Feed Posted January 29, 2012 Posted January 29, 2012 A victory fashioned by the unsung Two young batsmen and an overshadowed bowler did it for Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. Now the administrators must ensure this winning team is left undisturbed More... A victory fashioned by the unsung Two young batsmen and an overshadowed bowler did it for Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. Now the administrators must ensure this winning team is left undisturbed Saad Shafqat January 29, 2012 It is surprising how even seasoned observers of the game keep underestimating the potential of the fourth innings for psycho-drama. A stentorian voice announces that a target of 145 could not possibly trouble the world's best side. Another concurs, noting that 145 would be a routine ask in a T20; the chasing team would hardly bat an eyelid. There are some rebuttals but they are muted. You can't compare the two, someone mutters under his breath, explaining that in Tests there are neither field restrictions nor a limit on the number of overs per bowler. But most of all there is the unique psychology. As compellingly demonstrated by Pakistan's victory in Abu Dhabi, going down the order in a fourth-innings chase is like plumbing the depths of the ocean. Pressure mounts exponentially, and it gets dark very soon. Low-to-medium targets are the hardest, because they tempt you like a mirage, until you fall, thirsty and desperate, grabbing at nothing. If you want precedents, you could go all the way back to The Oval in 1882, when England failed to chase 85. Granted that was another era, with a different culture and playing conditions, but it happens to be the match that gave birth to the Ashes, and so casts a very long shadow. Since then there have been 13 other occasions when England have failed to chase a target of under 200. Pakistan's name now shows up three times as the opponent on this list. In 1954 they prevented England from chasing 168 at The Oval. That, too, may have been another era, but it stands out in Pakistan's cricket annals as their most important victory. The second was in November 2005, in Multan, during England's last tour to Pakistan, when England were set 198 and dismissed 22 short. There are certain similarities between that match and now, although there is also a vital difference. That England side too was basking in fresh Ashes glory, and comprised a star-studded touring party, with names like Flintoff, Pietersen, Strauss, Bell, Collingwood, and Harmison. Yet Pakistan's 2-0 win never drew much international traction. Now England are top dog, which in a sense imprisons them. Now all contests and all playing conditions assume equal significance, be it the manicured turf of a teeming English ground under heavy cloud cover, or an outpost in the desert, whose empty stands are baking under the sun. When you are the frontrunner, it doesn't matter how or where you get knocked off your perch. Pakistan's gains from this victory are plenty. Most heartening is that the win was not fashioned by the usual suspects but by unsung honest triers who have mostly been labouring in the shadows. The match turned in the second innings, when Asad Shafiq joined Azhar Ali after Pakistan had lost four wickets without yet having erased England's lead. The stuffing had been knocked out of Pakistan's batting line-up, with both openers as well as Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq, the two middle-order mainstays, gone. Shafiq and Azhar rode their luck, as you have to in these situations, but they stuck it out. Their partnership of 88 proved the key difference, being modestly in excess of England's eventual margin of defeat. The bowling hero, too, was unexpected. With left-arm orthodox spin ruling this match, Monty Panesar and Abdur Rehman usurped the arena that general consensus had already ceded to Graeme Swann and Saeed Ajmal. Panesar and Rehman's six-fors in the second innings were both almost equally crucial. The distinction was that Rehman's batsmen had given him enough runs to bowl at. Rehman made his international debut over half a decade ago, but has played only 14 Tests and 21 ODIs. Abu Dhabi is his first five-wicket haul, and only his second Man-of-the-Match award. He has been an undervalued player, never really seen as a match-winner, but those deliveries that kicked and spat out from the rough are going to change that. Pakistan now find themselves in the rare position of being within striking distance of a clean sweep. Having come so far so quickly, and from rock bottom, carries an overpowering significance. Criticisms of Misbah's slow and steady approach should now be history, as should be any attempt to remove Mohsin Khan as the head coach, if the PCB has any sense. This series win has allowed us to better understand both men and their contributions. Misbah is the CEO, and Mohsin is the supportive and watchful chairman, standing steadfastly behind him. What they are doing together is not merely working, it is working wonders. From here on, the challenge for Pakistan's cricket establishment is to create propitious circumstances that can help sustain such dramatic ascendancy. Far too often myopic administrators in Pakistan have unnecessarily fiddled with winning formulas, to the national side's unfortunate detriment. This Pakistan outfit is carving out a path in the sky. All that the PCB bosses need to do right now is to get out of the way. You really couldn't ask for a better deal.
