Monday, 9 December 2013
Debuts
Imran Tahir and Saeed Ajmal made their first class debut in the same game
Misbah ul Haq and Mohammad Hafeez made their first class debut in the same game
Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Irfan made their T20 debut in the same game
Waqar Younis and Sachin Tendulkar made their Test debut in the same game
Misbah ul Haq and Mohammad Hafeez made their first class debut in the same game
Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Irfan made their T20 debut in the same game
Waqar Younis and Sachin Tendulkar made their Test debut in the same game
Saturday, 7 December 2013
Controversies In Last 18 Months
KP Saga
Ross Taylor Sacking Saga
Homework Gate
Malcom Conn vs David Warner on Twitter
IPL Spot Fixing
England's ball tampering accusations at Champions Trophy
Dinesh Ramdin cheating at Champions Trophy
David Warner - Joe Root
Stuart Broad not walking
Darren Lehman's comments about Broad
England urinating on the Oval outfield during Ashes celebrations
South Africa caught ball tampering
Michael Clarke's foul mouthing at Brisbane
Ross Taylor Sacking Saga
Homework Gate
Malcom Conn vs David Warner on Twitter
IPL Spot Fixing
England's ball tampering accusations at Champions Trophy
Dinesh Ramdin cheating at Champions Trophy
David Warner - Joe Root
Stuart Broad not walking
Darren Lehman's comments about Broad
England urinating on the Oval outfield during Ashes celebrations
South Africa caught ball tampering
Michael Clarke's foul mouthing at Brisbane
Friday, 6 December 2013
Extreme Digging In Awards
1995
Jack Russel 29* from 235 in a draw
1997
Danny Morrison 14* from 133 in a draw
1998
Darren Gough 12 from 76 balls in a draw
Robert Croft 37* from 125 balls in a draw
Mark Ramprakash 34 from 149 balls in a draw
Michael Atherton 89 from 280 in a draw
1999
Geoff Allot 77 ball duck in a draw
Michael Atherton 11 from 90 in a draw
2000
Michael Atherton 125 from 430 in Karachi in a win
Nasser Hussain 51 from 209 in Karachi in a win
2004
4* from 76 balls by Razzaq in Australian Test in a win for Aus
2005
Hoggard 2 from 36 balls at the Oval in a draw
Razzaq 71 from 260 in a draw at Mohali
2006
Abdul Razzaq 25* from 91 at Lords in a draw
2007
Rahul Dravid 12 from 96 balls at the Oval in a draw
Misbah ul Haq 133* from 310+ in Bangalore in a draw
2008
Paul Collingwood 2 from 50 balls in 1st away test vs NZ in a loss
2009
Paul Collingwood 70 odd from 240 odd at Cardiff in a draw
Monty Panesar 7* from 35 balls at Cardiff in a draw
Paul Collingwood 26* from 99 balls in a draw
2010
Azhar Ali 28* from 135 balls in Abu Dhabi in a draw
Zulqarnain Haider 88 from 200 balls at Edgbaston in a loss
Alastair Cook 235* from 428 balls at Brisbane in a draw
2011
Sachin Tendulkar 14* from 91 balls in his final test in South Africa in a draw
Misbah ul Haq 70* from 226 balls in Wellington in a draw
Misbah ul Haq 9* from 86 balls in Sharjah in a draw
Rahul Dravid 34* from 87 balls in his final test in the Caribbean in a draw
Tino Mawoyo 163* from 453 in Bulawayo in a loss
2012
Ian Bell 55 from 220 at the Oval in a loss
Alastair Cook 13 from 93 at Nagpur in a draw
ABD 33 from 220 at Adelaide in a draw
Faf 110* from 376 balls at Adelaide in a draw
Azhar Ali 157 from 442 balls in a win
Nick Compton 34 from 135 balls at Nagpur in a draw
Younis Khan 7* from 65 balls for HBL in a draw
Aakash Chopra 18 from 92 balls in first round of Ranji matches in a draw
Paul Borrington 16 from 123 in a loss for Derby late in the season
Alastair Cook 49 from 187 in Dubai in a loss
2013
Billy Godleman 55 from 265 at Lords
Laura Marsh 55 from 304 in Wormsley Test in a draw
George Dockrell 2* from 65 balls for Somerset in a draw
Stuart Broad 6 from 77 balls at Auckland in a draw
Azhar Ali 65 from 193 balls in a loss
Joe Root 8 from 57 in 3rd Ashes Test in a draw
Alastair Cook 25 from 88 balls at the Oval in a draw
Steve Finn 56 from 203 at Dunedin in a draw
