England vs Pakistan | 2nd Test | Headingley | June 1-5, 2018 | Pre-Match Thread

[babajee]

Next game:

Azhar
Imam
Haris
Asad
Fakhar
Sarfraz
Shadab
Faheem
Amir
Hasan
Abbas

Thank you England

 

[BlueDoritos]

Squad for Headingley Test:

Imam
Azhar
Haris
Shafiq
Sallahuddin
Sarfraz
Shadab
Faheem
Amir
Hasan
Abbas

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Salahuddin in.

Headingly will suit our seamers even more. Need to move on from this test quickly. Cannot be satisfied with this.

 

[babajee]

Fakhar isn’t just a dasher. I like Usman but I don’t think we will need his style of batting once the new ball has been seen off.

This English attack is nothing after the initial overs.

 

[Markhor]

Headingley is not the seamer's paradise it once was. The pitch these days is relatively flat as evidenced by West Indies chasing 320+ last summer.

The plan should be more of the same - pitch the ball up and you'll get your rewards.

 

[Xoib]

Genuinely think England is there for the taking.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Headingly is a good wicket for test cricket, it offers both to batsmen and bowlers. Par score would be around 350 first innings if the pitch is the normal deck we have seen so far this summer in the county championship. However if you have quality swing and seam bowlers with decent pace, you can take plenty fo wickets.

Pakistan must bowl the same and bat the same, England are there for the taking!

 

[CadPakFan]

Headingley is not the seamer's paradise it once was. The pitch these days is relatively flat as evidenced by West Indies chasing 320+ last summer.

The plan should be more of the same - pitch the ball up and you'll get your rewards.

If that is the case I think they should play Fakhar.

 

[saeed5646]

Fakhar isn’t just a dasher. I like Usman but I don’t think we will need his style of batting once the new ball has been seen off.

This English attack is nothing after the initial overs.

Where did you have watch usman bat to come to conclude his batting style does not suite for us?let him play than have some question about his ability .he desevers the debut on merit warming the bench from too long he should play ahead of fakhar who is just in test squad

 

[WC-Passion]

Same lineup, just Fakhar in for Babar, who slots in at 5, move Shafiq up to 4.

 

[shokz1408]

I'm feeling a 2-0 coming up..

 

[coy0607]

Fakhar in for Babar - can't wait!

hows the weather looking for the weekend?

 

[Syed1]

After this test Pakistan does not play another test till 26th Dec (atleast that is what PP Schedule says).


Just a gap of 7 months, no biggie



And this is when our test side is on an upswing and look good enough to beat anyone and everyone. Who knows what the team might look like in seven months.

 

[babajee]

Where did you have watch usman bat to come to conclude his batting style does not suite for us?let him play than have some question about his ability .he desevers the debut on merit warming the bench from too long he should play ahead of fakhar who is just in test squad

He is very good but bats at a slow pace like Azhar.

 

[Mueez]

After this test Pakistan does not play another test till 26th Dec (atleast that is what PP Schedule says).


Just a gap of 7 months, no biggie



And this is when our test side is on an upswing and look good enough to beat anyone and everyone. Who knows what the team might look like in seven months.

Pakistan have a series with New Zealand and Australia, if I'm not wrong.

 

[Mueez]

Babar injured is a blessing in disguise for us.
Fakhar will hopefully replace him.

 

[ads101]

Play both Fakhar and Usman

1. Azhar
2. Fakhar
3. Imam
4. Haris
5. Asad
6. Usman
7. Sarfraz
8. Shadab
9. Amir
10. Hasan
11. Abbas

 

[ManFan]

WI won chasing 320 odd with 5 wickets down last time around.

So I would go with the same squad with the management deciding if they want to bat for 2 innings (Fakhar) or 1 innings (Salahuddin).

 

[saeed5646]

He is very good but bats at a slow pace like Azhar.

It can work for pakistan we need a number 6 how have tight defense against 2nd new ball so he is ideal for it .fakhar donot have not strong defense he won.t survive long against two world class anderson and broad

 

[taqi]

After this test Pakistan does not play another test till 26th Dec (atleast that is what PP Schedule says).


