Upper cut(-worma)
From Boycott who is, as usual, pulling no punches. Some obvious facts, interlaced with good observations.
Meanwhile Pak has decided not to risk playing Shabbir, lest he be called again. Probably Naved would come in place, as Inzy hinted. But it can even he Razzaq or Afridi played as a specialist bowler. With Inzy still showing faith in Raza, and rightly so IMO, this is probably the only way of getting Afridi in. Btw, look at the picture in the article closely. Wonder what 'remedial' work was done with Shabbir, and by whom...but they're playing with the career of this hugely talented bowler, if he is indeed willing to rectify.
Well they're in real trouble this time because they're 1-0 down against Pakistan and if they continue with their gung-ho batting approach they will be down further.And as for the usual 'we bat like this only, and often win' line from the English camp, he has this to say
You might argue that is the way the top order play, and that they have won Test matches that way.And quite true too. Subcontinental cricket is a whole new ball game for this undoubtedly talented and successful team, and it seems common sense to atleast gauge the right approach, I would think? Or atleast learn from the Aussies, who did the same mistake on Indian tour...and made amends in 2004.
But if a slowcoach player blocked out one end in a tight run-chase, people would play merry hell.
A good cricketer is a thinking cricketer and there was some unsound thinking this week.
Meanwhile Pak has decided not to risk playing Shabbir, lest he be called again. Probably Naved would come in place, as Inzy hinted. But it can even he Razzaq or Afridi played as a specialist bowler. With Inzy still showing faith in Raza, and rightly so IMO, this is probably the only way of getting Afridi in. Btw, look at the picture in the article closely. Wonder what 'remedial' work was done with Shabbir, and by whom...but they're playing with the career of this hugely talented bowler, if he is indeed willing to rectify.
posted by worma at
12:28 PM
22 Comments:
shri...the problem is...these people can say 'ohh we did all the correction and all....but the guy goes and screws it up in the match'! There's no way they can be held accountable on this.
and thx for telling me that that is a file photo. I didn't watch much of the match..only the final day when Shabbir hardly bowled
By
worma, at 13:01
yorker...ok I agree we shouldnt rely on that picture :-)
Btw, I'm not sure if one can bowl with bent arm...even if its kept bent at all times of delivery. Although I agree rules would not be clear on this.
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worma, at 13:10
forgot to add...i agree not to rely on pic....but anyway the comment in my post is valid...since he *was* found breaking the rules...and reported.
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worma, at 13:11
shri, the difference between this and a no ball is that this is supposed to be a deliberate act of cheating (or atleast can be used that way) while a no ball is bad for the bowler in all ways. So if he does practise and rectify it, he's likely to stick with it in a match. While he may deliberately break the chucking rule to gain extra advantage (like Shabbir, who's supposed to have been reported for the 'effort' ball, meaning he's trying extra..probably thats when knowingly or unknowingly he's breaking the limit)
Do you think these bowlers get caught each time they chuck on the effort ball? I don't think so. And they know there's a chance of getting away with it. I do feel Shoaib also does a similar bend on effort balls, and often gets away with it.
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worma, at 13:18
ppl on a different note i checked out the surfer today but cudnt for the life of me find where i can comment ... care to help anyone ?
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Gaurav, at 13:22
gk, the comments are enabled on 'wicket to wicket'. I dont think you can comment in the surfer.
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worma, at 13:23
oh ok
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Gaurav, at 13:26
sahir: yeah ofcourse I know about the SRT delivery..was going to mention it as an example for Shoaib earlier :-) And that 3/4 sleeve was patented by Waqar...and yes, he must be earning a huge royalty on that IPR :-)
Btw Malik was reported for only very few deliveries...Shabbir's report was more indicting....thats what I read. Also notice that Malik anyway hardly bowled in the match...I think they would anyway try him as batsman, and use his spin in desperate times...maybe they'll play afridi and not need him.
shri: 20 day regimen is to show the bowler the technique of how to bowl correctly. Then its his responsibility to go back and practise it to perfection. But I agree, a regiorous rehab monitored by ICC would be much better(although not if the bowler does it again deliberately). But I dont think the boards would accept that :-)...not if its a Murali or Shoaib they are missing. Btw, banning the bowler, as you suggest, is part of ICC process. If a bowler is banned thrice (I think) then he cannot come back for one year (or some such rule...but its there)
yorker: yeah I know Murali's case....and yes I agree that that type of situation is allowed. What I was wondering if someone who can straighten his arm in normal condition (and not a Murali-like defect) would be allowed to bowl with bent arm.
