Yousuf gives the kiss of life!

Desdemona: No, unfasten my dress here. This Lodovico is a fine person.

Emilia: A very handsome man.

Desdemona: He speaks very nicely.

Emilia: I know. A lady in Venice would have walked bare-foot to Palestine to have a kiss on his lower lip.
(The Tragedy of Othello by William Shakespeare - Act IV, Scene III, Lines 35-39)

One can fathom how charismatic Lodovico was, that made Emilia, Iago’s wife, to make such a remark about him in William Shakespeare’s masterpiece Tragedy, Othello. Yesterday, November 20, 2006, at 11:01 AM local time, Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf had much larger audience than Lodovico, who could walk bare-foot to National Stadium to greet their hero for his epic achievement. None else since WG Grace, a bearded wonder has dominated the cricket field with such sleekness, until Yousuf unleashed his batting powers from heaven since the dawn of the year. In twelve months, the cricketing world has tilted on its axis from being Yousuf Youhana to Mohammad Yousuf. For 322 days, between Januray 13 and November 30, Yousuf batted, and batted and batted to topple one of the longest standing records in cricket history.

Ever since his conversion from Christianity to Islam in 2005, Yousuf’s average grew more rapidly than his beard. His conversation rate (fifties to centuries) is Bradmanesque. Almost every other start by Yousuf is now turned into a century. His last 13 fifty plus scores have produced 10 centuries. In his first 20 Tests he scored a single century; in his next 53 Tests he has made 22.

One hopes he would continue his golden run in the upcoming South African tour and performance on those pitches would surely enhance his stature as a batsman. Its time for our media and public to hail his achievements just as Indian media does for their players when they perform. We salute Mohammad Yousuf for coming of age!

Life........dopeafter!

Life produces strange finishes. Sometimes, Kings grow humble, millionaires turn paupers and even the demon Bradman got a duck in his last Test appearance. Shoaib Akhtar would be perhaps contemplating all that since last week - one of most dangerously exciting talents on the cricketing earth has been banned for the offence he claims was done in ignorance. What future has instore for him is unknown. However, Khaqi Bhai, caricaturing for Jang, suggests a life dopeafter [not hereafter] for the pacer!

So what if Pakistan lost!

Muhammad Asim, impersonating for Younis Khan, finds a virtue in Pakistan’s recent debacle

Commentator: Younis, how would you sum up team’s pathetic performance in such a big event?
Younis Khan: Bismillah Hirah’Manir Raheem! First of all thanks to Allah that we lost. Because nothing fails like success; you don’t learn from success you learn only from failure. We are unique because we do not learn either way, we have our own ways or learning, which are known to us only and I am not allowed to share with you. I am sorry for that. So in short, one can say that there is a blessing in disguise. The boys are obviously very happy that it was a team effort. The good thing about our side is that they just not only put up as a team in victories but in defeats too. So here is clue for you that we are working as a team.

Commentator: Pakistan lost a match from a commanding position. Your thoughts?
Younis Khan: It is just Allah’s will that we failed to win the match. So there is nothing much we can do about it. You should also keep in mind that we reduced South Africa to 42 for five and why we didn’t try to bowl them out is because the match would have been over so early and you know there is lots of advertising and booking involved on TV channels. Plus the spectators would not have liked such a short match as they paid in full. So, you see there are a lot of hidden factors involved. Cricket is not always about just winning. It teaches self-sacrifice and you know we never miss the chance to learn and lose! Secondly, South Africa is also a good team and as you know they always choke in the final stages of the big event. You should remember what happened to them in 1992 World Cup then in 1996 and in 1999. In 2003 too, Sri Lanka ended their run. So, in a team meeting we decided to always take care of opposition’s rights and that is why I have said we did our best.

Commentator: But people had huge expectations from your side after Pakistan won against Sri Lanka? People believe their Eid was spoiled as you sunk without a straw twice in three days?
Younis Khan: Leave a thought of Bangladesh, they just played the qualifying round and left. Aren’t they Muslim too? What about their Eid? Being a Muslim, there is no surety that you would win on your religious festivals. Have you ever witnessed any foreign team saying that they should win on Christmas, Easter or on Diwali? I assume that’s why Test matches always start on Boxing Day (Dec 26) and not a day earlier. Secondly, I can’t understand why ICC didn’t put us in the qualifying round and why they had West Indies there? But I am sure next time would join Bangladesh. So what if we couldn’t make it to semis? Imagine if we had reached the semis and had to face India and lost then people would have said that “iss say to acha hota k semi-final mein jatay he naa” We atleast won against Sri Lanka. So take some heart from it. If we hadn’t won against them then people would have said that we failed to win a single match. So you see it is always difficult to keep every one happy all the time. When we lost to New Zealand we thought we would win against South Africa just because we are not consistent in our wins so why should we be in our loss? But I am really amazed that we lost again. But, please try to see from this angle - we have achieved atleast some consistency, even by losing two matches on trot! But mark my words - people would still say that we are not consistent. You know people always complain!

