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| T20: Woeful Pakistan lose again in Australia |
MELBOURNE: Pakistan ended their disappointing tour losing all matches in the series of three Tests, five One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 match as Australia also won their last match by two wickets on the last ball of the match here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.
Chasing an easy target of 128 runs, Pakistan started disastrously by losing both their openers, Imran Nazir (naught) and Imran Farhat (8), for just 10 runs on the board.
However, wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal came to rescue to take his team out of trouble. He held the one end intact as other batsmen were being dismissed at regular intervals.
Pakistan were well on the way to success as long as Kamran was at the crease but his ouster changed the whole scenario and the tourists who were needing only 30 runs from 35 balls to win the match managed only 27 runs with one wicket remaining to give Australia their first T20 win against Paksitan.
Kamran blasted 64 off only 33 balls with seven fours and two sixes while the second top scorer was his younger brother Umar with 21. The only other batsman reaching double-figure was Umar Gul (10).
Shaun Tait was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 13 runs, supported by Shane Watson and Steve Smith claiming two wickets each.
Earlier, Michael Clarke who was leading the Aussies in the absence of Ricky Ponting, won the toss and elected to bat but his team could not make any big score and were all out for 127 in 18.4 overs.
Except Michael Hussey (40 not out), Clarke (32) and David Warner (24), no batsman could enter into double figures as three batmen were run out by alert Pakistani fielders.
For Pakistan, Umar Gul captured three wickets for 20 runs while Malik claimed two for 31. Pacers Mohammad Asif and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan took one wicket each.
Shoaib Malik led Pakistan as their T20 captain Shahid Afridi was banned for playing two T20 matches for ball tampering.
Imran Nazir returned to Pakistan lineup and Imran Farhat made his T20 debut.
Australia also included two debutants – legs-pinning allrounder Steve Smith and left-handed batsman Travis Birt. |
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| Tour must teach our batsmen, says Malik |
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MELBOURNE: Pakistan allrounder Shoaib Malik says his country must learn from its disastrous tour of Australia, particularly the batsmen.
Pakistan’s two-run defeat to Australia in Friday night’s Twenty20 match at the MCG was another opportunity missed by the tourists, who left for home on Saturday morning.
The result ensured a summer whitewash by Australia, who won the three Tests and five one-dayers before they fought back well to pip the reigning world Twenty20 champions.
Malik, who captained the side in Shahid Afridi’s absence on Friday night, bemoaned his side’s inability to back up their good bowling performance, as they bowled Michael Clarke’s side out for 127.
But Kamran Akmal, with 64 from 33 balls, and his brother Umar (21) were the only batsmen to fire, and even the latter holed out at the start of the final over when his side was still a chance to win. Pakistan finished on 9-125.
“You always learn from your mistakes and whenever we tour Australia we always learn from here,” Malik said. “We have to do some hard work on our batting.”
Pakistan can justifiably look forward to getting home after three months on the road — they played against New Zealand before landing in Australia — but their homecoming is unlikely to be the most welcoming.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has already organised a committee to investigate the tour’s failings, and it will also probe Afridi’s two-game suspension for ball tampering, in the last one-dayer in Perth.
Pakistan’s next international commitment are two Twenty20 games against England this month. |
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| Pakistan restrict Aussies to 127 in T20 |
MELBOURNE: Pakistanis are looking superb for the first time on the tour of Australia as they restricted the hosts to 127 runs in 18.4 overs in the only Twenty20 International (day/night) here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.
After Michael Clarke, leading the Aussies in the absence of Ricky Ponting, won the toss and elected to bat his team could not make any big score as expected earlier.
Pakistani bowlers bowled remarkably well and fielders did excellent fielding to bundle out the Aussies.
For Australia, except Michael Hussey (40 not out), Clarke (32) and David Warner (24), no batsman could enter into double figures as three batmen were run out by alert Pakistani fielders.
Umar Gul captured three wickets for 20 runs while Malik claimed two for 31. Pacers Mohammad Asif and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan took one wicket each.
The T20 world champions are playing today under allrounder Shoaib Malik as their T20 captain Shahid Afridi has been banned for playing two T20 matches for ball tampering.
Imran Nazir has returned to Pakistan lineup for today and Imran Farhat is making his T20 debut.
Australia have also included two debutants – legs-pinning allrounder Steve Smith and left-handed batsman Travis Birt.
Teams:
Australia: Shane Watson, David Warner, Michael Clarke (captain), David Hussey, Cameron White, Travis Birt, Brad Haddin (wk), Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait, Dirk Nannes.
Pakistan: Kamran Akmal (wk), Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik (captain), Khalid Latif, Fawad Alam, Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal. |
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| Aussies win toss, bat against Pakistan in T20 |
MELBOURNE: Australian captain Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bat against Pakistan in the only Twenty20 International (day/night) here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.
Pakistan are playing under allrounder Shoaib Malik as Pakistan T20 captain Shahid Afridi has been banned for playing two T20 matches for ball biting incident.
Imran Nazir has returned to Pakistan lineup for today and Imran Farhat is making his T20 debut.
Australia have also included two debutants - legspinning allrounder Steve Smith and left-handed batsman Travis Birt.
Teams:
Australia: Shane Watson, David Warner, Michael Clarke (captain), David Hussey, Cameron White, Travis Birt, Brad Haddin (wk), Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait, Dirk Nannes.
Pakistan: Kamran Akmal (wk), Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik (captain), Khalid Latif, Fawad Alam, Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal. |
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| Hidden reasons behind debacle: Waqar |
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KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis dropped a bombshell on Thursday when he claimed that there were some hidden reasons behind Pakistan’s pathetic performance on the current tour of Australia.
Waqar, who served as Pakistan’s bowling consultant during the tour of Australia, said that he would reveal the real causes behind Pakistan’s poor showing if summoned by any probe committee.
“The bad performance of our players on the cricket field was not the only reason why performed so poorly in Australia,” Waqar said in an interview. “I will reveal the hidden reasons if summoned by any probe committee,” he added.
There have been reports of discord within the Pakistan team. Waqar’s comments have added weight to such reports.
Waqar also claimed that he was never allowed much room to help Pakistan improve their performance in Australia. He didn’t provide any more details.
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| Pakistan, Australia lone T20 today |
MELBOURNE: ICC World T20 Champions Pakistan and Australia will meet in the only T20 match of the ongoing Bouncer Series here on Friday, Geo news reported.
The match will be telecast live on Geo Super – only round the clock sports television channel in Pakistan.
Due to ball tempering, Shahid Khan Afridi was charged with and was banned for two international T20 matches, the team will be led by former Test and ODI captain Shoaib Malik.
Talking to Geo news, Malik said I accepted teams’ captainship in compliance with Shahid Khan Afridi’s proposal asking me to lead team in two T20s. |
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| I accepted captaincy on Afridi’s desire: Malik |
MELBOURNE: Allrounder Shoaib Malik said that he accepted captaincy offer on Shahid Afridi’s desire.
Talking with Geo News in Melbourne, Shoaib Malik said that he had no fondness or desire to become captain again.
The former captain said that he wants to play all three types of cricket as a player.
Regarding not being placed in IPL, Malik said that Pakistani players have not to prove that they are good players of Twenty20 but their priority is only to play for their country.
Shoaib Malik said the team would miss Shahid Afridi in the Twenty20 International, to be played against Australia on Friday. |
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| Pak squad for T20 announced |
MELBOURNE: Pakistan has announced squad for the lone Twenty20 match against Australia. Opener Salman Butt is not the part of playing squad because of poor performance.
Former captain Shoaib Malik will be the captain of the team in the absence of Shahid Afridi, facing two matches ban due to ball tempering.
The Pakistani team comprised of Shoaib Malik(captain), Imran Farhat, Kamran Akmal, Imran Nazeer, Khalid Latif, Fawad Alam, Umer Akmal, Rana Naveedul Hasan, Muhammad Asif, Saeed Ajmal and Umer Gul.
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| Waugh backs White over Clarke as Twenty20 captain |
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MELBOURNE: Former Australian opener Mark Waugh has questioned Michael Clarke’s position in the national team’s Twenty20 set-up, and backed the in-form Cameron White for the team’s captaincy.
“If he’s captain, he’s got to get going. You’re the main man and you probably have to bat at three of four,” said Waugh, who is also part of FOX Sports commentary team.
Clarke had struggled to adapt to the shortest form of the game, and Victoria skipper Cameron White was the man to lead Australia in Twenty20 cricket, Waugh said.
“I don’t think (Clarke’s) batting is suited all that well to Twenty20 cricket. With that back injury, I’m just thinking will it shorten his Test career. Cameron White could easily be captain, Waugh said on Inside Cricket.
Clarke’s record in Twenty20 cricket is mediocre in comparison to his performances in the longer forms of the game.
He has scored just 216 runs at an average of 19.63 in Twenty20 Internationals at the strike-rate of just over a run a ball, which is low by T20 standards.
By comparison, the in-form White boasts a strike-rate of 150.00 from eight Tewnty20 Internationals. He also averages 33.40 in at a strike rate of 137.89 in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.
White has captained Victoria to four KFC Twenty Big Bash titles in five years, and has the support of his Bushrangers coach, Greg Shipperd, who said in September that White should lead his country in T20 cricket.
Australia’s chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, has however backed Clarke to perform, starting against Pakistan at the MCG on Friday (tomorrow) night.
“He’s going to captain the side. He’s a brilliant fielder and he bowls left-arm orthodox as well, so it’s an exceedingly good all-round package he brings. He’s one of the best players in world cricket at the moment in Tests and One-day Internationals, and we hope he can transfer that form into Twenty20,” Hilditch said.
Hilditch said Clarke was a key part of Australia’s plans to avenge poor results at the past two world championships.
Australia will head to the Caribbean in April hoping to better their efforts from last year, when they were knocked out at the group stage after reaching the semifinals in 2007.
“It’s going to be a very big tournament for Michael and he’s really looking forward to it,” Hilditch said.
“Everybody is going to need to perform at their best, but the fact is players haven’t played a lot of international Twenty20s.
“But I am sure Michael is going to have an impact in the next Twenty20 world cup.”
Hilditch said Australia were disappointed with their results in the first two world championship tournaments, but said the shortened format was a difficult one to dominate.
“It’s a form of cricket that it’s hard to see one side dominating, you look at South Australia this year making the (domestic) final from (equal) last place last season,” he said.
Australia have won 11 and lost 12 of their 24 Twenty20 Internationals (one no-result) and have never beaten Pakistan, who are the reigning world champions.
