Pakistan had a field day at the SCG. You can check out the scores at http://www.cricinfo.com/ - I thought the day's play showed why Pakistan is a dangerously weird side:
1. Mohammed Asif bowled an awesome spell to take a 6-for. He has now taken 79 wickets in 15.5 tests at an average below 23. He never ever bowls about 132 km/h , yet is consistent and menacing. And of course, he has come back from a drug possession ban !!!!
2. Mohammed Sami, on the other hand, is an enigma. He is quick, can swing it and is very fit. Yet, in a career spanning 33 tests, his bowling average is above 50. He played in last test against India in 2007 and was surprisingly called back for this Aussie series. He even flirted with the ICL in the interim. As he showed today, he can be a handful with pace, bounce and movement. He is a decent No.8/9 bat too.
3. Their catching was awful in the Boxing Day test- prompting the commentators to even say that their catching in this test could be the difference ultimately. Today, be it Misbah or Faisal Iqbal in the slips or even Kamran behind the stumps, the catching was really good.
And Mr. Ricky Ponting got out for a duck..first ball to a bouncer. The second or third time this summer. Kenmar Roach from the Windies had given him a harrowing time with short balls. And now Sami gave him a first-baller. None of the esteemed Channel-9 team were talking about this. Had it been Sachin or VVS or Saurav, they would have all been up saying weakness against short ball etc etc. Ricky getting out to the short ball only proves what Sunny Gavaskar has been saying all the while- that all batsmen are vulnerable against good short-pitched bowling !
Pakistan find themselves in great position to force the game at the end of Day 1 at the SCG. Its damn tough to decide who to support (or not support) in a Pak-Aus series. That in itself is saying a lot about the Aussies !:)
All data source: www.cricinfo.com
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