Pakistan takes on Australia in 2nd Test at Headingley, Leeds
Salman Butt has been given a chance to prove his mettle against the leading Test side, Australia in the final Test match of their home series scheduled at Leads. Butt, the sixth captain of Pakistan in the last one year can fix his position for a long term by breaking the 13-test match losing string against Australia. The well in form Australians on the other hand, would try to prove Salman Butt as another botched choice of Pakistan cricket as captain.
The hosts at English soils saw turmoil when the captain for the England tour, Shahid Khan Afridi announced his test retirement soon after losing 12th consecutive test to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746. Just six months before, Pakistan was whitewashed by the Ashes favourites across all formats in their tour of Australia. The devastating tour was followed by a half dozen bans and penalties that were surprisingly revoked later on same way as they were handed.
Leading the team in the Leads test would be a great challenge for 25 years old Salman Butt, as the team is facing psychological pressure after losing Lord’s game with 150 runs followed by the spontaneous retirement decision of their regular captain of the tour. Butt, who was described as “a little lazy runner” during the winless tour of Australia by the then captain Mohammad Yousuf, was the only batsman to face Australian attack confidently at Lord’s with 63 and 92 in both innings. The opening batsman needs to be consistent with the Lord’s performance to bring his side out of the psychological pressure. Strong opening stands would boost the morale of the middle and lower order, as the only issue with Pakistan cricket over the last couple of years is an out-of-sorts batting line-up.
Ijaz Ahmad, Pakistan’s Assistant coach and the former batsman, has given some tips to the batsmen to stay at crease for a longer time. Ijaz Ahmed, in his career with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 cricket team scored 141 in a Test at Headingley. "I told them the best thing to do is leave the ball outside off stump and the short ball," said the Assistant Coach.
Australia is facing a couple of fitness issues since the 150 runs win at Lord’s. Ben Hilfenhaus is struggling with the sore shoulder while Marcus North is not feeling well. Both the players did not join the training session on Monday. Ponting, however, turned down the news that Hilfenhaus and North might not make the Leads playing XI. He said that both the players are quite fit now and will play against Pakistan in the second Test. If Hilfenhaus failed to make the Leads playing squad then Peter George can expect his test debut and same can http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khawaja-c2729 for Marcus North. But the chances are more that Ponting would step into Leads with an unchanged Lord’s squad.
Two replacements are expected to take place in Pakistan squad. Afridi’s retirement has left No. 6 place vacant and the former captain Shoaib Malik would be the best name to replace Afridi. Saeed Ajmal is also expected to replace http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314 in the Leads test.
Pakistan has been beaten by Australia in 13 successive Test matches which is a record winning run against any country in the history of Test cricket. Pakistan’s last victory against Australia came in November 1995 while the last stalemate was recorded in November 1998. Salman Butt - Pakistan’s third Test captain against Australia in a calendar year - has remarkable test average (47.14) against Australia.
The wicket at Headingley is variable particularly under overcast conditions, however it aids seam bowling more. Overcast conditions took the Lord’s game away from Pakistan and same is expected at Headingley. Cloud cover Leeds with staggered rain showers has been forecasted. Ricky Ponting averages remarkable at Headingley with 105.25 from just three Test matches. This is the ground where Ponting recorded his maiden Test hundred in July 1997.
Only steady run scoring from Pakistan batting line-up can help Pakistan break the losing streak against Australia.
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