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

[Iddy]

It will as long as Azhar, Asad and Fawad type of players are selected. Sick of this bunch Misbah , waqar , Azhar, Asad for a decade now.

I’m sure Imam at 3 would have done a lot better and a chance for Haider Ali would have done wonders for Pakistan.

Imam in Azhar out
Haider in Asad out
Shadab in Fawad out

Absolutely agree. I am sick and tired of Azhar and Asad. So scared and timid players. Who the hell in their right mind made Misbah selector and coach. Misbah, Azhar and Asad should be nowhere near Pakistan cricket.

 

[James]

Disastrous mini-session for Pakistan there.... the only positive is that Babar still has his wicket intact. Why on earth did Azhar choose to bat first? Basically handed England a collapse on a plate in these cloudy, humid and stormy conditions.

 

[Thephenom]

You bet if we get bowled out for under 200 England will go on and score 500 in 2 days!

 

[fasihulhaq94]

The blame will go to Alam but why was he picked when there were possibilities of deficiency on seaming wickets? Everything eventually points back at Misbah and his policies.

Meanwhile Rizwan continues to do his hit and run gimmicks.

hit and run gimmicks )

 

[Junaids]

This pitch is very green.

A score of 220 will be a winning one. Babar will score a big hundred.

No, it had a tiny green tint at the start.

This is a 450 wicket on which a team of has-been geriatrics are showcasing their collective age-related decline.

 

[Markhor]

It will as long as Azhar, Asad and Fawad type of players are selected. Sick of this bunch Misbah , waqar , Azhar, Asad for a decade now.

I’m sure Imam at 3 would have done a lot better and a chance for Haider Ali would have done wonders for Pakistan.

Imam in Azhar out
Haider in Asad out
Shadab in Fawad out

Yaar what did Imam do when he was in the side. He too struggled in England last time. We cannot keep recycling the usual failed cast.

Misbah's biggest sin is not investing in new middle order batsmen. He wasted Fawad's peak, and has ignored likes of Saud Shakeel, Usman Salahuddin and Saad Ali in favour of his disciples Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.

 

[angrypathan]

Batting first was actually a reasonable decision. We just have awful batsmen.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

Hard luck Fawad. Waited for 11 years for his chance but got out cheaply . I hope he gets to play 5 test matches atleast before management takes decision on him.

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

This pitch is very green.

A score of 220 will be a winning one. Babar will score a big hundred.

I wont be surprised if the grass is gone tomorrow morning.

 

[Mamoon]

We are losing back to back Tests after winning the toss and batting first. It doesn’t get more embarrassing than that.

Pakistan cricket continues to reach the deepest pits of mediocrity. We are utter rubbish.

 

[Third Man]

I Can't believe that ugly tailender fawad had average of 72 I guess in recently concluded domestic tournament.he was never good enough

Come off it now. This is like your 200th post about "ugly Fawad". It's not his fault that he's selected. The blame should go to Dictator Misbah.

 

[Bewal Express]

It will as long as Azhar, Asad and Fawad type of players are selected. Sick of this bunch Misbah , waqar , Azhar, Asad for a decade now.

I’m sure Imam at 3 would have done a lot better and a chance for Haider Ali would have done wonders for Pakistan.

Imam in Azhar out
Haider in Asad out
Shadab in Fawad out

The brutal truth is that whichever PK batsmen played, they would have struggled. I take the broader point that the batting is old and going nowhere

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Fawad should be given 3 - 4 Test Matches irrespective of what happens here

Team comes first, once ugly forever ugly. It is for a reason why even Misbah didn’t select him when he was the captain but now selecting him thinking he is doing justice for domestic performers. He is going to be good enough only for domestics.

 

[Mamoon]

And our fans deserve this humiliation for overrating these mediocre players who will not get anywhere near the top sides.

When you have only 1-2 players that would make it into other teams, it is time to keep quiet and accept your standing in world cricket. But no, we will keep thundering and run our mouths with chips on both shoulders.

 

[Thephenom]

The only way Pakistan don’t loose is if the next 4 days are rained off!

 

[Bonafide Hustler]

To all you dimwits saying Fawad is terrible is just not fair. He should be given at least 3-5 test matches to prove himself.