Just a gap of 7 months, no biggie



And this is when our test side is on an upswing and look good enough to beat anyone and everyone. Who knows what the team might look like in seven months.

IN FTP NZ is schedule to have full away tour to Pakistan in Nov Dec which have 3 tests

 

[babajee]

It can work for pakistan we need a number 6 how have tight defense against 2nd new ball so he is ideal for it .fakhar donot have not strong defense he won.t survive long against two world class anderson and broad

Anderson and Broad are nothing after their opening spell. That is the point.

 

[Hasan123]

Saad Ali for Babar is the only change I would make.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Usman Salahuddin ofcourse. How much match practice does Fakhar have of playing in the middle order?

 

[Abdullah719]

Pakistan have a series with New Zealand and Australia, if I'm not wrong.

Yeah.

Those aren't in the schedule yet as we only add series which have confirmed dates for all matches.

Both series are in October/November, roughly. [MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION]

 

[Deewana Mastana]

After this test Pakistan does not play another test till 26th Dec (atleast that is what PP Schedule says).


Just a gap of 7 months, no biggie



And this is when our test side is on an upswing and look good enough to beat anyone and everyone. Who knows what the team might look like in seven months.

Tests are not Pakistan's priority. Remember that.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Fakhar at the top is better than at 6 if he is going to play.

 

[blackanhyellow]

fakhar in for babar.

Worth trying him out in the middle order. Great fielder too.

 

[Haroon786]

IIRC Pakistan have around 15 Tests scheduled from the end of this series until December 2019 - that's aplenty for a country that don't usually play double digit tests annually.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Usman in place of Babar

If the pitch has nothing in it for spinners, then may be Fakhar in place of Shadab. Haris, Fakhar, and Azhar can easily bowl the spin over quotas.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

If it's a typical Headingley wicket the match could be over in 3 days.

Not so sure if we need Shadab there for his bowling but Shadab has impressed with his batting so he can stay for that alone.

The formula stays the same. Our bowlers will deliver but it's on the bats to score at the least 250.

 

[babajee]

Usman Salahuddin ofcourse. How much match practice does Fakhar have of playing in the middle order?

He has batted in the middle order in domestics.

 

[Surf]

I really hope one of Azhar, Asad, or Haris scores a big hundred and rest chip in. We can't win with pretty 50s gotta step up to the plate if you win here you will be remembered for a dawn of a new era. Just don't get complacent like we always do.

I pray we don't lose another to injury especially a pacer. And bowlers need to be consistent and sharp this is our best chance.

 

[Usman Chadda]

He has batted in the middle order in domestics.

Has he now?

Still, Salahuddin has been waiting for this chance for a while now. Played pretty okay in the one innings he got. I would prefer Fakhar at the top of the order.

 

[babajee]

Has he now?

Still, Salahuddin has been waiting for this chance for a while now. Played pretty okay in the one innings he got. I would prefer Fakhar at the top of the order.

He said so himself

 

[PakSarZameen]

Assess the pitch on Friday.

If it's a batting track pick Fakhar
If it's a bowling track pick Usman

 

[shane]

It's been seaming around quite a bit up north in the County Championship. So the game should not last too long. Now, I just need to find an Al Jazeera journalist to sell that information to.

 

[MMHS]

I think recently Yorkshire were all out for 50 odd in a County game & still went on to win it. WIN chased the target in later part of summer, therefore that’s not indicative actually. 8 years back, AUS were all out for like 89 on day 1, and I tend to believe wicket will be close that game rather the WIN game.

Same team (one obvious change, which I keep for a surprise pick).

Key to success -

1. Hold on to anything that comes through air - there’ll be plenty
.
.
10. Hold on to anything that comes through air - there’ll be plenty

.
.
100. Hold on to anything that comes through air - there’ll be plenty

101. Put Poms in, if Sarfraz wins the toss

102. Bowl exactly the way it’s going on - may be over rate is the only issue

103. Bat with a purpose and wear out 2 men attack - if PAK can negotiate around 35 overs with 2 or less down, even at 2.5 rate; it’s possible to reach even 450 in 1st innings; should be more than enough.