T Kohli 300* from 609 balls in Ranji quarters in a win
Nick Compton 13 from 77 at Auckland in a draw
Jack Russel 29* from 235 in a draw
1997
Danny Morrison 14* from 133 in a draw
1998
Darren Gough 12 from 76 balls in a draw
Robert Croft 37* from 125 balls in a draw
Mark Ramprakash 34 from 149 balls in a draw
Michael Atherton 89 from 280 in a draw
1999
Geoff Allot 77 ball duck in a draw
Michael Atherton 11 from 90 in a draw
2000
Michael Atherton 125 from 430 in Karachi in a win
Nasser Hussain 51 from 209 in Karachi in a win
2004
4* from 76 balls by Razzaq in Australian Test in a win for Aus
2005
Hoggard 2 from 36 balls at the Oval in a draw
Razzaq 71 from 260 in a draw at Mohali
2006
Abdul Razzaq 25* from 91 at Lords in a draw
2007
Rahul Dravid 12 from 96 balls at the Oval in a draw
Misbah ul Haq 133* from 310+ in Bangalore in a draw
2008
Paul Collingwood 2 from 50 balls in 1st away test vs NZ in a loss
2009
Paul Collingwood 70 odd from 240 odd at Cardiff in a draw
Monty Panesar 7* from 35 balls at Cardiff in a draw
Paul Collingwood 26* from 99 balls in a draw
2010
Azhar Ali 28* from 135 balls in Abu Dhabi in a draw
Zulqarnain Haider 88 from 200 balls at Edgbaston in a loss
Alastair Cook 235* from 428 balls at Brisbane in a draw
2011
Sachin Tendulkar 14* from 91 balls in his final test in South Africa in a draw
Misbah ul Haq 70* from 226 balls in Wellington in a draw
Misbah ul Haq 9* from 86 balls in Sharjah in a draw
Rahul Dravid 34* from 87 balls in his final test in the Caribbean in a draw
Tino Mawoyo 163* from 453 in Bulawayo in a loss
2012
Ian Bell 55 from 220 at the Oval in a loss
Alastair Cook 13 from 93 at Nagpur in a draw
ABD 33 from 220 at Adelaide in a draw
Faf 110* from 376 balls at Adelaide in a draw
Azhar Ali 157 from 442 balls in a win
Nick Compton 34 from 135 balls at Nagpur in a draw
Younis Khan 7* from 65 balls for HBL in a draw
Aakash Chopra 18 from 92 balls in first round of Ranji matches in a draw
Paul Borrington 16 from 123 in a loss for Derby late in the season
Alastair Cook 49 from 187 in Dubai in a loss
2013
Billy Godleman 55 from 265 at Lords
Laura Marsh 55 from 304 in Wormsley Test in a draw
George Dockrell 2* from 65 balls for Somerset in a draw
Stuart Broad 6 from 77 balls at Auckland in a draw
Azhar Ali 65 from 193 balls in a loss
Joe Root 8 from 57 in 3rd Ashes Test in a draw
Alastair Cook 25 from 88 balls at the Oval in a draw
Steve Finn 56 from 203 at Dunedin in a draw
T Kohli 300* from 609 balls in Ranji quarters in a win
Nick Compton 13 from 77 at Auckland in a draw
Pakistan Cricket 2013 Reflection
Positives
Drawing a test series against South Africa
Winning an ODI series in India
Winning an ODI series in the West Indies
Winning an ODI series in South Africa
Losing an ODI series 3-2 respectably in South Africa in March
Winning a T20 series in the West Indies
Winning a T20 series against South Africa in March
Drawing a T20 series against South Africa in November
Winning an ODI series in Ireland
Winning an ODI series against Scotland
Winning an ODI series against Zimbabwe
Winning a T20 series against Zimbabwe
Other Levels
Winning the under 19 tri nations series in England
Winning the Womens ICC World T20 Qualifier in Ireland
Reaching ACC Emerging Teams Cup Final
Faisalabad Wolves beating the Sri Lankan Champions at the Champions League
Women team creating history by beating England in a T20
Negatives
Whitewashed in South Africa Tests
Last ICC Champions Trophy Performance
Losing 6-1 against South Africa in UAE in LOIs just like losing 6-1 against England in LOIs the year before
Losing a test against Zimbabwe
Losing an ODI against Zimbabwe
Tied an ODI against Ireland
Other Levels
Womens team finishing in last place at the Womens World Cup in India
Overall
Won 21
Lost 22
Tied 2
NR 1
7 more games to play yet…
Beaten every team they have played in an ODI series this year. Sri Lanka only left.
