Flower not worried about bruised Amir, under-performing Misbah

Pakistan batting coach says no plans to change bowling attack for Boxing Day Test against Australia

Pakistan batting coach Grant Flower is confident left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir will participate in the second match against Australia in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

The left-arm seamer left the field during the first Brisbane Test on a motorised stretcher after falling on the Gabba turf.

He appeared in agony but returned a short time later and continued to bowl. Amir was also hit on the thigh by a Mitchell Starc full-toss.

"There's quite a bit of bruising on his thigh," Flower told reporters. "He's feeling a bit stiff but he's all right."

‘Misbah isn’t worried’

Misbah, who didn’t make worthy contributions to Pakistan’s scorecard in the first Test against Australia, will be going into the second match with some form to catch. Flower, however, is optimistic that the 42-year-old is mentally strong and can strike back.

"He doesn't seem worried," said Flower as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. "But he's always mentally strong and relaxed. He's got a lot of experience. He's just going through a bit of a trot but he's been through these periods before and he's a class player. He's got the mental strength and resilience to come back and I'm sure a good innings is just round the corner."

‘Younus Khan looking better’

Apart from Misbah, Pakistan’s another veteran batsman Younus Khan struggled against New Zealand and now in the first Test against Australia in the first innings. However, a well-constructed 65 in the second innings promised a great innings to come.

"He [Younus] did look a lot better [in the second innings in Brisbane]," said Flower. "Obviously the shot he got out to, at that stage, wasn't the best; having said that, he scores quite a few runs with the reverse sweep. You've got to find the balance regarding how you go about things. But he's getting into better positions and today he had his best net practice for ages and he looked brilliant."

‘No change in bowling attack’

Flower said he expected the team to field the same bowling attack in Melbourne that narrowly lost the gripping first Test by just 39 runs.

"I think the guys are fit enough to go through. I think our attack would probably be the same," he said. "It's just one of those things that we've had for a while. We don't have that all-rounder batsman, batsman-bowler. But it's one of those things so the guys will just have to get through it."