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

[Easa]

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

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]

may battle commence.

[yk]

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

[z10]

what the hell is on dravids head?

[HAFRIDI]

Originally Posted by z10 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]

Originally Posted by chalu May the best team win and hope the best team over 5 day would be India.

Originally Posted by Hash 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]

Originally Posted by chalu 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]

Originally Posted by kashmiri pakistan 380 for 2 day 1 end

wow they havent even won the toss yet and already this 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 95am local time, it's way too late.
they should start at 9:00

[HAFRIDI]

whos gonna watch the game?

[sneekysneeky]

Originally Posted by HAFRIDI 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.

[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

[pacman]

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

Sehwag
Ganguly
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

[inzidabest]

Originally Posted by Shayan_Sohail 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]

Originally Posted by badxhah 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]

Originally Posted by octavian 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

[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]

Originally Posted by mooz Ground looks empty, we should stop hosting all these games in Lahore.

its a work day in lahore, what do u expect

[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]

Originally Posted by octavian its a work day in lahore, what do u expect

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

[The_Cricket_Devil]

Originally Posted by mooz 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