<p class="x_x_news-body"><strong>South African pitches are the hardest for batsmen, says Misbah-ul-Haq – Cricket News Update</strong></p>
<p class="x_x_news-body">Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, is extremely disappointed with the performance of his batsmen in the on-going Test series against South Africa but claimed that his team is working hard to overcome their deficiencies.</p>
<p class="x_x_news-body">With the last match of the three-Test series scheduled to begin today at Centurion, the visitors have already lost the series. However, the Green Shirts must play for pride and make an effort to avoid the embarrassment of a whitewash.</p>
<p class="x_x_news-body">Pakistan’s bowlers have not done a bad job against a world-class batting line-up, which includes the likes of Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers. However, it is Pakistan’s batting which has let the team down
at Johannesburg and Cape Town.</p>
<p class="x_x_news-body">The middle-order batsman believes that the batsmen have to perform well on regular basis if a team is to do well in the longer format of the sport. The skipper expressed that the side is working hard and hopes that his openers will
deliver the goods in the third Test.</p>
<p>“We need to improve our batting. We need some consistency,” Misbah said. “It's not about one innings in Test cricket. You have to post big totals in every innings. Everybody is trying and working hard to cope with the new ball.”</p>
<p>Misbah further added that the South African conditions are the hardest for batsmen because they offer additional pace and bounce to the fast bowlers as compared to any other region of the globe.</p>
<p>The Pakistan captain mentioned, “These pitches have more pace and bounce whereas all over the world wickets are getting slower. Even in Australia nowadays. So it's a matter of spending time and playing more cricket here. Lack of experience and lack of playing
Test cricket is why we collapsed in the other matches. Once you play on a regular basis, you get better and better.”</p>
<p>The Test series is going to be followed by two T20 Internationals and a five-match One Day International series. With the inclusion of some senior cricketers like Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal, Pakistan would be hoping for better
results in the limited-overs battle.</p>
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