1ST TEST: Australia v Pakistan MCG Dec 26-30 2009

[TheParraboy]

The Pakis look pretty average, Khan is a massive loss, someone like Razzaq or Rana Naved would have to be a better option than Rauf Mouth.

TBH I think they are missing Ahktar IMO...

Also Danish pulling out was a setback

 

[Meth]

The Pakis look pretty average, Khan is a massive loss, someone like Razzaq or Rana Naved would have to be a better option than Rauf Mouth.

I'll say it again, the Pakis losing Gul and Kineria before the match was a massive blow. It moved them from being a chance to cannon fodder.

The next three partnerships/sessions for the Pakistanis are absolutely vital- they need the Akmal brothers to pull one out of the bag really.

Yousuf is a long way past 2006, isn't he? That wicket from Siddle was a ripper, but Yousuf is due and Pakistan really needed a big score from him.

 

[JJ]

The Pakis look pretty average, Khan is a massive loss, someone like Razzaq or Rana Naved would have to be a better option than Rauf Mouth.

They are, they just drew a test series with us remember!!

Yousuf is still excellent, but not in the best form atm, they miss Younis. The Akmal brothers are outstanding, Aamer is a wonderful talent (I heard Mark Taykor raving on about their long tail starting at him, and how they were all #9 or worse - I wonder sometimes whether these cretins actually watch or read about cricket outside of when Aust plays - Aamer can bat, very well in fact, not with the power of Johnson, but at least that wekk I reckon).

Kaneria was a hige loss, and the non-selection of Gul was a surprise - with Asif (who is a fine bowler), Aamer, and Gul (who varies his pace a lot, but can reach mid 140's when he wants) they have a very good pace trio and Kaneria is one of the world's best spinners...

Batting is their problem, the openers are merely steady, and Asif Iqbal and Misbah Ul Haq are not good... at all

 

[Meth]

Aamer can bat, very well in fact

really?

I mean he took Mills and Vettori apart in an ODI, but I haven't seen anything else from him. I'd put him on par (or maybe slightly better than) Peter Siddle with the bat

 

[aussies1st]

I would say the commentators looked at the batting average and some how missed what he did to NZ in the ODI. He is basically like Southee, how much value do you put on that one special knock in comparison to his overall average.

 

[Twizzle]

how good were some of Yousuf's shots, the man is a pleasure to watch

good to see Notch tighten up on his line and length and not leak so many runs

 

[Ali's Choice]

We need to keep some perspective on this Pakistan team.

They are weak. They are probably weaker than the Windies. Were it not for rain on the 5th day in Napier, Pakistan would have lost their last test series to a very ordinary NZ. They can't field, bat inconsistently and rely on Kaneria to take their wickets. As soon as he was ruled out of this match, the game ceased to be a contest.

 

[JJ]

really?

I mean he took Mills and Vettori apart in an ODI, but I haven't seen anything else from him. I'd put him on par (or maybe slightly better than) Peter Siddle with the bat

yes, really (although the comparison with Johnson was wrong) - unusual technique - in the long run he'll be a better bat than Vettori. He played pretty well in the test series here, I thought. Anyway, don't agree at all that Pakistan's tail is any worse than Australia's, the difference is in the top 7, and the absence of Gul and Kaneria

Don't forget Mills and Vetorri have both recently been the world's # 1 odi bowler

 

[hineyrulz]

Hopefully we see the Akmal boys put on a few today otherwise this test will tournout a fizzer. But i thought we bowled much better than we have been epsecially Johnson.

 

[hineyrulz]

Akmal just smashed the crap out of Siddle.

 

[JJ]

He's a huge talent... actually felt sorry for Siddle, he was bowling well, in fact that seemed to be why Umar decided he had to go...

 

[hineyrulz]

Dissapointing dismissal, was proving great to watch. And Johnson does it again with that wide juicy one.

 

[JJ]

he's 19 and got carried away - bit he is a huge talent, bats without fear and obviously enjoys it - hopefully the Aussie crowds warm to him, he's great to watch

 

[hineyrulz]

he's 19 and got carried away - bit he is a huge talent, bats without fear and obviously enjoys it - hopefully the Aussie crowds warm to him, he's great to watch

You would definately hope so, he won me over after his debut 100 in the ODI's unreal knock.

 

[hineyrulz]

No slips Ponting does it again :roll:

 

[aqua_duck]

typical Victorian fielding from SIddle, missed an easy run out

 

[aqua_duck]

nice start from hauritz, 6 and 4, another great bowling change from Punter

 

[hineyrulz]

Misbah no respect either for Hauri :lol:

 

[Twizzle]

thats f**ked his figures

 

[hineyrulz]

Ponting drops a sitter :crazy: