Misbah seeking to exploit England’s batting weakness

Pakistan Test captain says hosts had to find new number three, and the middle order had laboured to put runs on board


Sports Desk July 13, 2016
Misbah praised his team for working its way up the pecking order even in the face of adversity. PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan Test captain Misbahul Haq believes batting is England’s Achilles heel as the hosts had to find a new number three, and the middle order had laboured to put runs on board.

“England's batting is a worrying sign for them,” wrote Misbah. “Of their six batsmen, three have been struggling to score runs and they have changed the number three position as well. That is their one weakness we can attempt to exploit.”

42 and strong: Misbah going into ‘tough’ tour high on confidence


England will be without pacer James Anderson in the first Test due to his shoulder injury, but 42-year-old Misbah said the fact would hardly make them complacent.

PHOTO: AFP

“Anderson's absence due to injury will be an advantage for Pakistan as he is the top bowler in these conditions,” he wrote. “No doubt England will be disadvantaged without him, but this will not make us complacent. England have decent bowlers in their squad who have the ability to cause trouble.”

On the other hand, Misbah praised Pakistan batsmen for showing form and confidence in the tour matches against Somerset and Sussex.

Misbah counting on team to give England a hard time


“While most of the talk has been revolving around our bowling, I think that the form of our batsmen is a huge plus for us,” he said. “Even though most of our batsmen don't have much experience of playing in England and the conditions here are always a challenge for visitors, I think after scoring runs in the warm-up games they will be feeling confident to pile up the runs in the Tests as well.

“We have a very settled batting unit and it hasn't changed much in the past few years, which has resulted in providing stability to the team,” he added.

The right-handed batsman gave credit to the team’s early arrival in England to get acclimatised to the weather and England’s seaming conditions.

PHOTO: AFP

Misbah believes Amir can be world's best bowler


“The decision to arrive in England early for a training and conditioning camp in Hampshire has yielded results too,” wrote Pakistan’s most successful Test captain. “The players have acclimatised to the weather and batsmen and bowlers both have adjusted to the demands of the swing and the seam in these conditions. That is one reason that our batsmen, especially Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, were very productive in the warm-up games. It never looked like these two hadn't played much in England before.”

In the bowling department, Misbah thinks England will be mistaken if they think left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir is the only threat the hosts will have to deal with.

PHOTO: AFP

“I think it is not just Amir who has made our attack a force to be reckoned with, the others have been equally important and England would do well not to underestimate them,” Misbah claimed. “Rahat Ali was really impressive in the warm-up game and so was Yasir Shah, taking four wickets. Imran Khan and Sohail Khan have done well and Wahab Riaz is as lethal as ever.”

All eyes on Amir as 'united' Pakistan return to Lord's


‘Six-year journey is unbelievable’

The oldest player in the Pakistan team, captain Misbahul Haq also talked about his journey as captain.

“I was 36 when Pakistan last toured England, in 2010, and not part of the team,” he explained. “At this age, most players are planning their retirements and the future may appear dark. If someone had told me that six years later I would be captaining Pakistan for their next tour of England, and doing so as the country's most successful Test captain, I would have found it unbelievable.”

PHOTO: AFP

Misbah praised his team for working its way up the pecking order even in the face of adversity.

Top Test spot up for grabs for Pakistan


“That illustrates what a remarkable six-year journey it has been for us. Since the unwanted incidents of the 2010 series against England the team has not just established itself but has also won many memorable series that have taken us into the upper tier of the ICC rankings,” said Misbah.

Misbahul Haq wrote for cricket.com.au

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