The pitch at the Napier venue has had a reputation of not being conducive to enforce an outcome. It 8 matches there have been 2 away victories and 6 draws. This suggests a draw is the likelihood.
However, in despite of those stats one has to remember the vast bowling strength both of these sides in recent times which can overshine the likelihood and be constructive in assisting a result which is what the supporters want. Also both of these sides have had a reputation of their batting flopping or collapsing. This further supports an outcome possibility. Pakistan has the winning momentum and the bowlers are in-form. I back their chances with every penny regarding the weather doesn’t cause too much interference. Moreover, a win will give the team a huge psychological boost before they go to Australia which I feel will be beneficial in the long term of events.
I agree with the PCBs decision to pro-long MY'S duty as captain. It is only logical. If no commitment was being shown by YK he has no right to lead the team or even be in the team for that matter. However, I wanted Shahid Afridi as captain of the ODI squad. I hope Afridi is captain at the 2011 WC. He is a good innovative person in the field who fathers a good team atmosphere. He is also the team talisman which can be argued a successful choice for captaincy.
However, as my friend HR pointed out yesterday Afridi will never be captain unless he is within the test team as well otherwise there will be means of selfishness to just captain the side in ODI cricket and not even participate in tests. It’s kind of like a punishment for Afridi if he’s not going to play tests. He needs to realise this.
Oz special
14 years ago
5 comments:
Both these team's batting line up is fragile, but the Napier pitch is more like a sub continent pitch, it will be a turf where Pakistani bowlers are used to bowl back home, Kiwis will greatly miss the pace of Shane Bond. I expect Misbah & Malik to score better like they usually do on flat tracks. Pakistan has a slight advantage in both departments but test matches are won by bowlers and we all know that Pakistani bowlers have the capability to take 20 wickets under any conditions, the only thing they should worry about is that there won't be many chances given to them hence they need to take there catches.
As far as the captaincy issue is concerned, it seems that Afridi has not made his fans or the selectors happy by refusing to play test cricket. Such is the nature of Pakistan cricket that they can't afford two different captains for the two major formats, lets hope that this lightens up Afridi's mind & he makes a come back to test cricket. Younis Khan has been behaving very strange as of late, he didn't show up for his team's QEA Trophy match because he was gone for fishing, that didn't did him any favor & its good that he is dropped from the Australia tour. Lets hope he starts worrying about his fishing outside the off stump & starts some practice before people writes him off, because we don't want a new Shoaib Akhtar.
LOL @ YK going fishing ! haha.
The test match is a decider. Winner takes all scenario.
Good Luck Greens !
Stats and trivia
Pakistan have come from behind to win a three-Test series only once before, against Zimbabwe in 1994-95.
Danish Kaneria has become the highest wicket-taking spinner for Pakistan with 238 wickets, heading the illustrious trio of Abdul Qadir (236), Saqlain Mushtaq (208) and Mushtaq Ahmed (185). Kaneria is now fourth on Pakistan's list of highest Test wicket-takers.
New Zealand haven't yet won a Test in Napier, but it's been their best batting venue at home. Since 2000, they've scored six centuries in five Tests, which includes one match when they didn't get to bat at all.
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