Pakistan suffered a 354-run thrashing in last week’s first of four Tests at Trent Bridge, in a match where no top four batsman on either side made a fifty in any of the four innings.
But former Ireland left-hander Morgan, batting at number six, defied the swing-friendly conditions that saw England fast bowler James Anderson take a career-best 11 for 71, with a maiden Test century of 130 in the first innings.
Morgan’s stand of 219, an England fifth-wicket record against Pakistan, with Paul Collingwood, who made 82, was the decisive partnership of the match. And Pakistan fast-bowler Asif, who took five for 77 in England’s first innings, said, “He [Morgan] played excellently on the first day.
“He came in under pressure at 118 for four and he just left it (the ball) for one hour. Collingwood took his time too and our batsmen needed to take their time and see off the good bowlers [as well].”
Asif admitted that Twenty20 was a format that came easily to Pakistan, in contrast to Test cricket. “This is what we play in the streets so this is one of our natural strengths. We were playing this when we were young -- 10, eight-over matches.
“But we need to learn how to handle the pressure over five days. We can win Tests if we win each session - Twenty20 is just one session.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th, 2010.
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