Steven Smith's Dropped catch of Abdullah Shafique cost Australia the match

[Amjid Javed]

The old adage of catches win you matches (or in this case dropping them costs you win) holds to.

Plenty of theory's going around why Australia didnt win this game and some of the mind have partially contributed to the drawn game. However one single dropped catch by Steve smith had the biggest impact.

1) Australia could have batted quicker - true maybe a few extra overs in the field would have been saved.
2) The follow on - Aussies had 170 overs to take 10 pakistani wickets.

Now lets look at the match situation on day 4 At lunch.

PAK 148 & 18/1 (21)

AUS 556/9 d & 97/2 d (22.3)

During the next session 7 overs into the next session (approx 30 mins)

Steve smith drops Shafique off cummins in the 28th over. Pakistan would have been 38/3. meaning next in would have been fawad Alam a walking wicket with pakistan in a huge hole and the inns in reverse. Still 144 overs to bat to survive. Can anyone on here hand on heart say we would have escaped with a draw if fawad was in that early?

Shafique was dismissed 80 overs later in the 108th over (last before lunch on day 5). So in terms of runs cost of the drop is not really significant. however that one drop is the difference between fawad coming in at 38/3 instead of 245/3 practically a day later.

80 overs in the field that drop cost. So in terms of most impact thats where Aussies can look at after this draw. Add to that they dropped another 5 catches later on.

Thank you steven smith for helping pakistan with your butter fingers.

 

[Villager6964]

Yeah that's true and Australia was very bad in the fielding it's like they have had the spirits of Pakistani players entered into them.

 

[Shazzam]

Steve Smith has surprisingly been out of color with his fielding. He has been dropping plenty of catches this series. The one he dropped off Shafiq was a absolute dolly.

 

[Major]

Poor attempt to take credit away from pakistan.

If you are to change one factor than other factors also change. Had abdullah shafique catch been held, maybe fawad coming in at that time would had scored 150...

Pakistan has dropped million catches, but no one says they won because pakistan dropped catches.

Just because you drop a catch doesnt mean it stops you from playing good cricket. Drop catches are often used as an excuse in cricket to play badly, when in fact, it is upon you to create more chances.

If we look at the pak vs nz match in the 2011 world cup, shoaib akhtar till this day blame kamran akmal for ending his career in that match which resulted in him not playing the semi final against india. But the truth is, if you rewatch that match, Akhtar couldnt replicate his bowling and by the death overs, akhtar was bowling full tosses to taylor. Ross taylor and co were able to smack 80 runs off 4 overs that set a mamoth total for pakistan

Similar way, when pakistan lost the world cup game of 2015 to austrlia in the qf, people bashed rahat ali rightly so, but i believe blame also went to wahab riaz because he wasnt able to set up watson again. Pakistan also overall played that match poorly from a batting pov.

Thus, drop catches doesnt mean you take credit away from the other team and blame it all on that one thing. As a champion team you are suppose to create more chances.

Amir is creddited as a good limited bowler in the past because when in the champions tropht of 2017 the catch was dropped by azhar ali, Amir again created anothrr chance.

Australia were requiered to create chances, and Pakistan were required to play out the match.

 

[Rana]

This has been one of the most gruelling series for both teams, particularly Australia.

They have been put on the field most of the time with their bowler’s toiling. It can naturally lead to loss of concentration as you would think there will hardly be any chances

 

[Amjid Javed]

Poor attempt to take credit away from pakistan.

If you are to change one factor than other factors also change. Had abdullah shafique catch been held, maybe fawad coming in at that time would had scored 150...

Pakistan has dropped million catches, but no one says they won because pakistan dropped catches.

Just because you drop a catch doesnt mean it stops you from playing good cricket. Drop catches are often used as an excuse in cricket to play badly, when in fact, it is upon you to create more chances.

