What Changes Would You make to the Starting XI for the 2nd test?

[Saj]

After a draw at Lords, Pakistan despite the injury sitaution can be more than satisfied with the result. However some individual performances were indeed below par.

Should the Pakistani think tank give the boys a second chance or should we be proactive and make some changes to the lineup?

In this poll you are permitted to vote for more than one option.

[offcutter]

None except for Younis in for Faisal Iqbal
We need to persist with these players, changing them for other players of the same calibre will be like pressing the reset button.

[GamBiTT]

If Taufeeq Umar shows really prominent form with the bat and the ability to play the NEW ball well, I would consider bringing him in for Salman Butt or Imran Farhat. Both Butt (technique) and Farhat (mental lapses) appear right now to be gift wickets for the opposition.

Younis Khan should certainly be part of the playing XI. Could be even tried as an opener, but he has been in such an amazing form at the #3 position, that I would sincerely hesitate much before trying him as an opener.

Samiullah Niazi, Shahid Nazir, and Iftikhar Rao should all feature in the 3-day match to gauge if any of them can provide a better bowling option than Sami. I recognize that Sami has been nothing but useless at most times; however, replacing him with one even worse and inexperienced is not going to pay any dividends.

My XI for Test:

1 Farhat/Butt/Taufeeq (Let us stick with openers here)
2 Farhat/Butt/Taufeeq (Let us stick with openers here)
3 Younis
4 Moyo
5 Inzi
6 Razzaq (Batting at 6, 7, or 8 depending upon the situation)
7 Afridi (Batting at 6, 7, or 8 depending upon the situation)
8 Akmal (Batting at 6, 7, or 8 depending upon the situation)
9 Sami/Niazi/Nazir
10 Umar Gul
11 Danish Kaneria

* Obviously if any amongst our stalwarts (Asif/Akhtar) become miraculously available I would replace first Sami then Gul without any hesitation.

[Raz]

Only to bring in Younis Khan in for Faisal Iqbal, apart from that the rest of the team should remain the same.

[ammarz]

i think this poll should have been delayed for a few days till after the game against the northants, coz it would give an indication of how the new guys are doing. we havent seen samiullah niazi atall. so cant really comment on it or for that matter how taufeeq umar plays. perhaps sami would rediscover his pace. so i dunno....
do know that younis will be playing for faisal iqbal though

[Abdul Qadir 236]

my option of nazir for razzaq wasnt there! oh well!

[Hash]

Younis Khan for Faisal Iqbal

Anyone (even me) for Mohammed Sami

[Has]

A lot depends on what happens in the practice game, if Taufeeq Umer scores heavilly and Butt doesnt then they will be swaped.

If one of Shahid Nazir, Samiullah Khan or Rao Ifthikar excel then they could replace Sami.

A lot depends on what happens in the warm up game, but Younis Khan should replace Iqbal.

[sneekysneeky]

bring in YK for Faisal and Shahid Nazir for Sami...

[Schiller]

if we have to play with 10 people to kick sami out, id do that

[iZeeshan]

YK for Faisal is harsh, especially when Butt and Farhat have performed so badly. But it is necessary.

[sehsan]

If Taufeeq Umar shows really prominent form with the bat and the ability to play the NEW ball well, I would consider bringing him in for Salman Butt or Imran Farhat. Both Butt (technique) and Farhat (mental lapses) appear right now to be gift wickets for the opposition.

Younis Khan should certainly be part of the playing XI. Could be even tried as an opener, but he has been in such an amazing form at the #3 position, that I would sincerely hesitate much before trying him as an opener.

Samiullah Niazi, Shahid Nazir, and Iftikhar Rao should all feature in the 3-day match to gauge if any of them can provide a better bowling option than Sami. I recognize that Sami has been nothing but useless at most times; however, replacing him with one even worse and inexperienced is not going to pay any dividends.

My XI for Test:

1 Farhat/Butt/Taufeeq (Let us stick with openers here)
2 Farhat/Butt/Taufeeq (Let us stick with openers here)
3 Younis
4 Moyo
5 Inzi
6 Razzaq (Batting at 6, 7, or 8 depending upon the situation)
7 Afridi (Batting at 6, 7, or 8 depending upon the situation)
8 Akmal (Batting at 6, 7, or 8 depending upon the situation)
9 Sami/Niazi/Nazir
10 Umar Gul
11 Danish Kaneria

* Obviously if any amongst our stalwarts (Asif/Akhtar) become miraculously available I would replace first Sami then Gul without any hesitation.

