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Australia v Pakistan | 2nd Test | Melbourne | Dec 26-30, 2016 | Pre-Match Thread

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TalentSpotterPk said:
For the last 1 year I have saying that fo Australia our 3rd fast bowler who should open the bowling should be either Asif or Ali or Waqas.

For Australia you either need sheer pace or you have to be tall and should be able to bowl consistent line and length keeping it tight.


If Mickey and Misbah did not have any confidence on Sohail & Imran than why did they and Inzamam pick them ?


Why 6'4 inch tall Waqas only played 2-3 Fc matches after being a top bowler in Grade 2 Cricket before QEA where Brighto Paints qualified for final because of him and PIA qualified for final because of Ali Imran ? Even in his last FC match of QEA this season Waqas took a tenfer.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/showthread.php?114855-Who-is-Waqas-Ahmed-from-Sialkot


Clearly lack of planning.
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For Australia, as anywhere else, you need skill. Asif, Philander, Hazelwood aren't pace demons.
 
Sharjeel needs to play next game under any circumstances. I would drop Azhar and bring him in. I know that two lefties opening would not be a wise move thus, I think Sarfraz should open next match. Agreed, this is not a time to experiment with the series mid-way but Sarfraz has previously been entrusted with this role in ODI's and come good and even has a ton opening in Aus.

But there's more to it than just this. Next match is Boxing Day test. The stadium will be packed. I don't think Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali have the confidence required to come good opening in front of a crowd of 50K people. Sharjeel and especially Sarfraz have the quality to take pressure. I feel like they're players who come good in pressure games. An example of this would be the Asia Cup final 2012 where Sarfraz played a vital knock when Pakistan was struggling even though he was half the player then that he is now.

Another important aspect of this would be that we've seen our top order is taking too much pressure, blocking too much and not playing the ball but the reputation of the bowler. The lower order and Sarfraz did good because they didn't have to take any pressure. They weren't blocking everything and playing the ball to its merit. Even Asad Shafiq did not block unnecessarily and that is why he played good. Sarfraz and Sharjeel are exactly those players. They play quick and even if they get a 50-60 run opening stand, it would be more than enough.

Not to forget, Sharjeel has already shown ability to play express pace first up and play it good vs England, so he may negate Starc. He also thrives on playing fast bowlers and that is what our batsmen have seemed to have an issue with. Sarfraz is basically the same, he is more comfortable IMO playing fast bowlers than most guys in the, except I don't know think he's as good AS Sharjeel at express fast bowling.

Azhar Ali can sit this one out like Yasir Shah did at Hamilton.
 
ExpressPacer said:
Sharjeel needs to play next game under any circumstances. I would drop Azhar and bring him in.
Azhar Ali can sit this one out like Yasir Shah did at Hamilton.
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....so yesterday's performance wasn't enough for Azhar to hold his place ?
 
mrmiz said:
....so yesterday's performance wasn't enough for Azhar to hold his place ?
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Look bro, I just want him to sit one out because IMO the scenario that I have proposed would be better for the team. This is how sports work, you play the player that is better suited to the next match. Also, not like I want him dropped. Just this match. Other than that, I would much rather have Younis sit out but he is indroppable right now and I think I want him to play so that he can fail fail in perhaps the most important Test of the (Aussie) Summer and finally be dropped.
 
lol dropping Azhar

Only change from the current available lot should be Sohail Khan in for Rahat adds variety in attack and depth in tail hopefully we can amass a big first inn. score to setup a game for Yasir Shah
 
New Yorker said:
For Australia, as anywhere else, you need skill. Asif, Philander, Hazelwood aren't pace demons.
Click to expand...


I agree. But the counter argument is that Asif does not have good record in Australia still I would take him because of his economical bowling plus nag of picking wicket of top batsman of opposing team.

Asif not having a good record in Aus could be because of him not being in his best form when he toured or not quick enough to trouble opposition on Aussie surfaces.

Ignoring overall stats he was excellent in Sydney Test. That is important.


Hazlewood is a yard quicker than Asif & Philander.
 
