Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | 1st Test | Abu Dhabi | Sep 28 - Oct 2, 2017 | Day 3

[MMHS]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] who to blame for this slower than snail batting strategy? and is there any justification for that?

3 of the 7 batsmen are absolute stone wallers, even in 1960s standard, Asad is just passing by whisker in boredom metre, while Haris is on debut - replacing Misbah; rest two has the proper approach. Another problem is PAK's line up is perfectly upside down - the most defensive 3 players at top, when the ball is hard & comes on to bat, then Asad ... by the time Sarfu & Haris comes, if SRL don't take the 2nd ball, basically those batsmen would try to force some lather rags.

But, still this wicket is atrocious - no pace, carry or bounce of the wicket. It's possible to kick around for 2 days, but whoever tries to score over 3 RR, they'll lose wicket.

 

[fasihulhaq94]

Shukar hai. Need to look for a big partnership here. These two needs to play out the last two sessions and then pick up the rate romorrow.

that means go at 2 rpo for the remaining day?

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

I know you can score quicker but our players are so use to this formula it's difficult for them to change.

I hope Harris doesn't turn into a tuk tuk type player.

difficult or are they just timid?

Its not like younis would bat at snails pace when he was set

Even Misbah had a second gear

None of our top 4 want to do that right

Shan is just crap, so point discussing him

Sami is known as a stroke player and has shown it in domestic cricket - so he clearly to afraid, similar with Asad who has been a coward his entire pak career thus far

Azhar doesnt have the capability, but he is good at what does so he should open

 

[JibranAnsari]

They need to reshuffle the batting order , bring asad back to number 6. Babar or haris should bat at number 4.


The top 4 are way too slow.

 

[babajee]

Missing younis khan

 

[Dios]

Bangladesh just scored more runs in one over than Pakistan scored in 12+ overs and that too off Rabada whereas Pakistan are facing legends like Lakmal and Perera.

 

[m.shah]

Shafiq takes timidity to another level

 

[Hasan123]

This isn't easy to watch

 

[Shafi]

Shafiq is such a rubbish. 2 of 27 in a flat pitch? Can't believe. We desperately need couple of sensible batsmen

 

[MMHS]

Bangladesh just scored more runs in one over than Pakistan scored in 12+ overs and that too off Rabada whereas Pakistan are facing legends like Lakmal and Perera.

That's after 5 runs in 38 minutes .......... and next over senior pro manages to touch a leg side wide

 

[UN talkz]

TUK
TUK
TUK
TUK
TUK
TUK
TUK
TUK
TUK
Ohhhhh leg bye one run
TUK
TUK........

 

[Hasan123]

Finally some positive batting from Shafiq

 

[Hasan123]

I think we should be able to rotate the strike better then we have done so far.

 

[UN talkz]

I cant believe my eyes.... is that Tendulkar who hit the four.

 

[Yatoo]

This wicket is simply atrocious and so is the outfield and weather.

Pakistan should play "Home Tests" in England

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Maiden over.

 

[Yatoo]

Azhar Ali will kill these Lankans with boredom.

 

[shah_1]

It's horrible to see our top 4

All one dimensional

You need at least one batsmen who has a strike rate of 55-58

 

[pakistani pride]

difficult or are they just timid?

Its not like younis would bat at snails pace when he was set

Even Misbah had a second gear

None of our top 4 want to do that right

Shan is just crap, so point discussing him

Sami is known as a stroke player and has shown it in domestic cricket - so he clearly to afraid, similar with Asad who has been a coward his entire pak career thus far

Azhar doesnt have the capability, but he is good at what does so he should open

With due respect to Shafiq but he is well over 30 now. If he still cant play his shots he never will. Besides he is very average and master of soft runs.

 

[ExpressPacer]

This is the most boring pair EVER.

 

[ExpressPacer]

I can bet my grandma can bat quicker than these guys. Why are they not even looking for runs? Its not as if the mighty WI of the 80's are bowling in Perth.

 

[shah_1]

Asad Shafiq never improved his game, sign of an average batsman. If he can't do it after 57 matches, don't expect him to do wonders at 4.

He doesn't deserve that position at all.

 

[JibranAnsari]

asad is averaging 14 this year and he should be out of the team if he fails in this series.

 

[Hasan123]

Azhar isn't a number 3 at all. He is perfectly suited to opening the batting. Number 3 requires a slightly more dynamic batsmen who can move the game forward. Azhar as an opener can see the new ball off and then as his innings progresses he can bat at a better strike rate whilst also grinding the bowlers down. Right now he is just putting more pressure on us.

 

[Hasan123]

Asad was a fluent player who could hit pace and spin both sides of the wicket , don't know what's happened to him recently. I have backed him since day 1. Hope he can come good.

 

[JibranAnsari]

lol 2 runs of outside edge

 

[Boi]

Not a single Pakistani batsmen has been able to pick Sandakan properly. They're all trying to read him off the pitch.

 

[arehaan]

Someone needs to give this keeper an earful it's ridiculous

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Thank God this is only a 2 match series.

 

[Boi]

lol roshan idiot

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Swept for by Shafiq

 

[Hasan123]

Nice sweep from Asad.

 

[Hasan123]

Thank God this is only a 2 match series.

Lol it was supposed to be a 3 test match series.

 

[m.shah]

And we say there are empty stands in UAE who would pay watch such boring batsmen??

 

[arehaan]

Sri Lankan bowlers remain fresh due to better combination whereas we made a big blunder and Yasir shah was badly burned to cover for it

 

[JibranAnsari]

azhar 11 away from 5000 test runs.

