Australia v Pakistan

[wacmedia 277]

Hi,

 

What can I say ? Beautiful place Lords. Aussie, Aussie Aussie.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/i...or-98-years.htm

Philanthropy towards Pakistan is not a gesture you would normally expect from cricket’s international community but that is how the first neutral Test in England for 98 years is being promoted by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Naturally, Australia, their opponents, see it differently, but it is difficult to reprogramme a team for whom Lord’s motivates on the most primal level.

 

“Our preparation has been similar to an Ashes Test so the feeling has not been a lot different this time,” Ricky Ponting, Australia’s captain, said. “We haven’t worried too much about the opposition but Lord’s is a great place to play and there’s a lot of excitement around the team.”

 

f Ponting sounds a mite blasé about his opponents he has every right to after Australia won every game against Pakistan last winter. In fact, the Australians have won their last 12 Tests against them, so another victory here would give them a world record number of wins against another team (Sri Lanka also have 12 in a row against Bangladesh).

 

Logic, especially one that pits a well-drilled team against one beset by problems, not least the worsening security situation at home, suggests a one-sided contest with Ponting’s team, bolstered by the return of pace bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus, coming out on top. Yet, Pakistan’s reputation for producing brilliance from adversity is legend.

 

Their bowling, which includes Danish Kaneria, the world’s pre-eminent leg-spinner, is their prime strength. The pace attack of Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer is nicely varied, with Aamer, 18, said to be better than Wasim Akram at the same age.

 

As this is a ‘home’ Test for Pakistan, they have choice of ball and have opted for an English Duke rather than an Australian Kookaburra, because of its facility reverse swing.

 

The batting, shorn of their two best batsmen Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, is less reliable. Both have life bans imposed after their in-fighting on that Australian tour. Extra responsibility will therefore fall on opener Salman Butt, especially if, as expected, debuts are handed to youngsters Azhar Ali and Umar Amin.

 

Unlike their Muslim cousins, Bangladesh, Pakistan is a heavily tribal society where factions abound. That makes unity as much a problem for the cricket captain as it is for politicians, a job that has now been handed, somewhat counter-intuitively, to Shahid Afridi.

 

Apart from a four-year absence from Tests, Afridi has a colourful career that includes biting the ball (in an attempt to rough it up) and dirty-dancing (an attempt to scuff up the pitch when everyone was distracted by an exploding gas canister in Faisalabad).

 

Having him as captain in a series sponsored by MCC’s Spirit of Cricket is not without irony, though, with successive victories over Australia in the recent Twenty20 matches, he is looking an inspired choice.

 

A neutral Test must be a hard sell in these straitened times, but MCC have sold 42,000 tickets for the first four days. With a good turn-out from members, it could be about half-full today which is about 15,000 more than would turn up if the game was held in Karachi or Lahore.

 

Pakistan (probable): *S Afridi, S Butt, I Farhat, A Ali, U Akmal, U Amin, †K Akmal, M Aamer, U Gul, D Kaneria, M Asif.

 

Australia (probable): *RT Ponting, SR Watson, SM Katich, MJ Clarke, MEK Hussey, MJ North, †TD Paine, SPD Smith, MG Johnson, DE Bollinger, BW Hilfenhaus.

[Gonzo 419]

Hi,

 

What can I say ? Beautiful place Lords. Aussie, Aussie Aussie.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/i...or-98-years.htm

 

Pakistan (probable): *S Afridi, S Butt, I Farhat, A Ali, U Akmal, U Amin, †K Akmal, M Aamer, U Gul, D Kaneria, M Asif.

 

Australia (probable): *RT Ponting, SR Watson, SM Katich, MJ Clarke, MEK Hussey, MJ North, †TD Paine, SPD Smith, MG Johnson, DE Bollinger, BW Hilfenhaus.

