Backlash from the Black Caps

KARACHI: Regardless of the state of the pitch, the form and confidence of the batsmen, or the form and confidence of the opposing bowlers, a capitulation of the Pakistan batting line-up is never far away.

For the umpteenth time in their chequered history, the ‘unpredictables’ forgot to turn up for the last three days of the Sharjah Test against New Zealand as the visitors avenged the misery piled by Misbah’s men on them and neighbours Australia by handing out a royal hammering.

An innings defeat brings an end to one of the most remarkable Test match seasons for Pakistan; posing some serious questions over their capacity of batting in adverse situations, even in their own backyard.

The tragic death of Phillip Hughes took the sting out of the Test or that’s what the New Zealand coach Mark Hesson claimed as the second day was suspended.

But upon resumption of play, the Black Caps pulverised Pakistan and one struggles to recall the under achievers from Down Under ever wreaking such havoc on their old rivals.

Mark Craig dismissed to all parts of the Dubai field in the second Test, took seven first-innings wickets; remarkably he had no close-in fielders in front of the wicket — short leg, silly mid-off, etc. — yet some wretched shot selection from the batsmen gave him a seven-for virtually on a platter.

The grief-stricken Black Caps batsmen played with a surprisingly uncluttered mind in their innings, throwing caution to the wind from the outset.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum’s aggressive double century steamrolled the tiring Pakistan attack as linchpins Rahat Ali, Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah experienced first-hand the demands of bowling against a world-class act in full flow.

McCullum’s opposite number, Misbahul Haq, was left bereft of ideas and the runs leaked by his bowlers had him dazed. At the start of the ‘home’ Test season, the hosts were piling on one record after another, but at its end, the New Zealanders toyed with them by setting their own set of records, at Pakistan’s Sharjah fortress of all places.

One would not know if the innings defeat is simply an aberration for Misbah’s Test team or an alarming slump since the next series is a few months away  with a surfeit of limited overs ties all the way up to the World Cup.

Overall the five Tests — two against Australia and three against New Zealand — have brought a lot of joy for the cricket fans but, judiciously speaking, the current crop is at best a work in progress.

The real ‘Test’ would come when the team travels outside the UAE, especially on England and Australian soil with the side expected to travel to the Ashes' rivals in the next two years.

Magnificent McCullum 

New Zealand on the other hand must be immensely proud of their efforts in the Test series. Under McCullum the current Black Caps outfit has gelled together very well.

McCullum is in scintillating touch and arguably the most destructive Test opener in the game at the moment.

He has scored three double hundreds this year and all have come at breakneck speeds. After beating India at home at the start of the year, McCullum has led his country to a series win in the West Indies before squaring-up against Pakistan.

McCullum and a core of youngsters such as Kane Williamson, Mark Craig, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi and Tom Latham are in for the long haul and can surely take New Zealand to dizzy heights, finally turning their cricket team into a world-class unit.

 
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