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worma, at 13:46
sahir: I meant this time only few deliveries of Malik were found problematic.
And btw, I think Shabbir has to serve 12 months ban if called again. This report clarifies some of your dobts http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/4445094.stm
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worma, at 14:09
sahir, also read this for more clarifications http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/rules_and_equipment/4404874.stm
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worma, at 14:11
Yeah, right, now Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, everyone's chukcing? Give me a break. No one has ever questioned Afrid's action, and it's been a long while since anyone (at the official level) said anything about Shoaib Akhtar's.
Shoaib has a congential dis-order in his arm , he can't straighten it at the best of times, let alone when he's bowling.
And if you're going to allege that his effort ball is a throw, then I might as well argue that every bowler's effort ball is a throw. Know Peter Roebuck. He says it all the time, in fact, I reckon that's pretty much his 'when-I'm-bored-do-this-in-my-column' idea : talk of how Lee/Flintoff/Harmison/Shoaib's effort balls are throws. I don't like Roebuck, and I don't like such allegations either.
Malik, on the other hand, I think will have to forget about his bowling, and try and concentrate on his batting. He's good enough talent.
Shabbir though, I have personally always have had reservations about his action, I think he's not going to be picked in the 2nd test. And Rana will come in his place. I think Inzi's keen on giving Raza another chance (as was pointed out in the thread), so that could be pretty much the only change that will happen.
But personally I'd like to see Afridi get in the mix some how. I want that tail to be shorter.
And I'm sick of all this repeated remedial work and then getting reported again, must have been better in the old days when umpires could simply call no-ball when ever they thought some one chucked. I don't want to keep living with the false hope that one-day Shabbir will be cleared for good - the ICC should make their minds on him so that we can decide if some one else needs to be brought within the team squad in his place (in the long term I mean).
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Unknown, at 14:21
yeah...the whole process is a bit subjective. Actually its a bloody mess...with seemingly no fool-proof way out :-)
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worma, at 14:22
zainub: Well...frankly...Shoaib's effort ball looks suspect to me on the screen(I can't measure the degree with my naked eye). Report or no report. His issue anyway grown too big to be seriously troubled by ICC (like Murali). And yes, I know many others have suspect effort balls. Do you remember that controvery that during Champions Trophy all leading bowlers were secretly monitored and most were found over the limit, including McGrath!
I thought Shoaib's problem was different from Murali, and he has hyper-felxion or some such thing? That his elbow bends backward a bit giving impression of the bend? Anyway, point is that this thing is visible only in some deliveries, unlike Murali who has it in all his deliveries.
But if Rana comes in place of Shabbir, how do you get Afridi in? And would you go in with only one spinner (assuming that Malik wont bowl?)
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worma, at 14:28
Sorry for the belated response, just got my self in a bad mess.
Worma,
Yes, I remember the ICC research during the CT. It found out that quote 99% of the bowlers very crossing the existing bend limit. And that is why the new law (15 degree) was formulated, so that we didn't have to ban 99% of international bowlers. Under the new law, Shoaib's effort ball seems legal to me. As does Lee's, Flintoff’s and Harmison’s.
I think we're going to drop Shabbir for all money, so I haven't considered him for selection. Some how, I've managed to persuade my self to give Raza another chance, which means there's only going to be one change in the team from Multan (i.e. IF (BIG IF) I was selecting the team)
Malik Butt Khan Inzi Youhanna Raza Akmal Afridi Sami Shoaib Kaneria
Sahir,
I know Malik doesn't look like an opener - but I'm reluctant to make Afridi open, and he is reluctant to open at test level too. There is no one else in the squad that's an opener. So I guess for the meanwhile we'll have to stick with Butt-Malik as a combination, and thinking about it, it did work in Multan, they put on 80 odd in the first and about 30 odd in the 2nd innings. That's a good return.
As far as the conditions at Faisalabad are concerned, the forecast is dry for the weekend:
BBC Five day forecast here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=2173
And in case the forecasts are wrong and it does rain, it's an international ground, so I expect the covers to be of international standards.
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Unknown, at 16:00
zainub: thats more like your team :-)....Afridi as a specialist bowler. I have a feeling your wish may be granted this time...depends a bit on the pitch. Because remember, you may be bowling spin in the 11th over of the match (that too day 1 pitch)!
