http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s fails to keep-up with the game- UAE (Part 1)
Defeat in the opening game of the five match one-day international (ODI) series against South Africa highlights the need for Pakistan to develop a much stronger overall cricketing structure. Before the start of the ODI series, the Unpredictable’s lost the two-match Twenty20 series to the African team with utmost ease. And the initial defeats in the ongoing tour of the UAE were blamed on the lack of a batting coach and an experienced middle order batting line-up, which could tackle and deliver in any situation.
The irony is that the inclusion of test skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 and the controversial comeback of former skipper Younis Khan in the UAE series, were based on the mere fact that their experience would be enough for the Unpredictable’s to become a competitive team in all formats of the international cricket and they would provide the required level of support to the national team.
The South Africans didn’t win the match based on their outstanding individual performances. In fact they simply displayed professionalism and an overall team effort to counter the Asian’s. It was an all-round performance in which every member of the South African squad made their contribution. From the South African angle it was just another win based on their sensible cricketing style.
In both of the Twenty20’s and the first ODI Pakistan, batting first failed to put up a challenging total for their world-class bowlers to defend. But even in the light of the much required experience in the middle order, there was no change in the standard of international cricket played by the national side.
The South African’s had nothing outstanding or exceptional to show, besides the efforts of Lonwabo Tsotsobe who bowled brilliantly as he took 4 for 27 from his allotted ten overs, while Charl Langeveldt and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Johan-Botha-c67173 captured two wickets each.
On the other hand, with the bat the experience of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jean-Paul-Duminy-c66758 and Colin Ingram.
Before the Pakistani home series, scheduled in UAE commenced, several cricketing experts suggested that the hosts would be facing some horrific defeats during the tour considering http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757’s superior world ranking in all formats of the game. But the inclusion of Misbah and Younis in the first ODI gave cricket lovers some hope of witnessing some competitive international cricket.
Meanwhile, the so-called world-class bowling attack of Pakistan wasn’t able to display any sort of dominance in the match. Veteran fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar did however manage to shatter the confidence of the African batsmen, after he struck the opposition skipper on his hand with a speedy delivery. Akhtar has been feared by many batsmen during his career, especially those from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 and South African. The famously known “Rawalpindi Express”, has developed the habit of striking South African left handers, such as former batsman and current Indian Coach Garry Kirsten and current skipper Graeme Smith.
With the exception of the well settled cricketing sense of off-spin bowler Saeed Ajmal, who was able to add two more wickets to his collection of international scalps, no other bowler even threatened the Africans.
Although, one cannot overlook the improved body language and confidence which was shattered by the controversies during the England tour, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 has done a tremendous job in keeping the players spirits as high as possible.
(To be continued...Part 2)
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