What a joke of a match, it's like a schoolboy fixture, with some players retiring, and others batting twice!
I don't have a problem with it. It's all about giving players time out in the middle. The only thing I would say is, they should've played one 4 day game, as opposed to two 2 day games
I think that was done to give players more recovering time as temperatures are hitting 40C. A 4 day game straight off the bat may have caused more problems than it solved.
I think that was done to give players more recovering time as temperatures are hitting 40C. A 4 day game straight off the bat may have caused more problems than it solved.
That's the theory. In practice they could have squeezed a one day series and t20 into the four days
What a joke of a match, it's like a schoolboy fixture, with some players retiring, and others batting twice!
I don't have a problem with it. It's all about giving players time out in the middle. The only thing I would say is, they should've played one 4 day game, as opposed to two 2 day games
But two 2 day games with a complete lack of intensity, gives no time to acclimatise, there should have been at least 2 proper 3 - 4 day warm up games, ideally 3, considering the alien conditions.
That's the way these days even in the ashes the Aussies only played weakened Kent and Essex sides before first test.
Which kinda explains why they haven't won in England since 2001! And as we have the same scheduling problem, why we got stuffed 5-0 in 2 of the last 3 series in Australia
Let's put things into perspective. This "match" was just a glorified net, PE Lesson game to give everyone a go. As for the tour itself, well to play Pakistan in the UAE is just something that we have to do to complete our obligations to the ICC. No one wants to be there, no one is bothered. It just has to be done. Let's just wait until we play SA before we take things seriously again.
Let's put things into perspective. This "match" was just a glorified net, PE Lesson game to give everyone a go. As for the tour itself, well to play Pakistan in the UAE is just something that we have to do to complete our obligations to the ICC. No one wants to be there, no one is bothered. It just has to be done. Let's just wait until we play SA before we take things seriously again.
What a load of crap. We are playing Pakistan in a TEST match, representing England, of course it is important. It would be important if we played it on the Moon. Every time you represent your Country, you should be bothered.
I was looking at possibly going to Dubai during October half term , a while back , to watch one of the tests and looked at tickets from this mob and it wasn't the easiest site to navigate and the prices seemed lumpy and seemed as if you had to have a bit of corporate guff I was only gonna be going with 9 year old so wouldn't have been on the lash
Let's put things into perspective. This "match" was just a glorified net, PE Lesson game to give everyone a go. As for the tour itself, well to play Pakistan in the UAE is just something that we have to do to complete our obligations to the ICC. No one wants to be there, no one is bothered. It just has to be done. Let's just wait until we play SA before we take things seriously again.
What a load of crap. We are playing Pakistan in a TEST match, representing England, of course it is important. It would be important if we played it on the Moon. Every time you represent your Country, you should be bothered.
Yes, we need to be able to play in all conditions. One of favourite ever England wins was the one in the dark in Pakistan in 2000.
Good luck Mooen, playing No 8 against Australia, now expected to open, after 2 of these joke warm up matches
40+ degree heat. Pakistan unbeaten at home in Dubai since 2010. England without a world class spinner on an absolute dust bowl. I'd say Pakistan away in Dubai is probably the hardest test series in world cricket
40+ degree heat. Pakistan unbeaten at home in Dubai since 2010. England without a world class spinner on an absolute dust bowl. I'd say Pakistan away in Dubai is probably the hardest test series in world cricket
Pakistan originally selected a squad with just the two front line spinners so haven't got a replacement for Yasir Shah and couldn't get one in time due to visa issues.
Misbah Ul-Haq not happy with the selectors by all accounts.
Moeen bowling quickly and not giving anything away, Rashid flighting it and looking for the daft shot. Seamers toiling. Will be a long day unless England force a few errors.
Comments
I was only gonna be going with 9 year old so wouldn't have been on the lash
Good luck Mooen, playing No 8 against Australia, now expected to open, after 2 of these joke warm up matches
Cook
Ali
Root
Bell
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Rashid
Broad
Wood
Anderson
Yasir Shah missing with back injury.
Could be a long day in the field.
Misbah Ul-Haq not happy with the selectors by all accounts.
21-1 with Wood and Stokes now bowling with Anderson and Broad having had short spells in this heat of four and three overs respectively.
Rashid is going to have to buy his wickets but is at least turning the ball significantly at times.
But, there again, I wasn't listening to TMS ;-)
Fortunately, it looks like there is almost no-one there to see it.