First of all bowling beamers is just abut the most disrespectful and dangerous thing a fast bowler can do. Actually no, its the second most disrespectful thing, the most disrespectful...not saying sorry after bowling a beamer. Waqar was dealt in exactly the right way, although it could have killed the batsman or atleast done severe harm, and maybe a suspension shouldnt be out of the question too.
A few observations otherwise (now that I finally get to see a few matches)...
-I like afridi's inclusion in the side, but he was misused in both batting and bowling. Especially bowling. I was convinced that afridi will get Symonds out when I saw symonds cutting the ball regularly on afridi. With afridi' s deliveries drifting in at fast speed, and with that fast change of pace, I thought it was a matter of time before symonds is cramped for room abd bowled. Didnt happen. The trend was simple...half volleys, which were driven in the cover/extra cover/mid off region, or short deliveries cut thru the point region (infront of point or backward of point, Symonds had scored 74 runs when he was little over 100). Just horrible. Whaever happend to the change of pace, and bowling at good length. Someone (wasim/waqar/rashid) should have pointed that out.
- in batting I really am annoyed when afridi tries to take it easy and be cautious. then its just a matter of time before he gets out. but unfortunately the whole nation keps telling him that he shold be more careful in his approach. Its simple he cannot do it, the chances of getting out early if he does this are 100%. what he should be doing is, maybe after facing one ball, he should hold the bat hard, look at the ball carefully, and whack it as hard as possible. even on mcgrath he would have a decent chance of clearing the infield, or have the ball go over the slips and keeper. if he can hit a couple of sixes or fours, that will set the tone, and have both bowlers check their line and especially length, i.e. will start bowling short. and that is the only way afridi can succeede. If they expect him to play cautiously then may as well not send him, atleast not opening anyways, becasue there is no way he can survive the first ten overs in SA.
-afridi's bowling was better thought out partly, because pakistan were thinking about speeding up their bowling rate by that time, and it didnt matter what he bowled as long as he finished his overs quickly. That brings me to another point...I love rashid ltif, he is clearly better in keeping and batting then moin, miles ahead in keeping especially, but one intangibel with moin was, he got everyone moving fast between overs, and i am just speculating but i think he was the guy responsible to look over the over rate. rashid sucks in this aspect. and its quite important.
-where the hell is ian chappell? i mean its the firggin world cup and the best commentator in the world is missing. well imran is missing too, so there is another awesome commentator missing too. and aamir sohail is in the commentary box, please get this man out of there. I havent heard healy much before, but he is a pleasant surprise in the commentary box.
-one silly observation, pakistan almost always do well in big tournaments (not only cricket but other sports too) when they struggle in the beginning (WC92, hockey Olympics 84, the two biggest tourneys pak have won in the last twenty years), and suck if they peak early (WC87), so from that aspect atleast they are well on their way to winning the cup
