Dismal 72 all out performance by Pakistani batsmen: What http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Must Do To Win Against England
There is little chance for Pakistan to do well against England in the second test match of the four-match series played at Edgbaston, Birmingham (With a dismal first innings of 72 all out, with the highest score being 23 made by Umar Amin, it isn’t really complicated to figure that one out). In fact, it is more of a ‘mismatch’ than a Test match if one takes a look at both the sides. While England has a side that is rich on batting resources, Pakistan doesn’t seem to be sufficient in the department. On the other hand, Pakistan has a superior bowling attack, yet it is the fielders who don’t support them in dismissing the batsmen, as Pakistan lose matches for not holding onto even simple catches.
The combined number of centuries scored by English batsmen in their Test career is 62, whereas their Pakistani counterparts have managed just 15 centuries between them. It is the exact number of centuries former captain Younis Khan has scored alone, and it is enough to make the Pakistan Cricket Board realise that by not going for the ideal one-down batsman available to them, they are not only ruining Test cricket but also Pakistan’s image. If one adds the 24 centuries by Mohammad Yousuf, since he has been recalled to the side, Pakistan’s comparison gets better, as their tally reaches 39 against England’s 62.
Pakistan skipper Salman Butt may be openly backing youngster Umar Amin but the reality is that the left-hander doesn’t deserve a place in the side. If the skipper feels that Umar Amin's bowling can help the side in swinging conditions, he should think again, and replace him with the reinforcement from Pakistan, Mohammad Yousuf. Who knows, by turning his arm over, Yousuf might do something useful and prove to be the Man with the Golden Arm, the way Umar Amin has done.
In the bowling department, Pakistan fares better. While England has just 1 bowler - James Anderson - with 100 or more wickets in Test cricket, Pakistan go in with 2: Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314, who has taken over 260 wickets in Tests, is not playing in the match yet he is technically part of the squad. England’s Graeme Swann (91 test wickets) and Stuart Broad (86 test wickets – add to that the four wickets he took in Pakistan’s first innings: Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Umar Amin, and wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider) may be nearing the 100-wicket mark, but they still have a long way to go.
Pakistan should shed the tradition of playing a specialist spinner in the final XI when they can use Shoaib Malik for the same purpose. They should go all out with 4 pacers, considering the hosts are a little reluctant to play swing. They will definitely have a run fest if Saeed Ajmal or Raza Hassan plays since neither is a regular Test player. The irony of the fact is that Pakistan’s most successful leg spinner in England, Mushtaq Ahmed, is now coaching the English spinners and has played an integral part in revamping Graeme Swann’s career. It is Mushtaq Ahmed’s training that has made English batsmen play well against spinners, and at times use their feet to a ball that turns after pitching.
Pakistan should also include an express pace bowler instead of a spinner. Since Shoaib Akhtar is not part of the squad, nor is Mohammad Sami, the closest quickie they have is coach Waqar Younis, who can still deliver thunderbolts. It would be better if the coach backs the inclusion of Tanvir Ahmed, the express pacer in the Pakistan squad who can take wickets as well as destabilise the batsmen on the field.
Last, but not the least, Pakistan must get a proper, regular and dependable wicketkeeper for its amazing bowlers. They have given a chance to Zulqarnain Haider, who can not be worse than Kamran Akmal, whose wicketkeeping has gone from bad to worse. He can be asked to play simply as a batsman since he has the most number of centuries in the squad - six - yet his dismal record outside Asia, where he has scored at just 17 runs per innings only warrants him a place on the bench, that too if he is lucky.
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