‘Defeat to Australia motivated me’

LEEDS: Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali believes that watching his side succumb to Australia time and time again motivated him in the crucial fourth-innings chase where he scored a half century at the second Test against Ricky Ponting’s men. His 51 in the second innings at Leeds enabled his side to finally end their 15-year Test victory drought against Australia.

“Before I became a cricketer, I was a fan. As both a fan and a cricketer there was always a desire to see Pakistan beat the best team in the world,” Azhar told Cricistan.com, a cricket website.

“There is a certain sense of frustration when you see Pakistan repeatedly lose from a winning position and when you stood outside looking in as a fan then there’s a feeling of helplessness too. That’s why I was determined that I would make the Aussies work for my wicket, they would have to take it from me.”

Having seen the team lose the first Test by 150 runs after a miserable batting performance in the first innings, Azhar said the key to the series-levelling win was Pakistan’s bowling performance.

“We won this game because the bowlers put us into such a great position on day one, after that it was our game to lose.

“I’m really proud of my second innings partnership with [Imran] Farhat and of my first Test 50 but I was absolutely gutted to get out,” said Azhar. “When my wicket fell we only needed 34 more runs and I had wanted to stay till the end and win the game for Pakistan.”

And now, Azhar is targeting the upcoming four-Test series against England to stamp his authority and become a permanent number three in the batting lineup.

“I want to be the best player that I can and I see batting at number three as a great challenge. It’s an opportunity for me to show what I’m capable of and it helps my confidence to know that the team management has trusted me to bat at such a pivotal number.” AGENCIES

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2010.