World Cup Q/F 3 - Australia v Pakistan - March 20th

[Red Devil]

Pakistan to bat. Not sure if that's the right call with their batting.

yeah, I think they should have bowled and tried to get ahead of the game by knocking Aus over cheaply

lots of talk about the grass on the pitch and there being lots of pace expected, but Starc's first over was pretty non eventful, didn't seem to be too much going on

[bigfluffylemon]

Australia haven't had to chase under pressure yet in this World Cup - they've batted first against every team bar Scotland. If the pitch doesn't do as much as expected a big Pakistan score on the board could put the pressure on, as has been the case for other chasing teams in this World Cup.

On the other hand, in the tri-series and the bilateral v South Africa, Australia chased pretty effectively.

[bigfluffylemon]

Interesting that we all castigate the likes of Bell and Cook for their one day strike rate and conversion rate, but Misbah has never scored an ODI century in almost exactly the same number of games as Bell, and has a strike rate of 73 compared to Bell and Cook having 77-78. Ok, Misbah has a higher average, but has scored about the same number of runs as Bell - the average is a result of Misbah batting down the order and therefore having more not outs.

Yet while we all dispute whether Bell and Cook should be in the team, no-one seems to be opposed to Misbah being in Pakistan's team. Why is that? Or have I missed something.

He's still the best batsman they have as Pakistan have a very weak batting line up.

Misbah usually comes in at 20/2 so he can't afford to take risks. If he goes early then they're usually bowled out inside 40 overs.

And on comes Misbah at 24/2. Well called, dan08!

[GarlicJam]

Misbah usually comes in at 20/2 so he can't afford to take risks. If he goes early then they're usually bowled out inside 40 overs.

Normal service resumed.

[Gingerfinch]

He'll no doubt score a fifty as well.

[Red Devil]

Interesting that we all castigate the likes of Bell and Cook for their one day strike rate and conversion rate, but Misbah has never scored an ODI century in almost exactly the same number of games as Bell, and has a strike rate of 73 compared to Bell and Cook having 77-78. Ok, Misbah has a higher average, but has scored about the same number of runs as Bell - the average is a result of Misbah batting down the order and therefore having more not outs.

Yet while we all dispute whether Bell and Cook should be in the team, no-one seems to be opposed to Misbah being in Pakistan's team. Why is that? Or have I missed something.

He's still the best batsman they have as Pakistan have a very weak batting line up.

Misbah usually comes in at 20/2 so he can't afford to take risks. If he goes early then they're usually bowled out inside 40 overs.

And on comes Misbah at 24/2. Well called, dan08!

wow - huge huge slice of luck for Misbah there and Hazlewood the unlucky bowler. Ball hits leg stump and the wickets light up, but the bail somehow does not fall. Could that be the turning point for Pak - if Misbah had gone there then Pak really were in deep deep trouble

[bigfluffylemon]

Interesting that we all castigate the likes of Bell and Cook for their one day strike rate and conversion rate, but Misbah has never scored an ODI century in almost exactly the same number of games as Bell, and has a strike rate of 73 compared to Bell and Cook having 77-78. Ok, Misbah has a higher average, but has scored about the same number of runs as Bell - the average is a result of Misbah batting down the order and therefore having more not outs.

Yet while we all dispute whether Bell and Cook should be in the team, no-one seems to be opposed to Misbah being in Pakistan's team. Why is that? Or have I missed something.

He's still the best batsman they have as Pakistan have a very weak batting line up.

Misbah usually comes in at 20/2 so he can't afford to take risks. If he goes early then they're usually bowled out inside 40 overs.

And on comes Misbah at 24/2. Well called, dan08!

wow - huge huge slice of luck for Misbah there and Hazlewood the unlucky bowler. Ball hits leg stump and the wickets light up, but the bail somehow does not fall. Could that be the turning point for Pak - if Misbah had gone there then Pak really were in deep deep trouble

Amazingly this is not the first time the bails have failed to dislodge in this WC. Are they too heavy because of those lights?

[GarlicJam]

It's certainly not unknown for them to happen before the 'zing' bails came into play, but maybe it is just far more evident with the zing bails.

Wouldn't be surprised if they were a little heavier, but I reckon that they would have a weight limit on them. They have been used down here for about 4-5 seasons in the limited overs games.

[GarlicJam]

Good to see that Misbah is playing himself in. Hopefully he will get out before he can cash in on his careful start.

[bigfluffylemon]

Good to see that Misbah is playing himself in. Hopefully he will get out before he can cash in on his careful start.

[bigfluffylemon]

So much for a greentop. It's looking pretty comfortable for Pakistan at the moment.

[GarlicJam]

Thanks Fluffy.

Not that the pitch had anything to do with that - he says, listening to the ABC. At work, due to go home fairly soon.

[GarlicJam]

having now lost 4 wickets, the slow pace that Pakistan have been scoring at - about 4 rpo - is looking likely to bite them. Still half the innings to go, and Pakistan will be relying on Umar Akmal to play a long innings. Not his forte.

Go Aus!

[mikesiva]

Australia well and truly on top right now....

Can Afridi do a Boom Boom special?

[Gingerfinch]

Afridi's going to go down swinging, and why not. If it comes off, Pakistan could get a match winning total.