 

[Hasan123]

Don't think Lankans have the attack to get 20 wickets on this surface.

 

[Madplayer]

Two senior pros playing like they just want to kill time.

I hope the next pair of Babar and Haris (A Pakistani fan's wet dream) score quicker than this.

 

[ARK Rafay]

I'm not expecting too much from Pakistan as they have new team after Mis-You and a new test captain...

It will take a few series to get right combination and Sarfraz to understand fully what test captaincy is...

 

[Slog]

whats the plan?

 

[Madplayer]

whats the plan?

To NOT lose a series in UAE in God knows how many years

 

[cricketerB94]

Look at Bangladesh's RR and look at Pakistan's RR. No wonder we are sitting at No.6 in test rankings. And Bangladesh will overtake us soon if our batting mindset do not change in test cricket.

Expected better from Mickey and Sarfraz.

 

[Hasan123]

Getting bat on ball but hitting the ball straight to the fielders, very frustrating.

 

[Shafi]

By batting like that we will take 4th days to cross SL's runs and then take 100 runs lead by tea 5th day.
It will be a mere draw. Such a negative batting by our batsmen

 

[shah_1]

Misbah used to at least make up for all the dot balls at the start by smashing spinners. Asad can't even do that.

 

[Watsupdoc]

Yaar tohda toh tez khel lo...

 

[Sirris]

Test cricket is dying and our batsmen are making sure everybody gets the memo.

Poor batting display from these two.

We have to get rid of the old attitude towards batting otherwise there is no way people are going to come and watch this performance live. They can bore themselves to death at home too.

 

[shah_1]

It's clear that they are playing for the draw, nonsense approach by the whole team.

 

[Markhor]

Not excusing the lack of strike rotation, we should get a move on but the pitch is so slow that the ball doesn't easily come onto the bat. Surfaces like this inhibit fluent strokeplay. Look at how well we batted at The Oval last year on a pitch with proper pace and bounce.

 

[Watsupdoc]

This is perfect as sleep therapy.

 

[Sirris]

To NOT lose a series in UAE in God knows how many years

People don't care about such a meaningless milestone if it's achieved by playing like timid rabbits. People care about entertainment. Win or loss that's secondary.

 

[Hasan123]

Not excusing the lack of strike rotation, we should get a move on but the pitch is so slow that the ball doesn't easily come onto the bat. Surfaces like this inhibit fluent strokeplay. Look at how well we batted at The Oval last year on a pitch with proper pace and bounce.

Which is what I was trying to say earlier.

 

[Hasan123]

Hopefully 1 big score will kick Asad on to some more.

 

[Markhor]

Shafiq really doesn't fill you as a fan with the sort of confidence you want in a senior batsman.

7 years of playing international cricket and he still bats like a nervous young kid on debut. Frustrating as we have seen some quality innings under pressure but he isn't consistent enough.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Shafiq runs four

 

[Hasan123]

More strike rotation like that is needed.

 

[ARK Rafay]

Hopefully after new ball. These two will get out and we can see some shots from Babar, Sarfraz and Haris...

 

[Hasan123]

We are awful at putting away loose deliveries.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Finally some aggression from Shafiq.

 

[Hasan123]

Shafiq showing some fluency now. Good to see.

 

[shah_1]

Good going Shafiq

Keep it flowing

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Part timer on,should look to attack him.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

4 runs off the last over.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Just a single off that last over.

 

[Hasan123]

Sandakan is a talent.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Yet another maiden #khallikarao

 

[AFM]

You guys complain too much. This is the type of play that is necessary to succeed in UAE pitches. We have been using the same strategy for years and SL in the first innings followed the exact same blue print.

We saw how Australia played here when they tried to force the issue. The pitch simply does not reward good cricket. Not good for batting or bowling. And the outfield is so lush green that it kills any chance of reverse swing.

 

[Madplayer]

People don't care about such a meaningless milestone if it's achieved by playing like timid rabbits. People care about entertainment. Win or loss that's secondary.

You will surprised how many people care about it. Its funny because the record is bound to be broken some day.

 

[Madplayer]

It is easy to stay in but not easy to score. One of the most boring wickets to play cricket on. Pakistani fans like UAE purely because of Pakistan's dominating record here.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Come on, its a total flat pitch with no swing, little to no spin and yet these batsmen can't score at all.

If the goal is to win the game, increase the pace a bit -- it doesn't even have to be that much, just get to 3 runs an over.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Well fielded by Herath.Showing the kids how it’s done.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Good to see some fans in the stadium.

 

[wasimjunior]

Is the pitch getting tougher?

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Second new ball is available now.

 

[Hasan123]

With the new ball, it should come onto the bat better. So we should try to be more positive here.

 

[Markhor]

You will surprised how many people care about it. Its funny because the record is bound to be broken some day.

How is our "home" Test record meaningless and not something to care about ? It is a top achievement to make a foreign country your new home base, play on foreign wickets that you haven't grown up on (even Pakistani wickets are more sporting than UAE) and remain undefeated for 7 years. Which other team in world cricket has not lost a home series for 7 years ?

I remember the "glory days" of the 1990s and 2000s that people go on about. We shelled home Test series to the likes of Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka (twice), England, India, Australia and South Africa. We weren't playing entertaining cricket either in those shambolic defeats.

Not excusing this turgid batting performance, but I don't know why Pakistan fans love to engage in self-hatred and bash achievements we should be proud of.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Azhar on 4999

 

[Goooby]

Haha the crowd singing lathay di chaadar.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

There he is,completes 5000

 

[Hasan123]

Well done to Azhar. One of the good guys of Pakistan cricket.