Pakistan Vs New Zealand - Preview
New Zealand and Pakistan are seperated by just four points in ICC’s test rankings. Both teams will be starting a three match test series today. NewZealnd might have a home advantage but other than that both teams are quite similar, the team which will display better batting skills might prevail as both team have their strength in their bowling, batting is a weak point for both the teams.
Pakistan’s middle order looks quite inexperienced without Younis and Misbah but it will be a good opportunity for Umar Akmal and Fawad to establish their place in the team and even if Misbah and Younis return to form Pakistan will have a strong bench for the Australian series if these two players succeed. Pakistan’s batting will rest on the shoulders of Mohammad Yousaf who averages 69 in New Zealand.
The history is in favor of Pakistan as New zealand has only won one test series at home from Pakistan and that way back in 1985 since then Pakistan has won four out of six series.
Pakistan does have some highly talented stroke players but they lack in shot selection and the test temperament. Shane Bond and Daniel Vettori who is not fully fit will pose the main danger for Pakistan. Pakistan’s legendary off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq is currently on a special coaching assignment with the Kiwi team, he is giving them tips how to tackle Ajmal and Kineria. It’s yet to be seen if Saqi’s tips will help the Kiwis or not.
Pakistan’s bowling although looks good on paper but it’s true strength will depend on the form of Asif and Umar Gul. Aamer though he is very talented but is very inexperienced in this format he can only provide the bowling attack the flair but the real job to run through the opposition will depend on the old horses. The conditions in New Zealand will suit Mohammad Asif and he might prove to be quite handful for the Kiwis his presence in the Pakistan team might deter the Kiwis to prepare seaming tracks as New Zealand will rely on the sheer pace of Shane Bond. Umar Gul is not in the best of form this year, Umar has so far not been able to establish himself as a test bowler, his lack of control with the new ball and failure to control his length with the old ball has been a huge problem for Pakistan. The selectors should closely monitor his performance as a test bowler and if he fails to impress in the first test then Abdul Rauf should be played in the second match.
Pakistan can only afford to play one spinner most probably it will be Danish kineria , which in my opinion will be a mistake. Kineria is too expensive and his strike rate is also very high, I think Ajmal will be a better choice only if Yousaf uses him intelligently.
The Kiwi team is top heavy the retirement of Jacob Oram has hurt them their lower middle order is not very experienced and might struggle against Pakistan’s bowling attack. Guptill and Ross Taylor will be the main players for New Zealand in batting.
PCB will get a lot of flak if Pakistan lost this series, but to be very honest both Younis and Misbah deserved to be dropped and they have been replaced by the best available players in Pakistan, the only way to rebuild a team is to try out new players, the rebuilding process needs time and patience, it’s a step in the right direction and the fans should realize that.
As regards the captaincy issue it was impossible for Younis to remain captain with the form he was in, and all the skepticism about Yousaf’s captaincy is a bit premature and wrong. This is another area where New Zealand will have an edge over Pakistan the only reason other teams make a smooth transition through the rebuilding phase is because their fans and media behave maturely and do not demand a change after every series.
The New Zealand series should only be seen as a rebuilding process. A strong performance will help build the confidence of players for the Australian series and a poor performance will help identify the grey areas.
Perfect start for Pakistan. Yousaf won the toss and chose to bowl on a pitch where conditions are ideal for fast bowlers. Aamer struck on the first ball of the match and bowled McIntosh with a perfect swinging yorker. Asif took the wicket of Flynn who was quite nervous. It’s 28/2. Guptill and Taylor are on the crease one more wicket and New Zealand will be really under pressure.
Earlier Pakistan gave test cap to Umar Akmal and they picked Ajmal ahead of Danish.
Salman Butt makes way for Imran Farhat almost all the changes made are logical there are no surprises which is a good sign.
The bowlers bowled very aggressively, Guptill got two chances and that is going to prove costly for Pakistan. Imran Farhat spilled a simple catch off Guptill on the bowling of Gul who was bowling his heart out six overs five maidens and just 1 run.
