Bad hairdo's and first day for pakistan (review day one)

Bad hairdo’s and first day for Pakistan (review 1st day)


Andrew Strauss won his first toss as a test captain of England and decided to bat first on a cloudy day. I doubt had Hoggard been completely fit, could have been different as plenty of movement and bounce was available to bowlers in the first session.

In the absence of Asif, Gul and Sami were supposed to fill shoes of their key strike bowlers, the field was set usual 7-2, and I saw a lean fellow, medium built on his way to deliver first delivery of the series, and as I looked closer my eyes widened “Sami” I muttered in my breath “real bad hair cut for a bowler making his comeback”. And he didn’t disappoint me, the usual let down when country needed him to really come good, and England got off to a flyer, other man making his comeback, Gul also started waywardly but he looked more dangerous of two getting away movement from seam for both left-handers, but was again culprit of keeping it a little short, Strauss and Trescothick never looked in trouble expect once when Strauss drove away from body to a full pitched delivery from Sami and edged flew off over third slip which was removed to short mid-off a delivery ago by Inzy,

England were taking rapid strides going at a brisk rate of around 6, both batsman playing some attractive strokes helped considerable by bowlers who sprayed it all over, Inzy soon had enough of Sami and introduced Razzak. Gul who atleast knew what he was doing got the first breakthrough, when tresco played loosly to another away going delivery from Gul.

Best thing about Razzak is he knows his limitation too well and keep it simple and straight, that made him look most impressive of all by a fair margin, and soon got his reward too strauss was adjudged Lbw on 27, 60 for 2 and "if Pakistan can get pieterson early they would have redemmed themselves" I thought. Imran dropped a simple one and cook got his first life, he become very vigilant but pieterson on the other hand carried the inning further in his trademark style, thumping cover drive to start with followed it with beautiful punch straight for another boundary, some how Pakistan failed to keep a tap on England scoring rate, pieterson wicket just before lunch must have eased the nerves for Pakistan with tresco and pieterson gone they had a young and less accomplish middle-order to take care of.

Second session completely belonged to England as Cook and Collingwood turn the tide and put England in command. Collingwood looked certainly impressive rotating strike at will and hitting some beautiful boundary’s in between he never let tempo to drop, Pakistan didn’t help matter for themselves by dropping some more catches farhat accounting for a total of 3, I was surprised to see Razzak not being introduced immediately as he looked the best bowler in morning, and by the time he was, both batsman were settled nicely, Razzak second spell was very disappointing proving once again that he requires some help from pitch and conditions otherwise can look very ordinary, his short pitched stuff was dealt with commendable ease and élan by both cook and Colly, as both grew closer to their half-centuries.

Danish again was left to wage lonely battle with breakthrough not coming from his counterparts you cant expect much from a wrist spinner on a cloudy first day in lord but he did applied break on England run rate, should have Cook caught behind but was turned down by Buckner, Afridi was also thrown in for 7 ordinary over. 242 for 3 at tea and game started slipping out of Pakistan hand.

Last sessions didn’t bring lots of run but no wicket either, both batsman hung on stoutly as scoring rate dipped first time in the entire day, but finished their well deserved 100. With day ending on 309 for 3, England sits comfortably and must be aiming to build massive first inning total as England would look to bat Pakistan out of game, cook and Collingwood must be praised for their splendid efforts notwithstanding those dropped chances as they really took England from a precarious position to a strong one.

Inzy will have lots on his mind, as he has to think something out of the box, his usual tactics of waiting for batsman to make mistake has yielded no result , once again they have let the opposition off the hook, with the bowling resources he has available he must be wondering who will provide him with breakthroughs which Pakistan desperately need early morning tomorrow.

If Sami can come good his hair-designer will breathe easy.


By fight_club

he forgot to mention rameez raja