Pakistan V India | 1st Test Lahore | Official Day 1 Thread [13/1/06]

[Easa]

Can't wait for it... :D Post score updates and dicuss here. Be positive about all players. :D

Mods, please make this a sticky and dont delete it. Thanks. ;-)

__________________________________________________ _____

India vs Pakistan, 1st Test, Lahore

Continuity the key

Osman Samiuddin at Lahore

January 12, 2006


Pre-match press conferences should generally be taken with pinches of salt. In them the pitches are never poor, always sporting and with a little something for everyone. Team compositions are never announced, only inferred. No one player holds the key to anything, all players in the opposing camp are vital and unless a real minnow is involved, both teams start evenly. The toss is always important but never unhealthily so and first sessions are always crucial but not critical.

The first question pitched to Inzamam-ul-Haq regarding the state of the pitch was banal enough but because it wasn't about goodwill, hospitality and political ties, it told a story in itself. For the first time in three series, the cricket takes precedence and it hasn't come soon enough because both teams are playing some decidedly competitive cricket. Inzamam's press conferences are generally straightforward enough; straight answers come to straight questions but in recent times, they have become even more so. Primarily, it is because, in the Pakistan camp these days, relative stability is to be found.

As has been hinted in the run-up to this series, little is likely to change or be surprising about the eleven Pakistanis who turn up tomorrow. Apart from finding openers, the major dilemma with Pakistan's opening combination was that when they were found, they were lost almost immediately thereafter. Ten opening combinations in thirteen Tests says less about a lack of natural openers in the country than it does about the selectors' willingness to give one pair an extended trial. Forget extended, even more than two Tests together few pairs got. For continuity's sake more than anything else, Shoaib Malik, as Inzamam and Bob Woolmer have been keen to assert, is likely to retain his position as opener. Against a long and strong batting line-up, his bowling will provide one of two much-needed things - relief for the main bowlers and occasional partnership-breaking potential.

The only other position over which hovered some doubt was at number six. With Asim Kamal's exclusion from the squad, a question of three has become one of two: Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq. Inzamam was evasive obviously saying simply, "We have two good allrounders in our squad. One provides us with a spinning option and the other a fast bowling. They will help us with options in either scenario whether the pitch takes spin or whether it is helpful to faster bowlers. It is a good situation for us to have in the squad." But it is likely, according to some in the team management that Afridi will play. His performances against India - in fact anyone - over the last year and that he scored 92 and took four wickets in his last Test appearance only add more credibility to that claim. The rest is self-explanatory.

As for the rest outside team selection, who knows? Who is the stronger side, how will the pitch play, will the weather play a part, is it really as black and white as Pakistan's bowlers against India's batsmen, will the toss be crucial? Rumours of a green-top were, like Twain's death, greatly exaggerated and the pitch looks remarkably similar to the one on which England crumpled in December. In between then and now, the weather took centre stage for a while but even that, as temperatures rise slowly and the sun sheds its shyness, is receding slightly. The weathermen, almost as perfunctory as cricket press conferences, say a cold spell is expected again, possibly during the course of the match but by then the game will have begun writing its story.

Really, these are all side issues, only diverting attention from the morrow, when Shoaib charges in to Sehwag, or when Pathan skips in to Butt. Then we will await various, mouthwatering themes that will, fingers crossed, embed themselves underneath the very skin of this series. Will Shoaib be able to maintain his hostility through the series? How will Rana Naved-ul-Hasan acquit himself now that he is a frontline bowler? How will Danish Kaneria bowl against India, now with a reputation to uphold rather than make? And is Inzamam finally going to succumb to the law of averages that afflicts every great batsman, Bradman apart? From tomorrow, the real stories begin.

Pakistan (probable) 1 Salman Butt 2 Shoaib Malik 3 Younis Khan 4 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt) 5 Mohammad Yousuf 6 Shahid Afridi 7 Kamran Akmal (wk) 8 Rana Naved-ul-Hasan 9 Shoaib Akhtar 10 Mohammad Sami 11 Danish Kaneria.

Osman Samiuddin is Pakistan editor of Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

[Awesome Anjum]

Should not it say Day1?

