Dead Rubber Bullies :)

Pakistan to me are dead match kings. When they had lost the ODI series, suddenly they got their pride back and won the last 2 games with huge margins. And not only this they also won the t20 easily confirming their world champion status......But then question arises what happened in last 3 games which didnt happen in the 3 Tests and first 3 ODIs ?

What happened when they had chance to win and they simply collapsed innings after innings ? Groupism, match fixing ? Neither. Lack of team spirits, I would suggest. Sri Lanka never won, Pakistan always lost. SL team didnt deserve to win either but then in the game of cricket you gotta win or lose, no half way measure.

Now in T20 Boom Boomer rocked whereas he was quiet in ODIs. Captaincy effect ? I would say pure selfishism.

For SL MJ flopped. His big words are fast disappearing. Soon he shall disappear too :P

End of an agonizing series for Pakistan. They better go home relaxed, take a break, throw away the manager who claimed bookies, throw away the PCB head in dust bin and then dump the trio of Razzaq, Yusuf and Misbah.......

Jeet ka mantra

...for Pakistan would be go YOUTH policy. Dump the old guards of Misbah and MoYo from ODIs like India did in 2008. May be the fresh legs would mean change of luck and more energy on the field.

At least that would help Pakistan get 1st victory of this tour........Would you call this hatred stuff ? Would you say this biased ?

SL's patchy ODI form.

Sangakara has made some very optimistic outlook towards the ODI world cup 11. Unfortunately their record since jan 1, 2008 isnt very good. Out of 38 games they have played in this duration they have won 19 and lost 17. The only major team they have had success against is Pakistan by winning 3 out of 4 and losing 1. They won 6 against Zim and as usual 3 against BD out of 4. Against strong teams their record is pathetic. 5 wins and 10 losses to India in SL and Australia. 2 losses to WI and 3 losses to Australia with a solitary win.

Every series they go in they have lotsa debutants. Lot of players get axed and lot many come back. But barring ageless Jayasuriya and to an extent Sanga himself, no batsmen has been able to do well for SL in this span.

So how could this team be considered a contender for the home world cup? Of course unless they turn around the tide and play well. Another worrying aspect for them is they have not won a single bilateral series against strong team at home. 2 series loss (2-3 and 1-4) to India and 2-3 loss to England in 2007 isnt a pretty picture for a team which had a formidable record at home. The management speaks of tough decisions. If the same is being followed, then the first one to get kicked out on that terms is Mahela Jayawardhena himself out of the ODi team. Hell he had 3 ducks in row against ZIM in the tri-series last year.

He doesnt play well against Pakistan. And besides in current season out of 16 games he has made 212 runs at an average of 14. Last 3 seasons he averages 14.13, 36.2 and 25.15. Pretty low for a man who speaks so loud on consistency and team building ethics. So when there are so many talented youngsters knocking the SL ODi team, why doesnt this man gets dumped unless he scores substantial in whatever domestic cricket SL has ?

SL won or Pak lost ?

http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/416478.html

What tough calls man ? Dropping Vaas ? When was he playing except the final Test which was a brokered deal to get rid of him for good ? Making Dilshan keep ? Was that a brave move ? Idiotic to say the least. You have lost your best batsman in LOI cricket to this inability of the captain to step up and keep when PJ was injured.

When did SL play breathtaking cricket to outplay Pakistan? SL won 2-0 cos Pakistan lost it in those mindless collapses. SL never played positive cricket to win the series. When they could play positive cricket they choked and gave up chance to win 1st test on their win without help from Pakistan batsmen or bowlers!!

Speaking for media for praising the team ignoring the realities is idiotic. And why is he even writing now ? He is no more a captain, he isnt in the greatest of form, so why is he blabbering? I dont know if Nuvan and Thilan deserved those 17 and 12 wkts without the help from Pakistan batsmen? I guess not.

Mendis is punctured for good and he wasnt even considered for the final Test.

When there was an opportunity for the new captain to set the pace for a win he choked just cos Dilshan was injured. So what if he was injured. If they would have gone for victory and lost then it was acceptable, but closing the shop 32 overs before the game is negative cricket. For negative cricket so much of applauds ? Not done dude.

History would be created when you guys win outside SL and sans BD and Zim. Thats when the history would be made for you guys. Until then keep making runs, they wont contribute an iota to your greatness ?

Whats the point in negative cricket ?

Sri Lanka needed 309 runs on day 5 for a clean sweep of Pakistan. They had 7 wickets in hand and 2 of their best batsmen of the year on crease.

2 and half sessions on day 5 SL need another 1o9 runs to win with 6 wickets in hand. In the day so far SL has scored just over 200 runs for a single wicket loss. Proves that they didnt want to go for the target, set the world record and win the series 3-0.

Negative cricket all round. In first hour of last session Younis Khan kept bowling himself and fawad Alam when he should have bowled his 2 best spinners. Pitch looked flat, yet Younis should have on his 2 best bowlers of the Test match. The players had lost the shoulders, they were lethargic and usual bugsy Akamal wasnt even chirping.

