The Reverse Sweep

Pakistan vs England - Pakistan series marks out of 10

Mohammad Hafeez – 7 (190 runs at 38.00; 5 wickets at 16.00):  Set the tone with the early dismissal of Cook on the first morning of the series and followed up with the bat in the first game and the ball in the second where he also snared Cook to set England’s pitiful 2nd innings collapse in motion.

Taufeeq Umar – 3 (87 runs at 17.40): Started off the series well with a fifty as he and Hafeez set a national record with their fifth century opening stand. Struggled badly thereafter, firstly against Swann in Abu Dhabi and then versus Anderson back in Dubai.

Azhar Ali – 9 (251 runs at 51.20): Gave his bowlers something to work with in Abu Dhabi and then set up another win in the final game with a career defining 157. Displayed remarkable powers of concentration, restraint and skill throughout the 727 balls he faced over the course of the series and was the only batsman on either side to average over 40.

Younis Khan – 7 (193 runs at 38.60): For two and a half Tests, England kept Pakistan’s master batsman quiet but it was always likely his class would shine through and so it proved to pass with a majestic hundred in the final Test. Now averages 67 since returning to the side in October 2010. With mentors this good, it is no surprise that the likes of Azhar are blossoming so well. See also The criminally underrated Younis Khan

Misbah-ul-Haq - 9 (180 runs at 36.00): His calm, disciplined and calculated approach at the crease and in the field was mirrored by his charges. Even when Pakistan were behind in the last two Tests, there was no panic and a bowling change here and a fielding change there by Misbah helped Pakistan prevail. His record now stands at five wins and two draws in his seven series as captain during which time he also averages 65 with the bat. Imran had his cornered tigers, but Misbah has created the most professional side in Pakistan’s history. His captaincy was so good that he gets two extra marks for it. See also Responsibility and Misbah-ul-Haq

Asad Shafiq - 7 (167 runs at 33.40):Learnt his lesson after playing across the line when well set in the 1st innings in Abu Dhabi to play a decisive knock in the 2nd innings that helped give his bowlers something to play with. Stood tall with 45 as Pakistan were routed for 99 in the final Test to show that he has a big future at this level.

Adnan Akmal – 6 (89 runs at 17.80; 9 catches, 2 stumpings): Defied his unpromising gene pool to shine for the most part behind the stumps with only his vociferous and persistent appealing grating (even Stuart Broad is positively mute in comparison). A fifty in the 1st Test hinted at promise with the bat too.

Abdur Rehman – 9 (19 wickets at 16.73): Formed a lethal partnership with Ajmal where his accuracy was rewarded with the first two five wicket hauls of his Test career – the first of which spun England to catastrophic defeat in Abu Dhabi. Struggled badly with the bat against Swann.

Saeed Ajmal – 10 (24 wickets at 14.70): Magnificent. Teased with the teesra, tortured England’s batsmen with his accuracy and variation and tormented Ian Bell in particular with his doosra. Was the daddy from the off with his seven for 55 in the 1st Test where he made a friend for life in Bob Willis. Usurped Swann as the best spinner in world cricket on the field and best entertainer off it. If that wasn’t enough he also became the fastest Pakistani ever to 100 Test wickets.  See also Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

Umar Gul – 8 (11 wickets at 22.27): Underrated by many and underestimated by England’s batsmen. His burst of wickets in the 2nd innings in the 1st and 3rd Tests helped finish England off and provided marvellous support to his spinners throughout.

Aizaz Cheema – 4 (1 wicket at 70.00): Only delivered 27.2 overs in his two Tests but actually bowled pretty well. At least he will be able to tell his grandchildren that he played in the side that whitewashed (or more accurately green-washed) the world’s number one side.

Junaid Khan – 2 (1 Test, no wickets): Made Aizaz look overworked when he replaced him for the 2nd Test, delivering just eight overs in the game and bagging a pair at number 11. Nice work if you can get it.

Where next?

Pakistan vs England - England series marks out of 10

3rd Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

2nd Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

1st Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

India vs Pakistan Tests, if only...

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3rd Test: Pakistan vs England - Pakistan marks out of 10

Mohammad Hafeez –  4: A quiet match for the Professor. Fell victim to the DRS on the first morning to a not out decision that should never been overturned on review. Missed a sweep shot second time round and bowled just five overs in the game.

Taufeeq Umar – 2: A poor game for the opener with just six runs and he also dropped a dolly to reprieve Cook early in England’s run chase.

Azhar Ali – 9: Mentored by Misbah and inspired by Younis in their mammoth stand, the youngster really came of age with a masterful exhibition of composure, concentration and class. His 442 ball knock was over100 balls longer than either side’s 1st innings.

Younis Khan – 9: There was always the sneaking suspicion that he was too good a batsman not to play at least one telling innings in this series and so it proved. Also took a stunner at slip to get rid of the obdurate Cook – see also The criminally underrated Younis Khan

Misbah-ul-Haq – 6: For once didn’t make much of a contribution with the bat, but his leadership was astute, inspiring, calm and even lucky when an extended debate on whether to take the second new ball saw Broad hit the new cherry down Taufeeq’s throat. The Presidency of his country surely awaits.