[Easa]

It should. Perhaps a Mod can help us out, ;-)

[Usman Chadda]

Let the games begin!

[Amjid Javed]

latest - Ground is covered in darkness, the stadium is empty and a long haired figure is seen moonwalking on the pitch.

[Easa]

Could it be? ;-)

[Hussain]

the game just
9 hours or
540 mins
or
32400 seconds away

what ever seems shorter

[Amjid Javed]

http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/ap_photo/20060109/all/l1703668.jpg

may battle commence.

[yk]

The Indian tracksuit, looks like a copy of the Arsenal one!!!

[z10]

what the hell is on dravids head?

[HAFRIDI]

what the hell is on dravids head?

a topi, what else?

[Easa]

Can someone tell me how to post pictures? Thanks.

[Easa]

Found out already. :)

[chalu]

May the best team win and hope the best team over 5 day would be India.

[Usman]

Can't wait! After all this talk from former player x and former players y and z and p and q and even more, the players are finally going to do the talking, and this time on the pitch! Let the match begin!

[Hash]

May the Pakistan team win

[Amjid Javed]

I cant wait so many exciting contests.

agarkar v s malik, yuvraj v sami, harbajhan v Younis khan...

:)

[Munda Pakistani]

May the best team win and hope the best team over 5 day would be India.

May the Pakistan team win

One and the same thing.

[pak4life]

does anyone know what the playing times for tomorow are as its juma day.

[lakha84]

1st test shoib bowling double hatrick in 1st over

[cavin420]

May the best team win and hope the best team over 5 day would be India.
dream on!!!!!!!!!1

[kashmiri]

pakistan 380 for 2 day 1 end

[The_Cricket_Devil]

pakistan 380 for 2 day 1 end

wow they havent even won the toss yet and already this :P Altho i think Pakistan may want to ball first but thats just me

[Amir]

i am having a hard time breathing just thinking about this series...oh man i cant wait!

[inzidabest]

I want to know about the toss as soon as it is done. who will update?

[Asim2Good]

how many overs ll b lost today ?
starting time is 9:45am local time, it's way too late.
they should start at 9:00

[HAFRIDI]

whos gonna watch the game?

[sneekysneeky]

whos gonna watch the game?
me! cant wait

[inzidabest]

anywone watching has to give quick updates. about teams , toss

[HAFRIDI]

inzi u not gona watch?

[inzidabest]

mate m in Ottawa. my friend has taken ATN. I will go occasionaly to his house:(.
so I will be following here. Pls give quick updates.

[sneekysneeky]

ill try to give updates whenever i can

[DotCom]

normally for tests, the toss is 30 minutes before .. no update from Cric Info yet

will not sleep, and goto work in the AM feeling like how the Indians will feel after the get a DOSE of the BEAST !!

INSHALLAH

[nafajafam]

What time is the game starting?

[inzidabest]

listen to this
The pitch looks very good for batting, there is no grass at all, the little bit of grass is cut and rolled. This should be a batting beauty for the first couple of days surely after which there can be something in it for the spinners. The skipper who wins the toss will in all probability decide to bat

[HAFRIDI]

cant wait guys!!

[pacman]

The pitch report was just done. Looks like a flat brown pitch. Good for batting. Anyone winning the toss will probably bat first.

[hasan316]

Inzi chooses to bat first

[nafajafam]

is dishnetwork showing it?

[HAFRIDI]

ganguly play ha ha pak will whooooooop his a$$

[pacman]

Inzi has won the toss and will bat first. :D

[inzidabest]

teams please

[Big Mac]

Ooooh, Ganguly in as an opener

[sneekysneeky]

The Pakistan team is as follows: 1 Salman Butt 2 Shoaib Malik 3
Younis Khan 4 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt) 5 Mohammad Yousuf 6 Shahid
Afridi 7 Kamran Akmal (wk) 8 Rana Naved-ul-Hasan 9 Shoaib Akhtar
10 Mohammad Sami 11 Danish Kaneria

[Usman Chadda]

Imran and Nasser Hussain in the ARY studio with Sanjay Manjeraker :27:

[pacman]

