Pakistan v England 2nd Test, Dubai, Oct 22-26

[dan08]

Azhar's had no more success as an opener than Masood. Maybe Shehzad would get another go if they were going to replace the opener? Shoaib has made a difficult decision for them, and the only way past it is for Azhar to open, or remain unavailable.

Azhar opens in ODIs and has had success there. To be honest, batting at 3 for Pakistan in recent years isn't much different to opening.

[Dr Cricket]

still a mental difference though, Rahul Dravid the prime example.
He hated opening because he just didn't like going out first and he found it all rushed.
but he was happy to bat at 3 even if it meant he was batting after one over.

[dan08]

I'd like to see Bilal Asif play. Besides being a decent bowler, he's quite a good slogger too. Some extraordinary shots in this innings...

[dan08]

His bowling action looks fine too from what i've seen. Certainly no Ajmal.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Any chance Babar will be left out... England had a good look at him!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe pick someone to turn the ball away from Cook?

[Arthur Crabtree]

And all the other lefties.

[dan08]

Any chance Babar will be left out... England had a good look at him!

They'll definitely consider it but i think they'll give Babar another chance. He's nearly 37 though so he might need a rest after bowling more than 70 overs!

[greyblazer]

Vaughan admits he was wrong on Anderson. He though, blocked me for tagging him on Twitter and telling that what he had written before the 1st Test on Anderson was a shocker lol. You must be crazy to suggest that your most consistent pacer over the last 5 and a bit years should be dropped. Yes, the same pacer who averages 25.88 for his wickets in Asia in that period.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricke ... fford.html

[greyblazer]

On the basis of four days of cricket that I watched, this is what I thought of England's pacers. On expected lines, Wood was largely unsuccessful. He rarely impresses me. Every time I see him bowl, he does a bit of almost everything. However, to succeed in Test cricket, you need to be very good at some skill. Sorry to say I just don't see what is so good about Wood.

Even if Finn had been available, his unpredictability with the ball, would have made the captain think twice of picking him. On unresponsive surfaces for pacers, you want your quicks to bowl to the field.

Broad offered some control, but on Asian tracks, he has his limitations. It is not surprising that he has succeeded in only one series in Asia. So that leaves Anderson. Among all these pacers, he is the best when it comes to control. You want that in Asia. Of course, he is more than just a bowler, who swings the new ball.

Anderson's critics though, seem to think he can only swing the new ball. It might surprise many, but in reality, his average of 25.88 in Asia over the last 60-65 months is a just reward for the way he has bowled. I understand, even if he fails in one Test on a flat deck like it happened at Lord's, his critics will start to talk about his ineffectiveness on flat decks

I am also surprised that Jordan got selected ahead of Footitt. From the little bit I have seen of Footitt over the last 2-3 years, there is no way Jordan is better. Maybe he has been selected to strengthen slip catching

[Arthur Crabtree]

Broad's only played the series in UAE (where he was leading seamer), and one in BD (which Anderson missed) in Asia. Otherwise he's played single Tests because of injury, and in the two he played in the win in India, he was chronically injured, and even Flower had to bow to the inevitable and let him go home. It's not enough to judge him either way.

[Arthur Crabtree]

In careers which have been remarkably similar, it is one area where they differ. Anderson averages 32 in Asia against the big three, Broad 42. But Broad has rarely been fit for his tours there. England's best pace bowler in Asia in recent year has probably been Gough, followed by Hoggard and Freddie.

[Aidan11]

England say they are happy if Yasir Shah plays.


So they aren't then.

[hopeforthebest]

Surely with new ball bowlers in particular strike comes into the equation. A bowler with a low strike rate can afford a higher average, whereas if he has high strike rate greater economy is required. Just comparing averages is relatively meaningless.

[backfootpunch]

"In the first innings, we have such a good seam-bowling attack that we predominantly use them until the last three or four wickets," said Gale.
"I always bring Rash on when they are six or seven down because he's best suited against the tail in the first innings. We encourage him to use his variations because tailenders really struggle to pick him.
"In the second innings we set the field back and encourage him to spin the ball as hard as he can. I know he might bowl a few bad balls, but usually the outcome is he will pick up wickets."

andrew gale on how best to use rashid, cook could do with writing it down or something