If we look at the pak vs nz match in the 2011 world cup, shoaib akhtar till this day blame kamran akmal for ending his career in that match which resulted in him not playing the semi final against india. But the truth is, if you rewatch that match, Akhtar couldnt replicate his bowling and by the death overs, akhtar was bowling full tosses to taylor. Ross taylor and co were able to smack 80 runs off 4 overs that set a mamoth total for pakistan

Similar way, when pakistan lost the world cup game of 2015 to austrlia in the qf, people bashed rahat ali rightly so, but i believe blame also went to wahab riaz because he wasnt able to set up watson again. Pakistan also overall played that match poorly from a batting pov.

Thus, drop catches doesnt mean you take credit away from the other team and blame it all on that one thing. As a champion team you are suppose to create more chances.

Amir is creddited as a good limited bowler in the past because when in the champions tropht of 2017 the catch was dropped by azhar ali, Amir again created anothrr chance.

Australia were requiered to create chances, and Pakistan were required to play out the match.

i havent taken any credit away from home Shaffique, Babar or rizwan played. They were superb. facts are if smith had taken that catch pakistan would have been in a huge hole.

An out of form fawad scoring 150 ) hes a walking wicket vs Aussie pacers.

We batted superbly but without those drops we would have lost.

The essay you have written is comical to say the least and no relevance.

 

[Technics 1210]

Facts are if Pakistan had scored at a higher RR in the second innings then Pakistan would've won the Test match. See what I did here?

Hindsight is great 20/20 vision.

The sad reality is that supporters attempt to demean achievements by claiming hypotheticals and what ifs as facts. Just because Shafique may have been caught by Smith has ZERO outcome given the hindsight.

Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc - look it up.

 

[Saj]

Dropped a few did Smithy. Surprising considering he's a brilliant fielder.

But, all gifts and help gratefully accepted.

 

[Technics 1210]

To be clear, if the thread was a question on whether Steven Smith's dropped catch of Abdullah Shafique may have cost Australia the match, then it's a different premise.

 

[Sarwar89]

Anyone remembers Saeed Anwar’s drop on 0 by Azharuddin in Calcutta Test 1999.
He ended up scoring 188* bat carry in 3rd innings.

 

[Major]

Facts are if Pakistan had scored at a higher RR in the second innings then Pakistan would've won the Test match. See what I did here?

Hindsight is great 20/20 vision.

The sad reality is that supporters attempt to demean achievements by claiming hypotheticals and what ifs as facts. Just because Shafique may have been caught by Smith has ZERO outcome given the hindsight.

Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc - look it up.

Agree with this. We like to. Ake comments in hindsight to take credit away from others.

Babar played an all time great innings. This will go down as an all time best in test history, but our pakistani fans will use reasons to bash it.

 

[Amjid Javed]

To be clear, if the thread was a question on whether Steven Smith's dropped catch of Abdullah Shafique may have cost Australia the match, then it's a different premise.

Thats the exact point i was making before you childish stupid rant on your 1st response.

Funny how some responders can read, not at any point have i discredited Shafique, rizwans or babars efforts with the bat.

being 38/3 compared to 245/3 and 80 overs later is a huge difference.

 

[Babeikh]

Almost certainly cost Australia the match but these are the kinds of things you need to go in your favour when you are batting out 172 overs in the 4th innings. Credit to Shafique for taking his chance and playing what could end up being a career defining innings.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Agree with this. We like to. Ake comments in hindsight to take credit away from others.

Babar played an all time great innings. This will go down as an all time best in test history, but our pakistani fans will use reasons to bash it.

Where have i bashed babar inns? show me exactly where in the post. instead like a clueless fool you have just made assumptions. i suggest you learn to read rather than assuming like an idiot.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Almost certainly cost Australia the match but these are the kinds of things you need to go in your favour when you are batting out 172 overs in the 4th innings. Credit to Shafique for taking his chance and playing what could end up being a career defining innings.

Shafiques inns is what pretty much set up saving the game. i said this in the Shafique thread. sadly some dimwits on here cant read.

 

[Cric1234]

Agree with this. We like to. Ake comments in hindsight to take credit away from others.

Babar played an all time great innings. This will go down as an all time best in test history, but our pakistani fans will use reasons to bash it.

