Pakistan v England, 1st Test, Dubai, 1st Day

[Mirza Ghalib]

Pakistan v England, 1st Test, Dubai, 1st day
Ajmal spins out England for 192
The Report by David Hopps

January 17, 2012

Saeed Ajmal ran through England's batting with 7 for 55 © AFP

Saeed Ajmal took seven wickets for the first time in his Pakistan career as England capitulated in the first Test in Dubai. There was limited turn for Ajmal on a sound batting surface, but his beguiling mix of offspinners and doosras drove England to distraction as they were dismissed by the 73rd over to leave Pakistan firmly in command.

England lost their first seven wickets for 94 and matters would have been much worse without a robust response by Matt Prior, who looked the most decisive of their batsmen from the outset and, with eight down, counterattacked against the spinners before running out of partners.

Pakistan are careful not to describe the UAE as home, but it is fast becoming a favourite refuge. They enjoyed a jubilant first morning, claiming five wickets on a placid batting surface, and made further inroads in the afternoon session as Ajmal ensured that England's first outing as the No. 1 Test side began disastrously. At tea, Ajmal had 5 for 40 in 16 overs.

When Ajmal unveiled his new mystery ball, the teesra, midway through the afternoon session, it proved to be an initial disappointment: a slingy, round-arm affair that Stuart Broad stoutly blocked. But he did not need a mystery ball. To England they were all mystery balls.

He was the last Pakistan bowler to be introduced into the attack but after ten deliveries he had had figures of 3 for 1, removing Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen. England briefly held firm after lunch, as Eoin Morgan and Matt Prior put on 39 for the sixth wicket but Ajmal then removed Morgan and Broad, both lbw sweeping, to maintain Pakistan's superiority. Only when Swann came to the crease did England play with adventure. Umar Gul wasted a Pakistan review in the last over before tea as he demanded a DRS verdict against Swann that had no hope of success.

Morgan, more content than many against spin, was lbw to the slog sweep, a decision by the Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford that was upheld by the third umpire after England, logically enough at 82 for 5, opted for the DRS. It was a weaker paddle sweep that did for Broad, who rarely believes he is out, and who also asked for a review, but again TV evidence ruled in the umpire's favour.

When England first encountered Ajmal, at Edgbaston 17 months ago, he took five wickets before they gradually worked him out as the series progressed. They looked more fraught against him second time around. The battle between Ajmal and Swann, both contenders as the best offspinner in the world, could be pivotal.

England won the toss, the pace of the pitch was gentle, there was no swing or seam, and just a hint of turn. However, just about everything attempted by Pakistan's impressive captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, came off as the cream of England batting disappeared in the first two hours.

There had been concerns about how England, who moved to No. 1 with high-adrenalin performances in front of packed crowds, would respond to the dead air of a virtually empty stadium, especially as their record in Asia is so mediocre - Bangladesh apart they had not won in their previous seven Test series on the subcontinent. Those doubts were now apparent to all.

Mohammad Hafeez's offspin was introduced in the sixth over to counter England's left-hand openers and he dismissed Alastair Cook in his first over. Cook attempted to work his first ball into the leg side and got a thick outside edge through point. Then Hafeez found gentle turn with his third delivery and Cook edged obligingly to the wicketkeeper.

Pakistan had opted for three spinners; England stuck to their successful formula of Graeme Swann's offspin supported by three fast bowlers. It was not long before England looked in denial.

Jonathan Trott was the one batsman to fall to pace, the bustling pace provided by Aizaz Cheema. His new-ball spell was curtailed to two overs but Trott found him a handful on his return. A walking clip to the square-leg boundary represented England's most authoritative moment of the session but he edged successive boundaries, the second of them flying over leg stump off the inside edge. Trott fell in Cheema's next over, strangled down the leg side as the bowler banged one in.

Ajmal struck with his sixth, seventh and tenth deliveries. Strauss had batted 42 balls for 19 when he misread the length, tried to pull a ball that was too far up to him, and was bowled.

Bell came in with his wrist heavily strapped, courtesy of a blow in the nets the previous day while batting against the dog thrower used by the England batting coach, Graham Gooch. He was met by a perfect doosra from Ajmal, which he edged to give the bowler his third wicket of the morning. Bell did not appear to read it but, first ball at the start of a new series, reading Ulysses would have been easier.

Bell then departed for a long conversation with Gooch, who exchanged dog thrower for any bone of consolation that he could toss his way.

Misbah had begun by taunting Pietersen with left-arm spin, his nemesis, in the shape of Abdur Rehman. He survived against Rehman, but not Ajmal. Pietersen played slightly across the ball and was hit on the front pad, just outside the crease. Oxenford was unconvinced but the wicketkeeper gestured excitedly for the DRS and his judgment was well founded, the replay suggesting that the ball would have struck halfway up leg stump. Pakistan's jubilation was complete.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-v- ... 49748.html

[Scandinavian]

@MG sb.

