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Pakistan more watchable than India right now


goose

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Pakistan are very watchable indeed right now. Their team is bristling with talent, achievement, passion, debutantes, veterans, young and old. There's a story to tell with every player. Yes even the return of the spot fixer makes for an intriguing tale. For quite possibly the first time ever, today i was egging on Pakistan to stuff England more so than India against the Windies, and no it's not just because Eng are a bigger scalp than WI. The Pakistanis are a joy to watch right now.

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Yasir Shah - leg-spinner with a beautiful action and attitude - 16 matches

Wahab Riaz - left-arm pace cranks it up to 90 plus for match turning spells - 18 matches

Mohammed Amir - exciting left-armer returning after 5 year ban/prison - 18 matches

Sohail Khan - right-armer, bowls a heavy ball, two 5fers from - 4 matches

 

Every facet of test match bowling one could hope to watch with a combined total of 56 matches. Then there's Ishant Sharma on 71 matches.

 

Sure I want India to win but i'm more inclined to just look up the score nowadays.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I preferred to watch the Eng vs Pak series over Ind vs WI. The reasons being that Tests in England more often than not are very pleasing to the eye like someone already mentioned in this thread, the pitches tend to be pretty good and add to that a huge crowd.

 

Comparing that to the slow and low pitches of WI with about 20 spectators in the stadium is unfair. Switch India and Pak i.e WI vs Pak and Eng vs IND and i'm pretty sure that India would be more watchable. It's more to do with the host nation rather than India or Pakistan.

 

How on Earth is the Pakistani batting lineup watchable? On the other hand, their bowling even though with only 4 specialist bowlers was terrific to watch.

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On 8/14/2016 at 7:54 AM, goose said:

 

Yasir Shah - leg-spinner with a beautiful action and attitude - 16 matches

Wahab Riaz - left-arm pace cranks it up to 90 plus for match turning spells - 18 matches

Mohammed Amir - exciting left-armer returning after 5 year ban/prison - 18 matches

Sohail Khan - right-armer, bowls a heavy ball, two 5fers from - 4 matches

 

Every facet of test match bowling one could hope to watch with a combined total of 56 matches. Then there's Ishant Sharma on 71 matches.

 

Sure I want India to win but i'm more inclined to just look up the score nowadays.

 

I hear where you are coming from. But then Pak have always had a better stable of fast bowlers, not really news.  Watchability is not really a function of a solo team - its the contest that is interesting or not.  Test cricket in England is a great spectacle, enjoyable even in the worst case.  I was there in 2011 during the 0-4 series, and as horrible as it was for an Indian fan, I enjoyed it.  

 

But there's a lot to check out with Team India.  Have you watched Ashwin bowl in test matches recently?  Might want to check it out.   Very 

 

Ashwin - A spinner at the absolute top of his game, in control of his length, line, loop, drift, pace and turn.  Has it on a string and can execute it to his wish. 

KL Rahul - Young developing opening bat with high quality skills and absolutely no fear.  

Rahane - Budding test great in the classic Bombay mould.  Scores runs everywhere against all bowling attacks.  Kohli - An ODI great with a slightly flawed test game who is eminently watchable because he takes the game on when he's at the crease.  

Bhuvi - Give him a bit of movement and watch the magic show.  

 

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44 minutes ago, sandeep said:

I hear where you are coming from. But then Pak have always had a better stable of fast bowlers, not really news.  Watchability is not really a function of a solo team - its the contest that is interesting or not.  Test cricket in England is a great spectacle, enjoyable even in the worst case.  I was there in 2011 during the 0-4 series, and as horrible as it was for an Indian fan, I enjoyed it.  

 

But there's a lot to check out with Team India.  Have you watched Ashwin bowl in test matches recently?  Might want to check it out.   Very 

 

Ashwin - A spinner at the absolute top of his game, in control of his length, line, loop, drift, pace and turn.  Has it on a string and can execute it to his wish. 

KL Rahul - Young developing opening bat with high quality skills and absolutely no fear.  

Rahane - Budding test great in the classic Bombay mould.  Scores runs everywhere against all bowling attacks.  Kohli - An ODI great with a slightly flawed test game who is eminently watchable because he takes the game on when he's at the crease.  

Bhuvi - Give him a bit of movement and watch the magic show.  

 

Not to mention Virat Kohli's aggressive, passionate captaincy.   He is young and hungry, sets great expectations, is constantly making changes thinking about the next step, supporting his bowlers and leading from the front on fitness.   


Next, pretty much the whole team fields with dedication.  Ashwin and the I. Sharma are not agile, and RGS is inconsistent on the field, but they all throw themselves at the ball.  In Kannada, we called it "Biddu Biddu fielding maadthaanappa!"  (Falling falling, he fields).   

 

I challenge you that Mohammed Shami's bowling is as much fun to watch as any Pakistani bowler.  

 

Ashwin's toughness while batting is wonderful to watch.  

 

Of all the players you listed, Ajinkya Rahane is at the top for me.  Quiet, understated, disciplined with beautiful batting skills and lightning quickness and dedication on the field.  I would challenge anyone to name one Pakistani fielder (or Australian for that matter) who surpasses Rahane in this department.    

 

I agree with the OP on one aspect - we don't have guys with "interesting" personal failings - drugs (Yasir), gambling (uknowwho) etc.  From that point of view, yes, we are boring.  And I like it that way.  

 

 

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