I would love give to give another to chance to opners but i think for the sake of keeping faisal in team, i will temp to open with razzaq in place of farath or butt and will keep faisal at 6. i will also drop sami and will bring NAZIR. Younis would come back to his postion at 3.
If we would have our FULL bowling option, i would have dropped afridi or razzaq depending on wicket

[infamous9383]

salman butt out Taufeeq Umar in

iqbal out younis in

sami out samiullah in

[Invictus]

It depends on how Taufeeq does in the side match. If he scores or shows any signs of return to form I'll have him in for Butt. I'll change Nazir for Sami. Sami was basically trying to ball outswing at the mid eighties range through out the match. Nazir can do that quite well at that pace. Thats what he does.

[b0wld]

how abt getting both the pathetic openers out & starting with taufeeq umar & faisal iqbal as openers..faisal is patient most of the time & he can see the new ball thru...whereas taufeeq is really good on bouncy surfaces (old trafford pitch is like the ones in SA)

also sami out & shahid nazir in... should persist with gul as he has variation & the surface of manchester willl help him if he bowls in the right channels

p.s. i heard shoaibi & asif r gonna be bac for the 3rd test...any confirmation on that

[Easa]

Younis Khan has to come in for Faisal Iqbal.

[IMMY69]

my changes would be as follows:-

taufeeq umar for imran farhat - reason being is that imran farhat is far too laden footed and although he has scored a couple of 50's in recent times he is just not test class material...he goes for wild drives outside the offstump (playes and misses them more often then not) and is extremely loose arnd the point and gully region...i think england will have picked up on this and will plan accordingly for him...salman butt, as far as i am concerned, is a far better prospect...in the first innings he looked fine until he played a loose shot and in the second innings i think he was a trifle unlucky in that he didnt pick up the line early enough...the ball jujst pitched on leg stump line and was just about hitting the outside of legstump (according to haweye)...farhat also loses big points for the way he dropped those catches at second slip...and finally butt, when he does get a start, tends not to throw it away like farhat does...

younis khan for fasil iqbal - enough said on this..poor faisal looked so much out of his depth in the second innings...he played and missed on countless occassions, nicked on but no one appealed, and played probably the most disgusting shot to a good length ball outside his offstump...

[Afridi_Fan]

Just tell me who the guy is who posted that afridi for YK...man are you nuts Afridi was one of the factors why England didnt declared earlier at Lords and the pitch at OT will favour the spinners [heard alot about that] so how on the eart can you take the beast out of the side.doesnt makes any sense to me though

[Zain]

I think its time butt was side lined and some one else given a chance to shine, taufeeq has been in rich form in the domestic fixtures back home, and maybe he can work on his technique or make improvements and then maybe make a return. We cant keep giveing our first wicket away so cheaply and easily every time.

[Nauman]

Surely its time to give Nazir one chance.

[iZeeshan]

Nauman, Sami didn't do terrible. It's not his fault that he couldn't take his own catches and umpire for his own deliveries. And on that fast pitch at OT, Sami should definetely be playing. Inzi will realize he made a mistake and make Sami bowl fast.

I hate being a Sami fan, but only a couple of us realize what he went through.

[Abdul Qadir 236]

im starting to think yasir arafat must play. he has pace, abrasive surface will suit him, he is in good form and his batting is good.

[iZeeshan]

I don't think PCB can afford him...

(in terms of contract, and plane ticket)

[tradecars]

None except for Younis in for Faisal Iqbal
We need to persist with these players, changing them for other players of the same calibre will be like pressing the reset button.

your an utter nutter cutter if you think pakistan should stick with the same players .
faisal should stay and probably partner taufeeq as the openers and younis back at 3.people keep saying faisal cant play the new ball he made 48 the other day while butt and farhat should now be known as beavis and butt head failed yet again.
even today against crapy bowlers they made 4 apeice its a joke!!!!!!

get rid of butt and farhat !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Amjid Javed]

Younis Khan for Faisal Iqbal

Anyone (even me) for Mohammed Sami

:P good choice!

[Amjid Javed]

Taufeeq for butt
Y khan for afridi
S nazir or samiullah for sami

[Hash]

Taufeeq for butt
Y khan for afridi
S nazir or samiullah for sami

I think we need continuity in our top order. Our openers should be told that they will open in every game for this series. Then they can play without pressure. Butt and Farhat need to be given more than 1 test.....that is for sure.