104. Fahim needs to fix his bowling act - his job is to bowl TIGHT 23-25 overs (in 100 overs Innings), at around 2.3 max; that’s like 24’5-9-59-1, so that other 3 can attack relentlessly. Anything better is bonus, as long as it’s not costing more than 3/over.
.
.
200. Hold on to anything that comes through air - there’ll be plenty

 

[Subhan999]

Usman should play 100%. We already have had a good look at fakhar. I need to see Usman atleast once in my life before be grows old lol

 

[Kashmiri_Pak_fan]

IIRC Pakistan have around 15 Tests scheduled from the end of this series until December 2019 - that's aplenty for a country that don't usually play double digit tests annually.

Where is FTP beyond WC 19?

 

[Markhor]

I think recently Yorkshire were all out for 50 odd in a County game & still went on to win it. WIN chased the target in later part of summer, therefore that’s not indicative actually. 8 years back, AUS were all out for like 89 on day 1, and I tend to believe wicket will be close that game rather the WIN game.

The 50 all out was at Chelmsford down south not at Headingley.

At Headingley when deciding what to do at the toss you have to look up at the overhead conditions not just look down the pitch which isn't the greentop it used to be.

Overcast weather is forecast for the first three days.

 

[Haroon786]

Where is FTP beyond WC 19?

I'm not sure if all of the series mentioned below are confirmed or not but nonetheless that's quite a few scheduled:

https://www.cricschedule.com/ftp/team/pakistan.html

 

[MMHS]

The 50 all out was at Chelmsford down south not at Headingley.

At Headingley when deciding what to do at the toss you have to look up at the overhead conditions not just look down the pitch which isn't the greentop it used to be.

Overcast weather is forecast for the first three days.

Thanks. Indeed - I have seen teams posting 600+ under sun, then losing 4/5 in an hour under cloud. If it blows from east under cloud, it wobbles like a falling leaf.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Pak will bowl first anyway if they win the toss regardless of the weather. Jimmy Anderson would prefer to bowl first as well on a headingley wicket.

 

[imshally81]

Fakhar should in for Babar....

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Id go for Usman, even though I rate him the least as compared to Saad and Fahkar. Its a horses for courses selection.

However all the noise is that Fahkar will get picked.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Pak batsman must be consistent.

Our pacers, OTOH, must not panic and keep probing. Especially Faheem.

The only worrying sign is Sarfaraz. Must get his form ASAP. He's a champion and I fully expect him to silence haters

England, especially Jimmy/Broad will attack hard this time.

 

[Justcrazy]

Usman sallahuddin should come in.

 

[fluke]

Azhar
Imam
Haris
Asad
Sarfraz
Saad Ali / Fakhar Zaman (I would prefer fakhar)
Shadab
Faheem
Hassan
Amir
Abbas

That would be the perfect eleven to make it 2 - 0

 

[MenInG]

The boys

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/SymPkbUFaS">pic.twitter.com/SymPkbUFaS</a></p>— Hassan Ali (@RealHa55an) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealHa55an/status/1001535828865232899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[ArsenalFC]

Fakhar isn’t just a dasher. I like Usman but I don’t think we will need his style of batting once the new ball has been seen off.

This English attack is nothing after the initial overs.

Agreed well said. Fakhar adds far more value with his 60+ SR coming at an average of 41 with the bat.

Salahuddin on the other hand is just asking for an Azhar Ali clone with no international experience.

 

[shafkath]

Which stand will you be in at Headingley?

I'm buying tickets for day 3 of the Leeds Test. im expecting a half decent turnout from the local pakistanis following the first test win.

which stand will be best for supporting the boys? where will you guys be sitting?

 

[Asch Ali]

Saad or Fakhar

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Heard strong rumors that Fakhar is to be selected and bat at 6

 

[idrizzy]

Stand? I’ll be sitting

On my sofa at home, that’s where the best view is

 

[Nelson on]

Weather report for playing 5 days?

 

[yasir]

Heard strong rumors that Fakhar is to be selected and bat at 6

Make sense, he comes around 40 over Mark, can play 40 overs at 60 SR, can take the game away. Fakhar, Shadab, Faheem can add 150/200 in second half, take the game away in first innings at brisk rate.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Heard strong rumors that Fakhar is to be selected and bat at 6

I don't think that will happen because the team management clearly views Fakhar as an opener.

