BATTING ISSUES REARS ITS UGLY HEAD
The third Test brought a similar tale for Pakistan as they were once again let down by their batting. The wicket was favourable for batsmen and even though there was a bit of moisture in the surface on the first day, England still managed to score 297 after being put into bat by Misbah on day one. Pakistan posted 400 in their first innings and then England responded with over 450 runs proving that the wicket was still very flat. The Pakistani batsmen were just unable to take advantage of the conditions as successfully as their English counterparts.
I don’t think it was a problem with complacency for Pakistan, just a lack of positivity. England batted well in their second innings and managed to neutralise Pakistan’s advantage. When Pakistan batted in the fourth innings, it seemed as though they were playing for a draw but England’s bowlers kept tightening the screws on them. If Pakistan had played positively, it would have made England think about altering their field set-up and going on the defensive. As soon as Pakistan lost their first couple of wickets, England took control of the situation and Pakistan succumbed to the pressure.
In the fourth Test, the batsmen need to take responsibility and occupy the crease. We have seen flat wickets all along during the series and it won’t be surprising if there is another track awaiting Pakistan which has no spin in it whatsoever at the Oval. In such circumstances, batting with a positive intent and having runs on the board is the only way Pakistan can pressurize England.
ASLAM TEMPERS SHAFIQ & YOUNIS PROBLEMS
Asad Shafiq had a tough third Test and it was worrying how he got out to the same delivery twice in the same match. I’m sure the coaching staff will be working with him but in the end it is up to the batsman to apply himself in the middle. He is still one of Pakistan’s better players when it comes to technique and a little bit of brushing up will help him improve a great deal. Moreover, he has been never been a regular member of the team except in Tests, and as such, needs to be given confidence and kept with the team, regardless of the format. We have very few players who have a technique as sound as his. Players like that need to be valued and supported.
Younis Khan has also been struggling but I think it’s just a matter of him ageing. He is trying to find new ways of surviving at the wicket. I remember the legendary Brian Lara at the twilight of his career started jumping while batting because he was having difficulties against the pacers. That’s what Younis is doing too because as you get older your reflexes become slower. I really think it might be worth looking at younger talent to replace him in the future.
On a brighter note, Sami Aslam performed very well in the third Test and has been a terrific find. His technique and patience for a 20-year old have been phenomenal. He definitely needs to be supported by the seniors and the management now; Sami should keep up the good work and not get carried away.
CRAVING MORE STRENGTH IN DEPTH
As I’ve said before, we’ve been reliant on the elder statesmen in the team for too long and it is about time that Pakistan started looking for capable back-ups, thus giving the selectors a bit more of a cushion to replace those who are struggling for form. Players like Umar Amin and Haris Sohail have shown promise and potential at domestic level and when talent is spotted, it needs to be nurtured.
Alex Hales was a T20 player but when the selectors saw potential in him, they started utilising him in the ODI and Test formats. The same goes for Australia’s David Warner, who showed his ability in the shortest formats initially and is now a regular member of the team in all versions of the game.
In the fourth Test, Pakistan has nothing to lose. A 2-1 or 3-1 defeat is almost the same so this would be a good time to give others an opportunity. Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Rizwan are two replacement options who are yet to be used, while Shan Masood has already been tested out with not much to write home about. Iftikhar is the best choice among the current bench as aside from being a batsman, he can be also used as a bowler occasionally. It is being said that Pakistan has no fifth bowling option so perhaps Iftikhar can fill the vacant spot.
Still, the 25-year-old is not a proper all-rounder and there is a definite absence of an all-rounder in this team. It was the duty of the captain, coach and previous selectors who have been with the team for quite some time to identify and groom an all-rounder. Unfortunately little attention has been paid to this and now that we are struggling to find the right combination, problems are surfacing. Times have changed and cricket has become tougher. Playing without an all-rounder is no longer an option and finding one overnight is not possible. I think it should have happened a long time ago.
NOT BOWLED OVER BY AMIR AND YASIR
In terms of Pakistan’s bowling, since the first Test, Yasir Shah has been snuffed out by England’s pitch curators. Both in the second and third Test there wasn’t anything to offer the spinners. The flatness in the wickets hasn’t allowed Yasir to express himself and therefore it looks like he has lost the venom he had at Lord’s. Pakistan have been heavily dented by his ineffectiveness but it is good homework on England’s part to stop him dictating terms by giving him pitches that don’t suit his style of bowling.
.@realshoaibmalik's Good Luck Message to the Pakistan Team #DunyaKoBataaDohttps://t.co/yfBP1fzjb9
— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) August 10, 2016
None of the bowlers have really been on top form. Even James Anderson, who is England’s best, has not been his usual deadly self. You can’t blame the bowlers, it is the wickets that are flat and have mainly helped the batsmen. I’ve actually never seen such batsman-friendly wickets in England. Wahab Riaz and Rahat Ali have also failed to impress, while Sohail Khan also struggled in the second innings at Edgbaston after taking a five-fer in the first.
Mohammad Amir has had to deal with huge expectations as well as tough wickets and I think it’s important to remember that he has returned to Test cricket after an absence of five years. One can’t expect him to come back and immediately start taking a dozen wickets in each Test. In spite of the conditions and the pressure, Amir has still managed to bag 10 wickets on this tour so far. We need to give him some time before we draw any conclusions about him. After what he has been through, it will take him a while before he shows his true colours.
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