 

[Bewal Express]

Batting first was actually a reasonable decision. We just have awful batsmen.

No batting lineup would have been comfortable in these conditions. Remember the vaunted Inds have also been smashed in these conditions

 

[King_Kohli]

Bowlers dismissing Asad Shafiq most number of times in Tests:
9 - Rangana Herath
6 - Stuart Broad*
5 - Mitchell Starc
5 - Vernon Philander

 

[King_Kohli]

Abid Ali's scores since his debut in December 2019:
109*
38
174
0
16
20
60 (today)

 

[Gullycricket]

Atleast under Mickey we were competitive and going up in rankings. Now no hope

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

Bowlers dismissing Asad Shafiq most number of times in Tests:
9 - Rangana Herath
6 - Stuart Broad*
5 - Mitchell Starc
5 - Vernon Philander

All top bowlers

 

[ask_analyse_act]

The brutal truth is that whichever PK batsmen played, they would have struggled. I take the broader point that the batting is old and going nowhere

Exactly going nowhere. If the youngsters failed at least you know chances still be given and build the, for the future. These senior idiots can go home and sleep.

 

[Bewal Express]

And our fans deserve this humiliation for overrating these mediocre players who will not get anywhere near the top sides.

When you have only 1-2 players that would make it into other teams, it is time to keep quiet and accept your standing in world cricket. But no, we will keep thundering and run our mouths with chips on both shoulders.

Who over rates these players. The only thing I read is you gibbering on about overrating these players. Stop looking for attention.

 

[King_Kohli]

FYI - Babar Azam has scored a fifty-plus score in each of the last 6 Tests that he has played.

 

[Third Man]

To be really honest, only Shan and Babar are worth keeping in this whole batting lineup. The rest need to be replaced wholesale. Abid can work for a year or two but he's also too old.

 

[Hasan123]

And our fans deserve this humiliation for overrating these mediocre players who will not get anywhere near the top sides.

When you have only 1-2 players that would make it into other teams, it is time to keep quiet and accept your standing in world cricket. But no, we will keep thundering and run our mouths with chips on both shoulders.

I find it hilarious when our fans call players like Root,KL Rahul, and plenty of others average or overrated.

Root and KL Rahul for instance walk into our team.

 

[Jeetlodil]

What you saying?lol

still a bat first wicket. This is England bowling. Your bowlers would have struggled to get England batsmen

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Abid Ali's scores since his debut in December 2019:
109*
38
174
0
16
20
60 (today)

He is doing well in tests, ppl calling for his exclusion is not justified .. he will improve with more games.

 

[Slog]

And our fans deserve this humiliation for overrating these mediocre players who will not get anywhere near the top sides.

When you have only 1-2 players that would make it into other teams, it is time to keep quiet and accept your standing in world cricket. But no, we will keep thundering and run our mouths with chips on both shoulders.

Lol who has been overrating these players or team?

After the first test most on PP have been predicting a series loss and even before the series started it wasn’t like we were saying we will win

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

Come off it now. This is like your 200th post about "ugly Fawad". It's not his fault that he's selected. The blame should go to Dictator Misbah.

No I won't! I m loving this.I have seen people worshipping him like he would have averaged 50 had he played the majority of matches he missed but the thing is he is not good enough. He was never good enough.

 

[IcedCoffee]

Armchair PP experts on a role again

Can't expect a 35 year old who's essentially debuting on a pitch in foreign conditions with the ball zipping around, to come good. What can he do to prove his worth? Score runs in domestic--which he's done and at an incredible average. If you're going to critique the domestic system then apply the same logic to those players who over the inception of Pak cricket have ever been selected on that merit. If he'd been given a chance earlier on those dead UAE tracks, and still failed, then yea you could make a case against him, and no, dont worry about his technique. If a player like Chanderpaul can avg 50 in Eng/SA/NZ then technique isn't the sticking point. Heck, even steve smith is a good testament to that.

One thing is for sure, if he were given as long a lease as some of the parchi players in the side, he'd do FAR better looking at it objectively. Him failing now doesn't justify the injustice to his career. I know the crowd here loves to hate, but at least be fair in your assessment. Or just continue to relish in your armchair judgement snobbery.