One week is a long time for a Pakistani player to injure himself in the nets. It would be nice to have a bowler with sohail's skills and Imran's stamina
 
Are people seriously wanting Salman Butt back? Read some posts above that Sharjeel/ Umar/ Kami/ etc should be called back. The problem is:

1) This team almost won you guys the most memorable chase in the history of the game! No two ways about it, the previous Pakistani teams of 1999, 2005, 2009 did way worse and got away with it.

2) If the said players were so good, why aren't they in the team at the first place? Also, whats the guarantee that they will perform all of a sudden without match practice that too in OZ land, which is arguably the toughest place fr Asian batsmen.
 
Sharjeel will perform in his debut test match , but after that fade away .


Imran nazir also had a debut fifty.

Sehwag had more brains than sharjeel. Pakistan openers get carried away easily , they lack match awareness.

Always at critical junctures Pakistan batsmen have thrown it away. Younis despite having so much experience ,played a stupid shot to get out. Unless this awareness comes , pakistan is going to loose close games.
 
Rizwan should replace Babar at 3. Nawaz should replace Sami, as an opener. Imran Khan should replace Rahat Ali.
 
Jan Sher said:
Rizwan should replace Babar at 3. Nawaz should replace Sami, as an opener. Imran Khan should replace Rahat Ali.
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Lol. What a clueless post dropping babar and opening with nawaz. We all know how much you hate babar you need to live with it he is going to play for us for the next 15 years.
 
Tridibans_16 said:
Are people seriously wanting Salman Butt back? Read some posts above that Sharjeel/ Umar/ Kami/ etc should be called back. The problem is:

1) This team almost won you guys the most memorable chase in the history of the game! No two ways about it, the previous Pakistani teams of 1999, 2005, 2009 did way worse and got away with it.

2) If the said players were so good, why aren't they in the team at the first place? Also, whats the guarantee that they will perform all of a sudden without match practice that too in OZ land, which is arguably the toughest place fr Asian batsmen.
Click to expand...

On Pakpassion the grass is always greener on the other side, and you are only as good as your last few matches.
 
Abdullah719 said:
Yes and Misbah should open the bowling. :facepalm:
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I suggested this mostly from the bowling point of view, as in the upcoming venues we may see spin coming into play, so Nawaz will be more than handy, would also lessen Yasir's burden, plus he has opened in domestic cricket before, plays fast bowling well, so that's why suggested that he should open.
 
ExpressPacer said:
Sharjeel needs to play next game under any circumstances. I would drop Azhar and bring him in. I know that two lefties opening would not be a wise move thus, I think Sarfraz should open next match. Agreed, this is not a time to experiment with the series mid-way but Sarfraz has previously been entrusted with this role in ODI's and come good and even has a ton opening in Aus.

But there's more to it than just this. Next match is Boxing Day test. The stadium will be packed. I don't think Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali have the confidence required to come good opening in front of a crowd of 50K people. Sharjeel and especially Sarfraz have the quality to take pressure. I feel like they're players who come good in pressure games. An example of this would be the Asia Cup final 2012 where Sarfraz played a vital knock when Pakistan was struggling even though he was half the player then that he is now.

Another important aspect of this would be that we've seen our top order is taking too much pressure, blocking too much and not playing the ball but the reputation of the bowler. The lower order and Sarfraz did good because they didn't have to take any pressure. They weren't blocking everything and playing the ball to its merit. Even Asad Shafiq did not block unnecessarily and that is why he played good. Sarfraz and Sharjeel are exactly those players. They play quick and even if they get a 50-60 run opening stand, it would be more than enough.

Not to forget, Sharjeel has already shown ability to play express pace first up and play it good vs England, so he may negate Starc. He also thrives on playing fast bowlers and that is what our batsmen have seemed to have an issue with. Sarfraz is basically the same, he is more comfortable IMO playing fast bowlers than most guys in the, except I don't know think he's as good AS Sharjeel at express fast bowling.

Azhar Ali can sit this one out like Yasir Shah did at Hamilton.
Click to expand...

Sharjeel is no Warner. We don't "need" him. Azhar just made 71 and you want to drop him. :facepalm: As for Sarfraz opening, opening in an Adelaide ODI vs Cusack and Mooney is much different than opening in an MCG Test match vs Starc and Hazlewood. You say that Sharjeel can handle pressure, but fail to give any evidence on why and how. Sami and Azhar are both pretty calm and expect them to control their emotions. This not a Limited Overs match. We don't need a quick start.