Asad Shafiq – 6: Batted well whilst chaos reigned all around him in the 1st innings but undone by Monty second time around.

Adnan Akmal – 6: Apart from a shocking drop to reprieve Strauss that even big brother Kamran would have snaffled with his eyes shut, Adnan put in another good display behind the stumps as well as breaking the sound barrier with his over-eager appealing. No runs this time.

Abdur Rehman – 8: Tormented England again with a second successive five wicket haul to raise Pakistan from the floor after being bowled out for 99. Forms a lethal partnership with...

Saeed Ajmal – 9: Magnificent and far too good for England’s traumatised batsmen as he weaved his magic again. Dismissed Bell for the fourth time in the series. Did Danish Kaneira really use to be preferred to Ajmal?

Umar Gul – 8: Why is he so underrated? Gave his side an immediate boost with the wickets of Cook and Trott after they had folded with the bat on the first day and then took four more wickets to seal the whitewash (or should that be greenwash?).

Aizaz Cheema – 4: Came along for the ride, didn’t score a run and bowled just eight overs in the match. Good work if you can get it.

Where next?

3rd Test: Pakistan vs England - England marks out of 10

2nd Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

1st Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

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2nd Test: Pakistan vs England - Pakistan marks out of 10

Mohammad Hafeez - 8: After starring with the bat in Dubai, this time he contributed with the ball removing Strauss early on in the 1st innings and snaring the crucial wicket of Cook in the second after he had put England in a stranglehold with the new ball. A very fine all-round cricketer.

Taufeeq Umar - 4: The early signs were good as he and Hafeez compiled another fifty opening stand on the first morning, but looked unsure against spin and heard the death rattle in both innings against Swann.

Azhar Ali - 8: Courageous four hour 13 minute vigil for 68 precious runs gave his bowlers something to play with. Some criticised his approach, but without his Misbah-esque knock Pakistan would have been doomed.

Younis Khan - 3: Pakistan are 2-0 up in the series and their best batsman has yet to contribute. He got a beauty from Broad in the 1st innings an even better delivery from Panesar second time around.

Misbah-ul-Haq - 9: The MBA captain proved to be the master strategist again. His own contribution with the bat saw an impeccably watchful and well-timed 1st innings 84, but it was the way he organised, energised and deployed his troops that was so impressive. In seven series as captain (including the one off Test with Zimbabwe), his side have won five and drawn two with Misbah's own contribution being 1133 runs at 70.81. That is extraordinary.

Asad Shafiq - 8: Gave his wicket away when well set in the 1st innings but no doubt chastened by the criticism of Mohsin Khan, he quickly learned his lesson to form the crucial partnership of the Test with Azhar second time around. 

Adnan Akmal - 5: Failed to deliver with the bat this time and was like an excitable puppy behind the stumps where he made Stuart Broad look a reluctant appealer in comparison. Could do with turning down the volume and doubling the concentration.

Abdur Rehman - 9: Turned the ball more than anyone and having played the support role to Ajmal with aplomb took centre stage to devastating effect to rip England's doomed run chase to shreads.

Saeed Ajmal - 9: Became the quickest Pakistani to 100 Test wickets and the fastest since Ian Botham over 30 years ago. England played him better than they had in Dubai, yet Ajmal still took seven for 130 in the match and now has 17 wickets in the series at 13 a piece.

Umar Gul - 6: Only bowled 16 overs in the game, but did help peg England back by removing Ian Bell with the second new ball. A couple of lusty blows helped raise England's target even further.

Junaid Khan - 3: Bagged a pair and bowled just eight overs in the match, so should have plenty left in the tank for Dubai.

Where next?

2nd Test: Pakistan vs England - England marks out of 10

1st Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

Misbah-ul-Haq second only to Bradman

Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

Pakistan's gripping yarn keeps on spinning but fails to enthral Hollywood

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1st Test: Pakistan vs England - Pakistan marks out of 10

Mohammad Hafeez - 8 : Struck with his third ball to further embellish his golden arm tag. Batted beautifully but fell just 12 runs short of a deserved hundred after missing an attempted sweep off Swann. Had the honour of hitting the winning runs.

Taufeeq Umar - 7:  Notched up another fifty as part of his fifth century opening stand with Hafeez (a Pakistani record) before being undone by a peach of a ball from Broad to lose his off-stump.

Azhar Ali - 1: Surprised early on by movement off the seam to feather an edge behind off Broad: a failing that was all too evident in England in 2009.

Younis Khan - 5: Struggled initially against England's plan of bowling straight to him, but looked well set on 34 before suffering the embarrassment of being dismissed by the innocuous Trott.

