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Pakistan finish on 126/5 at Stumps on rain-hit Day 1 of 2nd Test against England

The decision to bat first was not wrong. England would have walked this match even with 200 on board because we cannot bat in the fourth innings.

The issue is that this team is simply not good enough unless the opposition has a complete stinker. England were terrible in the field but very good with the ball, and we obviously did not have the quality to counter it.
 
Who Bats in overcast conditions. 🙋🏼*♂️ I know Pakistan.

You only bowl first if it is a proper green-top. Overhead conditions are not reliable.

So it was the correct call but the issue is that we cannot bat. We don’t have the quality. We just have 1 batsman.
 
Hold your horses. We don't know who was behind his appointment. I genuinely believe it was the PM and whilst he's in power, Misbah ain't going no where.

Misbah appointed himself :)) He was a member of the Cricket Committee.

We are now relying on Iqbal Qasim as current head of the Cricket Committee to make the right decision - god help us !
 
You only bowl first if it is a proper green-top. Overhead conditions are not reliable.

So it was the correct call but the issue is that we cannot bat. We don’t have the quality. We just have 1 batsman.

No batting lineup up would have coped with these conditions.
 
You only bowl first if it is a proper green-top. Overhead conditions are not reliable.

So it was the correct call but the issue is that we cannot bat. We don’t have the quality. We just have 1 batsman.

We will have overcast conditions pretty much everyday for this Test.
Batting first was the right decision. It’s just our batting is too fragile
 
Misbah appointed himself :)) He was a member of the Cricket Committee.

We are now relying on Iqbal Qasim as current head of the Cricket Committee to make the right decision - god help us !

I honestly feel Younis Khan will be replaced by Misbah. According to the PCB rules or something along the lines he cannot hold 2 posts. He will be replaced soon, as he is a proven choker. Under Younis and Babar Azam we can be a good team.

Time to invest in Imam, Haider and Sami Aslam.
 
We were lucky in 2018 to play a 2 match series. A longer series and we would have definitely lost.

Mickey is a terrible Test coach and still doesn’t have a clue about this format. He was one of the main reasons why Pakistan demolished his Sri Lankan side earlier this year.

Not necessary as we would have won the game @ the Oval. The Oval is usually the venue they stage the last game of the series against Pakistan under normal circumstances.

We always lose in the North of England so yea could have gone both ways.

Mickey made blunders which lost Pak a few series, but did get some young guns in instead of opting for seniors like Misbah does.
 
Misbah appointed himself :)) He was a member of the Cricket Committee.

We are now relying on Iqbal Qasim as current head of the Cricket Committee to make the right decision - god help us !

If Misbah is fired by next year, at least we have 2 years to rebuild for the WC. I honestly don't think it will happen until the next general election at the very earliest, pending the outcome of this event ofc!
 
And then it will be a good game. Our bowlers will get them within a 150 Insha Allah. Relax and see what happens. But frankly, I am out of my mind.. and figure of 200+ will put me to ease.

If our bowlers hold their nerve and especially the youngsters hold their nerve, the game will be interesting
 
The decision to bat first was not wrong. England would have walked this match even with 200 on board because we cannot bat in the fourth innings.

The issue is that this team is simply not good enough unless the opposition has a complete stinker. England were terrible in the field but very good with the ball, and we obviously did not have the quality to counter it.
Mamoon sab I hope you have'nt forgotten that India folded for 107 in similar conditions. Laughable that people are writing off Pakistan without seeing Eng bat here
 
Everyone wants a big score from Babar, but I would say Babar should get out cheaply on his own here. Else for the rest of his life, he would have to carry the burden of this entire batting line up. Look at it, 5 out of top 7 is over 30, maximum of them being well over 33, atrocious team selection.

If Babar scores a big today and then win the match or at least lose with dignity, then there would be no consequences and you all would see the same team line for the coming 5 tests. Instead, if Pakistan loses this match with a big margin only then you can expect some accountability.