Guptill again got a chance when Umar Gul failed to put a hand on the ball because he was standing 4 -5 yards inside the boundary. Pakistan needs a wicket now otherwise New Zealand will be safe if these two get settled.
We’re in a decent position but it could have been much better. They have two good batsmen at the crease so we need an early break through.
I agree that the team selection had no big surprises and that can only lead to a settled side eventually.
The batting conditions will test our batsmen so our current position in the Test may be a false one.
Stani
Three missed chances really hurt Pakistan’s position in the match. Imran Farhat was the culprit he dropped two easy catches. Umar Gul bowled exceptionally well in the first session with 9 overs 8 maidens and only 1 run. But the wicket eased in the later half and now looks like a perfect batting track. I don’t know if the Kiwis will be able to extract any movement from the pitch because if the wicket played the way it is was playing after tea Pakistan won’t have to worry much as far as batting is concerned.
We need early wickets tomorrow Aamer although was very aggressive but he can be more lethal if he can bring the ball back in to the right hander after a while his line becomes predictable.
The kiwis played Ajmal with quite ease there was not much movement for him.
Taylor, Guptil and Vettori played exceptionally well.
Poor bowling effort so far from Pakistan on the second day, none of the bowlers could take advantage of the over cast conditions. Gul has been pretty generous. After those seven maiden overs yesterday he has given away 95 runs in 16 overs. Some economy rate that, almost 5.96 an over, he has been bowling too short and has failed to pitch up not making the batsman to drive and make the mistake, the Pakistani bowlers are also not using different angles, either it is too full or too short and mostly it is outside off stump, even Asif couldn’t get any seam movement this partnership is going to hurt Pakistan. Imran Farhat’s dropped catches have proven to be too costly.
Yousaf should use the part time spinners.
Pakistan lost two quick wickets, both openers are back in pavillion, Khurram was the first man to go trying again to play a cross batted cut the guy hasn’t learned, technical deficiencies and lack of temperament is the main problem of Pakistani openers. Imran Farhat wo has dropped three catches in the slips failed with the bat, it will take time for him to adjust to International cricket, but one wonders why the selectors selected him for all three formats.
Fawad Alam looked solid so far, I hope he scores another century and cements his lace in the team.
If Danial Vettori can score 99 then it is expected of Yousaf to score a big 100. The partnership between Fawad and Mohammad Yousaf is crucial.
Due to some excellent pace bowling the Kiwis are in a precarious situation, Billy doctrove is doing every thing to help the kiwis he missed two straight forward decisions of the bowling of Asif, he robbed Pakistan of two appeals, both decisions were quiet simple, Pakistan won the first appeal but the second one was turned down by the third umpire rather bizarrely, he gave it a no ball. The replays showed Asif’s foot was on the line but all the Kiwi commentators kept on calling it a no ball to create a doubt in the mind of the third umpire.
5. Fair delivery - the feet
For a delivery to be fair in respect of the feet, in the delivery stride
(i) the bowler’s back foot must land within and not touching the return crease.
(ii) the bowler’s front foot must land with some part of the foot, whether grounded or raised, behind the popping crease.
If the umpire at the bowler’s end is not satisfied that both these conditions have been met, he shall call and signal No ball.
The replays indicated time and again that no potion of the crease was visible behind Asif’s foot infact it was the white linning of Asif’s shoe.
What is the use of technology if simple decisions like this cannot be fairly given, the second issue is if the umpires are going to miss simple and straight forward decisions then the appealing team will get robbed of their appeals, I think a successful appeal should not get counted.
Imran Farhat has single handedly diminished Pakistan’s chances of winning this test match, five dropped catches and two soft dismissals, this guy should be sent back immediately, he is in the team because of his father in law who is a junior selector and who does all the lobbying for Imran Farhat. His F in law should also be fired.
Yousaf and Akmal if they can bat till tea Pakistan can save this match and probably they can come close to winning. A win from here is quite improbable the required rr provided that bad light doesn’t come into play is over 3 , the first session after lunch will be crucial as bond will come back and will be bowling at full pace to finish off Pakistan.