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| PCB forms panel to probe into Australia losses |
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KARACHI: Pakistan’s cricket chiefs on Monday responded to their team’s abysmal performance by forming a probe committee, saying that they will conduct a thorough inquiry into the causes behind the Test and ODI debacles in Australia.
However, the six-man inquiry committee named by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was quickly rejected by former Test cricketers as a feeble attempt by the Board to cover up its own faults.
“What happened in Australia is a reflection of the poor management heading our cricket,” said Aamir Sohail, a former Pakistan captain. Sarfraz Nawaz, ex-Test pacer, echoed Aamir’s comments, stressing that the PCB’s failure to run cricket in a professional manner is the main cause behind Pakistan’s disappointing showing in Australia.
The committee which is headed by Wasim Bari, PCB’s chief operating officer, either includes people on the Board’s payrolls or ones who are supposed to be close to Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman.
The committee includes PCB Governing Board member Wazir Ali Khoja, former team manager Yawar Saeed, former Test batsman Haroon Rashid, PCB’s director of cricket operations Zakir Khan and Tafazzul Rizvi, the Board’s lawyer.
“The committee will look into the various aspects of the team performance and make recommendations accordingly,” said a PCB statement issued on Monday, a day after Pakistan suffered yet another whitewash against Australia.
However, Sarfraz raised doubts about the credentials of the inquiry panel.“The committee either includes PCB officials or people who are close to the Board,” he said. “What if the fault lies with the PCB officials themselves? Will they recommend any action against themselves?” he asked.
Sarfraz said that the PCB should have included neutral experts and journalists in the committee to make it more effective. “To me it’s mere eyewash,” said the outspoken Sarfraz. “It won’t serve any purpose.”
Pakistan’s losing streak on the tour of Australia has attracted scathing criticism from various quarters with many critics calling for sweeping changes within the PCB itself. However, Ijaz Butt is confident that the Board will be able to find out the reasons behind Pakistan’s poor performance. “We have to look into the reasons for the defeats and we will remove the flaws so our cricket can move forward,” Butt told reporters on Monday.
Butt rejects Iqbal’s resignation
KARACHI: Iqbal Qasim on Monday refused to reconsider his decision to resign as Pakistan’s chief selector following Pakistanís poor showing on the current tour of Australia.
Ijaz Butt, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, said on Monday that he has not accepted Qasimís resignation and he will try to convince the former Test spinner to review his decision.
“I have requested him to continue as chief selector until the World Twenty20,” he told reporters on Monday. However, Qasim made it clear that he has resigned in a bid to accept responsibility for Pakistanís disappointing performance in Australia. Qasim added that his decision is final, adding that he will not take back his resignation.
“After the clean sweep in the Test and one-day series, I don’t think it is my moral duty to remain the chief selector,” said Qasim, who took over as Pakistanís chief selector last July. ìI am thankful to Mr Butt for his kind words. I will not change my decision,” Qasim said.
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| Malik gets captaincy again |
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KARACHI: Just a year after being rejected by team coaches as a ‘loner’ with little or no leadership qualities, Shoaib Malik has been chosen again to lead Pakistan in their one off Twenty20 International against Australia on February 5 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Malik, 28, was appointed as the Pakistan captain after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ran out of options following the banning of Shahid Afridi for two Twenty20 Internationals after the allrounder was found guilty of ball tampering.
Afridi, Pakistan’s stand-in captain, was caught by television cameras chewing the ball during Pakistan’s fifth and final One-day International against Australia at the WACA on Sunday night.
“Shoaib Malik has been appointed as captain for the Twenty-20 against Australia in the absence of Shahid Afridi,” PCB announced in a brief statement on Monday. Just a year ago, Malik was sacked as Pakistan captain after leading his team to an embarrassingly one-sided ODI series defeat against Sri Lanka on home soil last January.
At that time, Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam and manager Yawar Saeed described Malik as a ‘loner’ and recommended that he should be replaced with Younis Khan as captain.Younis did succeed Malik as captain but after leading Pakistan to a memorable title-winning triumph in the ICC World Twenty20 championship in England last summer, he decided against carrying on and stepped down as skipper last November. He was replaced by Yousuf, who led Pakistan on the twin tour of New Zealand and Australia.
While Pakistan have been pondering about having a new captain following Mohammad Yousuf’s poor captaincy in Australia, Malik was nowhere in the picture as far as the list of possible candidates was concerned.
However, with Yousuf and Younis not in the Twenty20 squad and Afridi ineligible for the tour-ending MCG clash against the Aussies, the PCB didn’t have many players to choose from.According to insiders in the Pakistan team, the name of Test vice-captain Kamran Akmal was considered but the fumbling glovesman was overlooked because of his poor showing on the tour of Australia.
The option of appointing opening batsman Salman Butt as captain was also discussed. Even Mohammad Asif, the fast bowler who briefly served as Pakistan’s vice-captain two years ago, got a mention but in the end the PCB think-tank voted in favour of Malik.
Ironically, Malik is quite a controversial figure within his team these days.There has been a whispering campaign in the national cricket circles suggesting that Malik could be the man leading a lobby in the Pakistan team that plotted the downfall of Yousuf in Australia. In fact, sources close to Yousuf claimed that the senior batsman suspects that some of the players including Malik deliberately under-performed in Australia where Pakistan lost the Test series 3-0 and the one-day series 5-0.
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| CA issues apology over tackling incident in Perth |
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KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday received an unconditional apology from Cricket Australia over a breach of security during the fifth and final One-day International in Perth on Sunday night when Khalid Latif was tackled by a spectator.
‘The News’ learnt here on Monday that even the apology didn’t prevent the PCB from contacting the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the issue.“It’s a serious issue for us,” a Board official said. “I mean Pakistan gets a lot of criticism when it come to security issues but look at what happened in Perth,” he said.
Meanwhile, federal sports minister Aijaz Jakhrani has urged CA to set up barriers at grounds and ban alcohol following the tackling incident.Jakhrani advised PCB chairman Ijaz Butt to raise the issue with CA and said if he was not satisfied with its response, he would go directly to his counterpart, federal Sports Minister Stephen Smith.
“The thing that really worried me, what if that person had a knife, he got there and could have done anything he wanted,” Jakhrani told The Age.“They should ban alcohol at grounds. There should be some kind of barrier or restriction to stop people entering the ground.
“This is the right time to think about these things. It is no good waiting for someone to die before making decisions.” The International Cricket Council sent a terse letter to CA asking for an explanation into the incident, which resulted in a 37-year-old man being charged with assault.
“We are disappointed, there was a clear security breach and an international player was brought down,” an ICC spokesman said. ICC president David Morgan said the incident was “not a good look for the game”.
Latif was interviewed by police in the WACA Ground dressing room after the match, and later expressed his disappointment at the security lapse. Grounds in the sub-continent have barbed wire fences dividing players from spectators, which has prevented the ground invasions that are frustratingly common during the Australian summer.
Jakhrani added: “I have told the cricket board chairman that he should take it up with the Australian cricket board, this is not on. “Let’s wait and see what they say, otherwise I can definitely take it up with my counterpart in Australia.”
CA and the WACA asked for heftier fines to be imposed by the West Australian government as a deterrent, but offered no explanation as to how the spectator was able to reach Latif despite a large contingent of security guards patrolling the boundary.
Meanwhile, the irony of the incident was not lost on Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam.The ICC rules his country as unsafe for touring teams but then one of his own players is assaulted by a spectator.
“It shouldn’t have happened,” Alam said. “Especially these days. You have to be very, very careful to make sure these things don’t happen any more. You have to take very strict measures about it, people running on the field, for the safety of the players.
“The way he tackled him, he could have been very seriously hurt. They have to make sure it doesn’t happen again. He has a stiff neck, but he is OK. He’s not very seriously hurt, but he could have been very seriously injured. “You have to live life positively, not negatively, but this could be very, very detrimental as well, you know. You have to be careful these days, wherever you go.”
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| I’d have led the team off: Ponting |
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PERTH: Australia captain Ricky Ponting claims he would have considered leading his side from the field had one of his players been attacked the same way Pakistan’s Khalid Latif was at the WACA on Sunday night.
Latif was crash-tackled to the ground by a spectator who had run 50m to reach the cricketer. It is a major embarrassment to security staff who seem preoccupied with deflating beach balls and breaking up illegal beer snakes.
Other parts of the world use permanent fences, drop down netting or less-intrusive netted moats behind the fences to ward off invaders. Latif laughed off the incident, but was left with a stiff neck after landing heavily and said he hoped it would never happen to anybody else. He was supported by the Australian captain.
“If I was the fielding captain I would have definitely pulled all the players in and had a chat to them about how they felt about it,” Ponting said. “That wasn’t the first spectator who had been on the ground tonight either. “Luckily for me and luckily for us we were the batting team at the time. I just hope I never see that again to tell the truth.”
Ponting said he hoped the local police would make “a very good example of this guy”. “That would be a good way to start,” he said. “Make a good example of him and just make it clear to everyone who turns up at the cricket that that sort of behaviour is unacceptable.”
Match referee Ranjan Madugalle said he had sent a report to the ICC about the incident while there are suggestions Pakistan may make an official complaint. Australian Cricketers Association chief Paul Marsh was appalled. “I thought it was disgraceful,” he said. “I would hope the WACA is reviewing the security company it is using. We wouldn’t accept it in another country and we certainly wouldn’t accept it in our own country. It is embarrassing for Australian cricket.”
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam believes Latif, 24, was fortunate not to suffer serious injury.“He’s OK. He’s got a stiff neck but unfortunately these things happen from time to time,” Alam said. “I thought there was enough security |
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| ‘Afridi’s action cost Pakistan ODI’ |
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PERTH: Australia captain Ricky Ponting says Shahid Afridi’s ball tampering could have cost Pakistan the fifth and last One-day International at the WACA Ground.
Afridi on Sunday was charged with ball tampering and suspended for two Twenty20 internationals after being caught biting the ball during Australia’s thrilling two-wicket win over Pakistan.
The 29-year-old was the stand-in-skipper in the absence of injured skipper Mohammad Yousuf. Australia needed 35 runs off 30 balls with just three wickets remaining when Afridi was nabbed and the ball replaced.
Ponting said the incident would have unsettled Afridi and potentially cost Pakistan a chance of winning its first game on an otherwise dreadful tour.“As soon as it happened, the umpires acted really well and changed the ball straight away,” Ponting was quoted as saying in the Australian media Monday.
ìI think he (Afridi) himself must have realised when they changed the ball, he had actually been caught in the act.“He would have had all sorts of things going through his mind for the last couple of overs and as captain you have enough going through your head without worrying about things like that,” he said.
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| Aussie charged over pitch invasion |
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SYDNEY: A 37-year-old spectator has been charged with assault after wrestling Pakistan’s Khalid Latif to the ground during a One-day International against Australia, police said on Monday.
The Perth resident will face common assault and trespass charges in a magistrates court on February 16 after Sunday’s incident, which sparked calls for tougher penalties for pitch invaders.
Video footage showed the man running onto Perth’s WACA Ground and tackling the fielder from behind, slightly injuring his neck. Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) chief executive Graeme Wood said the spectator had received a lifetime ban from the ground and was facing a maximum fine of 500 dollars (440 US) under state law.
“Personally I’d like to see it up around 10,000 dollars so it becomes a real deterrent,” Wood said, according to AAP news agency. “At 500 dollars you could be in a situation with a few mates around where you can profiteer by running out onto the ground.”
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| Committee formed on team’s poor performance in Australia |
LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt has formed a six-member committee for reviewing the poor performance of the national cricket team on the tour of Australia while he said that the resignation of Iqbal Qasim has not been accepted and he has been asked to continue his job until the Twenty20 World Cup.
Talking with media here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday, the chairman PCB said that all matters are now under process so the resignation of Iqbal Qasim cannot be accepted and he has been directed to continue as chief selector.
Ijaz Butt said that the PCB has formed a six-member committee which will be headed by Wasim Bari and will include Wazir Ali Khoja, Yawar Saeed, Haroon Rasheed, Zakir Khan and Tafazzul Rizvi.
Besides reviewing the team’s performance, the committee will also review the violations of discipline and other matters and then it will submit its recommendations to the chairman. |
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| Shoaib Malik named captain for T20 against Australia |
MELBOURNE: Allrounder Shoaib Malik has been appointed captain for the only Twenty20 International which will be played against Australia here at the MCG on February 5.
Pakistan team will not have the services of T20 captain Shahid Afridi as he is facing a ban for two T20 matches for his ball-biting in the fifth and final One-day International at Perth.
This may be recalled that Shoaib Malik was removed from captaincy after the ODI home series against Sri Lanka in January last year. |
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| ICC asks CA for report on Khalid assault |
PERTH: The International Cricket Council(ICC) has asked Cricket Australia (CA) for a report into the breach of security that allowed a spectator to enter the field of play during the fifth and final One-day International between Australia and Pakistan at the WACA in Perth yesterday and tackle the Pakistan opener Khalid Latif to the ground.
The incident occurred in the 46th over of Australia's innings. Latif was brought down from behind by 37-year-old David James Fraser but was uninjured. The spectator has been charged with assault and given a life ban from the ground. He was also fined A$500 (£280).
"Obviously the ICC is very disappointed by the incident," an ICC spokesperson said. "There has been a clear security breach. We have asked CA to send us a detailed report on the incident before we can make any comment." Given the ICC's zero tolerance for such breaches, the matter is being viewed with concern and it could be brought up at the ICC executive board meeting in Dubai from 9-11 February.
Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, said: "I just hope I never see that again to tell you the truth. I had seen that once a long time ago and that ended up being a horrible incident and seeing it again is a worry.
The PCB is thought to be considering pursuing the matter though it has yet to make an official statement. Officials are expected to make an announcement later today. |
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| Australian charged over Pakistan pitch invasion |
SYDNEY: A 37-year-old spectator has been charged with assault after wrestling Pakistan's Khalid Latif to the ground during a one-day international against Australia, police said on Monday.
The Perth resident will face common assault and trespass charges in a magistrates court on February 16 after Sunday's incident, which sparked calls for tougher penalties for pitch invaders.
Video footage showed the man running onto Perth's WACA Ground and tackling the fielder from behind, slightly injuring his neck. The game was also marred by Shahid Afridi's two-match ban for biting the ball.
Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) chief executive Graeme Wood said the spectator had received a lifetime ban from the ground and was facing a maximum fine of 500 dollars (440 US) under state law.
"Personally I'd like to see it up around 10,000 dollars so it becomes a real deterrent," Wood said, according to a news agency.
"At 500 dollars you could be in a situation with a few mates around where you can profiteer by running out onto the ground."
Meanwhile Pakistan's Afridi has apologised for tampering with the ball by chewing one side of it. The all-rounder was banned for two Twenty20 matches.
Pakistan have completed a five-match one-day series against Australia following a Test tour. |
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| Clarke skipper as Aussie name squad for T20 |
MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia has announced a 13-man squad for the KFC Twenty20 International against Pakistan at the MCG this Friday night.
Michael Clarke will captain the side for the T20 match, and Cameron White will act as vice captain.
The 13-man squad included Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Travis Birt, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Dirk Nannes, Steven Smith, Shaun Tait, David Warner and Shane Watson.
Speed demon Shaun Tait is the only South Australian named in the team.
Andrew Hilditch, NSP Chairman, said the selections were made in preparation for the World Twenty20 in the West Indies.
"The NSP has picked this squad with a view to continuing our preparation of the team for this key tournament whilst looking at several new players ahead of the world cup," he said.
“In selecting this squad, the NSP has taken into account the performances of players in international Twenty20 matches, the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash and also the correct balance of the side to be able to implement our match plans and tactics for Twenty20 cricket going into the world cup.
“One this occasion there are significant changes between the one-day and Twenty20 side as we look at several players who could play a key role in our World Twenty20 campaign.
Also named in the squad is the new paceman, Ryan Harris.
“Ryan Harris also is someone who has been in the plans of the NSP for the World Twenty20. Ryan's chances have been limited by injury but he’s now back to full fitness and playing very well,'' Mr Hilditch said.
Pakistan's team has not yet been named, however it is clear that Shahid Afridi will miss the match after being slammed ban for two Twenty20 internationals by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following his ball tampering in last night's one-dayer. |
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| Afridi bites ball in bizarre twist |
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PERTH: Pakistan’s stand-in captain captain Shahid Afridi bit the ball and ran his teeth along the seam in an extraordinary finale to Australia’s action-packed two-wicket victory at the WACA on Sunday night and was later banned for two Twenty20 Internationals after being found guilty of ball-tampering.
With the match hanging in the balance, Afridi’s brain snap was caught by TV cameras and was sanctioned by the ICC match referee Ranjun Madugalle for one of the more bizarre incidents to have been witnessed in international cricket.
Ball-tampering normally results from fingernails being run down the seam but Afridi, for reasons only he could explain, seemed intent on putting the entire ball in his mouth.
Afridi has already been in strife for ball tampering, suspended for one Test and two one-dayers in 2005.
“We’ve seen a few replays of it — I don’t know what to say,” Ponting said of Afridi’s incident. “I’ve never seen that before. I’m sure that will be dealt with. I really don’t know what to say about it.”
Afridi, leading Pakistan for the second time in an ODI, in the absence of Mohammad Yousuf, was caught on TV cameras apparently biting the ball on a couple of occasions. The incident was reported to the on-field umpires by the TV umpire and after a chat with Afridi, the umpires changed the ball immediately.
Afridi was called into a hearing with the Madugalle immediately after the match.
The punishment puts Pakistan into a quandary because Afridi is their Twenty20 captain and they end their tour of Australia with a Twenty20 in Melbourne on February 5. Yousuf, who captained Pakistan in Tests and ODIs, is not part of the Twenty20 squad and Younis Khan, who was captain before the tour of New Zealand which preceded this one, has retired from the format. Shoaib Malik, who was captain in all three formats this time last year, might be one of those in the running. Afridi will also now miss the first Twenty20 against England in Abu Dhabi in February.
“It’s unacceptable,” Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan coach, said. “It shouldn’t have happened but it happened and I feel sorry for him. Being a captain you should be above everything but unfortunately it’s happened.”
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| Pakistan considering action against tackler |
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PERTH: Pakistan will consider lodging a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) following a disgraceful incident in which Khalid Latif was tackled to the ground by a spectator during the fifth ODI here on Sunday.
Ijaz Butt, the president of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said after the match that further action would be taken once he had received a report from the team management.
“I have never seen anything like that before,” Butt said. “I am not sure why a person would want to hit Khalid. I am certain the local authorities will be looking at the incident, and we will consider what course to take once we have received a report.”
Asked whether he intended to take the matter up with the ICC, Butt was blunt: “Yes,” he said.
The tackling of Latif marred an already controversial match in which Australia emerged two-wicket victors with three balls to spare.
The major controversy of the night surrounded the behaviour of the WACA crowd, long regarded as among the most boorish in international cricket. In a shameful act, a spectator evaded security and tackled Latif from behind as he fielded near the boundary. The incident was the second pitch invasion of the night. Security staff halted the first attempt.
“I thought it was a disgrace,” said Clint McKay, the Australian fast bowler. “To touch one of their players is just not on. You can’t have that.
“It’s the worst thing that can happen on a cricket ground and is something you don’t expect to see. For it to happen twice in one night is pretty unusual.”
The tackle of Latif took the gloss off an Australian victory that sealed a stunning 5-0 series whitewash against a Pakistan team considered one of the world’s better limited-overs outfits. |
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| Iqbal Qasim resigns over Australia debacle |
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KARACHI: The chief selector of Pakistan’s national cricket team resigned on Sunday after their defeat in a one-day series against Australia, saying he was disappointed with the team’s performance.
Iqbal Qasim announced his resignation soon after Pakistan’s 5-0 defeat on Sunday in the one-day series against Australia in Perth.
“I am very disappointed, like millions of Pakistanis, over the manner in which the Pakistan team lost the Test series 3-0 and one-day series 5-0,” Qasim told AFP.
“As I am responsible for the selection of the team, I quit from my post.”
Pakistan won the World Twenty20 last year but have since suffered a number of defeats. The Pakistan Cricket Board has said it will appoint a new captain to replace current skipper Mohammad Yousuf after the Australia tour.
Qasim, 56, was appointed chairman of a seven-man national selection committee in July last year, after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) disbanded the national senior and junior selection committees the previous month.
Qasim said he had made up his mind to quit after team’s fourth one-day defeat on Friday.
“The selection committee, which I headed, did its best to select the best possible team for the Tests as well as for the one-day matches, but it did not live up to the expectations of the fans who are badly hurt,” he said.
“I am also badly hurt and disappointed, so as a man of character I have taken this decision and hope that a proper post-mortem of the team’s performance is done by the PCB to help Pakistan cricket move forward.”
PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said he had only heard about Qasim’s resignation through the media.
“We have not received his resignation and I too got to know of this news through the media. Once the decision is conveyed, only then we will take the matter further,” Sarwar told AFP.
Pakistan’s twin tours of New Zealand and Australia got off to the worst possible start after the original captain Younis Khan withdrew on the eve of team’s departure in November last year.
