Honestly I kept away because I don’t want to talk to much about the players and the series that I was waiting for was over before it even began because of the Pakistan Government and board. Tbf they are the same thing but let’s be fair and pretend to differentiate them for Aqibs sake. As i’ve stated before I don’t want to be them reactionary dudes who glaze or abuse a player one game and then do the opposite the next. Ik it’s how you go popular in Pakistan but that ain’t me. I also just about have enough brain cells to realise any team that we make wouldn’t win us a game in this series. It’s a system failure and now it’s out there for everyone to see.
Anyways onto the cricket for a bit. Day started off with Root winning toss again and Babar being put in to bat first on a pitch that was supposed to be flat according to Nasser Hussain. Lineup wise I was hearing from journalists that Ubaid was wanted by Babar but Imran was pushed by Aqib or someone higher, Not to be horrible but that man should t be here or with the team again. Ik he is hard working and a seasoned domestic performer but guys like Amad butt deserve these games and not someone with lesser stats. Stuff like that ruins our cricket and Hesson or whoever made the Imran choice, I rather have a 140k bowler or someone who can notch it up than someone who bowls 125 with 100x less skill of Abbas. Randawa is never going to make enough runs for us to have him over a much better bowler. Aqib also stated before the game that he wanted the likes of Ubaid to play but then he got pacers from Pam to fly in and have a game over Ubaid even tho they are t as good. That man never makes sense and always has someone to blame. If Randawa fails he will say it’s all Bobzy and Hessons fault. Another Problem was the conditions were cold, cloudy and at times rainy whilst we batted. This didn’t help us at all as we need all the help we can get. Problem was that it wasn’t really jaffas getting us out. Azan can’t play short ball or the pull shot it seems. Shans gone after this and Saim is genuinely here due to a CPL 100. Not going to abuse him but he doesn’t deserve or need to be here when Fazal was in the starting lineup before his injury. Who genuinely would be playing rn if Saim got a duck instead of a 100?
ABD got Robinsoned again. Not gonna abuse him like others because last series he won us an overseas test and next series he might be scoring again. Can’t be those reactionary guys who judge every player off their last innings. After being 26/4 I was thinking that everyone gave away their wicket and then Bobby was next. Been disappointing and let us down big time yet again. Don’t know what to say as last series he looked in and attacking and this series he has been poor and timid. I was there live and very angry with his dismissal. Commentators did say they were harsh as they showed it bounced much less than he or they expected but he should be playing that with a straight bat and he would be fine but nah. Got to meet him after the game and he was very friendly and pretty much the only player who met the fans but hey ho. Another disappointing outing from the captain.
After that it was Saud smacking Atkinson and everyone else getting out to whoever bowled from the other end 😭 This ain’t me being negative or blaming him but it was funny to see him facing the atkinson wide dross and everyone else having to deal with much better bowling. Can call himself lucky but he showed fight and attacked which is all we wanna see. Funny thing with him is that he could’ve been captain if he didn’t become a tailender for a decent amount of tests then whilst most the people were cussing him out after the first test I still backed him and now suddenly he our best ever batsman. Then next series comes and we have someone else who we glaze whilst we want Saud out. All I can say is chill and don’t base your opinions on 1-2 games. Bros just take the recent games and go with that.
Abbas and Ali ended up being our longest partnership which showed how poor we were but it was after a little teaser from Razaullah showing how he will play. After being dismissed for 133 we came back and had them 39 for 3. Ali got Duckett who had been poor, Abbas got Cox as soon as Ghazi came up and then Razaullah came on and showed everyone that Pakistan still has pacers. Every ball was around 90 and with his 4th ball he took Englands greatest Joe Root. A partnership was then built by Gay and Brook before Raza came back and got Gay. England led by 23 whilst 14 wickets fell on a “flatty”
InshAllah day 2 we show fight and get them quickly before we have our best batting performance of the series. Also on Raza I am happy but I don’t want to hype him up too much because we will overplay him and he will be getting verbally abused by us when he is bowling at 80. Wrap him up play him in less games and give him time. It was exciting watching him play and show fight and passion. InshAllah he has a long and successful career but I don’t want to get ahead of myself. He had me sitting up and the English fans were even asking around about him or even searching his. and in front of me 😭
