Cricket : England v Pakistan in Dubai

[Spurs_Bear]

I think KP has a touch of OCD when it comes to getting off the mark in whatever way possible. If he doesn't achieve it first ball like he always tries to he turns into a wreck. That was a gash way to get out.

Also, the switch from Adidas to Kookaburra for Ian Bell hasn't gone well......

 

[Audere]

such cheap wickets though. Its a flat track and Gul gets a 4 for? Shocking stuff.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

done. 160 all out.

shocking.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

That was a truly awful performance. Been a long time since that has been said about this England team as well.

 

[mattyspurs]

I've not had a chance to see any of this. What is it down to complacency? Number 1 in the world has made them think that they can just walk it?

 

[Rocksuperstar]

I've not had a chance to see any of this. What is it down to complacency? Number 1 in the world has made them think that they can just walk it?

I don't think it was complacency, i think this can be put down to carelessness for all but a few of the wickets. In fact, the bowling was pretty consistent, no real surprisers came down in our second innings, we just looked all up in the air. Batsman seemed to be having trouble finding the length as well at one point, dunno if that was just the bowler or what, and the number of balls that carried past the bat when a shot was played was getting a concern.

England really need to focus - they'll likely say it was the heat, or the humidity and shrug this off, but they'll need to really pull themselves together for the next test.

 

[mattyspurs]

Cheers big ears

 

[Audere]

you have to factor in Pakistans burning desire to beat us as well. We were caught cold in the desert.

Pieterson was shocking. I would rest him for the next game.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Not good. Not good at all.:-|

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Pakistan currently 233/6, been a determined display from both sides with some tidy bowling, but some equally tidy batting. Very different pitch from Dubai by the sounds of it, changing up since lunch and all the movement going out of it, so could get interesting if the weather holds out for a few days.

More confident show in the field from us, but a couple of dropped catches - in fact, the most discussion from Blowers has involved the way the busses are getting held up somewhere in his view, often seeing three at a time, and he spotted a large tanker lorry earlier "with an exciting red ring around it", so... yeah. Business as usual at TMS :up:

 

[Azazello]

Going along very nicely now - England 145-1, Pakistan all out for 257.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Why is Peitersen still in the team?

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Why is Peitersen still in the team?

Thing that concerns me the most about the way he played today is that he didn't go all guns blazing, he was patient and had started to pick up the runs - not even 40 balls into his innings, couple of steps down the wicket and he's gone. I honestly can't figure out if it's very smart bowlers or a very distracted Kev, either way, he definitely needs to find some focus and maybe a rest for the next test will help him do that.

Otherwise, sad i dozed off, what i caught of it this morning it sounded like a good days cricket.

 

[riversmonkey]

KP, Bell and Morgan are all strokemakers. I think you ideally need another stodgy, stubborn slow scoring accumalator in the middle order when you play on the sub-continent. This is a the one time when England miss Paul Collingwood.

 

[Kendall]

Morgan does not belong in test cricket. Hopeless.

 

[Kendall]

Why is Peitersen still in the team?

He was our top scorer over 4 tests in the summer....

He's had his fair share of shit performances but just look at Ponting now after the Aussies stuck by him. A century and a double century in his last two innings.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Jesus christ :doh:

Our top order suck so much, all the match bonuses should go to Broad & Monty, they're looking like the ones who'll be responsible if we get anything out of this, from such a great position this morning too... grrr.

 

[Azazello]

Oh dear.

 

[Kendall]

How can we struggle so much against spin? We look like we've never played against it before.

Hoping Trott can have a steadying influence when he comes in as captain Strauss looks like a rabbit in headlights.

 

[Kendall]

As if by magic.....