And another tri nations coming up for Under 19 team this month.
Drawing a test series against South Africa
Winning an ODI series in India
Winning an ODI series in the West Indies
Winning an ODI series in South Africa
Losing an ODI series 3-2 respectably in South Africa in March
Winning a T20 series in the West Indies
Winning a T20 series against South Africa in March
Drawing a T20 series against South Africa in November
Winning an ODI series in Ireland
Winning an ODI series against Scotland
Winning an ODI series against Zimbabwe
Winning a T20 series against Zimbabwe
Other Levels
Winning the under 19 tri nations series in England
Winning the Womens ICC World T20 Qualifier in Ireland
Reaching ACC Emerging Teams Cup Final
Faisalabad Wolves beating the Sri Lankan Champions at the Champions League
Women team creating history by beating England in a T20
Negatives
Whitewashed in South Africa Tests
Last ICC Champions Trophy Performance
Losing 6-1 against South Africa in UAE in LOIs just like losing 6-1 against England in LOIs the year before
Losing a test against Zimbabwe
Losing an ODI against Zimbabwe
Tied an ODI against Ireland
Other Levels
Womens team finishing in last place at the Womens World Cup in India
Overall
Won 21
Lost 22
Tied 2
NR 1
7 more games to play yet…
Beaten every team they have played in an ODI series this year. Sri Lanka only left.
And another tri nations coming up for Under 19 team this month.
Wednesday, 4 December 2013
Womens Ashes Format
The 2013 Ashes in the Womens game had a new format in place.
Previously the Womens Ashes was only a single Test Match, however this time
there were all 3 formats played which ended up counting towards who retained or
regained the Ashes winners status. A certain number of points were given for
winning a Test and a certain number of points were awarded for winning a
limited over international.
6 points were awarded for winning a test whereas 2 points
for every limited over international. ECB head of Womens Cricket, Clare Connor
felt this would be a welcome change in the Ashes format because many of the
girls do not play much multi day cricket and by staging games such as the T20s
on the days where England’s men are playing their respective T20 fixtures would
attract crowds and a greater audience.
The support England received was tremendous, even for the lone
T20 fixture at Chelmsford which was not a game where the male counterparts were
playing on the same day as part of the ticket. Television coverage of some of
the limited over matches was also a huge plus. Winning Captain Charlotte
Edwards regards winning the 2013 Ashes at home as one of her career highlights
along with the World Cup and World T20 double of 2009. Even for the matches
which didn’t come on Sky, there was radio coverage for the Test Match and also
coverage on ESPN cricinfo for the ODI at Lords.
One area that Clare Conor raised concerns about was the
number of points awarded for a test match victory which may need addressing in
the future as this could disadvantage the losers of the match significantly
before the one day games are even played or provide limited advantage in
the next part of the tour should the one day games have been played at the beginning
in future schedules.
England will be looking to retain the Ashes in Australia in
early 2014 before they head to Bangladesh for the 4th ICC Women’s
World T20 championship.
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
Predict the 4 teams that will Qualify for World Test Championship
Have to be in the top 4 by the end of 2016
I am going for:
England
Australia
South Africa
India
Why Pakistan won't make it:
1) Ageing KEY players: Misbah, Younis, Ajmal
2) Tours of England and Australia in 2016
3) Lack of prioritizing the test game from PCB
I am going for:
England
Australia
South Africa
India
Why Pakistan won't make it:
1) Ageing KEY players: Misbah, Younis, Ajmal
2) Tours of England and Australia in 2016
3) Lack of prioritizing the test game from PCB
Bangladesh - Not Minnows in One Day Stuff
Can Bangladesh Play Like They Did in Asia Cup When Hosting World T20?
