Aaqib not surprised by fast-bowlers’ demolition

Pakistan’s wondrous execution of effective fast-bowling on opening day at Headingley did not come as a surprise to anyone.

LEEDS: Pakistan’s wondrous execution of effective fast-bowling on the opening day at Headingley did not come as a surprise to anyone after threatening to dismantle the Australians at Lord’s last week, according to the team’s assistant coach Aaqib Javed.

The trio of Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul bowled few loose deliveries, complemented aptly by an array of outswingers and in-cutters to dismiss Australia for their second lowest total against Pakistan.

“It will be a real test for the Australian batsmen up in Headingley,” Aaqib had told The Express Tribune on the eve of the second Test. “It won’t be easy for them to reach the 300-mark, especially if it’s overcast. The way our bowlers are bowling, and if the conditions suit us, they won’t give anything away.”

Though Aamer went wicketless in the second innings at Lord’s, his ability to bring the ball into the right-hander has earned him wickets, great plaudits and also transformed the left-hander into a ‘complete package’.

“Aamer is young and still in his development stage. There’s a lot of load and pressure on him but he’s talented and intelligent and can read the batsmen and conditions really well now. He’s been a great find for Pakistan cricket and with his new in-swing to the right-handers, he’s turned into a complete package.”

Aaqib also had kind words to share about Gul, whose figures at Lord’s were marred by no-ball problems as he overstepped 12 times in the match. Gul, who missed Pakistan’s defence of their World Twenty20 title in the West Indies and the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka due to injury, managed four wickets in Australia’s second innings at Lord’s and picked up Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey on the first day at Headingley.

“At times, in England, you have different ground levels and the slope [at Lord’s] can be a nuisance as well. He needs to adjust his run-up and get into a rhythm. Then he has the tendency of bowling match-winning spells.”

Published in The  Express Tribune, July22nd, 2010.