Butt
Malik
Y.Khan
Inzi
Yousuf
Afridi
Akmal
Rana
Shoaib
Sami
Danish

Sehwag
Ganguly :D
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Yuvraj
Dhoni
Irfan
Agarkar
Harbhajan
Kumble

[inzidabest]

Right decision folks? team bating first has lost at lahore more than often. England recently and India in 2004

[ahaPassion]

Pakistan have won the toss and chosen to bat first
Inzamam-ul-Haq has also confirmed that Shoaib Malik will open the
batting

[Shayan_Sohail]

Indian batting looks really strong

[ahaPassion]

Dravid admits that he would have batted first had he won the toss And then the big one - Sourav Ganguly is playing in the eleven. Whether he opens or not remains to be seen

[The_Cricket_Devil]

Now then Pakistan will need a good start here and I hope Malik plays well here too Inshallah we shall do well

[pacman]

Man, seeing Ganguly as an opener in hot pot like this,... the Indian captain must be out of his mind. But my feeling is that the pressure has got to Dravid and let Ganguly play.

[HAFRIDI]

im off now guys to watch the game

InshAllah we do well!!!!

munchy time for me as well:P

[inzidabest]

Indian batting looks really strong
That is why malik should have played at 6 and Farhat should have opened:(

[offstump]

Inzamam-ul-Haq has also confirmed that Shoaib Malik will open the
batting
Dravid admits that he would have batted first had he won the toss
And then the big one - Sourav Ganguly is playing in the eleven.
Whether he opens or not remains to be seen
The Pakistan team is as follows: 1 Salman Butt 2 Shoaib Malik 3
Younis Khan 4 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt) 5 Mohammad Yousuf 6 Shahid
Afridi 7 Kamran Akmal (wk) 8 Rana Naved-ul-Hasan 9 Shoaib Akhtar
10 Mohammad Sami 11 Danish Kaneria.
The Indian team is: 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Sourav Ganguly, 3 Rahul
Dravid (capt), 4 VVS Laxman, 5 Sachin Tendulkar, 6 Yuvraj Singh, 7
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), 8 Irfan Pathan, 9 Ajit Agarkar, 10
Harbhajan Singh, 11 Anil Kumble.

[octavian]

NO SAMI !!!!

a real shocker !!

[badxhah]

why the hell am i i still watchin SINDOOR on ATN ...? when will the telecast begim ?

[The_Cricket_Devil]

uh sami is there...

[octavian]

according to Sami Cricinfo he is not

[Shayan_Sohail]

why the hell am i i still watchin SINDOOR on ATN ...? when will the telecast begim ?

I think it is about to start

[sneekysneeky]

teams out on the field

[pacman]

NO SAMI !!!!

a real shocker !!

No, Sami is playing. Abdul Razzaq is not playing.

[sneekysneeky]

malik and butt opening

[The_Cricket_Devil]

looking at india batting it may look like dravid may open but neways no worrying about that

[mooz]

Ground looks empty, we should stop hosting all these games in Lahore.

[The_Cricket_Devil]

Shoaib Malik off the mark first ball with 2 flicked to midwicket from Pathan

[sneekysneeky]

first ball 2 runs for malik

[badxhah]

who the hell started a good rumor that sami was not in the team .. BAN HIM :P

[Shayan_Sohail]

malik with a reabok bat

[octavian]

Fu***g crapinfo

[The_Cricket_Devil]

Pathan getting a good amount of swing here openers should be watchful ball always does something for an hour or so at lahore

[octavian]

Ground looks empty, we should stop hosting all these games in Lahore.

its a work day in lahore, what do u expect ::J

[The_Cricket_Devil]

2-0 after first over well played off by shoaib malik

[Big Mac]

YAS, Ary is on here even though I hadn't managed to ring them and subscribe. Must be a freeview thing maybe?

[badxhah]

so far i counted 10 pplz

[mooz]

its a work day in lahore, what do u expect ::J

Like there aren't a million unemployed people in Lahore.