[iZeeshan]

I reallly do like Hash's idea, but I really wanna see Taufiq play now after his sublime 28 :P

I would also like to Samiullah be taken ahead of NAZIR, if Sami will be replaced. The young guy got 2 wickets and deserves to play.

[Has]

Taufeeq Umer had a great chance today, both Butt and Farhat failed against an average bowling line up, all Toffee had to do was to hang around and pick up a big score, but it seems he tried to play at an unneccasraly fast rate and got out, blew your chance mate.

[pak4life]

many of the newspapers have been impressed with niazi of what they saw of him at northampton. him bieng left handed also gives us extra dimension.
i would only make two changed niazi for sami and younis for faisal. give the openers one last chance

[Nawazb]

3 changes i feel are required taufeeq umar in for salman butt, younis khan in for faisal iqbal and samiullah niazi in for mohammad sami.

[IMMY69]

one thing bob woolmer has showed over his tenure as pakistan coach and that is once players have been selected he shows faith and continuity...so there is a strong possibility that the team will remain unchanged...

[Abdul Qadir 236]

only time openers were stable was when his fave malik was in there!

[iZeeshan]

IMMY you have the idea, but YK will come in for sure, because FI was just a replacement. Other then taht the team WILL stay the same, because Bob said hes persisting with Farhat and Butt. Though after Niazi's performance, I'd like to see the guy play.

[offcutter]

1st Choice Starting XI

Butt
Farhat
Younis
Yousuf
Inzamam
Akmal
Afridi
Razzaq
Mustaq
Gul
Kanaria

Altnerative XI

Taufeeq
Afridi
Younis
Yousuf
Inzamam
Akmal
Razzaq
Mustaq
Rao/Sami/Samiullah
Gul
Kanaria

[iZeeshan]

I think what you mean is what your choice is, and what will actually happen :P

[sehban]

Taufeeq
faisal
younis
moyo
inzy
afridi
akmal
razzaq
mushtaq
kaneria
gul

i also hope pak picks yasir arafat as the guy has both pace & swing & is better than both sami & gul

[Hash]

By the way, why is everyone discounting Yasir Arafat?

Has he even been mentioned?

He has been bowling very well for Sussex as Rana's replacement. Got five wickets again against Middlesex. He is pretty quick as well and would also improve our tail (he is a better batsman than Sami.....come to think of it he is a better bowler as well).

[Easa]

Exactly.

Arafat should be given a chance, he's playing really well for Sussex.

[Abdul Qadir 236]

By the way, why is everyone discounting Yasir Arafat?

Has he even been mentioned?

He has been bowling very well for Sussex as Rana's replacement. Got five wickets again against Middlesex. He is pretty quick as well and would also improve our tail (he is a better batsman than Sami.....come to think of it he is a better bowler as well).

did u not see my posts then?

[Hash]

obviously not Gary!

[Officer Barbrady]

Taufeeq, YK and Nazir.

[PlanetPakistan]

Samina and Salma are under tremendous pressure! I hope Salma scores a 100 tomorrow!

[Has]

Because of Taufeeq Umers falire to make a big score, Butt and Farhat should keep their places.

[Nauman]

As I voted in the poll earlier only two changes needed
Nazir for Sami
Younis for Iqbal

[Hash]

:))) So much for Taufeeq

[iZeeshan]

LOL yea, after today Salman and Imran will stay for sure. Thus, here is my team for the 2nd test:

Imran Farhat
Salman Butt
Younis Khan
Mohammad Yousuf
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Kamran Akmal
Shahid Afridi
Abdul Razzaq
Umar Gul
Mohammad Sami
Danish Kaneria

None of the 3 bowers had a spectacular performance so I am decidiing to keep Sami. If not Sami, then Samiullah for sure. He might be soemthing special.

[Easa]

:))) So much for Taufeeq

:))) Exactly!

He gets so much hype on PP and makes about 30 odd runs against Northhamptonshire.

[Abdul Qadir 236]

Well usual knee jerk reactions.

Taufeeq is the answer!

[deviously~fading~away]

The fans need to realize that it is the talent that counts! Bob & Inzi see talent in both Butt & Farhat and hence have kept faith in them countless times!

[INZItheman]

:))) Exactly!

He gets so much hype on PP and makes about 30 odd runs against Northhamptonshire.

The two so called openers get so much hype when they score nothing and drop catches. :)) :))

[deviously~fading~away]

The two so called openers get so much hype when they score nothing and drop catches. :)) :))

The openers never got hyped up :13: But Taufeeq Umar and Hype up is a whole new chapter!

