PakPassion's Post/Thread of the Week
By Saj
January 24 2005
Week 1 Winner
Title : Woolmer's Views
Author : Mercenary
Date: 26-06-04 12:28
I think some people tend to believe biased media articles far too easily.
Since Woolmers appointment people have accused him of all sorts of stuff including stating that no team should tour Pakistan and many other such wild presumptions. He was even asked this question on his Q&A site and he replied...
Quote:
I have been to Pakistan 5 times in the last two years I used to live their when I was eleven, I guess you shouldn't believe all that yout friend says! (23 June 2004)
...most of us dont really know much about Woolmer. I've been reading through some of his old articles and I cant find anything negative about Pakistan. In fact he's always positive about Pakistan and Pakistani players. Below are some quotes from the articles on his website...
Woolmer on Pakistan the country
13 - Sept 2000 - Today, Pakistan is, in my opinion, a wonderful place to tour. It has quite categorically some of the best pitches for batting in the world.
13 - Sept 2000 - Cricket in Pakistan is of high quality and England will have to get into first gear very quickly. We have talked briefly about the pitches and on the whole they are batsman friendly, but spinners and fast bowlers have been able to take wickets there.
13 - Sept 2000 - My final advice to the team would be: Embrace Pakistan from the word go. It is a proud cricketing country and by understanding their culture and becoming Pakistani for six weeks, England's players will be far more successful.
04 Jun 2001 - Pakistan were really competing, in front of fantastic crowds over the weekend. Only the temperature fell short of the required standard.
Woolmer on the Pakistan team
17 Sep 2001 - Don't forget Pakistan either, under an inspired Waqar Younis they came back from a hiding at Lord's to a memorable victory at Old Trafford.
04 Jun 2001 - Darren Gough and Andrew Caddick were put to the sword, and the absence of Craig White was glaringly obvious. Michael Vaughan, still an occasional off-spinner at this level, was not allowed to settle. Pakistan were really competing,
07 Apr 2004
- Indeed the only sides really capable (of beating Australia for the 2003 WC) are South Africa and they will have to climb a massive psychological hurdle in order to do so and Pakistan who have beaten Australia recently, and the reason is that Shoaib Akthar has bombed their batsmen with frightening pace
13 - Sept 2000 - Most important for the team will be to find the correct length to bowl and how best to use the local ball and get it to reverse swing, a skill that the Pakistan team have down to a fine art.
13 - Sept 2000 - I, however, believe that Pakistan's strength is their pace attack and, if they prepare spinners' wickets, they will nullify their real expertise. Pakistan have some exciting players but are in the process of blooding youngsters who are potentially fine players.
Woolmer on Pakistani Players
04 Jun 2001 - Inzamam-ul-Haq played a superlative innings. Essentially an on-side player, not too bad on the off-side, and an imperious puller, he destroyed the much-vaunted England attack to such an extent that there were rumblings over the weekend that England were vulnerable again.
04 Jun 2001 - Thorpe has become the best middle-order batsman in England and played beautifully until taking a run which probably was there except for the supreme athleticism of Wasim Akram.
04 Jun 2001 - Wasim, playing his last Test in England, showed why he has been the most respected bowler in world cricket for years. Two lefties I know - Gary Kirsten and Brian Lara - thought he was the best.
Woolmer on India and Indian Players - ever wondered why the Indians are so anti-Woolmer and incredibly upset about him becoming the Pakistan coach? Look at what he has to say about them!
26 Nov 2001 - South Africa and India are leading cricket nations, who both have full representation on the ICC. They assist in appointing the match officials, so it is no use squealing like children when decisions go against them. They have brought this noble game into disrepute by undermining the authority of match referee Mike Denness and yesterday's mixed signals from India over whether the Indian selectors will defy the ICC and select Virender Sehwag to play England next week suggest no great hurry to repair the damage.
26 Nov 2001 - Many excuses and reasons have been thrown into the pot to explain the behaviour of the last few days. Sachin Tendulkar can never cheat say some Indians, Denness was racist went another argument, while others tried to turn the focus on South African captain Shaun Pollock and his alleged habit of screaming his appeals. Just what example are we creating for the game that we serve when effigies of Denness are burned on Indian streets?
26 Nov 2001 - Having been born and raised in India and having toured there with England as a player and then as coach with South Africa, I am fully aware of the fanaticism that the cricket fans have.
26 Nov 2001 - I hope that at the next meeting of the ICC India and South Africa are censured for their vigilante stance.
13 Apr 2004 - Brian Lara for all his faults his idiosyncrasies is quite the most prolific run getter of this generation 7 double hundreds, I am afraid Sachin has a long way to go to beat those statistics. It is official Brian Lara is the best batsman in the World as of April 12th 2004.
Is Woolmer anti-Indian then? - If you take the above quotes in isolation and out of context then Woolmer does appear to be a little anti-Indian but thats not true. In fact he comes down just as hard on South Africa as he does on India. The problem is that fanatical Indians such as those found on ICF like to hate people for any anti-India statement! In fact he has made just as many pro-Indian statements as shown below...
26 Nov 2001 - Indian people are friendly people, but they have been stirred up by the poor handling of the affair.
16 Apr 2004 - Pakistan and India have just given us all a real exhibition of cricket. As I write India have taken their first series in Pakistan and deservedly so, thanks to some brilliant batting by Rahul Dravid a truly fantastic innings by a real gentleman of the game.
26 Nov 2001 - India is the most wonderful of countries in which to play Test cricket, the atmosphere is just incredible, in fact second to none. The fans idolise the players, Tendulkar is an icon, always portrayed as Mr Clean, and I believe him to be just that. His offence of picking the seam is a relatively minor one.
...so in conclusion it would seem that Bob is quite a balanced and unbiased individual who appreciates good cricket whoever is playing it. His positive comments about Pakistan and Pakistani cricket were made years ago and at that time he was under no obligation to be nice or to say positive things about Pakistan.
The best bit for me is that Bob seems to be genuinely excited by Pakistani players and Pakistani cricket! Lets hope he has the junoon to take the team to the next level...
Week 2 Winner
Greatest All-Rounder based on career peak!
Author: Mercenary
Date: 03-07-04 10:13
i was backing up some of my old documents and i came across a few 'best of' analysis that i did last year. I have posted these here before but i think some of you havent seen these. If you've seen it before then i apologize but if you havent let me know what you think!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is the best way to gauge a players greatness? His career average? The average of his top 10 performances?
Personally i believe that a players career average can be misleading due to
frequent dips and peaks in form due to medical or even personal reasons. I
think the best way to judge a players greatness is to work out when he hit
peak form and then look at his figures to see just how good he was when he was on fire. After all when we choose a best XI we are assuming each player is performing to the best of his abilities.
Each player should be judged whilst performing at their peak level over a sustained period of 6 years. Anything less than 6 years wouldnt be a long enough period to ascertain true greatness and anything longer than 6 years would be unfairly weighted in favour of those players who never suffered a serious injury during their career.
I'm putting my theory to the test with a list of 6 all rounders, i will only be using players who have retired and only one from each country in the top 8. I've missed out SL and SA because the players suggested to me as their greatest all rounders havent retired as yet. The players featured will be...
Australia - Keith Miller
England - Ian Botham
India - Kapil Dev
New Zealand - Richard Hadlee
Pakistan - Imran Khan
West Indies - Gary Sobers
...I chose all rounders because i can check for their batting peaks as well as their bowling peaks and even a combined peak. This should test the theory better than just comparing bowlers or batsmen. Each six year peak begins on the 1st day of the first year specified and ends on the last day of the last year specified, I've taken great pains to check every six year period of each players career and pick out the best one's for each discipline and for the combined discipline. Let the games begin!!!
Batting
Lets begin with comparing each players 6 year peak as a batsman, to qualify as an all time great batsman the bar is set at an average of 45 runs. This isnt as high (50 runs) as some would set but remember these arent dedicated batsmen so a little discretion should be used. Below i will list each players batting average during their 6 year peak as a batsman, a dotted line will divide the players into all time great batsmen and the rest...
71.37 - Sobers (1958 - 1963)
52.90 - Imran (1986 - 1991)
-------------------------------
40.02 - Miller (1947 - 1952)
37.08 - Botham (1978 - 1983)
34.43 - Hadlee (1982 - 1987)
34.25 - Kapil (1982 - 1987)
...from the selection only two can be considered genuinely great batsmen and guaranteed a place on their batting skills alone. Imran has a very impressive 52.90, whilst Gary Sobers has an incredible 71.37. At the peak of every players skills as a batsman, only Imran Khan and Gary Sobers make the grade leaving the nearest contender (Miller) trailing by 12.88 runs to Imran and an incredible 31.35 runs (close to Kapil and Hadlee's peak batting average) to Sobers. Round 1 winners are Sobers and Imran!
Bowling
As test bowlers the most important aspect of their bowling would be their strike rate and then their average. The benchmark here will be set at a S/R below 55 combined with an average below 25. Once again the bowling figures below are from each players 6 year peak as a bowler and not their career figures. This time there will be two dotted lines, the players above the first one are all-time great bowlers (going by their figures) and the players above the second dotted line and below the first one will be great bowlers. Round 2..... Fight...
154 wkts at an avg of 14.85 with a S/R of 40.9 for Imran (1981 - 1986)
192 wkts at an avg of 18.31 with a S/R of 46.5 for Hadlee (1980 - 1985)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
267 wkts at an avg of 24.99 with a S/R of 53.5 for Botham (1978 - 1983)
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~90 wkts at an avg of 21.86 with a S/R of 59.3 for Miller (1947 - 1952)
239 wkts at an avg of 26.94 with a S/R of 53.6 for Kapil (1979 - 1984)
~89 wkts at an avg of 27.29 with a S/R of 72.2 for Sobers (1962 - 1967)
...Imran, Hadlee and Botham were all great bowlers at their peak but Hadlee and Imran were something else. During their respective 6 year peaks, Hadlee and Imran were all-time great bowlers and would probably make any team in the world as strike bowlers. Just look at that 40.9 S/R maintained by Imran for 6 years!!!
Kapil and Miller were both unlucky to miss out because Kapil made the grade with his strike rate and Miller with his average but they didnt make the grade with their combined figures. Round 2 winners are Imran, Hadlee, and Botham.
All Rounders
The only player to reach the benchmark based on his 6 year peaks as both a batsman and a bowler was Imran Khan with a batting average of nearly 53 and a bowling average of 14.85 combined with a strike rate of 40.9, he really was an awesome player but does he win and is he the greatest all rounder ever?
I think we should have one more round to decide because as impressive as those figures are his bowling peak was from 1981 to 1986 and his batting peak was from 1986 to 1991, so although at different stages in his career Imran was amazing at both disciplines. A truly great all rounder is one who is great at both disciplines at the same time, so lets have the deciding round and see who was the greatest all rounder of all time based on each players 6 year peak.
Since we are looking at each players all round capabilities, i'll relent a little and lower the batting average and raise the S/R. The benchmark for the greatest all rounders will be a batting average of 40 and bowling figures with a S/R of below 60 combined with an average below 25!
46.21 Batt avg. 167 wkts at an avg of 16.89 with a S/R of 42.8 for Imran
(1982 - 1987)
40.02 Batt avg. ~90 wkts at an avg of 21.86 with a S/R of 59.3 for Miller
(1947 - 1952)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
34.43 Batt avg. 218 wkts at an avg of 18.76 with a S/R of 46.2 for Hadlee
(1982 - 1987)
65.51 Batt avg. ~89 wkts at an avg of 27.29 with a S/R of 72.2 for Sobers
(1962 - 1967)
37.08 Batt avg. 267 wkts at an avg of 24.99 with a S/R of 53.5 for Botham
(1978 - 1983)
29.25 Batt avg. 239 wkts at an avg of 26.94 with a S/R of 53.6 for Kapil
(1979 - 1984)
...Whilst there is no doubt in my mind that ALL the above were explosive match winners for their respective teams and each of them deserve to be called great all rounders, there are only two (Imran and Miller) that met the benchmark set for the 'greatest' all rounders.
Among the others some excelled in batting (Sobers) and others were incredible bowlers (Hadlee) but the greatest all rounder of them all is Imran Khan.
In this last round he is head and shoulders above his nearest rival (Miller) for the all rounder slot in an all time test side, Imran has a batting average 6.19 runs above his nearest rival (second only to Sobers overall) and his bowling average is 4.97 runs below Miller combine that with a strike rate 16.5 balls (nearly 3 overs) less than the next best all rounder. Imran at his peak was the best all rounder that we have ever seen but looking at his peak bowling figures it makes me wonder just how close he is to being the best fast bowler of all time too!!!
In conclusion I'd like to see peoples feedback on what they think about using each players 6 year peak as a measure for that players success!!!
Week 3 Winner
Motivation
Author: nadeem
Date: 06-07-04 00:26
U cant put a stat on motivation but motivation gives you stats. I want to look into how motivation (or lack thereof) has defined and shaped different players.
Lara:- The man was hailed by the greatest himself Sir Viv as the next best thing two years before Lara came onto the international scene. This man who must be one of the greatest talents ever to pick up a cricket bat revolutionized batting within first 3 years of his career. This is where his motivation was to rejoice in the God given talent and fulfil his potential. But once he hit the dizziest of heights with his 501 and 375 fame went straight to his head. His priorities and incentives changed. It dwindled to a state whewre he said in 1999 that cricket was killing him. After a lean period of six years he picked himself up again and summoned all the motivation and determination again to be the best of the best. And sure enough as we speak he is numero uno again.
Sachin:- SRT loves batting, plain and simple. He would have invented cricket had it not been there already. Coming from a very good family he never lacked in ettiquette or civility neither did he want for anything. He didn't find cricket rather cricket found him. His motivation has always been to squeeze every ounce of potential that he possesses. As long as cricket is alive sachin's name will remain. I have never seen a more motivated character than him in cricket. He may not be as gifted as inzi, ponting or Lara but where he has the beating of them all is this machine like efficiency. And underlying this efficiency is an undying love to bat. Just like the Don i can picture sachin watching cricket with the keenest interest in his nineties and never getting tired of it.
Wasim:-
Imran and Botham have said the most talented cricketer ever in their opinion is none other than the sultan of swing. His motivation has always reflected his personality. It fluctuates constantly between brilliant and mundane. Mercurical is his middle name. There were occasions when it seemed he was asleep on the field. Yet you put him on the biggest stage and he'll perform to the best of his ability. You can put your bottom dollar on that. Over 900 international wickets in his career suggest that his determination and motivation may have fluctuated but they were enough to seal his status as one of the best ever.