Nobody is bashing Babar he played a good innings in his prime he needs to make hundreds especially at home won’t be as easy once he’s over 30 in age.

Unfortunately the series is 0-0 Pakistan is a low ranked team almost playing like minnows at home now getting dominated and drawing is seen as success that’s the current mentality.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Dropped a few did Smithy. Surprising considering he's a brilliant fielder.

But, all gifts and help gratefully accepted.

The one off shafique was a sitter, the other 5 Aussies dropped were gifts aswell. certainly help.

 

[Technics 1210]

Thats the exact point i was making before you childish stupid rant on your 1st response.

Funny how some responders can read, not at any point have i discredited Shafique, rizwans or babars efforts with the bat.

being 38/3 compared to 245/3 and 80 overs later is a huge difference.

No your point was a predetermined conclusion based on a hypothetical as per the title of the thread.

Funny how you cannot read your own thread title then claim you were making the exact point as I mentioned. Next level 20/20 vision I guess.

 

[Major]

Where have i bashed babar inns? show me exactly where in the post. instead like a clueless fool you have just made assumptions. i suggest you learn to read rather than assuming like an idiot.

Instead of throwing personal insults, read your op and the last line of that op.

You are taking credit away from babar and co. If you change one thing that everything else also changes. What gurantee can you give that had abdullah been out at that point, fawad wouldnt had scored a 150 because he was battinf earlier on that day.

You are taking credit away from babar, rizwan and abdullah by saying had that catch been held can anyone honestly say we would had drawn.

No other cricket fans go around saying we because the opposition did this. The wins are celebrated on their own playing strength.

If we are to analyze matches on the basis of drop catches and mis fields, trust me, more than half of the cricket matches would had different results.

Drop catches are part of the game. If you are good enough, create more chances.

 

[Amjid Javed]

No your point was a predetermined conclusion based on a hypothetical as per the title of the thread.

Funny how you cannot read your own thread title then claim you were making the exact point as I mentioned. Next level 20/20 vision I guess.

Not at all facts are smiths dropped catch cost Australia 80 extra overs of shafique batting pakistan to a draw. i guess thats to difficult for a simpleton like you to comprehend.

 

[Major]

The one off shafique was a sitter, the other 5 Aussies dropped were gifts aswell. certainly help.

Again, no they were not gifts.

Often on the pakpassion commentary thread you will see posters whining that why the fielder is standing far in slip, and the reason for that is the ball travel fasters and its very difficult to cathc it when standing near.

The so called 5 drop catchesz they werent technixally drop as the fielder were standing to damn near and its very difficult to catch the ball as you dont even have time to grip it..

There were no gifts. You can make anplayer stand on the pitch, technically every ball the batsmen will block it would be a catch. But that catch wont be held as when standing on the pitch you need to be on some lind of meds to catch those

 

[Amjid Javed]

Instead of throwing personal insults, read your op and the last line of that op.

You are taking credit away from babar and co. If you change one thing that everything else also changes. What gurantee can you give that had abdullah been out at that point, fawad wouldnt had scored a 150 because he was battinf earlier on that day.

You are taking credit away from babar, rizwan and abdullah by saying had that catch been held can anyone honestly say we would had drawn.

No other cricket fans go around saying we because the opposition did this. The wins are celebrated on their own playing strength.

If we are to analyze matches on the basis of drop catches and mis fields, trust me, more than half of the cricket matches would had different results.

Drop catches are part of the game. If you are good enough, create more chances.

Once again il ask the question as you seem to be a bit slow.

Where did i mention Babar, Shafique or Rizwan and discredit them?

Provide me the paragraph or sentence where i mentioned their names and discredited them?

You simply cant, like a said before dont make an assumption like a fool.

 

[Technics 1210]

Not at all facts are smiths dropped catch cost Australia 80 extra overs of shafique batting pakistan to a draw. i guess thats to difficult for a simpleton like you to comprehend.

