Only rain can save Pakistan from white wash
on January 17th, 2010 at 10:50 amAt the end of the fourth days play Pakistan are 103/4 requiring another 335 runs with six wickets in hand.
Ricky Ponting declared after setting Pakistan a target of 438 runs. It was expected that Pakistan might put up some resistence in the second innings as the pitch still had no demons in it.
Salman Butt the man in form made a nervous start. In the first innings Butt batted with confidence his foot work was good and he looked to be in form, in this innings from the very first over he looked nervous and under pressure, his poor foot work made him look like a completely different batsman, he recieved a chance when he was at 4 but couldn’t capitalize on it and was bowled by Bollinger in the next over.
Imran Farhat looked solid when he blocked the ball or played on backfoot but whenever he played on the front foot he over extended his bat because he never moves his feet forward enough to be on top of the ball. He edged one to Haddin and this time he made no mistake.
Umar Gul displayed far better footwork and confidence than these two openers when he scored 38 in the first innings.
Khurram Manzoor has survived so far because he hasn’t played his cut shot, it’s only a matter of time that he will also depart as he moves too much in the crease as a result has no balance and can’t middle anything on top of that he has no backlift to play his strokes, I wonder what the selectors see in a player when they select him for an international match.
In contrast to the Pakistani bowlers the Australian bowlers attacked the wicket and the pads and made the batsmen play every ball, Peter Siddle and Bollinger through out their bowling spell held the ball cross seamed and extracted movement like an Off spinner does but during the process they also managed to rough up the ball on one side, as a result the ball started reversing from the 10 th over when Watson came into bowl. Watson trapped Yousaf and Umar Akmal both in front of the wicket by bowling in swingers.
The first two matches were gifted by Pakistani batsmen and the fielders to the Australians, Pak bowlers did their job and looked better than their Australian counter partsin the first two matches but in this match Austrlian bowlers have out performed Pakistani bowlers. Pakistani bowlers with the exception of Asif Completely failed.
Aamer the 17 year old prodigy proved that he still has a lot to learn about the tricks of the trade, he has pace and stamina he also can move the ball both ways but it will take him a long time to understand how to bowl in different conditions and how to set up an in form batsman, how to attack him and how to get him out, but without having the ability to reverse the ball I would not even compare him with Wasim’s left shoe.
He will have to improve his action he collapses too much and too soon in his follow through as a result of which he has a natural tendency to bowl short, When the ball is new he will extract some seam movement because he hits the ball hard on the deck but with the older ball and on flat tracks he will be miserable there he needs reverse swing and he will never be able to reverse the ball unless he makes some changes to his action. I’m surprised why Waqar couldn’t identify problems in his bowling action.
Umar Gul has disappointed me the most in this series, just last year he emerged as the spear head of Pakistan’s pace battery he had every thing the ability to reverse the ball, pace, fitness and above all the heart. His performance in the T20 WC was heartening but it seems that he too still has a lot too learn about test cricket.
Since the T20 WC he has lost his toe crushing yorker, his ability to reverse the ball, and above all he has lost his fitness he runs out of gas after bowling five overs and after that he is completely out of rythym.
On a supporting pitch these guys can still do a lot of damage but on a flat track they need to learn how to persevere and how to bowl with discipline with a plan in mind, you can’t just go in a test match and decide your line and length randomly. They also need to enhance their skills regarding reverse swing.
Malik and khurram are the last recognized batsmen only rain can save them as these two won’t be able to bat out the whole day in over cast conditions and moisture in the pitch.
Pakistan will have to change the whole composition of the team if in the next series they are going to play Sarfraz Ahmed no doubt he is a better keeper than Akmal and deserves to be in the test team, but for that Pakistan will have to make a few changes, they will have to drop Farhat and use Kamran Akmal as an opener, they will have to drop the third seamer and play either Razzaq or Rana or instead of Malik they will have to play Afridi and instead of Kaneria they should play Ajmal. These so called specialist batsmen are just a burden on the team they can’t bat they and can’t field the inclusion of All rounders will increase the batting depth of the team and will provide more bowling options to the captain.
Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousaf, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi/Rana Naved, Safraz Ahmad, Sami, Asif, Aamer/Gul and Ajmal/ Kaneria
It’s a terrible mistake to undermine the capability of bowlers who can swing the ball but are not super fast.
For Slow pithes Pakistan should prefer Sami and Rana over Aamer and Gul unless these two improve their skill level.
