Strengthen the batting order?

[Zainub]

Razzaq, I can confirm is fit and available for selection.

[John]

Originally Posted by Zainub

Razzaq, I can confirm is fit and available for selection.

If this is true Afridi and Razzaq in batting at 6 and 7.

[Vrock]

Razzaq will return to the side for the next match IMO.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by John

If this is true Afridi and Razzaq in batting at 6 and 7.

Even if the England batting takes an upward turn, it is going to be very hard for anyone to win one of the remaining two Test Matches.
I believe in both cases it goes dark a little sooner, and also is it right the matches are going to start at 10AM.

[John]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Even if the England batting takes an upward turn, it is going to be very hard for anyone to win one of the remaining two Test Matches.
I believe in both cases it goes dark a little sooner, and also is it right the matches are going to start at 10AM.

I wouldn't give up hope. As I said they got twenty wickets in this game. And this England side have shown they capable of rising to challenges. Pakistan better not count their chickens.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by John

Pakistan better not count their chickens.

Precisely. And Pakistan are notorious for self-imploding, and the batting is notoriously fragile. They cannot rely on Inzi on Butt to bail them out each time - what if one of them gets a jaffa at 0, the other one gets an iffy LBW at 3; I wouldn't be too sure about our chances in that case! I believe we will have to continue to bat and bowl very well to draw this series, let alone win it.

[Captain]

I think we are getting better and what of the recall of Mushy, wats up with him. I think Woolmer and selection team really need to sit down and do some thinking, also might i suggest Gul for Sami. Could not hurt and would be a better night watchman.

[Zainub]

Mushy is finished as a test cricketer I'm afraid, I've seen him bowl a bit off late, in some of the trial games, and he looked distinctively unthreatenning.

Inzi's been writing a column for Express - it seems he is in no mood to drop a)Sami b)Youhanna d)Raza - but let's wait and see what happens.

Ern, despite the weather, I don't see the chances of the next two games being draws - our batting can get out twice on any surface in the world, and very quickly, early sunset shouldn't be a problem - we've played tests in these conditions before and there have been results.

M, no one is counting the eggs before they have hatched - there is nothing wrong in being confident though, is there? And with the possibility of Tresco missing the next test, and Strauss missing the one after that (not a possibily, but confirmed verdict), then we seriously have to fancy our chances of a series win.

Our batting will improve. I hope so.

[John]

Originally Posted by Zainub

Ern, despite the weather, I don't see the chances of the next two games being draws - our batting can get out twice on any surface in the world, and very quickly, early sunset shouldn't be a problem - we've played tests in these conditions before and there have been results.

M, no one is counting the eggs before they have hatched - there is nothing wrong in being confident though, is there? And with the possibility of Tresco missing the next test, and Strauss missing the one after that (not a possibily, but confirmed verdict), then we seriously have to fancy our chances of a series win.

Our batting will improve. I hope so.

I thought Pakistan's batting weakness was quite apparent. Who can score a hundred Butt, Inzy, Mohammed? Who else?
England's batting potential is much greater Vaughan, Tersco, Strauss, Pietersen and Flintoff.
Pakistan need a long batting order not a long tail. It will be a huge gamble if they play more or less the same side. A gamble England would love to see taken.

[greg]

I hope Pakistan pick the same team.Although Raza will probably be replaced.I desperately want Sami to play,all his career he has blown hot and cold,yes he was hot the other day and helped Pakistan to a great victory but he is cold more often than he is hot and i would rather have him in the side than a bowler who is likely to be more consistant.Only against England though

They do need to strengthen the batting line up but i am not best placed to say who should replace who.I will say though that if Sami is batting at 8 again in the next test the England boys will be very happy as they will know that once they get past number 7 it could all be over in a short space of time.