Will Pakistan experiment or play serious?

It has been less than a month since Pakistan inflicted a crushing defeat on the West Indies when the touring team lost all 10 wickets for a mere score of 113 on the board and on the other hand failing to strike even a single time. Of course, even England lost the match to Sri Lanka by 10 wickets despite England putting up a total in excess of 200 in the quarter finals. May be, had the West Indies scored above 200, a Pakistani wicket would have made it to the score card. That was just another loss for West Indies and nothing more.

With that apart, news and schedule has it that Pakistan is set to tour West Indies or are already in the country that is facing a lot of trouble in cricket. No prices for guessing the result of the series for even a kid can claim that West Indies are set to lose the series or worst come, may end the tournament without even a single win in both test as well as one day cricket. Couple of days back, news had its say that Gayle may be unavailable for the series, with the current West Indian squad speaking otherwise.

One can see the names of Chanderapaul and Sarwan along with Gayle. In addition to the presence of Chris Gayle and co, one can expect the return of Marlon Samuels for people who are familiar with the name and a chance for people who don't to get to know who this average cricketer is. Since Samuels is not some Mohammed Asif or Shane Warne, his return would hardly bother anyone-not even the WICB. But, the million dollar question is whether Pakistan will go ahead with a full fledged team to face the enemy or will they experiment with their players?

Had I been the Pakistani selector, I would have rested some or most of the key players from the tour though the series is away from home. Teams like Zimbabwe and West Indies (but rarely Bangladesh) can prove to be of some use to viewers only when key players and inform players take a break. Than, one can see a balanced match wherein both teams fight it out on the field. I remember Dhoni resting Schin Tendulkar in one of the games to see how things work with the absence of a star player. That was the reason for Australia to dominate the world cricket for so many years.

PCB does another blunder regarding T20 squad

Just a day after the PCB axed a couple of players from the national team, with some the remaining players given a year bans and finally by imposing a hefty fine on the remaining players, the very same PCB has selected the world T20 probables. With the decision to drop and impose fines on so many players itself being a joke, one can imagine the reason behind judging which player should be given a life ban and which player should be just let off with a fine. There were 2 players namely Mohammed Yousuf and Younis Khan who were axed from the team permanently.

However, I remember Mohammed Yousuf becoming the number one batsman in test cricket less than a year back which he hardly deserved. That was a time when the entire Pakistan team had made a comeback after having a year in 2008 where Pakistan didn't play a single test match. And then, just one performance was enough to see him top the rankings. And then, coming to the squad for the world T20, both Mohammed Yousuf and Younis Khan were aged 35 and, their service to the Pakistan can be expected to be limited. And, moreover Younis Khan had quit T20 cricket and a ban on him can in no way trouble anyone.

And, if at all there has to be someone who can be thought of as a certainity in the Pakistan squad for the upcoming world T20 would be Shahid Afridi for the lone reason that he can swing the ball though baseless and irresponsible. Much to one's surprise, Shahid Afridi was awarded the man of the series in the inaugural edition of the T20 world cup and then in 2009 was the man of the match on two consecutive and important occasions- in the semi finals and the finals of the tournament. And now, the PCB once again suspects his capabilities as captain.

One has to wonder that someone who has not been able to be a responsible player despite playing for a decade is being made a captain. Perhaps! it is too far that one fine day the PCB might even rope in Afridi as a coach of the Pakistan team. It was the Akmal brothers who were responsible for the loss to Australia in the second test at Sydney when Kamran Akmal dropped three catches which helped Australia win the match from nowhere. And, it was the run out of Salman Butt that spiolt Pakistan's party in one of the games. But, all four have been included in the T20 squad. Rana Naved and Asif were pretty decent with the ball, with the latter being devastative when he took 4 Aussie wickets to restrict Australia to 127 at Sydney.

So, it would not be wrong to say that the PCB has given harsh punishments for players who deserved lesser punishments and the players who were seriously irresponsible were let of with a year bans and also with a fine which today's cricketers can earn in a short period of time. May be the PCB is waiting for the T20 world cup to get over so that the remaining players can be given harsher punishments.

Pakistan has got used to defeats

It is too late for anyone to highlight the 4^th ODI loss by Pakistan at the hands of Australia for, the loss would have been well anticipated by everyone including the Pakistan team. But, one would have hardly expected the Pakistan team to hand over the match to a 3 match old Ryan Harris who took yet another 5 wicket haul, that was his second out of three games and a consecutive one against Pakistan. May be this bowling record is the first of its kind by any bowler to take 2 consecutive 5 wicket hauls in his maiden three ODIs.

It was a slow and steady approach by the Australian batsmen which made them post a total of 277 on the board after being at 190 at the end of the 40^th over losing 6 wickets. This is what the Australian batsmen have been found doing not only in the past three ODIs but also ever since they took to top the international cricket. However, coming back to the 4th ODI at Perth, it looks like the Pakistanis have got used to the defeats especially against Australia. Neither was there any drop catches by the Pakistani fieldsmen nor any sort of ridiculous bowling.