You cannot say for certain Smith’s dropped catch cost 80 extra overs of Shafique batting, had Shaffique been caught it would’ve change the dynamics of the match for good or worse, we cannot say for certain.

Just admit your thread title and claim were incorrect. All you have to do is swallow your pride and ask the question whether the dropped catch may have cost the match rather than claiming it did.

Now go polish your crystal ball.

 

[Major]

Nobody is bashing Babar he played a good innings in his prime he needs to make hundreds especially at home won’t be as easy once he’s over 30 in age.

Unfortunately the series is 0-0 Pakistan is a low ranked team almost playing like minnows at home now getting dominated and drawing is seen as success that’s the current mentality.

Draw was a success because it keeps the series alive.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Again, no they were not gifts.

Often on the pakpassion commentary thread you will see posters whining that why the fielder is standing far in slip, and the reason for that is the ball travel fasters and its very difficult to cathc it when standing near.

The so called 5 drop catchesz they werent technixally drop as the fielder were standing to damn near and its very difficult to catch the ball as you dont even have time to grip it..

There were no gifts. You can make anplayer stand on the pitch, technically every ball the batsmen will block it would be a catch. But that catch wont be held as when standing on the pitch you need to be on some lind of meds to catch those

) whats with the pointless rambling essays, your clutching at straws. Not at any point have i mentioned or discredited are batting effort yet your trying to nit pick all because of a stupid assumption uve made one your 1st post. so now you decide to not pick on catches. hilarious.

 

[Major]

According to op everyone else is a dimwit, fool, cant read and is an idiot.

When he himself is forcing an opinion with the fact that in almost 50-70percent matches, drop catches take place.

I think icc should changing the results in favor of teams dropping catchs as theoratically speaking they should had won.

 

[Amjid Javed]

You cannot say for certain Smith’s dropped catch cost 80 extra overs of Shafique batting, had Shaffique been caught it would’ve change the dynamics of the match for good or worse, we cannot say for certain.

Just admit your thread title and claim were incorrect. All you have to do is swallow your pride and ask the question whether the dropped catch may have cost the match rather than claiming it did.

Now go polish your crystal ball.

i cant say for certain the drop cost 80 extra overs?

Facta he was dropped in the 28th over, he was finally out in the 108th. Thats 80 overs of batting. Do you have special needs that you cant comprehend that?

no crystal ball needed to tell me that your stupid.

 

[Technics 1210]

i cant say for certain the drop cost 80 extra overs?

Facta he was dropped in the 28th over, he was finally out in the 108th. Thats 80 overs of batting. Do you have special needs that you cant comprehend that?

no crystal ball needed to tell me that your stupid.

You lost your argument the moment you lost your temper.

One thing is for sure, 100K or a Million posts, quantity never denotes quality.

 

[Amjid Javed]

According to op everyone else is a dimwit, fool, cant read and is an idiot.

When he himself is forcing an opinion with the fact that in almost 50-70percent matches, drop catches take place.

I think icc should changing the results in favor of teams dropping catchs as theoratically speaking they should had won.

You rambled on saying i discredited our batting? im still waiting for your evidence?

where did i mention it? again your rambling on about something else as you cant prove anything. if you didnt make a pointless assumption then we would be going back and forth.

 

[Major]

You rambled on saying i discredited our batting? im still waiting for your evidence?

where did i mention it? again your rambling on about something else as you cant prove anything. if you didnt make a pointless assumption then we would be going back and forth.

Read ur op again and read the tone. The tone you used shows you are takijg credit away. Atleast read the last sentence of your op

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

True.

Also, no team deserves to win a match if they can't get 10 wickets after 172 overs. 3 new balls.


And I genuinely believe Cummins and Lyon are living legends.

It is just Pakistanis came out with a purpose and 3 batters played legendary innings of their respective careers in the same test match. A true anomaly. More so considering our pathetic record in 4th innings.

Despite being a draw, both teams learned a lot from it.

Everyone involved in this match aged 6 months in these 5 days

 

[Amjid Javed]

You lost your argument the moment you lost your temper.

