The 2012 UAE PAK v ENG Thread
 

Well the squads been named today and I'm pleased to say that the Selectors have taken my advice and included Bopara once again :lol1:

Unfortunately they over ruled me on Bell :razz:

Lets see how we get on. We've never played their before whereas they have (and they'll probably cheat anyway).

When will they learn :Whatever_ I told them not to listen to your biased views on Bopara :lol1:, make sure you pack the right kits for him before he leaves and he has his passport ;)

England squad: AJ Strauss (Middlesex, capt), JM Anderson (Lancashire), IR Bell (Warwickshire), RS Bopara (Essex), TT Bresnan (Yorkshire), SCJ Broad (Nottinghamshire), AN Cook (Essex), SM Davies (wkt, Surrey), ST Finn (Middlesex), EJG Morgan (Middlesex), MS Panesar (Sussex), KP Pietersen (Surrey), MJ Prior (wkt, Sussex), GP Swann (Nottinghamshire), CT Tremlett (Surrey), IJL Trott (Warwickshire).


Fixtures
•17 Jan: First Test, Dubai
•25 Jan: Second Test, Abu Dhabi
•3 Feb: Third Test, Dubai
•13 Feb: First ODI, Abu Dhabi
•15 Feb: Second ODI, Abu Dhabi
•18 Feb: Third ODI, Dubai
•21 Feb: Fourth ODI, Dubai
•23 Feb: First T20, Dubai
•25 Feb: Second T20, Dubai
•27 Feb: Third T20, Abu Dhabi

Lets face it, only the first three matches really matter anyway :thumb:

Did you see the comments made by Dravid? It appears that he agrees with us :thumb:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-16212952

I think most "Cricket" loving Cricketers do, it's the next generation we need to worry about, they may have an interest in Test Cricket but probably wont have the skills because they've played too much short form purely for the cash.

I find the current Aussies a good example of this theory.

Bloody great to see Cookie nominated for SPOTY after he'd been written off.

Bopara next year?

Team of the year!

i'm saying nothing.........

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/engli.../scorecard.stm



:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D :D:D:D:D:D

It was only a warm up, all those smilies necessary :wonder: :lol1:

The real deal starts a week today:luxhello:, I need a fix, the Aus vs Ind series was fun to watch in the interim :)

couldn't resist.... :lol1:

Say that again. Poor Tendulkar :D

So close in the first innings, time is running out for the guy, more so he doesn't have anyone to stay with him at the crease.

Once Dravid, Laxman and Sachin retire it's going to be a massive struggle for India at Test level.

Another good day for Cookie.

Still no Bopara, has he forgotten his whites ?

If Monty is getting a game (a five-fer today) then you'd think Ravi would be in with a shout, no SPOTY for him ;)

Have you seen how Owais has been smashing it up in Oz at the "Big Bash" ?, he like Bopara has the necessary skills but not always the aptitude and application, sadly.

Cook is quite amazing isn't he :notworthy

No-one else got close to 50 and the golden boy got 133, GET IN!

Encouraging to see Onions back, troubling that KP isn't hitting his form and fantastic to see Monty kick some ass once again. Wonder if he'll get a game after that?

Who know what goes in in the selectors minds, take Ravi but not play him in the warm ups? I doubt they'll just drop him into a match unless there is an injury and they have no choice. Shame, I have faith in him but he's not getting a chance to prove it.

I wonder who the mysterious big man is behind the Mervyn Westfield match fixing? The judge said it is a well known man in the world of cricket? John Major :lol1::lol1:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/16106254.stm

:thumb:

•Club of the Year: Norwich Canoe Club


;)

This ones for Bell
 

And KP and Cookie etc etc

To long a break between tests and no 2nd spinner, could be a long test......

A Quick theory for Ravi Bopara being missing

Is he the leading figure the judge referred to in the Mervyn Westfield case......?

:fight:

there's more than one day to a test match. Lets see what tomorrow brings from the #1 Test team in the world.

Ajmal looks like he's pleading with a judge ;)

:lol1: He looks like a baby crying to be picked up by his mummy to me

Mmmmm do you think the current cheating will help the England bowlers?

Do you refer to the perceived cheating of Ajmal' action or am I missing something here.

A good solid display from our seamers today, kept their foot on the PAK throats and got their reward eventually :thumb:

No no, I was talking about the England bowlers running on the wicket after bowling and twisting their feet to try and rough it up.... I noticed it & was mentioned during live commentary a few times, here is a quote from the bbc over by over commentary:
:nono:

Broad does have a history of this, either he know's exactly what he's doing or he has issues with his run up and follow through. I'd hate to think it's the former but it probably is, he isn't the first nor will he be the last to do this, some should check his pockets for dirt and mints and the odd bottle top LOL

Broad isn't the worst either.

Today was not bad for us in my view. We've come back from worse. Remember Trent Bridge? This is why test cricket is so damn good :thumb:

Keep calm, Cookie's got another innings to save the match with :notworthy

Keep Calm ?

https://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l...niqdo1_400.png

England got well and truely shafted......:lol1::lol1::lol1::lol1::lol1::luxhel lo::luxhello::luxhello:

Indeed they did but at least they weren't bowled out for under 90 twice :thumb:

Woah KP, you've been there for nearly 7 overs, steady on mate !!!



Cookie will rue that choice of shot, good to see the real England back over the past 2 days, Flower was spot on in his assessment of how we started this series.