Wasim,
Miandad can talk! No one does more damage to our cricket through talking to the press than our ex-cricketers. What is this guy on? He just wants to get Faisal in.
Miandad was a legend, but he needs to now give up and live a quiet life out of the spot light.
As for his points on PCB mismanagement and players opening their mouths, it’s been like this for ages, even when he was there so if he thinks he’s unearthed something no one knew about, he’s wrong.
I thin too much was made of the Akmal saga.
Hey Guys , why don’t you submit your blog here
http://blogawards.pk/category/topical/best-sports-blog/
It will give more exposure and more people for these discussions
Ok I am not marketing that but I like the idea and as I submitted my blog there but there is no one to compete
Test great Javed Miandad has called for the heads of controversial brothers Kamran and Umar Akmal, saying they should be sacked immediately for ruining the image of Pakistan cricket.
“If I had the authority, I would have sacked all those players who regularly violated the clauses of their central contracts by giving unnecessary statements [to the media],” Miandad said in the Pakistan media.
“That is only damaging the image of Pakistan cricket. If I had my way I would drop them from the team and select new players because this team is not winning us any matches in Australia.”
“I am very much disturbed by the way the PCB is managing its business, mishandling simple operational affairs and also the manner in which our team lost in Australia,” he said.
“We just made a mockery of our team against the Australians and even the hosts were amazed by their own improbable victory in Sydney [in the second Test].”
While I agree with him on Akmal brothers but at the same time I see his statement only as an effort to divert attention from his role in pushing the selection of his nephew.
He is the Director General of PCB how can he absolve himself of responsibility for the current state of affairs and pretend as if he is not a part of the current management.
Where was he when Abdul Rauf and faisal Iqbal were selected.
He publicly opposed the selection of Younis Khan.
Why didn’t he issued any statement when the series was on?
Ahbd
Lack of concentration and the determination to finish the job has been the key issue.
This has been a new low for Pakistan in the fielding department I don’t remember if we ever dropped this many catches in any test series, I wonder if corruption had to do anything with it. Of course a few were genuine lapses but 4 simple catches dropped by a keeper in a crucial situation it’s a bit hard to digest for me. Similary Misbah and Farhat dropped quite a few in Dunedin.
I don’t see Fawad as an opener. I think he should be given an extended run in ODI’s first to gain experience and when he matures as a batsman then he should replace YK for #3 or Misbah at #5.
Asif is a great bowler but I have a feeling his bowling is too predictable for T20. But lets wait and see.
Stani
Check your mail.
Stani
The basic problem in our team is lack of work man like approach. They don’t think that they have a job to do they just go and play their shots.
Those who can play are dashers and those who have the temprament they do not have the range of strokes or technique.
But still we came so close to win against Australia.
As regards Asif he is a great bowler, even though I know he is not suitable for t20′s, his lack of pace and one line on flat tracks will make him an easy target. But then again he is a great bowler and can prove us all wrong. Rana has more variety has more pace and is more experienced in that format.
…just to add. Do they have domestic team coaches? What the hell goes on in the domestic teams? Crazy. Unprofessional to the extreme. That’s why the rest of the cricketing world is moving on.
Wasim,
Did you see some of the shots for our dismissals? Unbelievable. We’re trying to save a Test and they’re trying to hit balls a metre and a half outside off stump? Brainless stupidity. Who is gonna pull them up for that? No one. That’s the problem. The Aussies must have been laughing thinking we dont even have to bowl at the stumps, just set an offside field and theses clowns will get out playing shots themselves even if they dont need to.
AHBD,
I think as an opener, your technique has to be totally different. I’m not sure Fawad is technically capable of being a success so high up. Asif was good then because he was on drugs!!! Just kidding
The reason we need so much work done on our players is because our domestic infrastructure is so rubbish. The work our first teamers need should have been done when they were school boys. Generally, at international level players should only really need managers and not coaches. May be the odd consultant now and then but full time coaches means the players are not international class.
I think Fawad should be an opener because in 3-4 yrs time, it is likely Younis and Yousuf will have retired, and so just maybe he can come into the middle order at number 3. I think that if he betters his footwork in the process, that’s even better – it’ll take time, but there’s no doubt if he fixes it, he’ll be a very good batsman – he’s only 24.
The reason I do not favour Manzoor who is only 23 is because he scores way too slowly, even for tests, and that puts pressure on the other batsman to keep the scorecard ticking – he doesn’t have the right temperament. Also, he is nowhere consistent enough to be a top batsman and has technical issues. Maybe in the future (5-6yrs) he will learn and come back.