However, the result was indeed ridiculous needless to be said. There was news that Mitchell Johnson-who was rested for the first three ODIs would be making it to the Perth ODI, which actually didn't happen. But, despite the absence of his experience and pace bowling, Australia got what they wanted. I just cannot realize what was going on in the minds of the Pakistani batsmen when they lost all their wickets for a score less than 200 150, after they had scored 127 in the second one dayer. One can imagine the caliber of the Pakistani bowlers when Nathan Hauritz could send the ball over the ropes for four times en-route to his maiden half century.

It was the same approach by Mohammed Yousuf when he bowled just 5 bowlers. One thing that is to be noticed is that Afridi, who is considered more of a batsman is made to bowl 10 overs in all four ODIs. Added to that is the fact that he was one of the two Pakistani bowlers who bowled an over maiden and returned with an economy of 4.4 which was just 0.2 rpo more than the most economical bowler Mohammed Asif. Also, the other side of the coin is that he was one of the two Pakistani players who hit sixes. One would be sick of seeing the scorecard that highlights the tail-enders' astonishing strike rates and lack of huge scores and partnerships.

With no improvement since the beginning of the ODI test series, it looks like the Pakistani captain just wants to wind up his career as captain, after a report suggests that Yousuf might be sacked at Pakistani captain after the ODI series against Australia.

The Pakistani Approach

Wins and losses are a part and parcel of the game of cricket and neither Pakistan nor Australia are exceptions. However, despite playing cricket since decades altogether, some unusual decisions by any team for that matter would raise a question as to how come any captain could afford to do that. Things cannot be taken for granted that, following a particular strategy would ensure a win in a particular match against a particular team. For, the strategies of the opposition are also unknown either. But, stupid decisions can never be forgiven no matter what. And this is what Pakistan was found doing in the first ODI against Australia.

Effort definitely lied in the Pakistani batting when they put up a decent score of 274 on the board. And so did their initial start with the ball by taking 2 quick wickets of Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh. But, then onwards, it was the same Pakistani bowlers who gave away everything to the Australian batsmen, added to that being the fact that the fieldsmen never supported their bowlers whatsoever. So was the Pakistani captain Mohammed Yousuf who showed no signs in improving the same. Pakistan is a bit strong in ODI cricket compared to their test cricket which can never be disputed.

Or is it that the Pakistani test team is weak compared to their ODI? Anyway, that being a different issue, coming to the game between Australia and Pakistan, the scorecard reveals that the Pakistan captain bowled just five bowlers, who were entitled to bowl 10 overs each. Barring Mohammed Aamer, the remaining four Pakistani bowlers bowled their full quota of 10 overs. To what extent was the decision of Mohammed Yousuf justified? Also, the team consisted of just the five bowlers along with Shoaib Malik who never bowled. This is the way the Pakistani captain selects the playing eleven and also makes partly use of them.

A similar approach by the Pakistani captain Mohammed Yousuf was seen in the third test at Hobart, which needless to be said Pakistan lost convincingly. Even there, Mohammed Yousuf had gone in without key players like Kamran Akmal and others. Still, that was hardly mentioned by anyone. Forget it! Then, the match had another wonder when, Shane Watson takes 4 wickets and gets out for a score of 5. Shane Watson is made to open the innings and he fails. On the other hand, Watson is a part time bowler and ends up becoming the most successful bowler of the match. May be this is the only highlight of the match.

Pakistan Never Wanted To Win The Hobart test

Well as expected, Australia defeated Pakistan by needless to say 231 runs in the third and final test at Hobart. This, if statistics need to be given a serious look, is the fourth time in succession that Australia has defeated Pakistan in a test series by winning all the three games that were scheduled. So, it would not be wrong to conclude that Pakistan are no match for the Aussies whatsoever. This was more so after their 36 run loss to the same in the previous test at Sydney when Pakistan let go a golden opportunity after Australia were bowled out for 127 on the first day and Pakistan took a 200+ lead there after.

Added to that, in the third test at Hobart, Pakistan went in without their wicket keeper batsmen Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Saeed Ajmal and Mohammed Sami who were all decent players in test cricket. And moreover, it was Mohammed Sami along with Mohammed Asif who ripped apart the Aussie batting line up when Aussies lost all their batsmen for 127 runs on board. On the other hand, someone like Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammed Aamer who are aged 22 and 17 years respectively made it to the squad. Can anyone guess the reason for the same? MohammedAamer had until then played just 7 matches until then and it was Safraz' debut test.

Is it because that the Pakistanis had already lost the test series to Australia and a win or a loss in the Hobart test would have hardly made any difference to the Pakistanis that they went in for such a change? Or is it because Pakistan were less likely to win the test match at Hobart irrespective of whoever makes it to the squad that the playing eleven was chosen like that? The third reason for such a change that one can imagine is Pakistan had already got used to losing test matches after a they had a year without playing a single test match in 2008 and more so against Australia, wherein Pakistan had lost 3 earlier test series'.

