Pakistan in Australia

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

Hey Pakistan batsmen:

*MITCHELL JOHNSON ANGLES ACROSS THE RIGHT HANDER AND IT WILL NEARLY ALWAYS MISS OFF STUMP*

Its amazing, I can't believe the Pakistan team wouldn't have got together last night after stumps and worked this out. First two balls out to balls that didn't need to played. Sure he comes close to the stumps and it looks like you need to play, but any kind of analysis proves that just about every the ball can be safely left.

That is alright if you bowl like Glenn McGrath, with each ball going in the same spot. THe batsmen can get into a rhythm, the kiwis actually used that tactic against McGrath in 01/02 season and frustated him somewhat as McGrath's natural line is always missing off-stump.

However, Johnson is quicker then McGrath and more erratic in line, often that type of bowling combined with extra pace means the batsmen is looking to hit the ball rather then leave it becase he really doesn't know where it is going.

 

[Hammond]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

Sad result. Apart from Bollinger Australia now relies on the batsman getting themselves out which Pakistan did gleefully.

I hope they stiffen up the batting order get some steel in there and hopefully make a better fist of it. Pakistan just didn't make enough in the first innings.

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

Sad result?

Australia were all over Pakistan and clearly deserved to win, Pakistan failed to take 10 wickets in either innings, they simply didn't deserve to win.



Often on flat decks you batsmen to get themselves out, I saw it last night against South Africa, 3 top order batsmen leaving back of a length deliveries.

 

[Hammond]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

Sad in that an average Australian side relied on a dodgy century from a makeshift opener to open up a lead they shouldn't have had if Pakistan had taken catches or batted to potential in the first dig.

Ordinary field placing from both sides as well . Pretty ordinary test cricket.

That said I hope they come back in the second test with more of an idea of the bounce of Australian pitches- 2004/5 was the last time they played here. And expose this ordinary attack for what it is.

That left hand pace bowler is exciting too- great to see these young blokes coming through in other teams.

 

[gandalf]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

Ordinary field placing from both sides as well . Pretty ordinary test cricket.

Like putting Rauf in at point when bowling wide at Watson when he's on 99? haha

But seriously, its really not that surprising that a sub-continent team plays tentatively in the first test in Australia after just one warm up game. It happens so often with touring teams - at least they did better than the windies in their first test. So I don't think Pakistan did that badly all things considered - especially considering their number one batsman was made unavailable and their strike spin bowler was ruled out at the last minute. To their credit, they pushed the Aussies to 5 days. I would expect them to push the Aussies a lot harder next test - especially if Kanneria and Khan are playing.

 

[breeno]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

Sad in that an average Australian side relied on a dodgy century from a makeshift opener to open up a lead they shouldn't have had if Pakistan had taken catches or batted to potential in the first dig.

Ordinary field placing from both sides as well . Pretty ordinary test cricket.

That said I hope they come back in the second test with more of an idea of the bounce of Australian pitches- 2004/5 was the last time they played here. And expose this ordinary attack for what it is.

That left hand pace bowler is exciting too- great to see these young blokes coming through in other teams.

I think we can hardly call his summer of big scores dodgy, it was only about time he went all the way, and I don't think he'll be classified as a makeshift opener after this summer, I'd be tempted to leave him where he is making runs.

 

[gandalf]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

I think we can hardly call his summer of big scores dodgy, it was only about time he went all the way, and I don't think he'll be classified as a makeshift opener after this summer, I'd be tempted to leave him where he is making runs.

Yeah I certainly wouldn't have guessed he'd do this well at the top. He's certainly got the right technique. I would say though that I'd like to see opposition bowlers bowl just slightly shorter of a length to him - too often he gets set by dispatching too many overpitched balls.

 

[Hammond]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

He shouldn't be long term opener he was the weak point in the ashes remember a true lbw candidate when the ball actually moves (read non kookaburra). But qudos to him except that was a streaky ton and I don't mean the ball he got dropped on either.

 

[gandalf]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

I think the original plan was to put him there temporarily until Phillip Hughes was ready to come back into the team. But I guess he's surprised everyone with his very good technique. As for the ashes, I'd hardly call him the weak point there - he scored a string of 50s if I'm not mistaken.

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

Sad in that an average Australian side relied on a dodgy century from a makeshift opener to open up a lead they shouldn't have had if Pakistan had taken catches or batted to potential in the first dig.

Ordinary field placing from both sides as well . Pretty ordinary test cricket.

That said I hope they come back in the second test with more of an idea of the bounce of Australian pitches- 2004/5 was the last time they played here. And expose this ordinary attack for what it is.

That left hand pace bowler is exciting too- great to see these young blokes coming through in other teams.

Going by your profile I assume you support England?

Watson is hardly a makeshift opener, before he played test cricket he averaged 50 with the bat at number 3 in the Queensland side playing a lot of cricket on the lively Gabba top which always has something in it at state level.

I tell you what ordinary field placing is, when you have a team 50/5 and you have 2 slips in, couldn't believe that when I saw it on the tele last night between South Africa and England.

I don't know how much of this MCG game you have watched, but apart from each new ball spell there isn't much bounce at all in this MCG wicket.

I doubt that will be the case at the SCG going on what a saw a week or two ago with the ball flying through in a domestic one day competition.

