Pakistan’s lack of patience worries Waqar
Pakistan’s cricket coach Waqar Younis remained worried over his batsmen’s lack of patience at the crease of late.
LEEDS:
Pakistan’s cricket coach Waqar Younis remained worried over his batsmen’s lack of patience at the crease of late that has resulted in the team handing the initiative back to the opposition. The same technique and approach, however, has pleased the Australian side that, according to their allrounder Shane Watson, has seen them gain an upper hand in both Tests.
Following Australia’s dismal first-innings total of 88 at Headingley, Pakistani batsmen, despite a good start, could only manage a 170-run lead in friendly conditions and a good batting track. While Watson, who picked up a career-best six for 33, bowled a tidy line, rash stroke-play and sheer aggression resulted in Pakistan’s batting line-up faltering yet again against innocuous bowling.
“We didn’t really get any partnerships going and we’ve been lacking that recently,” said Waqar. “It’s because we have a young unit, from number three to five, and they are new to this so we need to give them some time.
“Umar Akmal, though, has been around for a year but he’s still young and learning. He’s talented and got all the shots in the book but he’s a bit rash when it comes to Test cricket. Maybe because he’s played too many Twenty20s but it’s time he got to grips with the demands of Test cricket.”
Watson, too, was surprised the way Umar started the second day - with a boundary that was followed by the batsmen caught off a no-ball.
“It was quite interesting the way Umar started,” said Watson after his six-wicket haul that follows five wickets in an innings at Lord’s in the first Test. “We know how they want to bat. They have a few guys in the lineup who are very attacking in the technique they employ. As a bowling unit, we just need to stay very patient as we know there’ll be an opportunity.
“They can’t really live without scoring for too long and in the end, our plan worked well in the first innings.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 24th, 2010.
Pakistan’s cricket coach Waqar Younis remained worried over his batsmen’s lack of patience at the crease of late that has resulted in the team handing the initiative back to the opposition. The same technique and approach, however, has pleased the Australian side that, according to their allrounder Shane Watson, has seen them gain an upper hand in both Tests.
Following Australia’s dismal first-innings total of 88 at Headingley, Pakistani batsmen, despite a good start, could only manage a 170-run lead in friendly conditions and a good batting track. While Watson, who picked up a career-best six for 33, bowled a tidy line, rash stroke-play and sheer aggression resulted in Pakistan’s batting line-up faltering yet again against innocuous bowling.
“We didn’t really get any partnerships going and we’ve been lacking that recently,” said Waqar. “It’s because we have a young unit, from number three to five, and they are new to this so we need to give them some time.
“Umar Akmal, though, has been around for a year but he’s still young and learning. He’s talented and got all the shots in the book but he’s a bit rash when it comes to Test cricket. Maybe because he’s played too many Twenty20s but it’s time he got to grips with the demands of Test cricket.”
Watson, too, was surprised the way Umar started the second day - with a boundary that was followed by the batsmen caught off a no-ball.
“It was quite interesting the way Umar started,” said Watson after his six-wicket haul that follows five wickets in an innings at Lord’s in the first Test. “We know how they want to bat. They have a few guys in the lineup who are very attacking in the technique they employ. As a bowling unit, we just need to stay very patient as we know there’ll be an opportunity.
“They can’t really live without scoring for too long and in the end, our plan worked well in the first innings.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 24th, 2010.