Poor captaincy, poor body-language, poor selection BUT an awful pitch [again]

[Sherlock]

I don't criticise pitches often, and when I do it's with good reason.

I know we've had a good run in these conditions but I really, really hate these kind of pitches.

Why do we consistently have curators that nullify the bowlers on the opening few days?

Why do we allow this?

Can we not have a tinge of green brought in to help both sides?

Seeing Pakistan over the last few years, or now SL score so easily is truly disheartening and a snoozefest.

Surely the PCB can help out in this regard?

I don't want to see Shah bowl for eternity and get carried off with an injury. These are poor conditions to bowl, and yet we haven't bothered changing the way we treat the bowlers.

I'm not saying have a pitch like the ones India have had the last few series' but something in-between to give both sides the chance to show off their capabilities.

 

[arehaan]

Dont fault the pitch. I think this pitch has plenty of life and we will see that now when Sri Lanka bowls. Our bowlers and strategy have let us down in this series. First game also we played the wrong combination and same mistake was done here as well unless we find a genuine allrounder who can bowl handily as the 5th option we wont succeed. I feel Pak will have a very hard time saving this game given the spin in the wicket and 5 man attack from SL who will have all the confidence now with huge runs on board

 

[Major]

Sarfraz is only good for odi captaincy. Theyw ill ahve to give captaincy for test to either Azhar ali or bring hafeez back and make him captain

 

[htariq25]

This is why I think only play test matches in UAE in December/January when the pitch has a bit more moisture in it so it does a lot more. Remember the 3-0 whitewash of England which was in January time where the highest score was only 350 odd and there were only 2 centuries made. That series was a brilliant and entertaining series. We need pitches like that where there is a little bit for the seamers and a lot for the spinners. At the moment these pitches are way too flat and are a nightmare for fast bowlers. I believe the best way to get a good crowd in UAE tests is playing in proper winter time as not only are there generally public holidays at this time but also better pitches and more entertaining play. I really hope PCB realises this soon and decides to move home test series to every year only in December and January time. Odis and t20s shouldn't be played in this time and should only be played in October/ November to save the tests for December.

 

[htariq25]

Also I feel Pakistan are getting a taste of their own medicine of what they generally do to teams in the UAE. We generally make sure the pitch is extremely flat for the first few days and invite foreign teams in the heat of October. We then generally win the toss and bat first, score big runs on the board and on the last day when the pitch is spinning the opposition gets teared apart. This time we haven't won the toss but produced the same pitches and srilanka have taken advantage of that and done to us what we do to many teams in UAE. Our winning streak in UAE was always a matter of luck on these pitches as we won the toss regularly. Bowling first in the heat of October on these roads is the worst thing. I hope Pakistan learn their lesson after this series to never produce such roads anymore that turn square on day 5 and rather play more tests in December/January time when there is a bit more moisture in the pitch for the fast bowlers and more for bowlers in general, especially the first few days where generally it is a flat road. Its not a UAE problem imo. Its a Pakistan management problem that they WANT these awful pitches because it has brought them some success.

 

[Big Mac]

Also I feel Pakistan are getting a taste of their own medicine of what they generally do to teams in the UAE. We generally make sure the pitch is extremely flat for the first few days and invite foreign teams in the heat of October. We then generally win the toss and bat first, score big runs on the board and on the last day when the pitch is spinning the opposition gets teared apart. This time we haven't won the toss but produced the same pitches and srilanka have taken advantage of that and done to us what we do to many teams in UAE. Our winning streak in UAE was always a matter of luck on these pitches as we won the toss regularly. Bowling first in the heat of October on these roads is the worst thing. I hope Pakistan learn their lesson after this series to never produce such roads anymore that turn square on day 5 and rather play more tests in December/January time when there is a bit more moisture in the pitch for the fast bowlers and more for bowlers in general, especially the first few days where generally it is a flat road. Its not a UAE problem imo. Its a Pakistan management problem that they WANT these awful pitches because it has brought them some success.

First of all, we have lost twice batting second in the UAE. Once against Australia in 2002 (!) and then last week against Sri Lanka. We've lost five times batting first.

Secondly, we have won the toss and lost 4 times in the UAE. We have lost 3 times after losing the toss.


Can people stop making bold statements that have little to no basis in reality?

 

[Bewal Express]

Would you be complaining if PK had batted 1st and scored 450, no is the answer. For me these types of wickets are destroying test cricket. Who will in their right mind sit in the ground and watch this tripe. At least at home, we can go shopping and watch the bits we like.

 

[htariq25]

First of all, we have lost twice batting second in the UAE. Once against Australia in 2002 (!) and then last week against Sri Lanka. We've lost five times batting first.

Secondly, we have won the toss and lost 4 times in the UAE. We have lost 3 times after losing the toss.


Can people stop making bold statements that have little to no basis in reality?

In the last few years tho.

 

[IAJ]

First of all, we have lost twice batting second in the UAE. Once against Australia in 2002 (!) and then last week against Sri Lanka. We've lost five times batting first.

