Australia v Pakistan: build-up

[Maranello]

Edit:

I have made this build-up thread to store all pre-series hype, quotes and comments; it is sticky so we can all find it easily.


Following on from Zainub's suggestion, I am starting a thread on what we think the first XI for Pakistan in our Test will be. Anyone not in that first XI then becomes eligible for inclusion in the WAT Pakistan A team.

I think the team could be something like this - this is not necessarily what the team will be, but if I was Chief Selector, Coach and Captain rolled into one, I would go for the following:

1. Taufeeq Umar
2. Imran Farhat
3. Younis Khan
4. Inzamam-ul-Haq (c)
5. Yousaf Youhana/Yasir Hameed
6. Shoaib Malik
7. Abdul Razzaq/Shahid Afridi
8. Kamran Akmal (w/k)
9. Shoaib Akhtar
10. Muhammad Sami/Shabbir Ahmed
11. Danish Kaneria

There are three positions I am unsure about, but needless to say, none of these three impact the selection for WAT Pakistan A team. The reason I am not sure is due to uncertainties about the pitch, weather conditions, players' fitness and of course, form.

[Zainub]

I'd agree with the opening combination you have selected, I really have always thought this is the best opening combination we have worked out in the recent past, and my gut feeling has always been that Umar and Farhat genuinely enjoy batting in each others company (and are good friends off the field as well)which is an important ingredient in any succcessful opening partnership.

I also think Younus Khan shoud be, atleast for the Perth test be persisted with at number 3, there would be no point in dropping him either from the team or down the order after he successfully proved a point against Sri Lanka, which does mean Yasir Hameed will have to miss out, because I will not at any cost not play Youhanna, not even in my wildest dreams.

As far as the rest of the team is concerned we just need to decide what type of attack we wont, do we need:

A) 3 fast bowlers (shoaib, sami, ahmed) + 1 spinner (kaneria) + 1 all rounder (malik/razzaq -afridi not in contention for a test spot in my opinion right now)

B) 2 fast bowlers (shoaib + sami/ahmed) + 1 spinner (kaneria) + 2 all rounders (malik, razzaq)

c) 3 fast bowlers (shoaib, sami, ahmed) + 2 all rounders (malik, razzaq)

I have thought about it for a while, and come to the decesion, at this point, not having heard any thing about the pitch at Perth that the most balanced eleven we could offer would be if we select option A, and drop Razzaq in favor of Malik (who I have preffered because of his better technique with the bat). It was a really tough decesion though since Razzaq had a decent test series against Sri Lanka but I simply can't even think of not going in with 3 front line seamers in Australia, not certainly when you are playing at the WACCA.

Zainub's XI for the First Test: Umar Farhat Khan Haq Youhanna Malik Akmal Sami Akhtar Ahmed 12th man Razzaq 13th man Hameed

[Maranello]

Good post Zainub, and agree with your initial comments.

I agree, definitely at Perth we need three seamers so option A it is. However, I would classify Razzaq as a seamer - the guy did take five wickets in his last Test! And he can bat a bit, so I would be tempted to include him in place of one of Shabbir and Sami. Now Shabbir should be quite a threat at Perth if he is fit, and whatever Sami can do, Shoaib can do better... hence I would drop Sami from the team you put and bring in Razzy...

The other ten I think we can agree on - I will go with you on playing Youhana and not playing Afridi!

[Rachael]

As anyone who has followed English cricketing fortunes these past few years will tell you... the difficult thing with only having 1 proven, reasonably dependable seamer is that (outside of the subcontinent) you don't want to be dependent on just 2 second rate seamers in support: you need a decent spinner and a 5th option.

The need for a 5 man attack would, I think, mean Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq are absolutely necessary: you could get away with a specialist bat at 6 and a specialist bowler at 7 if the side were absolutely dripping in class.. but once you move to a 5 man attack... with Shoaib Malik pretty much the only option as a batsman who can bowl to play at 6.. I think it becomes imperative that you strengthen the batting with a bowler who can bat at 7.. and Abdul Razzaq being (arguably) the 2nd best seamer and (by far and away) the best bat has surely got that spot bagged.

