Team for the 2nd Test

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Shaka

Shoaib's attitude is not the best. I don't think it's right that he should risk the Captain being suspended on account of slow over rates because of his 7 min overs. Under the current rules we might have to make a decision to drop him from future matches until he complies. Personally I think the rules should be changed so that any bowler who takes more than 5 mins/over consisitently should be fined, that way the guilty party is punished rather than the captain. Here's a very good article on selection for this match by Asif Iqbal, an analyst who I have quite a lot of time for (unlike Miandad). Article His option would be to play Afridi rather than Naved from my team, which is an idea I considered as well, but I would rather have another seam bowler as back up.

That certainly was a very well written article, I agree with Asif Iqbal on many fronts, including the fact that this is not the time to panic. Shahid Afridi for the test team, in a test team that already has Shoaib Malik, in a test team that is playing at the MCG? Two spining all rounders when there is unlikely to be a lot of turn for them in the pitch, when Afrid's batting is the possibly the biggest gamble you can think of taking? I know he's a very good fielder, but is this a risk worth taking Shaka? For my money no. I'd settle for just Shoaib Malik in place of Kaneria, and Asim Kamal in place of Khalil.

Another good point you made about the regulations for over rates, I do think it is slightly unfair on the skipper, but then it's his job to set fields, making bowling changes, and make sure the team gets through their buisness in b/w their overs quickly. Shoaib's run up aside, I do think we could improve in our speed b/w the overs. And an improvement in fielding will also most certainly help in improving the over rate. Good point also that Asif Iqbal makes about Andrew Hall in the end, I saw Vaughan's dismissal, and the send off he got was on the same lines as the one that Matty Hayden got at Perth. Don't know if the ICC are racist/bias in favor of whites/ or whatever but that certainly will feul more fire to those who say so. ICC does not beleive in making things easier for it self. Personally I think neither of them sould have been fined/remrimanded. They were just celebrating a dismissal for Goodness sakes. It was no big deal. Now though, thanks to the ICC, it is.