Pakistan v England | 2nd Test | Abu Dhabi | Jan 25th, 2012 | Day 1

[Syed Ali Imran]

Rameez was very sure that Taufeeq was gone..

[pak4life]

that could easily have been given.

[talha3]

Interesting to see what hawkeye makes of it. IMO it would have been just clipping, umpires call

Yep. :D

[osee_bhai]

Looked plumb..thinking about it, it might be high.

[w8in_4_0402]

Umpires call. Good in not reviewing.

[HumorMe]

assalam alaikum bhaiyo. ...

And sisters.....wa'alaikum asslam. Lololol @ yr screen name n venue

[Sledger]

How is that umpire's call? LOL.

[adnan yasin]

Hafeez should be ready for arm ball

[Syed Ali Imran]

Hitting the stumps, umpires called.. so pretty much an okay decision from Pakistan's POV.

[Fawad2010]

lucky for us, nonetheless

[w8in_4_0402]

Haha straussy getting happy not t take review.

[Usman Chadda]

How the heck is that umpire's call?! Its demolishing the leg-stump

[Proud To Be A Pakistani]

awesome shot late cut by professor :four

[w8in_4_0402]

Aonther 4 for the professor.

[MVP26]

:4

[Sledger]

ODI shot by Hafeez. Another four. 50 partnership between these two.

[talha3]

How is that umpire's call? LOL.

Less than half of the ball hitting the stumps. That's the law.

But I take your point, law needs to be changed to make umpires call for only say 1/3 hitting the stumps.

[adnan yasin]

fantastic late cut

:four to hafeez

50 !!

:pakflag2

[Shahzebayub]

Good batting and four to hafeez pak 51

[Syed Ali Imran]

Late cut for 4 to Prof.. 50 UP for Pakistan!

[JibranAnsari]

50 raised :talian:

[Usman Chadda]

50 up. Great start

[iemjaved]

:four

[Sledger]

Azhar in next, worried about him on here. :warne

[w8in_4_0402]

50 partnership. Good solid opening pair continue good form.

[talha3]

Another 50 partnership. Top stuff.

[Zeeraq]

50 runs Partnership up.

[adnan yasin]

oooh ... good delivery by swan

[Fawad2010]

10th fifty plus partnership in 30 innings these two have played together.

[Sohaib011]

This was as plumb as they get.

get a dictionary and look at what plumb actually means

[Syed Ali Imran]

Good one from Swann..

[talha3]

Taufeeq gone :(

[osee_bhai]

Delectable cut by Hafeez for 4

[w8in_4_0402]

Taufeeq should give it a whack. As i write this he is out.

[adnan yasin]

Azhar in next, worried about him on here. :warne

me 2 and here he comes :)

[Sledger]

Bowled. :)))

[Zeeraq]

:out

[Proud To Be A Pakistani]

that was stupid thingy by taufeeq

[pak4life]

lol was a matter of time

[Fawad2010]

what the hell was that!@!

[Shahzebayub]

Bowled

[Sledger]

Well left Taufeeq.

[JibranAnsari]

Damn ,it is turning a lot.

[Saurav]

ten cricket slower than cricinfo:(

[Syed Ali Imran]

WTH Taufeeq!!!!!!!! Gone, Bowled by Swann..

[talha3]

Just wait till our spinners bowl on this pitch...

[WalkingWiggett]

:out Bowled 'im! :taufeeq

[Strike!]

:facepalm: What a dismissal.

[Looney]

As soon as i start watching this match , :taufeeq goes :(

[adnan yasin]

Taufeeq

didnt read the arm ball

Bowled

thats shameful

[Usman Chadda]

Taufeeq is horrible against spin wow. Totally misread that delivery lol

[Sledger]

Here comes the Wall.

[smoothcriminal]

Poor defence from Taufeeq. Extremely uncomfortable against the spinner.

[Digital]

He's vulnerable against spin

[w8in_4_0402]

Azhar in next.