This was an excellent performance by the Pakistani team. Ajmal bamboozled the English with his accuracy and variety, but I am once again utterly disappointed by the English commentators, who again have started a dirty blame game by questioning Ajmals bowling action. Why the English always cry when they face quality bowlers. They did it with Waqar and Wasim and now they are doing it against another superb Pakistani bowler. Cheap mentality. They should recognize him as one of the best bowlers! BUT never mind. I was enjoying it Btw. the change of bowlers was excellent by Misbah.
Pakistan are 42/0 at close of play. I hope they cam score 350+ then the game is clearly in favor of PAK. Why shouldn't they score more than 350 on a dead track ......but wait. It is Pakistan. Anything can happen when they bat. Of course we hope the best for our boys!

[Mirza Ghalib]

Scandinavian, alas, the miracle of our bowling was not matched by our batting. Well, so goes it. Better than nothing.

Pakistan take lead over England in first innings
18.1.12

DUBAI: Opener Mohammad Hafeez missed a century by just 12 runs but Pakistan succeeded in gaining a lead of 21 runs over England in the first innings at tea on the second day of the opening Test here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Hafeez hit an attractive 88 during his resolute 114-run opening stand with Taufiq Umar (58) to help Pakistan overhaul England's first innings total of 192 on a slow turning pitch.

Pakistan went to tea at 213-4, with skipper Misbah-ul Haq on an unbeaten 19 and with him Asad Shafiq on five not out. That gave them a lead of 21 runs.

Pakistan lost the crucial wicket of Younis Khan (37) on the stroke of tea when the experienced batsman offered no stroke to Jonathan Trott's incoming delivery and was adjudged leg-before by New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden.

It was paceman Stuart Broad who gave England the breakthrough after the Pakistani openers, resuming at 42-0, played out the first 90 minutes without being separated.

Broad bowled Umar with a beautiful delivery which held its line and hit the off-stump, just one ball after Chris Tremlett dropped Hafeez off a miscued hook which resulted in a single.

Umar hit ten boundaries in his 58 and was sedate during his 113-ball stay at the crease.

Three overs later, Broad swung one away from Azhar Ali and had him caught behind by wicket-keeper Matt Prior, much to the jubilation of his team-mates. Ali made just one.

It could have been a more fruitful morning session for England had they been at their best in fielding.

Ian Bell failed to hit the stumps when Hafeez, batting on 44, ran for a single after pushing Tremlett to square-leg and was well short of his crease after being sent back by Umar.

It was Umar who reached his fifty first, hitting Swann for two consecutive boundaries to complete his 13th Test half-century. Hafeez reached his seventh with a single off Tremlett.

England's off-spinner Graeme Swann finally dismissed Hafeez with a full pitched delivery as the batsmen missed a sweep. Hafees hit eleven boundaries and a six during his solid 164-ball knock.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-31418 ... r-England-

[Mirza Ghalib]

England keeps Pakistan in check - 2nd Day (Guardian reporting)

England restricted Pakistan to a 96-run lead with three first-innings wickets remaining after a spirited day in the field in Dubai. England 192 - Pakistan 288 - 7.

[Mirza Ghalib]

Cricket Pakistan gain 146-run lead over England - 19.1.12

DUBAI: Pakistan were bowled out for 338 runs in their first innings on the third morning of the second cricket Test against England at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium here on Thursday, taking a lead of 146 runs.

Adnan Akmal scored 61 to boost Pakistan's lead. Graeme Swann finished with 4-107.

Pakistan resumed today their first innings at 288 runs for seven wickets with a lead of 96 as tail-ender Umar Gul joined the overnight batsman Adnan Akmal., who was 24 not out.

However, Pakistan lost all three remaining wickets adding 50 runs and stretching the lead to 146.

Scandi, you almost got your wish there. Not quite 350, but close. What say you now? Like me, I suppose, Pakistan Zindabad!

[Scandinavian]

Indeed...PAKISTAN ZINDABAD.

The English are 140/9 at the moment. It's only a matter of time and it's all over and Pakistan can get revenge for the unfair treatment from the English commentators!

[Scandinavian]

Here we go MG sb.
This is a fantastic win by Pakistan. Pakistan had to make 15 runs in their second inn, to win the game, and thank God Misbah didn't decide to go in with Azhar Ali and himself to do the job . The match could easily have gone to the fourth day..................

Pakistan has won the match with 10 wickets in hand and within three days. That is quite remarkable
England is currently the no. one team in the world and for Pakistan to beat them is something special. England ALWAYS try to stir up some kind of a controversy. To make mince meat of their "no. 1 team" is as delightful as anything can get. Full marks to the Pakistani team and especially Ajmal with bowling figures 10/97 but also Gul and the captain did well.