 

[Bewal Express]

Exactly going nowhere. If the youngsters failed at least you know chances still be given and build the, for the future. These senior idiots can go home and sleep.

And playing youngster in these conditions is not a great idea. A player like Haider could be set back years. He needs to come in at Home or in the SC

 

[Kroll]

Pitch stil good for you bro

Its not as bad as our flop batsmen make it look. I mean its not a minefield. Its a good pitch for bowling and batting if you have the patience to play proper test match cricket.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

It'll rain and be a draw. Relax.

 

[Mamoon]

Who over rates these players. The only thing I read is you gibbering on about overrating these players. Stop looking for attention.

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.

 

[lahoriyah1234]

Azhar Ali is the reason Pakistan Test cricket suffers, 85 balls faced and 21 runs. *. If he had played with intent and scored 50 off 85 balls then we would be close to 200 runs. Pitch looks easy but its a 2 pace pitch u never in. If babar and rizwan can add 80 odds runs here then Pakistan can come back in this match. Overcast conditions are in place throughout this test match. Abbas and Shaheen can cause big trouble.

 

[Titan24]

Dukes ball and overcast conditions in England is a heaven for pacers. Add some batsmen with declining reflexes in the opposition, it doesnt get better than this.

 

[Slog]

No I won't! I m loving this.I have seen people worshipping him like he would have averaged 50 had he played the majority of matches he missed but the thing is he is not good enough. He was never good enough.

He definitely would’ve averaged 40+ if he had played majority of his tests in UAE/home conditions.

Also this is one innings. Let see 4-6 innings and then make a call. Other clowns have gotten series after series in easier Conditions before they were discarded

The simple fact is that he has outperformed every other option we have in domesric cricket. And he should’ve been given the chance several years ago

 

[Bewal Express]

Lol who has been overrating these players or team?

After the first test most on PP have been predicting a series loss and even before the series started it wasn’t like we were saying we will win

This idiot uses straw man arguments to prove his non existent point.

 

[MenInG]

MICHAEL ATHERTON has some sympathy for Pakistan captain Azhar...

"If he had a crystal ball and knew what was coming I’m sure he would have made a different decision at the toss although to be fair the forecast is like this for the rest of the game. When he won the toss and the sky was blue and it was a wonderful sunny day you felt it looked a batting day and then within forty minutes the clouds had rolled in and we had classic England bowling conditions. Muggy and a bit in the pitch."

 

[Bewal Express]

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.

So if a few did then that makes them the majority. You use of straw arguments to prove non existent points.

 

[Uzi]

I think we have enough. Declare and lets get into the English batsmen.

Storms are forecast for most of the match.

 

[Mamoon]

Lol who has been overrating these players or team?

After the first test most on PP have been predicting a series loss and even before the series started it wasn’t like we were saying we will win

Prior to this series, a lot of people named 5-6 Pakistani players in a combined Pakistan-England XI.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

It's crazy the difference a coach can make.

Under Mickey Pak had its combination right and we were not easy to dismiss in the UK. But under Misbah we look even worse than Bangladesh here.

What will Misbah do in NZ in the coming winter? Don't see him surviving that series.

 

[Yk313]

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.

Well played

 

[Mamoon]

So if a few did then that makes them the majority. You use of straw arguments to prove non existent points.

The majority here are like that. The rest are dubbed as ‘haters’.

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

We need a 200 runs .... play your role in Pakistan Cricket. Pray.

 

[Mamoon]

It's crazy the difference a coach can make.

Under Mickey Pak had its combination right and we were not easy to dismiss in the UK. But under Misbah we look even worse than Bangladesh here.

What will Misbah do in NZ in the coming winter? Don't see him surviving that series.

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.

 

[topspin]

Prior to this series, a lot of people named 5-6 Pakistani players in a combined Pakistan-England XI.

Forget about the negativity for one second. Did you see Abid Ali's bottom hand flicks?

 

[AdamM97]

MICHAEL ATHERTON has some sympathy for Pakistan captain Azhar...

