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Post by nemouk on Jul 7, 2016 13:18:29 GMT
Well, that is not the squad I would have chosen, but then again Trevor Bayliss is probably a bit better as a judge of a player than I am. Happy to see TRJ get a chance, gutted that we've picked a batsman to play 5 who isn't Hildreth (I'd have picked Borthwick at 3, but if you're moving Root up then I can't see how you don't pick Hildreth) but let's see how it goes.
Suspect a few batsmen might get a go this series as Amir and co work over some suspect defences.
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Post by Mattzo on Jul 7, 2016 21:19:50 GMT
Not the squad I would have chosen either. Feel sorry for poor Borthwick.
Thought Ballance was jettisoned too early before, although his poor form since has perhaps justified it. Still, I have liked him for a long time so I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets on.
I like the look of TRJ, so another interesting selection there.
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 8, 2016 8:42:35 GMT
Suspect a few batsmen might get a go this series as Amir and co work over some suspect defences. Is it fair to say that Pakistan have the best pace bowler and the best spinner (in Tests) in the world right now? Yasir's fairly obviously out ahead of the competition for me (said competition probably consisting of Lyon and Ashwin). Amir's tougher to judge, not having played so much. His competitors at this moment are probably Broad, Boult, and Hazlewood, with Steyn not on top of his game. But I feel like he's the greatest wicket-taking threat out of all of them, unless Broad Does His Thing.
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Post by Mattzo on Jul 9, 2016 11:52:57 GMT
Imran Khan has just bowled three consecutive no balls against Sussex.
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 10, 2016 8:26:54 GMT
I feel that Pakistan's major flaws are their openers, their long tail, and their back-up bowling. They'll surely play Wahab, but as a "bang it in" bowler and reverse swinger, I wonder how much purchase he'll get out of British decks. Nobody else, as Matt has demonstrated, really fills me with fear.
And then that's two strike bowlers, both of whom will probably be operating in short bursts. They'll need Yasir to bowl lots to avoid Wahab and Amir getting tired. How much help he'll be early days has yet to be seen.
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Post by Mattzo on Jul 10, 2016 18:41:25 GMT
If injury rules Ballance out, would that mean Bortwick or Hildreth finally getting a callup?
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 10, 2016 20:57:08 GMT
No, they'll recall Ian Bell. Probably.
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 13, 2016 13:46:05 GMT
As expected, Ball to play at Lord's. TRJ's selection was ultimately a rather academic distraction, however unlike SOME I'm not going to moan particularly about him getting the squad experience. I hope they do plan to play him in future though (unlikely/odd though I still feel that would be). Also, Misbeard-Ul-Haq.
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 14, 2016 8:13:51 GMT
Test. F**king. Cricket. It's on like Donkey Kong, boys. (And Belle.)
Also I've just worked out why TRJ won't be playing: he's got three syllables in his surname. For a team where only two players have two, that's far too many.
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Post by Srihari on Jul 14, 2016 9:52:05 GMT
So Pakistan win the toss and elect to bat.
One look at the team and it is incredibly formidable. That middle-order, I'd say is the best in the world. Amir and Yasir aren't half bad either but not too sure about Rahat and three left-armers though.
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 14, 2016 10:06:51 GMT
It is a very impressive middle order. Was pointed out on Switch Hit that they haven't played many games in England, but then the Lord's conditions are hardly "English" either. England's best bet (sorry for the turn of phrase) may well be to hope that Misbah is indeed a bit past it, but I'm not overly hopeful.
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Post by Srihari on Jul 14, 2016 10:32:32 GMT
Even then, you still have Younis, he best No.6 of all-time, if not at least now and arguably the second-best keeper batsman after BJ Watling.
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 14, 2016 10:36:02 GMT
Three comments published in Cricinfo text. This is my best return ever.
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 14, 2016 10:59:08 GMT
Woakes' bowling average into the thirties! However briefly.
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Post by Humair on Jul 14, 2016 11:03:46 GMT
Woakes makes the breakthrough, an even first hour.
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