White ball form since 07
07 World Cup = Beat India and Beat South Africa 07 World T20 = Beat West Indies 2010 = Beat England away in an ODI 2010 = Beat New Zealand 4-0 in ODIs 2010 = Won the 'Asian Games' with the 'A' team 2011 World Cup = Beat England and Ireland 2012 = Launched their franchise based 20/20 premier league 2012 Asia Cup = Beat India and Sri Lanka 2012 Under 19 World Cup = Beat Pakistan and finished 7th out of 16 teams 2012 = Beat West Indies 3-2 in ODIs 2013 = Beat New Zealand 3-0 in ODIs |
The World T20 is a terrific opportunity for Bangladesh to show how far they have come. If the crowds at the 1998 ICC Knock Out Trophy are anything to go by, we should see some packed stadiums and that was a world event held in Bangladesh without the hosting nation even playing! Personally, I can see them defeating the bigger teams and even getting as far as the semi finals and beyond. Such is the nature of the format and such has been their progress and form at home. Underestimate them at your peril.
U19 Tri Series in UAE This Year
Triangular series in UAE arranged this month. Pakistan won the last tri series they played at this level with 6 consecutive victories in England this August. UAE and England will be the other participants.
Strike Rotation
The Flawed Notion That Misbah 'Does Not Rotate the Strike'
1) There are dozens of innings where he has got a 50 with only 1, 2 or 3 boundaries and accumulated his runs in singles.
2) In New Zealand broadcaster’s coverage they use a statistic called ‘SS’ standing for scoring shots played. If a player gets 20 with 2 sixes and 2 fours his SS is 4 as he has played 4 scoring shots. If a player gets 21 with 19 singles and a two his SS is 20 as 20 scoring shots were played. It is a leading measure for strike rotation and how reliant a player is on boundaries. Misbah’s was higher than the rest during the last tour over there.
3) No consistent international batter can score runs without taking singles. You cannot score runs consistently without taking singles. Players who rely on boundary hitting eventually get found out. No top consistent batter scores a very high % of his runs in boundaries. It just can't happen. There is too much risk involved.
4) Only tail enders block and hit.
5) Every top class batter has a method of getting down the non strikers end. Misbah’s is to be patient and disciplined outside the off stump; forcing and waiting for a bowler to stray in line when bowling straighter where he can work balls into the on side.
6) Just because he is renowned for his defence and power, does not mean he does not have a middle game. You can say his defence and power are stronger more noticeable aspects than his middle game, but that’s not to say he does not have it at all. Also with the new fielding restrictions, defence and power are perhaps more important than single taking ability because one dayers are more now about clearing the ring and staying in to make the most of the death overs where there is a less fielder allowed outside than before.
7) Defence, single taking ability or power to find the fence is 3 aspects. Every player has an element of each. If you have 2 of the 3 aspects as strong areas you can excel.
8) When you can defend, survive and strike the ball as well as him, no need to get fussy about taking singles if it’s not there, less chance of getting soft dismissals.
9) In response to point 1 that if there were 3 or less boundaries in an innings of 60 say, then there must have been plenty of dots people will say. Well, firstly you can’t take a single from every ball, especially when you have good bowlers to come up against as you will get good deliveries that you need to keep out and respect if you want to survive.
10) Graham Thorpe was an expert for manoeuvring balls into gaps and manipulating the field. He played out many dots and maidens as well. He was one of the best at ticking over in singles and toying with the field. But his strike rate was still standard.
11) Joe Root's test debut at Nagpur was praised for being a masterpiece study of working balls into gaps. Yet his SR was less than 40. Just because there is a slower strike rate on display does not mean singles are not being scored or an effort is not being made.
These players have worse single taking ability than the Pakistan Captain
Marlon Samuels
Johnson Charles
Abdul Razzaq
Angelo Matthews
Ahmed Shehzad
Past
Mark Ramprakash
Paul Collingwood
Imran Khan (post injury when he was a batting all rounder) either a basher or a blocker
Nasser Hussain
Food for Thought
Historically, Pakistan and West Indies have been bad rotators of the strike.