Misbah-ul-Haq - 8: If Margaret Thatcher was the Iron Lady then Misbah is rapidly beoming the Iron Captain. Master stroke to turn to spin in the sixth over of the match brought immediate dividends. Batting falls into the efficient and effective category rather than the entertaining and engrossing one but brought up 2000 Test runs and his 12th 50+ score in 21 inns since taking over captaincy during which time his average is 74.

Adnan Akmal - 8: It is hard to believe that he comes from the same gene pool as the butter-fingered Kamran such was his tidiness and dependability behind the stumps. Looked assured with the bat too. Labour may have picked the wrong Milliband, but it seems Pakistan eventually picked the right Akmal.

Abdur Rehman - 7: The support act to Ajmal in the 1st innings although he did get one to turn to get the crucial wicket of Swann. Picked up three victims second time around though including Morgan with a clever arm ball. A good foil to Ajmal.

Umar Gul - 7: Perhaps the frustration of bowling on this pitch prompted his ridiculous persuasion of Misbah to refer one that pitched two pitches outside leg stump in the 1st innings, but kept running in and was rewarded by the collective brain fade of England's top four second time around.

Saeed Ajmal - 9: Made a friend for life in Bob Willis and a potential bunny in Bell as he dismantled England on the pitch and in the mind with a seven wicket haul in the 1st innings and ten in the match. Has 93 wickets in his 18 Tests now and 63 at 23.60 in the 11 Tests since Misbah assumed the captaincy. The best spinner on the planet? On this showing, without a doubt. Could even afford to smile at falling foul of the DRS (and the bungling Bowden) when batting.

Aizaz Cheema - 6: Suckered Trott into a dreaded legside caught behind on the first morning and looked lively until suffering a hamstring injury in the 2nd innings. That Pakistan will probably be stronger and more balanced if Junaid Khan or Wahab Riaz replace him is no reflection on Cheema.

Where next?

1st Test: Pakistan vs England - England marks out of 10

Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

Responsibility and Misbah-ul-Haq

How good are this England cricket team?

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Cricket memories of 2011: Pakistan rise from the abyss

For any other side the banning and eventual imprisonment of its former captain and two best bowlers coupled with the fact that for security reasons the team has to play its ‘home’ matches on foreign soil, an upturn in its fortunes would be more or less impossible.

But Pakistan are not a normal cricket team.

Following a successful tour to New Zealand, Pakistan performed admirably at the World Cup; sauntering to the semi-finals before losing to hosts India.

Since then things have continued to improve under the calm leadership of Misbah-ul-Haq, who at this rate will emulate Imran Khan in captaining his country past his 40th birthday.

If a drawn Test series in the Caribbean was a mild disappointment, a clean sweep of Test, ODI and T20 rubbers with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh showed that Pakistan are beginning to make real progress. Misbah and Younis Khan have provided stability in the middle order whilst the top three of Taufeeq Umar, Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali have all flourished. With the ball Saeed Ajmal reached 50 Test wickets for the year and has a claim to be the best spinner in the world at the moment and Umar Gul and Abdur Rehman have also impressed.

Whilst the opposition has been weak, Pakistan’s re-emergence seems to have momentum and they can be expected to provide a tough test for England when the two teams clash in the UAE from the end of January.

Where next?

The criminally underrated Younis Khan & the criminal negligence of Ijaz Butt

Responsibility and Misbah-ul-Haq

The Ten Commandments of Ijaz Butt

Hope from despair for Pakistan

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Our best XI of the 2011 World Cup

 
As the celebrations in India doubtless continue, it is time to select our Reverse Sweep World Cup 2011 XI based on performances over the six years weeks of the tournament:

Virender Sehwag (380 runs at 47.50, 1 100, 1 50, SR 122.58)

He may not have scored as many as others, but the impact of his runs was the most dramatic. In our view, Sehwag’s whirlwind cameo in the semi-final in the end proved the difference between the sides.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (500 runs at 62.50, 2 100s, 2 50s, SR 90.74; 8 wickets at 15.75 ER 4.06)

The tournament’s leading run scorer takes his place as the apprentice in our opening partnership to Sehwag’s sorcerer. Dilshan’s bowling was more than useful too – just ask Andrew Strauss – and he ended up with only one fewer wicket and a better economy rate than Harbhajan Singh.

Sachin Tendulkar (482 runs at 53.55, 2 100s, 2 50s, SR 91.98)

Is it sacrilegious to push the Little Master down the order to accommodate our choice of opening partnership? Maybe, but Tendulkar is clearly good enough to bat anywhere and is the ultimate team man. His longevity is astounding.

Kumar Sangakkara (465 runs at 93.00, 1 100, 3 50s, SR 83.78)

King Kumar was serenity personified throughout the tournament and he captains our side (although it was a wrench to leave out Dhoni). Is there a more underrated batsman in world cricket?

Mahela Jayawardene (304 runs at 50.66, 2 100s, 1 50, SR 100.00)

His impeccable hundred in the final leapfrogged Jayawardene above AB De Villiers in our XI. A great strike rate and but for the prolific Sri Lankan top three restricting his time at the crease, would have scored more runs in the tournament.