Dravid:-
He is the definition of grit. Not for nothing is he called the wall. He must be the most prized wicket in international cricket today. I cansay without any hesitation that in the years to come he will be remembered as India's best ever batsman. Limited of talent yet unlimited in grit and oomph. As a matter of fact it seems he underestimated his own talent. Some of those silky cover drives, straight drives and cuts are to die for. His motivation and determination is to serve india as best as he can. A tireless worker the more he tries the better he becomes. People like these are destined to be great.
Hayden:-
Discarded and abandoned. That was matthew hayden's status until steve waugh gave his career the midas touch. Haydos is a man possessed. He is the most inspiring character in cricket today. Waugh says to Hayden in 2000 that he will break Lara's 375. At that time Hayden had just come back into cricket after years in the wilderness and was barely averaging 30. However, he mustered all his resources and proved that determination, hardwork and motivation can turn any disaster into the greatest of success stories. Having scored 17 tons in his last 40 matches he is the closest thing we have to Bradman today. His motivation comes from this fierce determination that he will never ever be abandoned again.
In a cricket culture nowadays where we try to explain everything with statistics i just tried to go behind the stats and see what motivates the best cricketers.
Week 4 Winner
Author: Carlito Brigante
Date: 13-07-04 23:37
I was just reading an article on the pehalwaans in Punjab, before partition.
Check out this guy's diet:
Quote:
6. Pahlwaan Hazara Singh alias Hazara of Bohoru. Born in 1908 in village Bohoru, Distt Sheikhupura, Pakistan, he is considered the ‘Ustaad pahlwaan’ of his times. As said above, he was the Shagirad of Pahlwaan Natha Singh, who in turn was the Shagird of Rusum-e-Zaman, Pahlwaan Gama. Pahlwaan Hazara Singh had fought Kushtis in some of the biggest Chhinjs or Dangals of India and earned great naamna or fame for himself in Desi Kushati style as well. The famous pahlwaan Kesar Singh, Rustum-e-Hind, had been his Shagird. Before partition, Hazara Singh defeated Barkat of Naagan and Khushia of Mian Kotia. He fought with famous Pahlwaan Yunus in Gujranwala but the bout remained undecided. He fought with famous Pahlwaan Gauns in Delhi but again this match remained unsettled. Later, he defeated Bubby Pahlwaan of Amritsar in Bahawalpur. He fought with famed Pahlwaan Gardawar but again the match remained undecided. Fought with Dhukhan Pahlwaan of Bihar and defeated him in Bombay. Fought with the naami Pahlwaan Joti Sambherha of Maharashtra and defeated him in Kulhapur. Later fought with Pahlwaan Subha of Lahaur and Thakur Singh of Marhi Megha and defeated both of them in wrestling.
Besides famed Pahlwaan Kesar singh, Pahlwaan Hazara Singh was said to have other eminent Shagirds in Pahlwaans like Mohinder Singh alis Minda and Pahlwaan Kartar Singh alias Kartara of Chhape Ram Singh, Distt. Amritsar. Hazara Pahlwaan continued wrestling till 1974.
Hazara’s dailly diet is said to have been 1 Kg Ghee, 2 Kg Badaams and 2 kg ‘male-goat’ meat besides other routine food. He is stated to take yakhni of 2 kg ‘he-goat’ meat daily. His chest measured 57” and the contours, shape and the length of his thigh and fore-arms are said to be the best model of human body ever-made. It is said that numerous Pahlwaans were openly jealous of the ‘finest model’ of his thighs and fore-arms. This naami Pahlwaan is now no more with us. He passed his last days kotli Naseer Khaan, Distt Amritsar
WOW!
Nadeem bro I remember we were talking about weight training few days ago when you recommended me to go for the free wights than a multi gym, I remembered this incident several years ago when I was in Pakistan. One of my first cousins Muneer, this dude had been doing his body building and weight training for a good 15 or so years. He was bench pressing well over 300kg from what I remember and he was just one big bloke. Well over 6ft tall, massive arms, well defined biceps, triceps, shoulders, chest, total physique, he was like Andy Symonds the cricketer. On top of that he had doing kick boxing for some years as well.
Anyhow he was in Pak at the time and we had this big-time Pehawaan jee at our village (in Gujranwala) everyone kept talking about saying how strong Nathoo Pehalwan was. My cousin Muneer was given a challenge by some guys and they asked him to have an arm wrestling contest with the Pehalwaan jee. Muneer agreed. When we first saw the Pehlwaan we cracked up, the guy looked like one big lump of fat. His physique looked no match for Muneeer bro. The Pehalwaan came along later that night, sat down and said to Muneer to think again as he didn't want to hurt him since we were guests from England. Muneer agreed and told the Pehlwaan we'll see what happens. He was one cocky guy. We also had a lot of people gathering by then to see the much awaited contest.
LOLzz. Contest? what contest, Pehlwaan jee had Muneer finished off in less than 30 seconds and left him with a fractured wrist joint. How effortlessly the dude did it , I'll never forget that. all he said was "puttar jee, laghda hai walayat wich tuseee desi ghee neheen istimaal karday".
These dudes are really strong, theyre not the ones to mess with. Next time I go to Pak, I'm going to meet NAthoo ustaad and find out what their training methods are.
Week 5 Winner.
Is Razzaq worth his weight in Gold?
Author: Mercenary
Date: 22-07-04 19:09
I'm one of the biggest critics of Razzaq and several months ago i was advocating dropping him till he recovered his midas touch with the ball but i now realize that he's the last person we should think of dropping.
Razzaq has many flaws in both his batting and his bowling but when the pressure is on, Razzaq is one of the only Pakistani players who regularly steps upto the plate and gives us everything he's got.
During the second test vs South Africa we were without both Sami and Akthar which meant Razzaq opened the bowling with Shabbir. Razzaq could have just bowled his usual rubbish and blamed the selectors or injuries but he put he put his head down and returned figures of...
5 wkts @ 19.71 avg. 7 maidens. 48.0 SR. 3.45 Eco - for Razzaq
...those are very impressive figures even for a genuine strike bowler. Razzaq could have bowled abysmally and nobody would have blamed him but he went that extra mile and put in the effort required.
I've noticed this quality in Razzaq several times.
During the 5th ODI vs NZ in NZ, Razzaq came to the crease with 13 overs left. Pakistan needed 137 runs at 10.5 runs an over. Razzaq blasted 89 runs off 40 balls at 222.50 SR, he did everything but take us over the finish line. That match would have been won had it not been for the lazy running of a kotha!
During the Multan test Razzaq made a gritty 47 runs off 109 balls playing an innings completely against his nature for the sake of Team Pakistan.
A few days ago vs Sri Lanka, Razzaq once again showed us the qualities so severely lacking in the rest of his team mates. When he came out to the crease with Pakistan at 52/5, as a natural stroke player he could easily have got himself out attempting a quickfire 20-30 runs but he gritted his teeth and made 43 runs off 71 balls. Then when he came out to bowl, he took on the mantle of responsibility and outbowled the kotha who seems to crumble under pressure.
Razzaq is a man for a crisis and in recent Pakistani cricketing history we have severely lacked some1 like that. If kotha had half the heart of Razzaq we could have put up a much better fight vs Sri Lanka.
