British Forum BETTING thread

Yeah I agree, he isn't and never will be a world beater, but has that air of confidence about him.....

When you think though, so far he takes more than 4 wickets per Test, one every ten overs at an average of less than 30.... that's slightly better than an average test performer - plus he contributes batting and holds his own fielding.

Vettori is fast becoming the best allrounder in the world the way he is going, not a great wicket taker, but keeps batters pinned down and gets wickets for the guy at the other end - I think he's now ranked near the top 20 in the batting ratings as well!

On Broad, I think he will get there, at the start I was more impressed with his batting but his bowling has taken over, thankfully.... not sure he quite has it to be a genuine star though.

 

Flintoff was so overrated.

His career stats aren't all that impressive, and even his amazing series of 2005 he only averaged 40 with the bat and 28 with the ball - I guess it's the timing of his contributions and the Brett Lee handshake at Edgbaston which cloud people's judgement. As a batsman he was ordinary throughout his career, he was a world class bowler for brief spells when he wasn't injured.

I like Botham as a commentator, but you can sense his frustration at England's conservative tactics - it's pretty ironic that he and Ian Chappell HATE each other, when they agree on pretty much every aspect of the game!

But like you I can't understand his wanting of five batsmen, though I do agree you need to pack the side with bowling options to take 20 wickets on modern pitches. Ideally you'd like an opening batsman that can bowl a few overs (eg. Jayasuriya), a keeper that can average 45 (Gilchrist) and be able to get a second spinner into your side.

The players England have don't allow that, so they have to make do with what they have...... which in the grand scheme of things isn't bad by any means - it's probably a better side than the 2005 one.

 

Remember the days of Giles bowling over the wicket a foot outside leg stump:roll:

 

They needed the extra bowler because Giles only took wickets when batsmen went for one slog too many.

****, if Shane Warne had stayed in another 2 overs in the 4th Test in 2005 England would have lost. He was smacking Giles all over the place.

 

Giles had hardly any variation,just an arm ball which was slightly flatter and went straight on.Not much when you consider he didn't turn it much anyway
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I need assurance...that Aus will bowl out Pakistan tonight

That Aamer and Akmal look talented for Pakistan but then Pakistan and India have always been heaving with talent but in recent years it has amounted to ****

 

You ain't getting none from me

170/3 chasing 422 on a good pitch.

Yousuf at the crease with Umar Akmal - with Misbah, the other Akmal and the young kid Aamir still in the shed.... Aamir made a 70-odd not out in an ODI lately in a losing cause.

The deck isn't going to do allsorts for Hauritz, I'd be tempted to watch the 1st hour and make a bet. Sometimes Pakistan look like a set of globetrotters, the next day wouldn't beat a pub team.

 

This Umar Akmal is supposed to be the next Javed Miandad - and from what I've seen..... **** it, he will be better than Miandad.

He's got everything.

But can he do it against Australia, in Australia?

The traditional graveyard for young batsmen from the subcontinent :hey

 

250 is still a lot of runs though.Yousuf is the key man and they'll need a couple of decent partnerships to get close.I certainly wouldn't rule them out though.If they do it they'll break an 80 year old record on this ground comfortably

 

:hi: Tadar Akmal

:happy