Barring Asif Iqbal and Javed Miandad, not many Pakistan batters were/are that skilled in this area.
Even Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam were notorious for bad running between the wickets and lousy habits in this area. Running between the wickets and communication is the key to single taking. No one enjoys batting with players who run badly and run slowly.
Here is what Mohsin Khan said in his analysis on the day Misbah got 100 against SA
Anchor 'Why does Misbah not take singles like this in every match'
'Listen to what I am saying. Those who say Misbah doesn't do singles know nothing. How can you expect him to take singles when batsmen keep getting out every time he given them the strike? He knows he has to face the best bowlers. He has to play as many balls as possible and look to stay in and score for the team to have a chance. If he was playing with better batsmen then you will see. So many times he is stuck with the tail' - Mohsin Khan
2) In New Zealand broadcaster’s coverage they use a statistic called ‘SS’ standing for scoring shots played. If a player gets 20 with 2 sixes and 2 fours his SS is 4 as he has played 4 scoring shots. If a player gets 21 with 19 singles and a two his SS is 20 as 20 scoring shots were played. It is a leading measure for strike rotation and how reliant a player is on boundaries. Misbah’s was higher than the rest during the last tour over there.
3) No consistent international batter can score runs without taking singles. You cannot score runs consistently without taking singles. Players who rely on boundary hitting eventually get found out. No top consistent batter scores a very high % of his runs in boundaries. It just can't happen. There is too much risk involved.
4) Only tail enders block and hit.
5) Every top class batter has a method of getting down the non strikers end. Misbah’s is to be patient and disciplined outside the off stump; forcing and waiting for a bowler to stray in line when bowling straighter where he can work balls into the on side.
6) Just because he is renowned for his defence and power, does not mean he does not have a middle game. You can say his defence and power are stronger more noticeable aspects than his middle game, but that’s not to say he does not have it at all. Also with the new fielding restrictions, defence and power are perhaps more important than single taking ability because one dayers are more now about clearing the ring and staying in to make the most of the death overs where there is a less fielder allowed outside than before.
7) Defence, single taking ability or power to find the fence is 3 aspects. Every player has an element of each. If you have 2 of the 3 aspects as strong areas you can excel.
8) When you can defend, survive and strike the ball as well as him, no need to get fussy about taking singles if it’s not there, less chance of getting soft dismissals.
9) In response to point 1 that if there were 3 or less boundaries in an innings of 60 say, then there must have been plenty of dots people will say. Well, firstly you can’t take a single from every ball, especially when you have good bowlers to come up against as you will get good deliveries that you need to keep out and respect if you want to survive.
10) Graham Thorpe was an expert for manoeuvring balls into gaps and manipulating the field. He played out many dots and maidens as well. He was one of the best at ticking over in singles and toying with the field. But his strike rate was still standard.
11) Joe Root's test debut at Nagpur was praised for being a masterpiece study of working balls into gaps. Yet his SR was less than 40. Just because there is a slower strike rate on display does not mean singles are not being scored or an effort is not being made.
These players have worse single taking ability than the Pakistan Captain
Marlon Samuels
Johnson Charles
Abdul Razzaq
Angelo Matthews
Ahmed Shehzad
Past
Mark Ramprakash
Paul Collingwood
Imran Khan (post injury when he was a batting all rounder) either a basher or a blocker
Nasser Hussain
Food for Thought
Historically, Pakistan and West Indies have been bad rotators of the strike.
Barring Asif Iqbal and Javed Miandad, not many Pakistan batters were/are that skilled in this area.
Even Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam were notorious for bad running between the wickets and lousy habits in this area. Running between the wickets and communication is the key to single taking. No one enjoys batting with players who run badly and run slowly.
