First Brendon McCullum helped himself to a hundred and fries, then went back for a double and a shake. Further South that Gayle dude cracked a triple. Not that he knows who Bradman is, but by accident he fell short of the hallowed 334. Speaking to Gayle, I’m told he wanted nothing to do with slow-coach Tubby Taylor’s 334.
Basically, Mc’s double and Gayle’s triple drew it for the islanders. Now the Lankans can go bat to oblivion but they still can’t win the match. A thousand is on the cards, expect Sangakkara to make a case for a sixth day as he pursues his first five hundred plus score.
Elsewhere, Pakistan playing another home-away series, in idyllic sub continental settings drew one unexpectedly. In comparison to the scores on display, Younis Khan settled for a lowly 131. A true match saving innings, wasting everybody’s time including his. He even smiled, in spite of batting with Misbah.
Showing posts with label Younis Khan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Younis Khan. Show all posts
November 17, 2010
August 21, 2010
A single man
I didn’t always like Younis Khan. There was an ugliness to his batting and he scored far too much against India. Then Pakistan and India stopped playing each other, Younis stopped making runs, still he smiled. Then Pakistan stopped playing altogether, still he smiled. Then Pakistan started playing, Younis didn’t make many runs, still he smiled.
The exact sequence of events is a mere approximation, but it is true, Younis smiled through it all. He captained them to the T20 World Cup, and then walked away from T20 cricket itself. It is not clear whether Dravid got into his ear, or for that matter in Graeme Smith’s ear, but to win and call it quits, it takes a deep rooted understanding of sport’s greatest clichés – quit when on top. Explains why Sachin goes away every few months, he’s on top, gotta sustain it.
But this is about Younis. It’s mind boggling that Pak plays test cricket and he does not. If Shoaib Malik can be given a second chance, we should even revisit bodyline.
As for Younis, he’s had it far from easy; in his young life he had already lost many of his family, guess that smile is one way of staying sane. And then to contend with Pakistan cricket.
For me, he’s always been their man at 3 – 12 of his 16 centuries are at that position, in those 12, there’s a double, a triple, and a score of 199.
Instead, Pak have found in a debutant, Wahab Riaz, a number three batsman. Sure he came in as a nightwatchman, but 27 runs, accumulated over close to two hours, that’s more than all their No 3 suitors have batted collectively.
Lest we forget, Younis averages over 50, both at 3, and in his career. At three, he’s a few more decimal points than his career average. For someone as fickle as Ijaz Butt, and his band of hoodlums, if anything those decimal points could make the difference, as they refuse to see the larger picture.
But for Younis to return, Pakistan must lose to England at the Oval and at Lord’s, and Butt must sustain his poor form. The cyclical nature of Pak cricket will continue, and by next year, I will be captain, playing my first test for Pakistan.
On Bored: A day in the life of Younis Khan
The exact sequence of events is a mere approximation, but it is true, Younis smiled through it all. He captained them to the T20 World Cup, and then walked away from T20 cricket itself. It is not clear whether Dravid got into his ear, or for that matter in Graeme Smith’s ear, but to win and call it quits, it takes a deep rooted understanding of sport’s greatest clichés – quit when on top. Explains why Sachin goes away every few months, he’s on top, gotta sustain it.
But this is about Younis. It’s mind boggling that Pak plays test cricket and he does not. If Shoaib Malik can be given a second chance, we should even revisit bodyline.
As for Younis, he’s had it far from easy; in his young life he had already lost many of his family, guess that smile is one way of staying sane. And then to contend with Pakistan cricket.
For me, he’s always been their man at 3 – 12 of his 16 centuries are at that position, in those 12, there’s a double, a triple, and a score of 199.
Instead, Pak have found in a debutant, Wahab Riaz, a number three batsman. Sure he came in as a nightwatchman, but 27 runs, accumulated over close to two hours, that’s more than all their No 3 suitors have batted collectively.
Lest we forget, Younis averages over 50, both at 3, and in his career. At three, he’s a few more decimal points than his career average. For someone as fickle as Ijaz Butt, and his band of hoodlums, if anything those decimal points could make the difference, as they refuse to see the larger picture.
But for Younis to return, Pakistan must lose to England at the Oval and at Lord’s, and Butt must sustain his poor form. The cyclical nature of Pak cricket will continue, and by next year, I will be captain, playing my first test for Pakistan.
On Bored: A day in the life of Younis Khan
March 11, 2010
December 29, 2009
The 2 Ys of Pak cricket
If they could, Pakistan would like to have Younis Khan in the side right now. Granted he’s not scored many this year, but then neither had Misbah. Also, Younis is far more cheerful; what does Misbah bring other than his MBA – suggest they call him MBAH and get over with it.
Anyway, looks like Younis should be in for the Sydney test; right now he’s at the airport – and this is the strange sequence of events, what happened when Younis and Yousuf tried to make contact.
Anyway, looks like Younis should be in for the Sydney test; right now he’s at the airport – and this is the strange sequence of events, what happened when Younis and Yousuf tried to make contact.
August 13, 2009
Boom Boom Big Daddy Afridi!
Right now, even if Afridi wanted to, he cannot stop himself. He is part of some greater force that has taken hold of him. If there is one English word he knows, it is AGGRESSION. If he had a speech blurb next to him, it would read as “AGGRESSION” - all caps, in italics, for there’s that nonchalant stylised way when he says it. If he sang a song it would be 'I’m too Sexy for my cricket.'