For the good of himself, and for his team, get out cheaply, Babar. All great batsmen in the world today, be it Kohli, Smith, and Williamson are supported by a good and deserving batsman in the team. You cannot create an ATG batsman who alone supports a fragile batting line up. You need supports from your teammates to lift the pressure and play your natural game.
 
Mamoon sab I hope you have'nt forgotten that India folded for 107 in similar conditions. Laughable that people are writing off Pakistan without seeing Eng bat here

India have not lost a Test outside Asia under Kohli after winning the toss and batting first.

You have to be exceptionally poor to lose back to back Tests after winning the toss and batting first.

Anyway, these comparisons are pointless. India could have folded for 20 here, but it won’t change the fact that they are miles better than us. Looking at the failures of vastly superior sides will not make us any better.
 
Mickey’s refusal to play specialist spinners was the prime reason Pakistan were rolled over by Sri Lanka and New Zealand in the UAE, while Australia managed to draw a match without Smith.

Is that why we beat Sri Lanka in Pak without a specialist spinner supporting Yasir (someone who was routine selection during Mickey's tenure) with most of the work being done by the fast bowlers? Don't think so. It seems like the main reason--as has always been-- was the batting which slumped after MisYou's exit but got some resurgence with Babar and Shan's improved batting and the inclusion of Abid Ali.
 
No batting lineup up would have coped with these conditions.

Our batsmen cannot cope with any conditions. In this lineup, there is only one batsman who has the potential to average 45+ in Test cricket. That sums up the calibre of this lineup.

Thus, it is futile to give them any leeway because the conditions were hard. Mediocre batsmen will remain mediocre.
 
Is that why we beat Sri Lanka in Pak without a specialist spinner supporting Yasir (someone who was routine selection during Mickey's tenure) with most of the work being done by the fast bowlers? Don't think so. It seems like the main reason--as has always been-- was the batting which slumped after MisYou's exit but got some resurgence with Babar and Shan's improved batting and the inclusion of Abid Ali.

We beat Sri Lanka easily because Mickey was in their camp and fluffed their team selection. No one knows how to lose Tests better than he does.
 
Too many people talking with the benefit of hindsight on the toss decision .

Azhar Ali after winning the toss:
We have decided to bat first. We are pretty much clear with that. The weather is quite hot and we would like to make full use of it and put runs on the board.
 
If Misbah is fired by next year, at least we have 2 years to rebuild for the WC. I honestly don't think it will happen until the next general election at the very earliest, pending the outcome of this event ofc!

Not going to be that easy. Need whitewashes here and in NZD. Need repeated failures of AA and AS. The thing is his sacking needs to be in tandem with that of AA and AS. If there is any time lag, he’ll dump the blame on AA and AS and hold fort.
 
Rizwan and shadab will be fine at 6 and 7 and need a run of games.

Complete bottle job by the think tank as if they wanted to play fawad they should have dropped Asad.
We will be decent once we are able to shift the dead wood
Azhar and shafiq are pulling this team down and misbah cant seem to see it
 
Is that why we beat Sri Lanka in Pak without a specialist spinner supporting Yasir (someone who was routine selection during Mickey's tenure) with most of the work being done by the fast bowlers? Don't think so. It seems like the main reason--as has always been-- was the batting which slumped after MisYou's exit but got some resurgence with Babar and Shan's improved batting and the inclusion of Abid Ali.

And not to mention we beat Sri Lanka in Pakistan not UAE. A pace heavy attack works in Pakistan but not in UAE.

Mickey’s selection was particularly awful for UAE pitches and he didn’t change even after learning his lesson against Sri Lanka in 2017.
 
You are clearly ignorant of how our fans think. You need to spend more time on this side of the forum.

Prior to this series, people were naming 5-6 Pakistani players in a combined Pakistan-England XI.

That is how much our fans overrate this side. There is a huge gap between what Pakistani fans perceive their team to be and what the team actually is like.

I think you are underrating Pakistan a bit as well. Last test was not one sided test. Eng barely won and it was not like Eng lost by a huge margin.

This test is just 2 session old.
 
