Day 5: 1st Test, Pak vs Eng - Update thread [17/7/06]

[Amir]

Only 6 hours away till make or break! Oh I can't wait. Will the english go for the kill and declare right away? Will they put more runs ont he board? and will afridi or Razzaq fire to take Pakistan home?

Stay tuned and come back in 6 horus!

 

[Easa]

Less that one hour to go!

I don't know why but I have a feeling Pakistan are going to win this match

 

[Fessal]

Well we all wish they win but realistically there is only less than 5% chance because it would be a record chasing target at lord’s and the 5th day pressure will be too much. We also have an unsettled opening pair which is unreliable, Faisal Iqbal at number 3 and then you can’t expect Yousuf and Inzy to perform always.

Pakistan can’t win but they can draw or lose: which of these they do depends how well Pakistan play Harmy and co.

 

[pak4life]

im nervous but excited at the same time! we will know eng intent in the first half an hour if they are scared pak shouls take advantage

 

[Easa]

How we play Harmison will be the key to this innings.

 

[Uzzy]

I'm looking forward to seeing what happens. Ideally i would love Pakistan to win but, realistically it will either be a draw which is the most certain or England win. If we are to win this we will have to break a world record which hasn't been broken in 22 years!

 

[Easa]

I'm looking forward to seeing what happens. Ideally i would love Pakistan to win but, realistically it will either be a draw which is the most certain or England win. If we are to win this we will have to break a world record which hasn't been broken in 22 years!

If we win this match after England scored 532, I will be dancing on the streets of Kuwait

 

[Muyazzim Khan]

As Imran Khan used to say we should play without fear of losing. Whatever happens in this match I am proud of the boys. The way they have fought has made me proud. We have competed with the available resources very well, previous teams of ours would have crumbled having to look at 528 as Englands 1st inns total.

 

[Easa]

As Imran Khan used to say we should play without fear of losing. Whatever happens in this match I am proud of the boys. The way they have fought has made me proud. We have competed with the available resources very well, previous teams of ours would have crumbled having to look at 528 as Englands 1st inns total.

You make a good point

 

[Jive Jive Pakistan]

it aint ovver till its over

whether you love him or laothe him alot depends on afridi

he is really an impact player

30 over sof him and the target will be half done

 

[Usman Chadda]

Lets just hope that Plunkett/Hoggard play as many balls as possible

 

[Billy]

It doesn't look like England are going to attack.

 

[shan]

what u expect from the most defensing team?

 

[Billy]

what u expect from the most defence team?

South Africa aren't involved in this test match.

 

[Easa]

Afridi to start.

Holding said he likes having two balls, commies crack up. )

 

[shan]

South Africa aren't involved in this test match.

i know but England are

 

[Easa]

Vicious faster ball to start of.

Hoggard edges it away for four next ball

 

[MIG]

Strauss doesnt want to defend more than 80 overs and they have Flintoff in the next game - I think he is happy.

 

[UJ]

Afridi to start.

Holding said he likes having two balls, commies crack up. )

) ) )

 

[Easa]

6 runs of the first over

 

[shan]

get them out quickly

 

[Jive Jive Pakistan]

if wwe cna get them within 10 overs

it should be interesting

liosten england aint confident

 

[Easa]

Kaneria from the other end, The Plunk to face

 

[Easa]

Big spin for Kaneria

 

[Easa]

Hoggard Bradman on strike

 

[Easa]

Pulls out the trusted sweep, and gets Liam back on strike

267-7

Lead 350

 

[Jive Jive Pakistan]

350 lead

 

[Easa]

Goes for the single, Beast unleashes a vicious throw, which just misses the stumps.

268-7

Lead 351

 

[Jive Jive Pakistan]

come on afridi

i have a feeling hes goin to ball plunkeet inshallah this over


and promptly hes repalced by gul

 

[Billy]

Strauss doesnt want to defend more than 80 overs and they have Flintoff in the next game - I think he is happy.

I'd say that's about right. As Mikey said I think England would have declared for 341 if they were high on confidence but at the moment they're looking to Flintoff and pitches that will suit them at Old Trafford and Headingly.

I'm not sure I agree with it but it fits with what Fletcher's done in the past.

 

[Easa]

Gul replaces Afridi

 

[James]

no point talking about when the declaration should have been yet, we have no idea how the Pakistan innings is going to play out. If we declared overnight we would get a new ball burst in the last session (if needed) but if we declare several overs from now, we are less likely to lose.

Its tough to decide, and I hope for Strauss's sake that England win this match or his captaincy will get crucified in the press despite it's excellence over the first 4 days of the match.

 

[Easa]

Our highest succesful run chase is 315-9 against Australia in '94.

 

[Jive Jive Pakistan]

Our highest succesful run chase is 315-9 against Australia in '94.

records are ther to be broken

 

[Easa]

Maiden from Gul

 

[Pakistani tigers]

come on Pakistan...a few wicket here and then english will be under pressure...i would not bat afridi so low down...i would send him higher...faisal iqbal should not bat at three anoyhow...yousaf should go up or akmal

 

[Jive Jive Pakistan]

maiden by gul

 

[Easa]

records are ther to be broken

Yes, I'm all for Pakistan chasing this target.