Yuvraj Singh (362 runs at 90.50, 1 100, 4 50s, SR 90.50; 15 wickets at 25.13, ER 5.02)

Lazarus. A cricketer reborn. And a decent pick as the player of the tournament. Yuvraj left his annus horribilis of 2010 behind to take the World Cup by the scruff of the neck. Without his masterful composure in the quarter-final against Australia, India would have suffered an ignominious exit. Also proved to be more than the pie chucker he was famously tagged by Kevin Pietersen.

Shahid Afridi (21 wickets at 12.85, ER 3.62; 84 runs at 12.00)

His batting was dire, but his excitable captaincy and devastating leg breaks galvanised Pakistan and propelled them to the semi-finals. He may not have added to his wicket tally in Mohali, but his incredible haul and impressive economy rate mean his selection for this side was automatic.

Dale Steyn (12 wickets at 16.00, ER 4.15)

This lionheart deserved better than to be part of a fragile side that reverted to type in the quarter-final against New Zealand. Others may have opted for Brett Lee, Umar Gul, Tim Southee or Kemar Roach who all had impressive tournaments, but none of these could have turned the game around against India as Steyn did in their group game.

Zaheer Khan (21 wickets at 18.76, ER 4.83)

Tied with Afridi as the tournament’s leading wicket taker and initially carried the Indian attack on his shoulders until his influence had a more positive effect on those around him in the knockout stages. Equally as dangerous at the start, middle and end of an innings and a master of reverse swinging the white ball.

Lasith Malinga (13 wickets at 20.76, ER 5.54)

Malinga was expensive at times, but was always a threat with that unplayable yorker and subtle changes of speed. So close to being the hero in the final when snaring Sehwag and Tendulkar, and always likely to get you a wicket.

Muttiah Muralitharan (15 wickets at 19.40, ER 4.09)

The final proved a match too far for Murali’s battered and bruised body, but even on one leg Murali still had a stunningly influential World Cup and the departing hero just pips Imran Tahir and Ray Price for the final spot in our XI.

Where next?

Who writes Muttiah Muralitharan's scripts?

The renaissance of Yuvraj Singh

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

Bruce Springsteen was born to run, MS Dhoni was born to lead

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

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World Cup Team Previews: Pakistan - Tigers or pussies?

 
After all the furore of the spot-fixing scandal, Pakistan have been doing rather nicely, thank you very much. After running England and South Africa close in ODI series’, New Zealand were put to the sword only a matter of weeks ago. The more chaotic it gets, the better that Pakistan seem to perform. So just how do you predict the unpredictable?

Strengths

Despite the enforced absence of Aamer and Asif, Pakistan still has strength and variety in its attack with the brilliant Gul, backed up by Wahab Riaz, Shoaib Akhtar and the impressive spinner Abdur Rehman. The emergence of the talented Ahmed Shehzad more than compensates for the suspended Butt and Misbah and Younis Khan have brought much needed stability to the middle order. And then there is Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq.

Weaknesses

Pakistan’s unpredictability can be a strength, but it also means that they habitually snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Kamran Akmal is a liability with bat and gloves and the fielding is shambolic at best.

Main man

Misbah-ul-Haq’s form has been a revelation since he came back into the side and he just pips Gul and Shehzad for this accolade.

Look out for…

Shahid Afridi, whether with bat or ball, directing his troops, eating cricket balls or pirouetting in the middle of the pitch, you just can’t keep your eyes off him.

Prediction

3rd in the group after a typically harrowing defeat against Australia, before bouncing back to beat serial chokers South Africa in the quarter-finals to set up the mother of all semi-finals with India. It is there that we predict that Pakistan’s World Cup journey will come to an end.

Where next?

Why Salman Butt commentating at the World Cup is a good idea

Exclusive: The New Ten Point Pakistan Player Code of Conduct

World Cup Team previews: Part 1 - India: Glory or effigies?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 2 - South Africa: Don't mention the 'C' word...

World Cup Team Previews: Part 3 - Bangladesh: Shock & Awe

World Cup Team Previews: Part 4 - West Indies: Calypso or Collapso?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 5 - England: How far can resilience take them?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 6 - Ireland/Canada/Kenya/Netherlands: Last chance for the minnows?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 7 - Zimbabwe - An army of spin

World Cup Team Previews: Part 8 - Australia: Four in a row?

Our XI to shine at the World Cup

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes including Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan

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It's a fix...

The world of cricket knew the Reverse Sweep was taking a four day break and it decided to issue a torrent of stories, scandal, conspiracy and madness in our absence:

• Pakistan actually won a cricket match thanks to an inspired spell of bowling by Umar Gul and some insipid batting from England, but still managed to become embroiled in yet more spot-fixing allegations
• Ijaz Butt confirmed that he is not of this world by making his first pronouncement on the spot-fixing debacle and duly accusing England of collapsing deliberately on Friday night. Is it any wonder that Pakistan's cricket is in such a mess with this imbecile in charge?
• Freddie Flintoff bowed to the inevitable and retired from cricket, which means that his last ever match was the victorious fifth test at The Oval last summer - a much more fitting end than some obscure Twenty 20 match  
• Somerset have become the eternal bridesmaids of English cricket by finishing second in everything - the thought of Marcus Trescothick and Peter Trego in frocks frightens us too
• Ian Bell has gone from the Beckhamesque with his broken foot to the Bradmanesque with his run filled return from injury 
• Oh, and the Champions League has apparently been taking place in South Africa. Ok, we haven't missed much there.