Commentator: Would you agree that some of the poor strokes played by the Pakistani batsman literally brought the demise of the team? They shouldn’t be playing the shots they played?
Younis Khan: Being a Muslim you must remember that we can just try and the rest is in Allah’s hands. If Imran Farhat slashes outside of the off-stump then he is doing his best, it is Allah’s will if he gets an edge or a top-edge or it is carried to the keeper or goes to the boundary or straight into the hands of the fielder. In the last two matches when myself and Afridi skied the ball we just try to hit over the moon into the Jerusalem but see at the moment it is not Allah’s will but atleast we tried.

Commentator: So what for future now. West Indies would be touring you and then you would be touring South Africa and then the biggie – The World Cup?
Younis Khan: As, I said earlier, the world rests on hope. I am not certain if we would win because as a Muslim only Allah knows the unknown. Against West Indies, yeah we would have home advantage but also keep in mind the home pressure. Our people expect a lot when we are at home as compared to when we play abroad. So we usually crumble under such pressure. And West Indies are no babes of cricket. In the recent past they had some very poor performances in away tours and people don’t believe if they belong to the same nation whom once people called the “Mighty West Indies”. So it hurts me a lot too and we would try to give them some consolation wins atleast. One should not be mean in winning. Other teams also play to win, so I hope you have got the idea. Right? For South African tour and the World Cup, it is too early to say anything but we would love to start the ventures as underdogs. You know we perform best when we are labeled as underdogs.

Humiliation, no surprise!

Success cannot visit a team whose players do not yearn for the same. More than two decades ago, under Imran Khan, Pakistan team had built a reputation of not giving up till the very end and by the virtue of that they turned many certain defeats into a victory. In the few years since Imran putt off his boots, the side achieved a similar feat when another warrior Wasim Akram led the side but now for quiet some time they are just the opposite - fritting away the advantage and losing games which they shouldn’t in normal circumstances.

Defeats are nothing new to us. We are used to regular setbacks but the way in which they have lost the last two matches is painful. The rout is colossal and every cricket lover is seething with rage. Defeats are part of the game but why we must we grab the larger share? The manner of losses also causes immense hurt – batsman don’t ground their bat and get run-out, bowlers give too many extras, even spinners concede no-balls, throws from deep arrive in relays, and keeper just can’t hit the stumps. Neither they can bat’ through the innings nor can bowl out the opposition even after reducing them to 39 for 3 and 42 for 5. Pakistan missed chances as if it has become a fashion. The list of grouses is long, which raises some troubling questions: what is lacking? Are our players non-serious about their game, or lacking sting to really kill the opposition?

At Mohali, twice in three days, Pakistan looked like a team eager only to catch the first available flight home. In the last two matches Pakistan batting floundered cheaply. They looked like a team who has an appointment in the pavilion. Infact they have the unique ability to get out without any rhyme of reason. They seem only to have contempt for consistency. Younis Khan was quiet vocal in saying that “there is no guarantee that every player will score in every tournament”. He was correct to the last miserable detail - for the same is true for him, after all he has already scored much on the recent England tour and his token was full.

One major factor which Bob Woolmer and Co. has failed to resolve, ever since Saeed Anwar left, is the opening enigma. Pakistan has tried more pairs (21) than Shoaib have his pair of socks since the last World Cup. From quite some time it has become a general feeling that Pakistan is already one down whenever they come out to bat. If it was an illusion any more, Pakistan openers have tried to reassure this notion ever since the England tour - either of the openers departs so early as if Younis Khan doesn’t like waiting with pads on. Such is the level of support for the Pakistani captain, which is seen to be believed. Yet he thought himself to be a dummy captain right before the event.

Imran Farhat has been playing at international level for quiet some time now but he has failed to come up with any of the qualities that distinguish good and reliable openers. He has no control or defence to his batting. He uses his bat like an axe. He slashes and misses, slashes and for a cheeky four the next and then slashes again, this time straight to the fielder’s hands. He cannot resist the temptation and thus succumbs to it.

Who is to blame? the infrastructure, the board or the team? The common thinking is that the players are unfocused, unskilled and lack any strategy or technique to manage their innings. They are professionals who do not perform. But to simply blame the player would be unfair because they are product of the system - the system which is mainly responsible for a debacle. Every now and then we see Pakistan side falling like nine-pins on bouncy tracks or where the ball drifts. Infact commenting on what radical changes Pakistan Cricket needs’ is out of the scope of this piece. But one thing is sure that going by these standards and structure we would end nowhere.

Cricket needs a 'Hair'-cut now!

Inspite of all the character and pride shown by the Pakistani team, headed by their captain and all the officials of the PCB, its Darrel Hair who has the last laugh. Pakistan lost a match which had only one winner since the first morning. They were disgraced over this stupid act. With Inzi facing a possible four Test or eight ODI match ban, one wonders what solace Pakistan captain would take from all this mess in the final scenario.