One thing is for sure, 100K or a Million posts, quantity never denotes quality.

) lost an argument? you had a childish pointless rant in your 1st post. Then your telling my i lost my temper )

who cares about 100K posts, you think ive not heard rambling nonsense like yours before? )

 

[Amjid Javed]

Read ur op again and read the tone. The tone you used shows you are takijg credit away. Atleast read the last sentence of your op

My last sentence says thank you for helping he did. Fact!

if you bothered to have a look at commentary thread, Shafique thread, rizwan thread or babar thread ul see ive given players credit on those threads. Go read them and then come back to me.

instead you made a childish assumption.

Read my tone ) wow yet another assumption )

 

[Technics 1210]

) lost an argument? you had a childish pointless rant in your 1st post. Then your telling my i lost my temper )

who cares about 100K posts, you think ive not heard rambling nonsense like yours before? )

4 lines in a post doesn’t qualify as a rant; and boy you must have some definition of rant.

I see the laughter smilies have come out. Laughter is always the best defence mechanism.

I should duly add, the closest to a rant is your OP.

What a fake Pakistan supporter you really are, demeaning one of the best reguards in recent Test history.

Here’s to your next 100K posts.

 

[Technics 1210]

Read ur op again and read the tone. The tone you used shows you are takijg credit away. Atleast read the last sentence of your op

Agree. Said OPs are reminiscent of one who has lost a bet and tries to find solace in a what is known as a ‘compelling’ event.

Even if Shaffique was caught, there’s nothing to say the next batsman would not have scored a century etc and Pakistan would still draw the test. This is the problem with hypotheticals and retro inspection - there is no limit to an imagination.

 

[Amjid Javed]

4 lines in a post doesn’t qualify as a rant; and boy you must have some definition of rant.

I see the laughter smilies have come out. Laughter is always the best defence mechanism.

I should duly add, the closest to a rant is your OP.

What a fake Pakistan supporter you really are, demeaning one of the best reguards in recent Test history.

Here’s to your next 100K posts.

Fake pakistan fan? i suggest you learn to read. Go read the posts youve just been tagged in and tell me where ive been demeaning. like i said before go learn to read before posting the assumption based nonsense uve posted in this thread.

 

[Technics 1210]

Fake pakistan fan? i suggest you learn to read. Go read the posts youve just been tagged in and tell me where ive been demeaning. like i said before go learn to read before posting the assumption based nonsense uve posted in this thread.

No assumption from my side, your thread title and OP are proof. Undermining Pakistan’s performance by insinuating Pakistan won due to Australian errors/butter fingers - this is your assumption. I suggest you re-read your OP, slowly, with deep breaths.

Instead of making the claim, you could’ve just asked the question.

Have fun in the 3rd Test - Mystic Meg.

 

[Amjid Javed]

No assumption from my side, your thread title and OP are proof. Undermining Pakistan’s performance by insinuating Pakistan won due to Australian errors/butter fingers - this is your assumption. I suggest you re-read your OP, slowly, with deep breaths.

Instead of making the claim, you could’ve just asked the question.

Have fun in the 3rd Test - Mystic Meg.

Quite a clear assumption on your side. i said that smiths dropped catch was a major factor. i never mentioned are batting so how can i undermine it? uve simply made an assumption on me undermining are batting when theres zero proof or mention of it.

Dont make claims urself saying i put the teams efforts down when ive applauded it in other threads.

 

[Major]

Agree. Said OPs are reminiscent of one who has lost a bet and tries to find solace in a what is known as a ‘compelling’ event.

Even if Shaffique was caught, there’s nothing to say the next batsman would not have scored a century etc and Pakistan would still draw the test. This is the problem with hypotheticals and retro inspection - there is no limit to an imagination.

Exactly, if you change the outcome of one thing, everything else also changes due to the different timing and conditions.

Which is why these what if scenarios dont work.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Exactly, if you change the outcome of one thing, everything else also changes due to the different timing and conditions.

Which is why these what if scenarios dont work.

still waiting for your so called evidence where i discredited are batsmen. i see your avoiding the useless point you were trying to make earlier.

