2nd Test: Australia v Pakistan at Headingley, Jul 21-25, 2010
- Thread starter Hyde
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80-1 is still not bad. It is great considering the match situation so far. Let's hope the middle order finally lives up to the expectations.
After the humiliation, Aussies will be pretty dangerous and going for a win by stretching the limits of legality. Pakistan need to make sure they don't relax and give them even a whiff of a chance.
After the humiliation, Aussies will be pretty dangerous and going for a win by stretching the limits of legality. Pakistan need to make sure they don't relax and give them even a whiff of a chance.
Hasnain2009
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Farhat baji gone 
Evil Flare
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Pakistan 148/3 (39.0 ov)
Pakistani cricket may have taken a beating over the last few years but their ability to put out a genuinely world-class pace attack in any circumstance remains unaffected. They've lost their last four Tests and have won only one of their last 18; their last series win came back in November 2006 but much of the blame can be put on a fragile batting line-up and poor catching.
But since last year, with the emergence of Mohammad Aamer and the return of Mohammad Asif combined with Umar Gul at first change, they have regularly been able to create openings in most Tests they have played. Though they've played only five Tests together so far, the trio has picked up 59 of the 83 wickets to have fallen in those games; at Lord's last week they took 15 of the 20 wickets.
Now they head to Headingley to try and prevent a 14th successive Test loss to Australia, a bilateral dominance unmatched in modern Test cricket. Though the ground is no longer the swing haven it was in the 80s, it still offers help to pace bowlers and much of Pakistan's hopes of avoiding a whitewash lie with the three.
Michael Holding, the former fast bowling great, was commentating during the first Test and was impressed by what he saw, in particular of the youngest of the three, Aamer. "The impressive thing about Aamer is the fact that at 18, he has the ability to move the ball in both directions without any noticeable change in action or delivery, yet has the control to adjust so easily to left- and right-handed batsmen," Holding told Cricinfo.
Aamer picked up four wickets in the first innings, but was more erratic in the second, when he went wicketless. "The pace that he generates is good and consistent," said Holding. "He is still a bit inexperienced as evidenced by his performance in the second innings when he started to experiment too much when he didn't pick up early wickets but time will cure that." Time is something Asif has served. Since his comeback to international cricket, following a virtual two-year absence on disciplinary grounds, Asif has picked up from almost precisely where he left off: he had 51 wickets in 11 Test at 23.13 until October 2007 and since then he has picked up 38 in 7 at 23.31. The strike-rates are marginally higher now, but the form has seen him shoot up to second place in the ICC rankings.
Holding is impressed though he says the regular comparisons between Asif's style and Glenn McGrath are misplaced. "Asif has done well and in this Test [Lord's] and has been more consistent over both innings because he has been around a bit longer and has more experience," Holding said. "He has enough pace when he puts it in to be disconcerting and has very good control.
"I wouldn't compare him with McGrath as I think there have been too many comparisons being made just because a bowler bowls medium pace and has good control. McGrath was taller and so able to get more bounce than most from closer to the batsman which makes a huge difference."
Gul's second-innings performance of 4-61 was arguably the most significant of the three for he has struggled to realign his strategy to Tests since becoming the game's leading Twenty20 fast bowler. Coach Waqar Younis highlighted a chink in the run-up during the Tests in Australia and Gul struggled at times with it during Lord's, bowling 12 no-balls in all. But he periodically relocated the lengths that made him such a Test prospect in his early years and the bounce and seam movement he generated from that troubled Australia, never more than in a fine second evening spell.
Holding warned, however, of the continuing impact the shortest form of the game will have on fast bowlers, a warning seconded by Imran Khan at the MCC's Cowdrey lecture. "I've always thought Gul was a good prospect. I don't watch that [Twenty20] format but it is obvious these days that fast bowlers will not last very long because of the amount of cricket they're being asked to play.
"They become medium-pacers at an early age, long before fast bowlers of the past because they just can't physically manage the workload. There is no way of managing the fast bowlers these days. It's just a fact that the amount of cricket they are being asked to play, they cannot last. Very soon, no one will bowl fast, they will all bowl at 80 odd miles an hour and try and last for a decade if possible."
Pakistan 148/3 (39.0 ov)
Pakistani cricket may have taken a beating over the last few years but their ability to put out a genuinely world-class pace attack in any circumstance remains unaffected. They've lost their last four Tests and have won only one of their last 18; their last series win came back in November 2006 but much of the blame can be put on a fragile batting line-up and poor catching.