Here is what Mohsin Khan said in his analysis on the day Misbah got 100 against SA
Anchor 'Why does Misbah not take singles like this in every match'
'Listen to what I am saying. Those who say Misbah doesn't do singles know nothing. How can you expect him to take singles when batsmen keep getting out every time he given them the strike? He knows he has to face the best bowlers. He has to play as many balls as possible and look to stay in and score for the team to have a chance. If he was playing with better batsmen then you will see. So many times he is stuck with the tail' - Mohsin Khan
Shan Masood
Shan Masood Factfile
1) He was vice captain of the 2008 Under 19 World
Cup team which had Shehzad, Umar Akmal, Junaid Khan, Umar Amin in
2)
He was a boarding pupil at Stamford Private School
in Lincolnshire
3)
He got admission to Loughborough University, one
of the top ranked in UK
4)
He got admission into Durham MCCU to play first
class cricket against counties
5)
He has received training from ex England players
such as Graeme Fowler at Durham
6)
He combined studying at Loughborough and playing
first class cricket in Pakistan together
7)
He was sitting exams 2 months before his Test
debut against the world number 1s
8)
He has written impressive articles on Dawn such
as ‘In Pursuit of the Star’
9)
His overall first class numbers are modest but
he has played first class cricket in England along with BUCS university cricket
and club cricket with success
10)
His favourite players include Alastair Cook and
Younis Khan
11)
He speaks English very confidently and fluently as
you would expect. The best I have seen by a Pakistan cricketer for a long time.
Gives articulate responses.
12)
He comes from an educated background with a good
upbringing.
13)
He is a tweeter and is the only Pakistani
Cricketer who tweets without slang or internet language or informal tweeting.
The quality of his tweets is good.
14)
Against the likes of Dale Steyn he put on 100
for the opening stand with Manzoor on his test debut
15)
He got off the mark in Tests with a boundary
against Dale Steyn on the first ball he faced and got a 3 from the second ball
he faced
Given his off field accomplishments, it’s only inevitable
Shan will be a credible captaincy option somewhere down the line, especially if
he nails down the opening slot.
On the other hand, he could end up becoming an Ed Cowan type, an
MCCU graduate like Shan, left handed long format opener, talented columnist in
his written work, suitable captaincy option with experience in the role, but
struggling to hold a permanent position in the side and win people over.
Instead he is known more for his academic background than his pedigree as a
player.
Monday, 2 December 2013
Why? There have been tons of bigger slow scoring offences by
Pakistan batsmen in World Cup and big matches than Misbah’s in Mohali.
Miandad 1985 MCG Final
48 from 92 balls against India – team lost batting first
Miandad 1987 World Cup Semi Final
70 from 102 balls against Australia – team lost batting
second
Miandad 1992 World Cup vs India
Miandad 40 from 110 balls against India – team lost batting
second
Miandad 1996 World Cup Quarter Final vs India
Miandad 38 from 64 balls – team lost batting second
Inzamam 1999 World Cup vs India
41 from 93 balls – team lost batting second
Abdul Razzaq 2003 World Cup vs India
12 from 29 balls at number 3 – team lost batting first
Abdul Razzaq 1999 World Cup Final
17 from 51 balls at number 3 – team lost batting first
Abdul Razzaq 1999 World Cup vs South Africa
30 from 60 balls at number 3 – team lost batting first
Mohsin Khan in 1983 World Cup Semi Final
76 from 176 balls – team lost batting first
Rameez Raja in 1992 World Cup vs West Indies
102* from 158 balls on a flat wicket – team lost batting
first
Imran Khan 1987 World Cup semi-final vs Australia
58 from 84 balls – team lost batting second
Imran Khan 1992 World Cup semi-final vs New Zealand
44 from 93 balls – team won batting second thanks to
miraculous hitting from Inzamam and Moin
Mohammad Hafeez against Sri Lanka in 2012 World T20 semi
final
42 from 40 balls – team lost batting second
Mohammad Hafeez against India in 2012 World T20
15 from 28 balls – team lost batting first
Shoaib Malik in 2007 World T20 final
8 from 17 balls – team lost batting second
Shoaib Malik in 2013 Champions Trophy vs South Africa
8 from 29 balls – team lost batting second
Mohammad Yousuf from 2009 Champions Trophy semi final
45 from 78 balls – teams lost batting first
Younis Khan 2007 World T20 final
24 from 24 balls - team lost batting second
Younis Khan 2011 World Cup semi final
13 from 32 balls - team lost batting second
Mohammad Yousuf 2010 series decider against England
20 from 43 balls - team lost batting second
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