Secondly, we have won the toss and lost 4 times in the UAE. We have lost 3 times after losing the toss.


Can people stop making bold statements that have little to no basis in reality?

Bro, if people only typed correct stuff here, you would have nothing to write here

 

[Big Mac]

In the last few years tho.

Why are you digging in your heels and doubling down on being wrong instead of taking this as a chance to go "Huh, I guess I learned something new today"?

Talking about last few years when we NEVER lost a UAE test batting second under Misbah. NEVER, last time I checked, also includes 'the last few years' no matter how you choose to define it.

 

[waleed88]

The pitches have been the same since 2014 as far as I remember, Misbah going in with Rahat and IK Jr vs Australia and NZ with Zulfi and YAsir taking care of the rest.

Don't know what made us think the 3-1 strategy as a bowling combination when that strategy was infallible for a long time for PK and paid dividends too

 

[ads101]

Sarfraz is only good for odi captaincy. Theyw ill ahve to give captaincy for test to either Azhar ali or bring hafeez back and make him captain

Hafeez I think would have made a good LOI captain (and was a decent T20 captain), but dunno about tests, the one test he captained he didn't do a great job. In many ways Sarfraz and Hafeez are similar in terms of captaincy styles, even though Sarfraz is the better of the two.

Too early to make a call on Sarfraz, his on field captaincy wasn't terrible really (especially first test). Biggest fault was team selection and the fact that some of our pacers aren't fit. Which is an easy problem to fix, just pick 2 spinners next time.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

This pitch is better for shot making. Outfield is good too.
The pitch in last match was just awful. Nothing for bowlers, nothing for batsmen.

 

[htariq25]

Why are you digging in your heels and doubling down on being wrong instead of taking this as a chance to go "Huh, I guess I learned something new today"?

Talking about last few years when we NEVER lost a UAE test batting second under Misbah. NEVER, last time I checked, also includes 'the last few years' no matter how you choose to define it.

How many did we win batting second compared to batting first in uae since
October 2014
Batting first
Won 7
Lost 2
Draw 1
Batting second
Won 0
Lost 1
Draw 1

 

[MMHS]

I think, this is the first time in SEP Test cricket is hosted in UAE (or earliest in the winter season). Closest probably was PAK-SAF in 2010 in early OCT, hence the wicket is ultra dead. Also, the heat isn't helping the bowlers for longer spells. In such conditions, even if one isn't bowling, being in field actually drains lots of energy. I think, 5 bowler was a MUST here, including 2 specialist spinners, probably 3 - Bilal should have been there as well for the left-handers in SRL line-up. Overall, I think this is the 2nd worst series I have seen in terms of hots's advantage. First one was also between these 2 sides -

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/series/388989.html

 

[Sherlock]

Would you be complaining if PK had batted 1st and scored 450, no is the answer. For me these types of wickets are destroying test cricket. Who will in their right mind sit in the ground and watch this tripe. At least at home, we can go shopping and watch the bits we like.

Yep, I've complained about these pitches before. This isn't a sour grapes thread.

 

[Mamoon]

This has easily been the most disastrous home Test series in a long, long time. For the sake of brevity, and to cut a long story short, it has been absolute shambles from the word go.

Firstly, playing Test cricket in the UAE in September/October is torturous and on top of that, it is only a 2 Test series which means that once you are on the ropes in these conditions, there is very little chance of staging a comeback.

Furthermore, the team selection has been absolutely baffling as well. 4 bowlers, including just one specialist spinner, is recipe for disaster under these circumstances.

The PCB along with Sarfraz and Mickey have handed this series to SL on a platter.

 

[Kroll]

Would you be complaining if PK had batted 1st and scored 450, no is the answer. For me these types of wickets are destroying test cricket. Who will in their right mind sit in the ground and watch this tripe. At least at home, we can go shopping and watch the bits we like.

Well, you couldn't blame any supporters in the ground if they ended up going to someplace like the Dubai Mall for a bit then coming back later.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Can't really change do much in UAE unless they change the soil which they won't. What is in PCB's control is the ball being used. They can change to Dukes to get a bit more help, it won't be anything drastic but at least it's something.

 

[Bewal Express]

Well, you couldn't blame any supporters in the ground if they ended up going to someplace like the Dubai Mall for a bit then coming back later.

Who in their right mind would come back. Terrible batsman facing awful bowlers and on a dead wicket.

 

[Sherlock]

This has easily been the most disastrous home Test series in a long, long time. For the sake of brevity, and to cut a long story short, it has been absolute shambles from the word go.

Firstly, playing Test cricket in the UAE in September/October is torturous and on top of that, it is only a 2 Test series which means that once you are on the ropes in these conditions, there is very little chance of staging a comeback.

Furthermore, the team selection has been absolutely baffling as well. 4 bowlers, including just one specialist spinner, is recipe for disaster under these circumstances.

The PCB along with Sarfraz and Mickey have handed this series to SL on a platter.

Total agreement. Well said. It's been a disaster all-round.