I chose Asif because he is a brilliant bowler. I remember his spell against England in 2006 – first ever maiden with two wickets as well. He was also crucial for us in the T20 WC 2007. Unfortunately he had the drugs thing over 2008-09, but he did play in the first IPL. He makes you take risks early in your innings – that’s the only way you can score because he is so accurate and he always gets just enough movement to get edges. But Rana is of course still also a good option.
I also think Pakistan are suffering because they cannot concentrate for long periods of time. Our fielding has not been as bad as this in the one day formats, and most of the players have been the same over the past 3-4 yrs – Butt, Farhat, Yousuf, Misbah, Malik, Gul, Asif, Kaneria,….
I think it is a lack of concentration and they are unprepared. However, I think specialist coaches for batting, fielding, pace bowling, spin bowling and fielding are needed. People all over the world try and get knowledge form our great players – why do we not do it – look at Mushtag Ahmed with England, Saqlain with NZ, Waqar and AUS, Wasim and IND…
People may argue there are too many coaches but these days the schedules are too packed for players to take long periods of time for themselves to work on technical issues.
Stani
They did an excellent job in managing the ball it was a lesson for our boys. Khurram did a good job but it was too late for him and too late for the team.
It was a tame loss most players surrendered without a fight.
I would also prefer Rana for T20′s over Asif.
Guys, Khurrams playing a decent knock right now, I’m impressed.
See the reverse Watson was getting Wasim? Now if that was one of our bowlers we all know what they would have said.
Yes, we definitely need to swap at least two ‘specialists’ for two genuine all-rounders.
AHBD, I would probably leave Asif out of the t20 and bring Rana. More strings to his bow a a bowler and can bat. Asif doesnt really need to bother with t20; he’s more of a classical player and should just play the other two forms.
AHBD
Where have you been? We were missing you. Good team selection for all formats except I don’t agree with Fawad as an opener.He is a very talented player but will have to work on his foot work to become an opener, my choice would be either Kamran Akmal or Khalid Latif.
I also agree with you that Kamran Akmal should not comeback unless his wicket keeping flaws are removed but in any case Sarfraz is a better keeper for test matches.
As regards Younis, I do agree with you that Younis should have been included in the test team as a batsman in the Sydney test especially when he declared himself available but I do not blame PCB for dropping him as he himself opted for rest and resigned from captaincy. But they are reponsible for not sending him for Sydney test.
I think everybody has learned their lesson all the hype surrounding the likes of Faisal, Fawad and Khurram was false the senior players cannot be dropped for these guys.
I would drop permanently Farhat, Manzoor, Iqbal. Kamran Akmal must be dropped until he has improved his wicketkeeping technique. These are the teams I would have for each of the three formats:
Test:
1. Salman Butt
2. Fawad Alam
3. Shoaib Malik
4. Younis Khan (cpt)
5. Mohammad Yousuf
6. Umar Akmal
7. Safraz Ahmed (wkt)
8. Mohammed Aamir
9. Umar Gul
10. Mohammad Asif
11. Danish Kaneria
Others: Sami, Afridi, Ajmal and batter from domestic cricket
ODI:
1. Imran Nazir
2. Kamran Akmal (wkt)
3. Shoaib Malik
4. Younis Khan
5. Mohammad Yousuf
6. Umar Akmal
7. Shahid Afridi (cpt)
8. Mohammed Aamir
9. Umar Gul
10. Mohammad Asif
11. Saaed Ajmal
Others: Razzaq, Rana, Latif, Safraz Ahmed, Alam
T20:
1. Imran Nazir
2. Kamran Akmal (wkt)
3. Umar Akmal
4. Shoaib Malik
5. Shahid Afridi (cpt)
6. New batter from domestic cricket
7. Abdul Razzaq
8. Mohammed Aamir
9. Umar Gul
10. Mohammad Asif
11. Saaed Ajmal
Others: Rana, Latif, Safraz Ahmed, Alam
Younis must be convinced to retake the test captaincy. Yousuf is a shambles. It is the PCB’s own fault for dropping Younis in the first place – can you imagine Graeme Smith being dropped by SA for a lack of form – if you account for the difference of 15 tests extra Smith has played, their stats are very similar in terms of test averages and 100′s and 50′s. Younis must be charged with focusing on making a good test side. Shahid Afridi must take over one day captaincy.
These players must be tried with consistently. There have been far too many changes over the last 10 tests.