One fails to understand why the protest was launched in between the day’s play when there is no support for this action in the book. This could have been better done after stumps. Ill-knowledge of the laws of the game is nothing new to Inzamam or even Pakistan cricket. But it was also made sure on Sunday, that none of the PCB gurus, loitering in the balcony with mobile phones, knew the rule-book. They even failed to deploy the tricks of the diplomacy, which they had been professing throughout their career until they decided to mess-up with Pakistan cricket.

Hair could have been best revenged by written words to the ICC not by denial to come to the ground. If sanity had prevailed then it was most appropriate to have a written statement by the team and board to the match referee, ICC and the media that “we have been accused of ball tampering without any proof, we have been labeled as cheats and as a proud nation we protest against it….” and so on. How on earth this never came to their mind? Agreed, Inzamam had all the powers to decide the issue for his side but he could be advised or told by the so-called ambassadors and knowledgeable officials of the Pakistan Cricket board that this is not the way.

The point is not to support Hair or criticize Inzamam or PCB, the point is to support common-sense. Hair knew his rules well, although he forgot the ethics and spirit taught in his school or what his mama told him when he was a kid. Hair thinks his two eyes saw what 20 cameras missed. He always knew that ICC would not over-rule his decision as what he has done is mentioned in the book – umpires have got all the powers to decide the issue – and his stance, ego, stubbornness would be underscored by the authority for which he is working for. And that is what has happened. A five-minute protest inside the dressing-room became eternal enigma for Pakistan cricket.

The spirit of cricket is also to play in the worst of the circumstances. But there are no prizes for guessing that Inzamam and co. are not aware of this. It is understandable that they had been deeply hurt by the racist Hair and it had become a matter of pride for the Pakis. But at the same moment more pride was at stake in winning the game and reduce the hosts’ margin of victory in the series. ICC has clearly laid out the rules, some go with you some go against you. There is no point in criticizing the rules if they are chosen at one’s free will. If Pakistan think pride is better than the game then they should keep their word - they shouldn’t be playing any more cricket with Hair even acting as the reserved umpire in any international match.

For ICC, its time to decide which one is the bigger – players, umpires, rules or the game itself? If umpires continue chirping like this - tormenting the whole side by their unproved accusations - then game of cricket would end-up in a horrible mess. ICC has penalized Pakis of their ignorance of the rule-book by not coming out to field. What ICC would do with Hair if he fails to prove what Inzi and his side never did? Surely, cricket needs are Hair-cut now.

Consecutive fifties and highest batting average as captain

* With his second fifty-plus score of the match, Pakistan’s Inzamam-ul-Haq created a new world record of most consecutive fifties by a batsman against a particular country. A run-stretch from the Old Trafford Test in 2001, Inzi has now gone nine successive innings (114, 85, 53, 72, 109, 100*, 97, 69, 56*) against England with atleast a half-century in each one of them. This broke the 22-year old record of eight fifties on trot by West Indian Clive Lloyd against England from June 1980 to June 1984. Interestingly, all of Lloyd’s scores were as captain while Inzamam’s seven of the nine scores were registered while he was leading the Pakistan side. So, Lloyd still holds the record of most consecutive fifty-plus scores by a captain against England. See Tables 1 & 2.

* Salman Butt became only the fourth Pakistani batsman for the fifth time to be dismissed on the very first ball of an innings. See Table 3.

* Pakistan have now gone 10 Tests without losing one. Their last defeat was against West Indies at Bridgetown in May 2005 when they were drubbed by 276 runs. Since then they have played 10 Tests won 5, drew 5. See Table 4.

* At the end of the Lord’s Test, Inzamam now has a Test batting average of 61.72 as captain. Among captains who have scored atleast 1000 or more in Test cricket this is now the third best among all after Don Bradman’s incredible 101.52 and Ricky Ponting’s 63.21. Against England as captain (with 500 runs or more), Inzi betters Bradman with an average of 111.2. See Tables 5 & 6.

* Inzamam's twin scores of fifty plus in the Lord's Test makes him only the second man after Alan Border to have 11 or more twin-fifties in a match. Border had scored fifty in both innings of the match on 13 occasions while Inzi has now registered 11 such instances. See Table 7.

Yousuf only the second player to score back-to back double tons against England

* Inzamam's sedate 69' was his eighth consecutive score of fifty or more runs in as many as innings against England - a sequence that dates back to third Test at Old Trafford in 2001. This equalled West Indian Clive Lloyd's record of most consecutive fifties by a batsman against England. Inzamam's brilliant run stretch also bettered George Headley's 680 runs as the most by any batsman in eight successive innings against England. See Table 1.

* Muhammad Yousuf's masterful 202 made him only the second man after Bradman to score back-to-back 200-plus scores against England. Bradman smashed 304 at Leeds and then 244 at The Oval in successive Tests on the famous 1934 Ashes series in England.

* For the second time in his 8 year Test career, Muhammad Yousuf carried his bat throughout the full day's play for Pakistan. The previous instance for him was last year when he scored 99 runs in whole of the 3rd day against England at Lahore. However, His 165 runs on the third day at Lord's are now fifth highest by any batsman against England without being dismissed in a full day's play. It is also the highest accumulation of runs by a Pakistani batsman without losing his wicket in a full day's play. See Tables 2 & 3.