And btw, has Akmal been considered as a test opener ever?...I mean just various options and plans floating in media? I thought he has a pretty compact game, although just saw one series. And didn't he open in that Aus ODI when he scored a century?
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worma, at 16:08
Akmal has never been used or talked of as test opener, or at least I've not heard of such talk. As you know he's opened in Australia in a few one-day games (and that century was against WI), but that was the end of that. He hasn't even opened in one-day games since then. And I don't think I like the sound of a wicket keeper opening the innings - unless they're as good as Alec Stewart, which Kamran isn't. His scoring areas are a bit limited - square of the wicket on the off side and around. And he does waft out side his off stump too - (rememver his first innings dismissal at Multan?) - I think he's fine at 7.
Let's give Malik-Butt a run through this season, not series, and see how they do. I rate Malik as a player, and even though his technique is such time and again it exposes him (especially when he's opening in a test) but I'd back him to improve and adapt, sooner rather then later in fact.
And in the name of consistency of selection (which he rarely show) we should stick with Butt and Malik for the moment.
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Unknown, at 16:18
Shoaib Malik did well and Pak should continue with his for time being. Later on I can see him occupying #4 position once Inzy retires. I thought Asim Kamal was good at #6...showed lots of courage and bats sensibly...will be interesting to see if Hasan Raza grabs his opportunity. Would like to see Yasir Hameed make a comeback provided he knows when to leave the ball outside off. If he tightens up his game - Hameed & Butt can solve Pakistan's opening problem.
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ClannZú, at 16:22
zainub, yeah I wasn't saying Malik should not get his share of chances. Just brought up Akmal since you mentioned lack of alternatives. I think Woolmer also rates him highly, mainly for his attitude, and would surely give him enough run at the top.
clannzu: yes I also liked Kamal's temprament...dunno why he fell out of favour
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worma, at 16:36
Asim Kamal is an excellent batsman, with the sort of temprement I wish all our young players had.
He hasn't exactly fallen out of favor, still is in this squad. In fact, he was pretty much neck and nack with Hasan Raza to take that number six spot in the lead up to the first test. But he didn't do him self any favors by bagging two cheap scores in the Lahore warm up game against England (whilst Raza racked up 100 odd runs in 2 innings), considering he was already under a bit of pressure, (failed very poorly in the series of 3 warm up games the PBC organised in the lead up to this series in b/w Pakistan XI and Rest of Pakistan). He's going to come back in the team at some stage eventually. As channzy said Inzi's not going to be around forever (as scary a thought as this is, it is true!).
Hameed will have to have a good solid season with Peshawar to get back in the reckonning. The Quaid-e-Azam trophy is currently going on but I haven't checked out too many scores off late (it's hard enough to follow 3 international series at the same time!) so I don't know how he's coming along. But he'll have to work hard, he's formed a reputation of him self, some people here think he's a flat track bully ala Hick, and will never succeed at test level, but I believe there is never a never in cricket. He'll have to work hard to shake off that reputation.
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Unknown, at 17:22
zainub, by falling out of favour I meant why was he even being 'tested'...I thought he should have been an automatic selection in the team. Atleast for a while. He's done very well whenever given a chance, I just don't understand how can Woolmer have missed out on recognizing this.
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worma, at 17:33
The trial games where more about getting the players a bit of match practice more then anything else. But I agree Worma, Asim should have been in the side automatically. Now though, it would be stupid to get Raza in the side for one game and then drop him, and bring back Asim again. Or may be it wouldn't be?
Now I'm undecesive again :(
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Unknown, at 17:42
zainub: :-)...yes it would be wrong on Raza. I think he needs to be given a chance in all three matches, now that he is in there. And even if he shows some promise (not necessarily a 100...a gritty 50+ would do) then atleast one more series. Thats how it should be.
Its unfortunate for Kamal to have missed out, he should be kept close to the team and made to feel a part...his form in domestic should not be scrutinised (if at all he's released to play) and should be the next reserve batsman for the middle order in case a vacancy arises this series or next.
This is how it should be with any normal selections....not just these two. Like in India, despite much controversy, we still keep Yuv and Kaif as our middle order reserve for tests, despite their sometimes lean patch in ODIs, because they showed a lot of promise the last time they got a test chance.
By
worma, at 18:17
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