Australia v Pakistan: build-up

[Zainub]

Stumps, Day 2:

Western Australia 404/9d

Mike Hussey 124 Marcus North 79 Ryan Campbell 49 Chris Roger 46 Shaun Marsh 39

Kaneria 3-133 (34) Akhtar 2-41 (17) Farhat 2-30(8) Razzaq 1-76 (13) Sami 1-104 (19) Malik 0-15 (1)

Pakistanis 4/0 Salman Butt 3*, Imran Farhat 0*, 1 over

We are really not playing any way near as well as we should be, but at least Shaoib has some decent figures, and Langer didn't get runs, and we managed to not lose a wicket in the sole over we batted. So some positives still, albiete in general our performance so far has really been disapointing, depressingly disapointing.Trying hard not to lose hope.

Don't know why Malik bowled just the one over, he should have bowled more, may be it was something to do with his injury, but I hope he bowls a lot more than that in the first test. And there will be pressure on him to score runs this time, a lot of people will argue to have a 4th seamer to accopmany Razzaq, Shoaib and Sami at Malik's expense in the side, he must justify his place in the side by scoring some runs, which he hasn't so far. Hopefully he will in this innings.

ps: don't worry Beny, we'll be better than NZ, or at least I hope so

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

Don't know why Malik bowled just the one over

I suppose being spanked for 15 off that over might have had something to do with it!

[Zainub]

May be. But even in the last test we played Malik was under bowled. I hope this is not some sort of tactic. Malik is not a change bowler, he's a decent wicket taking option. I hope the team utilize him properly.

[vvvrulz]

Yeah, if they really develop his bowling, they will have a lot more bowling options than lets say.. India had when they toured Australia.

[Zainub]

Western Australia 9 for 404 dec and 0 for 33 beat Pakistanis 262 and 174 (Dorey 5-41) by 10 wickets

WA crush Pakistan in 3 days

From BBC Sport: Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer admitted that his team's form was a concern, as they subsided to another 10-wicket defeat against Western Australia. "Obviously w don't look like we're going to beat Australia," he conceded. "We don't look like we're going to beat anyone at the moment but I've seen the Pakistan side play like this before and I've seen them come alright in the end." Skipper Inzamam added: "We're going to have to work a damn sight harder than we are at the moment."

What the hell are we doing? I'm disgusted, annoyed and very angry

ps: anyone willing to watch some pictures of this loss (hopefully the final wake up call) should follow this link:getty images

[Maranello]

LOL...its only a game Zainub! I was not really expecting us to beat Australia at WACA, having seen our batsmen play there in previous tours and being all at sea. Hence I am not that bothered about this loss to WA, yes it is worse than expectations, but only just.... and there are far more worthwhile things in life to get really angry about!

[Beny]

Yeah like getting beaten 3-0!

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Maranello

LOL...its only a game Zainub! ...and there are far more worthwhile things in life to get really angry about!

I guess. But still, occasionally, I like to get angry, just to keep my system from getting bored by the same old moods. For a change its not that bad to get frustrated over your favorite team/s awful performances. In a way the anger over poor performances behaves as the feul that keeps my support for the team running...if you know what I mean... although that sounds very philosphical......too philosophical actually.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Beny

Yeah like getting beaten 3-0!

nah that would not be worse than expectations really, in fact would be as expected. As I said its only a game, and I save my anger for real things

[King Aragorn]

A thrashing at AUS's hands was and is certainly expected but against WA, I would have expected Pakistan to win. And even if they couldn't manage that, I would have expected them to go down fighting. And that is what angers me. We have some very talented young lads. They are being led by some very experienced players like Inzamam, Youhana and Akhtar. They are being coached by a meticulous and very well organised coach...but the desired results are still not coming. I am ready to see Pakistan lose...but what I cannot really stand is the team getting totally butchered!

Salman Butt has played just one test in Pakistan against minnows Bangladesh. He has just played six ODIs, all except one of them in the subcontinent - on batsmen friendly pitches. He has never played in Australia before. He is the youngest player in the team. But still he manages to perform much much better than his 34 year old captain and nearly every other batsman in the team...all of whom are more experienced than him. It is just mind boggling. If Salman Butt can adjust himself to the Australian conditions this well and be patient enough then certainly every other batsman should. But they haven't...If Razzaq the slogger can do well with the bat then why cannot our regular specialist batsmen?

Lillee and Woolmer have said not to write off Pakistan. I haven't, but the chances of even one draw look much glimmer than before. Against WA, not only did the batsmen fail - which is quite usual, but the bowlers also got a thrashing. Sami, who wanted to get under the AUS batsmen because they seemed to be concentrating too much on Akhtar was highly expensive. Kaneria too didn't bowl very well. It will be interesting to see now Pakistan's first XI on the 16th. Will Afridi be given a chance instead of the woefully out of form Farhat? Afridi has certainly batted much better than Farhat and his leg spinners could be of great help. But he is highly unpredictable. But then, Afridi's unpredictabilty might be better than Farhat predictibility of getting out on very low scores! Will Khalil/Asif be included at Kaneria's expense? Kaneria won't get much spin from the pitch expect maybe on day 4/5. But the match would have probably ended by then. Kaneria will get some valuable bounce from the pitch though which might be enough to trouble the Australian batsmen if used well. There is also a question mark on Malik too who looks doubtful to play now because of his hand injury...things look dire for Pakistan but can they "turn it on" as Lillee said when it matters most?