Arthur pleased with form shown by top-order ahead of Lord's Test

Pakistan head coach says batting is more about confidence than form

Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur believes his batting top-order has spent a good amount of time on the pitch and that will help the team when they take on England in the first of the four-match Test series at Lord’s on Thursday.

Younus Khan and Azhar Ali scored centuries in the first and second innings respectively against Somerset in their first three-day match. Moreover, Azhar recorded another century against Sussex in the on-going three-day tour match against Sussex and Arthur believes he will take that confidence with him against England at Lord’s.

“His [Azhar’s] build up has been great; it has been fantastic,” said Arthur. “He got out for 26 in the game against Somerset in the first innings and got a rap over the knuckle for getting in and not getting on. While he has certainly done that now and he has got himself two hundreds. So he is going to hit the Test match now in really good form.”

Arthur further said that batting is more about confidence than form and hoped that Azhar could carry on with the same momentum. “And not only form, batting is all about confidence,” he said. “It is about coming in and knowing that you are in a good nick. I just hope that continues for the Test match.”

Misbah’s form

Pakistan Test captain Misbahul Haq was not able to register his name among the top-scorers against Somerset, however, against Sussex, he scored a half-century and Arthur considers that the best practice for the game against England.

When asked if he was worried about Misbah’s form, Arthur said: “Not at all. He has worked extremely hard in the nets. I felt against Somerset he came during the dead periods in the game. I was quite happy that he spent time in the middle today; that for me was the key."

He continued: “I am just getting confident because we can have five to 10 nets but spending two and half hours at the wicket is invaluable. So, I am really happy that he got a start. Asad Shafiq has played beautifully. Everyone in the top order has spent time in the middle going into the first Test; as a coach that is all you can ask for.”

Micket Arthur was interviewed by ESPNcricinfo