[Abdul Qadir 236]

Taufeeq gets the credit he deserves from likes of me, GA, WIY and nawaz!!
im amazed others cant see it.

[iZeeshan]

AY! Salman Butt got a very lazy catch (but almost dropped) off Collingwood. Mr.Butt doesn't do drop catches.

[Usman Chadda]

Taufeeq gets the credit he deserves from likes of me, GA, WIY and nawaz!!
im amazed others cant see it.

:9:

[waqar_ahmad]

YK for Faisal Iqbal,, Taufeeq Umar for BUtt.

[Slugger]

yk for sami

[Hash]

yk for sami

your only change?

So who would be our bowlers?

[deviously~fading~away]

yk for sami

Wouldn't that make the bowling a bit tooo weak? Atleast Sami might give you a spell where he would pick up a wicket or 2. :))) Ah that sentence actually had me laughing while i typed it! Sami & Wickets.... :)))

[Hash]

Wouldn't that make the bowling a bit tooo weak? Atleast Sami might give you a spell where he would pick up a wicket or 2. :))) Ah that sentence actually had me laughing while i typed it! Sami & Wickets.... :)))

:)))

Who knows? He might prove us all wrong one day! (when pigs fly)

[Easa]

yk for sami

:20:

[James]

Salman out, Younis in

Afridi promoted to open with Farhat, Younis at no.3 with Faisal in the middle order.

[sehsan]

Salman out, Younis in

Afridi promoted to open with Farhat, Younis at no.3 with Faisal in the middle order.

thats definetly not going to happen

[PlanetPakistan]

If A Razzaq is fit then i'll bring Y Khan in for F Iqbal but if AR is unfit then i'll play the following 11

1- Butt
2- Farhat
3- Younis
4- Yousuf
5- Inzi
6- Iqbal
7- Kamran
8- S Nazir
9- M Sami
10- U Gul
11- Kaneria

[Easa]

You'd play Iqbal ahead of Afridi? :))) :))) :)))

[deviously~fading~away]

If A Razzaq is fit then i'll bring Y Khan in for F Iqbal but if AR is unfit then i'll play the following 11

1- Butt
2- Farhat
3- Younis
4- Yousuf
5- Inzi
6- Iqbal
7- Kamran
8- S Nazir
9- M Sami
10- U Gul
11- Kaneria

No "The Beast"? His bowling brought us back into the match on day 4 with Danish. And 17 off 20 with an injured right thumb was not a bad effort. And don't even can me started on the "Afridi Factor" which forced Strauss not to declare early!

[PlanetPakistan]

I know "the beast" can be a factor but we already have a long tail and can't afford an iffy #6!

[Easa]

I know "the beast" can be a factor but we already have a long tail and can't afford an iffy #6!

10 matches, 813 runs, @ 47.82.

10 matches, 25 wickets, @ 31.52

That is all I have to say. To not play Afridi would be injustice.

[PlanetPakistan]

10 matches, 813 runs, @ 47.82.

10 matches, 25 wickets, @ 31.52

That is all I have to say. To not play Afridi would be injustice.

Yaar we can't always go by averages!

[Easa]

Yaar we can't always go by averages!

Yaar, that makes no sense.

On average, Afridi makes more runs than Iqbal which means more runs for Pakistan. On average, Afridi takes more wickets than Faisal which beneifits Pakistan.

Don't know what you're on about.

[Slugger]

:20:

think about it

bowling we have gul, danish, razzaq, afridi and farhat

mohd sami was irrelevant as a bowler...taking him out would only have the difference of younis does

Mohammad Sami 6 1 23 0 3.83
Mohammad Sami 28 4 116 1 4.14 (3nb, 1w)

[Slugger]

Yaar, that makes no sense.

On average, Afridi makes more runs than Iqbal which means more runs for Pakistan. On average, Afridi takes more wickets than Faisal which beneifits Pakistan.

Don't know what you're on about.

afridi is hit or miss

[inzidabest]

Younis in and Afridi out
Nazir in and Razzaq out

Test cricket is a specialists game.

team should be

Butt , Farhat , Younis , Yousuf , Inzamam , Faisal , Akmal , Nazir , Sami , Gul , Kaneria

[deviously~fading~away]

Younis in and Afridi out
Nazir in and Razzaq out

Test cricket is a specialists game.

team should be

Butt , Farhat , Younis , Yousuf , Inzamam , Faisal , Akmal , Nazir , Sami , Gul , Kaneria

Thanks God you aren't the coach! :D

[IMMY69]

Younis in and Afridi out
Nazir in and Razzaq out

Test cricket is a specialists game.

team should be

Butt , Farhat , Younis , Yousuf , Inzamam , Faisal , Akmal , Nazir , Sami , Gul , Kaneria

dear oh dear oh dear....

