Monday, June 1, 2009

Warming up with the Warm-ups

Before tonight, India had never beaten New Zealand in a T20 game; while Pakistan had never beaten South Africa.

After tonight, that fact remains the same.

While the two favorites faced defeats in their ICC World Twenty20 warm-up games, the Aussies got past Bangladesh, and Ireland and Netherlands played a super over to settle a tie.

Take Aways from Day 1 of the Warm-Ups:
  1. Bangladesh cannot be taken lightly. Ask the Aussies.

  2. If teams don't get Shane Watson early, the Aussies will go on to score very high. Warner didn't play today but whether it is Watson-Warner ot Watson-Haddin, those will be one of the most explosive opening combos at the 20-20 world cup.

  3. Shakib Al Hasan will be one to watch out for.

  4. The minnows' matches will be more interesting than most people think. Amrit Mathur, I hope you're reading!

  5. Misbah can still manage to find the strangest ways to get out. And I thought he had run out of these weird ways.

  6. Pakistan need to include Fawad Alam in their middle order. Already!

  7. Mohammad Aamer needs to play instead of Tanvir or Rao.

  8. South Africa probably has the strongest batting line up in the competition.

  9. Ishant Sharma can take wickets in 20-20 cricket; he just take them for McCullum.

  10. In India's new colors, Rohit Sharma felt he was playing for the Deccan Chargers.

  11. Bhajji outplayed Ojha, even though Ojha looked better of the two.

  12. Batsmen should not look to hit Vettori out of the ground. Just play him for singles and twos.

  13. Styris can still play and Franklyn can hit them big!

  14. Don't take these too seriously, they're just warm-up games.

Make your pitch on this post...



Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


20 Pitched:

  1. Q said...
     

    Indophile: Morkel really blew away Gul, damn!

    Khurram Manzoor is not in the squad. Shahzain Hasan, a new guy is.

    Akmal can bat well.. just wait for him to fire.

  2. Q said...
     

    Khansahab: I cannot understand why they continue to keep Alam out of the team..

    I don't get it, what r they so insecure abt?

    Younis doesn't even have to drop any of the seniors, he can just drop Salman or Ahmed and get Alam in... it will only do them some good.

    Pathetic batting today.

    Tanvir and Rao also need to be replaced.. but I guess one of them will have to play.

    This was the best chance to blood Aamer as well..

  3. LiB said...
     

    Q,

    My sms to you already summed up my sentiments but ill repeat, Pakistan cannot lift the trophy if we have Butt, Shahzad and Younas in our top 4 batsmen! Today was the day to try out new combinations but the management or the captain whoever it is chickend out and played the tested and tried 11.

    and i have no idea what Fawad Alam has to do to get into the playing eleven! he has to be the most talented 12th man out in England at the moment!

    i know we should take into account that it was in the end a practice match but it still does not mean the team takes it non-seriously, that is exactly what the Pakistanis managed to do! it was like they were forced to wear the greens and play!

  4. Stani Army said...
     

    I was really impressed with Bangladesh.

    ...and may be you were right about the kiwis Q!

  5. Leg Break said...
     

    Franklin’s innings was pleasantly surprising.

    There’s never been any doubt he can hit big; just that he normally takes a while to get going. This has always held that side of his game back in 50 over cricket, so you’d think it would be even more pronounced in this stuff.

  6. Wasim said...
     

    The team management is following the same old blue print to lose matches. Tanvir is clearly out of form. As you said this was the perfect opportunity to blood him in, Salman Butt is also out of form even if he is in form he is not suitable for this format Fawad Alam needs to come in his place. I don't think it has any thing to do with insecurity it's about Younis Khan's policy to remain politically correct and not to drop any senior player.

    I would like to also believe that this was just a warm up match but Pakistan played a full strength side they should have shown some intent. T20 is a do or die type of game it's ridiculous to just take singles and block balls and play selfishly and don't even try to come close to the target.

    I also didn't like the way Younis Khan handled the bowlers, he should have opened with Umar Gul and he should have bowled Ajmal and Afridi in tandem to apply maximum pressure on the Saffers.