[The_Cricket_Devil]

Like there aren't a million unemployed people in Lahore.

and of course they have nothing else to do than waste their precious money to come see the match

[The_Cricket_Devil]

legbyes for four

[mooz]

precious time.. haha

[The_Cricket_Devil]

followed by a gr8 cover drive for 4 to get him off the mark

[cavin420]

butt lookin gud with that 4!

[octavian]

Like there aren't a million unemployed people in Lahore.


well there might be like a whole of pakistan.. but not everyones is gonna come to ground, also for an early moring the crown is decent, it will built gradually

[cavin420]

it seems like a pure batting track..just look at the first over malik played pathan with so much ease!!!! lets hope we make atleast 400 today...another gud short while i was speaking by butt...played with alot of comfort once again!!!inshAllah 400 today atlest with 4,5 down!!!!

[The_Cricket_Devil]

backfoot drive for 2 by butt he is looking good here

[cavin420]

i reckon thats out

[cavin420]

it is out damn!!!

[The_Cricket_Devil]

butt run out!!

[KaSaNoVa_G]

BLOODY HELL a run out....

[offstump]

butt run out!

[The_Cricket_Devil]

wth was that!! this is so retarded damn casualness from butt

[sneekysneeky]

Damn!!!

[offstump]

what a lazy effort, completely his own fault

[cavin420]

hes the worst runner in the team...inzi should be deprived of that tag now!! hes over taken him by a mile!!!!!!!!!!!stupid runout he wasnt really trying to get back..even the indians thought he was in!

[Usman Chadda]

Ridiculuous stuff by Salman! Run out by Yuvraj...

Pakistan 12/1 in 2.1 overs.

[inzidabest]

folks a good start is important to the series

[cavin420]

the more replays they show , the more ma blood boils..seriously this guy needs to work really hard on his running n feilding....duh

[The_Cricket_Devil]

13-1 at the end of 3

[cavin420]

even dean jones is saying how casual he was........he must have been thinking about mariam silly boy on his way back to the crease silly boy!!!

[badxhah]

superb stuff frm uv lasxy ass stuff frm butt

[mooz]

pakistani batsmen will find a way to give their wickets away, regardless of how placid the pitch might be.

[The_Cricket_Devil]

yk off the mark first ball

[mooz]

even dean jones is saying how casual he was........he must have been thinking about mariam silly boy on his way back to the crease silly boy!!!

Haha
Maybe she was holding on the phone.

[cavin420]

inshAllah younis with malik will put on a big patnership as runouts seem to be the only way right now to get someone......and these 2 are really gud runners n judge of a run..another 4 to malik!as we speak

[pacman]

first boundary for Malik. Played it with soft hands down to 3rd man.

[The_Cricket_Devil]

thru the slips for 4 by malik but he played it with soft hands that he played it safe

[The_Cricket_Devil]

dish network saying yk has 4 and malik has 3 when it should be 6 for malik and 1 for yk

[The_Cricket_Devil]

19-1 after 4

[cavin420]

Haha
Maybe she was holding on the phone.
perhaps u never know...but one thing i do know is that hes gonna take alot of stick n criticism from him till the test match ends...being proffesionals ur not as casual as he was..what training they do in the camps i would like to know!!!

[mooz]

they think YK is batting, instead of Shoaib.
all these pakistanis look alike to the DISH people.

[taps]

What a BONUS!Brilliant stuff by Yuvi!

[cavin420]

close call....younis khan i think i should shut up as it doesnt seem to be working to well for us right now :D

[Shayan_Sohail]

ok guys the run out is done lets move on

[The_Cricket_Devil]

huge shout for lbw but it hit him outside the line of off stump in my opinion

[mooz]

Salman just doesn't look like a natural athlete to me.

[Usman Chadda]

Malik hits a four off Agarkar. Streaky shot by any means!

P.S. As I say this, Pathan appeals against Younis Khan.

Pakistan 19/1 in 4.1 overs.

[Toony™®]

these damn ads are making me :12:

thank god for vb series.

[The_Cricket_Devil]

good quick 2 there by malik pak 22-1

[taps]

YK..Lucky..Hawkeye says ball would have hit middle stump!

[cavin420]

Salman just doesn't look like a natural athlete to me.
i think thats why hes engaged to one.....(thinking done by bob woolmer ;)

[mooz]

Looks out, I don't think he was outside the off.
I am gonna start another thread about Hair's poor umpiring.