Our batsman don't have an issue against pace. Even Yasir Shah played Starc's 150k thunderbolts with ease. No way in hell is Sarfraz better at playing fast bowlers than Sami, Azhar and Babar. No. Azhar Ali is not a bowler. There is no rotating policy with openers. Azhar Ali is the best opener in Pakistan and the vice-captain of the team. He should not sit out in my opinion at Melbourne.
 
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Jan Sher said:
I suggested this mostly from the bowling point of view, as in the upcoming venues we may see spin coming into play, so Nawaz will be more than handy, would also lessen Yasir's burden, plus he has opened in domestic cricket before, plays fast bowling well, so that's why suggested that he should open.
Click to expand...

Thanks for at least stating a reason.

But Nawaz has barely looked like a batsman in his recent outings and will be very low on confidence to top it off.
 
Junaids said:
This is precisely what Mickey Arthur said about Sohail Khan two days ago:

"Sohail Khan comes in and swings it right arm, but I've got a doubt about Sohail's comebackability.

If he has got to bowl, his first spell's very good, his second spell's okay, his third spell is tough and then you just don't get anything more.

That puts a lot of pressure on our other units."
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Highly doubt Pakistan are going to pick Rahat again and Imran is a glorified trundler with a limited skill set.
 
Pakistan unperturbed by Melbourne security situation: team manager

KARACHI: The Pakistan team management has expressed satisfaction on measures taken by Cricket Australia to ensure security for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Pakistan manager Wasim Bari said the team underwent normal training sessions in Melbourne on Friday with focus just on the Test.

Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police and ASIO arrested seven people on Friday morning over an alleged plot to detonate improvised explosive devices in Melbourne.

The foiled terror bid prompted Cricket Australia to review security plans for the Boxing Day Test, assuring fans over security arrangements.

“Cricket Australia is taking measures and we are satisfied with it,” Bari told The Express Tribune from Melbourne. “Our preparation is on track. We had our long training session today in which all players took part. Our focus is on the Boxing Day Test and security is not our concern.”

He further added, “All the players are motivated and confident after putting up a good fight in Brisbane. The focus is on winning the Melbourne game to level the series.”

‘Amir set to feature in second Test’

Bari further revealed that the team management was confident of Muhammad Amir’s availability for the second Test.

Amir left the field during the first Test in Brisbane on a stretcher following an awkward fall during fielding. He appeared to be in pain but he soon returned to bowl. He was also struck on the thigh off Mitchell Starc delivery while batting with many expecting the pacer to be left out for the second Test.

However, Bari allayed such fears. “Amir took part in the entire training session and he was in good rhythm. All the players including Yasir Shah are fit.”

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1272888/pakistan-unperturbed-melbourne-security-situation-bari/
 
Hopefully the boxing day Test will be much better than the 1st, would like to see us winning the series.
 
Assuming the match gets to day 3 after the predicted shower on day 1 sprinkling some life into the pitch.
 
jusarrived said:
I like how positive you guys are these days :P
Click to expand...

Takes one innings to change that!

Think people have taken a lot of heart from previous innings performance and since this team has done well in recent past (NZ is an aberration to most) then there is some source for such optimism
 
Pak will most likely lose this series. But Misbah and PCB will keep bragging about useless moral victory at Gabba. Little do they realize with every defeat Pak team loses fans and viewership.
 
Speedster777 said:
Pak will most likely lose this series. But Misbah and PCB will keep bragging about useless moral victory at Gabba. Little do they realize with every defeat Pak team loses fans and viewership.
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You make it sound as though the Pakistan team aims to lose? There is an opposing team as well that need to be beaten.

If we get thrashed in the next two Tests, then yes, the 'moral victory' was useless.
 
The last test match was something special. If we win the next test match, excitement for the third test match will be unmatched and I fear we will have usual brain **** in the last test match. (I would love to be proven wrong though).

This team Pakistan has its own way of winning its fans back, then losing them, winning them back again with exciting brand of cricket only to lose them again in few days time with shambolic performance.

Going into the Melbourne, Not only Starc and Hazelwood will enjoy bowling with Red ball, Amir and Wahab will also be lethal.
 