Shoaib Akhtar.. for all his faults, is an automatic selection.. and Kaneria is clearly straight in there as well... which leaves one spot being contested by Shabbir Ahmed, Umar Gul and Muhammad Sami.. and on everything I've heard / seen to date (including the discussions between you guys and girls on this board) I'd play them in that order of prefrence.

I think that's hard on Umar Gul.. who strikes me as someone really worth nurturing.. but if the guy is fit then I just don't see that Woolmer has much alternative but to prefer Shabbir Ahmed.

Sami? Needs a long series as 12th man to reflect on the fact that there are other bowlers who can do that frontline striker job.. and to decide what he's going to do to earn his place back.

[Maranello]

Agree Rachael.

In any case, Umar Gul has a long-term back injury, expected recovery time June 2005 at the earliest.

So the team then becomes:

Farhat
Umar
Y Khan
Haq
Youhana
Malik
A Razzaq
Akmal w/k
Shoaib Akhtar
Shabbir Ahmed
Kaneria

This allows the five bowlers, and a decent bat till no.7 - selecting Sami instead of Razzaq would mean that we go into a Test against the world's best bowling attack, on a ground that is probably the exact opposite of all Pakistani pitches, with only five specialist batsmen and an in-form batting all-rounder in Malik. Not wise me thinks...

[Zainub]

You amaze me Rach, you really do, how come I never thought of that? Well, may be because I haven't followed English cricket fortunes as closely as you have. But you make way, way too much sense here Racheal, for me, or anyone to over look, and have to admit that my initial idea of dropping Razzaq and going in with 4 bowlers, plus an occasional one, infront of that argument, stands very thin ground.

You've forced to me to think, and change my opinion. But then that wait. I mean I might have to drop Sami? I mean I might actually have to consider dropping some one I have once or twice admitted being obsessed with(ok, just once). Now, now, now... when was the last time I did that? Can't recall. He has been playing as automatic selection for us non stop since the world cup, and you are right, despite my thinking that he can turn around his indifferent performances, I do think that you make sense.

You actually make a lot more sense then I did (), and I'm shell shocked () why I didn't realise this my self before. May be, Sami is after all, taking his spot for granted, and for all the faith I have in him (still) , I for once would hate to see him develope anything near that sort of an attitude. And if he already has, then you are right, he might need to earn his spot back rather than be persisted with in the hope that he can turn things around. Meanwhile I'd hope he be back in the team (in case he is dropped, still not convinced that the selectors can change there ideas as quickly as me) sooner rather than later, because I really think he has potential, and that he is the future of our team. I really do personal liking apart.

I'm still coming to terms with this personally though . I can't beleive I've actually agreed on dropping my most favorite young bowler in the world. Racheal, you might not realise, but really, you have made a sort of an achievment here. I don't do this very often. Having said that, I just think its that kind of a day, has happened to my thrice already today. Maranello and and another contributot Hafeez Butt 007 on the Pakistan A team thread just convinced me on thinking I was wrong in my initial judgement of another rookie paceman by the name of Mohammad Irshad. And I even lost a bet from my friend on who I thought would have been sexiest man alive as reported by People's Magazine, turns out he is Jude Law (not that bad but my money was on some one else). I lost and now have to plan a treat in some lavish expensive resturant ...it sure is a starnge, strange day...

Originally Posted by Rachael

Shoaib Akhtar.. for all his faults, is an automatic selection.. and Kaneria is clearly straight in there as well... which leaves one spot being contested by Shabbir Ahmed, Umar Gul and Muhammad Sami.. and on everything I've heard / seen to date (including the discussions between you guys and girls on this board) I'd play them in that order of prefrence.

Hmm, interesting...which girls (plural) are you talking about, I've only heard of about 4 girls on the entire forum, my self, you, Krisity and Shalini, which other Pakistan fan is a girl, I'd love to know. I really would.

