Pink ball massive challenge under lights, says Misbah
Test captain feels day-night long-format cricket needs proper run
According to Misbah, the players need more time with the pink ball to better adjust to the variations that come along with it. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD AZEEM/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
After playing a pivotal role with the bat in his departmental team SNGPL’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy triumph, Pakistan Test captain Misbahul Haq has termed playing long-format cricket with the pink ball under floodlights a massive challenge.
With Pakistan likely to play the second day-night Test in history on Australian soil during their tour Down Under later this year, the pink ball was used in the domestic tournament to familiarise the players with the new ball and Misbah inferred that the players need more time to adjust to the variations that come along with the new ball.
“With heavy dew in Karachi, the conditions became extremely difficult for batsmen, especially under the lights,” said Misbah. “The new pink ball was seaming a lot; the moisture on the pitch [due to heavy dew] made it tough for the batsmen. Even lining-up high catches for fielders was a challenge as the visibility of the ball wasn’t all that great. Perhaps the players need more time to get familiar with the ball.”
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final: Bhatti eights UBL’s guts
Misbah, however, observed that batting in daylight wasn’t too different from the conventional red ball.
‘Youngsters didn’t capitalise on opportunity’
The 41-year-old expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the younger players failed to make their presence felt in the most high-profile domestic game of the season.
Pakistan internationals Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan fell to poor shots in the game with Sharjeel’s 73 in UBL’s first innings the only contribution of 50 or more among the quintet.
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final: Misbah saves grace in otherwise sluggish display
“The youngsters from both teams were dismissed softly,” he added. “They need to realise that they have to hit along the ground and in the gaps on the field. If they carry the same approach [as they did in the tournament], they will find it almost impossible to change their game in Test cricket.”
Meanwhile, Misbah, who played three games for his team in their successful campaign, remained non-committal about his international future. “I didn’t think about Test cricket or my retirement during these games, I was focussed on my contribution as the main batsman for my team and that’s how you need to approach every tournament or series else it becomes tough to succeed,” he concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2016.
After playing a pivotal role with the bat in his departmental team SNGPL’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy triumph, Pakistan Test captain Misbahul Haq has termed playing long-format cricket with the pink ball under floodlights a massive challenge.
With Pakistan likely to play the second day-night Test in history on Australian soil during their tour Down Under later this year, the pink ball was used in the domestic tournament to familiarise the players with the new ball and Misbah inferred that the players need more time to adjust to the variations that come along with the new ball.
“With heavy dew in Karachi, the conditions became extremely difficult for batsmen, especially under the lights,” said Misbah. “The new pink ball was seaming a lot; the moisture on the pitch [due to heavy dew] made it tough for the batsmen. Even lining-up high catches for fielders was a challenge as the visibility of the ball wasn’t all that great. Perhaps the players need more time to get familiar with the ball.”
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final: Bhatti eights UBL’s guts
Misbah, however, observed that batting in daylight wasn’t too different from the conventional red ball.
‘Youngsters didn’t capitalise on opportunity’
The 41-year-old expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the younger players failed to make their presence felt in the most high-profile domestic game of the season.
Pakistan internationals Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan fell to poor shots in the game with Sharjeel’s 73 in UBL’s first innings the only contribution of 50 or more among the quintet.
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final: Misbah saves grace in otherwise sluggish display
“The youngsters from both teams were dismissed softly,” he added. “They need to realise that they have to hit along the ground and in the gaps on the field. If they carry the same approach [as they did in the tournament], they will find it almost impossible to change their game in Test cricket.”
Meanwhile, Misbah, who played three games for his team in their successful campaign, remained non-committal about his international future. “I didn’t think about Test cricket or my retirement during these games, I was focussed on my contribution as the main batsman for my team and that’s how you need to approach every tournament or series else it becomes tough to succeed,” he concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2016.