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.
Maaz
I agree with you completely, even though in the last two series the conditions have not been very testing as compared to the series in England and Australia but still the team is not losing from winning position un expectedly and no predictable collapses are happening. I remember last time when we visited NewZealand the team on paper was much stronger but poor fielding and strange batting collapses resulted in a draw. I think even Umar Akmal should be ignored as he is also a part of that mafia which was only playing for themselves.
Pakistan would have won this series 2-0 but the umpires have tilted this match in New Zealands favor, also the fitness problem of Wahab Riaz have crippled Pakistan’s bowling. I was wondering why only the tainted one’s get unfit during a match. I hope that it was a genuine fitness problem.
Pakistan should play Junaid Khan in the Odi series against New Zealand.
Finally since dropping Malik, Farhat, Butt and Kamran and all these tried and tested Test Match failures, Pakistan’s batting is finally showing guts, determination, stability and authoritativeness. We are now successfully posting totals in excess of 300, something which was virtually unheard of during the English summer and before. Forget all this exaggerated aggression, stylishness and free scoring values in Test Cricket. Of course you might need the odd spark from time to time as if and when Umar Akmal returns, but I can now happily say that Pakistan’s batting is finally learning the art how to play Test Cricket the good old way which deserves our admiration and appreciation. The bowling may not be as potent as before, but will always stand a chance of being competitive and replaceable over time.
The Test at the Basic Reserve is interestingly poised. All 3 results are very much still possible. Here is my tactical input ahead of what is to follow on day 4.
Plan A) Attacking field setting trying to entice early wicket taking opportunities and still giving Pakistan a good shout of winning this. Seamers will need to come charging in with good intent, energy and motivation.
Plan B) Containment. If New Zealand get away early on and start pushing on, quick action is needed with a change mindset to uphold their advance and tie things up. Here Rehman would be handy with his guile, accuracy and nagging line and lengths. By all means do not go defensive too early on, but if this scenario occurs precision and thoughtfulness is required from Mr MBA Graduate
*Pakistan will feel confident and comfortable at chasing anything under 250*.
Misbah continues to relish the responsibilities, lead from the front and produce the goods. He is in absolutely excellent form nowadays and his inclusion in the ODI team is certainly justifiable regardless of what you may think. His anchor role stability will provide the line up variation which could be an invaluable asset. Moreover, he deserves another opportunity to prove his doubters comprehensively wrong just like he had done recently at the highest and toughest level. He thoroughly well deserves our support, appreciation and backing at the moment as he successfully notches up a 5th consecutive half century!
The bowlers need to repeat the performance of the first test if we have to win this match, but with Riaz injured it will be hard to repeat that performance. But from here Pakistan won’t lose the match.
Stani
The question is why the umpires judgement of error only harms Pakistan it can’t be a coincedence it is more like a pattern. The decisions against Misbah and younis were completely wrong. Misbah’s decision was marginal he was playing a shot the ball struck him above the knee roll and had an angle it should have been given as not out.
Don’t you think that it is strange that the umpire didn’t heard the snick of Guptil and Young when the whole stadium heard it and they heard something when Younis and Hafeez clearly missed the ball.
Two days left, unless there is another kiwi collapse, this will be a draw. We should attack all out nevertheless.
Hahaha,
Tawba, I’m too innocent to give nazar to people!
Yes, just read that a couple of more decisions went against us. I think we can clearly say the umpires have cost us this Test. We had some go against us in England too. I hope someone in the management is compiling a record and we should seriously take this up with the ICC.
In regards to the UDRS, who chose not to have it in this series?
Cricinfo can blame lack of UDRS if they want, but the umpires should not be dependent on this system. Just because it is not being used, there is no excuse to be this poor. They were not this poor when UDRS was not invented, so why have they become this poor now when it is around but not in use? Poor drop in standards.
Stani
Tum ney Shafiq ko nazar laga di Aaj.
Man are these umpires hellbent on pulling down Pakistan or what? New Zealand is playing with 13 players, Younnis Khan became another victim of poor umpiring but completely biased toward New Zealand, cricinfo is trying to justify it as a rough time for umpires in the absence of UDRS but strangely no one is questioning why only one team is on the recieving end of these poor judgements.
Shame on the ICC bastards.
Wasim,
Shafiq is beginning to show his worth now. I said it before and I say it again, this guy will be a permanent fixture for years to come.
I’m glad our less flashy cricketers (Taufiq, Shafiq, Azhar, Rehman) are getting the chance because it shows whatever their level of ability, they give their all and play for the team.
Misbah is looking every bit the captain his fans believed he would be. I was worried that if his personal scores were low early on, they would not stick with him but I’m glad he’s taking care of all facets. Who would you have faith in leading us in a world cup, him or Afridi?
