Team for the 2nd Test

[Shaka]

Ok the all out attack plan using 4 pure attack bowlers was a good one for Perth but it failed because Khalil turned out to be useless and anything but an attack bowler, and the pitch was of no help to either Kaneria or Warne.

Assuming Melbourne is also not a great pitch for spin we need to re-adjust our tactics and recognise that we have no pace options other than Shoaib and Sami plus a couple of medium pacers (Khalil and Asif) or a couple of medium pacers who can bat a bit ( Razzaq and Naved).

With no attack bowling option ( I am assuming that if Khalil was ordinairy, then Asif won't be much better, at least not at this stage), we have to go with our ODI format of bits n' pieces players who are primarily batsmen. So from the squad this will be my team:

Salman Butt
Yasir Hameed
Abdul Razzaq
Inzimam
Yousuf Youhana
Asim Kamal
Shoaib Malik
+Kamran Akmal
Naved ul Hasan
Mohammad Sami
Shoaib Akhtar

Razzaq or Malik can bat no 3 but I'd give the responsibility to Razzaq as he might as well get his runs against the quicks as he can't play Warne with any confidence. There are 5 bowlers in that team, 4 seam and Malik can bowl off spin. Kaneria drops out only because these pitches don't suit spin so much and 4 left-handers in the Aussie top 6 neutralises his threat to some extent. An off spinner will probably be just as likely to pick up the odd wicket, and Malik's batting will stiffen a very brittle batting order.

So total about turn from the first match selection but events have dictated as it were.

[Zainub]

Interesting team you have picked Shaka, I'll come up with mine in a few moments, I'm just wondering, if God forbid , Inzi can't play, I've just read at cricket info, that at this stage he's a doubt for the BDT, than what will we do. Will certainly be a mjor blow if that happens, I'm desperately hoping and praying he can get him self alright, that back problem has been around for almost 12 months now, I'm angry that nothing was done to sort it out before such an important tour.Who'll replace him in your side if he doesn't (god forbid again) get fit in time?

[Shaka]

Inzi is reportedly fit for the game as is Shoaib, that's the latest news I've heard. If he's not fit, his place would go to Younis Khan. I thought long and hard about playing Younis originally but went for Asim Kamal instead. The reason being that Kamal is a player you have to get out, he doesn't throw his wicket away easily, whereas I still think Younis gets too carried away and doesn't dig in enough.

Actually if Inzi isn't 100% fit i don't want him playing. He's looked awful since the SL tests when he's been struggling with this back injury.

[Maranello]

If Inzamam doesn't play, Younis Khan should replace him in Shaka's team (from the current squad), though I would not have dropped Younis in the first place.

I am not that concerned about Inzamam's injury, Youhana is a better tactical leader and Inzamam's batting has not done much on this tour.

The bigger threat by far is Shoaib's injury - without him, we might as well come back home.

[Shaka]

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle...toryID=7156970

Inzamam and Shoaib cleared for 2nd test v Australia

Wed Dec 22, 2004 07:50 AM GMT
SYDNEY, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar have been cleared to play in the second test against Australia starting in Melbourne on Sunday.


Inzamam has been suffering from a long-term back problem while Shoaib injured his shoulder and ankle in the crushing first test defeat in Perth.

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said there was no miracle remedy for Inzamam's back troubles but the skipper was able to control it through exercise and swimming.

"It's one of those horrible things that can flare up at any time and we have to try and manage it now," Woolmer said.

"We weren't sure what it was for a long time so we're very happy we've found out. Now we know it's going to be helped by certain types of exercises."

Woolmer, meanwhile, said he had given up on trying to persuade Shoaib, widely regarded as the fastest bowler in the world, to shorten his run-up.

Woolmer made the request because of an International Cricket Council's clampdown on slow over rates but was told by the bowler: "It's hard for a jet plane to take off without a runway." "It's an ongoing discussion," Woolmer added, saying any change would have to be done after the three-test tour.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Shoaib Akhtar

"It's hard for a jet plane to take off without a runway."

Shoaib should get a job as a comedian...

[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).


http://jang.com.pk/thenews/dec2004-d.../sports/s8.htm

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.

[Zainub]

Inzi, swimming? Now that would be an interesting sight!!!!LoL!

Anyway I'm glad he's recovering, I know he hasn't made that many runs, but losing him would be very big pchycological blow, I don't think we could have managed to put up a fight without statistically our strongest batsman, not that we are batting too well with him already, but as said before, mentally, it would have put the team back even more.

I'd refrain from making whole sale changes, despite how ever hard the temptation after a 400 odd run loss might seem. I've thought about it for a while, this is the team I've come up with

Butt Farhat Khan Youhanna *Inzi Kamal Malik Razzaq +Akmal Sami Shoaib

Everything said and done about Younis Khan, he was our top scorer in that match, I'd give him another go. Only other changes in the team are that Kaneria has to go, which was a difficult decision considering he didn't bowl badly but our batting has to be strengthened so he had to go, also Mohammad Khalil has to make way for another extra batsman, in my case I've preffered Asim Kamal over Yasir Hameed. I'd back Razzaq to deliver the goods, and Malik to take the odd wicket or two as well. Wouldn't say an attack compirsing Sami, Shoaib, Razzaq and Malik looks perfectly suitable of taking 20 wickets but our batting is way too weak so I'm afraid we can't play either Kaneria, Khalil and Asif, not until our top and middle order start making some worthwhile runs anyway. We can play Kaneria in Sydney in place of one of the genuine bats.

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Maranello

Shoaib should get a job as a comedian...

I second that entirely!

[Shaka]

I felt a bit bad about leaving Imran Farhat out of my team, I still think he's got talent, but like Yasir Hameed he needs to learn to limit his ways of getting out! These guys give far too many chances to the bowler for comfort. The reason I went for Yasir in the end is I feel on this tour you have to have as many players up for it as possible, and Yasir, though he's an idiot at times, is very competitive. He's not short of confidence and we'll need that attitude. I would consider Afridi for that very reason except I don't think a front foot slogger will be allowed to score runs in Australia.