As far as im concerned Razzaq is worth his weight in gold and if a few of the other players had his heart then we would be unbeatable.
I salute you Abdul Razzaq!!!
Week 6 Winner
How Important is Attitude?
Author: Umar Shahid
Date: 30-07-04 21:51
thoughts??
http://www.sportnetwork.net/boards/read/s24.php?f=23&i=156166&t=156166&sid=24
Week 7 Winner
Pakistan Independence Day thread
Author: Farhad
Date: 06-08-04 13:37
Roughly a week to go to 14th August...the day we celebrate our independence gained in 1947. On that day the sacrosanct existence of Pakistan came into being culminating the prayers and sacrifices of millions of Muslims of Sub-Continent who fought tooth and nail to carve a homeland of our own. We salute our fallen heroes and those selfless marvellous leaders who enabled us to enjoy the liberty of freedom.
Long live Pakistan..........land of the pure!
Azadi Mubarak.
I would request all fellow Pakistanis at PP to contribute positively in this thread and not let any extraneous elements disrupt the atmosphere. Pakistan is Allah's blessing for all of us and we love our nation more than we cherish our own lives. Thanks.
http://www.sportnetwork.net/boards/read/s24.php?f=23&i=160101&t=160101&sid=24
Week 8 Winner
Re: Bowlers of the 80's and 90's
Author: Majid Khan
Date: 08-08-04 18:12
I've always believed if there's one factor which separates the very greatest fast bowlers from the rest, I would say its the following :
The "killer instinct" to make things happen out of nothing at a crucial stage of the game, and come up with one spell of lethal bowling which changes the whole course of the match - it turns the whole match situation upside down.
This killer instinct is an attribute that can't be measured in terms of averages or statistics - it has to be witnessed and admired to be truly appreciated.. because such factors are by nature QUALITATIVE and not QUANTITATIVE (measurable in numeric terms).
I would use this same argument in a comparison between say Wasim Akram and McGrath.. you are basically comparing a MSc in Fast bowling to an MA in Fast bowling - while it is possible to numerically measure the efficiency of McGrath's fast bowling through his economy rates/average etc... it isn't as simple to measure Wasim Akram's artistic and craftsman-like abilities/qualities as a fast bowler... that's where they differed.. one was all about method, the other was all about skill. Industrial machinery can be measured for efficiency but an artist can only be admired..
My own personal list of the very greatest fast bowlers of all time would be Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Curtly Ambrose, Denis Lillee, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis -- in no particular order.. simply because there's a fine line when it comes to separating the very greatest.
I have chosen the above primarily on the basis of their QUALITIES as fast bowlers and particuarly the one indispensable quality I have outlined above - that of instantly turning a match on its heels with just one spell of ultra destructive bowling.
CONSISTENCY IN PERFORMANCE is important - but just as important is the INTENSITY of your performance... as in, how much of an impact your performance has on the state of a match.
McGrath and Pollock are top class bowlers and no one can take that away from them, but for example if one were to go through each 5 wicket haul that these two got and likewise for Wasim and Waqar and rated on a scale of 10 for the intensity and impact that spell had on the state of the match... I'm pretty sure the two W's would win that contest quite convincingly.
In fact leave alone five-wicket hauls, having followed the career of Wasim Akram in particular.. I can recall countless moments where Wasim's spell of even 2/3 wickets had made a greater impact on that match than would have been made from 5/6 wickets from other bowlers..
Its not always how many wickets you take or how many runs you score - but WHEN you perform and also HOW you perform- lifting your game and coming up with a performance that leaves the opposition shell-shocked and that too when the match situation is at a crucial stage... these are the kind of qualities I would say are the hallmarks of the very greatest players... these are qualities (not numbers) - hence, they have to be seen first hand to be appreciated, rather than being worked out on a Casio calcuator..
http://www.sportnetwork.net/boards/read/s24.php?f=23&i=161210&t=161210&sid=24
Week 9 Winner
Re: Why do most of us
Author: ggm
Date: 21-08-04 14:12
Whilst we are talking about bowling actions, I just want to make some comments on the evolution of Akhtar's action.
When he began he was much more side on. These days he is less side on. When he made his debut he used to bowl around his front leg more. So he rotated his upper body more. The front leg used to get further accross, nearer to the stumps.
In the last couple of years the front leg has not been getting as near the stumps. As such there has been less rotation of the hips.
This could one reason he gets a less away swing with the new ball than he used to. The other key reason is the release. When he made his debut the ball was released with an upright seam, slightly slanted. These days it is much less consistent. Against N.Z the seam position was good, against India it was a little scrambled at times - not ideal for new ball swing.
Another point I would make about his action is that there less of a leap - less hang time - than there used to be.
One other point I forget to mention: these days I fancy that his front foot is more splayed. It points more to first slip.
When he made his debut the front foot pointed strighter. This change is another reason that his action appaers a little less side on.
http://www.sportnetwork.net/boards/read/s24.php?f=23&i=169005&t=169005&sid=24
Week 10 Winner
Author: DM
Date: 27-08-04 22:56
lol, no YOU'RE the legend merc! Yes Amjid I have it on video but i haven't recorded it onto hard disk- i'll do it next time i'm recording if you want bro
I have thought quite a bit about the question in this thread, but i still can't bring myself to state a preference of one over the other. However, if you were to hold me at gunpoint or knifepoint or whatever i'd probably end up saying the sixes, but only just!
My favourite SIXES (i might have posted all of these before - possibly except for the Bangladeshi ones):
AFRIDI:
Afridi Debut - SIX -WOW
Afridi Debut - SIX - WOW!
Afridi Debut - SIX - WOW!! - Gone to another city!!
Afridi Vs West Indies 2000 - SIX - Very Unorthodox but powerful!
Afridi Vs Bangladesh 2000 - Swat SIX
Afridi Vs Bangladesh 2000 - SIX Big Swing of Shoulders
Afridi Vs Bangladesh 2000 - SIX - I like this one because it's very difficult to do - hits it on the full but still goes for six!
Afridi Vs England 2001 - SIX - Runs down the crease to a fast medium bowler (mullally) and slaughters his delivery
Afridi Vs India 2004 (in Pakistan) - SIX - This was the return of Afridi
Afridi Vs NZ 2002 - SIX - Reaches his hundred with a SIX - listen to the atmosphere and excitement among the fans and in the commentators' voices - this is the Afridi effect!!
Afridi Vs SL - SIX - Hits one of the world's best bowlers (murali) for Six!
Afridi SIX - IMMENSE strength in his wrists!!
Afridi For Leicester - SIX - Massive strike hitting against the spin
Abdul Razzaq:
Razzaq Vs Eng 2000 - SIX - I love it when he switches to BASEBALL mode - minces Craig White!
Razzaq Vs New Zealand 2003 ODI - SIX - HUGE HUGE Hit!!
Razzaq Vs Zim 2003 - SIX - BASEBALLS it again!
Razzaq Vs Zim 2003 - SIX - Towards the commentators!!