 

[topspin]

Poor attempt to take credit away from pakistan.

If you are to change one factor than other factors also change. Had abdullah shafique catch been held, maybe fawad coming in at that time would had scored 150...

Pakistan has dropped million catches, but no one says they won because pakistan dropped catches.

Just because you drop a catch doesnt mean it stops you from playing good cricket. Drop catches are often used as an excuse in cricket to play badly, when in fact, it is upon you to create more chances.

If we look at the pak vs nz match in the 2011 world cup, shoaib akhtar till this day blame kamran akmal for ending his career in that match which resulted in him not playing the semi final against india. But the truth is, if you rewatch that match, Akhtar couldnt replicate his bowling and by the death overs, akhtar was bowling full tosses to taylor. Ross taylor and co were able to smack 80 runs off 4 overs that set a mamoth total for pakistan

Similar way, when pakistan lost the world cup game of 2015 to austrlia in the qf, people bashed rahat ali rightly so, but i believe blame also went to wahab riaz because he wasnt able to set up watson again. Pakistan also overall played that match poorly from a batting pov.

Thus, drop catches doesnt mean you take credit away from the other team and blame it all on that one thing. As a champion team you are suppose to create more chances.

Amir is creddited as a good limited bowler in the past because when in the champions tropht of 2017 the catch was dropped by azhar ali, Amir again created anothrr chance.

Australia were requiered to create chances, and Pakistan were required to play out the match.

Whatever you're smoking please give me some of that.

 

[topspin]

4 lines in a post doesn’t qualify as a rant; and boy you must have some definition of rant.

I see the laughter smilies have come out. Laughter is always the best defence mechanism.

I should duly add, the closest to a rant is your OP.

What a fake Pakistan supporter you really are, demeaning one of the best reguards in recent Test history.

Here’s to your next 100K posts.

You're been exposed for your mask slipping off, so I find more this more than just ironic. It's actually a self-reflection of yourself.

 

[Savak]

Not sure if i am the only one but Steve Smith looks very disinterested. I wonder if he is even the same player since his concussions.

 

[wrongun]

I'd say it's both true that dropped catches overall cost Australia the match...

But some incredible, career defining knocks were played too.

Great batting under pressure from occasion (huge home series), opponent (strong attack with 1000+ Test wickets in it & top ranked bowlers), scoreboard presssure, cracked pitch.

Dropped catches can be part of the folklore eventually. But you've got to be good enough to take advantage.

 

[Amjid Javed]

I'd say it's both true that dropped catches overall cost Australia the match...

But some incredible, career defining knocks were played too.

Great batting under pressure from occasion (huge home series), opponent (strong attack with 1000+ Test wickets in it & top ranked bowlers), scoreboard presssure, cracked pitch.

Dropped catches can be part of the folklore eventually. But you've got to be good enough to take advantage.

The 3 knocks by Shafique which i think gave the team belief, Babar which kept the team calm and Rizwan under immense pressure have been rightly applauded by everyone. They deserved a lil bit of luck to go with skill, application and grit they showed.

 

[Omer2002]

What about khawajas drop my goodness...that wouldhave been 4 overs left with 2 wickets to get

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

Things happen in cricket. No way you can predict the outcome of a 5 day game based on one dropped catch.

 

[Markhor]

Australia have a history of dropping catches in Pakistan. From Wisden's review of the 1994 tour:

Despite being the most relaxed, focused and aware Australian team to visit Pakistan - they were even briefed on how to answer awkward questions - new captain Mark Taylor and his team were beset by the same problem that plagued their predecessors: dropped catches. They put down 13 in the three Tests; the last three Australian teams to Pakistan are estimated to have put down 48 in nine Tests. Allan Border's petulant party of 1988-89 dropped 14, while Kim Hughes's team of 1982-83 dropped 21.

Maybe it's difficulty adjusting to the lower bounce like Pakistanis fielders struggle with the higher bounce when touring Australia.

