Pakistan showing that familiar malaise...

[Rachael]

With the predictable Multan slogfest proceeding much as anticipated... I wasn't expecting to find much of interest to read up on... but found the folowing on Cricinfo (link below).

Writing of Pakistan:

"Their bowlers were indisciplined, their fielding was lacklustre, and the captaincy was lazy. On the second morning, their fast bowlers bounced back with some hostile bowling, but their fielders let them down – the two catches that went down in one Shabbir Ahmed over just before lunch being a classic example. Most of the Pakistani fielders ambled around as if they had given up hope of taking wickets, and were surprised that any chances actually came their way."

And of India:

"There was no such lethargy from the Indians. They were alert and energetic on the field, diving around enthusiastically, clapping each other on. The bowling was especially disciplined, with Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan and Lakshmipathy Balaji all keeping it tight, not giving the batsmen any easy runs. They focussed not on the obstacles on the way to their destination, but on the process. They had the mental toughness to keep pegging away, despite the odds – the batsman-friendly pitch, the conditions – being stacked against them."

The conclusion has echoes of criticisms of the WI: "India's discipline and mental strength is the difference between the two sides in this Test; does that have something to do with the team's work ethic off the field*, perhaps?"

http://usa.cricinfo.com/link_to_data...30MAR2004.html