* Yousuf became only the seventh double centurion at Lord's. He is also the fifth Pakistani to reach 200-figure mark in an innings for the sixth time on English soil. See Tables 4 & 5.

* Geraint Jones dismissed five Pakistani batsmen behind the stumps. He became the first keeper for England to achieve this feat in a Test innings against Pakistan. See Table 6.

First four-Test rubber for Pakistan in 14 years

* For the first time in 14 years Pakistan would be playing a four (or more) match Test series against any Test playing nation. For reasons better known to ICC or perhaps PCB, the last time Pakistan did so was when they were World Champions - in 1992 Javed Miandad led Pakistan to a thumping win by 2-1 scoreline in a five match series mostly remembered by Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis’ twin destruction, of Graham Gooch’s camp, sharing 43 of the 71 English wickets, between them, that fell in the series.

* Since the 1992 series against England, Pakistan has only played either three, two or one-off match series. As compared to other teams like Australia, South Africa, England and West Indies’ have played four or more match rubbers regularly during the same time period. See Tables 1 and 2 for more details.

* At Lord's, both teams have an equal win record with three wins against each other. The last time, Lord’s saw a draw between these two sides was in 1987 when the rain won the show with just England’s first innings being completed.

* In the last eight series between the two sides Pakistan have won six, lost one and drew one. Head-to-head, England though still enjoys a better record against Pakistan. In the 63 Tests played so far, England has won 16 as compared to 12 by Pakistan. See Table 3 for series by series break-up of both teams.

Most overs by a captain in a Test innings

While Sri Lanka managed to escape a heavy defeat by skin of their teeth, it was English bowlers who were toiled to break the resistance. In the process, their captain Andrew Flintoff provided one of the rarest instances in the last 17 years of international Test cricket. By bowling 51 overs for his two wickets in Sri Lanka's second innings, the English captain registered only the 18th occasion of a captain bowling 50 or more overs in an innings. Flintoff became the 11th captain to do so. The last time a captain had to bear such burden was way back in 1989-90 when Imran Khan sent down 50.2 overs against India at Lahore. For reader's interest the accompanying table has the complete detail.

Drawing from the jaws of defeat!

Sri Lanka’s remarkable rearguard in the recently concluded first Test at Lord’s was only the tenth instance of a side scoring 500 or more runs after following on. The total of 537 for 9 is also the joint-fifth highest innings score by a side in such scenario. Just for record, only two of the ten Tests had decisive results while the remaining ended in draws.

Pakistan’s total of 657/8 against West Indies in 1957-58 still remains unsurpassed as the highest follow-on score. Though, India made a similar effort five years ago against Australia at Kolkata. For reader’s interest the accompanying table has the complete details.



Results are from the perspective of the sides listed first.

Inside Edge Reloaded!

Hello folks!

Howzaattt!!!
I finally got some time off in the last few days to redesign my Blog. I hope you would find the current format better and good looking. Anyways, I had received some emails from some of my friends asking that my Blog is not opening. As a matter of fact, the problem was with the BlogSpot domains which has not been solved yet. Many other users of BlogSpot are experiencing the same problems. But I have fixed it for myself and hope no one would be facing any problems in seeing my Blog atleast.

Secondly, now you can reach on my Blog through the following other addresses:

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For those who are facing problems in viewing my Blog through www.thestatistician.blogspot.com address then please bookmark the above mentioned three addresses.

I would be posting regularly from now on. There would be some other cool changes you would see on my Blog in near future.

If you have any comments on the new format of my Blog then mail me!

Razzaq's double and most nervous nineties

Pakistan's Muhammad Yousuf completed his 7000 runs in ODIs. He achieved this feat when he scored a single during the third match of the series against India at Lahore. He became only the 21st batsman overall to reach this milestone. It is interesting to note that Yousuf is yet to score 7000 ODI career runs while playing for Pakistan. After the third match of the ongoing series, his tally of runs now stands at 6953 runs from 206 games. The remaining 47 runs are those which he scored while playing for Asian XI and World XI in 2005. Table 1, 2, 3 & 4 gives statistical analysis of Yousuf's ODI batting career.

* Shoaib Malik smashed his third successive 90-plus score in as many as matches. He has now totaled 293 runs in eight days since the start of the ODI series on February 6, 2006. This is now the eleventh highest aggregate of runs by a Pakistani batsman in eight consecutive days. See Table 5.

* Abdul Razzaq became the fifth all-rounder to achieve the double of 200 wickets and 4000 runs in one-day internationals. Curiously enough, he is yet to complete this feat while playing for Pakistan because 49 of his 4030 runs came for Asian XI and World XI, just as in Yousuf's case above.