[MVP26]

taufiq :facepalm:

[ragincajun]

what a terrible leave by TU

[Saurav]

left a straight ball:O

[osee_bhai]

Total arm ball, didn't spin at all.

[Love Pakistan]

:))) Well well well! Why would you leave it Taufeeq?

[JibranAnsari]

How could you leave this :facepalm: beautiful delivery though but unnecessary leave cost us a wicket.

[Paradox]

lol, Taufeeq vs spin is like Hafeez vs Devon Smith.

[tanzeel]

iDone would have a field day with England on this track judging by the amount of spin Monty Panesar of 'The Monty Panesar problem' (how to turn a cricket ball) fame is getting less than twenty overs into day one.

[Fawad2010]

Here to hoping that YK and MBA will bore the spinners to DEATH!

[Digital]

ten cricket slower than cricinfo:(

Same here !

[ragincajun]

Pak has gifted 1 wicket away :(

[Sledger]

Big test for Azhar on here.

[Areesh]

Out .:(

[Zohaib Shah]

Taufeeg out.. Oh Well he looked troubled anyways

[JibranAnsari]

Tough test for azhar against spin , he isn't good either against spin.

[saj001]

get a dictionary and look at what plumb actually means

Maybe they need to readjust hawkeye.

[GLORY OF '92]

Lots of spin here 350 will be a good score here.

[adnan yasin]

How could you leave this :facepalm: beautiful delivery though but unnecessary leave cost us a wicket.

he just didnt read it was an arm ball :P

[Proud To Be A Pakistani]

I want azhar to show me what he have got, don't want misbah & yonus to save us from everywhere its about time boy.

[Fawad2010]

Put that dismissal clip on a non-stop loop for Taufeeq in the dressing room.

[Ruri]

England are screwed.

[Sledger]

Solid tuk first up.

[Sledger]

Azhar gets a single.

[tanzeel]

Did anyone else hear some guy say 'gum would be perfection' (a line from Friends)?

[Syed Ali Imran]

Azhar ali off the mark with a single..

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Can't see this match being a draw. Far too much spin on the first day.

[Sledger]

52/1.

[talha3]

lol, Taufeeq vs spin is like Hafeez vs Devon Smith.

Let's be honest it's not that bad. The ball is turning a lot. When Ajmal bowls on this pitch, everyone will look like Devon Smith :D

[Syed Ali Imran]

at the end of over Pak 52/1.

Hafeez 28*
Azhar Ali 1*

Taufeeq 16

[adnan yasin]

Pak 52/1

Hafeez 28 Azhar ali 1

RR 2.73

[Paradox]

Hopefully this track turns more as the match goes on, not less.

[HumorMe]

Poor defence from Taufeeq. Extremely uncomfortable against the spinner.

Agreed....and we see this over n over. He plays one good knock followed by a number of bad ones. He's an opener for god's sake! Fill yr shoes, taufeeq!!!

[MVP26]

Big test for Azhar here, he has been getting bogged down by spinners in his career.

[ragincajun]

Pak batsmen uncomfortable against spinners

[JibranAnsari]

England are screwed.

No, made a good decision playing two spinners. Pakistan are as suspect against spin as england are.

[Usman Chadda]

This pitch will be an absolute nightmare by day 4 (if the game stretches that long)

[saj001]

This doesn't look like a draw pitch.

[adnan yasin]

thats a 5th day deliver on day 1 by panesar

[HumorMe]

Hopefully this track turns more as the match goes on, not less.

Lol @ yr quote!

[Sledger]

England fielders creating pressure.

[Sledger]

Ajmal will be licking his lips.

[adnan yasin]

pushed through to off side by azhar ali

2 added

[talha3]

Azhar :(

How long will he last against this pressured spin?

[Usman Chadda]

Holy crap that was some ball by Monty!

[iemjaved]

batsman need to spend time on this pitch. ..

[JibranAnsari]

Azhar already in trouble

[Syed Ali Imran]

Azhar :facepalm:

[adnan yasin]

Pak 54/1

Hafeez 28 Azhar ali 3

RR 2.7

[Syed Ali Imran]

at the end of over Pak 54/1.

