Between India and Pakistan which team is ahead in the

"Worst Fielding Side" stakes.

I would say Pakistan. As bad as India's fielding is I don't think they are in the same league as Pakistan when it comes to catching.
On the flip side most Pakistan players at least look fit as opposed to the "living the good middle aged life" look of majority of the Indian players.

Mark Taylor make a comment a couple of days ago on how a poor fielding side can never stay at the top. Completely agree with him on that point.

Pakistan are the most mentally weak side in international cricket. They've got no idea how to stay patient and fight things out in a tough contest.

Pakistan dropped 7 catches in one innings at wellington

In total they must have dropped about 25 catches in the 5 test matches this winter

Henry wrote:Pakistan are the most mentally weak side in international cricket. They've got no idea how to stay patient and fight things out in a tough contest.

I think it is cultural. The times they seem to excel as a team is when they are all frenzied up and get stuck into things without thinking too far ahead.

PlanetPakistan wrote:Pakistan dropped 7 catches in one innings at wellington

In total they must have dropped about 25 catches in the 5 test matches this winter

I can remember at least 6 in this innings - not one that could be described as hard. 4 by Kamran Akmal, 2 by Kaneira.

On the plus side Misbah and Iqbal in the slips (where most catches usually go down) have actually seemed very sharp.

Josh Carney wrote:

Henry wrote:Pakistan are the most mentally weak side in international cricket. They've got no idea how to stay patient and fight things out in a tough contest.

I think it is cultural. The times they seem to excel as a team is when they are all frenzied up and get stuck into things without thinking too far ahead.

that's actually quite simple to explain. A lack of consistency arises because of limited cricket skills, consistency and adaptability. When they find the variables to their favor they can perform well.

Current pakistan cricket team:

1. Can't really perform on bouncy wickets. Except struggle out a few overs. This I say from watching their performance in SA.
2. they don't like movement. There is no Ian Bell in the Pakistan team who can read movement well and play even a boring middle-order innings.
3. lethargic fielding. Because most players are used to abrasive grounds at home where they do not dive.
4. lack of a serious domestic competition. It means that the batsmen are not honed enough to withstand the rigours of test cricket.
5. lack of scientific training and temperament imparted to players at a young stage.

Usually they have to travel abroad or outside their country to get exposed to current standards and I hear a lot of talk about them doing this or establishing some new centres in Pakistan itself, but as far as I know none has come through. Keeping these limitations in training and coaching in mind, all that the current and previous Pakistan teams could do was to be 'mercurial', if conditions favored them or were not too demanding on their skillset they used to soldier on and fight it out. But should it get too hot they used to quickly fold up and get skittled out for very humble figures.

I've said it before and i'll say it again- Pakistan will NEVER be the number 1 test side in the world. They'll always have their moments in ODI cricket and T20 cricket, but test cricket consistency will always be beyond them. Maybe Yousuf was right. Maybe they'll just stop caring about tests, and be happy to win the odd T20 tournament.

Sad.

buckSH wrote:1. Can't really perform on bouncy wickets. Except struggle out a few overs. This I say from watching their performance in SA.

When were they in SA?

Don't even bother, taips, just delete that last post and move on.

taipan wrote:

buckSH wrote:1. Can't really perform on bouncy wickets. Except struggle out a few overs. This I say from watching their performance in SA.

When were they in SA?

2007 or 08 tour of SA.

taipan wrote:

buckSH wrote:1. Can't really perform on bouncy wickets. Except struggle out a few overs. This I say from watching their performance in SA.

When were they in SA?

YK played for the sozzies last year ...maybe he saw some of that

Despite my allegiances I do feel sorry for Pakistan. This current team has the talent to put it across Australia as far as batting and bowling stakes go. In fact they are significantly superior in the bowling department.
Considering what is going on back in their country with the daily gory bombings and the decline into anarchy, this could have given something for the masses to cheer and perhaps even unite, putting aside some of their differences.

Pakistan's batting is a complete joke. And Yousuf is clearly not captaincy material. They have so many problems that it's hard to know where to begin. Umar Akmal and Mohammad Aamer are their only shining lights, but what does it matter when they can't even win from the position they were in at Sydney? Let's not forget that rain saved them from being beaten at the last minute by New Zealand as well.

Josh Carney wrote:
Considering what is going on back in their country with the daily gory bombings and the decline into anarchy, this could have given something for the masses to cheer and perhaps even unite, putting aside some of their differences.

It has. They are making the effigies and building the bonfires even as we talk.

LOL

Oh yes they are probably more used to uniting under those circumstanes.

Test cricket in Pakistan won't die if they keep producing players of the talent of Umar Akmal and Mohammad Aamer. With the right leadership and direction they would be a very potent team.

Twas ever so - they have always been a mix of talent and combustability - one series they disintegrate, the next they all combine to produce an unexpected fightback.

The fielding isn't a cultural thing at all - its due to a lack of practice and application, and not setting high standards in all they do. Pakistan has produced some super fielders in the past.

Gary 111 wrote:On the plus side Misbah and Iqbal in the slips (where most catches usually go down) have actually seemed very sharp.

Aye Gary. Misbah and Faisal were excellent in the slips in this Test. Unfortch, poor ol' Kamran's misadventures cost the Paksters big time.

skully wrote:

Gary 111 wrote:On the plus side Misbah and Iqbal in the slips (where most catches usually go down) have actually seemed very sharp.

Aye Gary. Misbah and Faisal were excellent in the slips in this Test. Unfortch, poor ol' Kamran's misadventures cost the Paksters big time.

Misbah and Faisal can't bat or bowl but they can catch..

Rest are alright at either batting or bowling but can't catch.

None of them can lead the team though.

We played a tour match once where one of the lesser talented cricketers dropped five in an over - all out at deep midwicket. The rest of us were trying so hard not to laugh.

Where did ya dig that one out of Vilkrang?

Batman wrote:Where did ya dig that one out of Vilkrang?

Stumbled across it whilst looking at awesome catches on youtube today.