***Official*** Australia vs Pakistan in UAE

[Xuhaib]

consolation win but nothing to worry the team was rusty its a new captain if they can sort out the batting order and get some guys back they can be force once more.

+ve's
Afridi's form
Shezad looks promising though still a lot of work needs to be done
Akmal's keeping
Ajmal

-ve's
Younis as captain should not bat 3
Akhter is done he just cant last a game
Tanvir & Arafat were not able to fill Razzaq's role.

 

[Xuhaib]

Does anybody understand a word when Younis Khan speaks?

 

[aussie]

consolation win but nothing to worry the team was rusty its a new captain if they can sort out the batting order and get some guys back they can be force once more.

+ve's
Afridi's form
Shezad looks promising though still a lot of work needs to be done
Akmal's keeping
Ajmal

-ve's
Younis as captain should not bat 3
Akhter is done he just cant last a game
Tanvir & Arafat were not able to fill Razzaq's role.

Can't agree that Akhtar is done. His spell in the last game with the new ball was very dangerous. Just needs more cricket to get himself back in order i'd say. Gotta give Watson & Haddin some credit on the way the handled him too.

Were Tanvir & Arafat really expected to fill Razzaq's role though? I always saw them as bowlers who had decent enough batting ability.

 

[nightprowler10]

Akmal gets 500k for his ton in a lost series.

 

[inbox24]

Scoring too slowing guys, 250 totals don't win games unless you bowl well.

 

[howardj]

How stoopid is it that the guys have to hang around for another whole five days to play a one-off T20 match! They've been over there for three months, but have to hang around all week for just 40 more overs.

 

[Burgey]

Can't agree that Akhtar is done. His spell in the last game with the new ball was very dangerous. Just needs more cricket to get himself back in order i'd say. Gotta give Watson & Haddin some credit on the way the handled him too.

Were Tanvir & Arafat really expected to fill Razzaq's role though? I always saw them as bowlers who had decent enough batting ability.

Needs to lose7-10 kgs imo, given his age now. He's still got it - you can tell, but with injuries etc, he needs to be giving himself maximum chance to stay on the park. Carrying an extra sack of spuds around doesn't help.

 

[howardj]

Watto and Horrie to the fore again!

 

[Jono]

Dead rubber or not, Aust should have scored 30 runs more.

 

[Burgey]

Dead rubber or not, Aust should have scored 30 runs more.

This.

 

[DaRick]

Dead rubber or not, Aust should have scored 30 runs more.

In the end, they should've scored that 275+ they were headed for after all.

Fine knocks by Akmal and Misbah, though, even if they came a bit too late.

 

[Noble One]

Shane Watson the leading run-scorer. If it meant staying injury free, would everyone be happy for him to focus solely on his batting? Been really impressive everytime he has opened the innings, displays a good range of shots, can play the quick cameo or the long innings.

His bowling is useful, but never going to be anything close to world class. I understand for team balance it is important to have him as the extra seamer, but his injury record is beyond a joke. I don't see it ever happening, seems to make these wonderful comebacks, release a media statement about how "my body is stronger than ever", then have it all fall apart within a couple of months.

 

[iamdavid]

Shane Watson the leading run-scorer. If it meant staying injury free, would everyone be happy for him to focus solely on his batting? Been really impressive everytime he has opened the innings, displays a good range of shots, can play the quick cameo or the long innings.

His bowling is useful, but never going to be anything close to world class. I understand for team balance it is important to have him as the extra seamer, but his injury record is beyond a joke. I don't see it ever happening, seems to make these wonderful comebacks, release a media statement about how "my body is stronger than ever", then have it all fall apart within a couple of months.

At the moment he needs his bowling to be selected in a full strength Australian test side though. You could make a pretty good case for his inclusion as a specialist bat in ODI's but not in test matches just yet, however once he cements his spot in the test side I can see him going the way of Steve Waugh and gradually being eased out of bowling duties to stop the injuries. First he just needs to stay fit long enough to nail down a spot in the test side.

It's a shame because his bowling has always had potential, he's got pretty good control and he's quick, he just generally hasn't moved the ball enough and his skiddy trajectory makes him very hittable at times. But batting is where it's at for him, he's the best batsman aged 27 or under in Australia at the moment.

 

[iamdavid]

Needs to lose7-10 kgs imo, given his age now. He's still got it - you can tell, but with injuries etc, he needs to be giving himself maximum chance to stay on the park. Carrying an extra sack of spuds around doesn't help.

Dosen't look to me like he's carrying a whole lot of fat on him though.....he's just very solid *cough*roids*cough*.

 

[Briony]

Pakistan batting finally clicks. Their fourth wicket partnership was scored at a much faster rate than our guys who were a bit pedestrian. That proved to be the difference.

 

[pasag]

Fantastic partnership between Akmal and Misbah, really played their shots and took control of the game away from us despite being in a poor state early. Would say the difference between the two sides in the final game was the ability of their spinners to strangle us in the middle. Even though we improved heaps in not falling apart at the first sight of spin, we still haven't been able to target it effectively. Little steps though

 

[TT Boy]

Pak taking the piss, Salman Butt playing in a 20/20? His strike-rate was about 50 in the ODI's and his strike-rate in 20/20's is 90 odd...

Seems like a right Mickey Mouse game, Aus playing guys who are not even going to the WC.

 

[alternative]

Hmmm either case who was the host with Greigy?

 

[Evermind]

Hmmm either case who was the host with Greigy?

Hoo boy. Exactly what I was wondering.

Anyway, what's with Younis not playing? He's been "rested"? How stupid does the PCB think the rest of the world is, to believe that?

 

[four_or_six]

The game is delayed because the Sheikh is late. How cool would it be that if you were late, they delayed a match for you?