Pak v SL: 2nd Test match

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Mike Small

I don't particularly think I need to justify my acts to you, but my work is computer based and I can well and duely manage cricket and work together - wouldn't it be nicer if we all stuck to minding own buisnesses and leave the rest to the rest.

MS - I think you misunderstood... it was a rhetorical question at the end of a facetious comment, definitely not a serious enquiry or request for information about your schedule!
You do not need to justify your acts to me at all, and apologies if it came across as if I was being intrusive or unduly impolite - not intended.

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by Maranello

Cricinfo says Shoaib def. is not playing and that Inzi has confirmed Rana and Afridi will play. So they are not calling up a last minute replacement from somewhere to replace Razzaq... hmmm...can Rana, Razzaq, R.Afridi, Malik and Kaneria get 20 wickets in a test match? I seriously doubt it!
I have a bad feeling about this match.....

Well, Naved will be dangerous with the new ball, Afridi I can only judge after tomorrow, Razzaq is surely too limited. Kaneria looks like the best bet once the shine has worn off. I would put this down to a learning experience, SL look far better equipped in this match.

[Mike Small]

Ok, if you say it wasn't intented to be a twit

[Maranello]

Pakistan team:
Yasir Hameed, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, *Inzamam-ul-Haq,
Yousuf Youhana, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, +Kamran Akmal,
Riaz Afridi, Naved-ul-Hasan, Danish Kaneria.

So four changes from the first Test, Younish Khan instead of Asim Kamal and Kamran instead of Moin being the two tactical changes.

New ball given to Rana Naved and Riaz Afridi, two debutants.

After 9 overs, SL 15/0, have been kept quiet by good line and length bowling, hardly a single loose delivery from either bowler. But not that many wicket-taking balls either - both are medium pace with good out swing. Afridi looks to be the one who can swing it both ways..

[Shaka]

After 13 overs SL are on 28-0, quiet start but neither batsmen looking in any trouble whatsoever. Both opening bowlers bowling a steady line, stock deliveries being the outswinger to the R/H batsman, inswing to L/H. Abdul Razzaq comes on first change and his stock delivery is the reverse, slanted into the R/H, away from the L/H.

What strikes me about all three medium pacers is that none of them have much variety to their bowling and it has been relatively easy for the SL batsmen to settle in as a result. All three would be a different proposition if they could get one to go the other way, but no evidence of that so far in this match and as a result it's difficult to see anything other than a huge score for SL in the first innings unless Kaneria bowls them out by himself. Inzy's decision to have first bowl may well backfire as a result. Rameez Raja who is eulogising the new ball bowlers for their discipline in the commentary box seems to have missed the fact that neither bowler is really giving the batsmen too much trouble.

Verdict on Riaz Afridi:

Bowling between 75-80mph, very much a medium pace bowler as I said earlier. Decent away swing to the R/H batsmen and quite a disciplined line and length, but unless he can mix this with the ability to get one to go the other way ( I think he did produce one delivery to Jayasuriya), like the rest of this very predictable medium pace attack, destined for limited success in the longer version of the game.

UPDATED:

Well Riaz had a good day in the end, not much pace but a strong looking bowler who gets a bit of swing and doesn't get knocked out of his line and length in a hurry. Definitely does have the abilty to get it to move both ways but perhaps needs to mix it up a bit more with the new ball. Will be interesting to see if he can provide more of the same in SL's 2nd innings to really turn the heat up on Sami.

[Shaka]

Kaneria strikes in his first over, pinning Jayasuriya lbw with the score on 66. I predict Kaneria will take at least 5 wickets in this innings for the simple reason that it's difficult to see anybody else in this bowling line up taking the other five between them.

Let's see if that's how it pans out.

[Shaka]

...and Kaneria strikes again, Attapatu gone and SL go in to lunch on 80-2. My prediction of Kaneria taking at least 5 in this innings looks a stone cold banker with only minimal prospect of wickets going down at the other end unless the Sri Lankans start panicking.

[Shaka]

It's time to eat my words as at the halfway stage of the first day SL are tottering at 126-5 after 50 overs. Pakistan have basically strangled their victims, with relentless accuracy; Afridi picking up two wickets, Razzaq finally producing a ball which leaves the right-hander to get rid of Samaweera, and Naved still swinging the ball after 50 overs which is commendable. He had a very difficult chance put down against Mubarak too.

Interestingly if they continue to keep the shackles on SL won't have scored too many before the 2nd new ball is due near the end of the day's play. A very different look to this attack compared to Pakistan's usual wild and woollly approach but a job very well done so far...especially when you consider we didn't strike with the new ball.

[Maranello]

LOL - yeh, def. word-gobbling time mate..

You might wanna rethink your definitive verdict on Afirdi too...

To me, the main difference between these three bowling today and Pakistan's normal fare is the line and length, and sticking to the plan, most of the time. Sure, there have been some balls so far outside off that the batsman can leave them easily, but not a lot for batsmen to hit, and thus get into their grove.

Naved and Afridi have both done well. Kaneria also seems a different bowler from Faisalabad, the extra bounce and pace on this track really helping him... and I think Razzaq is bowling much better than at least I thought he could, hardly any juicy short balls outside off!

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Shaka

Interestingly if they continue to keep the shackles on SL won't have scored too many before the 2nd new ball is due near the end of the day's play. A very different look to this attack compared to Pakistan's usual wild and woollly approach but a job very well done so far...especially when you consider we didn't strike with the new ball.

Why not go one better and get them out before the 2nd new ball is due..at the mo, 145 for 6 in 55 overs, so 25 more overs to get 4 wickets. Can be done, but not a certainty by any means.

In any case, all the damage today is from the old-ish ball, which is still swinging after 55 overs, and from Kaneria....as you point out, the Sri Lankan openers saw off the new ball with ease in the first hour of play!