Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi, 18-22 October, 2011

Whatever it is, shameful flip flop. And not for the first time either. Looks like he might play tests again.

Defensive captaincy again from Misbah. Not bringing in the field during last 2 balls of the over even after SL is being put on rack.

Good to see SL fighting back. Need to score at least 300 in their first dig to have even remote sense of relief.

Aye, letting Mathews get easy runs. He's doing much better than I thought, though.

Looking at the might of SL, Eng to win their first series in SL in a decade?

Mathews needs to go up the order. Bat him at five, above Dilshan.

SG wrote:Looking at the might of SL, Eng to win their first series in SL in a decade?

It's actually a tough call. They ended up looking quite resolute at home and the pitches will have no life. Our bowling attack usually find a way to take 20 wickets, regardless of the pitch, though. Therefore I'm hoping for a series win by at least 1, more likely 2.

197ao. Mathews red-inked it again... he's already getting a rep for that.

Junaid got 5. What is it with Pak and left-armers? Nuts!

Pak 27/0 in reply.

So Lanka continue their post-Chuck underperformance. Looks a bit like Australia's post-TGM efforts.

But well done to the Wackies.

Henry wrote:What's the bet it's a 600 plays 550 game.

And will the ICC pitch inspectors get all hot under the collar??????

Don't f*cking bet on it.

Henry wrote:Looks like being a batting paradise. *Yawn*

SG wrote:....

Cook will surely top 400 in an innings if this pitch is anything to go by.

SG wrote:And what a defensive captain Misbah is? Inviting SL to bat on a pitch as dead as dodo even when he has Ajmal in his side. And then bringing on Hafeez to bowl as early as 7th over of the test match?

Good calls there. ...

Brass Monkey wrote:I heard he's fast-medium. Nice. One would expect that Pak would have the better bowling line-up and SL to have the better batting line-up. I'm hoping it's on Eurosport. And nice to see you PP.

Thanks BM!
it has been a VERY strange few months for me hence the ABSENCE from fb

Cheema has a bit of pace which really disrupted SL's BEST batsmen

Junaid's balls to the 2 Jayawerdenas were class

Aye, must be strange for you to not be here. Your boys are 109/0. Sailing. Look like a side on the up. Shame Misbah is captain - heard he was totally defensive yesterday.

PlanetPakistan wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:I heard he's fast-medium. Nice. One would expect that Pak would have the better bowling line-up and SL to have the better batting line-up. I'm hoping it's on Eurosport. And nice to see you PP.

Thanks BM!
it has been a VERY strange few months for me hence the ABSENCE from fb

It doesn't get stranger than this place.

Funereal pace from the Pakistanis.

Red wrote:Funereal pace from the Pakistanis.

Have they named their team yet?

Although they crabbed the entire afternoon and evening Pak are in a good position.

Taufeeq Umar should have been out late in the day, but not given, and no DRS...

Aye, talk about cheapskates (in regards to the DRS). I mean, yeah, 2 Gs may be more to them than Sky, but still......

As for the match situation, ridiculous to think they wouldn't let caution get in the way - why get out on a slowlow pitch playing expansively when you have a full 3 days left after today? Bit silly, IMO, to think otherwise.......

Should have got the UAE to fund it then, they can surely afford it!

They can crab it for a good few more hours too, plenty of time remaining. It sure as hell ain't gonna rain there.

Aye, that's it. May as well use the pitch whilst it's not ragging.

As for the DRS, surely the ICC can afford it!

PlanetPakistan wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:I heard he's fast-medium. Nice. One would expect that Pak would have the better bowling line-up and SL to have the better batting line-up. I'm hoping it's on Eurosport. And nice to see you PP.

Thanks BM!
it has been a VERY strange few months for me hence the ABSENCE from fb

Good to have you back

Your boys are doing good, PP. Welcome back, my friend.

NOW it's getting silly. Taufeeq 410 balls for 166!!! Crazy.

Ended with 236 off 496.

All that crabbing put Pakistan in a good position, SL 11/1 with 2 + a bit days to go.

Aye, not bad in the end. Not sure Asad Shafiq should've been facing 94 balls for 20-odd, but it doesn't really matter when the opposition opener goes for a golden.