Who should get the NEW BALL in the ODI series

[asifp]

I think it should be Rana and Mohd Asif as they have much better control of the new ball than Shoaib Akhtar.

I think Akhtar will be just as lethal with a 10 over old ball becuase of his speed. Pakistan did that in 2002 when Wasim and Waqar opened and Akhtar was first change, we ended up beating the Aussies on their home turf.

[Noman]

Well, You have a good point...

Rana is a very good new bowl bowler, but we need Shoaib Akhtar speed with Asif accuracy...

[sehsan]

I think it should be Rana and Mohd Asif as they have much better control of the new ball than Shoaib Akhtar.

I think Akhtar will be just as lethal with a 10 over old ball becuase of his speed. Pakistan did that in 2002 when Wasim and Waqar opened and Akhtar was first change, we ended up beating the Aussies on their home turf.

I think combination of asif and shoaib is really good. We can take Out shoaib after 8 overs and bring Rana from shoaib end

[Bilz]

Use Akhtar as a pressure bowler - use his pace to avoid runs and put pressure on the batsmen; then use Asif to take the wicket. After taking two-three wickets like this - change the pattern using Rana and Asif, and continue changing patterns.

[BAADSHAH]

I think it's amazing that we can do this....all 3 our main 3 pace bowlers could be and have been (i think) used as opening bowlers.

Surely the way forward must be looking good now!!!

[UJ]

I think Akhtar and Asif with Rana first change

Akhtar should get 4 overs in his opening spell and should be replaced with Rana

[Rob H]

I would go for the Champions trophy approach like in the match with India and give Rana and Asif the new ball. My first change would then be Shoaib to keep the pressure on with some hostile bowling if the new ball bowlers get wickets. It worked in the match i mentioned above, could work again.

[HAFRIDI]

im really happy with this trio, any one of them can take the new ball and the first change, whoever it is, would still bring something different into play.

[Mutazalzaluzzaman Tarar]

Shoaib doesn't (or at least didn't) like to come on first change...

[infamous9383]

Shoaib and Asif should take it but any two of the three fine. Dont think thatll be the biggest problem in the odis.

[asifp]

I think the problem is that , Rana and Asif become slightly less lethal with a 10 over old ball, while Shoaib is just as lethal.

[infamous9383]

I think the problem is that , Rana and Asif become slightly less lethal with a 10 over old ball, while Shoaib is just as lethal.


To some extince I agree, you cant replace pace.

[Gunner786]

i was thinking the same thing,
asif with an old ball isnt half as effective as new ball,
they should open with asif and rana and bring shoaib on as first change,
both have control and shoaib does often leak buckets of runs at the start therefore no pressure on openers

[iZeeshan]

Rana is more of an old ball bowler, he still gets swing. I would go with Shoaib and Asif without thinking first. Asif must start because of his accuracy. Then you take Shoaib out after 8-10 overs, so the ball really isn't that old, and then put in Rana, and bring Shoaib back in for a couple of more overs, then have him and Asif bowl 4 overs in the death.

[Gunner786]

somehow i feel shoaib and razzaq bowling in the middle overs is better than rana and razzaq as both are same pace

[infamous9383]

at the end it probably wont matter because england will be out in the first 10 0vers.

[Easa]

I'd open the bowling with Shoaib and Asif.

Shoaib doesn't like to bowl 1st change as mentioned above, and a out and out pace bowler/line and length seam bowler is a a very good combination.

[z10]

shoaib as first change done well in the champions trophy

however, since his 'reformation' he's been great opening the bowling

[Disco_Lemonade]

shoaib and asif shoul open the bowling... change shoaib after 3/4 over bring rana... and also 1st over shud be from asif and nott shoaib.

[MWH]

Tactics of course should be flexible, but my plan A when walking out to the ground would be for Akhtar and Asif to operate first up, with Rana brought in first change for Shoaib after he has bowled about 4 overs. Asif would most likely bowl around 7 overs in a long first spell, and that way Rana would get to bowl in tandem with him with the ball still new.

[Sultan Yusuf]

Opening combo should be Shoaib and Rana. Shoaib can maximise his pace with the hardness of the new ball and Rana can maximise his swing. Asif gets more movement off the pitch so he'll get movement at any time.

[cornelius]

everyone should get the new ball, coz we all know whats gonna happen if a pakistani fast bowler is seen bowling with an "old" ball....lol.....hopefully itll be shoaib and asif, with shoaib getting a short burst so he can up it with some chin music and also allowing rana to get some swing relatively earlier on.

[cornelius]

Opening combo should be Shoaib and Rana. Shoaib can maximise his pace with the hardness of the new ball and Rana can maximise his swing. Asif gets more movement off the pitch so he'll get movement at any time.

but asifs also harder to score off, so thatll help early on, also if the batsmen try to get after him, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, itll work in our favour. nahe?

[Gooner]

Use Akhtar as a pressure bowler - use his pace to avoid runs and put pressure on the batsmen; then use Asif to take the wicket. After taking two-three wickets like this - change the pattern using Rana and Asif, and continue changing patterns.
Can be hard to keep pressure with his pace, the faster he bowls the faster the ball will travel of the bat.

[Jonty]

Well this is a tough issue actually. Me and merc emailed bob woolmer with some good stats to back up why Shoaib should come in at 1st change. Bob woolmer replied saying that they are awesome stats and would take the idea into consideration, and he did in the next ODI against Bangladesh- i would even prefer it still. However, Shoaib himself did not like the idea as he believes he is the best and leading bowler - but Shoaib my brother, the best bowler doesn't need to open the bowling!

[Ilyas]

Asif and Shoaib are fine with the new ball, although Shoaib should be taken off after three overs and be used in two 3-Overs bursts and two 2-Overs bursts...

[feather]

Well this is a tough issue actually. Me and merc emailed bob woolmer with some good stats to back up why Shoaib should come in at 1st change. Bob woolmer replied saying that they are awesome stats and would take the idea into consideration, and he did in the next ODI against Bangladesh- i would even prefer it still. However, Shoaib himself did not like the idea as he believes he is the best and leading bowler - but Shoaib my brother, the best bowler doesn't need to open the bowling!

Okay I am not 100% sure on this but lol I think Sami bowled that 17 ball over in that match in which akhtar was first change :26:

[ali_ed2006]

Shoaib and Asif

[Jonty]

Okay I am not 100% sure on this but lol I think Sami bowled that 17 ball over in that match in which akhtar was first change :26:


sami is sami, shoaib coming in at first change is a different issue. I dont think thats what you mean, but yeah i think it was, im not sure.

[Amir]

Shoaib and Asif. They did fairly well in the Twenty20 and lets persist with them this series and see how it goes. People think Rana cannot swing the older ball but he can(just that he is more effective with the new ball. Than again, what three of these pacers is not?).

Its really pace or swing? I think Asif should definitely get the new ball just because he bowls a tight line and keeps the pressure building early. Similar to a role what McGrath does for Australia. In no way am I calling Asif McGrath, however they can have a similar role.

Pakistan already have so many explosive bowlers like Akthar, Rana and Afridi....we need a couple containers like Asif and Razzaq.

[Big Mac]

Rana and Asif. Swing/seam combo followed by the pace of Shoaib

[Pakistani tigers]

i think shoaib malik and mo. hafeez should open bowling....hahahaha!

[inzidabest]

Rana and Asif to open. Shoab in the middle will also make Razzaq look like a great bowler as people will try and attack Razzaq more and in turn he picks up more wickets

[asifp]

yeah i think Shoaib should be given like 3-4 oevr bursts , first bring around over 10-14 , then around over 30s and then the last 3-4.

[Gunner786]

what do you people think now then?
inzi aint gonna give shoaib enough wicket taking fields like today when a 3rd slip would have taken 2 catches off shoaib,
so he might aswell come in the middle overs and most likely batsmens shots will go to fielders in the deep,
rana cant bowl in middle overs and he should open the bowling

[infamous9383]

yeah i think Shoaib should be given like 3-4 oevr bursts , first bring around over 10-14 , then around over 30s and then the last 3-4.



IT sounds little complicated but could work.

[waqar_ahmad]

I think the problem is that , Rana and Asif become slightly less lethal with a 10 over old ball, while Shoaib is just as lethal.

yup. shpaib shouls come in as first change just like imran used waqar younis as the first change bowler.