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Sri Lanka reach 36/1 at Stumps on Day 2 of the 1st Test after Pakistan's 218, lead by 40 runs

Just 15 behind now.

Wide open this match, but Pakistan has to bat last on this pitch.
 
Nasim Shah should get a decent bat sponsor after this innings. He's got solid defence for a #11.
 
Just tuned in, Terrific innings by babar - on his way to greatness.
terrific effort by tailenders. I'd still say Pak blew a chance to bat SL out of the game having got the opposition for under 300 on first day.
pitch looks like turning big and if yassir gets going and blows pak away cheapely - game is there for taking . but guys like Dimuth, mendis, silva are due and it wont be easy.
top class fightback from pak - exciting test match ahead!
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Say what you will about Babar's approach but he has cut this lead by more than half while batting with the tail. So clearly his approach has worked to some extent so far.
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S Waugh was one of the best batting with the tail I ever saw. He also used to take singles on offer when batting with #8, #9 and sometimes even #10 (depends who & the bowling). Sure he'd look for boundaries but he'd take most runs on offer, singles or no. His theory was that if you give tailenders some responsibility, they respond- trust someone to rise to the occasion. If you psychologically tell them they are crap (by hiding them from the strike) then they bat poorly in response.

It worked. Countless times I saw him turn a rearguard into runs. Babar has done similar. Yasir batted almost 10 overs on his own. Now Naseem doing ok.
 
Poor Nasim itching to hit a shot. Practices his aggressive shot after every defense, you almost feel sorry for him.
 
wrongun said:
S Waugh was one of the best batting with the tail I ever saw. He also used to take singles on offer when batting with #8, #9 and sometimes even #10 (depends who & the bowling). Sure he'd look for boundaries but he'd take most runs on offer, singles or no. His theory was that if you give tailenders some responsibility, they respond- trust someone to rise to the occasion. If you psychologically tell them they are crap (by hiding them from the strike) then they bat poorly in response.

It worked. Countless times I saw him turn a rearguard into runs. Babar has done similar. Yasir batted almost 10 overs on his own. Now Naseem doing ok.
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Must say I was sceptical of this approach but it worked like a miracle.
 
This pitch will get harder to bat on, we have to bat last. Also are negative top 3 means chasing will be tough. We need our bowlers to bowl well and take all our catches in next inns.
 
Is it just me or do you guys feel the same that Babar Azam's hitting ability looks so much better than before?
 
Some days ago i read here bairstow is better than babar. Idk the world where he (or many active ones) could have made such a ton. This is top class.
 
Hyder said:
Some days ago i read here bairstow is better than babar. Idk the world where he (or many active ones) could have made such a ton. This is top class.
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Bairstow made a very similar ton to this against New Zealand. Went from 50/6 to 320 all out batting with the lower order.
 
Pakistan within a fair chance again but Yasir has to deliver big time here. Nawaz must be bowled as much as yasir.
 
What an incredible knock from babar.

great comeback from pakistan.


batting last will still be really difficult for pakistan
 
Fantastic knock Babar.

Saved the team under severe pressure
 
8 overs left in day, 2 wickets would be ideal tonight.
 
Hyder said:
Some days ago i read here bairstow is better than babar. Idk the world where he (or many active ones) could have made such a ton. This is top class.
Click to expand...

Bairstow is in outrageous form these days but don't think he can handle spin. Babar is a player for all conditions.
 
Pakistan should know now that they will not survive with a defensive approach. They might as well play baz ball and look to chase the 150-200 runs Sri Lanka set us in the 4th innings
 
wrongun said:
S Waugh was one of the best batting with the tail I ever saw. He also used to take singles on offer when batting with #8, #9 and sometimes even #10 (depends who & the bowling). Sure he'd look for boundaries but he'd take most runs on offer, singles or no. His theory was that if you give tailenders some responsibility, they respond- trust someone to rise to the occasion. If you psychologically tell them they are crap (by hiding them from the strike) then they bat poorly in response.

It worked. Countless times I saw him turn a rearguard into runs. Babar has done similar. Yasir batted almost 10 overs on his own. Now Naseem doing ok.
Click to expand...

That's actually a great philosophy that makes alot of sense when you think about it. And the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Naseem ended up playing 63 balls precisely because he was given that responsibility.
 
Outstanding knock... But sad to see babar azam has put oon so much weight, look at his belly fat and over all weight... If he has to prolong his career and stay in form, he should get in the shape to bat like hours and hours at 30 plus age... Fitness will then really come into play... Didn't like at all this unprofessional stuff from a champ like babar
 
Rana said:
Pakistan should know now that they will not survive with a defensive approach. They might as well play baz ball and look to chase the 150-200 runs Sri Lanka set us in the 4th innings
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Let babar play how he wants. The others shouldn't emulate him because they aren't good enough. It's best for them to go agressive.
 
Advantage Pakistan. Sri Lanka were mentally beaten in this innings because Pakistan managed to come within a razor's edge of their lead eventhough they were 104-7 during the first session.
 
Marooned said:
Bairstow is in outrageous form these days but don't think he can handle spin. Babar is a player for all conditions.
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Root and Babar clear 1 and 2 atm.
Can't discount Smith but he does not seem the same post COVID-19.
Not sure who is better out of Root and Babar, Root plays more so has an advantage in terms of sheer volume of runs.
 
Super Santi said:
Root and Babar clear 1 and 2 atm.
Can't discount Smith but he does not seem the same post COVID-19.
Not sure who is better out of Root and Babar, Root plays more so has an advantage in terms of sheer volume of runs.
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Root rn is better for all he has done. But babar is as good as any imo and it's only a matter of time before he goes really big.
 
Best knock in Babar's international career.

The conditions, the situation and the fact that he had a no.11 at the other end for the majority of this knock. ATG level knock.
 
Babar is the best batsman in the world right now all formats combined without a shadow of doubt.

This is one of the best innings in the history of test cricket.
 
This is going to be a tight game though.

Expect Sri Lankan batters , especially their middle order to do much better than they did in the first innings so pak may have to chase close to 250 in the 4th innings which will set up for a grandstand finish.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
That's actually a great philosophy that makes alot of sense when you think about it. And the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Naseem ended up playing 63 balls precisely because he was given that responsibility.
Click to expand...

I think the best batter that i have seen with tail is Steve Smith and he too gives a lot of strike to the tailenders
 
Masterstroke by Rizwan to bring Nawaz on. Provides control while keeping the run-flow in check. With two fast-bowlers it becomes easy for Sri Lanka to get a few boundaries...even if its off edges, and ease off the pressure.

This is why I rate Rizwan highly as captain. He is quite sharp tactically. At the very least he should be VC in all formats.
 
Last edited:
This is Babar's best 1st innings knock surpassing the 90 he made in NZ in 2016.

It was looking like the lead would be around 100 but Babar shepherded the tail expertly.

Anything over 150 would be difficult to chase here.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Masterstroke by Rizwan to bring Nawaz on. Provides control while keeping the run-flow in check. With two fast-bowlers it becomes easy for Sri Lanka to get a few boundaries...even if its off edges, and ease off the pressure.

This is why I rate Rizwan highly as captain. He is quite sharp tactically. At the very least he should be VC in all formats.
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Agree. Correct move.
 
Still can't understand the rationale behind playing an offie with only 2 lefties in top 7 for SL.
 
Moiz14 said:
Outstanding knock... But sad to see babar azam has put oon so much weight, look at his belly fat and over all weight... If he has to prolong his career and stay in form, he should get in the shape to bat like hours and hours at 30 plus age... Fitness will then really come into play... Didn't like at all this unprofessional stuff from a champ like babar
Click to expand...
Fit is overrated for test batting where has his crazy fitness regime taken Kohli once he was over 30.

For test match batting the old fashion approach of batting and batting in nets along with some laps of the ground are enough this is how the likes of Sachin, miandad lara kept themselves fit and still scored plenty post 35 age.
 
Just curious, why don't Pakistan play Imad Wasim in test cricket. He looks like a better spinner than Nawaz and is a much better batsman as well.
 
Expecting SL to score 300 here. It's not a difficult pitch by any means.
 
SL batsmen being positive. Watch our openers and number 3 bat like snails again in 4th inns.
 
Babar is one of the best at the moment but he is bad captain , his team selection is poor in fact very poor.
 
That's it for the day. Atleast the wicket made it better. Big day for spinners tomorrow.
 
Pakistan wont chase more than 170 last. crucial morning with ball on day 3 now.
 
With one of the worst selections in recent times( that I can remember), we are still hanging on. We will lose but it least we have a small chance. Who the hell chose this team in these conditions needs to be sacked and a sensible fan should be appointed as the selection. Agha Salman was playing against my sons Sunday Parks league team 4 weeks ago and here he is playing in a test. Nauman is a poor spinner but he would have been OK on here because of his experience. If wasn't going to play here, why is he on the tour.
 
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