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[PM7]

England took the number one spot from a team that struggled abroad in alien conditions.
How the roles have reversed when they play abroad? This is going to be a looooooong and testing year for England and time will tell if they can hold their own in the subcontinent. Cant see Oz or the Saffas doing well in the subcontinent anyway so alls even stevens.

[100 not out]

In my opinion there isn't a clear cut number one team at present. To win in alien conditions not just your backyard or againt the minnows.

Inspite of what they have been through, players being jailed, unable to host international cricket, you have to give credit where credits due.

Englands batting had flopped 3 out of 4 times. That's what cost them. They had a negative approach chasing this small target. You must try to kill off the game as soon as possible chasing a small total. I have seen it happen too many times. I would've thought England would have wised up to this.

[bigboy]

I said it earlier, much easier to reach number 1 than stay there. By the way I think if England lose 3-0 SA will hold the mace come april.

[Buzz]

Why?
Pakistan are effectively at 55-4, and, with a tail which managed to add 1 run for the loss of 3 wickets in the last innings, I can't see this match going any way other than England.

I told you so...
Chasing on a slow track is very tough.

I don't think the SA team will get hold of the mace for a while yet.

as for the rest of it - Eng still has, I think the best all round team in the world at the moment - but we still need to start playing spin better to earn our ranking.

[bigboy]

If SA beat NZ 3-0 and England lose the next match SA will hold the mace and be number 1 come the april handover.

[Buzz]

Eng better not lose the last game then!! hope for rain in NZ then

[Wills]

Shhhh Buzz!
I honestly expected better from England.

[Buzz]

I have played a lot of village cricket and this was village cricket from England. And they know it.
What is frustrating is that they played most of the cricket apart from one session (and how costly is the drop of Misbah looking now?)
So did I Wazza

[pacman75cricket]

Me too didn't seem to be any plans as to how they were gonna score there runs.

Show intent to reduce men around the bat.

Like Misbah + Broad earlier in the game

[kaustav]

Wow!! What a stunning result; well played Pakistan

[kaustav]

Just to add:


It is funny how the number one sides in the world are suddenly found to be so clueless the moment they travel to alien conditions

There is clearly no number one side in the world right now after the Aussie era; one or two series wins does not make a team 'great' though the ranking might show them to be numero uno. We found that with India with zero overseas credentials when they became 'number one' and now with England. I think the Aussies and the WI before them have spoiled us by raising the bar too high.

[Nickauger]

Wow indeed. Well played Pakistan! Lots of wise people said that we would see how good this england team were after playing on the sub-continent. Abject at best I think is the answer. I on't  think there are many teams (bar perhaps South Africa) who seem to be able to play well on anything other than their home pitches. Poor show all round but one bad series doesn't necessarily make a bad team and hopefully lessons can be learnt about playing spin.

[Vic Nicholas]

Wow indeed. Well played Pakistan! Lots of wise people said that we would see how good this england team were after playing on the sub-continent. Abject at best I think is the answer. I on't  think there are many teams (bar perhaps South Africa) who seem to be able to play well on anything other than their home pitches. Poor show all round but one bad series doesn't necessarily make a bad team and hopefully lessons can be learnt about playing spin.

It is not the Sub Continent, it is the Middle East, and Australia have never lost a series there.

[kaustav]

It is not the Sub Continent, it is the Middle East, and Australia have never lost a series there.

Honest question--- how many series have Australia played there?


As a neutral, I think this Australian side has more potential than both South Africa and England. They have had some hiccups but I think they are on the right path to becoming a very good side again and once they can sort out their injuries they will become even better.

[bigboy]

I agree, England have peaked similar to 2005 and are heading back down again.