 

[Zaz]

Well we ll never know Yes They went on and put on a big partnership but who knows what and how pakistans lower order wouldve batted in those circumstances

In the end its all hypothetical and pakistan played well to draw drop catches or not You need both quality and luck to survive 2 days batting in the 4th innings

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Babar Dropped twice by Labu after 250.
Rizwan dropped by Khawaza.

Poor fielding cost this match

 

[sweep_shot]

Fielding of Australia wasn't very good.

Smith almost dropped another one too.

 

[Cric1234]

Draw was a success because it keeps the series alive.

Only if the team wins the third test we haven’t looked like bowling Australia out twice on these flat wickets while we got away with a draw here on our home wicket a minnow level performance other than the last day.

Remember we are going into the bottom end of the rankings not top end pretty poor mentality to hang on and celebrate draws lose all matches in SENA no team building old players having 5 year farewells hundreds celebrated like World Cup wins.

 

[sali]

Cricket is by chance. Smith dropped Shafiq but they got Azhar for a bad decision so it evens out. Fawad dropped Khawaj in Pindi and we can say the same that cost Pak a match but we really dont know....

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Cricket is by chance. Smith dropped Shafiq but they got Azhar for a bad decision so it evens out. Fawad dropped Khawaj in Pindi and we can say the same that cost Pak a match but we really dont know....

No, Pakistani drop catched do not matter. Our bowlers have to "replicate" their bowling and recreate the chances

Some people think this is backyard cricket

 

[shamaan]

Didn't Fawad drop khawaja in the first Innings ?

 

[Saj]

Smith today conceded he's never stood closer to the batter in the slips when pace bowlers are operating throughout his 12-year international career, regardless of the conditions he's been playing in.

And he revealed the position he's been occupying for his team's front-line quicks Cummins and Mitchell Starc – who routinely bowl at speeds around 140kph – is only three paces further from the pitch than he would stand for spinner Nathan Lyon when he's bowling on bouncy Australia tracks.

"It's been a real challenge," Smith said of the high-risk field placing prior to Australia conducting their first training session at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium today. "I've never stood as close to the bat (for pace bowlers) in my life, in any conditions.

"There's just been no bounce in the wickets, so part of our plan is to ensure the ball carries as much as possible.

"The bowlers and Patty (Cummins, as captain) are happy if we drop chances as long as they are getting to us.

"We're getting ourselves in very close positions where it's been exceptionally difficult.

"I was just looking the other day facing 'Starcy' (Starc) and 'Cummo' (Cummins), I was probably only three steps further back than where I would be for Nathan Lyon in Australia.

"So the reaction time isn't great and obviously I dropped one there last week, it just really rushed me.

"Then I got one a bit later when (Abdullah) Shafique gave another opportunity, it was just at a perfect height and that's kind of how it's got to be.

"If it's outside of those areas it's going to be a very good catch, how close we are.

"It's been difficult, and difficult to adjust but we're working on that at training, we're doing very close nicks that are coming very low and fast and that's really all you can do.

"Just fingers crossed that they stick."

CA

 

[PakPremi]

What about the catches Pakistan dropped if they were caught Australia may never scored that heavily in first place. Catches are part of parcel if tbe game, many if not most match saving innings would have had one or two catches dropped.

 

[iniqbal223]

Will Steve Smith save us Again!!

Steve Smith has been on the receiving end for dropping 5+ crucial catches already in this series which would have turned in Australia favor so easily

Hoping for him to give us few reprieves again when we bat

 

[Gilly]

Steve Smith has been on the receiving end for dropping 5+ crucial catches already in this series which would have turned in Australia favor so easily

Hoping for him to give us few reprieves again when we bat

Smith has been brave enough to move closer to the batsman, it reduces the chances of catches sticking but that is better than watching the ball fall short of the slips.

And dont forget that Steve Smith has also taken the most catches in this series for any fielder. He takes the risk in standing up close but he has also got the rewards.

 

[silentkiller187]

Steven Smith finally holds on to one, and its a great catch which will probably seal the series for Aus