But since last year, with the emergence of Mohammad Aamer and the return of Mohammad Asif combined with Umar Gul at first change, they have regularly been able to create openings in most Tests they have played. Though they've played only five Tests together so far, the trio has picked up 59 of the 83 wickets to have fallen in those games; at Lord's last week they took 15 of the 20 wickets.
Now they head to Headingley to try and prevent a 14th successive Test loss to Australia, a bilateral dominance unmatched in modern Test cricket. Though the ground is no longer the swing haven it was in the 80s, it still offers help to pace bowlers and much of Pakistan's hopes of avoiding a whitewash lie with the three.
Michael Holding, the former fast bowling great, was commentating during the first Test and was impressed by what he saw, in particular of the youngest of the three, Aamer. "The impressive thing about Aamer is the fact that at 18, he has the ability to move the ball in both directions without any noticeable change in action or delivery, yet has the control to adjust so easily to left- and right-handed batsmen," Holding told Cricinfo.
Aamer picked up four wickets in the first innings, but was more erratic in the second, when he went wicketless. "The pace that he generates is good and consistent," said Holding. "He is still a bit inexperienced as evidenced by his performance in the second innings when he started to experiment too much when he didn't pick up early wickets but time will cure that." Time is something Asif has served. Since his comeback to international cricket, following a virtual two-year absence on disciplinary grounds, Asif has picked up from almost precisely where he left off: he had 51 wickets in 11 Test at 23.13 until October 2007 and since then he has picked up 38 in 7 at 23.31. The strike-rates are marginally higher now, but the form has seen him shoot up to second place in the ICC rankings.
Holding is impressed though he says the regular comparisons between Asif's style and Glenn McGrath are misplaced. "Asif has done well and in this Test [Lord's] and has been more consistent over both innings because he has been around a bit longer and has more experience," Holding said. "He has enough pace when he puts it in to be disconcerting and has very good control.
"I wouldn't compare him with McGrath as I think there have been too many comparisons being made just because a bowler bowls medium pace and has good control. McGrath was taller and so able to get more bounce than most from closer to the batsman which makes a huge difference."
Gul's second-innings performance of 4-61 was arguably the most significant of the three for he has struggled to realign his strategy to Tests since becoming the game's leading Twenty20 fast bowler. Coach Waqar Younis highlighted a chink in the run-up during the Tests in Australia and Gul struggled at times with it during Lord's, bowling 12 no-balls in all. But he periodically relocated the lengths that made him such a Test prospect in his early years and the bounce and seam movement he generated from that troubled Australia, never more than in a fine second evening spell.
Holding warned, however, of the continuing impact the shortest form of the game will have on fast bowlers, a warning seconded by Imran Khan at the MCC's Cowdrey lecture. "I've always thought Gul was a good prospect. I don't watch that [Twenty20] format but it is obvious these days that fast bowlers will not last very long because of the amount of cricket they're being asked to play.
"They become medium-pacers at an early age, long before fast bowlers of the past because they just can't physically manage the workload. There is no way of managing the fast bowlers these days. It's just a fact that the amount of cricket they are being asked to play, they cannot last. Very soon, no one will bowl fast, they will all bowl at 80 odd miles an hour and try and last for a decade if possible."
Super Falcon
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well the big probleum with these youngsters they got stuck on the crease and do not rotate the strike keep blocking the bowler bowler which is not threatnening is thretning to them thats why i always been in favour to younis khan and yousuf who dont let anyone get up against them they not only stuck on crease but also make runs runs in test matter not the time these days yes get stuck on crease but dont play too many dot bowls if u cant hit fours hit the bowl in gap for single and double this umer amin yesterday keep playing dot bowls which is big matter i like the way umer aklmal started dont let spinner get rythem straight way let him know where he belong to in stands hope umer amin do not play too many dot bowls if he can scre 2 runs in over it will be fine atleast 50 runs partnership has to be in their minds for first step to big total they keeo small targets they wil achieve more so hope umer amin do not make fool runs matter these days intest not the time these days if u play full 5 days their are 100 percent chance u get result so hope they make runs which make pakistan win not the time which make us lost
EgO Boy
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In the past few year's Pakistan has mastered the art of loosing from winning positions, so iam not counting my chicken's yet.
Even if they get the target of 150 in last inning to chase, they will make a hash of it.
I have no faith in this team. I wont see the match untill its over, coz i cant go through torture again and again.
I will see highlight's, IF PAKISTAN WIN'S.
Even if they get the target of 150 in last inning to chase, they will make a hash of it.
I have no faith in this team. I wont see the match untill its over, coz i cant go through torture again and again.
I will see highlight's, IF PAKISTAN WIN'S.
