Marsh offers Kamran a helping hand
Former Australia keeper wants Pakistani to attend ICC academy.
PHOTO: AFP
DUBAI:
Former Australia wicket-keeper Rodney Marsh has offered to help Kamran Akmal with his problems behind the stumps and reminded the out-of-favour Pakistani that consistency was the key to becoming a better glovesman.
Akmal was omitted from the UAE-bound squad and has been subject to a lot of criticism for his poor wicket-keeping, especially in Test matches.
“I have no idea about Pakistan selection and its not my decision but they might have some extremely talented wicket-keepers who don’t get a chance,” Marsh told The Express Tribune. “I personally believe that Kamran is very good and an experienced one but I think there are things needed to be done for improvement.”
Kamran, who has been on ICC’s radar after Pakistan’s surprise defeat to Australia in the Sydney Test earlier this year, was dropped from the team during the England tour over poor performance, paving the way for Zulqarnain Haider’s debut. An injury to Haider, however, earned Kamran a recall for the final Test. The selectors again chose Haider for the UAE series and after his abandoning the team, Adnan Akmal, Kamran’s younger brother, was instead sent as a replacement.
Marsh backed Pakistan’s regular wicket-keeper and said that consistency was his only problem. “I don’t see any problem with the way he keeps but consistency is the issue. To be a great wicket-keeper, you must be consistent.
“If I was to offer help, I would work on his routine and make sure he’s consistent,” said Marsh, who offered Kamran to come to the ICC academy for three months.
“You send him here for just three months and he will walk away being a better wicket-keeper.”
Marsh, 63, also rated Pakistan a competitive team but said that they too, had the same issue. “For Pakistan the issue is to be consistent as well.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2010.
Former Australia wicket-keeper Rodney Marsh has offered to help Kamran Akmal with his problems behind the stumps and reminded the out-of-favour Pakistani that consistency was the key to becoming a better glovesman.
Akmal was omitted from the UAE-bound squad and has been subject to a lot of criticism for his poor wicket-keeping, especially in Test matches.
“I have no idea about Pakistan selection and its not my decision but they might have some extremely talented wicket-keepers who don’t get a chance,” Marsh told The Express Tribune. “I personally believe that Kamran is very good and an experienced one but I think there are things needed to be done for improvement.”
Kamran, who has been on ICC’s radar after Pakistan’s surprise defeat to Australia in the Sydney Test earlier this year, was dropped from the team during the England tour over poor performance, paving the way for Zulqarnain Haider’s debut. An injury to Haider, however, earned Kamran a recall for the final Test. The selectors again chose Haider for the UAE series and after his abandoning the team, Adnan Akmal, Kamran’s younger brother, was instead sent as a replacement.
Marsh backed Pakistan’s regular wicket-keeper and said that consistency was his only problem. “I don’t see any problem with the way he keeps but consistency is the issue. To be a great wicket-keeper, you must be consistent.
“If I was to offer help, I would work on his routine and make sure he’s consistent,” said Marsh, who offered Kamran to come to the ICC academy for three months.
“You send him here for just three months and he will walk away being a better wicket-keeper.”
Marsh, 63, also rated Pakistan a competitive team but said that they too, had the same issue. “For Pakistan the issue is to be consistent as well.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2010.