16 overs on and 106 runs to win. The equation was 133 runs in 36 overs which is quite gettable this days on final day of the Test match. Run rate just little under 4. Achievable given captain is on the crease. When the captain himself is content in playing negative cricket, there is hardly anything the team can do or the fans can expect to see the test cricket being kept alive.

Such Tests are disgrace for the health of longest format. It takes us back to the days of India Pakistan cricket when either team didnt want to lose just for saving the heads being rolled and saving the careers. Lose pathetic cricket.

Pak bowlers are not even trying something different. No banter, no sledging (very unusual for a Pak team) and no lifting up the spirits.

Rather than Pak, it would be SL who would need to be blamed for this boring Test match -- the dead rubber, who bothers about the victory right now. Series already in pocket, man of the series and man of the match awards would come this team's way and the averages would have been bulged up too. Whats the use of this century of Sangakara when its not even attempting to scare Pakistan that they are going to lose 0-3.

I remember Nagpur Test match of 2006 series between India and England when in last innings India needed 300 odd to win and batsmen knew it wasnt possible to win, yet Tendulkar and Pathan (I) managed to score runs at T20 pace then scaring Flintoff....Although Test was a draw, yet India attempted to make a match out of it.

Negative Test cricket has been foray of Lanka ever since they began their inception. It was at its pinnacle in 90s when Jaya was in peak of his form, yet they couldnt convert those drawn Tests to victories. Remember 1997 series when India and SL played out 5 boring draws. Every time India would score fast on day 2 losing wkts and scoring 500 odd runs. And then SL would carry on batting for the rest 3 days. Remember 952 ? Even today's retiree Vaas scored a 50 and debutant Mahela scored a 80 odd runs after 576 runathon by SJ and RM.

Unless SL dont give away this tendency to play negative Test cricket, they wont be counted in top test teams of the world, no matter how many batsmen they have over 50+ or bowlers over 700+ or how many clean sweeps they achieve over BD or Zim or SA or Eng at home.

Yet another collapse

Another test, another drama. 2/203 to 299 all out. 8 wkts for 96 runs. 4th collapse in as many innings. Good innings from Khurram Kha and selfish Yo, but then couldnt he last long to guide the tail through.....

And then Umar Gul strikes back on 1st ball....

Sangakara hits 1st ball four. Its all happening.

Collapses never happened in heap like this in my distant memory.....

Collapse....

2/285 to 8/312.

Good going Pakistan. You prove that you are T20 world champs. So what it’s a Test. We would play every game T20 way. Yeah very well, but preserve wickets.

Basic premise of the game, every coaching manual and academy suggests. Alright no coaching and academy works in the bylanes of Pakistan. But the players themselves would know wickets in hand are the most precious wealth for a batting team. Its like Wickets hai to match hai. Bin wickets sab soon.

Pakistan could still win this game, but then question now 4^th innings in row where a madness sets in and the collapse happens. Food for thought.

Should the cricket world heed to Pakistan's pleas for help ?

Pakistan must remember that its now playing a Test match. A bloody 5 day long, 450 over long, 15 sessioned game of cricket. Pakistan are playing Test matches in T20 style. They got to stay on crease , spend time and play conventional shots than poor ones.

Somebody needs to get that in their head. Quicker the sooner. Fawad Alam is in. Now whom would the so called stani experts blame ? They have collapsed two times in row now. A test match cannot be won in a blink of eye.

This is inexplicable, irresponsible. A side whose pride is at stake doesnt even have balls to show fight. Same mistakes all over? Alright, this is their nature to be unpredictable but then this is pathetic.

A clean sweep now looks possible.

Pakistan collapse..

Pakistan continues in 2nd innings mode in Test 2.

2nd Test Pak vs SL

Moin Khan effect runs large on Pak. Fawad Alam is in and Ijaz Butt's son / grandson Salman is out. Rameez quotes Salman Ijaz Butt was kicked for the 2nd inning shot he played.

Q would be happy. Me and SP would watch him overjoyed from sidelines. Fawad Alam is in for his debut. Malik would open.

Younis Khan was smiling and before Ranil Abenayke could listen thank you for "have a good time" he ran away. Perhaps he saw furious media back home.

Sangakara comes in with unchanged team. Lets see if he has the same luck now.

No Razzaq, no Kaneria and no Butt. Guess Butt this days is a butt of jokes. Ijaz jokes, Salman jokes. Even the picture of Butt is laughter evoking. Angry old man. But why is he always angry ?

Rameez is trying explaining ouster of Butt.

SL dont have good commentators ? If Fernando isnt there then there is this lad Ranil Abenayke. He stinks. I would bet to hear Fernando than this Ranil guy. At least Ranjith has some knowledge and he is funny.

Why doesnt Pattaattu come to the commentary fold ? Or any other player recently retired? Why do we need 80s players blabber along ?

Another test kicks off. 36th between this 2 teams. Max SL have played against any country. By year end they would have played 32 Tests against India, lost 14 and won 5. 3-0 again in India.

Super Sunday....

with the Ashes decider in Cardifff

and 2nd Pakistan Lanka test in Colombo i guess without Murali begins......

Million dollar question -- will Younis field same team giving rat and pig's ass to ex-players or will he get in Fawad Alam in place of Khurram Kha or Salman Ijaz Butt...And who will keep for SL ? Sanga steps in and raises his hand and says me? Or Dilshan keeps doing it?

India me captain sahab khud keeping karte hain. SL me captain sahab kisi aur pe daal dete hai. Passing of the buck. Yadi Murali aayenge to kya Rangana khelenge ? Ya fir Mendis ko bhagayenge ?

Some key questions for Sanga Singh to answer.... BTW Q, if you read this wudjya let me know if Miandad has his mouth sealed with the tape? He hasnt blabbered since this defeat ?

Ex hone ka ahsas.

Fawad Alam to sirf ek bahana hai.
Asli maqsad Younis Khan ki lena hai
Wo jo abhi shor macha rahe hai
Wo jo abhi kah rahe he palak man kaha gaya
Wo log kaha the jab 3 din tak team jeet rahi thi

Tab Alam ka alam yaad nahi aaya
Tab Razzaq ka nahi hona yaad nahi aaya
Yeh sirf bhootpoorv hone ka ahsas dilane bhar ka prayas hai
Asli maqsad team ki madad karna nahi balki
uska manobal girana hai....

Moin Khan aur Nawaz ko laga diarrohea hai
Peeche se nikalne ke bajai mooh se nikal rahe hai
Younis ne unko andekha karna hai
aur doosre test ko jeetne ka plan jo karna hai...

Pakistan loses

Absurd stuff. Comic stuff. My eyes lit up when I checked the score card to confirm Pak victory. And what I saw was total out of blue. 98 for 8 and then all out for 117. Only Pakistan can do this. This is master of all collapses. Mother father grandfather and great grandfather of all collapses. England had it in 1990s, today it was Pakistan. Younis Khan must be a shattered man. I feel for him. He got his team to this stage where one good partnership would have sealed it for the team. But the others weren’t even half as responsible as the captain. What a crap performance. 71/2 to 117 on a batting beauty. No Murali. Pakistan wont get chance better than this to beat SL. Past record is all fine. Talking of present, the king of spin would return next match and then it would be just impossible for Pak rookies to repeat the first 3 days of this Test match.

Q and other stani bloggers must be feeling disgusting and Damith would be enjoying and relishing this victory. No body would have thought this would happen. Typical Pakistan stuff, and that’s why we need them to keep playing cricket. T20 or Tests or ODIs. No other team can go to this extreme. Once again Pakies succumbed to left arm spin. 4/15 in 12 overs is a credible stuff. And how many did that selfish batsman made ? Just 12. He was the most experienced batsman or Test cricketer in his team and he went soon. Century made, team goes to hell. I proved my point. Result who bothers. Now it would be keen to see what the likes of Akram, Miandad and other stalwarts say of this.

Pakistan lost it more than SL won. That’s how the cricket is. A great leveler. Who would know it better than Mendis and Pakistan team. T20 win and now a test loss which they should have never lost. One last thing Mendis is now proved to be a very ordinary bowler. His average has now been normalized. 26 in 3 to 36 in 7. He should be ready for some more mauling later this year as he tours India – a land where his team has never won a Test match. Tendulkar and company would be very keen to make amends for what he did to them last year same tsime. Laxman, Tendulkar, Dravid and Yuvraj making merry of Mendis, not to forget Sehwag.

Pakistan start favorites

.....with Murali out to injury and Mendis being eased out by the green champions in the Test series beginning today.

Key Players :

Sri Lanka :

1. Mendis : Leader of the pack. First test without Murali. 26 wkts against best batting line up of world is year back now. New series, new Mendis.
2. Blabba King : If he just speaks or he also bats remains to be seen. First series after resigning. Would be due for a failure after so called bull run in last 12 Tests.
3. Sangakara : Is he keeping with Pras out ? Dunno. But his batting would be key.
4. Samarweera : The hot suave Test batsman for Lanka. Was in form of life before .......Would be keen to see how he comes back.

Pakistan :

1. Younis Khan : Their best batsman. How he leads in longer format would be interesting.
2. Yousuf : I want him to fail and then bump out of the international scene forever. Opportunist and a disgrace to the team ethics.
3. Umar Gul : He is Q with name beginning with U than O. Consistent and in red hot form. How he reverse swings in Tests would be keen to watch.
4. Ajmal : Debutant. Would need to edge the Gujju spinner. Dont bowl Doosras man, else there would be no Watson here to give a stupid excuse this time.

For health of Test cricket I wish there are sporting wickets, no big partnership records, even contests between bat and ball. Finally result in all 3 Tests with no dull batting draws. Please. And Sanga, please take a diff route than previous captains to not play batting draws.....