We’re not too far off in the second test. If we can add another 100 without loss of another wicket then the possibility of a win will be there as long as we bowl better in the second innings.
Poor bowling from Pakistan on the second day, Wahab Riaz got injured I can’t understand why because he wasn’t bowling with his usual 145k pace was just bowling around 130-135. Why all the Pakistani bowlers cut their pace on this pitch was beyond my comprehension 120-125 for Tanvir and 130k for Gul. Fitness is a key issue with this Pakistan team, Tanveer is quite old and starts huffing and puffing after bowling a few overs and in his second spell he clearly runs out of gas.
Gul just needs and extra yard of pace to be as effective as he usually is, he still took the most of the wickets as he was doing every thing right except the pace.
Riaz in this match has been complete shit, kept on spraying the ball, this pitch had extra bit of bounce in it and I was expecting Riaz to test the Kiwi players with some quick bouncers but he was only trying to bowl with an angel outside offstump or just straight and flat.
NewZealand scored 356, Vettori and Young batted extremely well. The two umpires helped NewZealand a 3-4 decisions went against Pakistan so far two of them were just howlers one can’t imagine how a test umpire can miss them but such has become the routine of ICC umpires against Pakistan they are consistently through their poor decision making changing the outcome of the series.
An umpire has to be consistent I can’t understand why Daryl harper couldn’t hear or see those big edges, he robbed Umar Akmal from setting up a world record 8 dismissals in one innings.
Umpires can make mistakes but some of the decisions which have gone against Pakistan in recent times have been astonishing and I have no doubt in my mind that there is some hanky panky going on in the back ground. The Umpiring review system should be made stronger.
One more poor decision against Pakistan will change the fate of this match, The umpires gave NewZealand a great start when Hafeez was given caught behind when his bat scrapped his pad, the umpire was quick to raise his finger as it was a Pakistani batsman he just needed any sound to substantiate his decision, the whole stadium heard when Guptil knicked one against Umar Gul but the umpire was motion less he couldn’t hear any thing. PCB should protest with ICC.
Pakistan are still in a strong position, but a lot will depend on Azhar, Younis, Misbah and Asad. Pakistan should make sure that they don’t concede a big lead in the first innings still 222 runs are remaining, Younis will have to score some runs in this innings in the previous match both of his dismissals were extremely soft.
Maaz
He scored a 90 against Australia A on the tour in Which Umar Akmal scored 3 centuries, I also thought he will mature into a decent player but in last two years he has failed consistently both while playing for Karachi and with the A team.
Umpire Zameer Haider doesn’t want PIA to win, 184 runs are required and 8 wickets are left still any thing is possible.
This Ghani chap is completely unimpressive. The basics are not even there. Got a golden duck today. The way he got bowled was foolish. I have heard that he was a good youngster and star in the making, but I can usually judge players well in all honesty and he did not look good at all. HB are on track for QEA glory unless something remarkable happens here.
Maaz
I am concerned about our batting this line up wont survive in testing conditions, if the kiwis managed to improve their batting they will have a strong chance of winning.
I couldnt watch todays play of the final, Farhat survived yesterday got a few edges but a century is always good against a quality bowling side.
Aizaz has done a good job so far, Habib bank have squandered the opportunity to get a huge lead their middle order collapsed they didnt had any quality players.
So far the game is even.
Pakistan have won the last 3 times they have played a Test Match at Wellington. This Test is expected to be played on a more traditional New Zealand surface where there will be bounce and sideways movement. Batting will be much harder than Hamilton. This Test will also be the 50th time these two sides are meeting in a Test Match encounter. Pakistan have not won a Test Series since 2006. This is their 11th attempt since then. All eyes are firmly focussed on a Test Series win and preferably a monumental whitewash too. I’m sure we’ll get a result, despite the weather expected to cause some intervention. Obviously an unchanged line up expected for the men in green.
I unfortunately have been unable to watch the ongoing final. Do let me know your impressions of certain players and your technical analysis regarding them. The descriptions on cricinfo suggest that Cheema has been bowling well. Imran Farhat notches up a ton, against a good potent attack in all fairness. Let’s give credit where its due, he must have played well.
The first day of the QEA trophy final between PIA and Habib bank just concluded. The match is being played in day and night format with an orange ball for the first time in cricket history.
Earlier Hassan Raza won the toss and put PIA into bat, both teams were missing some key players who are on national duty which made the tournament final a B grade event. The only star players who are playing the match are Shoaib Malik, Danish Kaneria and Imran Farhat all three of them have been ignored from the world cup squad so nobody has any interest in how they perform.
The focus will be on young pacers as Pakistan is desperate to find some suitable replacement for Aamer and Asif.
Aizaz Cheema has taken so far 53 wickets in 7 matches of the tournament, Sarmad Anwar, Fahad Masood and Anwar Ali are the three other noteable pacers playing the game.