Clearly, this is a conspiracy perpetuated against the Reverse Sweep by other cricket writers around the globe. This is not a conspiracy to defraud bookies but a conspiracy to defraud the Reverse Sweep and this blog. The Reverse Sweep has taken it in hand to start our own investigations. We will shortly reveal the names of the people, the parties and the bodies involved in this sinister conspiracy and we also reserve the right to sue them for damages.

The guilty will be punished... 

The Boundary View: A day of two halves, Lord's, Day Two

Test cricket - the best game in the world

Detractors of test cricket should be made to watch a re-run of the whole day's play again and again. This was test cricket at its best as the day fluctuated from one side to the other. We saw brilliant bowling from Mohammad Aamer and excellent catching from Pakistan in the morning and then the bravest of rearguards from Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad before they launched a thrilling counterattack. Can any other form of cricket or any other sport offer a rollercoaster of action and emotion like test cricket? Of course not.

England's Mr Dependable

At the start of the summer, many observers predicted that Jonathan Trott was the most likely of the seven batsmen to miss out come the Ashes. How wrong they were (Yes, we were guilty too...). Trott has just gone quietly about his business in his own inimitable style and has now made the number three position his own. Trott's innings today probably even surpassed the hundred he made on debut in the Ashes decider last summer. The way he batted out of his crease and used his feet to nullify Mohammad Asif gave England some breathing space, which meant that first with Prior and then with Broad, Trott was able to lead England's amazing recovery. Trott passed 1,000 test runs during his innings, now averages 56 in tests and is what a shadow of a doubt England's Mr Dependable. What a turnaround.

Beating your Dad is sweet, but beating Ponting is sweeter

Not only was this Stuart Broad's first test and first-class hundred, but when he reached 123 it also became the highest score ever by an England number nine (beating Gubby Allen's landmark of 1931). After spending some time in the middle at The Oval during another rearguard (this time with Prior), Broad rediscovered the talent with the bat that hasn't been apparent for over a year now. It was a wonderfully positive knock and Broad proved a perfect foil to Trott's more obdurate style. Reaching a hundred also earned Broad bragging rights at home as his father's best test score at Lord's was 86. Broad is now on the honours board at the home of cricket where a certain Ricky Ponting's name is a notable absentee. Bet he can't wait to remind him of that come November 25th.

Aamer the record breaker

For the second test in a row, Mohammad Aamer was simply unplayable during an inspired spell. Last time it was a masterful display of pace, reverse swing and late movement, this time it was pace and traditional swing both ways as Aamer obtained late movement again to bamboozle England's out of form middle order. Prior's wicket after lunch gave him his second successive five for and his 50th wicket in test cricket, which if his passport is to be believed makes him the youngest bowler to reach this milestone in test history. He has now taken 30 wickets this summer and one wonders how much he could achieve in the game. On this form, the sky's the limit.  

Another test, another wretched England batting collapse

England's batting travails in this series have been highlighted and dissected throughout the week, but the loss of four wickets in eight Aamer balls was a new low. Trott and Prior may be in decent form, but the rest are having a dreadful run. The averages for five of the top six in this series make worrying reading. Morgan averages 29.16 despite that hundred at Trent Bridge. The others are even worse with Strauss 25.83, Cook 23.85, Pietersen 23.33 and Collingwood a calamitous 19.83. Ricky Ponting must be licking his lips in anticipation.

Butt backs the wrong horse

Apart from their woeful fielding during the Trott-Broad partnership, the worst aspect of Pakistan's play was the support bowling. For the first time in this series, England nullified the threat of Saeed Ajmal and played him with ease - especially Trott. Wahab Riaz, the hero on debut in the first innings at The Oval, looked like a novice and carried absolutely no threat. Whether Butt and Waqar went for Wahab over a fit again Umar Gul because of his performance at The Oval or because they want to save Gul for the one dayers, it was the wrong choice and has probably cost them the match. With Gul, Pakistan could have wrapped up the England innings for less than 150.

Player of the day

Take your pick from Aamer, Broad and Trott, but we opt for the latter. He was in when the ball was darting everywhere, skilfully handled Aamer and Asif and kept his focus despite all the chaos at the other end. England's Mr Dependable has probably secured the series for his side.

Zero of the day

Kevin Pietersen's form has gone from a concern to a disaster. He even admitted himself before this test match that he has lost his swagger and confidence. The shot he played to get out was dreadful with Geoff Boycott summing it up perfectly on Test Match Special "If I'd played a shot like that, I'd have cut my throat". Yes, it was that bad.