[rumman_abbasi]

1. Imran Farhat
2. Mohammad Wasim
3. Inzamamul Haq
4. Yousuf Youhana
5. Yasir Hameed
6. Asim Kamal
7. Shahid Afridi
8. Kamran Akmal
9. Shoaib Akhter
10.Shabbir Ahmed
11.Mohammad Akram

Reserves:

Younis Khan, Taufiq Omer, Danish Kaneria, Azhar Mehmood, Waqar Ahmed

[adeel_r]

Frankly speaking it doesn't matter a bit who plays in the first test at Perth against Australia.We have never even competed there against the home team let alone winning.The best we can hope for is not to lose by an innings like the last 2 times we played there.All that the pakistanis fans can hope for is that the team isn't shell shocked after the experience and have the will and desire to put up a fight at Melbourne and Sydney.But having said all that the following XI might do something:
1.T.Umar
2.I.Farhat
3.Y.Hameed/Y.Khan
4.Inzamam
5.Youhana
6.Razzaq/Malik
7.Akmal
8.Sami
9.Shoaib
10.S.Ahmed
11.D.Kaneria
Knowing how negative our skipper is he will probably play 6 genuine batsmen and 1 allrounder and rely on shoaib,sami and shabir to do the bulk of the bowling.Taking the conditions into considerations this team barely inspires any confidence especially if u look at the top order.Imran has an addiction to hook or pull every short delivery and how he will manage to do that against the aussies at perth is hard to imagine.taufiq hasn't scored any runs at test level for more than a year and his performances for the A team where nothing to write home abt.As for Hameed it is anyone'1 guess how he will cover drive the ball to the boundary on the fastest wicket in the world against the likes of mcgrath,gillespie and co.The manner in which Younis played ambrose and walsh in the 2000 series in the Wi is enough to give any1 nightmares and im sure he will give the aussie slip fielders some nice catching practice.As a Paki fan i hope the team does well but looking at the tape ball players we have in the team the first test will be an exercize im damage limitations.Our real hope lies in the 2nd and 3rd test though Warne will be enough for the australians to win.But miracles do happen im told.

[Rachael]

Now there's a brutally honest post... but sadly.. one that rings very true.

Having just convinced Zainub to go for a nice balanced side that is best able to compete and go for a win... this post brings me back down to earth: even the NZ side have gone to Aus looking merely to survive.. stacking the batting to no 10 in order to not get wiped out.

it would be seriously negative.. because in order to get the batting deep enough you'd probably be looking at an attack that read: Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi + one from Shoaib Akhtar and Danish Kaneria.. and that really would be a sorry excuse for an attack!

You'd be betting on Inzi and his friends batting 5 sessions in the first inings and 4+ sessions in the second to scrape a draw.. but I guess it could work :-p

[adeel_r]

As anyone who read my post must have noticed i didn't even bother to talk about our bowling credentials.IF our batting is known to be our achilles heels and has let us down for donkey years let me assure you the bowling is no better.People still refer to our bowling attack has the most "potent" and i always wonder why?????
Yes it was fearsome and the best 4-5 years ago but surely not now especially with the current crop of hmmm "chuckers" in the team.What have they done to merit such a lofty reputation???Nothing springs to mind especially post WC'03.Coming back to the Aus tour im sure Shoaib and co will get so excited at the bounce and pace at the WACA pitch that they will totally forget about something called "Line and Length".It will be like lamps left to be slaugthered.People might think im nothing but a pessimist but can anyone tell me to be otherwise considering the attact that will most probably line up at Perth will be the same attact that went for 400+ against Sri Lanka and India earlier this year at home.And as for ur suggestion racheal that our batters will have to bat for 9 sessions to survive is just like saying bush loves muslims..............Even if the team was made to bat twice in one innings they wont be able to bat for soo long.This lot can't bat for toffees on a wicket helping the bowlers.