Mickey’s refusal to play specialist spinners was the prime reason Pakistan were rolled over by Sri Lanka and New Zealand in the UAE, while Australia managed to draw a match without Smith.

Mickey might be better than Misbah who is not even a coach to begin with. However, that doesn’t change the fact that Mickey was a terrible Test coach. Tactically inept and also stubborn who refused to learn from his mistakes.

His apologists argued that he was preparing his side for overseas tours, but then we saw how we fared in South Africa.

I totally agree that Mickey was a tactical failure. There is no doubt about that.

Having said that, I always believe if you want to replace someone you find a superior alternative first. I would rather have a poor coach then an unqualified and inexperienced individual take up the same role.
 
Azhar Ali after winning the toss:
We have decided to bat first. We are pretty much clear with that. The weather is quite hot and we would like to make full use of it and put runs on the board.

And it was. Have you seen what Athers said. Forecasts in England can be wrong, just imagine if he won the toss and put England in and they score 300+.
 
We beat Sri Lanka easily because Mickey was in their camp and fluffed their team selection. No one knows how to lose Tests better than he does.

Can you elaborate on that? The team selection looks similar minus Herath being retired and I believe Lakmal being injured--not 100% sure on that one. Only major difference is that Pak's batting improved.
 
I don't understand, why is Pakistan carrying Asad Shafiq for so long. He is terrible. Even a high school rookie can perform better than him.

I guess he has got contacts at the right places.
 
I'm feeling.pretty annoyed. The test team is just so woeful to see these days.

So, so sick and tired of seeing Azhar and Asad in the team. Getting really bored of this repeated combination that has been failing since 2017.

Please bring in Saud Shakeel,.Usman Saluhuddin to replace them. Or Saad Ali (biased towards him cause he has the same name as me lol). They all can't do worse.

More balance needed in bowling. Aamer Yamin, Zafar Gohar and Ehsan Adil will help a lot here.
 
It hasn’t come down after 100+ first class games. What basic skills does he lack exactly?

Even if he fails in the next 3 innings, it doesn’t take away from the fact that he has one of the best FC records in the history of the game...
 
I started following the test team much more in depth since 2011 (when I was 10). One of my first memories is Younis and Misbah securing a draw vs NZ to win the series in NZ.

I can't imagine that from Pakistan , ever, now. Those memories seem so far away. We won't get another Younis :((
[MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] is kind of right. We are definitely very poor. However even if we are very poor it's still worth trying players at their prime ages and dropping the oldies.
 
India have not lost a Test outside Asia under Kohli after winning the toss and batting first.

You have to be exceptionally poor to lose back to back Tests after winning the toss and batting first.

Anyway, these comparisons are pointless. India could have folded for 20 here, but it won’t change the fact that they are miles better than us. Looking at the failures of vastly superior sides will not make us any better.

Yes, you are right that it will not make us better. That's a third time today. But the comparison is not pointless, it gives us perspective. Also, I believe we need to check the stats regarding winning toss and losing test match. Moreover, it is not about toss, it is more about conditions today and frankly in that respect, if we get to 250 we would have done really well.
 
And not to mention we beat Sri Lanka in Pakistan not UAE. A pace heavy attack works in Pakistan but not in UAE.

Mickey’s selection was particularly awful for UAE pitches and he didn’t change even after learning his lesson against Sri Lanka in 2017.

We rolled SL out in their 2nd innings for 138 and 96 in UAE yet we still lost because the batting flopped. And who would you rather have Mickey pick as the 2nd specialist spinner? There's nobody besides YS. You're not making a strong case for your argument here.
 
I hope we have some play and get to 150 without losing wicket.

England reached 280 after being 117-5. We're in the same boat, but i'm sure we can do it too. /s


But that aside, if we reach 250 that would be great assuming the conditions don't change considerably.
 
I don't understand, why is Pakistan carrying Asad Shafiq for so long. He is terrible. Even a high school rookie can perform better than him.

I guess he has got contacts at the right places.