England vs Pakistan: 2nd test - Pakistan marks out of ten

Another defeat for Pakistan looked inevitable right from Salman Butt's foolhardy call at the toss. Butt's move was intended to  be a positive one, but the negative strokeless approach of Pakistan's batsmen was always likely to be ill-advised and so it proved as they fell to an embarrassing 72 all out. Pakistan could have collapsed into disarray after that, but they didn't and Butt must take some credit for that. His side fought back on both the second and third days to first restrict England to 251 after at one time being 177 for two. Then  the lower order resisted on the third day to avert an innings defeat and at least set England a target. The replacements for Kamran Akmal and Danish Kaneira, Zulqarnain Haider and Saeed Ajmal, both did well. However, there are massive problems to correct before the Oval with the top six batsmen and the abysmal fielding.

Here is how the Pakistan players rated on the Reverse Sweep report card:

Imran Farhat - 5 Was far too negative in the first innings when making a 24 ball duck, but was starting to look good in the second after a lot of hard graft, before his off-stump was removed by a jaffa from Swann. 

Salman Butt - 3 Brave but ill-advised call at the toss had the wheels falling off the Pakistan bus from the start. And it didn't get any better for the captain with two more single figure scores. Looks like he couldn't buy a run at present.

Azhar Ali - 4 Full marks for perspiration but not many for inspiration. Faced a tortuous 32 balls for his duck in the first innings and took a further 15 balls to get his first run in the second. Will be annoyed that he eventually undid his patient work in his second knock to be bowled through the gate by Swann attempting a booming drive.

Shoaib Malik - 3 Shifted up to four to provide some experience and solidity and was promptly out cheaply in both innings. Throughout his career there have been questions raised about Malik's technique at test level and he did nothing to contradict the doubters at Edgbaston. Maybe he was too busy watching his back with Mohammad Yousuf returning to the scene?

Umar Akmal - 4 Clearly has bags of talent, but is low on confidence and suffering from habitual poor shot selection. Looks like he could do with a batting masterclass from the newly arrived Mohammad Yousuf.

Umar Amin - 5 Looked better at six and got starts in both innings. Drives well, but perhaps this tour has come a bit early for this youngster? Struck again with his golden arm, as Trott joined North and Watson as Amin's test victims.

Zulqarnain Haider - 8 Kept tidily in the first innings with the only blemish being spilling an inside edge from Pietersen, but missed a couple of chances off Ajmal's bowling in the second. Nearly bagged a king pair but then showed bundles of character and quality to lead a lower order fightback. All in all, an extremely promising debut. Kamran who?

Mohammad Aamer - 7 Bowled and batted with a lot of heart without getting the wickets he deserved. Hung around for 117 balls for a resilient 16 in the second innings and looks to have the technique to develop into a good number seven. No wonder there are so many comparisons with Wasim Akram.

Umar Gul - 5 Will be devastated that his hamstring will prevent him playing on the expected reverse swing friendly pitches at The Oval and Lord's. Pakistan will miss his quality and experience.

Saeed Ajmal - 8 Where has he been? Bowled with guile and excellent variations in pace and flight to bag a five for as a number of England batsmen failed to pick him. Then scored a spirited first test fifty despite being battered and bruised by the England quicks. Has consigned Danish Kaneira to spending the rest of the summer at Essex. Lucky Danish.

Mohammad Asif - 7 Was his usual reliable self with the ball without grabbing the number of wickets he deserved. Must wish that he played in a team with better batsmen and fielders who can actually catch the ball.

England vs Pakistan: 1st test - Pakistan marks out of ten

After the euphoria of the Headingley win over Australia, Pakistan came crashing down to earth with a bump at Trent Bridge. The margin of victory didn't tell the whole story however, as on Saturday afternoon with England 98 for six, some Pakistan supporters may have been sensing an unlikely victory.

However, the Pakistan batting is in such a parlous state that even chasing a target of 120 would have probably been beyond them. To say the batters let down the star pace trio of Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer and Umar Gul would be a massive understatement.

The PCB have now pressed the panic button and sent for the cavalry in the shape of the supposedly 'retired' Mohammad Yousuf. That the Pakistan batting needs more quality and experience is a given, but bringing back Yousuf who has not played first class cricket since March seems strange when Younis Khan is also available and has recently played county cricket for Surrey.

The treatment of Danish Kaneira is even worse. Yes, he had an appalling match at Trent Bridge, but he did reasonably well against Australia and to send a man with 261 wickets back to county cricket rather than working with him in the nets seems very peculiar.  

Salman Butt certainly has a lot on his hands, not least the interesting prospect of brokering some sort of peace deal between Yousuf and Shoaib Malik, who have been at daggers drawn for some time. According to Cricinfo, Butt and team coach Waqar Younis were not even consulted about Yousuf's inclusion so the next few weeks could provoke yet more turmoil in the mad world of Pakistan cricket.

