Pakistan vs Australia first test - What Pakistan has to offer...
Pakistan’s chance for salvation is here, this is the time for Pakistan to put the nightmare of their last catastrophic Australian series behind them and write a new chapter in their cricket. The team is looking good under a new charismatic captain and this probably is their best chance of getting back at the Aussies.
Pakistan cricket is in a state of transition and Shahid Afridi seems to be just the right man to lead them through this testing phase. The all rounder has got the presence and charisma that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 had been lacking in leadership. Players like Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf and even Younis Khan have not had the amount of respect and admiration that Afridi has gained from his team. All of this may not have much to do with the team off the field but these small things collectively affect the performance of the team. If the captain is able to take hold of his team, get the best out of them and motivate them, the team responds in a completely different manner.
Going purely on the evidence of the T-20 world cup and Asia cup followed by the 2 match T-20 series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 does have Shoaib Malik in his team but still he has been able to make it work.
Shoaib Malik may not be part of the test team that comes out for the first test, but Afridi does have a number of young talented players who are eager to make their name against the Australians. Now, having said that batting still remains to be the weakness for Pakistan with Umar Akmal being the only man with an average of more than 40 in the batting order, However, Salman Butt has been coming of age in all formats of the game and with him also being Afridi’s deputy a lot will rest on his shoulders.
Two young faces in the shape of Umar Amin and Azhar Ali may give Pakistan the new blood they have been looking for, but it still may be too much to ask from the rookies to come out and do it against the mighty Aussies.
Pakistan’s bowling however looks mighty strong; Umar Gul looks to be coming back to his best, when he came on to the scene he was believed to be a bowler tailor made for test cricket. His immaculate off stump line and ability to move the ball both ways does make him difficult to handle. Mohammad Aamer has been improving with every match and this may just be the time for him to come up with the goods in the 5 day format. He certainly does have all the ingredients of being the face of Pakistan’s pace bowling for the next decade to come.
Not to forget Mohammad Asif, the troubled right arm medium fast bowler has the amazing ability to extract movement from any pitch, although not in his best form these days he still is a quality test bowler.
Saeed Ajmal, though, may be the trump card once the shine goes off the ball, and especially if Pakistan bowl last, on a breaking pitch Ajmal alongside Afridi may be crucial in breaking down the formidable Australian line up.
Pakistan look well equipped to take on Australia but they would have to be mentally strong more than anything else, as there is no doubt about their ability.
Tags: