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2-0; now for the real Test
By Tabrez Janjua for Stani Army in Pakistan Cricket
61 ViewsHaving found their mojo again, Pakistan must now switch their attention to the form of the game that they’ve underachieved in the most, Test Cricket. We knew we were good at Twenty20, we knew we would give Australia a game, so though we can take some confidence from the 2-0 series win into the Tests, it is important that the players to make the mental and technical switch to the longer form.
The batting concerns were highlighted previously and it was good to see that more batsmen chipped in today although no one went on and accelerated to a 50+ score. The worry is that these batting frailties will be highlighted even more so in the Test matches, with Pakistan, unlike Australia, going in to the Tests with a very similar line-up to their Twenty20 side.
The final word must go to Michael Clarke for the manner in which he held himself together after Aamer collided with him upon his dismissal. It would have been very easy for Clarke to make more of it but he accepted Aamer’s apology and carried on walking. Had it been someone like Watson, or even Tait, who seemed to couple the F-word with every word that came out of his mouth today, then the situation may have got out of hand. Whilst we’re on this subject, there was no need for Tait to start swearing when Salman Butt pulled out of his stance during one of Tait’s deliveries. You may have realised that we do enjoy it on Stani Army when the spirit of cricket is adhered to, and it goes some way to explaining why I’m always on Shane Watson’s back. Didn’t Watson do well today by the way?!
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July 6th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Now I feel so spoiled.
But maybe Clarkey was just a good lad because his T20 batting and captaincy is under a lot of scrutiny already?
And we all bloggers seem to love hating Watson.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:05 pm
@sunny –
Hey! No one can hate Watson more than me! Get your own person to hate!
I think Clarke is a cool dude anyway. The Husseys are gentlemen too but my favourite Aussie is the other Clark, Stuart. I do like his manner. They’ve actually given him the nick name of Sarfraz after Sarfraz Nawaz. He’s a class bowler who’s been under-used by the Australians.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:13 pm
But who can be hated, loathed and disgusted more than Watson? Swann probably? But no, he belongs to Sid already.
I agree about Stuart Clark, was an impressive bowler but now seems to have vanished completely.
And I don’t like nor hate the other Clarkey, the Husseys are fine with me though.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
@sunny –
Oh no no no! Ask Sid, Swanny is mine too! (rephrase?) Actually, ask Nightwatchgirl too and she will back me up that I was the first to hate Swann…. and his punchable face.
In fact, my list of players I dislike is quite an exhaustive one. It includes the likes of Harbhajan, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Bottomside, Haddin, Mohammad Asif, Stuart Broad etc etc. They have all brought the game into disrepute.
July 7th, 2010 at 10:25 am
This is so bloody unfair! All the guys I hate as well!
Wait, lemme hate Shoaib Akhtar, Punter, Figjam and Yuvi then
We should be having a bloggers’ top punchpeople list soon, you know.
July 7th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Does the Nightwatchgirl even exist?
Yes, the Swann hate club has been around for a while now. I may not have been the first, but I challenge any of you to hate him more than me. You know I dislike any spinner who is not My lord.
July 7th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
@sunny –
Figjam? Tell me, I want to hate….
You do know that Lalit Modi is the leader of the gang?
July 7th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Figjam is KP, a few Saffers call him by that name and it suits him well
Oh sure I do, there ain’t a gang in cricket where Modi isn’t involved in; he’s the real evil master. Those spectacles are just a deluding disguise.
July 7th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
@Sid –
I don’t blame you for asking that Sid. Many have wondered the same thing, is Nightmaregirl actually real? Well, I can tell you she is. I’ve been one of the few lucky enough to have seen her in real life. I’ve sworn not to reveal her true identity….she’s threatened me with a Chinese burn.
I’m up for the hate Swan challenge. How much do you hate him Sid? I hate him THIS much….from here, all the way to here. I hate him so much that I almost like him. There, beat that.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Congratulations TJ
What a monumental achievement from the national side, considering what had gone on over the last 8 months or so. Proud to be Pakistani as they say! But this Shahzaib Hassan Khan is a 3nd 11 club player at its best!
Yes I agree, now comes the “proper” cricket. Hopefully, we can consolidate on our winning start, so far so good and I am very happy for that very reason.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:22 am
@Maaaaz –
Congratulations to you Maz. Yes, it is an achievement considering everything but they must get over it now, put it in it’s T20 context and move on.
I think you’re being a little harsh on Shahzaib. Because of his rash shots, he hasn’t stayed in long enough to show what he can do. It’s like in boxing. Any boxer can get knocked out with one punch like Amer Khan did, but that only means they didn’t get the chance to show how good a fighter they are rather than showing that they are a bad one. I think he needs to be persisted with. They’ve gone with him so they should stick with their choice and get a good look at him in different scenarios, scenarios he has yet to get himself into because of those two silly shots.
He’s played six T20 internationals and though he’s had three ducks, we must remember that four have been world cup games. He has gotten decent starts of 35, 23 and 19, scores which amount to a considerable percentage of the total in the innings of a T20 game. I don’t think we know enough about him to give up on him. So lets play him and find out. If not, we can always go back to Imran Nazir.