Here are the marks out of ten for the XI who played at Trent Bridge:

Imran Farhat - 6 Of the Pakistan top five, Farhat was the best of a bad bunch as at least he fought and stuck around for a while in both innings. The ball from Anderson that bowled him in the first innings was an absolute cracker that better batsmen than Farhat would have struggled to keep out.

Salman Butt - 4 Two single figure scores from the captain, with his dismissal in the second innings being particularly disappointing. Only two matches into his captaincy, Butt now has the interesting prospect of reintegrating the precious Yousuf back into the fold.

Azhar Ali - 4 Foolishly didn't refer his dismissal in the first innings, where he was caught after the ball clipped his pocket and then made a duck in the second innings. Should be retained however, as Azhar looked pretty good against the Aussies.

Umar Amin - 3 Likely to be the fall guy who has to make way for Yousuf, and to tell the truth looks a bit out of his depth at this level. The folly of playing two inexperienced players at three and four cost Pakistan dearly here.

Umar Akmal - 3 Poor dismissals in both innings having only scored four runs each time. The good impression he made in New Zealand and Australia over the winter is fading fast. Is it a lack of confidence or over-confidence?

Shoaib Malik - 6 Looked the most assured of all the Pakistan batsmen in the first innings other than Gul and also took a couple of wickets with his offbreaks. We wonder how much Malik is looking forward to his reunion with Yousuf? Oh, to be a fly on the wall of that particular meeting.

Kamran Akmal - 1 The wicketkeeper was going to have to go some to beat his Sydney flop, but he may just have managed it here. Stood too far back, so missed getting Morgan early during his hundred, dropped a straightforward chance to reprieve Strauss and then there was the astonishing missed stumping of Collingwood. To cap a thoroughly miserable match, Akmal then bagged a pair. Gets a point for his stunning catch to dismiss Pietersen in the second innings, although even that was a bit fortunate given that it stuck in his webbing.

Mohammad Aamer - 8 Showed more application with the bat than any of his supposed specialist batting colleagues, and bowled with heart, fire and skill throughout the game. A real talent.

Umar Gul - 8 Bowled like a drain in the first innings, but his brilliant 65 not out saved Pakistan from the follow-on. This seemed to inspire him and his bowling rhythm returned in the second innings with three deserved wickets.

Danish Kaneira - 2 A game to forget for Kaneria with 1 wicket for 171 from only 33 overs, but does he deserve to be sent back to Essex? A man with 261 test wickets deserves better.

Mohammad Asif - 8 Bowled beautifully on the second morning to inspire an England collapse and then reached his century of test wickets in only his 20th test to equal Waqar's Pakistan record. Rated the second best bowler in the world, and looked every inch of it. Like Aamer and Gul, deserves to be playing in a side with a stronger batting line-up.

Pakistan's fast bowling dynasty lives on with current trio of princes

It seems ironic that when bitter rivals India would give their right arm for a decent fast bowler, Pakistan have three genuinely world-class pace bowlers operating together in tandem. Just ask Ricky Ponting and his embarrassed colleagues after they succumbed to 88 all out in the Headingley test last week.

After breaking that 15 year hoodoo, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer and Umar Gul now turn their sights to the England batsmen with the four match series starting at swing friendly Trent Bridge on Thursday. England may be clear favourites to win the series, but Andrew Strauss and his fellow batsmen should not underestimate the damage that this potent triumvirate could wreak.

South African supporters may disagree, but Salman Butt arguably has the best pace attack currently operating in test cricket at his disposal, especially as each offers something different. Asif provides unerring accuracy and like Glenn McGrath has an ability to put ball after ball into the batsman's corridor of uncertainty, whilst Gul has a lethal yorker and will be hoping for hot and dry conditions to get his reverse swing going. 

Potentially the best of the lot is left-armer Aamer, especially if he really is only 18. He already has an excellent cricket brain in the way that he varies his lines of attack and has developed an uncanny ability for getting top batsmen out; Aamer has now got Ponting out four times in five tests. No wonder Wasim Akram has conceded that Aamer is even better than he was at the same age.

 
Whilst the line of top-class West Indian pacemen has dried up, Pakistan's royal line of pace kings continues to flourish. From the man who supposedly created reverse swing Safraz Nawaz, through to the imperial Imran Khan, the devastating pair of Wasim and Waqar and then the brilliant but troubled Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan has given cricket some formidable fast bowlers over the last 30 years.

Princes Asif, Aamer and Gul have advice close at hand with Waqar now Pakistan's coach and fellow 1990s quick Aaqib Javed the bowling coach. The latter may have spent most of his career in the shadow of Imran, Wasim and Waqar, but he was an excellent bowler who could swing the ball conventionally and reverse. If he had been Indian, he would have played at least twice the number of tests (22) he managed for Pakistan.

Butt and Waqar will know that if they can get the batting right then Pakistan could cause England a few nasty surprises. Asif, Aamer and Gul can certainly be counted on to further enhance their burgeoning reputations over the summer and continue Pakistan's rich fast bowling dynasty.   