Younis cited lack of batting form for his decision, forcing the PCB to appoint Mohammad Yousuf as captain.
Yousuf, who drew the three-Test series 1-1 in New Zealand, was retained as captain for the Australia tour after Younis did not make himself available for the tour of Australia which followed New Zealand trip.
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| Yousuf skips final one-dayer after fight with Intikhab? |
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LAHORE: The official version blamed it on a sore knee but the real reason behind Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf’s absence from the fifth ODI against Australia was a bitter row with coach Intikhab Alam over selection issues, sources in the team have claimed.
According to TV reports, trouble was brewing for a while in the Pakistan camp with Yousuf and Intikhab not seeing eye to eye on team strategies in a series that Pakistan trails 0-4.
“Before the match itself the management had advised Yousuf to take a rest from the fifth match so that Shahid Afridi could lead the team and get some captaincy exposure before the Twenty20 match against Australia next week,” said one source.
“But Yousuf flatly refused and insisted he would continue playing. Earlier also he had differences with the coaching staff when he wanted promote Shahid Afridi up the order and allow Younis Khan to bat lower down the order as he was struggling for form, but again Intikhab refused,” the source said.
He said matters came to a head just before the toss today when there were differences over team selection and Younis playing in the match.
“Apparently there were differences over the issue of dropping Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal for the match after which Yousuf had an argument with Intikhab and Waqar and refused to go for the toss or lead the team,” the source disclosed.
Sources said after the altercation, Intikhab asked Afridi to go for the toss and captain the side.
“But clearly the tour is coming to an end on a sour note as problems within the team are becoming clear and it is not a good sign for Pakistan cricket,” another source said.
He said number of players including Yousuf were unhappy with Intikhab, a former Test captain who has been coach since November, 2008.
“The players want a change as they are sensing that after the disastrous Australian tour either their heads will roll or they convince the board to change the management,” the source stated.
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| Akmals face disciplinary action |
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PERTH: Pakistan vice-captain Kamran Akmal and his brother Umar will face disciplinary action for allegedly violating their central contracts during the controversy that prevailed before the Hobart Test against Australia.
The PCB is unimpressed over Kamran repeatedly insisting that he was playing in Hobart Test in spite of the team hierarchy flying in reserve wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmad to replace him.
Similarly, Umar is in the firing line for declaring himself unfit for the Test and announced he would not play, which some Pakistani players believe he faked in protest over his brother’s sacking.
“We have started a preliminary inquiry and already plan to take action against the two (Kamran and Umar Akmal) for their irresponsible statements when they return from Australia,” Fox Sports quoted Ijaz Butt, PCB chairman, as saying.
The development is another kick in the gut for the tourists, who are already reeling from the PCB’s decision to remove Mohammad Yousuf as captain after Sunday’s game.
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| Pakistan fail to avoid whitewash in thrilling final ODI |
PERTH: Pakistan could not avoid the whitewash after making a great fight back as Australia won the thrilling contest by two wickets with four balls remaining in the fifth and the final One-day International here at the WACA ground on Sunday.
Needing only three runs in the final over with two wickets in hand, Australia lost Nathan Hauritz on the first ball by Rao Iftikhar Anjum for 18.
Then Ryan Harris playing next ball was caught in the covers by Shahid Afridi but umpire Asoka de Silva called no-ball and thus Australia won the thriller and also completed the clean sweep in the one-dayers after making it in the three-Test series.
This was the second-ever five-match whitewash for Pakistan in 22 years. Earlier, they tasted it in1987-88 from the West Indies.
Chasing 213 runs to win, Australia were looking in pressure as wicket were falling at regular intervals.
However, Ricky Ponting played a responsible innings of 55 and later Michael Hussey steered his team to a thrilling win with an unbeaten 40.
Spinners Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik, and seamer Rana Naved-ul-Hasan claimed two wickets each.
Earlier, Shahid Afridi, captaining in place of injured Mohammad Yousuf, won the toss and elected to bat first but Pakistan made a disastrous start losing three early wickets for just 16 runs.
They lost both openers, Salman Butt and Khalid Lateef, before opening the account and then one-down batsman Younis Khan for three runs.
However, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam rescued them from a total collapse and helped them in reaching a competitive total of 212 runs in 48.3 overs.
First, Malik (36) and Akmal (67) added 60 runs for the fourth wicket stand and then Akmal and Fawad made 82 for the fifth wicket partnership before the new skipper threw away his wicket in his usual manner.
Then, wickets were falling with regular intervals as Fawad held the other end. He was finally out as the last player after scoring 63 from 70 balls.
For Australia, seamers Clint McKay captured four wickets for 35, Ryan Harris three for 44 and Mitchell Johnson two for 42. |
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| Fawad, Umar help Pakistan reach 212 in 5th ODI |
PERTH: Pakistan managed to score 212 runs after an early collapse in the fifth and the final One-day International against Australia here at the WACA ground on Sunday.
After winning the toss, Shahid Afridi, captaining in place of injured Mohammad Yousuf, elected to bat first but Pakistan made a disastrous start losing three early wickets for just 16 runs.
They lost both openers, Salman Butt and Khalid Lateef, before opening the account and then one-down batsman Younis Khan for three runs.
However, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam rescued them from a total collapse and helped them in reaching a competitive total of 212 runs in 48.3 overs.
First, Malik (36) and Akmal (67) added 60 runs for the fourth wicket stand and then Akmal and Fawad made 82 for the fifth wicket partnership before the new skipper threw away his wicket in his usual manner.
Then, wickets were falling with regular intervals as Fawad held the other end. He was finally out as the last player after scoring 63 from 70 balls.
For Australia, seamers Clint McKay captured four wickets for 35, Ryan Harris three for 44 and Mitchell Johnson two for 42.
Now, what Pakistan are badly needing is to stop the Aussies from making a clean sweep - the second five-match series whitewash in 22 years. Pakistan tasted their first one in 1987-88 from the West Indies.
Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal are also not playing today and these three players were replaced by opening batsman Khalid, wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed and allrounder Malik
On the other side, Australia made two changes: Michael Clarke and Peter Siddle are out with slightly sore backs and their places were taken by Adam Voges and Mitchell Johnson.
Teams
Australia: Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting (captain), Cameron White, Adam Voges, Michael Hussey, James Hopes, Nathan Hauritz, Clint McKay, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson.
Pakistan: Salman Butt, Khalid Lateef, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Shahid Afridi (captain), Sarfraz Ahmed, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Mohammad Asif. |
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| Pakistan win toss, elect to bat against Australia |
PERTH: In a bid to avoid the humiliation of a five-match whitewash by Australia, Pakistan will take the field with three changes in the team for the final One-day International here at the WACA ground on Sunday.
Surprisingly, Shahid Afridi is leading Pakistan in place of Mohammad Yousuf, who pulled out with an injured knee.
Afridi, captaining for the first time in a One-day International, has won the toss and elected to bat first against the Aussies who have already won four matches in the series.
Besides Yousuf, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal are also not playing today and the three players have been replaced by opening batsman Khalid Lateef, wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed and allrounder Shoaib Malik.
On the other side, Australia have made two changes: Michael Clarke and Peter Siddle are out with slightly sore backs and their places have been taken by Adam Voges and Mitchell Johnson.
Teams
Australia: Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting (captain), Cameron White, Adam Voges, Michael Hussey, James Hopes, Nathan Hauritz, Clint McKay, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson.
Pakistan: Salman Butt, Khalid Lateef, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Shahid Afridi (captain), Sarfraz Ahmed, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Mohammad Asif. |
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| Tourists look to avoid whitewash |
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PERTH: The thought of preventing the second-ever 5-0 whitewash in their history should spur Pakistan to seek their first win of a long and increasingly arduous tour when they meet Australia in their fifth one-dayer here on Sunday (today).
That the first came under the captaincy of Imran Khan, against West Indies in 1988, will be of little consolation.
Mohammad Yousuf’s men have cut sorry, disparate figures as the tour has progressed since the Sydney Test. They were expected to put up a fight in the ODIs and though they have been in most of the games at various stages, 4-0 remains an accurate reflection of the gulf in class. Their batting has been shaky; only three fifties through the series and the middle order giants — the two Y’s — have a paltry 145 runs between them.
Mohammad Asif apart, their bowling has missed as much as it has hit. Umar Gul is horrendously out of sorts; Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has been committed as ever, yet still gone for well over six an over. Most damagingly, the spinners have been neutralised. Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal have been picked off for five runs an over each and have seven wickets to show between them.
By contrast, Australia are shining and they haven’t even played Mitchell Johnson yet. They’ve used three new-ball pairings and all are among the wickets.
Ryan Harris has two consecutive five-fors, Clint McKay is taking wickets and Shane Watson, who has been rested for the Perth ODIs, still has more wickets than any Pakistani bowler.
Five of their top six have scored at least one fifty, they have the series’ only century and even Nathan Hauritz joined the fun in the fourth ODI.
The only blot is, of course, the ongoing concern over the captain’s form. Ricky Ponting has struggled through the ODI series, with only 70 runs.
Harris is Australia’s man of the moment, having picked up two five-fors in two games and yet he still might not make the cut for the last game, such is Australia’s strength in depth. Mitchell Johnson is expected to make a return but if Harris does play, there is little wrong he can do with the ball at the moment. Who would bet against him becoming only the second man to take three five-fors in a row after Waqar Younis?
Pakistan called up Khalid Latif for the ODI series but have yet to play him, despite encouraging results in the last three games he played for them against New Zealand. Kamran Akmal’s form with the bat as opener hasn’t been great and Sarfraz Ahmed is there as a replacement, so logic would suggest such a change.
Pakistan (probable): Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Mohammad Asif, Saeed Ajmal.
Australia (probable): Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin (wk), Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, James Hopes, Peter Siddle/Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Ryan Harris, Clint McKay.
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| Tait called up as cover for Siddle |
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PERTH: Shaun Tait, the Australian fast bowler, has been added to the squad as a standby for Sunday’s fifth ODI against Pakistan. The last-minute call-up is due to Peter Siddle’s continuing back problem and gives Tait a chance to play his first international match in a year.
“Peter Siddle is still being troubled the back pain which kept him out of the third match of the series in Adelaide,” Australia’s physiotherapist, Alex Kountouris, said. “As such he is in doubt for tomorrow’s fifth ODI and therefore another fast bowler has been included as a standby player.”
Tait also had a series of injury problems, due to which he has focused only on limited-overs matches for South Australia so far this summer.
During an eventful winter he was prevented from playing in the IPL by Cricket Australia, who didn’t originally offer him a contract but handed one out when Andrew Symonds’ deal was terminated.