[Shayan_Sohail]

YK..Lucky..Hawkeye says ball would have hit middle stump!

he was hit outside off stump

[The_Cricket_Devil]

YK pushed forward which saved him there

[mooz]

i think thats why hes engaged to one.....(thinking done by bob woolmer ;)

U seem to know an awful lot about Butt's wife-to-be ;-)

[cavin420]

YK..Lucky..Hawkeye says ball would have hit middle stump!
brilliant decison for once i would have to say daryl hair right on the money !!

[Waseem]

Commentaors said it was a good decision, just hit him outside the off stump.

[inzidabest]

I am sure now people realise wht I meant by a long batting line up. Another wicket and Inzy will be under pressure

[mooz]

brilliant decison for once i would have to say daryl hair right on the money !!

Brillant decision because he didn't give YK out?

[Slugger]

stupid butt had to go get engaged at this time and now he's out...sara mood kharab kur diya

[cavin420]

U seem to know an awful lot about Butt's wife-to-be ;-)
well who doesnt :D she is a tennis player ant she? n usually they are known to be gud atheltic ppl!;)

[Waseem]

Salman Butt looked so comfortable and then he does THIS.............. WORST POSSIBLE WAY TO THROW A WICKET. DAMN!!!!!!

[cavin420]

well 99% think it was not out even the experts sat commentating said it....so has to be spot on ...who am i or u to differ ;) btw u supporting pakistan:D

>>>>>>>>>>brillant decision because he didn't give YK out?

[cavin420]

another 4 by malik...man i hate this adverts.even when u hit a boundery.........duh !!!!!!!!1

[pacman]

Shoaib gets another 4 down to third man, piercing 3rd slip and gully.

[The_Cricket_Devil]

i wonder if ganguly will bowl here today he is the only other medum pacer other than these two thru slips for 4 agn

[mooz]

well 99% think it was not out even the experts sat commentating said it....so has to be spot on ...who am i or u to differ ;) btw u supporting pakistan:D

>>>>>>>>>>brillant decision because he didn't give YK out?

I didn't pay 149.95 + tax to DishNetwork to support India.

[inzidabest]

Inzy said its going to be Hard work and Salman Butt has just done the opposite. And it has often been pointed at Bobs website that Saman needs to improve his fitness.wonder wht is he doing

[cavin420]

stupid butt had to go get engaged at this time and now he's out...sara mood kharab kur diya
dont worry we have 11 tigers...what if ones down.still 10 more to go ;)

[pacman]

27/1 - Malik 13 - Younis 2

[cavin420]

I didn't pay 149.95 + tax to DishNetwork to support India.
oo right i never doubted ur loyalties seriously :D

[pacman]

Who do you think will 1st change bowler for India?

[Oxy]

Only took ARY 6 overs to miss the 1st ball of Agarkars over!!!

[mooz]

dont worry we have 11 tigers...what if ones down.still 10 more to go ;)

I thought it was 9 tigers and 2 sifrashis

[Shayan_Sohail]

michel holding is commentating?

Yesssss he is my favorite

[cavin420]

has to be ganguly or even tendulkar bowling his medium pacers.......btw i was disapointed to see sanjary manjerkar in the studio he should have been on the ground with arun laal sat in the studio!!! rameez would be sad!!!

[mooz]

Who do you think will 1st change bowler for India?

Maybe their best medium pacer, Kumble.
Arun Lal is giving me a headache already.

[Oxy]

Am I the only person to wake up at 4.45 am even though I havent got accss to the game (although ARY seems to be Freeview for 1 hour to tempt ppl like me)

[The_Cricket_Devil]

michel holding is commentating?

Yesssss he is my favorite

yes however his gr8ness is being counteracted by Arun Lal :31:

[cavin420]

Only took ARY 6 overs to miss the 1st ball of Agarkars over!!!
thats not bad last time around i think it was the 4th :D

[MIG]

Guys less of this sifarishi business - I know its all tongue in cheek but can get outta hand.

I was busy watching TenSports ( some old game ) just flicked channles and Pak 27/1 !!!!

