Hi Guys here we are analyzing the 1st test b/w Pakistan and Srilanka with interesting stats trivia

of all
players.
1st of All we shall discuss the pre-match selection. Azhar Ali who was playing consecutively since after his
debut in 2010 was dropped from the Final 11. He played 31 matches for Pakistan and the record is of
Javed Miandad from Pakistan who took part in 53 consecutive matches. Now as per Squad and previous
matches’ performance we should go with specialist openers instead of bringing in the Ahmed Shahzad
who suits in T20 and one-days because of his aggressive nature/stroke making abilities. Shan Masood
should be in playing eleven as this is the time now that we shall focus on specialist players for each
format.
Anyhow when we shall come towards the match, then the very 1st decision taken by Misbah was
objectionable. When we knew that we are weak batting side then why we choose to play 4th inning?
If we discuss SL selection then it was very strange that for the very 1st time Sri Lanka went with four
genuine wicket keepers (Prasanna, Sangakara, Chandimal & Kaushal Silva), which was never happened
before in cricket history. Chandimal was also getting chance again and again because srilankan team
management believes in him. But he failed to perform in the 1st inning as usual in past, but in 2nd inning
he made valuable half century and played a very vital role in draw of this match.
Coming back to the proceedings of the match 1st session was belong to SL batsmen and as per Misbah’s
thinking we remain unable to get benefit from the seeming conditions. But in 2nd half Pak bowling
strikes back and Bilawal bhatti took the wicket of greatest batsman of the era, Mahela Jayawardene in
similar fashion Like Irfan Pathan dismissed Inzamam (first in a no-ball and again in the next legitimate
ball, both were caught out by keeper). It’s also the 1st time in cricket history when a batsmen (Mahela)
was declared not out by umpire by consulting the ORS.

Later on, Mattew’s played captain’s knock and rescued the team but in my thinking it was fault of
opponent captain who did not bother himself to do the changes in bowling and tried to break the
partnership and wrap up the Lankan inning. The most important thing was Junaid’s five wicket haul
which he took 4th time and interestingly all against SL.
In Pakistan inning the interesting thing was only the partnership of Misbah and Younis and the
important/miraculous thing was that both made century for the very 1st time they played together. Last
2 times Misbah & Younis both scored partnership of 130 in 2009, 100 in 2011 against SL and this was the
third time they added 100+runs in partnership against SL only. Yuni also completed 1000 runs
trademark in UAE during this match, also he is the 2nd top scorer after Sachin Tendulkar against SL now.
Lacking in rotating the strike which is extremely vital in test cricket, again appears to be the biggest flaw
as well as sudden collapse after good inning will be same like it used to be happen in past with pak
batting. Misbah had played terrible cricket with the tail in the past and in this match same happens
again And the lead did not passed the 200. And one rare case happened that fast bowlers bowled more
overs then the spinners in UAE.

In 2nd Inning Pak bowling show was much much poor or srilankan batsmen were more focused so they
not only managed to overcome the lead given by Pak team but also they played one and half day to
prove that Pakistan team should do in their attack for the coming test to cope up with the Lankan
batting line up. The thing was approach in bowling change, which misbah did not capitalize in 1st inning
as well as in3rd inning. When he selected the Hafeez in placed of Abdur Rehman then he should use him
as an all-rounder instead of considering him specialist batsman and give him only 09 overs in the whole
match. Moreover Ajmal had been a major disappointment in this match, because fans and team
expected more from him but with one match performance we cannot say Ajmal is not good for test
matches. One other expect that this match contains was that Junaid reached 50 Test wickets milestone
in 14 matches only (2 years and 121 days). By the Way Amir has same record as well, but he took 50
wickets in 1 year & 53 days duration (same 14 matches) and the fastest wickets taker was Waqar Younis
who achieved this feat in 10 matches only (1 year & 8 days duration). The others who took 50 matches
after 10 matches were Shabbir Ahmed & Muhammad Asif.

Coming back to match stats again, Pak have chased target in 19 tests against Lanka in 4th innings & they
Won the match 7, while 6 times defeat came in their way and including the current match Pak drew 6
matches. Srilakan team had opportunity to put Pakistan team in difficulty by playing some T20 stuff but
they did not considered themselves uptight for this job and thus there was no curiosity for all viewers as
well as followers, rather it became boring when both team left fight to win the match. The last thing
which could be considerable was the controversial decision of Misbah who did not let the professor
(Muhammad Hafeez) to complete his 10th century. He remained not out at 80.
In last we must discuss the evident changes for the next match and it will be injured Adnan akmal which
will be replaced by Sarfraz Ahmad. The other probable change can be Mohammad Talha instead of
Rahat Ali who remained wicket-less in whole match. And may be Pak will opt with Abdur Rehman in next
match but they have to give sacrifice of Hafeez or Ahmed Shahzad who failed in 1st inning but scored a
maiden fifty in the 2nd inning. For SL team it seems that they will go with same team. So here was full
analysis of match with facts and figures. Hope you enjoyed it. See you after the 2nd Match
Syed Muhammad Ali.