* Sachin was dismissed in the 90s for the tenth time in his career. This created a new world record of most nineties by a batsman in ODIs. He shared the previous record of nine 90s with Aravinda de Silva and Andy Flower. Had Sachin not missed any of these ten century making opportunities he would have been just one short of his 50th ton in ODIs today.Click to see the tables

One man, different arts

Man is mortal but not his art. I sometimes feel if I get a chance to rebirth I would beseech my Allah to recreate me as an artist. My cricket writing, captivation for records, statistics and programming on my cricket stats database is perhaps just another way of satisfying the never ending desire to remain in the world of creativity. My blog is mainly for my cricketing reasons but there are some exceptions in life. My friend Malik Talal Hussain spared his special time to produce this sketch. Although, a non-professional artist, who has never attended or studied fine arts, but it was just his natural fascination with the canvas’ alongside with his various tools, which lets him escape from the world of sorrow, grief and despair to the realm of art. But Talal thinks otherwise, his poetic remarks are enthralling: “Writing poetry doesn’t make you a poet, drawing sketches doesn’t make you an artist, and driving bikes doesn’t make you a GP racer. It’s not what people think or say who you are, its what you think you should be that really matters.� He is an ardent lover of bikes and can travel miles to know and share his passion for the same. That’s not all about him. So, if you are interested to know more about him or have an interest in bikes then my friend would love to listen from you.Visit him

Unusual dismissals and successful run-chases

* Inzamam-ul-Haq became only the third batsman and the second Pakistani to be dismissed obstructing the field in the annals of ODI cricket. Almost eighteen years ago on November 20, 1987, during the second game of the three match series against England at Karachi, Rameez Raja had the double agony of being dismissed on 99 and that too by obstructing the field. On the final ball of the match Pakistan required an impossible 25 runs and Raja was unbeaten on 98. He set off for two runs after pushing the last ball of the day to mid-wicket but while completing his second run he deliberately stopped the ball with his bat, thus preventing wicket-keeper Bruce French, who had rolled the ball in an attempt to break the wicket at the bowler's end, from running him out. Interestingly, Raja completed a hat-trick of unusual dismissals against England in 1987. First he was incorrectly given run out when walking for a catch off a no-ball in a Benson & Hedges Challenge Cup mach at Perth, and then run out without facing a ball at The Oval in a Texaco Trophy game in May, before becoming the first batsman on the planet to be given out obstructing the fielder in ODIs six months later. The second batsman after Rameez was, India’s Mohinder Amarnath who did so against Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad on October 22, 1989. After playing defensively to Sri Lankan pace bowler Kapila Wijegunawardene, Amarnath stepped out of the crease to take a run but seeing the bowler charging down the track, kicked the ball in order to prevent the bowler from running him out. He was given out by Pakistani umpire Khizer Hayat.

* The match aggregate of 639 runs was sixth occasion when 600 runs or more in an ODI on Pakistan soil were registered. Pakistan also registered its sixth 300 (or plus) score while batting second in a one-day international. It was their third such performance against India and the fourth by any side overall. See Table 1, 2, & 3.

* Sachin Tendulkar became he first batsman in ODI cricket to post 14000 runs. He also extended his world his world record number of centuries to 39 after his superb innings at Peshawar. Table 5, 6 & 7 gives statistical analysis of Sachin’s ODI batting career.Click to see the tables

Younis second quickest to complete 1000 runs against India

* Younis Khan completed his 1000 runs against India when he reached 16 during his unbeaten knock of 25 on the second day of the Karachi Test. Younis became the sixth Pakistani batsman to achieve this feat against the arch-rivals. See Table 1

* Younis Khan’s took just 11 innings to knock 1000 runs against India. He thus became the second fastest after Everton Weekes to aggregate 1000 runs against India in Test cricket. At the age of 28 years and 62 days he also became the seventh youngest cricketer to do so against India. See Table 2 & 3.

* Younis Khan when reached 24, crossed another significant milestone. This was his 500th run in the current series. He had also scored 508 runs in his previous series against India in their backyard last year. He thus became only the fourth batsman to score 500 or more runs in a series against India on two or more occasions. See Table 4.

* Muhammad Yousuf crossed the 5000 career run-mark when he reached 22 on the second days play. He became only the fifth Pakistani to reach this milestone. He is also the second quickest Pakistani in terms of innings to accumulate 5000 runs. See Table 5.Click to see the tables

Of hat-tricks, batting recoveries and most sixes in a series

* Irfan Pathan became only the second Indian after Harbhajan Singh to perform a Test hat-trick. This provided the very first instance of a bowler claiming three wickets off successive balls in the first over of a Test match. However, there have been three instances where the show began in the first over of an innings and was completed in the third - Merv Hughes first did so against West Indies at Perth in 1988-89, Wasim Akram against Sri Lanka at Dhaka in 1999, and Jermaine Lawson against Australia at Barbados in 2003. Nuwan Zoysa of Sri Lanka still remains the only bowler to take a hat-trick off the first three balls he bowled in a Test match - against Zimbabwe at Harare in November 1999. Overall it was the 36th hat-trick by the 33rd bowler and the fifth against Pakistan, all of which have been on Pakistan sol.