Because he "looks good" at the crease - that's literally why he's played 71 consecutive Tests even though likes of Fawad Alam, Saud Shakeel, Saad Ali and Usman Salahuddin have superior FC numbers than this serial bottler.

That's our team management for you. Data and facts be damned.
 
Yes, Kamran Gilchrist Akmal used to often come out and score runs at a brisk pace. It's a mystery his career numbers dont back up this claim but I'm sure his fans are correct when they remember his brilliant batting over the years.

Afridi and Sarfaraz are probably better examples.

Firstly, I'm not his fan. Secondly, he didn't score consistently as much as he should've but with a career test strike rate of around 65, he's better than anyone batting at that number for Pakistan in that regard. He didn't come to bat with the mindset of trying to survive by blocking. And we don't have to view Kamran through the lens of Gilchrist. Nobody would compare favorably when compared to Gilchrist. So please keep the sarcasm to yourself.

Sarfraz plays at a high pace too but has recently completely lost it as a batsman and to be honest, I can't remember even 1 innings where he has come in and changed the course of the Test match with his counter attack. Kamran was also discarded and probably rightly so because his batting dropped off a cliff. But until 2008-09, Kamran was a good player to have coming in at 7 when we were 100-5.

Right now we are missing a Kamran Akmal of 2005 in our batting lineup.
 
We rolled SL out in their 2nd innings for 138 and 96 in UAE yet we still lost because the batting flopped. And who would you rather have Mickey pick as the 2nd specialist spinner? There's nobody besides YS. You're not making a strong case for your argument here.

The real culprits in that 1st Test vs SL where we couldn't chase 130, and the NZ Test the following year where we lost by 4 runs chasing 170 were again - Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.

I said this in a previous thread, the only way Azhar and Shafiq get dropped is if they shoot someone in Minto Park in broad daylight. Even then Misbah will say "we need their experience".
 
Just seen the scorecard, oh well, low score, half of the team back in the pavilion, showing consistency here at least.
 
For tomorrow it will be 98 overs per day.

1100 - 1300 morning session
1340 - 1555 afternoon session
1615 - 1830 evening session
+ 30 minutes to bowl the overs
 
For tomorrow it will be 98 overs per day.

1100 - 1300 morning session
1340 - 1555 afternoon session
1615 - 1830 evening session
+ 30 minutes to bowl the overs

Unless it rains...
 
Best in mind that Woakes has a test hundred, against the vaunted Indian attack no less.

Odd century here or there doesn't really mean anything. Yasir Shah has a century in Australia for that matter!

Yes, Woakes can bat but one shouldn't expect more than a few handy runs from him. What he did in that last game is not a norm.
 
I am not a fan but Fawad deserved his chance. He needs to play the rest of the series but along with AA and Asad, I don't see any future

100% - Misbah set him up to fail, probably as intended to protect his disciples Azhar and Shafiq. Why on earth has Fawad been brought in as a desperate Hail Mary in the 2nd Test of an away series in England, and was sitting on the bench for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh ?

If Shafiq can get 71 Tests in a row despite his disappearing act under pressure, Fawad's earned 3 Tests to prove himself. If he fails, then you move down the list to the other top domestic batsmen like Saud Shakeel and Usman Salahuddin.

he was clearly set up to fail

How was he not given a chance in the series against Sri Lanka at home esp when Harris had been failing.

More than that why was Fawad not given a chance post Misbah Younis retirements at the very least. We were looking for middle order batsmen but decided to put a well performing opener in Azhar Ali at #3 and in the period have tried a long list of openers who have failed (Imam, Hafeez, Shan, even Fakhar lol)
 
England v Pakistan: Bowlers put hosts on top in second Test

England's bowlers grabbed the upper hand in the second Test against Pakistan on a rain-affected first day at the Ageas Bowl.

James Anderson claimed two wickets and Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran one each as Pakistan closed on 126-5 with only 45.4 overs possible.

Abid Ali was dropped twice on the way to 60, with Pakistan looking well placed on 78-1.

But after a lengthy rain break, the hosts capitalised on humid conditions suited to seam bowling by taking 3-18 during an hour-long session.

Rain forced the players off again at 17:00 BST and bad light prevented them from returning.

More stormy weather is forecast for the remainder of the match but if conditions stay the same both sides will be confident of winning.

Pakistan have a bowling attack that could easily utilise conditions as England have done, while they will look to star batsman Babar Azam to extend their score on day two. He ended unbeaten on 25.

After last week's superb victory at Emirates Old Trafford, victory in Southampton would give England a first series win over Pakistan in 10 years.

Patient England fare well on day one
In the end, England will be pleased with their day. They will now look to control the game from the front rather than pull off an unlikely comeback as they did in Manchester.

Pakistan opted to bat at the toss but the steamy conditions helped England find movement in the air and off the pitch.

Anderson and Broad bowled a fine opening spell, one that should have seen greater reward.

Both beat the bat regularly and Dom Sibley dropped a comfortable catch off Broad at third slip when the opener was on one.

Second slip Rory Burns spilled an even easier chance off Abid soon after and those missed chances could easily have frustrated the bowlers.

Instead, they came out after the interruption and were rewarded for their good bowling with the fielders making amends.

Burns clung on when Curran found the edge of Abid's bat and Sibley took one low when Asad Shafiq nicked Broad.

Anderson gives reminder of his powers
After a difficult match at Old Trafford - he returned match figures of 1-97 - it took Anderson only eight balls to double his wicket tally for the series.

The 38-year-old trapped Shan Masood, Pakistan's centurion in the first Test, lbw with an inswinger in his second over.

Anderson bristled with frustration this week at speculation he could retire after some observers suggested the powers of England's record wicket-taker were beginning to fade.

The early signs in Southampton are that he is finding his groove.

He found more swing than on many occasions this summer, perhaps helped by the conditions, and his pace was consistently around 85mph.

When Pakistan were batting into a promising position, with captain Azhar Ali sharing 72 with Abid, it was Anderson who produced a probing delivery that Azhar nicked to third slip.

Pakistan struggle but all not lost
Pakistan will be disappointed to stumble from the position Abid and Azhar gained.

Abid's innings was streaky, the majority of his runs scored to third man or fine leg. Azhar, too, was not at his best but he showed promising signs in his 85-ball 20.

Fawad Alam, recalled after an 11-year absence in place of all-rounder Shadab Khan, lasted just four balls before he was trapped lbw by Woakes for a duck.

The tourists would have been grateful play did not restart late in the day when they could easily have lost further wickets in the gloom.

They still have Babar at the crease and will know their quick bowlers have the ability to cause England's batting order problems - a batting order that is without Ben Stokes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/53765001
 
England's James Anderson proved he is still world class with his performance on day one of the second Test against Pakistan, says Sam Curran.

Anderson denied rumours he would retire from Test cricket earlier this week after averaging 41.16 in his first three Test matches of the summer.

The 38-year-old picked up two scalps from 15 overs on a rain-affected first day at The Ageas Bowl to move onto 592 Test wickets in his career and help reduce Pakistan to 126-5 by stumps.

All-rounder Curran said: "I was pretty shocked with the stuff that was going on about him. He is a world-class bowler and anyone who doubts him I don't think is very sensible.

"He proved how world-class he is and I am sure he will go on and get a five-for and creep up to 600, which is really exciting for all of us.

"I am enjoying having him around and learning from him. He helped me through my spells and picking his brains is great for me."

Curran was drafted into the England side in place of the rested Jofra Archer as he made his second Test appearance of the summer, having played the second game of the series against West Indies.

The left-armer says he has found it tough being left out and not being able to leave the team's bio-secure bubble to play county cricket for Surrey but insists his team-mates have kept his spirits up.

"Anytime you put on an England shirt or a Surrey shirt you try and do your best. It is great to be back in the side and contributing again," said Curran, who dismissed Abid Ali (60) after the opener had been dropped on 0 and 21 by Dom Sibley and Rory Burns respectively in the slip cordon.