 

[Pete Rose]

I don't think that will happen because the team management clearly views Fakhar as an opener.

Mickey rates him as a game changer at 6.

 

[PukhtoonZalmay88]

England is going to come hard at us in the 2nd test. We better not take them lightly but i trust Mickey to not let these guys get overconfident after the first win.

 

[Sarfarazian92]

Heard strong rumors that Fakhar is to be selected and bat at 6

Wait so Sarfraz bats at 5?

 

[hur rizvi]

Usman should play, I am not sure about Fakhar the test bat, he has severe weakness against short ball and even at no. 6 he will have to face moving ball. Sorry I like him, but has to be Usman or Saad Ali

 

[hur rizvi]

Sarfraz and faheem are already dashers down the order, we need a genuine middle order bat at 5 which Fakhar is not

 

[hur rizvi]

Wait so Sarfraz bats at 5?

Disaster

 

[PakLFC]

Fakhar is not a Test type batsman for crying out loud. A good hitter in T20's and one dayer's he does not have the technique for a Test batsman. No Fakhar, try Salahuddin instead. Most importantly the terribly ineffective Rahat Ali shouldn't even be near the squad.

 

[Abdullah719]

 

[Sultan Baba]

Imam ul haq
Fakhar zaman
Harris sohail
Azhar ali
Asad shafiq
Sarfraz ahmad
Faheem ashraf
Shadab khan
Mohammad amir
Hassan ali
Mohammad abbas

 

[Markhor]

The last time we played England at Headingley, Younis and Yousuf batted together for what seemed like an eternity:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AF464MEDiSM" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It's a good batting deck when you knuckle down.

 

[Amirforpresident]

The last time we played England at Headingley, Younis and Yousuf batted together for what seemed like an eternity:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AF464MEDiSM" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It's a good batting deck when you knuckle down.

Didn't we play in 2016 at this ground?

 

[Markhor]

Didn't we play in 2016 at this ground?

No we played at Lord's, Old Trafford, Edgbaston and The Oval in 2016.

We did beat Australia at Headingley in 2010 though when we bowled them out for 88.

 

[Justcrazy]

fakhar already playing in two formats , if Sallahuddin does not get an opportunity in Test also , whats the point of selecting him and taking him on tours ?

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Heard strong rumors that Fakhar is to be selected and bat at 6

I am hearing the opposite.
Usman likely to debut.

 

[Sarfarazian92]

I am hearing the opposite.
Usman likely to debut.

Yeah read the same today.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

I am hearing the opposite.
Usman likely to debut.

Yes,read some stuff about that today.

 

[Big Mac]

It can work for pakistan we need a number 6 how have tight defense against 2nd new ball so he is ideal for it .fakhar donot have not strong defense he won.t survive long against two world class anderson and broad

Don't need to bat quickly when you bowl the opposition out for 150

 

[James]

Am going to the ground on Saturday, got some good tickets at a more reasonable price than usual. Looking forward to it, however not feeling particularly optimistic about the anticipated England performance levels. Pakistan are going to win again I think.

 

[Markhor]

Met Office forecast cloudy weather for all 5 days with occasional sunny spells.

Highest chance of rain on Saturday.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/mobile/forecast/gcwfhhc2f#?date=2018-06-01

 

[Amjid Javed]

Am going to the ground on Saturday, got some good tickets at a more reasonable price than usual. Looking forward to it, however not feeling particularly optimistic about the anticipated England performance levels. Pakistan are going to win again I think.

Engand have lost last 3 tests at headingley so good ground for them at the moment

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

After this test Pakistan does not play another test till 26th Dec (atleast that is what PP Schedule says).


Just a gap of 7 months, no biggie



And this is when our test side is on an upswing and look good enough to beat anyone and everyone. Who knows what the team might look like in seven months.

we play 2 tests against AUS and 3 against NZ

 

[Amjid Javed]

With Babar missing we need to strengthen middle order with the bat and Sarfraz needs to also drop down to number 7 and start producing runs, Two good test win doesnt hide the fact hes a passenger in this team with the bat.

 

[todfod 11]

Fahim hasnt done anything wrong.. usman should play.. fakhar can wait for now