* Only for the fourth time in a Test innings a team lost its first three wickets without disturbing the scorers. The worst ever start to a Test innings, in terms of most wickets fallen without a run, belongs to India when they collapsed to 0 for 4 against England at Leeds in 1952. Pakistan’s eventual recovery today to 245 all-out is now the highest innings total by a side after such a start. It was also the second such instance on the first day of a Test match. See Table 1.

* Pakistan created a new world record of most runs added by a side after being six wickets down for 40 or less runs. The previous record in this regard was held by Australia against England when Aussies were six down for 38 before being bundled out for 184. Pakistan’s total of 245 is also the highest by any side after such a collapse. See Table 2.

* Kamran Akmal has now scored four hundreds as a wicketkeeper. He now equalled Moin Khan’s record of most hundreds by a Pakistani wicketkeeper in Tests. He also became only the 12th keeper to score four or more hundreds in Test cricket.

* Akmal crossed the 1000 Test career runs mark when he reached 45 during his splendid innings of 113. It was the 35th innings of his 21st Test. He thus became the second quickest Pakistani glove-man, after Imtiaz Ahmed who did so in 31 innings, to reach 1000 runs. Overall he is the sixth Pakistani keeper to reach this milestone. At the age of 24 years and 16 days, Akmal also became the youngest Pakistani and only the third youngest keeper overall to do so. See Table 3 & 4.

* Akmal equalled Kumar Sangakkara’s world record of most Test 100s by a wicketkeeper before his 25th birthday. Sangakkara had scored four centuries before crossing the silver jubilee of his life. Akmal was aged 24 years and 16 days on the first day of the Karachi Test. See Table 5.

* The 115-run partnership between Kamran Akmal and Abdur Razzaq is now the highest ever by any side for the seventh wicket after being six down for 50 runs or less. The previous record in this regard was of 84 runs between Salim Malik and Moin Khan, in quite a same situation as it was today, against India at Calcutta in 1999. See Table 6.

* Shoaib Akhtar’s solitary six today created a new world record of most sixes in a three-match series by both sides. This was actually the 41st hit over the ropes in the on-going series. It broke the previous record of 40 sixes set by England and New Zealand during the three Test series in 2001-02 season. See Table 7.

* India left out Harbhajan Singh for the third Test. This means the world record of most balls bowled without a wicket in a Test series is still intact. Harbhajan had bowled 486 balls in the first two Tests of the series without a solitary success. This is now the second worst effort without a wicket, in terms of balls bowled, in two matches of a series by a bowler. John Emburey of England holds the world record of bowling 642 balls without a wicket in any Test series. Just for record, Harbhajan has already earned the dubious distinction conceding most runs (355) in a Test series without a wicket. See Table 8.

* Pakistan is playing a Test without Inzamam for the first time since last May when they were thrashed by West Indies at Bridgetown by 276 runs. Without Inzamam, Pakistan has a 50-50 win-loss record ever since the giant has made his Test debut in June 1992. In 14 matches without Inzamam during that period Pakistan has won 6, lost 6 and drew 2.Click to see the tables

Drawing every match of a series and the sixes blitz

* If Karachi Test is also drawn then it would be the first occasion in the last four years and the third in the last 10 years when every match of a three-Test rubber is drawn. It would also be the fifth such instance involving India-Pakistan and overall the sixth on Pakistan soil. So far in the history of Test cricket there have been 20 instances when all the matches of a three or more Test rubber were drawn.

* 40 sixes have been smashed so far in the two India-Pakistan Tests. This has now equalled the world record of most sixes in a three-match series (by both sides). Curiously enough, it is now just 18 short of the world record of most sixes in any Test series (by both sides). Of these 40, Shahid Afridi has alone hit 13, just one less than Wasim Raja, Mathew Hayden, Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Peterson's tally of 14 sixes, the most by any batsman in a Test series.

* Of the 37 Tests at Karachi’s National Stadium 17 have been draws. Pakistan only loss here, apart from 19 wins, was against England in 2000-01. While India’s last Test here was 16 years ago, a match in which Waqar Younis and Sachin Tendulkar made their Test debuts. Overall, Indians are yet to win here. They have lost twice and drew thrice in the five games at the venue.

* Teams winning the toss and electing to bat first have met a poor fate – winning only three times, whereas teams batting second have won 17 times. Teams bowling first have won five matches and lost once.

* The highest individual innings still remains of 211 by Javed Miandad against Australia in 1988-89. While Imran Khan has the best bowling analysis in an innings - 8/60 against India in 1982-83. Fazal Mahmood’s tally of 14 wickets for 114 runs in 1956-57 against Australia are the best match bowling analysis.