And finally an Ijaz Ahmad one, a beast of a six:
Ijaz Vs India 1999 - SIX
My favourite Stump-Rippers (the stump had to come out of its socket to qualify for this):
Muhammad Zahid MASSACRES The Leg Stump Out
Mohammad Akram BLASTS a Leg Stump Out
Waqar Younis NUKES a Middle Stump (reverse view)
Young Waqar SMASHES Out a Middle Stump
Waqar HOMES Out Lara's Leg Stump
Akhtar Absolutely DETONATES 2 Sets Of Stumps
Not his fastest, but Akhtar CONNECTS with the Middle Stump!
Young Akhtar ZONES out the Middle Stump
Akhtar TWIGS out the off stump (makes it look like a twig)
Akhtar BLISTERS Kallis' Middle Stump with a Perfect Yorker
Akhtar ANNIHILATES the Off Stump
Sami ABSOLUTELY NAILS Kallis' Off Stump (FLIES OUT OF THE GROUND!)
Sami MISSILES the Middle Stump
Razzaq PERFECTS the Middle Stump out
Akram DESTROYS the Middle Stump (in 1993)
Akram SHATTERS Leg and Middle Stump
Gul PINGS Out an Off Stump (Laxman's)
Holding simply RAZES the Stumps!
Mfuneko Ngam BULLSEYE'S the Leg Stump!
Hayward MAULS the Off Stump
Donald TEARS Out the Middle Stump (this is an mpg)
Pollock DEMOLISHES the Middle Stump
Ntini BULLETS Middle Stump
Ntini CRACKS Off Stump (Youhana's)
Kenny Benjamin CARTWHEELS The Stump! (this is an MPG)
Walsh IMPACTS the Middle Stump - Amazing Impact! (this is an MPG)
Zaheer Khan CLEANS Leg Stump (Akhtar's)
Vaas REFURBISHES Off Stump (Taufeeq's)
And i've milked the verbs
Unfortunately, because in Australia they have those annoying stumps that don't budge, so he can't qualify - i dont have any of him uprooting the stumps!
Week 11 Winner
Best Allrounder - Analysis
Author: waheed
Date: 02-09-04 21:53
When I started looking at Flintoff, Gayle, Sehwag and Razzaq, I thought I couldn't compare them as as allrounders because they fall into two different categories.
Just to expand on allrounders currently playing I am going to consider Cairns, Kallis and Pollock who also fit nicely into the two categories.
Gayle, Sehwag, Kallis are top order batting allrounders who bowl off-spin, medium pace on regular basis.
Where as Flintoff, Razzaq, Cairns and Pollock are true allrounders and bat lower in the order and will bowl their full 10 overs of medium-fast bowling in each match.
First of all, lets consider the batting aspects.
You would expect the batting allrounders to have the higher averages, since they have opportunity to build an innings, use the 15 over restriction and bat the full 50 overs.
Kallis Mat Runs HS Bat Av Bat SR 100 50
Career 201 7211 139 45.92 70.86 13 49
Sep 02 46 1795 139 54.39 5 12
Gayle Mat Runs HS Bat Av Bat SR 100 50
Career 101 3714 153* 39.93 78.04 9 21
Sep 02 51 2233 153* 48.54 8 9
Sehwag Mat Runs HS Bat Av Bat SR 100 50
Career 99 2980 130 33.11 95.48 6 14
Sep 02 61 1999 130 35.07 5 8
Each of the 3 players have very good records and perform specific roles for their teams.
Kallis is Mr consistant with with an career average of 45.9 and 54.3 for last 2 years and scores a hundred about every 10 matches.
Gayle has an even more impressive ton rate, with one every 6 matches in last 2 years.
Sehwag although not as consistant as the others has a far superior Strike Rate which he makes full use of in the first 15overs to get India off to a flying start.
The lower order allrounders are constantly moved up and down the order depending on the match situation, and often have only the last 10 overs or to make an impact. (Although they can have not outs, which can occasisonaly boost the average, e.g. M.Bevan).
So you would expect their averages to be lower but higher strike rates. Although we need to bear in mind that for the early part of his career Razzaq was pushed up the order to act as a defensive buffer to protect the likes of Inzy and Yohanna from the swinging white ball.
Flintoff Mat Runs HS Bat Av Bat SR 100 50
Career 75 1883 123 34.23 90.54 2 12
Sep 02 29 1036 123 51.8 2 7
Razzaq Mat Runs HS Bat Av Bat SR 100 50
Career 166 3271 112 30.28 79.24 1 17
Sep 02 56 1298 112 35.08 1 6
Cairns Mat Runs HS Bat Av Bat SR 100 50
Career 190 4436 115 29.37 84.16 4 22
Sep 02 39 822 84* 30.44 0 3
Pollock Mat Runs HS Bat Av Bat SR 100 50
Career 219 2257 75 24.53 83.43 0 9
Sep 02 55 611 57* 29.09 0 3
On the form of the last 2 years, Flintoff is way ahead of the others in terms of batting average and could play solely as batsmen with an average of 51 and a strike rate of 90 which is improving all the time.
Flintoff and Cairns do have the advantage of playing higher up the order than Razzaq and Pollock who usually bat at 7 and 8 respectively. Even so they too have very good averages and strike rates.
Moving on to the bowling. With the exception of Pollock who is the strike bowler, all the other seamers are front line bowlers but 3rd or 4th in their respective teams. And as such fill different roles for their team, usually filling in the difficult 15-40 over period and doing a containing job.
Pollock Mat W Bowl Av 5w 4w Econ SR
Career 219 302 23.7 4 11 3.74 38
Sep 02 55 72 22.97 0 4 3.48 39.5
Flintoff Mat W Bowl Av 5w 4w Econ SR
Career 75 72 25.12 0 3 4.21 35.7
Sep 02 29 36 20.61 0 2 3.52 35.1
Razzaq Mat W Bowl Av 5w 4w Econ SR
Career 166 190 28.42 3 4 4.47 38
Sep 02 56 40 42.47 0 0 4.71 54
Cairns Mat W Bowl Av 5w 4w Econ SR
Career 190 175 32.59 1 2 4.75 41.1
Sep 02 39 21 37.61 0 0 5.12 44
Again Flintoff stands out a mile with an amazing economy 3.52 and strike rate of 35. Which is good enough to get into any team purely as a bowler.
Razzaq had as good a strike rate as Pollock early in his career, as he regularly used to get 4+ wickets in 10 over spells, But that is one the way down now.
There is nothing special about Cairns figures and he is becoming less economical over 5 runs per over these days.
Of the batting allrounder, you would expect Kallis to have a good bowling record as he has often bowled with the new ball in ODI's for South Africa. Gayle you would expect to be the most economical with his low trajectory off spin bowling.
Kallis Mat W Bowl Av 5w 4w Econ SR
Career 201 189 31.15 2 2 4.75 39.3
Sep 02 46 45 31.6 1 1 4.99 37.9
Gayle Mat W Bowl Av 5w 4w Econ SR
Career 101 88 29.59 1 3 4.55 38.9
Sep 02 51 46 31.21 1 1 4.69 39.9
Sehwag Mat W Bowl Av 5w 4w Econ SR
Career 99 47 39.1 0 0 5.25 44.6
Sep 02 61 32 34.96 0 0 5.16 40.6
What is interesting about these figures is the low strike rates of all three bowlers, especially Kallis and Gayle which is similar to Pollock. They are both currently averaging a wicket every match, with Gayle having taken 4+ wickets four times.
To summarize, for me Flintoff is the best allrounder in the world on the form of the last 2 years and he could easily play as a bowler or a batsmen (as he did in natwest series early in year). To add to that he is one of the best slip catchers of all time.
The best batting allrounder would have to be Kallis, with Gayle close behind. Again both of them are brilliant fielders aswell.
Although they should all be watching out for Shoaib Malik, who in a year or so will become the best batting allrounder in the world (Inshallah), In my opinion.
He is allready a very ecomical off spin bowler, and is starting to take wickets more regularly especially in asian subcontinent. With his new found position in the batting order he will be able to build substantial innings and boost his average which is allready pretty healthy.
Malik Mat Runs HS Bat Av Bat SR 100 50
Career 75 1684 143 31.18 78.95 4 5
Sep 02 48 1209 143 30.22 2 5
Malik W Bowl Av 5w 4w Econ SR
Career 68 34.94 0 1 4.33 48.3
Sep 02 46 33.97 0 1 4.19 48.5
What is even better is that when he has batted for Pakistan in top order (1-4) he averages over 55. Long may it continue...
Malik Mat Runs HS Bat Av Bat SR 100 50
Top Order 17 16 1 741 55.07 4 1
Week 12 Winner
Author: Amjid Javed
Date: 09-09-04 21:53
Amjid wins week 12 due to all of his commentary threads on PP.
Week 13 Winner
Javed Miandad
Author: fair play
Date: 17-09-04 20:48
Sadly it's time to start a controversial topic, not for the sake of controversy, but because the point is often discussed here in one way or other. My aim is clarity and insight.
The topic is Javed Miandad, outstanding player of his era, statistically Pakistan's best batsman ever, and no shrinking violet. After he was appointed and discarded as coach, there has been much debate about Javed's motivations. Some feel he is driven by seflish reasons, at least in conjuction with ambitions patriotic, while some feel that while he may have some personal idiosyncracies, his purity of puropose can never be doubted.
One point nearly all agree with is that Javed was a real fighter on a cricket field. Almost implicit is the acknowledgement is that Javed fought for Pakistan - a point Javed is rarely bored about telling us.
I have followed Javed's career with interest - and there was never a reason to suppose that Javed ever gave it less than his best on the day (though Wasim Akram had his doubts during the 92-93 tour of the West Indies). I'm not sure Javed had the discipline to stay as fit as he could be - so I'm not sure he made the most of his considerable talent. Instead he relied on the level of talent he had, plus his instinct for a scrap to fight it out on the day. These two attributes ensured that Javed remained one of cricket's top players - though perhaps not realising the potential he had. It's certainly my view, though it will be in the minority here.
This reliance on talent and the desire for a scrap meant that Javed often became a dogged player - often no bad thing from Pakistan's point of view. We saw less and less of his extravagant stroke play as years rolled by - in fact many times Javed was fighting to score 20 off 70 balls when the quality of the bowling and conditions would have dictated twice as much. He was fighting for Pakistan no doubt, but Javed was often fighting for himself as well.
This is no bad thing - at a deep level every sportsman does it. But Javed has acquired a holier than thou image, partly through our admiration for his fighting spirit, and partly by his own theatricals. Javed has always wanted to hog the limelight, and the easiest thing to do was to assert how he gave his all for the country. "Ask what you can do for your country..," said JFK in his famous speech, but Javed has elevated to it "Look what I have done for my country!" Not even the most in your face ex-cricketers have done that (Kapil Dev excepted, it seems to be a Pakistani speciality) - Javed's cheekiness is unparalleled, just as it was in his batting. Neville Cardus once observed, rightfully so in my opinion, that the cricketer is so often the man, so lets examine Javed the cricketer as well to see if there were glimpses of the man some are now tiring of.
To me there was the fighter who made 129 not out at Perth in 1979, and who withstood West Indian assaults to make 60 and 70's that were far more important than any centuries he reeled off against India or Sri Lanka on Fasialabad dustbeds. If Javed's sole aim was to fight for country than perhaps he would have been less motovated on the less challenging occasssion - say in county cricket or a double wicket challenge in India. But no Javed was as competitive as a person can be no matter what the occassion. This in itself is admirable and a unique quality, but it gives lie to the claim that Javed was primarily driven by his undying love for Pakistan - a fact which he, unique amongst most cricketers, is often fond of forcing down our throats. Admittedly his mentor Hanif Mohammad talks along the same lines, but these men are few and far excepted. Whither modesty Javed?
Watching his cricket over the years, apart from his may outstanding performances, it is also clear that Javed mattered a great deal to himself. Often in easy conditions, Javed would promote himself to score a hundred or two, or refuse to play higher up the order though Pakistan might have preferred it. Javed had little of the self sacrifice element about him, and one can argue that in the end it was all to Pakistan's ultimate benefit. What I do not believe is that it was Javed's primary goal.
Now that some people have started questioning Javed the man the time is right to ask the question of whether he has ever been the man some thought him to be. By which I mean a selfless and patriotic fighter out there on Paksitan's behalf. He was certainly out there - but to my mind he has often been driven solely by personal ambition. It's a good thing that on many occassions his personal ambitions and selfishness coincided with Pakistan's best interests.
None of this makes him any less of a cricketer, or less interesting a man. In fact, it is often more enlighhtening to see the real person as he is, rather than ascribe him saintly status. Javed is a complex person, ready to brawl, ready to provoke, ready to take, and ready to proclaim. He has always been that, and one day, a good biographer, will make us see the real Javed. It would make for compelling reading - far more interesting than the public icon he helped to create.
Week 14 Winner
You are not a true PP'er until...
Author: Kashif
Date: 22-09-04 00:20
1) You........................
http://www.sportnetwork.net/boards/read/s24.php?f=23&i=199007&t=199007&sid=24
Week 15 Joint Winners
Inzi's TRUE worth to Pak..
Author: oXy™
Date: 30-09-04 12:56
http://www.sportnetwork.net/boards/read/s24.php?f=23&i=207633&t=207633&sid=24
Chanderpaul / Technique
Author: Saj
Date: 01-10-04 20:58
http://www.sportnetwork.net/boards/read/s24.php?f=23&i=208810&t=208810&sid=24
Week 16 Winner
Well done Aussie selectors...take note Wasim Bari!
Author: twelth man
Date: 07-10-04 14:37
Australia are the best team in the world and this is in no small measure due to the strategy and foresight of the selectors over the last 15 years.
Since 1990 (I could even go back further), Australia's selectors have taken the bold step of permanently forcing-out/dropping one established player from the senior side every year/season. Most recently Michael Bevan and Andrew Bichel were omitted from recent touring squads and not among the list of 25 who were given central contracts. Even those that have retired would have liked to continue, but retired to save grace. eg Steve Waugh made no secret of his desire to tour India in 2004/05.... but he retired in January 2004 knowing he wouldnt make it. Similarly Allan Border retired in Spring 1994 even though he wanted to skipper the side in the Ashes later that year but he too knew his time was up. Check this..
Players forced out/retired
2004 - Michael Bevan & Andy Bichel
2003/2004 - Steve Waugh
2002- Mark Waugh
2001 -Michael Slater & Colin Miller
2000- Greg Blewett
1999- Ian Healy
1998- Mark Taylor
1997- ?