C0edTF9UcAANav0.jpg
 
Australia have announced that they'll play the same XI for the MCG Test. No Cartwright or Sayers then.
 
Abdullah719 said:
Australia have announced that they'll play the same XI for the MCG Test. No Cartwright or Sayers then.
Click to expand...

Yep.

And the signs from the pic are worrying, to say the least.

The outfield is lush to minimise reverse swing.

There is already virtually no grass on the pitch, so it will break up where the left-armers footmarks are, and Nathan Lyon will be transformed on the last two days from Mohammad Hafeez into Murali.

One team is going to score 500 on this.
 
It's a drop in pitch - pretty normal in Australia - but the truly terrifying thing is how much lower the grass level is on the pitch compared with where it joins the outfield.

It shows you that the Curator has already shaved the grass to a minimal length, like the horrible modern ODI pitches.

There is a lot of nonsense spoken about Cricket Australia not controlling pitches.
Truth is, this is what you design to last five days when you know the lack of seam movement will allow Australia to score 500.

And then you hope that Pakistan won't cope with the extra bounce.

On the bright side, the lack of grass means that Younis and Misbah have a chance.
 
Junaids said:
It's a drop in pitch - pretty normal in Australia - but the truly terrifying thing is how much lower the grass level is on the pitch compared with where it joins the outfield.

It shows you that the Curator has already shaved the grass to a minimal length, like the horrible modern ODI pitches.

There is a lot of nonsense spoken about Cricket Australia not controlling pitches.
Truth is, this is what you design to last five days when you know the lack of seam movement will allow Australia to score 500.

And then you hope that Pakistan won't cope with the extra bounce.

On the bright side, the lack of grass means that Younis and Misbah have a chance.
Click to expand...
Hopefully pakistan wins the toss. Although I do think Pakistani batsmen are more likely to get stage fright vs Pakistani bowlers in front of 60,000 strong crowd
 
Pete Rose said:
Hopefully pakistan wins the toss. Although I do think Pakistani batsmen are more likely to get stage fright vs Pakistani bowlers in front of 60,000 strong crowd
Click to expand...

It won't be anything quiet like what they have experienced before but they have been training their whole lives for this moment, one of the grandest stages of them all and a showcase of legends; it's an oppourtunity at cricketing immortality just like it was for those who came before them in 1992. Genius will flourish, this Pakistani cricket team in recent time embody a special fighting spirit and "it" quality which can't be explained, cricket for them isn't just a sport it's a way of life, it's a metaphor for life and fighting without fighting; when all is said and done, Australia won't know what hit them. Much like most fans who will be in awe of what they"ll call magic when Misbah and his men would have known the one thing which others didn't all along. So have faith friend :)
 
At the risk of getting a LOT of egg on my face:

Day 1 Lunch
Australia 125-1 (Warner 60*, Khawaja 5*, Renshaw 50)

Day 1 Tea
Australia 275-2 (Khawaja 65*, Smith 10*, Warner 145)

Day 1 Close
Australia 405-4 (Smith 70*, Maddinson 15*, Khawaja 105, Handscomb 5)

This wicket is the one I wanted Mohammad Irfan's entire year and fitness regime to be built around.

And four bowlers on this track with a red Kookaburra is a really huge workload for bowlers.

(Now I've written this, presumably Pakistan will bat first and be 160 all out!)
 
Junaids said:
At the risk of getting a LOT of egg on my face:

Day 1 Lunch
Australia 125-1 (Warner 60*, Khawaja 5*, Renshaw 50)

Day 1 Tea
Australia 275-2 (Khawaja 65*, Smith 10*, Warner 145)

Day 1 Close
Australia 405-4 (Smith 70*, Maddinson 15*, Khawaja 105, Handscomb 5)

This wicket is the one I wanted Mohammad Irfan's entire year and fitness regime to be built around.

And four bowlers on this track with a red Kookaburra is a really huge workload for bowlers.

(Now I've written this, presumably Pakistan will bat first and be 160 all out!)
Click to expand...

Day 1 Pak win the toss, Pak 327 - 6 ! Sarfraz 37* Azhar Ali 101*

We have 5.5 bowlers, Azhar can roll his arm and we can get Younis to bowl a bit of dibbly dobbly :yk2 Besides, 4 have resulted in 2 Test wins in England despite you thinking otherwise; hopefully history repeats itself!