Well done and keep up the good work. Maybe you are one the few bright moments of joy for millions of people suffering under the incompetent rule of PPP.

Now people will have high expectations, but mind you these tracks are flat and we should not expect too much. Maybe draws are most likely, but with Pakistan's own fragile batting line up anything can happen. Anyways we support our national team and look forward to new victories against the English:)

Btw. These Englishmen love to target Pakistani bowlers in more than one sense. Have you remarked that quite many Pakistani bowlers were playing in England during the last season and they were quite likes for their abilities/talent They can only like them even more next season

[Musician]

LONG LIVE.....LONG SLEEVES

[Mirza Ghalib]

Hurray, Mus, hurray, Scandi. Never mind what tomorrow holds. Today has the sweetness of honey on our tongues. Enjoy it while it lasts.

[Mirza Ghalib]

[Mirza Ghalib]

Every so often the Brits can also come out with the truth. Here's the final comment from the Guardian on the match: "Well, that was a drubbing. Whichever way you cut it, England were utterly outplayed in every aspect of the game: out-bowled, out-batted, out-thought and out-fought. Well played Pakistan."

[Scandinavian]

A rare moment of joy for our poorly managed country. Nobody can take away the honors

"But Ajmal will bowl better and take far fewer wickets. England, with all the pre-series talk of teesras and doosras ringing in their ears, looked paralysed with fear against him. They showed, for all the bluster about their improvement against spin, that it remains their Achilles heel. The ball hardly turned in this match but Ajmal, with his wonderfully subtle variations of pace and ability to move the ball just a little both ways, panicked the tourists like a dog running through sheep. Heaven help England when they are confronted by a track that turns square.""

Link: http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-v- ... 50146.html

[Musician]

Murali's Law

scandanvian and Mirza Ghalib

If you have not already read it, the following demands your attention.

"We should never forget one of the fundamental principles of modern cricket, known as Murali’s Law, which states that the extent to which a spin bowler’s action is a problem is directly related to the number of opponents he has dismissed in the current series."

http://blogs.espncricinfo.com/thelongha ... market.php

[Mirza Ghalib]

That was pure wit, Musician, thanks a lot, our attention was captured from the word go. And now I also get that bit about long sleeves. Is it so as to conceal some "illegal" bending of the elbow? Hadn't thought of such an eventuality before. And is there some dress code in cricket against which those sleeves might be in conflict? Cricket is really a splendid topic for any humourist worth his salt.

[anjum]

What do you all say about today match with South Africa?

[Mirza Ghalib]

Hello, hello Anjum. So glad you've finally arrived and in the best place of all: the Sports section. You brought us all luck, I'd say. The march you refer to was not the best example of our cricketing skills. But today's was a beauty, even if it's the only one we managed to win in South Africa. We've proved once again we are the best T20 team around.

Hafeez, Gul guide Pakistan to crushing victory
4.3.13

Mohammad Hafeez put a poor Test series behind him to lead Pakistan to a crushing 95-run win in the second and final Twenty20 international against South Africa at SuperSport Park here on Sunday.

Hafeez hammered 86 and took three wickets for 25 runs, while fast bowler Umar Gul took five for six as South Africa collapsed to 100 all out in reply to Pakistan’s 195 for seven in what was effectively a series decider after the first match in Durban was washed out.

Appointed Pakistan’s captain in the shortest form of the game, Hafeez thrashed four sixes and nine fours off 50 balls and when he reached 73 became the first Pakistani to reach 1,000 runs in T20 internationals.

His innings was in dramatic contrast to his struggles in a three-match Test series which ended last week, in which he could score only 43 runs in six innings at an average of 7.16.

A second wicket partnership of 83 off 48 balls with Ahmed Shehzad (46) set Pakistan on target for a massive total but the innings lost momentum when Hafeez was out off the third ball of the 17th over, with the total on 170.

Hafeez slipped as he stepped back in his crease to hit Rory Kleinveldt to the cover boundary and he dislodged his bails.

South Africa made a flying start, with AB de Villiers batting audaciously as the home side reached 48 for one in four overs.

But Gul then took four wickets in six balls, spread across two overs, as the match swung irrevocably in Pakistan’s favour.

In between, De Villiers was bowled by Mohammad Irfan for 36, made off 22 balls with two sixes and four fours.

Pakistan: Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez*, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal†, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan

South Africa: AB de Villiers†, H Davids, F du Plessis*, JL Ontong, F Behardien, DA Miller, KJ Abbott, CH Morris, RK Kleinveldt, RJ Peterson, LL Tsotsobe

Umpires: Johan Cloete and Shaun George (both RSA).
TV umpire: Adrian Holdstock (RSA).
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL).

http://dawn.com/2013/03/03/south-africa ... n-2nd-t20/