Malik is doing well - Pak should set themselves up for a big score here.

[mooz]

has to be ganguly or even tendulkar bowling his medium pacers.......btw i was disapointed to see sanjary manjerkar in the studio he should have been on the ground with arun laal sat in the studio!!! rameez would be sad!!!

No Manjrekar commentary :6:
he is my fave, I think I'll ask for a refund.

[cavin420]

Am I the only person to wake up at 4.45 am even though I havent got accss to the game (although ARY seems to be Freeview for 1 hour to tempt ppl like me)
they are clever arnt they i remember sony doing that last yr in holland.....i guess they are following in their footsteps!!!

[MIG]

Whats the problem with ARY sound ? its never clear - always reminds me of old PTV back and white broadcast - I suppose its the retro look !

[The_Cricket_Devil]

Younis middling the ball well here inshallah he will get a good score here (he is due one as well)

[cavin420]

No Manjrekar commentary :6:
he is my fave, I think I'll ask for a refund.
well hes sat in the studio with imran and nasser hussain......:(

[cavin420]

28 for 1......as soon as i saw the format of the scorecard..i thought no it cant be ..coz its the same format as the sky team use......but fortunatly it was only the scorecard graphic sky worent showing it:D

[inzidabest]

well if Pak have to be a good team, they have to learn to recover from such pressure situations

[mooz]

28 for 1......as soon as i saw the format of the scorecard..i thought no it cant be ..coz its the same format as the sky team use......but fortunatly it was only the scorecard graphic sky worent showing it:D

why is that fortunate?
sky's coverage is usually top-notch.

[Oxy]

why is that fortunate?
sky's coverage is usually top-notch.


Well if hes paid £40 to ARY...he wont be happy if Sky then go and show it :D

[The_Cricket_Devil]

Malik constantly being stuck on the back foot here that is dangeous if he misses those straight ones

[cavin420]

why is that fortunate?
sky's coverage is usually top-notch.
coz i got ARY up n running 7 hours ago and paid the £££ if u know what i mean!!!!!!!1

[Nauman]

Younis Khan and Shaoib Malik seem to be bogged down now.

[sm332]

good test match cricket ... good bowling in the right channels .. patient batting.

[cavin420]

Well if hes paid £40 to ARY...he wont be happy if Sky then go and show it :D
u must be physcic im impressed!i reckon u have done the same ;)

[mooz]

acha
sumajh aaya mujhe

[Oxy]

Just seen th Butt run-out! His fielding was prety dire v Eng; and he looksed about 60 yrs old when running!

[cavin420]

this is what u call gud running........gud boy take the ssingals n rotate the strike!!

[Oxy]

I hope Malik shuts up his PP critics today!

[mooz]

coz i got ARY up n running 7 hours ago and paid the £££ if u know what i mean!!!!!!!1

Is ARY PPV, or do u just subscribe for the month they are broadcasting cricket?

[MIG]

phainty for Butt for that run out , otherwise I would have expected him to score 50+ easily

[Usman Chadda]

Will Waqar be commentating?

[Oxy]

1 concern I have-just like with MoYo...when Malik leave the short ball alone, he leaves his bat hanging in the air.

[cavin420]

Is ARY PPV, or do u just subscribe for the month they are broadcasting cricket?
well if ur on cable then yes 1 month after that u can cancel but not if ur on sky digital then its minimum 2 months for £40 , n if u dont cancel b4 a date that they give u then its for the whole yr!!

[mooz]

phainty for Butt for that run out , otherwise I would have expected him to score 50+ easily

Go easy on him, he is slowed down from all the qorma and biryani from his engagement.

[Nauman]

Green Machine must be drooling over Pathan's action right now.

[cavin420]

phainty for Butt for that run out , otherwise I would have expected him to score 50+ easily
like i said engagement thoughts still keeping him occupied even arun laal said he was occupied withsome thing ...means he doesnt know about the enagament :P

[mooz]

Wase India has bowled quite well so far( though well within their limitations), no help from the pitch though.