"If he had a crystal ball and knew what was coming I’m sure he would have made a different decision at the toss although to be fair the forecast is like this for the rest of the game. When he won the toss and the sky was blue and it was a wonderful sunny day you felt it looked a batting day and then within forty minutes the clouds had rolled in and we had classic England bowling conditions. Muggy and a bit in the pitch."

Nah. Azhar’s a goner. He should retire before he brings more hate and negativity to his legacy.

Same goes for Asad Shafiq

 

[MMHS]

Is there any chance of play today? Considering the weather, now I feel PAK made a blunder of batting first here. Those drops & Azhar protected middle order till 30 overs of new ball, otherwise ..... unless they put at least 250 here, it’ll be difficult to bring Yasir in the game.

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

still tough conditions to bat and we are coming back shortly ... hope for the best guys.

 

[Bewal Express]

He definitely would’ve averaged 40+ if he had played majority of his tests in UAE/home conditions.

Also this is one innings. Let see 4-6 innings and then make a call. Other clowns have gotten series after series in easier Conditions before they were discarded

The simple fact is that he has outperformed every other option we have in domesric cricket. And he should’ve been given the chance several years ago

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

 

[Markhor]

He definitely would’ve averaged 40+ if he had played majority of his tests in UAE/home conditions.

Also this is one innings. Let see 4-6 innings and then make a call. Other clowns have gotten series after series in easier Conditions before they were discarded

The simple fact is that he has outperformed every other option we have in domesric cricket. And he should’ve been given the chance several years ago

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.

 

[Mamoon]

After the inevitable whitewash, the Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan cricket will be under the scanner. I believe Misbah will have to eventually give up either of the two roles.

Thank you Mani and Wasim for this stroke of genius.

 

[Jeetlodil]

He is doing well in tests, ppl calling for his exclusion is not justified .. he will improve with more games.

He lacks basic skills and is old. Investment in Imam will be more rewarding

 

[Bewal Express]

Is there any chance of play today? Considering the weather, now I feel PAK made a blunder of batting first here. Those drops & Azhar protected middle order till 30 overs of new ball, otherwise ..... unless they put at least 250 here, it’ll be difficult to bring Yasir in the game.

The forecast is apparently the same for the rest of the game

 

[Yk313]

It's crazy the difference a coach can make.

Under Mickey Pak had its combination right and we were not easy to dismiss in the UK. But under Misbah we look even worse than Bangladesh here.

What will Misbah do in NZ in the coming winter? Don't see him surviving that series.

Think that is a genuine concern. Hopefully he gets the sack. And even if it means being asked to relinquish one of the two roles, I hope it is at least the Chief Selector one he gets forced to vacate.

 

[Slog]

Prior to this series, a lot of people named 5-6 Pakistani players in a combined Pakistan-England XI.

[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] did that where he ridiculously put Shafiq as being better than Stokes. Don’t think most others made such ridiculous assertions. The only ridiculous assertion I saw which a lot of people were making was to say Rizwan is superior to Buttler. I def don’t agree with that claim but it’s not the most ridiculously stupid claim ever either.

 

[imshally81]

I wont be surprised if the grass is gone tomorrow morning.

Spot on

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

Is there any chance of play today? Considering the weather, now I feel PAK made a blunder of batting first here. Those drops & Azhar protected middle order till 30 overs of new ball, otherwise ..... unless they put at least 250 here, it’ll be difficult to bring Yasir in the game.

Insha Allah we will get a bit more than that. Ameen. and then we will see england all out in a 100 runs ...

 

[Mamoon]

Forget about the negativity for one second. Did you see Abid Ali's bottom hand flicks?

He looked terrible against anything that wasn’t a half-volley. No point picking him outside Asia. He will turn out to be another Hafeez.

 

[Yk313]

No, it had a tiny green tint at the start.

This is a 450 wicket on which a team of has-been geriatrics are showcasing their collective age-related decline.

Don’t know about the pitch, but I do know how Atherton & Ward have been harping on about these being ideal English bowling conditions and the ball swinging around corners.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

To be really honest, only Shan and Babar are worth keeping in this whole batting lineup. The rest need to be replaced wholesale. Abid can work for a year or two but he's also too old.

Shan didn’t scored fluent century. Catches were dropped. He is a very limited player. Babar clearly stands out in this batting lineup.