Stuge Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 One serious note they will have to learn playspin noting else .Their batsmen aren't out of form ,but they are simply incapable of playing spin .
saneindian Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 Cook, Strauss, KP, Bell have all handled Indian spinners quite well on spinning tracks in India (though not with as much bounce as has been there on Dubai wickets) on the 2006 and 2008 tours. So to say they can't play spin isn't quite correct. A major factor has been the quality of bowling by Ajmal, Rehman and Hafeez. They have given absolutely no respite to the batsmen, no lose deliveries on offer with wonderful variations. Misbah's aggressive field setting has helped them too.
rkt.india Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 Cook, Strauss, KP, Bell have all handled Indian spinners quite well on spinning tracks in India (though not with as much bounce as has been there on Dubai wickets) on the 2006 and 2008 tours. So to say they can't play spin isn't quite correct. A major factor has been the quality of bowling by Ajmal, Rehman and Hafeez. They have given absolutely no respite to the batsmen, no lose deliveries on offer with wonderful variations. Misbah's aggressive field setting has helped them too. Thing is they all 3 bowlers bowl quicker in the air and were getting sharp turn and were accurate, while our spinners bowl slow in the air and try to give flight, even Harbhajan, and are not accurate and then our pitches does not turn that quick, mostly slow with low bounce in the recent years. Paki bowlers are not big turners but accurate and turn enough to create doubts and do not bowl long hop freebies. Field setting is an important aspect as well, but a field is only good if bowlers bowl to the field. If you set fields for long hops for cuts and pulls then it shows bowlers are not bowling well and you cannot set enough close-in fielders then. Look at Swann, he was bowling slower in the air and was less effective than quicker Panesar.
achilles Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 Seekho kuch Andy Flower se :hehe: [/india tv mode]
ganeshran Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 Cook, Strauss, KP, Bell have all handled Indian spinners quite well on spinning tracks in India (though not with as much bounce as has been there on Dubai wickets) on the 2006 and 2008 tours. So to say they can't play spin isn't quite correct. A major factor has been the quality of bowling by Ajmal, Rehman and Hafeez. They have given absolutely no respite to the batsmen, no lose deliveries on offer with wonderful variations. Misbah's aggressive field setting has helped them too. This. Rehman and Ajmal complement each other very well. Rehman hardly offers any loose deliveries and Ajmal has the variations. Each feeds off the pressure that the other has built. So blanket statements like England cant play spin are incorrect and credit should go to Pakistan for their bowling. English batsmen need to play more shots to put some pressure back on the bowlers. They just go into a shell and get out soon.
asterix Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 Okay.. Is it right for the coach to express their views in public? Do coaches express their views in public? I don't know because I've never heard any views from our pathetic coaches..so far.. So don't even know whether they have any views or strategies at all? All I hear is players facing the media.. Is that chewtiya Biscuit Dunk Fletcher a 'silent assasin'?
rkt.india Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 Okay.. Is it right for the coach to express their views in public? Do coaches express their views in public? I don't know because I've never heard any views from our pathetic coaches..so far.. So don't even know whether they have any views or strategies at all? All I hear is players facing the media.. Is that chewtiya Biscuit Dunk Fletcher a 'silent assasin'? He is not allowed to speak and give interviews according to his contract given by BCCI. They did not want another Greg Chappal considering his image of frank spoken man when he coached England.
asterix Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 He is not allowed to speak and give interviews according to his contract given by BCCI. They did not want another Greg Chappal considering his image of frank spoken man when he coached England. That's been one of the major problems.. Our senior players don't like to be criticised in public and themsleves give stupid excuses about their pathetic performances.. Almost like living in a La La Land.. :(( I wanted the seniors to be phased out so that they guide the young players. But now I hope they all should be shafted out and let a new bunch of players in and give coach all the powers and allow him to speak..
India-KXIP fan Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 So they will bring in the supposedly better player of spin Ravi Bopara who was dismissed for low scores twice by Ashwin, once by Raina and once by Jadega in India's 5-0 ODI series win. In short all English batsmen can't play spin.
J P K Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 Vaughan says England should not change side after 'embarrassing failures' http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0130/1224310945899.html
Old guy Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 ^ its normal english strategy they dont change sides easily remeb when they toured india for odis they didn't played bell till the last match!
Ponka Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 It's been nothing but horror shows for England in the subcontinent (excluding Bangladesh). This list is trying to make it sound like it's only occurred a few times in the last 30 years. It happens every time! lol
Pak_Fan_4_Eva Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 Tests in Abu Dhabi I hope your opinion must've changed by now:--D
Pak_Fan_4_Eva Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 Ajmal will hopefully get called for chucking. this gon be good. Yup it was. I'm sure you loved every bit of it. This thread is full of gems. I'm sure I can identify more once I comb through it.
Ponka Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 Congratulations to all the Pakistani brothers for winning the series. :two_thumbs_up: Nevermind posters like Sernai and co, they will always live in denial. P.S - jusarrived, hope you see this.
Pioneer Posted January 31, 2012 Posted January 31, 2012 Looks like we will rape Pak' date=' rack up them huge totals then bowl em out, oh so easy.[/quote'] Hehehe
Feed Posted February 6, 2012 Posted February 6, 2012 Pakistan seal England whitewash England slump to a 71-run defeat in the third Test in Dubai to suffer a series whitewash by Pakistan for the first time. More...
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