Pakistan vs Australia - Pakistan marks out of ten

Pakistan cricket can be accused of a lot of things but boring is not one of them. Accordingly, a wonderful test match at Headingley had a fittingly nail biting ending before Pakistan finally threw the monkey off their backs and beat Australia in a test match for the first time since Mushtaq Ahmed spun them to victory at Sydney in 1995.

It may only have been a two match series, but the MCC Spirit of Cricket Series saw Pakistan field two captains after Shahid Afridi lost his marbles at Lord's. Salman Butt made an impressive start to his reign. He even showed he had that most important of assets a captain needs. Luck. Both times he brought on the part-time medium pace of Umar Amin he was rewarded with a wicket.

Despite possessing arguably the best pace attack in world cricket at the moment (although South African supporters may question that), Pakistan are far from the finished article. Butt is the only batsman who has sufficient experience and class and the side could do with at least one of Younis Khan or Mohammad Yousuf; both of whom average over 50 in test cricket.

That said, some of the ingredients are there to suggest that Pakistan are going to be competitive against England in the forthcoming series. Here are the Reverse Sweep marks out of ten for those that played in the two games against Australia.

Salman Butt - 8 (213 runs, Average 53.25, HS 92): Looked a class apart from his batting colleagues at Lord's, where he should have converted at least one of his fifties into a big hundred. Then from the chaos of Afridi's resignation, he captained the side with aplomb at Headingley. Now needs to get that batting average where it belongs for someone with his talent - over 40.

Imran Farhat - 7 (138 runs, Average 34.50, HS 67): Gets an extra point for his patient and composed 67 in the run chase at Headingley. He may not be the most popular player amongst his own supporters judging by comments on Twitter or Test Match Sofa, but the talent is there. Needs to make his Headingley knock the template for the future.

Azhar Ali - 7 (139 runs, Average 34.75, HS 51): Dropped in at the deep end for his first two test matches at number three and showed plenty of promise. His century partnership with Farhat in the second innings run chase at Headingley should have set up a comfortable win. Looks like he could develop into a decent test match batsman if given a run in the side.

Umar Amin - 4 (59 runs, Average 14.75, HS 33. 2 wickets, Average 9.50): Another debutant thrown to the wolves. Difficult to judge on just two matches, but with Butt suggesting Pakistan will resist the urge to send an SOS for Yousuf or Younis, we should know more about Amin by the end of the summer. Would seem to have a bit of a golden arm with the ball though - just ask Marcus North or Shane Watson.

Umar Akmal - 3 (56 runs, Average 14.00, HS 22): Immensely talented (as he showed on debut against New Zealand) but needs to learn to slip out of Twenty 20 and one day mode when compiling a test innings. Played some outrageous shots in the two games, mostly at inappropriate times. Needs to go back to the drawing board.

Shahid Afridi - 5 (33 runs, Average 16.50, HS 31): He came, he slogged, he retired. If he had hung around for another hour in the first innings at Lord's we would have been talking about one of the great counterattacking test innings. Of course, the script was very different. His brief captaincy though does seem to have brought some spirit and unity back into the Pakistan cricket side.

Shoaib Malik - 5 (36 runs, Average 18.00, HS 26): Mohammad Yousuf's best friend replaced Afridi at Headingley and as so often in his stop-start test career, Malik left many observers questioning whether he is good enough for the five day format. If Pakistan do send for Yousuf or Younis, it should be Malik who makes way.

Kamran Akmal - 6 (74 runs, Average 18.50, HS 46): Actually looked like a test class wicketkeeper again after the horrorshow of Sydney. His three quickfire boundaries in the second innings at Headingley finally settled the match in Pakistan's favour. Still doesn't justify his ability with the bat consistently enough though especially with his side's long tail.

Mohammad Aamer - 9 (11 wickets, Average 22.27, BB 4/72): This boy is going to be special. Wasim Akram has already conceded that Aamer is better than he was at the same age, which tells you all you need to know. Has wonderful variations of attack and a cunning brain. Has now dismissed Ponting four times in five tests, which will make him popular with England supporters. And he is only 18.

Umar Gul - 8 (8 wickets, Average 23.62, BB 4/61): The third part of Pakistan's fearsome pace triumvirate bowled well in both matches especially in the second innings at Lord's. Will hope for a hot English summer so that he can get his reverse swing going.

Mohammad Asif - 9 (11 wickets, Average 23.00, BB 3/30): Has unerring accuracy and it would seem comes from the same school of metronomic bowling as Glenn McGrath. Has 94 wickets from 19 tests at an average of 23.18. With controversy now behind him, Asif could now be set to challenge Dale Steyn for the title of the best seamer in the world.

Danish Kaneira - 6 (6 wickets, Average 34.33, BB 2/49): Played the support role to his trio of pacemen and did a decent enough job. Wouldn't have enjoyed his treatment from fellow leggie Steve Smith in the Australian second innings at Headingley.