1996- Craig McDermott
1995- David Boon
1994- Allan Border
1993 –Merv Hughes
1992–Dean Jones
1992 -Geoff Marsh
1991 –Terry Alderman
1990 –Geoff Lawson
1997 was a year in which they didnt force any one out (maybe they did and I missed it). The most number of senior players they have got rid of in any year is TWO!!!! Contrast this with Pakistan who lost Wasim ,Waqar, and Anwar at the same time after the last world cup. The Aussies would never have allowed that to happen. Any transition is always seamless in Australia. Australia's selectors are ruthless and one shouldnt be surprised if 2005 sees the end of either Lehman, Martyn or McGrath.
Three cheers for Trevor Hohns and his fellow selectors...Hip Hip......
Week 17 Winner
Whos the craziest fan of the Pakistan team
Author: twelth man
Date: 11-10-04 18:13
http://www.sportnetwork.net/boards/read/s24.php?f=23&i=219634&t=219171&sid=24
Week 18 Winner
Stop Criticizing
Author: shayan6688
Date: 23-10-04 14:15
http://www.sportnetwork.net/boards/read/s24.php?f=23&i=232613&t=232613&sid=24
Week 19 Winner
Moiz - for his threads illuminating us about the wonders of QURAN.
Week 20 Winner
Always Play your best 11 Vs Horses for Courses ?
Author: MenInGreen
Date: 06-11-04 10:57
Experts pls consider:
Australia seem to play their best 11 - even in India when they knew they would face "spinning" pitches, they didnt choose 3 specialist spinners, they simply brought their best players. Now I dont believe that there are no spinners apart from Warne in Australia ( Clarke did a great job but he is not in the side as a Warne's replacement ? )
Is that the way to go or should teams choose their bowling attack based on type of pitch ?
Week 21 Winner
Re: Summary
Author: monsee
Date: 14-11-04 01:11
We played a Chokers XI who also call themselves World No 2, its another thing that they actually know and are experts in doing No 2 in all the games, all the time (in public too)
There were 100000 Junglees watching the game; one junglee was so out of it, he had his eyes closed for over an hour and was praying for his team to win; unfortunately the Pyrotechnics show was never materialized as most of the junglees left well in advance when they realized their team has Choked Again
Auntie Sehwagie huffed and puffed, got her make up ruined; Keebler Di Di was suffering from PMS and got hereself run out; Laxative man scored some runs on some Jeet Lo Dil style bowling; Chicken Man ran around like a headless chicken for a while; Mr. Lozanger was put in his Tortoise shell by our real Pathan; Uglyraaj hit our silly bowlers around with the minimal of foot work, made Auntie Sehwagie look like a Belle dancer...
Our innings started with the Useless Khan going back early as he wanted to finish his serial before Inzi ate it all; Little guys Malik and Butt Sahab harrassed and beat their way out of the tight corner, Fake Pathan was put in his place by Mr. Bits and pieces player (according to ACCs of PP); early on, Big man was all at sea looking like a blind man trying to catch some fish but then he got mad and spanked the little poor Indian boys; Butt Sahab went in the pavillion with cramps; Mr. Vice Cuptaan didn't do much except a fight with fake Pathan (Did use his bat more effectively at the bowler than the ball); Butt Sahab came back and with Big Man beat the poor Parosiite team senseless....
We Won; score reads 4-0
ICFers cry the crocodile tears
Week 22 Winner
What Makes Australia so Good
Author: waheed
Date: 20-11-04 10:19
What makes the current Australian team so good?
Their levels of intensity, concentration and professionalism at all times, regardless of match situation.
Everybody is prepared to do their bit with both bat and bowl, their are match winners in the team but any one of the 11 players could turn around the match for Australia.
If it is not Hayden and Langer scoring 100 run partnerships for fun. It is Ponting scoring hundreds, if they are having a lean patch then somebody else has a purple patch Lehman, Martyn scoring consecutive hundreds in Test Matches.
In the odd match that they fail you have the prospect of Clarke and Gilchrist waiting to attack you...
The bowlers all chip and make usefull contribution never giving away their wickets with Warne, Gillispie, Kasprovicks all putting a premium on their wicket, personfied by the epic Gillispie innings in Indian series batting for over 50 overs to keeping the Indian spinners out.
And Today the Tenth wicket on the way to putting on a 100 run partnership.
The point is you are never through this lineup until you get all 10 wickets, and their are no free wickets on offer, you have to earn your right to take an australian wicket.
That's what makes Australia So Powerfull. They win the all important crucial sessions and then ram home their advantage, and the opposition mentally disintegrate infront of them.
You can fight it out with them for a day or two but no team can stand shoulder to shoulder to them for the five days.
What a transformation from 222-5 still 130+ runs behind with half the team out on a tricky pitch, to turn that into a 200+ run lead in the first innings....
Their is just not let down in their level of intensity...
This has happened so many time already in the year 2004. In the Sri v Aus series, Sri Lanka constantly bowled out Australia out cheaply in the first innings but were never able to press home their advantage, and take a significant lead. Only for Australia to come back strongly in the 2nd innings and win the games comfortably.
Week 23 Winner
My take on Salman Butt
Author: fair play
Date: 27-11-04 16:37
Butt looked the most natural young player I have seen come out of Pakistan for a while. Talent wise he is above Youhanna and Co.
He could be a proper test batsman. Many guys who have played for Pakistan are just not real batsmen.
Salman showed three things in his innings against India - the cover drive, the square cut, and the odd pull/hook. In my view anyone who can play all these 3 shots well has the ingredients to become a proper test batsman. And Salman seemed to play all these shots naturally - they were not manufactured shots.
I also liked the way he stayed on the backfoot against spinners and played straight - its sensible to let the ball come to you rather then chase it with 2 yard lunges. That was natural ball sense, and anyone who thinks he is weak against spin misses the essential point of his batting. Maybe he didnt play as many shots - but it was sensible and natural cricket.
The one shot of his I dont like is when he tries to force on the up outside off - from a semi front foot postion, often to a good length ball. It seems to be a method that Saeed Anwar often used - very pretty when it worked but often his downfall as well. Salman seems to have copied that shot outright - not surprising since Saeed was his hero. But this shot is going to keep the slips and gullies interested and I hope Woolmer can get him to refrain from this airy experiment too often. It didnt really work for Saeed and it aint gonna work for Salman.
Salman is the first of hopefully many proper young batsmen from Pakistan - its been a long while since I saw one. There will be less pressure on him as well - since he has all the natural shots (the drive, the square cut and the pull) and has only to wait till the ball in the slot. He doesnt have to manufacture anything unnatural to try and score a boundary - this is a tremendous advantage over other players Pakistan have introduced.
If I were Salman I'd stay calm and wait on the backfoot - bowlers will have less margin for error bowling to him. That's what happens with all proper batsmen and why they often make batting look so easy. Possessing natural shots is the key to batsmanship - you just wait till the ball is there to be hit, nothing more, nothing less.
Week 24 Winner
Should we just always play in ODI mode?
Author: Mercenary
Date: 03-12-04 11:44
In ODi's we make a minimum of 200 runs an innings at least...
Usually we make around the 300 mark and 300 x 2 = 600 runs which i believe our bowling could defend or at least run Australia close with.
Woolmer should make each innings a 60-80 over affair and tell the batsmen to bat like they would in an ODI. This way we keep up the pressure of a high run rate and make more runs than we would batting like we do in a test match.