July 8th, 2010 at 3:15 am
Maaz
I agree with Stani regarding Shahzaib he has all the shots in his repertoire only he has to control his nerves and improve on his shot selection, I think many times youngsters get a little bit nervy I think Afridi is bold enough to take another chance with him.
The T20 Victory has dented the confidence of Aussies even though the test series will be an entirely different ball game but if our batting clicked we will have a very entertaining and close test series.
Hopefully they will play both Umar Amin and Azhar Ali and stay away from Imran Farhat and Yasir Hameed. Winning this series is important but not more important than to test and groom young players before the world cup.
Our bowling is quite strong but a lot will depend on the form of Asif and Kaneria. Australia hasn’t won a test series in England since 2001 and their confidence is already dented, the team will have to show the same spirit they displayed in the t20 series and we might be able to surprise the world.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
@Wasim –
I hope Afridi does take another chance with Shahzaib. I think it’s pointless dropping him. They should let him come in at number three in the next international, or they should have let him play in the tour game against Leicestershire to get some confidence even though it’s not a T20. They’ve gone in with the team:
Salman Butt*, Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Yasir Hameed, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Zulqarnain Haider†, Tanvir Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Asif.
They could have easily rested Malik and just given Shahzaib a bat.
They’ve gone with Farhat, Ali, Amin and Hameed in the tour game Wasim. Playing for their places perhaps?
I think the Aussies will be a different animal under Ponting. The longer format will give us more thinking time and the nerves and self-doubt of what has happened in the recent past against the Aussies may start to creep in.
July 8th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Not able to get the depleted side of a county team? with still a good attack, Aamer, Tanvir, Wahab, Ajmal. Not good and if they batted for half of the next day when will Pakistan get some batting practice?
On the other side Aussies take a good toll of county side, two centuries and a score near 5 runs per over.
And about that hate list can we add, Srisanth and Gambhir in it? By the way I like Swaan (don’t kill me please!)
July 8th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
@Mudassar @ CricketVibe –
Yes, Srisanth and Gambhir are right at the top!
As for the tour game, the economies are ok but the lack of wickets is a worry. Maybe it’s just the pitch. Hopefully they’ll do a deal and declare to allow Pakistan the full day to bat. I’m sure an English county will allow us that pleasure especially as we’re taking on the Australians.
July 8th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Hey you Pakistan fans,
You are missing the obvious thing that you will need to do to win.
Hold your effing and blinding catches. Please. I want to see if these Aussie batsmen are anything at all if the other team has a decent attack which is backed up by proper international class catching skills. Am I asking too much?
July 8th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
@lou –
What is this ‘catches’ thing you talk of Lou?
July 9th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
I agree with Lou, Pakistan needs to do their basics right, be attentive in the field and try not to drop any catches(specially kamran akmal) …. if we held onto the catches we will be able to restrict aussies around 300, then in the batting we need to do basics right as there is no special bowler in australian lineup (except for bollinger) to be afraid of, they should only play high percentage shots and try Azhar and Umer in the team instead of Imran Farhat and Yasir Hameed. My squad will be Salman, Azhar, Umer Amin, Umer Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Afridi, Kamran, Aamir, Umer, Asif and 11th can be one of the two Saeed/Kaneria.
@Stani, Shahzaib is not part of the test squad so he cant be tried in this game, and this side match is max 100 overs/inning for a team
….. although Australian bowling has fared worse then Pakistan in their side game 
…. I guess it looks like a series between Pakistan (mediocre batting and better then average bowling attack) against Australians (high class batting but mediocre bowling attack), but Australians do have an edge over Pakistan because of their experience and batting lineup.
July 9th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
@Roamer –
A brave team you’ve selected but they may as well go for it.
I think the issue of our basic errors stems from a cultural thing. They’re unprofessional, lazy, and have been brought up on the notion that fielding is boring. The kid in the street, in the park, he just doesn’t want to field. That’s why, being the totalitarian dictator I am, I would bring in fines for every dropped catch….or a public lashing
Yes Roamer, I understand that but surely nothing is stopping them playing him in a tour game no? Or is it a regulation? The way I see it is the guy has had two innings and has got bat on the ball once and has been out twice. Right now he must be feeling like the brown stuff. Bit of time out there would have done him good.
Yes, I think our bowling strength and their batting strength evens it up. But, then their fielding and mental strength and will to win swings it in their favour.
July 9th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
You know what, I seriously think we should be starting this bloggers’ hate list and publish it. There are plenty of guys we unanimously agree to be unbearable, eg Swann, Watson etc. In that way, we all will feel satisfied and of course we can keep making additions. Oh, and we have to add Bhajji as well.
July 9th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
@sunny –
Like father like son!
I actually did begin one a while back…called it a naughty boy’s hall of fame. I was going to post about them one by one but haven’t quite hot a round to it. I did start Broad and his Daddy’s one
July 9th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
No, but if we summon some bloggers together, I’m sure the idea will work. See, there’s another, most people loathe Stuey and his Daddy as well.
Everyone has got to write about his least favourite cricketer, with strong feelings of disgust involved the articles might actually turn into something good, hehe.
July 9th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
@sunny –
Or a lawsuit!