 

[topspin]

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.

Actually, Mickey was instrumental to the development of Pakistan's best players (such as Shaheen and Babar), so he deserves more credit than Misbah for winning Pakistan that game.

Misbah inherited a good team whereas Mickey inherited a very poor Sri Lanka team who had no chance to compete with Pakistan away from home.

Mickey had his flaws but he was miles better than Misbah, so don't get it twisted bro.

 

[Bewal Express]

He lacks basic skills and is old. Investment in Imam will be more rewarding

You don't average 56 by lacking basic skills.

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

Spot on

I make my own conspiracies.....

 

[Slog]

It's crazy the difference a coach can make.

Under Mickey Pak had its combination right and we were not easy to dismiss in the UK. But under Misbah we look even worse than Bangladesh here.

What will Misbah do in NZ in the coming winter? Don't see him surviving that series.

Mickey was an atrocious coach at test cricket level. And it is due to him we don’t have a settled test lineup at all.

He tried like dozens of all rounders and messed with positions of Azhar and Asad several times who before his experiments were doing ok. And played a new pace attack every series and kept recycling . He was atrocious

 

[Yk313]

[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] did that where he ridiculously put Shafiq as being better than Stokes. Don’t think most others made such ridiculous assertions. The only ridiculous assertion I saw which a lot of people were making was to say Rizwan is superior to Buttler. I def don’t agree with that claim but it’s not the most ridiculously stupid claim ever either.

As a keeper or batsman? Lol if it’s the latter.

 

[ManFan]

Why, why would you bat first?

Because they fear collapse; weak-minded losers.

 

[Markhor]

It's crazy the difference a coach can make.

Under Mickey Pak had its combination right and we were not easy to dismiss in the UK. But under Misbah we look even worse than Bangladesh here.

What will Misbah do in NZ in the coming winter? Don't see him surviving that series.

Misbah will be dismissed after the inevitable group stage exit at the T20 World Cup IMO.

Misbah's politicking has come back to bite him. Told Mickey to his face he'd be retained, then lobbied for his job as member of the cricket committee. And I say that as someone who respected Misbah the Test captain.

 

[shamaan]

Batting first was actually a reasonable decision. We just have awful batsmen.

Awful decision

 

[topspin]

He looked terrible against anything that wasn’t a half-volley. No point picking him outside Asia. He will turn out to be another Hafeez.

His bottom handed style of batting isn't suited to conditions with extravagant swing and seam bowling, so I agree. He is going to be another Asian track bully like Hafeez.

 

[Mamoon]

Actually, Mickey was instrumental to the development of Pakistan's best players (such as Shaheen and Babar), so he deserves more credit than Misbah for winning Pakistan that game.

Misbah inherited a good team whereas Mickey inherited a very poor Sri Lanka team who had no chance to compete with Pakistan away from home.

Mickey had his flaws but he was miles better than Misbah, so don't get it twisted bro.

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.

 

[shamaan]

still a bat first wicket. This is England bowling. Your bowlers would have struggled to get England batsmen

Like we did in the first innings of the first test with not as much swing compared to this test

 

[lahoriyah1234]

Who Bats in overcast conditions. * I know Pakistan.

 

[MMHS]

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.

Fawad indeed was hard done by. Remember, he was dropped after failing to cope with moving ball in NZ 10 years back, bringing him back again for English tour was unjust. If they had him in mind should have played in Asian Tests first. Now, it’s almost a hopeless situation for both him and PAK.

 

[topspin]

Misbah will be dismissed after the inevitable group stage exit at the T20 World Cup IMO.

Misbah's politicking has come back to bite him. Told Mickey to his face he'd be retained, then lobbied for his job as member of the cricket committee. And I say that as someone who respected Misbah the Test captain.

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.

 

[Bewal Express]

Awful decision

It isn't, the ball will zip around all game if the forecast holds.

 

[IcedCoffee]

Batting first was actually a reasonable decision. We just have awful batsmen.

Yup, as Atherson said, you don't expect the conditions to dramatically change 40 min in after it appearing to be sunny at the toss. Nobody expects the ball to still hoop around so much at 45 overs in.