Has anyone who's moaning about the bowling actually bothered to watch the match?
On the first day, the bowlers were fractionally short in the first session (so were Australia in the first session of the first test), but Shaheen was excellent. Unlucky to not get a dismissal.
After lunch, all 4 pacers were quite superb. Maintained line and length, built-up pressure and all 4 were rewarded with a wicket each with a bit of swing or seam. Naseem then bagged Mathews close to the eventual end of play, and the early stumps due to bad light was quite unfortunate. He had a really lovely rhythm going and was getting through the crease really nicely.
Dhananjaya edged the bowl numerous times but the bowl didn't carry to the keeper throughout Day 1 and Day 2, and the most prominent one was off of Naseem when the bowl just fell inches short of Rizwan's gloves. Dickwella, was almost bowled 3-4 times by Shaheen and Naseem during that spell, with the ball hooping around but just marginally missing the stumps. After a period pressure was built, he succumbed to a wide one and fell. The wicket wasn't impressive, but the set up was magnificent.
Day 3, there wasn't much of it. The conditions changed quite a bit due to the overnight rain. The bowl wasn't swinging off the full length as it did on Day 2, but our bowlers didn't shy away and persisted with the fuller length in search for any hint of swing and hence wickets, even if it did mean getting driven for a boundary. The likes of Amir in these conditions would be just happy to nibble away at a length and try to contain runs. Not the kind of approach we need.
All in all, I don't think people realize it takes time to accumulate rhythm, and the constant and start and stops do distort your focus. Couple that with the ball rolling on the wet outfield and it becomes exceptionally difficult to maintain perfect lines and lengths. The pacers were pretty good, and Naseem & Shaheen, in particular, have been excellent. Matter of time before the wickets start coming.
It's quite astonishing that some people want Amir back. So you would rather have a guy who doesn't have space for test cricket in his heart, has visibly held back in previous test matches, was bowling in the high 120s & low 130s in South Africa of all places, who is most likely past his peak and hasn't been delivering as a spearhead should? His pace and swing only come to the fore when he's playing in Windies or England (with the Dukes ball). I would much rather have hard-working youngsters that have the passion for the format and who are willing to run in and give it their all regardless of the outcome, clock 140+ and make the ball talk while they're at it. I really liked Amir as well, but as he has admitted himself, I think it's to move on. His pace has dramatically declined in the last 18 months and even his reasonably successful World Cup run was mainly down to his slower balls. That won't work in Tests.
Also, I like how some people make full circles in their opinions. Regarding Mohammad Amir the Test bowler and Azhar Mahmood the coach especially. Very fickle...