    Pakistan will have to bowl and field exceptionally well if they have to fancy their chances their batting is not that strong that they can chase high scores.

  7. Wasim said...
     

    Indian bowling gave away 170 runs in 20 overs against New zealand and except for Zaheer Khan all of their front line bowlers were playing. That's the weak point for them,their batting is great but that to has some soft spots, the Pathan bros are quite inconsistent. Any team which will get Sehwag and Gambhir early will have a good chance of winning against India.

    They are in a tough group Bangladesh showed today that they can cause quite a few headaches for SriLanka and India.

  8. Q said...
     

    LIB: Younis and Pakistan have to be more flexible in trying different combinations.

    The fact that they went into the match with what they thought was their best XI does not say much for their thinking.

  9. Q said...
     

    Stani: kiwis always do well in world cups.

    Deshis will surprise a few teams I think.

  10. Q said...
     

    LB: those hits of RP in the final over were massive! Haven't seen him in full flow before, so was a surprise for me too.

  11. Q said...
     

    Wasim: the difference in mind sets was obvious in the warm ups - Younis stuck to Rao and Tanvir for 6 overs, while Dhoni had used 6 bowlers in the first 6.

    You cant go in with a plan to use ur bowlers a certain way, u have to be more flexible.

    In Dubai, Misbah was captain for the t20 and when Tanvir and Shoaib got hit, he bought on Gul in the 5-6th over.. just because u go in thinking that Gul will bowl the 12th doesnt mean u can get him on before.

  12. Leg Break said...
     

    Q,

    not a surpries he hit like that; just a surprise he did it so early.

    In domesting 50 over stuff here he often comes in at 4 or 5 so he can faff around for a while to get himself in, before cutting loose at the end.

    Once in, he's every bit the hitter that Oram. Only less irritating.

  13. Q said...
     

    LB: yep saw the Oram in him in those 2 sixes. Maybe he should be batting higher than Oram and Styris..

  14. straight point said...
     

    Q...you have done what som does in two posts... :)

  15. khansahab said...
     

    Fawad Alam will probably be the best batsman Pakistan team NEVER had.

    Younis takes everything too lightly and he thinks experienced players can win him matches. What he doesn't realise is that the calibre of experienced players in the Pakistani side is not good enough to match international standards.

    Yesterday after Misbah ran himself out and Younis fell cheaply Malik should have shown some intent, but he played a lethargic knock and you could see his body language. He basically knows he has a permament place and will not be dropped, so he can bat however he likes and nothing will happen to him.

    It is this attitude which has been the bane of Pakistan cricket. There is too much politics and senior players run the team like mafia.

    I've said before the problem is batting and batting only. If the big three, Younis, Misbah and Malik can't show consistency they should be dropped.

    Younis should not have been the captain in T20 in the first place.

  16. Rayden said...
     

    Guys - its awesome that both India and Pakistan lost their warm up matches. Now I feel the one who loses on June 4th will go on to win the World Cup.

    This is because both these countries need a massive kick on their backsides to stop being overconfident and start playing well, concentrate harder etc etc. Dont know about you Pakistani fans, but I actually wanted India to lose the warm up games. We always perform better when we get trashed prior to any tournament.

  17. Q said...
     

    SP: hamesha do haath agay ;-)

  18. Q said...
     

    Khansahab: I agree with some your sentiments here.

    The middle order needs to stand up and be counted.

    I was just watching the re-run of the Pak vs Aus match from the 2007 20-20 WC and Malik and Misbah batted in that with so much authority.. and both looked so fresh.. wonder whats gotten into them now. Why do they look so jaded and tired?

    Our openers have always been a problem.. now the middle order is also struggling..

  19. Q said...
     

    Rayden: That is some thought.. in that case, I will be rooting for India tomorrow!

  20. Aerek sir said...
     

    Free Cricket Betting Tips
    free IPL betting tips
    Online Cricket Betting Tips free
    psl betting tips
    bbl betting tips
    Caribbean premier league 2021
    Indian premier league 2021

Post a Comment