)
PAK 261 WA Run Rate: 4.00
WA Retravision Warriors Trail by 242 Runs with 9 Wickets remaining
Overs remaining in day: 45.0
Current Match Status: End Of Days Play

Batting
Hussey 8* 15b, 1x4, 0x6, SR:53.33
Rogers 6* 11b, 1x4, 0x6, SR:54.54
Partnership 16 runs, 26 balls, run rate 3.69
Bowling
Akhtar* 1/12
Sami 0/7 --------------------

261 is a decent score >>>+ considering 77/5 & 172/6.
Razzaq played a good knock of 83 012...good to hear that youhana shows some good form!!

situation could have been far worse for Pakistan with Western Australia missing five or six clear catching opportunities in their slips cordon.