• Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Pakistan/Australia possibly the most explosive clash of the tournament

Gotchya

State Vice-Captain

Courtesy Cricinfo.com :

"Champions ripe for the picking say Pakistan
Will Swanton - 10 February 2003


JOHANNESBURG, Feb 10 AAP - Pakistan believes Australia is ripe for the picking in tomorrow's potentially explosive World Cup cricket match at the Wanderers because of a batting lineup missing Michael Bevan and Darren Lehmann.Pakistan coach Richard Pybus claimed his Jekyll-and-Hyde side was bubbling with confidence and keen to make a statement as Australia prepared to tackle Pakistan's potent pace attack with only five specialist batsmen.

"Our boys are looking forward to this match because they are sure they have a great opportunity," said Pybus tonight.

"There is a lot of history between the two countries and there are a couple of scores to settle. If we take early wickets it will place enormous pressure on them because of the situation with Lehmann and Michael Bevan. The key for Australia is the top order and we will be going hard at them with our fast bowlers.Our focus is going to be on that top order and it is going to be a fascinating battle. "

"Both teams like to play it tough. Australia know about us. They know that when we are hot we are very hot, when we hit our straps we can take out anybody."

Australia's top six became a top five when Bevan (groin) failed a fitness test, joining Lehmann (suspended) on the sidelines. Australia only selected one reserve batsman, Jimmy Maher, so the Cup favourites were left a specialist batsman short for the clash against Pakistan's fast-bowling royalty: Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. Pybus said Maher and Australia's latest allrounder, Brad Hogg, were unproven at World Cup and would be tested.

"It (World Cup) is a totally different stage," he said. "I've seen a little bit of Jimmy - there is a lot of responsibility on him now. He's a linchpin there in that middle order and we will be putting a little bit of pressure on him.Brad Hogg, he's been doing well, he's a competitive sort of player, but it's always interesting to see how players accommodate themselves in big tournaments like this."

Shoaib, Waqar and wicketkeepr Rashid Latif have done their best in the lead-up to ruffle Australian feathers. Shoaib vowed to dismiss Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting, and claimed Brett Lee was no match-winner.Waqar claimed Australia was panicking about having to play Pakistan and then Rashid said the defending champions had dropped the trophy by leaving Test skipper Steve Waugh at home.

But Australian skipper Ponting wasn't buying into a pre-match war of words. "He can say whatever he likes," Ponting said of Waqar.

"I'm not too worried about whatever they say. "We haven't spoken about it and we won't speak about it.As soon as we start worrying about what they're talking about we're taking our eye off what we have to do.We've been in South Africa just going about our business. We've had our fair share of success against them in the past and I hope that doesn't change. We've got three of the best fast bowlers in the world, the best leg spinner in the world and a bloke who has done particularly well in the last few games bowling left arm wrist spin."

"Our bowling line-up is good and we're pretty sure our batting line-up can do the job".Ponting admitted Shoaib, timed at a world record 161kph in a one-dayer against New Zealand last year, would be a handful."They seem to get the ball to swing quicker than most other sides," Ponting said.

"You just have to have a smaller back lift and eliminate your big shots and try and get through those dangerous spells.As we've seen in one-day cricket and Test cricket he (Shoaib) can still take three or four or five wickets in a hurry and destroy your innings so you've just got to get through those tough periods."

"We know he's a very dangerous bowler ... but most of our guys have had success against him and have got game plans worked out to combat his speed."

Wasim, 37, who has 490 one-day international wickets, is playing his fifth and last World Cup and commands respect. "I have always enjoyed taking on challenges," he said. "Australia has always been a very competitive team and I always enjoy playing and performing against them. I just can't wait for Tuesday's game and although it would not be a grudge match, we would certainly like to start the tournament on a winning note.

"We need to start with a bang ... we are ambitious and motivated enough to win the tournament."

Ponting said the first hour would be crucial.

"If you let them get away early they're a very good side, very good front runners."

Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist (vc), Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Jimmy Maher, Brad Hogg, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds, Ian Harvey, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Andy Bichel.

Pakistan (from): Waqar Younis (c), Shahid Afridi, Saeed Anwar, Saleem Elahi, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Rashid Latif, Azhar Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Abdur Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Taufeeq Umar, Wasim Akram, Yousuf Youhana.