“Shaun Tait at his best is a destructive fast bowler in both limited-over and Twenty20 cricket,” Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of the national selection panel, said. “He has progressed well this season and performed well in both the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash and the recent Ford Ranger game against New South Wales in Wollongong and we are sure he will be ready should he be required for tomorrow’s match.”
With Clint McKay and Ryan Harris adapting to international cricket well, and Mitchell Johnson waiting for his first one-dayer of the summer, Tait’s chances of getting a game are slim.
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| Fans demand Butt’s sacking after defeats |
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KARACHI: Furious Pakistani cricket fans Friday staged a protest and burnt bats and stumps after the team’s defeats in the Test and one-day series in Australia, demanding the removal of the cricket chief.
Around 250 young cricketers from various academies in Karachi chanted slogans against the team and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) during the hour-long protest under the banner of the “Save Pakistan cricket campaign.”
The protesters chanted “Go, Butt, Go!”, “President Zardari, save Pakistan cricket”, and “Goodbye Pakistan cricket” as they burnt dozens of cricket bats, stumps and an effigy of PCB chairman Ijaz Butt.
Pakistan’s national team was blanked 3-0 in the Test series and trail a five-match one-day series 4-0 on their dismal tour of Australia.
Amir Akram, chairman of the recently-formed campaign, said President Asif Ali Zardari must remove Butt, blaming him for destroying the game.
“Cricket is our love and the recent defeats have disheartened millions of fans across the country, so we demand President Asif Zardari to remove Butt, who is too old to run the board,” Akram said.
Zardari is the patron of the PCB and appointed Butt in October 2008. Butt has also come under pressure from the National Assembly’s standing committee on sports, which has been demanding his removal since last year.
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| Australia beat Pakistan four times in a row |
PERTH: Pakistan once again showed disappointing performance against Australia being defeated in the fourth consecutive One-day International here at the WACA ground on Friday.
Chasing a difficult target of 278 runs, the entire Pakistan team collapsed for a mere 142 in 37.5 overs, giving Australia a 135-run big-margin victory.
Australia are leading the five-match series 4-0 with one ODI remaining and they are aiming for another whitewash after making a clean sweep in the three-Test series.
Pakistan were in trouble right from the beginning with losing opener Salman Butt (nought) in the very first over and later Younis Khan (6) when they were on just 14.
Kamran Akmal also went for 17 and then captain Mohammad Yousuf for 10, Pakistan were reeling at 39 for four.
Later, young batsmen Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam added 60 valuable runs for the fifth wicket before Fawad was run out for 21.
Umar Akmal made 38 , the highest score of the Pakistan innings, with two fours and a six. He was bowled by Ryan Harris who on his next delivery got Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.
Shahid Afridi came at the crease and started hitting every ball, hammering two towering sixes and three magnificent fours. He made 29 off just 10 balls and threw away his wicket in his usual fashion.
Then, Australian bowlers wiped off the tail to achieve their fourth successive victory.
Harris again emerged as the most successful bowler , bagging five wickets for 19, his second consecutive five-wicket haul.
Pakistan were set a difficult target of 278 runs by Australia in the fourth One-day International here at the WACA ground on Friday.
Winning the toss, Australian captain Ricky Ponting decided to bat first and his team made 277-8 in the allotted 50 overs.
Pakistan were looking a better team this time with an improved fielding and their bowlers bowled quite well to dismiss four Aussie batsmen for 110 runs in 22 overs.
However, Cameron White and Michael Hussey came to their rescue and they took the score to 159 before White went on 44.
When James Hopes was bowled by Mohammad Asif for 16 and Australia were 190 for six then Nathal Hauritz joined Hussey and both blasted a brisk partnership of 80 runs from just 56 balls.
Hussey made 67 off 75 balls with four boundaries while Hauritz was more aggressive to smash four sixes and a four. He remained unbeaten on 53, which he made from 39 balls.
For Pakistan, fast bowler Asif was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 42 runs while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed two wickets. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Shahid Afridi took one wicket each. |
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| Australia set Pakistan 278-run target in 4th ODI |
PERTH: Pakistan were set a difficult target of 278 runs by Australia in the fourth One-day International here at the WACA ground on Friday.
Winning the toss, Australian captain Ricky Ponting decided to bat first and his team made 277-8 in the allotted 50 overs.
Pakistan were looking a beeter team with improved fielding and their bowlers bowled quite well to dismiss four Aussie batsmen for 110 runs in 22 overs.
However, Cameron White and Michael Hussey came to their rescue and they took the score to 159 before White went on 44.
When James Hopes was bowled by Mohammad Asif for 16 and Australia were 190 for six then Nathal Hauritz joined Hussey and both blasted a brisk partnership of 80 runs from just 56 balls.
Hussey made 67 off 75 balls with four boundaries while Hauritz was more aggressive to smash four sixes and a four. He remained unbeaten on 53, which he made from 39 balls.
For Pakistan, fast bowler Asif was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 42 runs while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed two wickets. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Shahid Afridi took one wicket each.
Australia have already wrapped the series up 3-0 and are looking to press on for a whitewash against Pakistan who have so far not been able to win a single match on the tour of Australia this season.
Australia made two changes in today’s team, bringing in James Hopes and Peter Siddle in place of Shane Watson and Doug Bollinger while Pakistan have made only one change in their team as Rao Iftikhar Anjum replaced Umar Gul.
Teams
Australia: Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin (wk), Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, James Hopes, Peter Siddle, Nathan Hauritz, Ryan Harris, Clint McKay.
Pakistan: Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Mohammad Asif, Saeed Ajmal. |
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| Australia win toss, bat against Pakistan in 4th ODI |
PERTH: Australian captain Ricky Ponting has won the toss and decided to bat first against Pakistan in the fourth One-day International being played here at the WACA ground today (Friday).
Australia have already wrapped the series up 3-0 and are looking to press on for a whitewash.
They have already made two changes in the team, bringing in James Hopes and Peter Siddle in place of Shane Watson and Doug Bollinger while Pakistan have made only one change in their team as Rao Iftikhar Anjum har replaced Umar Gul.
Teams
Australia: Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin (wk), Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, James Hopes, Peter Siddle, Nathan Hauritz, Ryan Harris, Clint McKay.
Pakistan: Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Mohammad Asif, Saeed Ajmal. |
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| Pakistan-Australia 4th ODI today |
PERTH: the fourth One-day International of the five match series between Australia and Pakistan is being played today (Friday) here at the WACA ground.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf said that he wanted to make the end of the series a memorable one and for this, the team needed encouragement.
Yousuf during a press conference at Perth said that the Pakistan team would make all efforts to show a hundred per cent performance in the last two matches.
He said that he wanted to make the end of the series a memorable one winning the fourth and the fifth One-day Internationals.
The Pakistan cricket team captain said that the main reason of the defeat is misfortune, too. He appealed the people to support the team and avoid to criticize it
Meanwhile, opener Imran Farhat has developed a shoulder injury.
Coach In tikhab Alam said that scan report of allrounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan’s foot is clear and he will play the fourth ODI while Umar Gul will be replaced by Rao Iftikhar Anjum. |
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| Aussies unwilling to show any mercy to Pakistan |
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PERTH: Brad Haddin has said Australia have no intention of lowering their intensity going into ODIs four and five of their home series against Pakistan.
The hosts have already clinched the affair 3-0, with convincing wins in Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide.
With star performers Shane Watson and Doug Bollinger rested for the remaining matches, Australia’s wicketkeeper-batsman Haddin was prompt to dispel any suggestion that the Aussies would merely go through the motions in Perth’s fourth and fifth one-dayers.
“We are trying to make the opposition feel as uncomfortable as we possibly can and win all the games we play,” Haddin insisted, adding his praise for rookie pace Ryan Harris, whose five-wicket haul proved instrumental in the home team’s 140-run thrashing of Mohammad Yousuf’s men earlier in the week.
“He deserves his five-for. He has worked hard and he is a good guy and he deserves the success he got.”
Harris is expected to maintain his spot in the starting XI for the weekend’s double-header, with James Hopes or Mitchell Johnson — back after a three-ODI break — likely to replace Watson and Peter Siddle set to come in for Bollinger, subject to fitness.
“It’s not going to be a week’s injury. I thought if there’s any doubt with him at all just give him Tuesday off and we’ll just put him in cotton wool for a couple of days and hope he comes up and ready to play at the WACA in Perth,” captain Ponting said of sidelined Siddle.
30-year-old Harris, who endured an unspectacular ODI debut against South Africa in early 2009, proved his mettle at international level when he removed brothers Kamran and Umar Akmal and the big-hitting Shahid Afridi en route to figures of five for 43 in Tuesday’s series-winning result.
The beefy Queenslander hopes he will continue to make an impact on the limited-overs scene, with a more permanent status amongst Ponting’s posse one of his goals.
“I come and go when I’m needed and hopefully I do my job,” Harris concluded. “It’s good to be able to come into a group that accepts you like you’ve been there a while. It’s pretty easy to make that transition.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan will have to go without the services of pace ace Mohammad Aamer again, as the teenage sensation is still nursing a groin injury.
The tourists’ pace attack is a sorry state without Aamer around, with Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif fetching plenty of tap in Monday’s heavy loss.
Regardless of Gul and Asif’s recent dismal display, the team’s brains trust are unlikely to give seamer Rao Iftikhar, with a lack match practice counting against the 29-year-old right-armer. |
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| Australia’s depth key to future: Clarke |
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PERTH: Test captain-in-waiting Michael Clarke believes Australia’s strong first-class set-up has the country well poised to usher in a new era of dominance — in all three forms of the game.
Clarke said the fierce competition for spots was driving the team and forecast an even brighter future for an outfit that currently sits third in the Test rankings but is desperate to reclaim top spot, as well as regain the Ashes.
“I think it’s very strong,” Clarke said of the team’s depth ahead of Friday’s (today’s) fourth one-dayer against Pakistan at the WACA Ground.
“There are guys pushing hard in the one-day domestic competition to be at the top of the list with both bat and ball to get an opportunity if guys are rested or injured.
“There’s always someone up your backside wanting to take your spot. “I don’t think Australian cricket can be in a better position if you’ve got that happening. “We want to finish this series winning every game,” a ruthless Clarke said.
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| Team has improved under me, claims Yousuf |
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PERTH: Embattled Pakistan skipper Mohammad Yousuf claims his team was going “nowhere” when he was handed the reins, but has improved under his leadership.
Pakistan were whitewashed 3-0 in the recent Test series against Australia and trail the world champions 3-0 in the one-day series ahead of Friday’s (today) fourth match at the WACA Ground.
