Strengthen the batting order?

[John]

Its obvious that winning this series is of great importance to Pakistan. They face a good side who you can count on putting better performances in the next two Tests. So there is a need to strengthen the batting. This is not the time for giving batsmen a run in the side Raza has to go. Where does a Afridi go? Replace a bowler? Replacing someone like Sami than the tail is shorter? Or does he replace Raza and risk the long tail.

[Maranello]

The candidates for an axe (note I say candidates, not certainties) are:

1. M. Yousaf
2. Hasan Raza
3. M. Sami

The possible replacements are Afridi and Asim Kamal for the first two, both of whom could well be straight swaps in my view. These two would strengthen the batting (bringing in the dogged determinance of Kamal instead of Raza, as well as the brilliance of the one and only Afridi) and add an additional, very potent, leg-spinner (in Afridi).

However, Sami's issue is trickier; he bowled well in patches today, so should he stay? If Razzaq was fit, I'd have him instead of Sami, and the batting would be fine. Razzaq's absence really distorts this team's balance; the other potential replacements for Sami are Naved-ul-Hasan or Yasir Arafat (who can both bat), and M. Asif or Umar Gul (who both cannot). I am at this stage not sure who I would go for, or whether I would drop Sami in the first place. If Razzaq does not play, and Sami does, we have Shoaib Akhtar batting at 8; not ideal, but the guy is no mug with the bat. Is a very long tail after that though...

[Zainub]

M's done a good sumary. But as usual I'm not sure even of a single thing.

There's part of me that wants to avoid all these tricky questions, its telling me don't change a winning side, stick to this and back the same guys to bring you the same result , and now there's the other part of me - I wouldn't even go into how many different things that's telling me ...

This is not going to be an easy next 3 days. May be if we got to know what the pitch was more like, we could make a better shot at finding the best combination.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Zainub

May be if we got to know what the pitch was more like, we could make a better shot at finding the best combination.

The pitch at Faisalabad, at a random guess, should be quite similar to the one at Multan - maybe we should or should not change a winning combination, but we should certainly not alter a winning formula in terms of the pitch!

I think the inclusion of Afridi is a MUST - I do not care who makes way for him from the non-performing guys, whether he comes in as a fifth bowler or the fourth - he has 370 odd runs in his last four Tests, just under 20 wickets in the same Tests, is the one guy we have to rival Flintoff, who can change the game in an instant with the bat, ball or as a fielder - and is a proven match-winner. It was sacrilege to have omitted him!

[Zainub]

I do agree with all those sentiments, and most people would. Robert, admitted to the press, they made a mistake leaving him out. So, he's looking all set to come back in the XI now - although in who's place , your guess , will be as good as mine. You didn't mention Shoaib Malik as a 'candidate' though - there's some talk of possibly Afridi replacing him and yet another brand opening combination ! (every single private channel is talking about the multan test, I've been hearing a bit of this and that from everywhere, so I can't guarantee who came with this suggestion , if was Aamir Sohail (Geo) or Salahuddin (TV 1) or some one from Aaj or Indus - I don't even knew some of the so called experts but I watched anyway - shows how desperate I can get at times. I can even get my self to watch tv in languages I don't understand

[John]

I also think Afridi must come in.
The trouble is if England bat well which they are capable of than Pakistan need lots of runs.
The English bowlers showed they are well capable of bowling Pakistan out. They bowled their side into winning position.
Akhtar has to be coming in at 9 you are winning the series. You need to bat right down. It was worth having a long tail as long as the series was level but now that has to be questioned.
If England win the toss and bat well with this present Pakistan side my money is firmly on England.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Zainub

Robert, admitted to the press, they made a mistake leaving him out.

Really? What was the context/full quote, if you can recall it from somewhere within your overdose of TV junk

Originally Posted by John

I also think Afridi must come in.

It seems you are suggesting Afridi instead of Sami - a move I would not be averse to myself! Adds a better bowler and strengthens the batting.

[Zainub]

Vaughan's coming back for the next test apparently John, and he's a hopeless tosser - our mighty sultan of multan will nail him down in this respect - Inzi doesn't make too many incorrect calls

[Zainub]

Nah, I'm afraid I don't remember. Although I think some one on the commentary did mention it at one stage .

I've really curbed down my tv watching bad habbits - honestly! It's only during this test that I've gone a bit AWOL again, otherwise they only channel numbers I know are 1)ESPN 2)Star Sports 3)Ten Sports 4)Super Sport 5)BBC Food - the rest I always have to "find"

[John]

Originally Posted by Maranello

It seems you are suggesting Afridi instead of Sami - a move I would not be averse to myself! Adds a better bowler and strengthens the batting.

Its worth thinking about. The only problem it leaves you 2 seamers but that may not be a problem on the pitches in Pakistan. If the tail starts at 9 with Akhtar it gives more room if a couple of batsmen fail up the order. Pity Razzaq is out he would help solve the puzzle.