[cavin420]

what a short by younis smashed it on the backfoot wow...coming back to butt i still think he was too young to get engaged :D

[pacman]

Younis Khan punishing Agarkar. Short outside off stump and Yonis pounces on it and gets 4.

[The_Cricket_Devil]

YK throws everything at the shot and cracks it for 4 good shot

[cavin420]

runs will come themselves important bit is to stay on the wicket!!!

[mooz]

what a short by younis smashed it on the backfoot wow...coming back to butt i still think he was too young to get engaged :D

We agree on something finally.
Also bad timing just before a major series.

[cavin420]

We agree on something finally.
Also bad timing just before a major series.
yeah which is gud coz i was begining to think of u as a mole :D

[Nauman]

33/1

[cavin420]

i will pay someone handsomly if they kidnap arun laal frm the commentery.....moah boley paisey doonga :D

[Big Mac]

Oh that's well bowled by Pathan

[Oxy]

Disappointing crowd early on-we really need that '12th man' from the 1st ball onwards.

[The_Cricket_Devil]

and the random appealing begins agn by the indians

[Nauman]

Oooh looks like Pathan has developed an outswinger with the scrambled seam.

[Oxy]

1st time Ive seen Pathan bowl in a year-his run up seems laboured...like an old man

btw-great drive for 4 by Malik

[pacman]

Beautifull straight drive from Younis. He moves on to 13. Pak 38/1.

[The_Cricket_Devil]

Pakistan need to realize that india's bowling resources are quite thin in this match actually: only 4 specialist bowlers (out of which 2 are spinners) so see of these 2 and thats that! gr8 shot by yk for 4 there str8 drive

[cavin420]

gud short by youni.alright peeps im gonna take a lil break if someone misses me just shout ma name ;)anther cracking short 3 runs to youni

[pacman]

Another 3 runs to Younis, he is now on 16*. Pak 41/1.

[The_Cricket_Devil]

followed by a good shot for 3 yk looking in good touch here that recent hundred looks to have done lots for his confidence of course an avg of 100 agnst india never hurts :D

[Oxy]

O h well, looks like ARY freeview period is about to end-back to bed!

Hopefully I'll wake up and its 278-2 at the close.

[khilari]

mubarak ho. MashaAllah we recovered after Butt throwed his wicket...

jeetey ga bhai jeetey ga
Pakistan jeetey ga

[pacman]

That super slow mo camera is so cool.

[Oxy]

A batting 'master class' from Arun Lal and his 'soft bottom hand ' theory!

[The_Cricket_Devil]

michael holding and his boiled egg :D

[Oxy]

Well left outside the off stump by YK...fell to a few of those v Eng

[pacman]

Ganguly is 1st change bowler.

[Oxy]

Sourav bhai on to bowl in the 14th over...

and here come WAQAR YOUNIS in the Comm-box!!!

[The_Cricket_Devil]

aai hai ganguly agaya o and waqar has arrived as well

[Oxy]

I love it....

"Good morning Shiva...and good morning around the world"!!!

[Big Mac]

Oh man, I can see Ganguly breaking this little partnership and causing me to throw my laptop across the room here.

[The_Cricket_Devil]

"Shoaib malik has got a control of the indian fast bowling since pakistan were quiet because of butt's early wicket" -- waqar

[khilari]

india's bowling has been so boring.

[The_Cricket_Devil]

Oh man, I can see Ganguly breaking this little partnership and causing me to throw my laptop across the room here.

im getting the exact same feeling *gulp* lets hope not...

[Nauman]

india's bowling has been so boring.
You can say that again.

[The_Cricket_Devil]

india's bowling has been so boring.

just wait till ganguly surprises us all with his amazing 90 mph inswinging yorker

[mooz]

As much as we were all having fun at Ganguly's expense, I really do feel this is a better Indian team with Ganguly in it.

[pacman]

Younis Khan once again punishing Agarkar. Gets 4 more.

