The clash between the Titans of test cricket just ended yesterday, England defeated Australia 3-1 and the series between South Africa and India ended in a draw. Both series were quite exciting. England with their dominating performance against Australia have become the team to beat in world cricket. South Africa and India are not to far behind but both team have some grey areas.
Starting from today cricket fans will watch the clash between minnows as the first test between NewZealand and Pakistan commenced today. Both team are equally pathetic, the series doesn’t promise top class cricket but certainly promises drama, both on the field and off it.
NewZealand has already won the T20 series 2-1 as Pakistan team found new ways to lose, all they had to do was to just change the batting order a few selectorial blunders and poor captaincy and that enabled them to lose against perhaps the worst cricket team in international cricket.
The test series won’t be any different, they have already dropped Umar Akmal who was the top scorer for them when they last visited New Zealand, they are missing Saeed Ajmal who had to go back home to attend his father’s funeral. If the team plays to it’s potential and is lead properly they should win the series 2-0. On paper the team looks quite weak especially the bowling without Aamer, Asif and Ajmal there isn’t a bowler in the team who could single handedly win the match for us. Umar Gul is out of form and out of rhythm, Wahab is not trust worthy, Tanvir doesn’t have enough skill, and Rehman is not a test bowler.
Despite all the above limitations, Newzealand at one stage were reeling at 177/7 but Misbah persisted with Rehman for too long and didn’t bring Umar Gul and Wahab to for the kill and allowed the Kiwis to survive.
Earlier Misbah surprised everyone when he decided to field after winning the toss on a flat track, normally the tracks are more helpful to the bowlers in New Zealand but I think they prepared a flat track to prepare for the World Cup but this might help Pakistan as their batsmen thrive in such conditions.
Pakistan bowlers didn’t bowled superbly it was a poor performance by the Kiwis .Especially Umar Gul and Riaz they were not accurate either they bowled too short or outside off stump, on a wicket like this bowlers of their pace should bowl wicket to wicket with slight variations in angles, Umar Gul becomes ordinary if he can’t reverse the ball, I am not sure why he failed to do so whether it is the Kokaburra ball or poor ball management he couldn’t reverse any ball, Wahab will never be able to replace Aamer unless he brings the ball back into the right hander.
The inaccuracy of Wahab and Gul has allowed Southee and Kane to survive and NZ are 260/7 at the end of the day. Guptil, McCullum, and Southee scored 50′s , Rahman took 3 wickets, Tanvir 2 and Umar Gul just 1. The dropped catch by Younis Khan has proven to be quiet costly Pakistan missed several chances in the field.
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