Pakistan v Australia - Test series

Rjd2

Brutal year for Pakistan and this tour so far has been a nightmare.

Injuries, chuckers Misbah, Afridi silliness with the captaincy and the eternal wait for Umar Akmal to grow a brain..:pac:

Any ways may be some interest from an Aussie viewpoint, the slaughter of England and how they have imploded and a hard fought test series win against South Africa been incredible highlights for them.

Harris is injured again, and Marsh has to put the beer on the backburner and will probably play as an all rounder.

First test tomorrow morning at 7am.:)

Dozen Wicked Words

Not many years that aren't brutal for Pakistani cricket one way or another. Some self inflicted, others not. It's certainly never boring.

Dozen Wicked Words

Not a bad start to the Test for Pakistan, end day one on 219 - 4, helped along by a Younis Khan Century.

Do any fans or locals bother going along to Dubai to watch?

Rjd2

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

Do any fans or locals bother going along to Dubai to watch?

The test matches are always empty, a few ex pats turned up when England toured last time and you get some in Friday after prayers. Their is many issues, the obvious one is the UAE fans don't care about test cricket.:(

It is a working day also, and from all accounts it is quite tough to get to the ground.

Pakistan also are not winning any games recently so their is no buzz about them which does not help.

In the limited overs the turnouts were obviously much better but at times it would be half empty.

And I don't think this team has much star power either.

I do think the UAE should be tried for day night cricket because you may get some sort of crowd, then,it must be soul destroying especially for the test specalists to play in front of nobody.


The game itself was slow stuff, but Pakistan in a nice position assuming they don't collapse tomorrow. Pitch does look easy enough to bat on though.

Rjd2

Pleased for Pakistan, not been a good time for them at all recently. Yasir looks promising while Baber has always been a class act, just unlucky to be around same time as Kaneria and Ajmal.

Doolan, Siddle, Marsh and O'Keefe will be lucky to be playing next test.

booth70

Dunno what's more painful to watch……India playing pace or Australia playing spin!……As an Indian supporter I'd say the former:(

So much for Australia's plans for global dominance:pac:

booth70

Pakistan 304/2.......Younis Khan do no wrong

Mind you.....Australia are not the first team to have been thrashed in the winter by a Pakistani side after a great summer !!

Rjd2

It is one of the great mysteries of cricket, how can Younis be so awesome at test cricket and so utterly inept in the ODI format?

Tough day for Australia, need a mental collapse from Pakistan tomorrow to have a chance of winning this now.

booth70

Impressive stuff from Pakistan.......albeit at 'home'

Wake up call for Australia..... Expected them to be far more competitive and probably had them down as favourites to win the test series ..... Their batting continues to be as inept as it was against spin as it was last time they played in 'subcontinental' conditions when they were thrashed 4-0

At least Lehman can rest easy knowing they will have an equally poor touring side in India coming their way soon

Rjd2

booth70 wrote: »

Impressive stuff from Pakistan.......albeit at 'home'

Wake up call for Australia..... Expected them to be far more competitive and probably had them down as favourites to win the test series ..... Their batting continues to be as inept as it was against spin as it was last time they played in 'subcontinental' conditions when they were thrashed 4-0

At least Lehman can rest easy knowing they will have an equally poor touring side in India coming their way soon

A very bleak series for Australia, only Smith, Warner, and to a lesser extent MJ and Marsh contributed anything worthwhile.

It also puts to bed any rubbish about Clarke been some sort of great against spin, Jadeja, Swann and now the Pakistan spinners have owned him.


Well done Paistan, they needed that.

booth70

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-v-australia-2014/content/story/795903.html

Good article from Cricinfo on the trials and tribulations of travel!!