Overcoming 20 years of pain

Pakistan must carry the momentum gained against Australia in encounters with New Zealand

Never before was an Australian cricket team thrashed with such impunity. Misbahul Haq’s men recorded two one-sided Test wins over Michael Clarke’s team as Pakistan recorded their first series win over Australia in 20 years, and in the process, avenged the countless thrashings received at the hands of the men from Down Under over this period. After receiving a 3-0 walloping in the One-Day International (ODI) series, Pakistan were given little chance of returning triumphant in the more arduous longer format of the game. Misbah’s main bowling weapon Saeed Ajmal was suspended, and Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz had injuries to nurse.

However, a man whose future was in doubt after a serious run-in with the authorities turned the tables on the Australians. Younus Khan struck three consecutive centuries, Azhar Ali came of age and Misbah batted like a man possessed. Add to this the exploits of Sarfraz Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad and Pakistan’s fragile batting line-up suddenly seemed to have more strength than the Great Wall of China.

Ajmal was hardly missed as Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah spun a treacherous web around the tourists. The two accounted for 26 victims in the two Tests to ensure a whitewash. Pakistan have now vaulted to number three in the ICC Test rankings, and a 3-0 win against New Zealand in the upcoming series can consolidate their status further. The Black Caps know well that against a Pakistan team in such supreme form, their chances of success remain minimal. However, any show of complacency can turn the tables on Pakistan, and Misbah and the team management must be vigilant in this regard as the World Cup is round the corner, too. The New Zealand Tests will be followed by a five-match ODI series against the same team and Pakistan must carry the momentum gained against Australia in these encounters.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2014.

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