Look at the way he treats players, younger, older, even retired players – did you see him pat that old war horse ex ICL masterji Naved ul Hasan, like a baby patted on his head, “Mamma’s gonna keep baby cozy and warm…”
The youngsters got their share of lovin’ too – but frankly the only part of the match I had any interest in was the post-match chat with BOOM BOOM. He didn’t disappoint. Had the chat gone on longer he would have spanked Rameez Raja– the winks were missing, but the slap on the back was there.
And Afridi talked aggression, how he told his boys, I am aggressive captain, you be aggressive too. That is simple. That is T20. Push, shove, bully, damn it, you gotta intimidate.
And when after a wicket, a camera pans right up his raised arm to that raised finger, you can almost expect a bolt of lightning to strike through. SFX: BOOM BOOM!
Question is, how long will it take Pakistani cricket to make Afridi the all powerful cricketing General. Another bloodless coup.
And we all know how ready Youis can be to abdicate, just the slightest murmur and he’ll be gone.
This was written last night, when the net was willing but the blogger was weak. Today it's not Afridi's day, today, it is Happy Bored Day!
Look at the way he treats players, younger, older, even retired players – did you see him pat that old war horse ex ICL masterji Naved ul Hasan, like a baby patted on his head, “Mamma’s gonna keep baby cozy and warm…”
The youngsters got their share of lovin’ too – but frankly the only part of the match I had any interest in was the post-match chat with BOOM BOOM. He didn’t disappoint. Had the chat gone on longer he would have spanked Rameez Raja– the winks were missing, but the slap on the back was there.
And Afridi talked aggression, how he told his boys, I am aggressive captain, you be aggressive too. That is simple. That is T20. Push, shove, bully, damn it, you gotta intimidate.
And when after a wicket, a camera pans right up his raised arm to that raised finger, you can almost expect a bolt of lightning to strike through. SFX: BOOM BOOM!
Question is, how long will it take Pakistani cricket to make Afridi the all powerful cricketing General. Another bloodless coup.
And we all know how ready Youis can be to abdicate, just the slightest murmur and he’ll be gone.
This was written last night, when the net was willing but the blogger was weak. Today it's not Afridi's day, today, it is Happy Bored Day!
August 01, 2009
Extras more influential than Younis Khan.
Pakistan has not collapsed, they’ve just stumbled along the way. Almost like tripping yourself. How do you that – watch Pakistan bat 50 overs, 30 too many by far.
So here we are 144/9, and the Extras at 26 (b 4, lb 4, w 18) captaining the team. Next highest is the captain for post match communication, 23 (73).
As expected, the Strike Rate of Extras is 100 - research unavailable to prove if 2 or more leg byes were taken on a single delivery. If so, the strike rate of extras would be in excess of 100.
Compare that to poor Younis’, a princely 31.50. Misbah gone, MoYo gone, it’s only ODIs, so how long will it take Younis to go?
It’s one thing to unite a team, but what good is a united team if they still don’t score?
So here we are 144/9, and the Extras at 26 (b 4, lb 4, w 18) captaining the team. Next highest is the captain for post match communication, 23 (73).
As expected, the Strike Rate of Extras is 100 - research unavailable to prove if 2 or more leg byes were taken on a single delivery. If so, the strike rate of extras would be in excess of 100.
Compare that to poor Younis’, a princely 31.50. Misbah gone, MoYo gone, it’s only ODIs, so how long will it take Younis to go?
It’s one thing to unite a team, but what good is a united team if they still don’t score?
February 25, 2009
The Younis Khan Joke Book.
Younis Khan smiles, laughs, beams, and generally transports more bonhomie than the sum total of the Pak teams’ negativity. Ideally the telecast should have subtitles of Younis’ sunny-funny moments. But if you’ve watched Ten Sports, you know, they are communicatively challenged.
Forget subtitles, they barely get the telecast going.
But that doesn’t mean Younis Khan’s jokes will remain buried behind his funny face.
When he walked in with a broad smile at the fall of the first wicket – “Imran Khan, you proud of me or what?” To which he replied in Imran Khan's voice, “Younis, I’m very proud of you, and you should always bat at No.3”
On the face of it, not that funny, but if you could only hear Younis’ silent imitation of Imran, you would be more than just a silent admirer of Younis.
And when he walked not-out, stumps 2nd day, what was that hysterical grin about – “People gonna think I was being brave or stupid but the only reason I came in at 3 was because Imran, you said I should always bat at 3”
Let it be known that Imran Khan’s legacy as a cricket expert has been hammering one and only point home. That Younis Khan should bat at 3. And it is not even funny.
related piece: Excuse me while i kiss the dirt
Forget subtitles, they barely get the telecast going.
But that doesn’t mean Younis Khan’s jokes will remain buried behind his funny face.
When he walked in with a broad smile at the fall of the first wicket – “Imran Khan, you proud of me or what?” To which he replied in Imran Khan's voice, “Younis, I’m very proud of you, and you should always bat at No.3”
On the face of it, not that funny, but if you could only hear Younis’ silent imitation of Imran, you would be more than just a silent admirer of Younis.
And when he walked not-out, stumps 2nd day, what was that hysterical grin about – “People gonna think I was being brave or stupid but the only reason I came in at 3 was because Imran, you said I should always bat at 3”
Let it be known that Imran Khan’s legacy as a cricket expert has been hammering one and only point home. That Younis Khan should bat at 3. And it is not even funny.
related piece: Excuse me while i kiss the dirt
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