How do they dare not to use a Kookaburra? Lords is the holy grail of cricket. Aussies just love to beat the English at another game invented by them. I played fairly good baseball by Australian standards at an amateur level. I did less well playing cricket for an amateur team in Darwin. I was hopeless batting and bowling but did very well as a second choice wicket keeper or playing in the slips. To have Pakistan play at Lords is fine, but goes against tradition. There was no other choice, as there is no way to play Pakistan in Pakistan under the present political situation.

 

It won't be long before we get our revenge against the P... (sorry) English at the Ashes tour played in Australia. Cheers

[wacmedia 277]

It won't be long before we get our revenge against the P... (sorry) English at the Ashes tour played in Australia. Cheers

 

Hi,

 

England have a very poor record in Australia. They tend to forget the last test series that was played in Australia.

[Gonzo 419]

Hi,

 

England have a very poor record in Australia. They tend to forget the last test series that was played in Australia.

The normally cocky Australian media have a less confident approach for the upcoming series. I have never experienced this in previous Ashes tests. You blokes are full of confidence and have a better side than your last side, which won the last test series in England, which could have gone either way. Make no mistake. We love the Barmy Army, which leaves the Australian Fanatics Army for dead. If people think they are fanatical about soccer, they don't have a clue what goes on in cricket. One and a half billion Indians cannot be be wrong.

[wacmedia 277]

One and a half billion Indians cannot be be wrong.

 

Hi,

 

I frequent a Sri Lankan shop and they always have the cricket on there as well.

[Gonzo 419]

Hi,

 

I frequent a Sri Lankan shop and they always have the cricket on there as well.

In Sri Lanka cricket is the main religion. I drink Dilmah tea from Sri Lanka only. I like Murali's (sorry, I cannot be bothered to look up his full name) bowling and after Shane Warne, he is the best spin bowler in the world. Larrikan Warne has retired from International cricket and Murali will be the beast spin bowler in the history of cricket forever. I have less regard for the Pakistani cricket team, except Imran Khan, who was one of the true gentleman on and off the cricket ground, when he was still playing. These days he is brave enough to risk his life , by choosing to become a Pakistani politician.

[wacmedia 277]

. These days he is brave enough to risk his life , by choosing to become a Pakistani politician.

 

Hi,

 

Thats a real snakepit alright. See what happened to Benazir? BTW England do seem to have a stronger team than for a long time. They seem to be SA's and Irish though.

[nidnoyham 30]

England is a sensible place to play any neutral test match.

 

You can be sure of a good crowd from any country to be well supported here.

 

Even if the natives don't go to watch, there will be plenty of support for the two teams, from the 'locals'. A Test match for you, a money spinner for us- everyone's a winner ! Except the losing side of course.

 

Only thing we can't supply, is the bloody weather, its shite today.

[wacmedia 277]

England is a sensible place to play any neutral test match.

 

You can be sure of a good crowd from any country to be well supported here.

 

Hi,

 

Funny shit. Emirates Stadium seems to be Brazils home from home.

[Scottie 5]

Hi

and I bet the Pakistani supporters bring those fxxxxing vuvuzaelas

like they did at the one day matches at edgebaston

Scottie

[Gonzo 419]

Hi

and I bet the Pakistani supporters bring those fxxxxing vuvuzaelas

like they did at the one day matches at edgebaston

Scottie

The vuvazuaelas are a harmless joke. You would not want to listen to the crazy din, when Australia plays a test series in India. It is part of the game and the Aussies don't whinge about it.

[Gonzo 419]

Hi,

 

Thats a real snakepit alright. See what happened to Benazir? BTW England do seem to have a stronger team than for a long time. They seem to be SA's and Irish though.

I guess Benazir Bhutto was a cricket supporter. I always loved her and Ang San Suu Kyi. Those women have or had more guts than most of us.

[Gonzo 419]

England is a sensible place to play any neutral test match.

 

You can be sure of a good crowd from any country to be well supported here.

