Is this finally a sign of better things to come?

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

Cmon Shaka, Inzy batted well but i guess he didn't do enough...Young Salman is precocious but needs work, and I reckon Pakistan need a good solid opening pair to be competitive

Top order remains our long time worry - we've not find our selves someone we can trust since we've lost Aamir Sohail and Saeed Anwer ... Taufeeq Umar has been my choice to, and Butt seemingly also has the goods, only a matter of it they can click together and keep on doing that consistenty

[Shaka]

I just feel that Taufeeq and Salman have shown enough to be given a decent shot at establishing themselves as openers. The alternatives are Afridi and Yasir and for me neither have shown the same hunger or application to do the job long term ahead of those two. Short term they might do better against India as I think left-handed openers find it difficult playing left arm bowlers. It seems unfair on a player like Salman Butt to be dropped after doing so well recently, unless he's palpably out of form. Every player goes through a spell when runs are in short supply but these are both players who have scored runs against quality attacks.

[Maranello]

Well it seems that Mohali was a sign of much better things to come!

Well done Pakistan, a great team effort by everyone, the batsmen, bowlers and fielders! The whole team is pulling together and working as a unit, fighting hard...so well done. Without Shoaib, this seems a far more cohesive unit, and in this Test, finally, Sami actaully showed that he could be classified as a bowler and not just a hair shampoo model.

Originally Posted by Maranello after the First Test at Mohali

I was certainly not expecting Saturday's epic events, and the fantastic rearguard action. I am as delighted as everyone else here, so well done boys.... now let's see whether this is a new beginning, or yet another false dawn!

Seems as if it is not a false dawn, but finally, a new beginning of a hard-working team.

[Zainub]

I hope you are right. Does look like a new beginning. No Shoaib does improve team spirit. Although I'm still comepelled to think that he has not been dropped for the one-day series, but rather is still unfit.

[Ernest]

Good team spirit, well done Pakistan, I am sure this is the start of better things to come.

[Zainub]

And we play England next December Ernie. Watch out