Aizaz is definitely in the spot light, he can move the ball both ways, has the best slower ball in the game I think he will be a good addition to the world cup squad.
PIA’s top order collapsed against some disciplined pace bowling of Habib Bank. Faisal and Fahad Iqbal both brothers scored a duck. Skipper Kamran Sajjid scored a gutsy 90 and kept one end in tact, wickets kept on tumbling on the other end, but partnerships with Malik and Anwar Ali took the score to 228. Kaneria bowled well and took 4 wickets, Sarmad Anwar, Fahad Masood and Kamran Hussain took two wickets each.
Sarmad Anwar is another bowler who impressed me has a very fluent run up, a tall action, good pace and a disciplined line and length looks more in the mold of English bowlers.
Habib Bank strangely sent a nightwatchman Kamran Hussain as an opener, probably Imran Farhat declined to open he must not be feeling confident to survive the 7 remaining overs.
Kamran Hussain got a life when umpire Riaz declined an Lbw appeal which appeared to be plumb but he got out in the fourth over trying to slash Anwar Ali above slips but Faisal Iqbal took a blinder probably the best catch I have seen by a Pakistani player in the slips.
Imran Farhat survived the remaining overs he got several edges but either they were away from the fielder or dropped short in front of slips.
The match is still evenly balanced.
Maaz
He has been performing consistently on the domestic scene for the last five six years but I don;t know why we relied so heavily on Kaneria and Ajmal.
Aizaz Cheema impressed me a lot in the 2009 RBS t20′s I thought he would become our own James Anderson but this year the two tournaments I watched he didn’t impressed me that much certainly he lost some pace and his slower ball was not as effective as it was the year before. Aizaz and Junaid are the best we have in the reserves, Sooner or later they will get a break.
Unchanged line up needed for the following match.
You were right about Rehman by the way. Certainly is a good left arm orthodox spinner. I held doubts about him, but he has proved me wrong which is good to see.
Do check over at BBK, having complied some interesting stats regarding Pakistan’s latest Test form and perhaps you might want to add a few points of your own in regards to Misbah’s captaincy etc
By the way Wasim, make sure you catch some coverage of the Quaid E Azam Trophy final and give me your take on Aizaz Cheema. Has been playing league cricket in the UK for many years with admirable success. I reckon he is the greatest bowler in Pakistan that has not played international cricket yet. Really hope they select a surprise package in the World Cup. He is a front line candidate for me. He wants it badly too. Has had a phenomenal first class season. I don’t know what more he can do to make it to the top?
Pakistan pulled a surprise 10 wicket victory in the first test. The Kiwis just ran out of gas and folded too easily in their fourth innings giving Pakistan an easy victory.
Pakistan cricket fans should be delighted to see that there are a few teams in Test cricket who can play even worse than them, New Zealand’s poor run in International cricket continues.
They lost the match exactly from the time when they decided to prepare a slow and flat track.
Pakistan on their last visit were a much heavier side, but they managed to draw the series, this time the team appears light weight on paper and may not include all super stars but those in the team are hardworking players and want to win matches for the country.
Asad Shafiq proved his worth once again… He was under a lot of pressure as he replaced Umar Akmal but he played a gritty innings yesterday that gave Pakistan the upper hand.
It wouldn’t be fair if Misbah is not praised here, I doubted his decision to field first but I guess he made the right choice and he was also criticized by a lot of people for batting slowly but he proved everyone wrong by playing a captains knock/ He truly lead from the front, didn’t made many mistakes in the field either.
Pakistan should make sure that they win at Wellington and win the series.
Stani
Cook was tormented by Asif and Aamer and I was thinking why England hasn’t dropped him but I guess they had confidence in him, this also shows that we lost the best two pacers in the world.
When we could have won matches we deliberately chose not to now this team is actually a minnow but if you look at the performance so far they have done well, drawing with SA and hopefully they won’t lose this series, In ODi’s as long as Afridi is there don’t expect to win anything.
Guptill is a good player.
The first two days game was like as if two starved wrestlers trying to throw punches on each other and both fainted after landing a few. I am disappointed with YK and Hafeez I thought this wicket will suit them and they will score big runs. I think Misbah and Shafiq played very sensibly and helped Pakistan come out of the hole, now it’s yet to be seen if they score big centuries and get Pakistan a substantial lead or just get out in the first session.
Despite England playing some good stuff, Australia did make them look good. This early confidence just snow-balled and in the end, it was obvious there was only going to be one winner. They were just on such a high.
How they let Cook be so successful on the tour is staggering though Wasim. The guy has technical flaws that can easily be taken advantage of but a poor Aussie attack couldn’t. Bring one in through the gate to the guy early and he’s gone.
“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”
Not holding back are you!
I think the side we went in with was a very good one from what we had. What you think? Why the hell does Guptill always seem to do well against us?