 

Even if the natives don't go to watch, there will be plenty of support for the two teams, from the 'locals'. A Test match for you, a money spinner for us- everyone's a winner ! Except the losing side of course.

 

Only thing we can't supply, is the bloody weather, its shite today.

You better buy your tickets as soon as possible, as there will be thousands of Aussies and Pakis trying to get into the ground.

[wacmedia 277]

You can be sure of a good crowd from any country to be well supported here.

 

Hi,

 

How many people really live in Greater London?

[Gonzo 419]

I cannot answer that question. but a a lot of expat Aussies are based in Earls Court.

[nidnoyham 30]

The weather tomorrow, may save the Aussies.

 

Now I see why they wanted to play here !

[Gonzo 419]

The weather tomorrow, may save the Aussies.

 

Now I see why they wanted to play here !

The betting collapse by the middle order was pathetic. 9 wickets down at stumps for 228 runs after the first innings.

[Tarl 1]

Bit harsh on the aussie boys, long way to go yet.

 

Wicket was doing a bit so will be interesting to see how Pakistan go if we bowl well. 230 is not a bad score if the other team can only manage 180 :)

[Gonzo 419]

Bit harsh on the aussie boys, long way to go yet.

 

Wicket was doing a bit so will be interesting to see how Pakistan go if we bowl well. 230 is not a bad score if the other team can only manage 180 :)

Good call. The other team only managed 148 runs after Australia' 253. Watson and Katich seem to be off to a good start in the second innings. There are still 32 overs to go, if the weather holds up. It's a shame I can only watch the commentary on Cricinfo.com on my laptop.

[Gonzo 419]

Australia has a lead of 439 runs after the second innings against the Pakis. Ricky Ponting made another duck, as did Hussey. The Aussie tail wagged and Hilfenhausen made his first half-century, scoring 57 runs. There are still 38 overs to play today and another 2 days after that in this 5-day test at Lords.

 

The Pakis might as well not show up tomorrow and anyone, who paid for a ticket for this test should be reimbursed for all expenses, including airfares and accommodation. Listen up Vic Vegas, you lover of high-scoring games. Start taking notice of cricket, the second most popular sport on earth after soccer, but

I doubt you have the smarts to understand the complex rules of this exciting game.

[nidnoyham 30]

You better buy your tickets as soon as possible, as there will be thousands of Aussies and Pakis trying to get into the ground.

 

 

One big factor in England hosting the 2018 World Cup. By then, half the bleeding world will be living here. Think of all that traveling it will save. Our carbon footprint will shrink out of sight !

[Gonzo 419]

One big factor in England hosting the 2018 World Cup. By then, half the bleeding world will be living here. Think of all that traveling it will save. Our carbon footprint will shrink out of sight !

Your Pakis will reduce the carbon footprint, as they will stay put in what they regard as their country. Aussies go to England for a working holiday to see what makes you tick. There are a few exceptions, like Dame Edna, Rolf Harris and Shane Warne. You are welcome to keep them forever.

 

We are witnessing a good fight back by your Pakis, their home turf, trying to break the world record in a last innings, to beat a test team in the last innings. Ouch, they just lost their third wicket on their way to do so.

[Tarl 1]

Australia ended up winning by 150 runs with Marcus North taking 6 - 55. Really good win but does overshadow that the batting order was pretty disappointing in both innings with the exception of Katich (man of the match) and that the two main strike bowlers Bollinger and Johnson took just 3 wickets between them all in the first innings.

[Gonzo 419]

Double post. Stuff the TOT internet connection.

Edited July 17, 2010 by Gonzo

[Gonzo 419]

Australia ended up winning by 150 runs with Marcus North taking 6 - 55. Really good win but does overshadow that the batting order was pretty disappointing in both innings with the exception of Katich (man of the match) and that the two main strike bowlers Bollinger and Johnson took just 3 wickets between them all in the first innings.

It is good to have a poster on this board, who fully understands cricket. Marcus North saved us from embarrassment and some of the big guns did not fire.