Let me know if there any problems.

However, I think your Aussie team for the Boxing Day Test is slightly unrealistic… The new selectors have shown their continued patience with Hughes and Haddin (although this is running out) so I don’t think radical changes are on the cards. I would be very surprised to see Cowan ahead of Khawaja, Harris is as injury-prone as Darren Anderton and Marsh will still be crocked.

The only change I see from the last Test is the woefully exposed Hughes making way for fit again Watson, with a slim chance of Haddin – horribly irresponsible with the bat – dropped for Matthew Wade of Victoria.

Very, very disappointed… in myself.

Great mag, great service.

I called the hotline and the person who answered hadn’t heard of the offer, said the code didn’t work and tried to charge me £42.50 for a sub and no gift.

Very, very disappointing.

A – Found a hairdresser to renew your Lloyd Christmas?

B – Found a golf course?

C – Spent all your ex’s on scarves?

Shants

Sorry I hadn’t seen these comments before, and so couldn’t reply.

I concede the point though – the lack of a finisher is far more important a factor than the enforced switch to ODIs. My contention was that bowlers have had to take more responsibility, and are a lot more creative in dominating the narrative of a match than our batsmen are.

That aside, I think you have pointed out an important evolutionary return to the dour, solid batting styling in order to bring stability. Obviously, it needs a couple of superstars to make it successful, and thankfully with Pakistan, there is never a dearth of those.

Shoaib:

Agree with so much of what you said. Will be reading you a lot more often now!

Admin:

Please add a feature where we can follow the comment thread through email subscription etc. Cheers!

That’s not even my main problem with Waqar though. My main problem is how he failed to bring freshness and innovation to any thing in his tenure as Coach. And I really think modern day coaching is a lot about innovation. Strategy, Adaptability and a horses for courses approach. Any success Pak has had over the past few years can be attributed down to their spinners and drying out the runs in the middle overs (talking about ODIs here of course). This method had started to be employed way before Waqar’s tenure started. Younis Khan and the few series we played under him in the UAE, Champions Trophy the 09 t20 WC if you watch those games again you will know that the spinners were putting the strangle hold on the opposition. Waqar had nothing to do in regards to coming up or planning this approach.

Hafeez has always had the talent but it is the big runs consistently that have always lacked. It’s a very similar case to Malik and Youhana under Woolmer. But he was able to gauge their weaknesses and transform their batting. Hafeez’s avg is 40 but he has also played against W.I, Zim and N.Z. The big games he has played against Aus or Ind he has had starts but given them away as usual. I see him prospering under MHK as he was an accomplished batsman and will help him prosper.

What about the utter ruining effect that Waqar has had on Umar Akmal’s career. From a guy who promised so much at the start now finds himself out of the test side, despite being the best batsman in Pakistan. Making him a scapegoat and having him perpetually play under pressure at number 5/6 when he should be in at 3 or 4 making the game instead of chasing it every time. This is exactly what the coach’s job is to realize the true worth of a player and making him play where you can extract the best from him. Same goes for Asad Shafiq, a solid number 4 or 5 is either sent in to open or down at 6 so his confidence is completely ruined. I hope MHK will do a better job than Waqar in understanding the true worth of his players instead of blindly following in his footsteps. Misbah is a perfect number 6 Test batsman. Has the capability to play the defensive and aggresive game and can bat with the tail.

I don’t know how much of an effect Waqar had in case of Azhar, but if he did well that’s a plus to him. Fast bowling wise especially helping the likes of Amir, Asif, Gul, Junaid and Cheema his expertise are definitely worth it but that is some thing he could have done much better with his original bowling consultant role than a full time coach, for which he just lacks the sharp, strategic, Cricketing brain. Aqib would have been a better choice in my opinion at the time.

I also really want to hear your opinions on why you rate Waqar so highly as a coach, because in my opinion he was suited at best to a bowling specialist role and really held the team back as a full time coach. Lack of imganation, weak Cricketing sense resulting in poor strategy with a very narrow minded and conservative approach and a really horrible pitch reader to boot were things that stuck out to me during his tenure as full time Coach. Bowling coach wise he was excellent and should have just stuck to that role.