If by some miracle our batsmen are still out there after 80 overs then they should go into 20/20 mode and slog the bowling to timbuctoo.
We'd probably actually win more test matches this way and we should stick to the same ODI team with the exception of Kaneria coming in for rana as he loses his potency once the ball loses its shine!
Week 25 winner
Things to do while waiting for the Perth test to start
Author: MenInGreen
Date: 11-12-04 17:48
With so few days left and bad news galore, many of us are finding life difficult to bear. As such we are starting all sorts of negative ( and some positive ) threads. However, since none of us have an inkling as to what will REALLY happen in the future, why dont we suggest some activities to live thru this critical period. Here is my list, Top 10, feel free to add more:
1. Endlessly crticize Pak team selection
2. Wonder what Taufeeq Umar is doing as we speak ( Khana khara rah hoga bechara ? )
3. Look for all possible alternatives to every player on the current team - infact lets look for atleast 20 replacements for each position
4. Learn to knit ( my favourite !)
5. Lash out at any stranger on the street for the slightest of reasons
6. refuse to eat real food, just Big Macs ( the halal kind ) until 16th dec.
7. contribute heavily to the Kids thread ( only if you are over 18
8. Play banjo - may require some hard work but with the 16th a few days away, perfect time to do it
9. Pretend to be a girl and introduce yourself to the largely male population as such - only to be told that its a former RAW agent in disguise.
Finally if all fails, quote Keats at the first opportunity - by the time people understand what he is actually talking about, it will be time for the first test at Perth
Just some mirth until the big day......
Week 26 Winner
Congratulations, Australia
Author: Farhad
Date: 19-12-04 04:59
Very professional peformance indeed. Top effort after being on the ropes early on. Outclassed Pakistan completely.
Only Hayden, Clarke and Lehmann missed out. The rest put up a great show.
Week 27 Winner
MecnunK's post regarding a question about our players' poor performances:
"I have said this before and I'll say it again. Our players hide their lack of technique, inability to play the ball with laterall movement and bounce in rashness and striking out.. Every now and then they get lucky and look flashy but that is far from the truth. I believe it is a facade by some of our supposedly talented batters. They may have great eye to hand co-ordination but they do not seem to be able to grasp which ball to play and which to leave..."
Week 28 Winner
Akhtar Anjum for all the news threads of his. It is because of him that I for one dont have to look at different newspapers cause he ensures that PP is able to keep a tab on whats being said in some of the leading newspapers and sites.
Week 29 Winner
Danish Kaneria
Author: fair play
Date: 10-01-05 11:41
Kaneria has received a lot of hype recently - and some of it is well deserved. He is a fine and competitive bowler in my opinion.
It is important, however, to remain analytical about his strengths and weaknesses. He is more an arm bowler rather than one who makes full use of the torso. Some of the greatest leggies - Warne and Qadir amongst them - have always used every muscle in their body when imparting spin and flight. This is what often makes the ball dip and bite - essential qualities in my opinion.
Kaneria bowls mostly with the arm in contrast. I think it is primarily due to a lack of athleticim. When he moves, he looks like the type of ill-coordinated kid every one has had as classmate at some point in their lives. He is okay arms and above, but cant seem to move the whole body together in one package. When the arms are doing one thing, his ass and legs seem to be doing another. Even MacGill, another odd looking specimen, has rather more coordination between different parts of his body.
But this should not held against Kaneria - its the way he was born. We are born with some strengths and weaknesses, and its up to us to maximise our potential. Maybe his attitude and hunger will see him through. I certainly hope so. There is certainly nothing wrong in his attitude. A few of our players could learn from him.
One last point about his wickets. A good many were obtained when Australia were already in the lead and he had already gone for over a hundred runs. Wickets picked up late in the innings when the opposition are in for a slog are well and good, but matches are won by taking wickets earlier on.
Hopefully, Kaneria can show he is capable of that as well.
Week 30 Winners
Post of the week is not one single post but more a combination of posts from the likes of Sameer, Waseem and Ten - and the other guys who have been watching the Pak domestic matches live and providing feedback on all the players.
Week 31 Winner
Author: Amoeba
I wrote this for MIG's intended satirical site as an introduction to the Sarfraz Bakwaas column. "Any likeness to real life people is purely coincidental." So please don't take offence as none is intended.
Showboy Shocks World!
In amazing events which unfolded this afternoon Showboy Actor, famed Bollywood star and Sex symbol (shouldn’t it be alleged Pakistani fast bowler? - Ed), shocked a stunned press conference and the on-looking world by declaring that he was going to adopt a new strategy ahead of the series against arch-rivals India. Actor was quoted as saying; "I have been discussing cricket tactics at length with my coach, idol, mentor, and father figure Sarfraz Bakwaas. Sometimes the conversation can last for as long as seconds and cuts into valuable drinking time." (Surely he has been misquoted and what he actually said was thinking time -Ed).
Extensive Planning & Deliberation
The tension was now almost unbearable, as an astounded audience was extremely eager to hear the outcome of such extensive planning and deliberation. Actor continued to outline his strategy "I've formulated a 4 point plan to make me the best bowler in the World: -
Firstly I intend to make the arduous journey from preening myself in front of the dressing room mirror down the pavilion steps and onto the pitch without injuring myself;
Secondly, I aim to bowl upto as many as three, YES THREE, overs a game.
Thirdly, er...
Fourthly...that's it.
Slappers
"Obviously this gruelling workload may take its toil on my Adonis-esque body" added the shy, retiring, modest self-proclaimed superstar, who currently holds the World record for the fastest receding hairline. "Therefore Bakwaas and I have come up with a very tough new innovative training regime which involves visiting a night-club 6 days a week either for a year, or until we pull a slapper."
No G’days, Barbies or Tinnies
The reaction around the Word has understandably been enormous. The current No 1 ranked bowler Australian Bruce Wayne said "Strewth mate. I can't compete with that. I'm going to have to retire. Just think if I had been born a Pakistani. I wouldn't say G'day mate, or put more shrimps on the barbie, or drink tinnies. Wow! I would also have a 1.48 mile run-up, a no-ball problem, and throw the ball when bowling off-spinners."
Complete Madman Speaks
Coach Bakwaas, who is widely credited as the pioneer of the famous reverse swing bowling technique, added, "yes it's all down to me. I made Actor the levelheaded intelligent bowler that he is. It was me who told him that his run-up was too short and it was me who came up with his special 32,546-yard run-up that he comes off today. It was also me who got the ICC to move the sightscreens so that Actor could ride in on his sponsored Cow & Slaggy motorbike from outside the ground to the bowling crease. I'm the brains behind the Pakistani nuclear programme. I also masterminded 9/11 and I was on the grassy knoll when JFK was shot. I'm currently working on a cure for cancer, which involves bottle tops and brylcream. By the way has anyone told you that I invented the deadly reverse swing?"
Markets Set To Move
Meanwhile the financial markets have also been deciphering the news. Chad Loadsobucks, aged 12, an analyst at top Wall Street Investment bank Sharon Brothers was quoted as saying "this news is huge. It's bigger than the Internet bubble, which my dad told me about. I still can't totally believe it - a fully fit Actor, and Bakwaas working with bottle tops and Brylcream to find a cure for cancer, you say? This is definitely going to move the market. ...Yes Mum I'll be down for my tea as soon a