If your an English fan trying to stir the pot I suggest you look at your own side to be honest and take your insecurity away some where else.

At least base your judgements on something resembling fact.

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

I think the original plan was to put him there temporarily until Phillip Hughes was ready to come back into the team. But I guess he's surprised everyone with his very good technique. As for the ashes, I'd hardly call him the weak point there - he scored a string of 50s if I'm not mistaken.

Hasn't surprised anyone who saw him bat at state cricket all those years ago, I always regarded him as a potential top order batsmen rather then a middle order player at 5 or 6.

 

[breeno]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

Hasn't surprised anyone who saw him bat at state cricket all those years ago, I always regarded him as a potential top order batsmen rather then a middle order player at 5 or 6.

I've seen destroy teams in One Dayers, but wasn't too sure how he would make the transition.

 

[breeno]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

Yeah I certainly wouldn't have guessed he'd do this well at the top. He's certainly got the right technique. I would say though that I'd like to see opposition bowlers bowl just slightly shorter of a length to him - too often he gets set by dispatching too many overpitched balls.

He's got a good defence which can defend that just sort of a length ball, and he is a very good backfoot player aswell, probably one of the best in the team, so they'd want to get it right.

 

[breeno]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

He shouldn't be long term opener he was the weak point in the ashes remember a true lbw candidate when the ball actually moves (read non kookaburra). But qudos to him except that was a streaky ton and I don't mean the ball he got dropped on either.

Weak point in the ashes? He was one of our most consistent batsmen when brought in.

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

I never had any doubts he could play a pivotal role with the bat at test cricket, and that also extends to his ability with the ball. I was saying on BigFooty for years that his batting ability was chronically under-rated.

At one stage a few years ago Watson was averaging 50+ with the bat at first class cricket playing for the Bulls batting at 3. I remember as far back as 2005 people saying that he was a better batsmen then Andrew Flintoff when Freddie was at his peak.

In some regards his ability with the bat has flown under the radar for some time, possibly becaues when he was batting in the ODI team he was often coming in at 6 or 7 and having to throw the bat, at that time he wasn't suited to that role and he struggled with it.

His technique is pure, yes he may get out LBW a lot but he also scores bulk runs from bowlers bowling at the pegs.

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

Weak point in the ashes? He was one of our most consistent batsmen when brought in.

I wouldn't worry about this 'hammond' guy mate, he seems a bit strange. His team holds the Ashes, and they are about to tear SA a new one in Durban yet he feels the need to come in here and try to devalue Watson's performance.

 

[breeno]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

I never had any doubts he could play a pivotal role with the bat at test cricket, and that also extends to his ability with the ball. I was saying on BigFooty for years that his batting ability was chronically under-rated.

At one stage a few years ago Watson was averaging 50+ with the bat at first class cricket playing for the Bulls batting at 3. I remember as far back as 2005 people saying that he was a better batsmen then Andrew Flintoff when Freddie was at his peak.

In some regards his ability with the bat has flown under the radar for some time, possibly becaues when he was batting in the ODI team he was often coming in at 6 or 7 and having to throw the bat, at that time he wasn't suited to that role and he struggled with it.

His technique is pure, yes he may get out LBW a lot but he also scores bulk runs from bowlers bowling at the pegs.

I think his bowling is underrated. He was probably our best bowler in that series in India before getting injured, and is certainly looking dangerous with his swing. His idea of holding his action together is good.

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

Yeah he was under-cooked in the ashes with the ball, that was barely medium pace he was bowling in England.

He has lost a bit of pace, he was regularly up in the 145's in India late in 2008, however he has probably got a bit more movment with the ball since dropping his pace a bit. That ball to get Butt was a beauty.

Hope he continues to develop that aspect of his game, because he do need his ability to chip in with a wicket every now and then.

 

[Boris]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

I think his bowling is underrated. He was probably our best bowler in that series in India before getting injured, and is certainly looking dangerous with his swing. His idea of holding his action together is good.

Certainly.

Before Watson entered any international team he was thought of in the Queensland team as more of a bowler than batsman. He was like Hopes, he was a pure bowler at some stage and discovered his potential with the bat. Hopes discovered this potential when playing for his state, Watson discovered it playing at an earlier level, so he was able to develop it more by the time he got there. He entered the Bulls batting at number 8, and after averaging 35 in his first full season he went up the order, and the rest is history. Just kept scoring.

The thing was he had some erratic form. Most of it was due to injury, it's hard to keep form when you can't play, but the one thing that has stayed true his whole career is his bowling ability. He rarely lacked form with it. He would definitely retain his spot in the Queensland side (now NSW side) as a pure bowler, and if I may be daring, he might have been a challenge for an international spot on bowling alone. If McDonald can do it, Watson surely can.

He has a good record, exceptional from the last few seasons, with the ball. In ODIs he has been excellent with the ball, he first came to that recognition playing the World XI and getting a five for.

Watson's bowling shouldn't be taken lightly. Lately when he has bowled he has been the pick of the bowlers on most occasions, getting 2 or 3 wickets from half the amount of overs as the others. I daresay he isn't fit enough though to play as an opener and a full time bowler as well.

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Re: Pakistan in Australia

Watson has always been regarded as a batsmen who bowls, when he was at the bulls he was racking up massive scores which never got mentioned.