[The_Cricket_Devil]

As much as we were all having fun at Ganguly's expense, I really do feel this is a better Indian team with Ganguly in it.

yea...better for the opposition :D

[khilari]

just wait till ganguly surprises us all with his amazing 90 mph inswinging yorker

yah... lets give some competition to kumble

[The_Cricket_Devil]

chawka for yk majesticly timed

[Oxy]

YK looks in prime form-I know Agarkat is nothing special...but runs is runs"

[The_Cricket_Devil]

yk shoulda grounded his bat there had tendulkar hit yk was sol

[khilari]

yeh saari itne dheeloun ki tarah kyun bhaag rahey hain?
mannnnnnnnn

[mooz]

yeh saari itne dheeloun ki tarah kyun bhaag rahey hain?
mannnnnnnnn
:))) :)))

[The_Cricket_Devil]

yeh saari itne dheeloun ki tarah kyun bhaag rahey hain?
mannnnnnnnn

they missed their schoolboy running lessons today missed their baby bottle as well

[cavin420]

im back so whose missed me? like i said the only way to get a wicket is by runouts what are the boys doing??????u lazy buggers wake uppppppp its india we are playing not bangladesh @butt n younis khan

[Oxy]

What fast bowlers are the commentators referring to?

[pacman]

Another 4 runs to the total. 52/1.

[The_Cricket_Devil]

im back so whose missed me? like i said the only way to get a wicket is by runouts what are the boys doing??????u lazy buggers wake uppppppp its india we are playing not bangladesh @butt n younis khan

fyi bangladesh are quite superb fieldsmen 100% committed

[The_Cricket_Devil]

stroked for 4! yk getting into the groove

[khilari]

yehh maraa...
4 by YK
50 for PAKISTAN

PAKISTAN ZINDABAD

[cavin420]

i can understand butt being engaged n all but dont tell me younis khan is next in the qurbani list .?thats why is so complacent??

[Oxy]

This looks too easy for YK.

Hope Ganguly doesnt get him!

Great drive for 4 last over.

[cavin420]

fyi bangladesh are quite superb fieldsmen 100% committed
no i meant it wouldnt have hurt that much by loosing wickets moreover throwing em while getting run outs...if u know what i mean..since against bangladesh someone might play big n make a recovery!

[Oxy]

im back so whose missed me? like i said the only way to get a wicket is by runouts what are the boys doing??????u lazy buggers wake uppppppp its india we are playing not bangladesh @butt n younis khan


Its a TEST match, not an ODI!

[The_Cricket_Devil]

ah i remain corrected yk's avg is not just 100 but 107 vs india

[cavin420]

gr8 short by malik 4 to gangulu!guided it way to 3rd man

[The_Cricket_Devil]

shoaib malik exploiting slips for 4 agn

[Oxy]

Well played by Malik-opened the face and guided through 3rd man for 4...

And then ARY turned off the freeview.

Good night gents!

[khilari]

heheh.. Ganguly's reaction.. He thought he had bowled a batsman on 99

[Big Mac]

Well that's the ARY freeview finished. Don't know if I can be bothered to stay awake and follow it on cricinfo.

[cavin420]

Its a TEST match, not an ODI!
nah the point being after all the preps n all the hype still the same mistakes being made.......such silly things been repeated time n time again thats what annoys me1

[The_Cricket_Devil]

hahah Waqar insulting ganguly's "pace"

[Sage]

aha waqar ripping apart ganguly's bowling

[The_Cricket_Devil]

Drinks called and Pakistan on 56-1 keep it up boys

[khilari]

the other commentator with waqar is tryinna make wat waqar is saying
and then says 56 for 1 ...
classic indian comedy

[kablooee87]

Waqar dismisses Ganguly's bowling....awesome.

[inzidabest]

Folks did the commentators say anything about what should be an ideal first innings score?

[cavin420]

Folks did the commentators say anything about what should be an ideal first innings score?
nah not yet but to me looks like a 500 wicket for sure inshAllah we will get there!!1

[cavin420]

waqas younis on the run out..i personally think shoaib butt gave his wicket away :P

[cavin420]

bhaji comes in to bowl and turns

[cavin420]

this will be intresting bhajji vs youni!!!

[The_Cricket_Devil]

and in comes bhajji

[cavin420]

this seems like a classic spinning wicket.....why do we always bluff our selves on the wickets duh!what bouncy wicket :O

[The_Cricket_Devil]

ball is certainly spinning here