Hafeez 28*
Azhar Ali 3*

Taufeeq 16

[talha3]

Hafeez's role is key here. He's looked good against both spinners.

[HumorMe]

Pak batsmen uncomfortable against spinners

Can't they practice more to become comfortable?

[adnan yasin]

Azhar :(

How long will he last against this pressured spin?


keep your fingers crossed

[JibranAnsari]

looks like 3 and a half day test match. won't last more than this.

[Sledger]

Single to Prof. Azhar back on strike.

[Love Pakistan]

Okay... Seeing the spin right now, I think even 300 will be fine! Just get 300 at least! Right now Im a lil worried!

[Syed Ali Imran]

single to Hafeez as Pak moves on to 55/1.

[adnan yasin]

nudge on the on side for single

[Usman Chadda]

batsman need to spend time on this pitch. ..You are never really in on these kind of wickets. Massive spin on first day under 20 overs...wait what?!?!

[Sledger]

Hafeez needs to score a big one and then rip through England's batting. :murali

[Syed Ali Imran]

single more to Azhar as Pak mvoes on to 56/1.

[pak4life]

Hafeez's role is key here. He's looked good against both spinners.

But he always finds a silly way to get out

[JibranAnsari]

what do you think would be a good score, 275?

[adnan yasin]

England will do Disco Dandiya on this pitch when they ll come to bat :D

[osee_bhai]

I'll be happy with 250.

[MVP26]

57/1

[talha3]

You are never really in on these kind of wickets. Massive spin on first day under 20 overs...wait what?!?!

Exactly. That's why it's important to keep the board ticking.

[Sledger]

We'll see how much England 'like the spin' when they bat. :))

[taqi]

younus and misbah will be critical here for us ... they are the best players of spin in our batting lineup

[saj001]

what do you think would be a good score, 275?

325-350.

[MVP26]

what do you think would be a good score, 275?

350

I can see wicket getting flatter as match progresses.

[Syed Ali Imran]

at the end of over Pak 57/1.

Hafeez 30*
Azhar Ali 4*

Taufeeq 16

[IAJ]

Taufeeq, Azhar and Asad are all surprisingly poor players of spin considering they have faced alot of spin back home.

[adnan yasin]

what do you think would be a good score, 275?

300 would be a perfect score

to me it should be a winning score for pakistan with 3 quality spinners

[Sadia Ali]

it's good nd very informative threads.

[Sledger]

Cut for a single.

[Syed Ali Imran]

single more to Hafeez as Pak moves on to 58/1.

[MVP26]

58/1
Hafeez.on 31

[Sledger]

Azhar in two minds, almost didn't play a shot. Good turn again.

[MVP26]

Junior would have been handy on this pitch

[saj001]

We'll see how much England 'like the spin' when they bat. :))

:)))

I'm sure they will be loving it.

[Usman Chadda]

Abu Dhabi surprisingly has a better crowd than Dubai did at this same time in last test

[Syed Ali Imran]

single to Azhar as Pak moves on to 59/1.

[talha3]

Taufeeq, Azhar and Asad are all surprisingly poor players of spin considering they have faced alot of spin back home.

Out of the 3, can't blame Taufeeq as much being an opener.

[yasir]

Ball is spinning a lot for day one. It's not going to be easy. 300 plus is a good score. I can definitely see a result coming from this test.

[Sledger]

Good to see Azhar going for these singles at least. This is the best way for him - just nudge it around.

[Syed Ali Imran]

at the end of over Pak 59/1.

Hafeez 31*
Azhar Ali 5*

Taufeeq 16

[adnan yasin]

Pak 59/1

Hafeez 31 Azhar ali 5

RR 2.68

[ads101]

good start.

England definitely made the right choice going with 2 spinners.

[osee_bhai]

WHy are people saying the pitch will flatten out? Doesn't spin have to do with the nature of the surface? As the game progresses, pitch deteriorates, footmarks develop, it should just continue to spin right? And perhaps get even more spin? I don't think it will get easier to bat as the game progresses.

[JibranAnsari]

I think as the moisture goes out of the pitch ,so will much of the grip and spin. But who knows.

[adnan yasin]

Over rate 15

RR 2.66

[Sledger]

Azhar Ali also looks a lot more trim than the overweight batsman we saw before. :inzi

[Syed Ali Imran]

2 more runs to Azhar as Pak moves on to 61/1.

[taqi]

is it early moisture which assisting spin or it is dry duster kinda pitch?

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Taufeeq, Azhar and Asad are all surprisingly poor players of spin considering they have faced alot of spin back home.

The top order is picked on their ability to play the new ball really, which tbf they have usually done quite well.

[Syed Ali Imran]

haye Azharrr :facepalm:, Good one from Swann..

[adnan yasin]

WHy are people saying the pitch will flatten out? Doesn't spin have to do with the nature of the surface? As the game progresses, pitch deteriorates, footmarks develop, it should just continue to spin right? And perhaps get even more spin? I don't think it will get easier to bat as the game progresses.

the pitch will not deteriorate later on i guess ... but yes it will spin for sure

[Usman Chadda]

WHy are people saying the pitch will flatten out? Doesn't spin have to do with the nature of the surface? As the game progresses, pitch deteriorates, footmarks develop, it should just continue to spin right? And perhaps get even more spin? I don't think it will get easier to bat as the game progresses.The pitch will probably become worse as it will break-up as the match progresses. Might end up becoming a dust-bowl by day 4 and thus an absolute nightmare for the batsmen

[JibranAnsari]

England are screwed.

WHy are people saying the pitch will flatten out? Doesn't spin have to do with the nature of the surface? As the game progresses, pitch deteriorates, footmarks develop, it should just continue to spin right? And perhaps get even more spin? I don't think it will get easier to bat as the game progresses.

In the last two matches at Abudhabi , it has flattened out as the match progressed. Everything including spin vanished.

[Syed Ali Imran]

at the end of over Pak 61/1.

Hafeez 31*
Azhar Ali 7*

Taufeeq 16

[Sledger]

61/1.

[saj001]

Azhar Ali also looks a lot more trim than the overweight batsman we saw before. :inzi

And he is looking much more confident in his stroke play.

[iZeeshan]

It should get easier to bat on Day 2 and Day 3, then a lot of turn on Day 4 and 5...if we make it that far.

[JibranAnsari]

Azhar needs to score at least his trademark 50.

[hazen_batti]

Azhar seems low on confidence. :(

[Proud To Be A Pakistani]

Tough test for azhar against spin , he isn't good either against spin.

Well if you can't play spin, don't think then test cricket is the zone you wanna find yourself in.

[osee_bhai]

In the last two matches at Abudhabi , it has flattened out as the match progressed. Everything including spin vanished.

Last time it never spun this muchh at all, first day or last. That was the seam movement that flattened out.

[talha3]

Is that dropped?

[Sledger]

Panesar gets Hafeez's edge. Only one slip. :wg

[tanzeel]

what do you think would be a good score, 275?

Anything over 350 and England following on would be a very real possibility.

[hur rizvi]

Dropped

[Pak_Power]

dropped!!

[Syed Ali Imran]

Caught and Bowl, dropped!!!!

[talha3]

****. Hafeez gone :(

[ads101]

In trouble now.

[Proud To Be A Pakistani]

*** another one bowled

[Sledger]

Hafeez bowled.

[WalkingWiggett]

Hafeez :out

[iZeeshan]

And Hafeez goes :(

[adnan yasin]

Hafeez bowled

just mis read the length

[Syed Ali Imran]

Bowled him!!! Monty gets Hafeez :facepalm:

[Pak_Power]

and now hafeez gone..... Pak in trouble!!

[Ruri]

We are dead screwed.

[Sledger]

Time for Hafeez to hit the nets and practise his offbreaks now.

[hur rizvi]

:out


Pakistan in trouble

[talha3]

Can't lose another wicket in this session.

[Zeeraq]

Hafeez out :facepalm

[JibranAnsari]

professor goes, No need to play at backfoot. :facepalm:

[Areesh]

:facepalm:

[Desi]

ughhhh

[Syed Ali Imran]

Pak moves on to 61/2 giving a glare at their neighbours as they stand at 61/2 too as well back in Australia though.. lol!

[Sledger]

It should get easier to bat on Day 2 and Day 3, then a lot of turn on Day 4 and 5...if we make it that far.
we?

I think you spelt England wrong.

[pak4life]

openers missed two straight balls!!

[osee_bhai]

Frig. Montyyy

[Sledger]

Younis Khan in.

[IAJ]

Lols Pakistan making The same mistakes England made against Ajmal and company. Block block wont help, needs to move The feet against spinners.

[JibranAnsari]

If younis goes early , we are seeing a under 200 score.

[Love Pakistan]

Monty the destroyer destroying! 275 kay liye hi settle ho jao bhaiyon!

[Saurav]

no monty celebration:tahir

[GLORY OF '92]

I'll take 300 now.....

[James]

We are dead screwed.

oh give over myrtle.

this is so good to watch! two spinners, a spinning track. sporting theatre.

great test match in prospect, with Ajmal to have a twirl later.

[Sledger]

61/2.

[Zeeraq]

Younis Khan plz make 500 runs.

[Syed Ali Imran]

at the end of over Pak 61/2.


Azhar Ali 7*
Younis 0*

Hafeez 31
Taufeeq 16

[kkmix]

300 will be a good score ... and I can't wait to see how English batsmen will cope with this spin :)).

[talha3]

With all the bowled wickets, and YK coming in against Panesar, just had a flashback of YK being bowled by Panesar 06...

[PakPrince]

The never ending saga of the Great Pakistani Collapses is back!

we hadn't seen one for so long that it almost felt wierd and un-Pakistani!

[saj001]

Younis Khan plz make 500 runs.

:))).

[James]

could flatten out or spin more. let's see.

[tanzeel]

We are dead screwed.

We? Didn't you post the exact same thing Taufeeq got out? Aren't you with GS/Malakian and co?

[James]

gutted about Azhar btw. Big fan but he's looked very...meh.

[JibranAnsari]

oh give over myrtle.

this is so good to watch! two spinners, a spinning track. sporting theatre.

great test match in prospect, with Ajmal to have a twirl later.

Ajmal does not spin much , I guess this time rehman will trouble more.

[Syed Ali Imran]

Maiden, at the end of over Pak 61/2.


Azhar Ali 7*
Younis 0*

Hafeez 31
Taufeeq 16

[Sjaloha]

Credit goes to the English bowlers. They are bowling a superb line here.

[talha3]

The never ending saga of the Great Pakistani Collapses is back!

we hadn't seen one for so long that it almost felt wierd and un-Pakistani!

:facepalm:

You think this is a collapse?

A collapse would be if from here we got bowled out for less than 150.

[PakPrince]

it might flatten out tbh!

and i really think its more a mental problem here than the pitch!

[Sledger]

Brilliant tukking by Azhar.

[osee_bhai]

Rehman's gonna have a party here, people are overestimating Ajmal, his bowling rarely requires a big spinning pitch, and sometimes he struggles on these kind of pitches too.

[adnan yasin]

Lols Pakistan making The same mistakes England made against Ajmal and company. Block block wont help, needs to move The feet against spinners.


as a batsman .... its hard to come down the track when he sees the ball turning that much from one word go

[JibranAnsari]

gutted about Azhar btw. Big fan but he's looked very...meh.

He will always look like that , some batsmen are never in.

[PakPrince]

:facepalm:

You think this is a collapse?

A collapse would be if from here we got bowled out for less than 150.

it has all the hallmarks of a traditional Pakistani collapse

:hope im wrong

[Syed Ali Imran]

YK off the mark with a single as Pak moves on to 62/2.

[Syed Ali Imran]

Quick single to Azhar

[JibranAnsari]

Tremlett's injury , a blessing in disguise.

[Ruri]

We? Didn't you post the exact same thing Taufeeq got out? Aren't you with GS/Malakian and co?

Oy, English fan yes, but confident in England's batting right now? No. I'm more worried about being 100ao to Rehman (let alone Ajmal) even if we bowl you lot out.

[adnan yasin]

Pak 63/2

Younis khan 1 Azhar ali 8

RR 2.44

[Syed Ali Imran]

at the end of over Pak 63/2.


Azhar Ali 8*
Younis 1*

Hafeez 31
Taufeeq 16

[talha3]

it has all the hallmarks of a traditional Pakistani collapse

:hope im wrong

This has happened before a few times in Misbah's reign (2/3 quick wickets). But it has never led to a collapse (except on that messed up minefield of a pitch in WI).

:hope you're wrong too

[Zeeraq]

Broad bowling.

[talha3]

Oy, English fan yes, but confident in England's batting right now? No. I'm more worried about being 100ao to Rehman (let alone Ajmal) even if we bowl you lot out.

It depends. England are mentally strong. If Pakistan don't make 200, it might motivate England.

[Syed Ali Imran]

Very good point raised up on cricinfo's commentary

Kamran: 'Of the 14 matches that Misbah has captained (including this), he has won the toss 8 times, and it is only the second time he has decided to bat first, although essentially all of these matches were played on pitches that were good for batting. This shows a more positive approach from the defensive man."

[Zeeraq]

:))).

Hey, I can dream right:D?

[Sledger]

Broad back on.

[Asif321]

better crowd this time

[Syed Ali Imran]

Barbie into the attack now..

[tanzeel]

The never ending saga of the Great Pakistani Collapses is back!

we hadn't seen one for so long that it almost felt wierd and un-Pakistani!
I'd take 63/2 on this pitch any day. A batting lineup of 11 Brian Laras would be doing the Makarena on this pitch.

[cricfan4ever]

last 8 overs 12 runs, 2 wickets :13:

[PakPrince]

Very good point raised up on cricinfo's commentary

Kamran: 'Of the 14 matches that Misbah has captained (including this), he has won the toss 8 times, and it is only the second time he has decided to bat first, although essentially all of these matches were played on pitches that were good for batting. This shows a more positive approach from the defensive man."

when we were winning with that approach whats the point of changing it?

[Love Pakistan]

we have to go to 100-2 from here first! That should be the first target right now!

[JibranAnsari]

The england :waqar

[Strike!]

We should have bowled first. :mba

[Justcrazy]

England have bowled we
l here

[Syed Ali Imran]

2 runs to Azhar as Pak moves on to 65/2.

[Justcrazy]

England have bowled we
l here

[adnan yasin]

Very good point raised up on cricinfo's commentary

Kamran: 'Of the 14 matches that Misbah has captained (including this), he has won the toss 8 times, and it is only the second time he has decided to bat first, although essentially all of these matches were played on pitches that were good for batting. This shows a more positive approach from the defensive man."

I think he might be thinking of not to bat 4th on this wicket

[Syed Ali Imran]

at the end of over Pak 65/2.


Azhar Ali 10*
Younis 1*

Hafeez 31
Taufeeq 16

[Justcrazy]

This Partnership has to take Pakistan to 150 ......:P

[Sledger]

Azhar wins that over. 65/2.

[adnan yasin]

Spinners were giving tough time to Azhar ali ... why bringing broad ?

Just because he got him in last test :P

[Justcrazy]

The pitch will help spinners..... I guess Pakistan should look to get at least 375 here

[Syed Ali Imran]

single to Yk!

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Misbah and Younis have to score the runs here. They are the only real class players of spin. Asad should suit this pitch too as there isn't much bounce.

[adnan yasin]

Pak 66/1

younis khan 2 Azhar ali 10

RR 2.39

[Sledger]

Good run by Younis.

[Syed Ali Imran]

at the end of over Pak 66/2.


Azhar Ali 10*
Younis 2*

Hafeez 31
Taufeeq 16