Azhar wants his maiden ton in WI
Batsman itching to reach the elusive milestone on the tour.
LAHORE:
Pakistan’s Test batsman Azhar Ali has labelled the series against West Indies a great opportunity to improve his batting ability and to finally register his maiden ton that has been evading him since his debut last July.
The 26-year-old was one of the finds of the ill-fated tour of England last year and his resistance and perseverance, especially against the new ball, was a major factor behind his establishment as a permanent member of the Test squad. With six half-centuries in ten Tests, Azhar is itching to score his first hundred.
“I see the tour as a very important one for me to improve on my ability,” Azhar told The Express Tribune. “I’m not underestimating the opposition but am desperate to score a hundred.
“Although my Test career kicked off last year, it’ll only kick-start after I score my first ton. I believe patience is the key. I’ve played half my innings in challenging situations.”
Meanwhile, Azhar rejected the notion that he was just a Test batsman.
“Since I’ve only been given the opportunity in Test cricket, the way I play is the way it should be played. Test cricket is all about testing your overall ability in the game. You need to be technically sound and must have a temperament to stay in the middle and that’s how I’ve been very successful.”
Azhar averages 47 in List-A cricket, higher than his first-class average of 38 and has not given up the hope of representing Pakistan in limited-overs cricket as well.
“As far as the limited-over cricket is concerned, I’m equally useful in that format as well. I’ve worked very hard on shot selections.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2011.
Pakistan’s Test batsman Azhar Ali has labelled the series against West Indies a great opportunity to improve his batting ability and to finally register his maiden ton that has been evading him since his debut last July.
The 26-year-old was one of the finds of the ill-fated tour of England last year and his resistance and perseverance, especially against the new ball, was a major factor behind his establishment as a permanent member of the Test squad. With six half-centuries in ten Tests, Azhar is itching to score his first hundred.
“I see the tour as a very important one for me to improve on my ability,” Azhar told The Express Tribune. “I’m not underestimating the opposition but am desperate to score a hundred.
“Although my Test career kicked off last year, it’ll only kick-start after I score my first ton. I believe patience is the key. I’ve played half my innings in challenging situations.”
Meanwhile, Azhar rejected the notion that he was just a Test batsman.
“Since I’ve only been given the opportunity in Test cricket, the way I play is the way it should be played. Test cricket is all about testing your overall ability in the game. You need to be technically sound and must have a temperament to stay in the middle and that’s how I’ve been very successful.”
Azhar averages 47 in List-A cricket, higher than his first-class average of 38 and has not given up the hope of representing Pakistan in limited-overs cricket as well.
“As far as the limited-over cricket is concerned, I’m equally useful in that format as well. I’ve worked very hard on shot selections.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2011.