Mohammad Yousuf strengthens Pakistan’s middle order
Pakistan’s tour of England has been a mixed bag. Their batting has been awful but their bowling has been brilliant.
The Australian tour, earlier this year had been a disaster for Pakistan. Pakistan lost to Australia in every format of the game. The cause of underperforming in Australia, wasn’t only the poor form, it was team politics. Following the tour Down Under, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf were banned from cricket for an indefinite period.
Pakistan selectors selected a relatively young and inexperienced team to tour England. The team had a quality bowling line-up but a weak batting line up. Azhar Ali and Umar Amin were given a chance. Players like Asim http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kamal-c70069, Faisal Iqbal and Taufeeq Umar were neglected for various reasons. The burden was on Umar Akmal in the middle order. Umar Akmal, a great talent but relatively inexperienced, has played only 6 test matches before.
Pakistan did square the series against Australia in England. Pakistan did well against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/S-Young-c87719 and inexperienced batting line-up can do the job, and that they did not need star players, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan.
However, Pakistan’s batting performances in the first two Tests against England told a different story. Pakistan scored 80 all out in the 2nd innings of the first Test at Trent Bridge and 72 all out in the 1st innings at Edgbaston. These dismal performances with the bat showed clear evidence of Pakista’s weak batting line up. Contrary to earlier assessments, Pakistan needed players like Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan and Asim Kamal to strengthen their batting line-up. As a result, Pakistan Cricket Board sent Yousuf, to join the team in England before the 2nd Test. He did not play the 2nd test due to lack of fitness.
Yousuf’s presence strengthened Pakistan’s batting line up and the team altogether. Mohammad Yousuf is one of the four Pakistani batsmen to have an average of over 50 runs per innings, 52.95, in 89 matches. Yousuf, also averages 67.68 against England in 13 Tests and averages 61.92 in England in 7 tests. Nobody can argue about his batting credentials. Yousuf, also brings experience to the batting line-up and stability to the middle order. He can be a perfect guide for the younger batsman like Azhar Ali and Umar Akmal, who can play around him.
The third Test against England at The Oval was a perfect example of how Yousuf’s experience and calmness affected the batting line-up. Yousuf started the innings nervously. The conditions were not easy especially when you are making a comeback to international cricket after 6 months. Yousuf survived the first period and went on to score 56. He showed some signs of regaining his form. He not only made 56, but also provided a foundation for Umar Akmal and Azhar Ali to build their innings upon.
Yousuf showed the younger players how playing the ball as late as possible helps negotiate English wickets and conditions. Azhar Ali’s knock of 92 was a perfect example of Yousuf’s guidance. Azhar Ali’s unbeaten 92 made sure that Pakistan passed 300 for the first time on this tour of England. This was also the first time Pakistan went passed England and took a lead of 75 runs. A lead of 75 runs proved to be decisive in the end. In the 2nd innings Yousuf also helped Salman Butt to score some runs by easing off the pressure on him. Salman Butt also gathered some form scoring 48 runs. The batting line up which was struggling to score runs in tough conditions, suddenly looked calm and confident by playing with a batsman of Yousuf’s class.
Pakistan expects to put on a better show in the Lord’s Test. Lord’s has been a happy hunting ground for Yousuf. The last time he played a Test match at the ‘home of cricket’ he managed to score 202 runs against England.
Tags: