Pakistan vs Australia-1st Test

[Gozu]

The two Test series in England starts tonight live on Fox with the pre-game show starting at 6:30pm. Tim Paine & Steve Smith are set to make their Test debuts.

[brod]

Teams

Pakistan 1 Imran Farhat, 2 Salman Butt, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Umar Amin, 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Kamran Akmal (wk), 8 Mohammad Aamer, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Danish Kaneria, 11 Mohammad Asif.

Australia 1 Shane Watson, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Michael Hussey, 6 Marcus North, 7 Tim Paine (wk), 8 Steven Smith, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Ben Hilfenhaus, 11 Doug Bollinger.

Pakistan win the toss and bowl

The match starts with a rain delay (surprise)

Australia 1/28 (9.4 overs)
SM Katich 9*
RT Ponting 9*
SR Watson 4 (bowled shouldering arms)
Mohammed Aamer 1/13

[brod]

LUNCH

Australia 1/36

[Media Park]

2/51 (17) Ponting out for 27

[Groover]

32 overs
2/118

Katich looks set and Clarke is playing them well, would be good to see us get passed 200 with these 2

[Groover]

Katich brings up 50 with a flash for 4 through gully

Aussies 2/142

[jackpot jim]

I was quite amazed as Australia raced to 2/170 odd considering how much movement the Pakistani bowlers were getting and then in the blink of the eye Aust lose 3 quick wickets.
Aust now 5/177
North bowled by Muhommad Asif for a DUCK.
Brilliant bowling as had North LBW 1st ball (hit pad b4 bat in front of middle 1/2 way up) but given the benefit of the doubt. 2nd ball was almost identical but this time was a thin edge and then into the pads. 3rd ball there was no doubt as North was comprehensively clean bowled by a perfectly pitched inswinger.

AHH, there's nothing better than watching a genuine contest between bat & ball as distinct to that bash & smash T20 rubbish.

[Gozu]

Australia 9/229 (1st Inns)

Katich 80
Clarke 47
Hussey 39*

Asif 3/53
Amir 3/66
Kaneria 2/49

Stumps-Day 1

[shoe boy]

I was quite amazed as Australia raced to 2/170 odd considering how much movement the Pakistani bowlers were getting and then in the blink of the eye Aust lose 3 quick wickets.
Aust now 5/177
North bowled by Muhommad Asif for a DUCK.
Brilliant bowling as had North LBW 1st ball (hit pad b4 bat in front of middle 1/2 way up) but given the benefit of the doubt. 2nd ball was almost identical but this time was a thin edge and then into the pads. 3rd ball there was no doubt as North was comprehensively clean bowled by a perfectly pitched inswinger.

AHH, there's nothing better than watching a genuine contest between bat & ball as distinct to that bash & smash T20 rubbish.

Could not agree more and loved every minute of the contest.

[MAY-Z]

I was quite amazed as Australia raced to 2/170 odd considering how much movement the Pakistani bowlers were getting and then in the blink of the eye Aust lose 3 quick wickets.
Aust now 5/177
North bowled by Muhommad Asif for a DUCK.
Brilliant bowling as had North LBW 1st ball (hit pad b4 bat in front of middle 1/2 way up) but given the benefit of the doubt. 2nd ball was almost identical but this time was a thin edge and then into the pads. 3rd ball there was no doubt as North was comprehensively clean bowled by a perfectly pitched inswinger.

AHH, there's nothing better than watching a genuine contest between bat & ball as distinct to that bash & smash T20 rubbish.

couldnt agree more - the only thing i would say is bring in the decsion review system properly - a couple of stone dead lbws not given, plus a couple of not out ones being givenwhich just isnt good enough,

[westcoastpanther]

32 overs
2/118

Katich looks set and Clarke is playing them well, would be good to see us get passed 200 with these 2

You don't do the commentary on the cricket australia site by any chance.....

[Rik E Boy]

A tough days Test Cricket. Great stuff and what a bizzare dismissal by Watson. Huge shout shouldering arms the ball before and he did the same thing again.

regards,

REB

[Dutchy]

FFS Katich, just when you country needs you to put up a big score, here we go again

[RoosterMarty]

Dutchy having a dig at the Kat after he top scores.. what a shock!

I suppose you are happy with Watto refusing to use that block of wood he carried out to the middle? I'd rather someone get to 80 and get out than get out not even playing a shot.

[westcoastpanther]

He top scores in bowling paradise where a batsmen was never set, getting a little tiring now Dutchy. Point the finger at those who failed....

[mal]

PREPERATION
AU a series of 20/20 and 50 over games for a Test Match, poor prep
PA probably working out stratergies on how to win on this match of Betfair

TOSS
PA win the toss and put the Aussies in
When will they learn
PA select 3 quicks and 2 spinners, it was only 1 test ago they sent the aussies in and lost ...
2 spinners late in the game would be handy

UMPIRES
Ruined the day AGAIN
CLARKE out to a ball sliding down the legside
Still he had batted a while and you gotta use the bat as a bat not a toothpick
NORTH the next 2 balls after Clarkes disMisAL
LBW 1st ball
Almost LBW 2nd ball
Asif got a Claytons hat trick !!!

SMITH
Umpires as I have posted many many many many many times can ruin careers
Chris Rogers got a shocker on debut in Perth and never got his career going
Steven Smith got a shocker as well
Push forward to a leg spinners wrong un that hits the bat first b4 the pad should not be given out LBW
I have done some part time umpiring in the Booney REB days and I even i know thats not out

BAT VRS BALL
Watching cricket played in these conditions was great
Ball was swinging and the batters had to earn thier runs

GAME
9/229 is not a big total, but the bowlers are defending the sMAL total against a team that regularly chokes
JOHNSON is the key, if he is getting text messages from Mummy wishing him good luck he might be the main man
HILF nd RUG are gunna thrive on the conditions if similar on day 2
WATTO must bowl longer spells this game, otherwise the licorice allsorts of SMTH and NORTH might burden us

[stan]

Fellas I think North might be in a bit of striff at the moment. Struggling a bit of late and young Usman Kwajha is lurking in the wings. Personally I like North, and Im always hoping he goes alright, but he just seems to be struggling at the minute.

[RoosterMarty]

He top scores in bowling paradise where a batsmen was never set, getting a little tiring now Dutchy. Point the finger at those who failed....

Not to mention the ball that got him was pretty decent!

North is done I reckon, time to bring in a new batsman NOW, we need to start to prepare for the Ashes and I don't think North is the man to help win them back.

[the joker]

was a very good toss to win, lets hope its still overcast tonight

[The Cadet]

He top scores in bowling paradise where a batsmen was never set, getting a little tiring now Dutchy. Point the finger at those who failed....

Not to mention the ball that got him was pretty decent!

North is done I reckon, time to bring in a new batsman NOW, we need to start to prepare for the Ashes and I don't think North is the man to help win them back.

If North fails the rest of the series, I would put Watson to 6, and bring in C.Rogers to open. Need to pick our best side against the Poms.