Pakistan require Changes after Heavy Loss
They might be labeled by many as the most unpredictable team in the world. But these days there is nothing unpredictable about their batting. They are simply not capable of lasting in the longest format of the game.
One vividly recalls a cartoon that appeared in a local cricket magazine in Karachi some twenty years ago which depicted all nine Australian fielders in the slip cordon waiting for the outside edge. The caption under the cartoon was that the Australians did not need any fielder any where else on the field as the Pakistani batsmen just played with the outside edge handing one catch after another to the slip cordon.
In the Trent Bridge test 13 out of the twenty wickets were lost to outside edges. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 crashed to a 354 run defeat on the fourth day chasing a mammoth 435 runs for victory.
The dismal state of affairs with the bat have just gone from bad to worse as the tourists caved in with out a whimper in the first test match
The fourth day was expected to be a severe test of the Pakistani batsmen and despite a determined start it was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened. Opener Imran Farhat edged a delivery from James Anderson that jagged in sharply took the outside edge and landed in the hands of a delighted Andrew Strauss.
The slide was well and truly in affect as Umar Akmal was trapped lbw by a booming in swinger by the English tormentor-in-chief James Anderson.
Mohammad Aamer was the next to go after labouring for four runs as the night watchman guided a Finn delivery into the hands of Kevin Pietersen placed in the gully region.
Kamran Akmal, who had an ordinary match with the gloves, continued his wretched run with the bat. The right hander was dismissed lbw by Finn, as his attempted pull failed miserably and the ball hit him low down in front of the wickets.
It became an absolute embarrassment as first innings hero Umar Gul failed to re-do his magic edging the ball into the hands of Paul Collingwood.
Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Asif also perished cheaply as the team folded for a miserable 80 runs, their lowest ever against the English team.
James Anderson claimed his first ten wicket haul in test cricket. The right armer extracted prodigious swing and seam and was almost unplayable returning impressive figures of 11 for 76.
The bowler was named man-of-the-match for his outstanding performance in the match.
The match was surrendered tamely by a team that right now has as brittle a batting line-up as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 in test cricket. Pakistan needs to reflect greatly on what was an extremely ordinary performance.
The Pakistan team that succeeded in defeating http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 for the first time in 15 years a week ago in Headingley Leeds is back to its abysmal best. The batsmen are lacking in experience and ability to deal with the moving ball.
For the time being they need to re-group before the second test starts in Edgbaston Birmingham, next Friday.
The wicket there might not be as taxing for the Pakistani team, especially if the pitch offers turn to the slow bowlers.
Saeed Ajmal is expected to be included at the expense of Danesh Kaneria who had a miserable test returning figures of 1-171 with the ball.
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