But Yousuf, who took over the captaincy when Younis Khan rested himself from the tour of New Zealand, said his youth-laden squad had outshone previous touring sides from his country despite a lack of bona fide stars.
“A lot of teams from Pakistan came here not playing like this and they have had great player (in those teams) when they came here,” Yousuf said on Thursday.
“This is a new team and when the Pakistan Cricket Board gave me a team as a captain I think the team is nowhere.
“I have tried to make the whole team gel.
“We performed in NZ in difficult conditions, but we drew the series there (which was a) good achievement for me and my team.
“We played very good Test cricket in Australia.
“First game (Test) we lost heavy but next game we came back very hard and we nearly won.
“They didn’t win (in Sydney), we gave them the match. We almost won the game.
“I think we didn’t take pressure because we are a young and inexperienced team, that’s why we lost that game.”
Yousuf is eager to hold on to the captaincy but faces an uphill battle to retain the role after PCB chairman Ijaz Butt revealed on Pakistan television that the skipper would be ousted from the position as soon as the tour to Australia is over.
The 35-year-old veteran of 88 Tests has averaged 23.7 during the first three games of the one-day series and claimed he was the team’s in-form batsman.
“As a batsman I feel my form is excellent, I think better than the whole team, but unfortunately I didn’t make runs,” he said.
“I’m hitting them in middle but I haven’t made runs.”
Yousuf said all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan was in some doubt for Friday’s (today) match after pulling up sore from Tuesday’s loss.
“This is a new game. Obviously we are disappointed we lost the series but we’ll try to win this game and play good cricket here,” Yousuf said. “Every game we have to play with fight and pride. Every game.”
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| 4th ODI tomorrow, Yousuf wants to make end well |
PERTH: The fourth One-day International of the five-match series between Australia and Pakistan will be played tomorrow here at the WACA ground.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf said that he wanted to make the end of the series a memorable one and for this, the team needed encouragement.
Yousuf during a press conference at Perth said that the Pakistan team would make all efforts to show a hundred per cent performance in the last two matches.
He said that he wanted to make the end of the series a memorable one winning the fourth and the fifth One-day Internationals.
The Pakistan cricket team captain said that the main reason of the defeat is misfortune, too. He appealed the people to support the team and avoid to criticize it
Meanwhile, opener Imran Farhat has developed a shoulder injury.
According to coach Intikhab Alam, scan report of allrounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan’s foot is clear and he will play the fourth One-day International while Umar Gul will be replaced by Rao Iftikhar Anjum. |
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| Watson, Bollinger to be rested for final two ODIs |
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LONDON: Australia is all set to rest Shane Watson and Doug Bollinger for Friday’s ODI against Pakistan after taking an unassailable lead of 3-0.
Watson and Bollinger will be rested for the remaining matches of the ODI series against Pakistan.
Selectors may also decide not to recall Peter Siddle who is still getting over an injury, although he has been named in the squad for Perth on Friday.
Watson and Bollinger have earned their rest, and for Bollinger this can be seen as recognition of his rise in the order of Australian fast bowlers since he made a spot his own on the limited overs tour of India, FOX Sports reports.
Mitchell Johnson will return to play in the two Perth matches while Ryan Harris has retained his place for the rest of the series.
“The National Selection Panel has taken the opportunity to manage the workload of Shane Watson and Doug Bollinger who will return home and not be considered for selection in the last two games against Pakistan,” said chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch.
“Ryan Harris will remain with the squad of 13 after an impressive performance in Adelaide while Mitchell Johnson will also return after having his workload managed for the first three games of this series,” he said.
Australian squad for final two matches versus Pakistan: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Cameron White.
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| Pakistan’s 3rd successive defeat hands Aussies series win |
ADELAIDE: Pakistan’s series of failures still continues as they lost the five-match series to Australia, being beaten in the first three consecutive One-day Internationals.
However, Pakistan showed a good fighting spirit chasing a difficult target of 287 runs in the third ODI here at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday and at one time it was looking as they can achieve it. But they were all out for 246 runs as Australia won the match by 40 runs.
First, Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam set the tempo adding 85 runs for the fifth wicket stand and later Shahid Afridi and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan made 58 for the seventh wicket partnership.
Umar Akmal top scored with 59 runs while Shahid Afridi smashed 40 off 29 balls with four boundaries and a six.
Other main scorers were opener Salman Butt (34), middle-order batsman Fawad Alam (33) and allrounder Rana Naved (33).
The most successful bowler for Australia was seamer Ryan Harris, who captured five wickets for 43 runs, while spinner Clinton McKay bagged three for 48.
Harris, who replaced injured Peter Siddle in this match, was later adjudged the man-of-the-match.
Shane Watson and spinner Nathan Hauritz took one wicket each.
Earlier, Australia batted first after winning the toss and amassed 286 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 50 overs.
Opener Shuan Marsh and vice-captain Michael Clarke were the main scorers with 83 and 80 runs, respectively while Michael Hussey (49), opener Shane Watson (33) and Cameron White (28) also made significant contributions to their team’s huge total.
Captain Ricky Ponting was the only batsman to be dismissed for a nought.
For Pakistan, seamers Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Umar Gul claimed two wickets each while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and fast bowler Mohammad Asif took one wicket each.
Pakistan made two changes against one by Australia. They brought in Mohammad Asif, recovered from his hand trouble, to replace Mohammad Aamer who is out with the groin injury,. They also got Fawad Alam in for Shoaib Malik. |
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| Australia set Pakistan 287-run target in 3rd ODI |
ADELAIDE: Pakistan were given by Australia a difficult target of 287 runs in the third One-day International here at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.
Winning the toss, Australia batted first and amassed 286 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 50 overs.
Opener Shuan Marsh and vice-captain Michael Clarke were the main scorers with 83 and 80 runs, respectively while Michael Hussey (49), opener Shane Watson (33) and Cameron White (28) also made significant contributions to their team’s huge total.
Captain Ricky Ponting was the only batsman to be dismissed for a nought.
For Pakistan, seamers Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Umar Gul claimed two wickets each while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and fast bowler Mohammad Asif took one wicket each.
Australia are already leading the five-match series 2-0 and are looking to win this match and wrap up the series.
The second ODI win margin was Australia’s third greatest winning margin over Pakistan in terms of runs with a 140-run trump.
Australia have a good record at the Adelaide oval , they have won 28 of the 39 One-day Internationals whereas Pakistan have won three of 14.
This is match is very important for Pakistan captain as he is playing his 200th One-day International today.
Australia made one change as Peter Siddle who is out with a sore back and Ryan Harris has replaced him.
Pakistan made two changes: Mohammad Aamer is out with the groin injury, but thankfully Mohammad Asif has recovered from his hand trouble. They also got Fawad Alam in for Shoaib Malik.
Australia: Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Brad Haddin (wk), Nathan Hauritz, Clint McKay, Ryan Harris, Doug Bollinger.
Pakistan: Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Saeed Ajmal. |
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| Australia win toss, batting against Pakistan in 3rd ODI |
ADELAIDE: Australian captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in the third One-day International here at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.
Adelaide is known to be a batsman’s pitch but in the last 7 matches the highest runs scored is 255.
The weather is predicted to be fine with a high temperature of 33C.
Australia are already leading the five-match series 2-0 and are looking to win this match and wrap up the series.
The second ODI win margin was Australia’s third greatest winning margin over Pakistan in terms of runs with a 140-run trump.
Australia have a good record at the Adelaide oval , they have won 28 of the 39 One-day Internationals whereas Pakistan have won three of 14.
This match is very important for Younis Khan as he is palying his 200th One-day International today.
Australia have made one change as Peter Siddle who is out with a sore back and Ryan Harris has replaced him.
Pakistan made two changes: Mohammad Aamer is out with the groin injury, but thankfully Mohammad Asif has recovered from his hand trouble. They have also got Fawad Alam in for Shoaib Malik.
Australia: Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Brad Haddin (wk), Nathan Hauritz, Clint McKay, Ryan Harris, Doug Bollinger.
Pakistan: Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Saeed Ajmal. |
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| Aussies decide to bat first against Pakistan |
ADELAIDE: Australia have won the toss and will bat first against Pakistan in the third ODI here on Tuesday.
Australia are already ahead of Pakistan by 2-0 lead in 5-match series.
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| Pakistan look to stop soaring Australia in third ODI |
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ADELIADE: Pakistan have the benefit of considerable local knowledge for theit third ODI against Australia at the Adeliade Oval here on Tuesday (today), given recent stints by both Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi with South Australia.
Afridi said he had spoken to teammates about the oval, which has had its capacity reduced to around 17,500 by the construction of new stands on the western side of the ground.
“I have told the guys it is very similar to our sub-continent wickets and the ground is very small,” Afridi told reporters in Adelaide.
“The next game we play is very crucial for us. From there we can decide the series. We have to win.
“We need to win one game first and morale will be higher. Then we will think about the fourth and fifth game.”
Australia, meanwhile, have allowed themselves the thought of sweeping all 10 limited overs games this summer as they prepare to seal the series.
It has not taken the Australians long to demonstrate their pre-eminence in the shortened format of the game, winning comfortably in Brisbane before dealing out a fearful hiding to the Pakistanis in sporting conditions at the SCG.
Another victory in Adelaide would make it 3-0, and the in-form batsman Cameron White said the prospect of scooping all 10 matches — another five are scheduled against West Indies in February — loomed on the horizon.
“It’s not out of the question,” White said on Monday.
“But 10 games in a row is pretty hard to do against any opposition, especially two quality opponents. So that would be a great achievement but ... it’s going to be hard work to do.”
White said the Australians’ task was being made easier by dissension in the ranks of their opponents, after Pakistan skipper Mohammad Yousuf was apparently told by board chairman Ijaz Butt that he would lose the captaincy at the conclusion of the series.
Butt’s comments have since been described by the Pakistan board as “quotes out of context”, but there is little doubt the touring team is not the happiest of squads.
“I don’t think it makes it harder, that’s for sure,” said White. “If there’s turmoil in the camp ... or there’s that sort of talk I think it can only be a distraction for them so it probably makes our job, if they’re not thinking about the right things, a little easier if anything.”
A century in game one and 55 in game two have White in the best touch of his life, and he hoped for more runs at Adelaide.
“It’s just been nice to get the opportunity again,” he said.
“I guess starting back a couple of series ago in England when Ricky was rested, to get another opportunity to bat up the order was great and I’ve just enjoyed it since then, so it’s going well at the moment.”
Swing bowler Ryan Harris has been added to the Australian squad as cover for sore paceman Peter Siddle.
Selectors chose to add Harris to the squad after Siddle complained of back soreness following game two.
Squads:
Pakistan: Pakistan: Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Anjum, Imran Farhat, Khalid Latif, Sarfraz Ahmed.
Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, Mike Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White.
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| Aamer to miss 3rd Pak-Aussie ODI tomorrow |
ADELAIDE: The third One-day International of the five-match series between Australia and Pakistan will be played here tomorrow (Tuesday).
Pakistan’s fast bowler Mohammad Aamer will not take part in the match due to fitness problem.
Manager Pakistan cricket team Abdul Raqeeb told Geo News that Aamer is unable to play in the third ODI due to his groin injury.
He said that doctor advised him rest for a week due to which he is doubtful to play the remaining matches of the series.
Pace bowler Rao Iftikhar Anjum is likely to replace Aamer in the third One-day International.
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia has included Ryan Harris in their squad and he will be the part of the final eleven if Peter Siddle does not get fit before the match. |
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| Inti wants fresh blood for Pakistan |
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SYDNEY: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam declared on Sunday that Pakistan will have to blood more youngsters in their team to ensure that they field a solid squad for next year’s World Cup.
Intikhab was visibly displeased with the way his charges performed in their second One-day International here at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) and said that Pakistan will have to carry out a post-mortem to find the causes behind their below-par showing on the tour of Australia.
“We need a thorough post-mortem,” he said after Pakistan succumbed to a 140-run defeat against the Australians. “It’s evident that there are problems with this team. I personally believe that we need find fresh blood to boost this side.”
Intikhab said that some of the players in the team are in the twilight years of their careers and needed to be replaced. However, he refrained from singling out those players.
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| Aamer out of ODI series |
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SYDNEY: Young fast bowler Mohammad Aamer has aggravated his groin problem and is unlikely to play any more in the remaining matches of the one-day series against Australia.
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam told ‘The News’ on Sunday that Aamer has once again picked up a groin injury and could miss the remaining three ODIs against the Aussies.
“Aamer is doubtful for the remaining matches because he is suffering from a groin problem,” said Intikhab. “He had similar problem during the Test series. He has a torn muscle in the groin and will be needing treatment over the next few days,” he added.
Intikhab said that the extent of the injury will be known once the team management receives the MRI reports of the injury.
“We are expecting to receive the report soon and will then be in a better decision to decide whether Aamer can play any more matches on this tour.
Aamer, 17, has quickly established himself as one of Pakistan’s main strike bowlers after making his international debut against Sri Lanka last summer. He has collected 23 wickets from 13 One-day Internationals at 21.17.
The youngster created quite a stir last December when he collected a five-wicket haul in the first Test against Australia in Melbourne. But he missed the second Test in Sydney because of the groin problem.
Aamer’s injury has compounded Pakistan’s problems as they are still sweating over the availability of their chief strike pacer Mohammad Asif. The lanky pacer missed the second one-dayer in Sydney on Sunday after injuring his thumb during the series opener in Brisbane last Friday.
Intikhab is hopeful that Asif will be fit to play the third ODI in Adelaide on Tuesday (tomorrow).
“Asif was hit hard on his thumb but he is recovering and we are hoping that he will play in Adelaide.”
But if Asif remains unavailable then Pakistan will most likely be bringing in medium pacer Rao Iftikhar Anjum for their must-win third ODI.
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| We were just outplayed by Australia, says Captain |
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SYDNEY: Mohammad Yousuf on Sunday defended his contentious decision to bowl first after winning the toss in the second one-dayer here and instead stressed that the Aussies proved that they were too good for Pakistan.
“There was some moisture in the wicket and it was cloudy so I thought may be we can take a few early wickets with the new ball,” said Yousuf after his team conceded 267 runs and was then bowled out for a paltry 127 in the match.
“Our bowlers gave away too many runs,” said the Pakistan captain. “But still I believe that 268 was not an achievable target.”
Yousuf gave full credit to Australia for winning the match by 140 runs for a 2-0 lead in the series. “They batted well and bowled well. We were just outplayed by them,” he said.
“Australia is the best team because everyone knows what they want. Their captain doesn’t have to tell them anything. They just know what to do.”
The senior batsman was displeased with his own players, reiterating that they cannot do well unless they “start playing for the country”.
“Our players will have to play for the country and come out of their shell,” he stressed.
When asked whether he was under pressure after reports that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already decided to sack him after this tour, Yousuf made it clear that he was ready for anything.
“This is not in my hands, everything is in the board’s hands,” Yousuf said. “I will serve my country as a player or captain, doesn’t matter. You want that I lose it now? Not my hands, board’s hands.”
Yousuf, however, is still hopeful that Pakistan can bounce back in the third ODI in Adelaide on Tuesday (tomorrow) to keep the series alive.
“Of course we can bounce back (in Adelaide),” he said. “We have some very good bowlers. We are also a good batting side in one-dayers. The only thing we need is for the boys to take responsibility.”
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| We need match-winners: Waqar Younis |
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SYDNEY: When Waqar Younis was appointed as Pakistan’s bowling coach for the tough tour of Australia, there were hopes that the former great would help the tourists with his vast experience and knowledge of playing conditions here.
But the Pakistanis flopped miserably in the three-match Test series losing it by a 0-3 margin following defeats in Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart. The visitors then went on to lose the opening One-day International in Brisbane last Friday by five wickets — a performance that has left the team’s captain Mohammad Yousuf and the coaching staff in the firing line.
Waqar, however, believes that the poor results were not entirely unexpected as he told ‘The News’ in an interview here that Pakistan are facing a serious dearth of match-winners.
“You have to consider the fact that you are playing against the world’s best team in its own backyard,” said Waqar, a former Pakistan captain who was regarded as one of the national team’s match-winners during his peak years.
“You can only beat a team like Australia at its home by playing top quality cricket with the help of some match-winning players. Unfortunately we don’t have many match-winners in this squad,” he lamented.
Pakistan came agonisingly close to winning the second Test in Sydney early this month only to throw it away because of some poor captaincy and brittle batting.
Waqar, 40, is of the view that another reason why Pakistan have done poorly in Australia is their lack of self-belief.
“It has been a big problem, our lack of self-belief,” said Waqar who took 373 wickets from 87 Tests at an average of 23.56. “The boys played good cricket at times but it seemed that they never really believed that they could beat Australia,” he added.
Waqar, who now lives in Sydney with his family, said that Pakistan can no more afford to live on talent alone.
“I’m actually surprised that for so many years we have done pretty well in international cricket on the basis of individual talent alone,” he stressed. “I mean we never had a proper system in place that could produce world class cricketers. We were just lucky that we always got some gifted cricketers, who would help us do well.
“But I don’t think that we can continue to bank on talent alone. We have to learn from countries like Australia. They have a fantastic cricketing structure in place. They know that with such a system they will keep getting sound cricketers. Sadly, we don’t have any such luxury.”
Waqar, who took 416 wickets from 262 One-day Internationals at 23.84, stressed that Pakistan’s cricket chiefs will have to start investing in a comprehensive system to ensure that the sport has a good future in the country.
“We can’t rely on short-term measures because the only way to move forward is by setting long-term goals.”
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| Ponting eyes series winning result in Adelaide |
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SYDNEY: Australia captain Ricky Ponting is confident that his rampaging boys will crush Pakistan again in the third One-day International in Adelaide on Tuesday (tomorrow) to clinch a 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
“This group, the way we’re playing, I don’t think we’ll let Pakistan back into this competition at all,” Ponting said after his team thrashed the tourists by 140 runs in the second ODI here on Sunday.
“The next game is on Australia Day and I’d be disappointed if the boys didn’t turn up in an even better frame of mind than they did today.”
Ponting was surprised at Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf’s decision to send the Aussies into bat after winning the toss at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) where chasing is almost always a tough task.
“He (Yousuf) should have batted first, shouldn’t he? Look, I said at the toss, I was going to bat but I could understand him bowling. There was going to be movement there but you just have to hope, when you send teams in, your bowlers do a good job for you. They didn’t because they weren’t allowed to. That’s the price you pay sometimes.”
Ponting praised his players for ensuring that the hosts won the match by a huge margin.
“We endeavour to play the best brand of cricket we can,” he said.
“Even though the game was fairly lopsided tonight, there was plenty of entertainment happening there which is why I kept pressing to bowl them out. Quite often, if you take the quicks off and try to rush through some overs, it can turn into a boring game but we tried to attack for as long as we could tonight. But the game was set up by the way Shane Watson batted. Even though I was going to bat if I won the toss, it was a wicket that was going to do a bit. I actually said to our guys halfway through the innings that I didn’t think the Pakistanis would make 150.”
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| Pakistan’s 140-run loss gives Aussies 2-0 lead in ODI series |
SYDNEY: Pakistan again displayed a poor show in the five-match series against Australia as they were beaten by 140 runs in the second One-day International here at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Chasing the target of 268 runs, Pakistan collapsed for a meagre total of 127 runs in 37.3 overs.
However, Australia’s victory was delayed by Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan who resisted with a 46-run eighth wicket valuable partnership from 46 balls.
Yousuf batted with calm and patience to show his team that there is nothing wrong in the wicket nor the Aussies bowlers were unplayable.
Yousuf occupied the crease for 134 minutes and faced 94 balls to make 58 with three fours and a six. This was his 64th half-century in One-day International career.
Naved-ul-Hasan contributed 27 from 22 balls with two fours and a six.
Among others, only Kamran Akmal (16) could enter into double figures whilet two of the main batsmen, Younis Khan and Umar Akmal, were dismissed for a nought.
Pace bowler Clint McKay bagged three wickets for15 runs while Doug Bollinger and spinner Nathan Hauritz claimed two wickets each.
Earlier, Australia made 267 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 50 overs after put into bat by Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf.
Openers Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh provided their team a solid start of exact 100 runs in 19.5 overs before Pakistani spinners stopped the Australian batting firwork and got three more wickets for 66 runs.
Watson hammered 69 from 71 balls with nine fours and a six while Marsh made 41 off 60 balls and both were dismissed by leg-spinner Shahid Afridi.
Captain Ponting could make 13 and his deputy Michael Clarke 25 before Cameron White and Michael Hussey added 55 runs for the fifth wicket stand.
Hussey departed for 29 when Australia reached 221 but White, who hit a century to help Australia win the first match of the series, again displayed fine stroke-play and made 55 off 58 balls with four boundaries and a six.
For Pakistan, fast bowler Mohammad Aamer captured three wickets for 53 and Afridi claimed two for 35 while Umar Gul took one wicket.