And stop it Junaids! You love that egg! You bathe in it to :yk
 
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Junaids said:
At the risk of getting a LOT of egg on my face:

Day 1 Lunch
Australia 125-1 (Warner 60*, Khawaja 5*, Renshaw 50)

Day 1 Tea
Australia 275-2 (Khawaja 65*, Smith 10*, Warner 145)

Day 1 Close
Australia 405-4 (Smith 70*, Maddinson 15*, Khawaja 105, Handscomb 5)

This wicket is the one I wanted Mohammad Irfan's entire year and fitness regime to be built around.

And four bowlers on this track with a red Kookaburra is a really huge workload for bowlers.

(Now I've written this, presumably Pakistan will bat first and be 160 all out!)
Click to expand...

If Aus can put 400/4 then Pakistan shouldn't be all out for 160 runs. It will mean very poor batting from Pakistan.
 
shaz619 said:
It won't be anything quiet like what they have experienced before but they have been training their whole lives for this moment, one of the grandest stages of them all and a showcase of legends; it's an oppourtunity at cricketing immortality just like it was for those who came before them in 1992. Genius will flourish, this Pakistani cricket team in recent time embody a special fighting spirit and "it" quality which can't be explained, cricket for them isn't just a sport it's a way of life, it's a metaphor for life and fighting without fighting; when all is said and done, Australia won't know what hit them. Much like most fans who will be in awe of what they"ll call magic when Misbah and his men would have known the one thing which others didn't all along. So have faith friend :)
Click to expand...

Australia won't know what hit them because nothing will hit them

That special fighting spirit has been deserting them for 3 Tests now.
 
It will be epic thrashing one way or the other, there will be no close contest, who ever get in front at the start of match will run away with the show, just hope it's pakistan's turn, because it will mean a mouth watering decider in sydney! And as they say with pakistan "never say never"
 
World Cup 2015 memories!! haunting ones none the less, time to turn things around!
 
I'm confused about the toss .. there are conflicting reports .. we obviously would love to bat first, put runs on the board and bring yasir into the game .. and that's when we are at our best .. however, I've read some reports saying MCG will have a bit of grass and the groundsman said it will be best to bowl on first up and then will flatten out..
 
Not going to happen but I'd like to see Sharjeel come in for Younis. I know he got some runs but he was so shaky at first. Younis and Misbah used to be the backbone of our batting. Now they are the weak link.
 
As the clock ticks down I'm getting more excited by the minute. I want to see the hosts at 20/5. That will surely send a shiver down the spine of the 50,000 in the stadium.
 
Syed1 said:
As the clock ticks down I'm getting more excited by the minute. I want to see the hosts at 20/5. That will surely send a shiver down the spine of the 50,000 in the stadium.
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More than anything I just want early wickets if we bowl first. It seems like Pakistan just never penetrates much with the new ball
 
38 degrees or thereabouts forecast. Would be nice to put oz in the field and bat for two days
 
NauV said:
I'm confused about the toss .. there are conflicting reports .. we obviously would love to bat first, put runs on the board and bring yasir into the game .. and that's when we are at our best .. however, I've read some reports saying MCG will have a bit of grass and the groundsman said it will be best to bowl on first up and then will flatten out..
Click to expand...

Suposed to be be like most sporting pitches. Bit of life upfront to negotiate and then expected to settle
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Grass on the <a href="https://twitter.com/MCG">@MCG</a> pitch!!! <br>Like a lot! <a href="https://t.co/u4XWQZQXEj">pic.twitter.com/u4XWQZQXEj</a></p>— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProfDeano/status/813125359776370688">December 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Now that it might be a good toss to lose Misbah will end up winning it :))
 
Abdullah719 said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Grass on the <a href="https://twitter.com/MCG">@MCG</a> pitch!!! <br>Like a lot! <a href="https://t.co/u4XWQZQXEj">pic.twitter.com/u4XWQZQXEj</a></p>— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProfDeano/status/813125359776370688">December 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Click to expand...

Grass, but a very slim trimming of grass.

Wonder how that will impact the game in the first session.
 
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