[inzidabest]

Thanks God you aren't the coach! :D

Well pick up any great team and you will see the same combinaton.
6 batsman , 1 wicket keeper and 4 bowlers.

Only england can afford 5 batsmen , 1 al rounder , 1 wk , 4 bowlers..
because the all rounder is flintoff.

Pakistan on the other hand...5 batsmen....dnt know if 2 openers are worth calling batsmen...

1 wk..


2 average all rounders - Afridi and Razzaq
3 bowlers..

3 wickets down and Pakistan are under pressure with last batting pair on the crease.

[PlanetPakistan]

Yaar, that makes no sense.

On average, Afridi makes more runs than Iqbal which means more runs for Pakistan. On average, Afridi takes more wickets than Faisal which beneifits Pakistan.

Don't know what you're on about.

So let me ask you a simple question

If Rana was fit for the 1st test match would you have played M Sami ahead of Rana just because Sam has a better test average?

[Easa]

So let me ask you a simple question

If Rana was fit for the 1st test match would you have played M Sami ahead of Rana just because Sam has a better test average?

No, because he had a spectacular season for Sussex. I'd play Rana of course.

[Abdul Qadir 236]

Younis in and Afridi out
Nazir in and Razzaq out

Test cricket is a specialists game.

team should be

Butt , Farhat , Younis , Yousuf , Inzamam , Faisal , Akmal , Nazir , Sami , Gul , Kaneria

unfair criticism of this post.
he is making a very valid point and one that needs to be made and not ridiculed by immature posters.

i would say as i did elsewhere test cricket is a game for specialists and genuine all round talents.

[Has]

1. Salman Butt
2. Imran Farhat
3. Younis Khan
4. Mohammed Yousuf
5. Inzamam Ul Haq
6. Kamran Akmal
7. Abdul Razzaq
8. Yasir Arafat
9. Mohammed Sami/ Shahid Nazir/ Samiullah Niazi
10. Umar Gul
11. Danish Kaneria

[IMMY69]

unfair criticism of this post.
he is making a very valid point and one that needs to be made and not ridiculed by immature posters.

i would say as i did elsewhere test cricket is a game for specialists and genuine all round talents.

you are right...sorry..ok lets reply to this post in a mature fasion.

fact one: we are unbeaten in test matches since aussies series of 2004/2005...thats 5 series where we have won three of them and drawn two...and both the drawn series were away and in both series we were below full strength...e.g. in india we didnt have shoiab and quiet a few were still calling younis khan 'useless' khan..in windies it was only two test matches..we lost the first one without yousuf youhana, inzy and shooaib in the side and drew the second one after inzy came back into the team...if only there was a third game then we may have even won that series...still 3 wins at 2 draws isnt bad at all and i think most supporters would accept it..

fact two: during all these series where we have remained unbeaten we have had razaq, afridi playing in pretty much every game...even sami has been in the test side for three of the series...having only missed the sri lanka series and windies series....

so it would appear that our so called bits and pieces cricketers have managed to pull their weight quiet adequately...

and your reply is....

[PlanetPakistan]

No, because he had a spectacular season for Sussex. I'd play Rana of course.

M Sami had a spectacular season in PAK domestic cricket!

[Easa]

M Sami had a spectacular season in PAK domestic cricket!

Not as good as Rana's!

Sami had similar stats compared to Wasim Khan and others. Should they also be drafted into the Pak team?

[James]

Not as good as Rana's!

Sami had similar stats compared to Wasim Khan and others. Should they also be drafted into the Pak team?

I would support this gesture.

[PlanetPakistan]

Not as good as Rana's!

Sami had similar stats compared to Wasim Khan and others. Should they also be drafted into the Pak team?

1- M Sami picked 26 wickets at an average of 15, so Rana's stats are not that much better!
2- No, Wasim Khan should not be picked and that's my point you just can't close your eyes and pick guys on "averages".

[PlanetPakistan]

Even Umer Gul has a far far better test average than Rana but we all know who has a better chance of doing well in ENG.