* The highest team total is 565-9 dec by Pakistan against New Zealand> The lowest is 80 by Australia in 1956-57. The highest run chased achieved in the fourth innings is 315 for 9 by Pakistan against the Aussies in 1994, a match where Inzamam and Mushtaq Ahmed shared a breathtaking partnership of 57 runs for the last wicket to take Pakistan home. Click to see the tables

Inzamam, Afridi make merry

* Shahid Afridi smashed a brilliant 156 studded with 20 fours and six sixes. He became only the fourth Pakistani batsman to score two more hundreds in successive innings against India. See Table 1

* By reaching his century with a huge six off Irfan Pathan, Afridi became the ninth Pakistani batsman to reach three-figures with a six. It was also the 13th such instance against India. See Table 2

* The 251-run partnership between Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq is now the highest against India and the third highest for Pakistan for the fifth-wicket in Test cricket. Inzamam and Afridi had put on 163 overnight, but at the start of second day’s play Afridi was joined by Razzaq after Inzamam was injured and the two added a further 88 runs. See Table 3

* Inzamam-ul-Haq scored his 25th century. He is now only the tenth player to score 25 or more Test hundreds. This was also Inzi’s fifth three-figure knock as captain after turning 35. He became only the eighth captain in Test cricket to score five or more tons after his 35th birthday. Just for record, Graham Gooch holds the record of scoring most hundreds in this regard. See Table 4 & 5.

* Inzamam’s brilliant hundred was his third against India as captain. He has now equalled Imran Khan as the most by a Pakistani captain against India. Now only Clive Lloyd and Don Bradman have scored more centuries while leading the side against India. See Table 6

* This was also Inzi’s fourth ton in his post 100th Test match. He joined Allan Border with four or more tons after the 100th Test match of the player career. Interestingly, Steve Waugh has scored an astonishing 15 centuries when he got past his centenary Test. See Table 7

* Pakistan by being bundled out for 588, just missed chance of becoming the first side in Test cricket to score three consecutive 600 plus scores in as many innings. They have now equalled Sri Lanka’s record of most 550-plus scores in consecutive innings. Sri Lanka had registered three scores of above 550 against India, Bangladesh and West Indies in 2001-02 season. See Table 8. Click to see the tables

Younis’ record run and consecutive 600 totals

* Pakistan’s total of 379 for four at stumps is now its second highest on the opening day of a Test match after their 388 for 3 against England at Manchester way back in 1992. It is also the highest for Pakistan and the fourth highest by any side on the first day against India. See Table 1, 2 & 3.

* The total of 370/4 also surpassed the highest first day score on Pakistan soil by India [356/2] at Multan in 2004.

* Younis Khan has now scored 633 runs in his last four Test innings against India. In his last match in India in March 2005 against the arch-rivals, the Pakistan vice-captain smashed 267, 84*, 199 at Lahore and 83 today on the first day of Faisalabad Test. His tally of 633 runs are the third most by any batsman against India and second most by a Pakistani batsman in four or more successive (fifty plus) innings. See Table 4 & 5.

* Younis Khan has now added 863 runs for the third wicket in his last four innings against India. This includes two triple century (324 with Inzamam-ul-Haq at Bangalore – 2004-05, 319 with Muhammad Yousuf at Lahore 2005-06), one century (142 with Muhammad Yousuf at Faisalabad 2005-06) and one fifty-plus (with Inzamam-ul-Haq at Bangalore – 2004-05) stand.

* Pakistan have now accumulated 1694 runs for the loss of 19 wickets in its last three Test innings. If Pakistan go on to reach 600 tomorrow, it would become the first side in the annals of Test cricket to score three consecutive 600 plus scores in as many as innings. Just for record, there have been three occasions when a side totaled 600 or more runs in two successive innings while there are two other occasions when 600 runs in an innings were achieved in two successive Test matches by the same side. Scores: (636/8 v England 3rd Test at Lahore 2005, 679/7 v India 1st Test at Lahore 2006 and 379/4 overnight v India 2006 2nd test at Faisalabad.

* With three more sixes Shahid Afridi has now smashed 44 sixes in his 22-match Test career. Since January 01, 2005 he has hit 66 sixes, the most by any batsman during the same period in international cricket (ODIs sixes: 37, Tests sixes: 29). The next batsman on the list is Adam Gilchrist 43 sixes (ODIs 19, Tests 24) followed by Kevin Peterson 42 sixes (ODIs 22, Tests 19, Twenty-20 1).

* The fifth-wicket unbroken partnership of 163 runs between Inzamam-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi is now the second highest for the fifth wicket for Pakistan against India. The best still remains of 213 between Zaheer Abbas and Mudassar Nazar at Karachi in 1982-83.Click to see the tables

Afridi and Akmal make India bleed

It was murder at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore. The executioner was Pakistani hero Shahid Khan Afridi and the sufferers were Indian bowlers. The savage assault on the hapless Indian bowlers has to be seen to be believed. They were smashed all over the park to the delight of a boisterous crowd.

With Eid-ul-Azha just passed, Afridi must not have completed his religious rites so brutally by slaughtering the sacrificial animal as he butchered the Indian bowling three days later. The manner in which Afridi has maltreated the Indian bowlers he is liable to be reported to Human Rights Commission for violating the rights of Harbhajan, Kumble, Agarkar and Pathan. Surely, he is man who can hit any ball out of the planet.

