Thursday, November 24, 2005
England v Pakistan 2nd Test
So England survived the sort of batting collapse nightmares are made of to earn a draw. A fair result given the balance of play in the previous 4 days, but day 5 witnessed England coming hazardously close to losing a match they might have won.
Individual Verdicts
Trescothick 6/10. No point in moaning about the lack of foot movement with Tresco as he's based his career on super gluing his soles inside the crease. Couldn't follow his heroics as skipper.
Strauss 3/10. Out cheaply in both innings. Played very tentatively and failed to get forward. Mind on other things.
Vaughan 4/10. Another batsman struggling to come to terms with the Pakistani condition. Feet routed to the crease in both short innings, although had the same problem at times against the Aussies. Questionable decision not to take the new ball on the 5th morning nearly cost England dearly.
Bell 8/10. Fantastic 115 in 1st innings constructed in patience run accumulating manner. This approach has paid dividends on the Pakistani pitches with 217 runs in 2 matches.
Pietersen 8/10. His big front foot placement proved a profitable technique. 100 and out in first innings, 42 steadied the English sinking cruiser liner in the 2nd.
Flintoff 8/10. Usually brings people to the seats, this time cleared the stands with his majestic ball to humble Afridi. Come to the fore with the bat with patience 50 to earn the draw from the jaws of defeat.
Jones 8/10. Flawless with the gloves, prominent with the bat. Good all round performance.
Giles 5/10. Struggled with injury. Looked devoid of ideas before taking 2 wickets in the 1st innings, none in the second. Finger spin not ideal on these pitches but perhaps an increase in pace may help in Lahore
Udal 6/10. Same as Giles without the injury. Scored 33 valuable tail ender runs
Hoggard 7/10. Another performance based on hard work and sticking to the task in hand on this fine pitch of rolled mud.
Harmison 8/10. Produced the shot of the match, reversing Afridi. Pick of England's attack with the ball.
Cricket England Pakistan
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Individual Verdicts
Trescothick 6/10. No point in moaning about the lack of foot movement with Tresco as he's based his career on super gluing his soles inside the crease. Couldn't follow his heroics as skipper.
Strauss 3/10. Out cheaply in both innings. Played very tentatively and failed to get forward. Mind on other things.
Vaughan 4/10. Another batsman struggling to come to terms with the Pakistani condition. Feet routed to the crease in both short innings, although had the same problem at times against the Aussies. Questionable decision not to take the new ball on the 5th morning nearly cost England dearly.
Bell 8/10. Fantastic 115 in 1st innings constructed in patience run accumulating manner. This approach has paid dividends on the Pakistani pitches with 217 runs in 2 matches.
Pietersen 8/10. His big front foot placement proved a profitable technique. 100 and out in first innings, 42 steadied the English sinking cruiser liner in the 2nd.
Flintoff 8/10. Usually brings people to the seats, this time cleared the stands with his majestic ball to humble Afridi. Come to the fore with the bat with patience 50 to earn the draw from the jaws of defeat.
Jones 8/10. Flawless with the gloves, prominent with the bat. Good all round performance.
Giles 5/10. Struggled with injury. Looked devoid of ideas before taking 2 wickets in the 1st innings, none in the second. Finger spin not ideal on these pitches but perhaps an increase in pace may help in Lahore
Udal 6/10. Same as Giles without the injury. Scored 33 valuable tail ender runs
Hoggard 7/10. Another performance based on hard work and sticking to the task in hand on this fine pitch of rolled mud.
Harmison 8/10. Produced the shot of the match, reversing Afridi. Pick of England's attack with the ball.
Cricket England Pakistan
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