"It is very strange times and it is a tricky situation when you don't play - you don't get to go and play for your county when you are not selected. It's the new normal so we have to get on with it and keep training hard.

"I feel for the guys who aren't playing. We have such a great squad and the boys are lifting the ones that aren't playing and keeping them involved."

Pakistan - helped by Sibley and Burns' errors - reached 78-1 on a weather-affected day in Southampton after electing to bat but then lost four wickets for 42 runs as England rallied.

"It was one of those days that felt really humid - the forecast all week is for thunderstorms around," added Curran, after rain and bad light allowed only 45.4 overs to be bowled.

"The ball did more later on in the innings and with them being 78-2 and a couple of drops we did really well to finish where we did. I think it was a good day for the bowlers in general.

"I thought we bowled really well as a group and everyone chipped in with wickets. We spoke about sticking together as a unit and luckily it came off."

https://www.skysports.com/cricket/n...world-class-says-england-team-mate-sam-curran
 
These were absolutely ideal conditions for Sohail Khan to be included in the playing 11. He would have created havoc in the first innings with the ball in hand. The useless captain & bizzare management definitely missed a trick by not including him.
 
PAK basically shot themselves here. This Test was never going to produce 450 overs for weather and PAK had a chance to put England in, and prolong the game - somehow keep the series alive till 3rd Test. PAK still can win this Test (not realistic expectations, but stranger things have happened in cricket), or can get away with a draw; but most likely scenario is all out for ~200 tomorrow morning, then England’s tail helping them to a lead - in that case PAK has no chance for a fight back in 3rd innings, in fact if conditions remain same I don’t think PAK will improve on their first innings .... this Test might end inside 270 overs (effective 3 days). And, I would have picked Sohail here!!!!
 
What are you on about?

I distinctly remember Wasim in 2016 tour talking about how ENG is the best place when it comes to using the crease to your advantage (something that Woakes exploited that Summer) and how Amir is not bowling closer to the stumps since his comeback.
Well it’s not like I have footage of the incident. But you can trust me that in that he fully embarrassed himself. If you’re keen you can surf through the match threads for the previous game.

The extent of his ‘analysis’ is pointing out which the side the shiny side is on and that’s about it- doesn’t have much technical insight into the game, which is the case with a lot of freakishly talented players. There’s a reason why those bowling camps he held yearly a couple of years back, which I image the PCB shelled out quite a bit of money for, produced zilch.
 
I'm feeling.pretty annoyed. The test team is just so woeful to see these days.

So, so sick and tired of seeing Azhar and Asad in the team. Getting really bored of this repeated combination that has been failing since 2017.

Please bring in Saud Shakeel,.Usman Saluhuddin to replace them. Or Saad Ali (biased towards him cause he has the same name as me lol). They all can't do worse.

More balance needed in bowling. Aamer Yamin, Zafar Gohar and Ehsan Adil will help a lot here.

All the batsmen you named to replace AA and AS are crap.
They wont win you anything.
 
Throwing Fawad into the deep end after 11 years was typical. Now he wıll be the only one that gets chopped for the next game while consistent failures will keep their place.

Thinking about it I think Fawad was probably selected after seeing the forecast.
 
Also I dont care but Amir should have been playing here. This is the type of conditions where he can still be deadly.

Pakistan should start with a rotation policy and Amir's role in that should be that he should be used where he can be useful. It will be beneficial for him and the team.
 
So, what's the game plan for Pakistan tomorrow?

They should take it session by session. Don't lose any wicket until lunch. Add 50-60 runs.

Early wicket can mean big trouble for Pakistan.
 
At 102-2 it was the right decision to bat. Now according to the sages here it is a bad decision.
When only playing 4 bowlers (which is a mistake) and one of them is a legspinner you pretty much have to bat first. Also batting first in England is the attacking option.

We had a bad session after the rainbreak. Maybe that is Azhar's fault. The Pakistani media has much to be blamed for. The people seem to like numbskulls like Shoaib Akhtar.......his interview on TMS is just so embarrassing but not unexpected
 
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