If anyone could take pains to go through the Pakistan scorecard, only five Pakistani batsmen players were found crossing the double digit mark, with two of them being tailenders in Mohammed Asif and Umer Gul who scored 29 and 38 respectively. However, the 7 match old Mohammed Aamer could bowl 31 overs returning with figures of 2/97 that included the price wicket of Ricky Ponting but not before the Aussie captain could score yet another double hundred. So, if these things are taken into consideration, it looks like Pakistan had decided well before the Hobart test started to lose the game or may be gift the game to the Aussies.

A Bad 2nd day after the worst 1st day at Sydney

As my earlier post reveals, there is neither Steve Bucknor nor Mark Benson who can help the Aussies at Sydney this time in the ongoing second test against Pakistan. And most of the mess that could have been possible was done on day one itself by the Aussie batsmen. Neither were the Pakistani pacemen viz Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Sami were at their all time bowling best nor were the Aussies so bad to lose all their 10 wickets for a partly score of 127. Even the West Indies team that had played Bangladesh and lost as well didn't fare so badly.

Not only because it was Bangladesh they were playing against but also in the ICC Champions Trophy, they made life tough for Pakistan by claiming 5 wickets en route their successful run chase with just above 150 on the board. At the end of the day's play, Pakistan finished at 331-9 and the lead of 200+ need not be highlighted specially whatsoever. The Aussie bowling which have won their team a lot of matches in the past was found giving room like anything. Or else how would some 20 year old Umar Akmal smash 5 boundaries in 7 balls from the moment he gets on to the field with his bat?

And on the other hand, even the Pakistani batsmen were not found playing a truly professional test cricket on the second day. Similar to the Aussies, even the Pakistani batsmen lost all their 10 wickets on a single day itself. The only difference being that the Pakistani batsmen had piled up 204 runs more than the Australian batsmen could do on day 1. Each and every Pakistani batsmen was found approaching the Aussie bowlers with an attacking style as compared to a more responsible one that makes test cricket great to watch. Hardly any Pakistani batsmen could spend time on the crease which is quintessential in test cricket.

I now can guess what Mohammed Yusuf meant a week back after his team lost the first test at Melbourne. Yusuf had blamed the T20 cricket to be responsible for his team's debacle in the first test when he said that "T20 will finish Pakistan cricket". Pakistani batsmen are found approaching the test cricket similar to the way T20 cricket is approached. And this has been the way the Pakistani batsmen were found playing in the past too. The best example for this would be the so called dashing batsmen-Shahid Afridi who has a batting average like a tail end batsmen and a strike rate which can raise eye brows. A little bit of planning by the Pakistani players would have ensured them an innings win.

At the end, it would not be wrong to say that it is an Aussie loss than a Pakistani gain. Thats all for today. Do come back for more tomorrow.

Ricky Ponting misses Steve Bucknor & Mark Benson

Whenever a team finds itself in shambles, the first person to face the axe is the captain of the team. And it is more so in case of the Australian captain Ricky Ponting who had no choice but to be at the receiving end when his team was all out for a partly total of 127 in the second test at Sydney against Pakistan. Tongues have already started wagging against the Australian skipper's favor when he chose to bat first in the so called green top in Sydney, which Ponting did otherwise. Whatever may be the reason, Australia's score card can never read anything else if not for the truth.

However, everyone (including me) would be shocked indeed when a team like Australia loses its first 7 wickets at a score less than 75. And as it is in front of us, Australia's final score reads 127 all out. I just wonder as to how many people would have died all over the world from heart attack after the Aussie batsmen did such an unbelievable feat and that too at Sydney! Though Australia are not with the greats like Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn, Simon Katich, Justin Langer and others, Australia are still the opposition to beat by most of the teams around.

Australia still have Mike Hussey, Ponting himself along with Shane Watson who can make a decent batting line up. And another reason for the Aussies to kick themselves is the fact that they have been bought down to their knees by a team that have not played a single test match in the year 2008. Scorecard reveals that the highest run getter in the first innings of Australia was Mitchell Johnson who scored 38 runs and added to that was the fact that he was the lone six hitter in the innings and also the batsman who hit five boundaries that was more than anybody else in the Australian first innings.

And it was not Danish kaneria who posed some problems for Aussie batsmen who are bad players of spin comparatively. But, it was some Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Sami, the former who was suspected of doping charges and the latter who has come back to play test cricket after more than two years, since the ICL was a failure. All that the Pakistan team needed to demolish the Aussie batting line up was four bowlers, out of which the ten wickets were shared by the three fast bowlers viz Sami, Asif and Umar Gul. And yes, this was the venue where the onfield umpires viz Steve Bucknor & Mark Benson played for Australia to get them their 16^th consecutive test win 2 years ago.

I hope Ponting would surely recall the moment and miss the services of these two men more than someone like McGrath & Warne.