Razzi into the attack

 

[Easa]

Single for Hoggard, goes for the big it, completely mishits

 

[Raz]

Negative tactics from Pakistan so far, trying to delay the declaration by bowling wide outside off.

 

[umarbeast]

England should have declared by now since I dont' think Pakistan are now going to chase that much anyway

 

[Muyazzim Khan]

Our recent highest score in the 4th innings was 337-4 against SL. Largely thanks to a brilliant 148* from the much maligned Malik.

 

[Easa]

Plunkett bottom edges to Akmal, just drops ahead of him

 

[Pakistani tigers]

I think it is good that they are bowlign outside off as england will have more pressure to score and therefre are more likely to make mistakes!

 

[Raz]

Not a bad ploy actually if you think about it. Inzi is testing Strauss' patience here.

 

[Easa]

Another bottom edge, just short of Akmal

 

[MIG]

Negative tactics from Pakistan so far, trying to delay the declaration by bowling wide outside off.

Good thinking here - Its upto England to make the running - not us.

 

[Jive Jive Pakistan]

Not a bad ploy actually if you think about it. Inzi is testing Strauss' patience here.

but all instilling a negative midndset within he own team

 

[umarbeast]

come on 353 is very hard to chase

 

[James]

Negative tactics from Pakistan so far, trying to delay the declaration by bowling wide outside off.

omg defensive England!!

Anyway...maybe England just want to have a look at how the pitch is playing today. These funny periods would unsettle the Pakistani batsmen as well, especially openers because they are kept in the dark of when they are batting.

 

[MIG]

The idea is to stay unbeaten in this match - no other objective is important, IMO

 

[umarbeast]

Strauss wants Pakistan to go into a shell and try to play for a draw. That would be a very good tactic since our natural game is to make runs.

 

[Easa]

Hoggard trying to slog, poor lad is simply not good enough

 

[Pakistani tigers]

jive jive...it is better to have tactics rather than just hoping for things to happen by being conventional...Inzi is backed by him team in their self belief...inshallah this team will not let us down without a fight

 

[Easa]

355 lead

 

[James]

Strauss wants Pakistan to go into a shell and try to play for a draw. That would be a very good tactic since our natural game is to make runs.

Uh huh, are you Strauss's best mate, has he told you this? Who knows what his motives are - but this is all happening for a reason. Reasons will become clear at close of play, should be by tea when we've taken our 10th wicket

 

[Easa]

Uh huh, are you Strauss's best mate, has he told you this? Who knows what his motives are - but this is all happening for a reason. Reasons will become clear at close of play, should be by tea when we've taken our 10th wicket

Or after we score our 360th run.

 

[Jive Jive Pakistan]

gul is bowling better

 

[Easa]

14 runs in 5 overs this morning

 

[slix10]

Or after we score our 360th run.

Lol owned.

 

[Jive Jive Pakistan]

jive jive...it is better to have tactics rather than just hoping for things to happen by being conventional...Inzi is backed by him team in their self belief...inshallah this team will not let us down without a fight

agree with you

but sometime negative mindset atart affecting your own player who natural instinct is to attack

 

[Easa]

Run out appeal, 3rd umpire called into play

NOT OUT

 

[inzidabest]

England need an aggressive coach. Any other side would have played faster yesterday and given some overs to Pak yesterday. Or started bowling immediately today.As for the result..its either England winning or a draw...Only Afridi can change this

 

[slix10]

Why did he even call 3rd on that one.

 

[Easa]

Another swing and miss

 

[Pakistani tigers]

true jive jive...I have learnt that this Pakistani team can not be written off at any stage..Strauss not declaring last night or first thing today is one big testament of that...

 

[umarbeast]

Uh huh, are you Strauss's best mate, has he told you this? Who knows what his motives are - but this is all happening for a reason. Reasons will become clear at close of play, should be by tea when we've taken our 10th wicket

What else would he be thinking Whippy? Its either that or I am too sacred of the Pakistani Batsmen so I let my batsmen keep batting.

 

[Easa]

Single, dont know what Eng are doing

 

[Raz]

England are clearly scared of losing, thats the only reason for the delayed declaration.

 

[Easa]

359 the lead

 

[Easa]

England are clearly scared of losing, thats the only reason for the delayed declaration.

Yes

 

[Easa]

Another big slog, another big miss

 

[Easa]

Plunk hits and gets two runs, Lead 361

 

[inzidabest]

Rubbish cricket by England. I see why so many players have got injured before ashes

 

[Jive Jive Pakistan]

gul should try a yorker

 

[Easa]

Dumb commie keeps on talking about Pakistan bowling wide, what about England? They have not declared.

 

[Raz]

Slog from Plunkett and gets a 4.

 

[umarbeast]

I am guessing the magic number for Strauss is a 400 run lead.

 

[Jive Jive Pakistan]

1st boundary for plunkett

 

[Easa]

Four for Plunk, wide next ball

366 run lead