Shoaib 'must prove match fitness' .>

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Bob Woolmer

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer has warned fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar he must play at least two first-class games to be considered for the England Test series.

Well I hope he makes it, I don't think it will be the same without him, I myself was looking forward to the duel between Shoaib and Flintoff/Harmison.(with a small d).
Two points, if Shoaib does not play, the series will be without one of the worlds major cricket entertaners, and also it reduces Pakitans chance of a series win.

Anyone else agree, if he does not play, it will mar the series?.

Full details
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...an/4358004.stm

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Anyone else agree, if he does not play, it will mar the series?.

Not at all - if Pakistan were to lose Kaneria the situation would be serious... and losing Mushtaq would be a blow... but it's far from clear that Shoaib Akhtar brings more to the party than the other seamers - he certainly does less with the ball than the others.

What I think Pakistan need is an injury to Sami.. because I can see him being a passenger. Navad, Shabbir and Razzaq should be the limit of the seam options.. with Kaneria and Mushtaq (and perhaps Afridi if Pakistan fall behind) doing the real work.

[Colourful Chaddi]

I hope Shoaib Akhtar does participate in this series and i hope he is 100% fit. I think there is no better sight in cricket today then seeing this fast bowler running from the sight screen and hurtling down 95mph+ down the picth.

Being a England fan i would be happy to see Akhtar not playing because he would have caused us some problems but in terms of a cricketign fan we would miss him omn this tour.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Waseem

I think there is no better sight in cricket today then seeing this fast bowler running from the sight screen and hurtling down 95mph+ down the picth.

Nope. The best sight in cricket will always be a slow bowler bamboozing batsmen with flight, drift and guile. The next best will ALWAYS be a short, medium pace seamer using variations in length and pace plus movement in the air and movement off the seam to reduce batsmen to gibbering wrecks.

Pace and bounce without out the craft of the slow or medium pace bowler will only ever appelyal to the heathen who prefers aggression and hostility to genius. Might be popular... but that doesn't make it better: lots of people like S-Club 7 and Boyzone but that doesn't mean they are good enough to be mentioned in the same breath as Knopfler, David Gray, the Finn Brothers or Kate Rusby.

[Ernest]

Hmm, once I would have agreed with you, I was brought up on decent slower bowling than is on offer at the moment.
I think that the teams with the pace wins Test series, this has shown to be since the days of Lillee, Marshall, through to Wasin and Waqar, and today with Flintoff.
I think it better for the series if Shoaib Akhtar plays, he will be a counter to Englands pace, and more important is more likely to fill the grounds.
Kaneria is a must I agree, I wonder what value is put on Kaneria v Shoaib Akhtar, I was kink of looking forward to Sami playing, because I have heard so much, but never have seen him.

Originally Posted by Rachael

lots of people like S-Club 7 and Boyzone but that doesn't mean they are good enough to be mentioned in the same breath as Knopfler, David Gray, the Finn Brothers or Kate Rusby.

Oh dear, Boyzone , none of them are good enough to be mentioned in the same breath as Chopin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and rousing music the likes of Pomp and Circumstance,and the gentle Greensleeves.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I wonder what value is put on Kaneria v Shoaib Akhtar

Inzi is the best judge... and he says Kaneria is more important.

Originally Posted by Ernest

Oh dear, Boyzone , none of them are good enough to be mentioned in the same breath as Chopin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and rousing music the likes of Pomp and Circumstance,and the gentle Greensleeves.

Oh dear: Chopin, Mozart and Elgar are little more to classical than Elton John is to pop - excellent in their own way, but hardly leading edge - had you mentioned Schubert, Richard Strauss and Shostakovich no-one could have quibbled.. but your examples are not in that league!

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Rachael

Inzi is the best judge... and he says Kaneria is more important.

I think Inzi might just like a fit Shoaib Akhtar, bowing at Bell and Vaughan at 95mph.

Originally Posted by Rachael

Oh dear: Chopin, Mozart and Elgar are little more to classical than Elton John is to pop - excellent in their own way, but hardly leading edge - had you mentioned Schubert, Richard Strauss and Shostakovich no-one could have quibbled.. but your examples are not in that league!

I don't expect you will care for Johann Strauss (King of the Waltz), he raised a few eyebrows Europe wide.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I think Inzi might just like a fit Shoaib Akhtar, bowing at Bell and Vaughan at 95mph.

Maybe... but I don't know that Shoaib Akhtar wants that. Don't get me wrong: he might well want to bowl at Vaughan and Bell at those speeds.. it's just that I'm not sure he sees much point in being fit enough to get selected to do that job.

I'd rather see Shabbir, Navad and Abdul Razzaq supporting Kaneria and Mushtaq.

Originally Posted by Ernest

I don't expect you will care for Johann Strauss (King of the Waltz), he raised a few eyebrows Europe wide.

Elevator music: classical equivalent of Maria Carey.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Rachael

it's just that I'm not sure he sees much point in being fit enough to get selected to do that job.

Oh I don't know, I think he would fancy a chance of getting vaughan caught behind, and Bell the same, or LBW, Bell would never see the ball.

Originally Posted by Rachael

Elevator music: classical equivalent of Maria Carey.

Johann Strauss elevator music, that's a novel idea, Oh dear Maria Carey, in the same breath.

No he cheered Europe up no ends, more than can be said about Shostakovich composing in the cold war,and it showed what little I have heard, or Beethoven for that matter.I must say, not elevator music.
Bet you don't like Pavarotti....
Maria Carey????

[Rachael]

You misunderstand what I was saying of Shoaib Akhtar: I'm sure he is happy to get as fit as HE thinks he need to be to bowl at Vaughan and Bell.... but I'm not sure he's prepared to get as fit as Woolmer is insisting on him being as a pre-condition for selection.

On the music front... I can't believe you even mention Johann Strauss in relation to music. His entire contribution to music is worth less than any ONE of the Late Beethoven quartets! Not sure why you'd bring Pavarotti into this... but the guy's good with Italian arias if that's your cup of tea. Don't ask him to do something challenging like a set of Schubert songs or a Richard Strauss Opera though!