Try This At Home

The spin strategy has not in general worked out for Pakistan. Not only have they lost matches on placid wickets at home they have managed to keep their fast bowlers on the injured list continuously. People who argue that Pakistan should play on fast wickets because fast bowling is where their strength lies have a small point. The spin-convinced counter by pointing to Pakistan's weak batsmen. The real reason why Pakistan should try fast wickets is precisely because of the nature of the batting weakness. For most Pakistani batsmen the wicket is not the issue. Whether the wicket is placid or not they just do not possess the ability to occupy the crease for long periods of time. The best strategy is to play on very fast pitches, with uneven bounce, where the average scores are 250 or less in any case. Pakistan's series in South Africa should go some way in convincing the doubters.

The Horror Movie Ending

Horror movies usually irritate me. The Hair affair has all the ingredients of one: Plenty of blood and gore on display without actually meaning anything and the nagging ending. The evil has been defeated or so everyone seems to think but the final shot let's the audience know how it's coming back, in a sequel if the movie does well enough. Now we find out that Hair will actually be around until 2009 and there is purported rehabilitation in process. PCB needs to be vigilant. One thing that was attacked was previous documentation of offenses. Everything needs to be done in the open and PCB should insist on it. An investigation of Fletcher, Proctor, Hair nexus needs to be completed and whatever the results be well documented. Also an investigation into Hair's allegation of Koertzen needs to be carried out. The roles of support that Speed has played for Hair need to be looked at. The board would be well advised to get rid of the current executive. Pressure needs to be maintained but I do believe, sadly, that the PCB will drop the ball. Already they believe that they have defeated and killed the alien not knowing what the audience knows: Within the carcass of this tribunal case the alien has germinated and just pushed its ugly head out again.