© 2003 AAP Newswire
"


I must admitt, I haven't seen the Pakistani's especially Waqar rant that much but what the heck ? just makes for a good build up.
 
Last edited:

Gotchya

State Vice-Captain
Who will open for Pakistan ?
Candidates :

Taufeeq
Elahi
Anwar
Afridi


Anwar is a stll a little suspect after that bruise he got from shoaib. But it wont make too much sense of including him in the squad and then leaving him out against the aussies. If Anwar was fit I would put him and Afridi in.
 

marc71178

Eyes not spreadsheets
Anwar is injured.

I guess Symonds will bat 6, then Harvey / Hogg / Lee / Gillespie / McGrath?
 

Gotchya

State Vice-Captain
So I have read. I guess it will be Elahi and Afridi probably. Australia have a longish tail. But the top order has some quality players. Should be a good match between bat and ball.
 

V Reddy

International Debutant
But i think it will be a one sided one. Also looking forward to how Akhtar performs. Pak will mostly depend on him in the bowling.
 

Gotchya

State Vice-Captain
vishnureddy said:
But i think it will be a one sided one. Also looking forward to how Akhtar performs. Pak will mostly depend on him in the bowling.
If Pakistan ucle up it will be one sided, but who knows really ?
 

The Argonaut

State Vice-Captain
This shapes up to be a great match. The Pakistani batsmen have to stand up and be counted for them to have any chance regardless of how well the bowlers perform. The Aussies are ripe for the picking without Bevan and Lehmann so if Pakistan can't beat them now maybe they never will.

There's a lot of pressure on all the players. Australia will want to beat both Pakistan and India as it may make their decision to go to Zimbabwe easier.

I think Australia will win but it will be close.
 

Mr Mxyzptlk

Request Your Custom Title Now!
I really don't think it will be close. I'm betting on Australia rather easily. Pakistan is nowhere near where they used to be and Inzamam seems in very poor form.

Australia is just so good right now.....I don't know if they can be beaten!
 

Eclipse

International Debutant
As an Australian I must say I am a little worried about Shoaib he is capabale of riping out any top order quickly if he gets it right.

On the other side if he lets our top order get settled he could be punnished because our batsman love to take on quick bowlers and have the best techineque in the world at doing so.

It will in the end come down to how well pakistan bowl because I think if Australia can post a decent score then Pakistan will really strugle.
 

yohanna

Banned
The Argonaut said:
The Aussies are ripe for the picking without Bevan and Lehmann so if Pakistan can't beat them now maybe they never will.

Thats the funny thing about Pakistan, they might go down to a depleted Aussie side tomorrow yet will beat a full fledge Aussie team some other day
 

yohanna

Banned
Well guys i'm sorry to say that this is probably going to be a one sided match and not an explosive one. Pakistani batsmen have been in poor form and would probably fare very poorly tomorrow.
And to think that Afridi is again going to open tomorrow, Hayden has recently said that Australia are almost certainly going to get Afridi out cheaply , i hope Afridi realises just how much respect does he gets from his oponents!
 

Eclipse

International Debutant
Afridi cant and never will make runs against Australia or at least it looks that way.

His techneque is just to poor.
 

Top_Cat

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Warnie's out after taking a banned substance. Well if that didn't put the cat amongst the pidgeons for this match, I don't know what would!
 

Neil Pickup

Cricket Web Moderator
Well, Wasim's shot out the top order, and it's down to Ricky Ponting to hold the middle order together. 100-4.
 

Cloete

International Captain
symonds just got his 3rd ODI 50 off 60 balls. aus r 5-170 after the loss of punter. hogg seems to be in gr8 batting from however.
 

Neil Pickup

Cricket Web Moderator
Symonds (78* off 73) has just taken 16 off one Afridi over...

200/5 with 14.3 overs left, this partnership has 54 off 6 overs.
 

Top_Cat

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Well to all the naysayers about the selection of Symonds I say, eat your words! You go Symonds!!!

And Waqar has just bowled two beamers at Symonds! Waqar has been pulled out of the attack mid-over for that. Symonds looked like he was ready to thump him. So would I..........

I sure Waqars beamers were NOT deliberate but the rules donṫ allow for intent; only one beamer and then a final warning. After the second, youŕe dragged and good on Shep for having the guts to do that.

Gee Symonds is looking VERY dangerous..............Just smacked a six off Wasim in the last over of the innings over mid-on.
 

Top