* Inzamam-ul-Haq had a rare failure yesterday and still Pakistan went past 650-mark. It was for the first time since Inzi’s Test debut (in 14 years) that Pakistan have made 600 or more runs in a Test innings without having the giant contributing a significant score. It was also only the fourth instance of Pakistan making above 500 during the same period with Inzamam not getting a major score. The previous three occurrences are: Pak 505 v Eng, Old Trafford 1992 - Inzamam 26; Pak 537 v Aus, Rawalpindi 1994- Inzamam 0; Pak 521 v Eng, The Oval 1996- Inzamam 35. There have been 10 other 500-plus scores by Pakistan since Inzi’s debut and the lowest contribution he made in those totals was 97 against Australia at Peshawar in 1998.

* The third-wicket partnership of 319 runs between Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf is the eighth highest for any wicket for Pakistan and the best at Lahore. It is also the third-highest partnership for the third wicket against India by any side. The 451-run stand between Javed Miandad and Mudassar Nazar at Hyderabad still remains the best.

* Younis Khan became the first batsman in Test annals to be run-out on 199. He however provided the sixth instance of a player being dismissed in nervous 199s with Andy Flower the only one who left-stranded at the same score. Younis also became the third Pakistani after Mudassar Nazar and Muhammad Wasim to be dismissed in 190s.

* Younis also became the first Pakistani to share a century and a triple century partnership in the same innings of a Test match. He first shared 124-run stand with Shoaib Malik for the second wicket before putting on 319 for the third wicket with Yousuf. There have been 17 other occurrences of a century and a triple-century stand by one player in the same Test innings.

* Afridi crushed Harbhajan to pulp. He accumulated 27 runs from off-spinner’s over which included a four sixes, a double and a single. Only Brian Lara has now scored more runs in an over Test cricket (28 off Robin Peterson at Johannesburg in 2003-04). Afridi though became the first batsman on the planet to smash four sixes off the first four balls of an over in Test cricket. He is also only the second man after India’s Kapil Dev to score 24 runs from sixes alone in an over. Kapil hit the last four balls of EE Hemmings over for sixes at Lord’s in 1990.

* Afridi's hundred off 78 balls was the joint ninth-fastest in the annals of Test cricket and the second fastest by a Pakistani after Majid Khan’s 74 ball ton against New Zealand at Karachi in 1976-77. Afridi had scored a century off the same number of balls against West Indies at Bridgetown last year.

* Kamran Akmal created a new world record for the fastest century by a wicketkeeper in Test cricket. His magnificent ton came off 81 balls which bettered Adam Gilchrist’s record of two separate hundreds off 84 balls each, against India at Mumbai (2000-01) and Zimbabwe at Perth (2003-04) respectively. Curiously enough, this was also the 12th fastest by any batsman in the longer version of the game.

* Shahid Afridi has now smashed 41 sixes in his 21-match Test career. He is now only the fifth Pakistani batsman to hit 40 or more Test sixes after Wasim Akram (57), Imran Khan (55), Javed Miandad (48) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (46).

* The total of 679 for 7 is now the second highest by any side on Pakistan soil after Pakistan’s 699-5 dec against India at Lahore in 1989-90. Since then, in 16 years upto to this day, no side has plundered such a huge total against India (except Sri Lanka’s mammoth 952-6 at Colombo in 1997-98) then Pakistan did yesterday.Click to see the tables

A day of two Y's

* Pakistan’s total of 326 for two at stumps was its highest on the opening day of a Test match for the loss of just two wickets. The previous best opening day score losing the same number of wickets was also against India at Bangalore (in the last Test between the two sides). See Table 1.

* It was also the ninth highest by Pakistan in all Test cricket on the first day’s play. The best still remains of 388 for 3 against England at Manchester in 1992. Table 2 has the details.

* Younis Khan has now scored 498 runs in three successive Test innings against India. In his last match at Bangalore in March 2005 against the arch-rivals, the Pakistan vice-captain smashed 267, 84* and now an unbeaten 147 at the end of first day’s play. His tally of 498 runs are the ninth most by any batsman against India in three or more successive innings. See Table 3.

* Younis Khan’s last three Tests against India has now yielded 645 runs in five innings. It thus broke the 57-year old record of most runs by any batsman against India in three or more successive Tests including atleast a century in each of them. Everton Weekes scored 585 runs in three Tests against India between November 1948 and Jan 1949. See Table 4.

* Younis has now made ten hundreds and 11 fifties in the 70 innings of his Test career. His fifty to hundred conversion rate of 47.62 % is now the third best by any Pakistani with atleast 10 centuries in Test cricket. See Table 5.

* Muhammad Yousuf was unbeaten on 95 at stumps on first day. He became only the sixth Pakistani batsman for the ninth time to be not out in 90s overnight against India. Mudassar Nazar has achieved this feat four times while Javed Miandad holds the world record of adding most runs to a nervous-ninety overnight score. See Table 6.Click to see the tables