Australia retained the same eleven that took a 1-0 lead in Brisbane whereas Pakistan made one change as seamer Umar Gul replaced injured Mohammad Asif. |
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| Australia set 268-run target for Pakistan in 2nd ODI |
SYDNEY: Australia set a moderate target of 268 runs for Pakistan in the second One-day International here at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
After put into batting by Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf, Australia made 267 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 250 overs.
Openers Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh provided their team a solid start of exact 100 runs in 19.5 overs before Pakistani spinners stopped the Australian batting firwork and got three more wickets for 66 runs.
Watson hammered 69 from 71 balls with nine fours and a six while Marsh made 41 off 60 balls and both were dismissed by leg-spinner Shahid Afridi.
Captain Ponting could make 13 and his deputy Michael Clarke 25 before Cameron White and Michael Hussey added 55 runs for the fifth wicket stand.
Hussey departed for 29 when Australia reached 221 but White, who hit a century to help Australia win the first match of the series, again displayed fine stroke-play and made 55 off 58 balls with four boundaries and a six.
For Pakistan, fast bowler Mohammad Aamer captured three wickets for 53 and Afridi claimed two for 35 while Umar Gul took one wicket.
Australia retained the same eleven that took a 1-0 lead in Brisbane whereas Pakistan made one change as seamer Umar Gul replaced Mohammad Asif, who could not play due to hand injury. |
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| Pak given target of 268 runs in 2nd ODI |
SYDNEY: Australia were 267 for 6 in allotted 50 overs against Pakistan, setting Pakistan a target of 268 runs to win the match here in second ODI at SCG.
Cameron White and Michael Clarke were two leading scorers from Kangaroos as two right-handed batsmen contributed 55 and 69 runs – their innings’ individual scores.
Shahid Afridi and Muhammad Aamir took 2 and 3 wickets respectively while Umer Gul could only grab 1 wicket while conceding 70 runs in his 10-over quota. |
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| Pakistan put Australia into bat in 2nd ODI |
SYDNEY: Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf won the toss and put Australia into batting in the second One-day International here at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Australia retained the same eleven that took a 1-0 lead in Brisbane whereas Pakistan made one change as seamer Umar Gul replaced Mohammad Asif, who could not play due to hand injury.
Weather forecast says there would be a light showers in Sydney and Yousuf will go to take advantage of the seam-friendly conditions in the hope of giving his side a small chase.
Teams:
Australia: Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting (captain), 4 Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin (wk), Nathan Hauritz, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger.
Pakistan: Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Umar Gul, Mohammed Aamer, Saeed Ajmal. |
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| Pakistan hope spinners will help equalise series |
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SYDNEY: Pakistan are hoping that they will get a turning wicket here at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday (today) for their second One-day International against Australia in a bid to equalise the series 1-1.
The tourists crashed to a five-wicket defeat in the series opener in Brisbane on Friday and now need to win the Sydney ODI to stay on course to win the series after losing three Tests in a row earlier on what has been quite a disappointing tour for them so far.
Pakistan are pinning their hopes on a three-man spin attack that includes Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Shoaib Malik though the last time Pakistan played at the SCG they were taken aback by the greentop there.
“Normally the wicket in Sydney offers good assistance to spinners so let’s hope that we have a similar track for tomorrow’s game,” Waqar Younis, Pakistan’s bowling coach told ‘The News’ here on Saturday.
“We have some quality spinners in the side and if the wicket offers some turn it would be good for us,” added Waqar, a former Pakistan captain.
Pakistan have suffered a blow ahead of the second ODI as pacer Mohammad Asif was almost ruled out of the game because of a thumb injury he suffered at the Gabba on Friday.
Asif will make way for Umar Gul, who will return to the playing eleven after sitting out of the Brisbane game where Pakistan opted for Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. The visitors are unlikely to make any changes to the batting order as they piled up a healthy 274 in the first one-dayer.
But the SCG might not be a as good as a batting paradise as the Gabba.
The conditions here will be a bit different and there is a forecast for a shower or two during the day, with a maximum temperature of 25C.
Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan vice-captain, said that he and his teammates will go all out for a win in the match to come back in the series. “It’s a crucial game for us and we need to win it desperately,” he told this correspondent.
Australia, meanwhile, were fretting over the fitness of their vice-captain Michael Clarke, who flew to Sydney earlier than his teammates on Saturday morning.
Clarke was hit in the ribs by young pacer Mohammad Aamer shortly before being dismissed for 58.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting, however, said that Clarke will play at the SCG. “I think he’ll be okay,” he said. “It looked pretty sore. I don’t know much more about it but he seemed okay in the rooms.”
Adam Voges had joined the home team while James Hopes was retained even though he was 12th man in Brisbane. Unless Clarke is out, there shouldn’t be any changes to the winning combination. “We’ll wait and see what it looks like in Sydney,” Ponting said adding that “but when you have a win like that it’s pretty rare you make changes.”
After quite a poor attendance at the Gabba for the first one-dayer which was played in front of a half-empty stadium, a bigger crowd is expected at the SCG.
Squads:
Pakistan (likely): Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Umar Gul, Mohammed Aamer, Saeed Ajmal.
Australia (likely): Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin (wk), Nathan Hauritz, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger.
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| Intikhab Alam backs embattled Mohammad Yousuf |
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SYDNEY: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam on Saturday threw his weight behind embattled captain Mohammad Yousuf, saying that he is doing his best to lift the tourists on this tough tour of Australia.
Reacting to reports that Yousuf will be sacked after the end of the series against Australia, Intikhab said that Yousuf doesn’t deserve such harsh criticism.
“He’s doing his best,” Intikhab said in an interview.
“When the team loses, people start criticising. We take no notice of that,” he added.
Reports have suggested that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to axe Yousuf after the end of the tour of Australia because of his team’s poor showing here. Pakistan lost the Test series 0-3 and are trailing 0-1 in the one-day series.
Intikhab, a former Pakistan captain, said that he was disappointed at the way his team lost the first One-day International in Brisbane on Friday.
“We should never have lost,” Intikhab said. “We were in a good position to win the first game of the series.”
Intikhab took a swipe at his top-scorer Salman Butt, who hit 72 but was unable to play a match-winning knock like Australia’s Cameron White who smashed 105 to lead the hosts to a five-wicket triumph.
“If Salman Butt had stayed on and got 40 more, we would have got a lot more,” said Intikhab.
“Anybody who gets 50 or 60 and gets out, that is not acceptable,” he added.
Intikhab said that White took the game away from Pakistan’s grasp by turning a half-century into a big score (105).
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| Ponting hopes for better crowd in Sydney |
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BRISBANE: Australia captain Ricky Ponting is confident that the next two One-day Internationals will attract bigger crowds after the ODI format came under renewed criticism because of a very thin attendance for the series opener at the Gabba on Friday.
Only 19,758 spectators — less than half the capacity at the Gabba — turned up for the first one-dayer, adding fuel to criticism against the ODI format.
But still Ponting is confident that the next two one-dayers in Sydney on Sunday (today) and Adelaide next week would be played in front of bigger crowds.
“Sydney will be pretty much sold out I reckon and Adelaide (on Tuesday), you always get pretty good attendances there, so I think the next couple of games will tell a truer story than this one.”
However, unless there is a surge in support, the SCG will be half-full as well. The attendance of 19,758 was the lowest in an ODI involving Australia in Queensland since the Brisbane Cricket Ground was remodelled in 1999. Friday’s crowd was the second-lowest attendance to the first ODI of an Australian summer since 2000-01. It was beaten only by a crowd of 16,690 in Adelaide between Australia and New Zealand in the Chappell-Hadlee series of December 2007.
Cricket Australia, meanwhile, said that it was unconcerned over the fact that crowds for ODIs are shrinking since the rise of Twenty20 Internationals in recent years.
“We’re confident that there is scope for three formats, Test cricket, One-day International cricket, and interstate Twenty20,” CA spokesman Peter Young told The Sun-Herald.
But he admitted it was unrealistic to sustain three international formats, highlighting the value of the Big Bash — Australia’s domestic Twenty20 event.
“We remain convinced that developing Twenty20 predominantly as an interstate product is the way to go. We’ve always argued that it should be an interstate format because it’s just not possible to contemplate having three international formats.”
While admitting the Brisbane crowd was lower than Cricket Australia would have liked, Young said the attendance met pre-match projections.
“Clearly, I think everyone would have liked a bigger attendance,” he said. “At the moment we are on track for where we thought we would be (at this stage in the series). The projection experts told us 20,000 for Friday night and it was (19,758), so for all intents and purposes they were spot on.”
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| Ponting hoping Clarke fit to play second ODI against Pakistan |
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SYDNEY: Australian skipper Ricky Ponting hopes his deputy Michael Clarke will play in the second One-day International against Pakistan on Sunday, despite the vice-captain being hit on the ribs by a short ball in Friday’s opener.
Clarke hit 58 on Friday night at the Gabba, sharing a match-winning partnership of 102 for the fourth wicket with Cameron White (105) as Australia reached their target of 275 with nine deliveries to spare.
Clarke was hit on the ribs by a short ball from paceman Mohammad Aamer. He collapsed to the turf in agony before the team’s physio rushed onto the field.
Adam Voges and James Hopes are on standby in the 13-man squad to replace Clarke if the New South Wales batsman is ruled out.
Ponting said the team was likely to be unchanged “if everybody is fit”. |
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| ‘Comfortable’ switch to ODI mode delights Ponting |
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BRISBANE: Australia captain Ricky Ponting said on Friday that he was pleased with the enviable ease his team has switched from Test cricket to the one-day mode after the hosts recorded a convincing five-wicket win over Pakistan in their first One-day International here at Gabba.
Ponting, whose team trounced Pakistan 3-0 in the Test series, said that his boys performed really well even though they’ve only played Test cricket this summer.
“It’s great to switch from Test cricket to one-day more so comfortably,” he said after the one-dayer.
It was the first ODI of the summer in Australia, who have hosted six Tests against West Indies and Pakistan this season.
Ponting praised a match-winning knock by Cameron White, saying that it took the match away from Pakistan. “It was a fabulous knock,” he said.
White, who hit 105 to help Australia chase a victory target of 275 quite easily, said that the turning point of the match came in the 41st over when he hit legspinner Shahid Afridi for three consecutive sixers.
The Victorian allrounder fetched 21 runs from that over to ensure that his team won’t face any problems in winning the match.
Pakistan opener Salman Butt, meanwhile, said that his bowlers didn’t live up to expectations in the match.
“We didn’t bowl well today,” said Butt who top scored with 72 for Pakistan.
“We could have win this match because our total wasn’t bad but the bowlers couldn’t click,” said Pakistan’s left-handed opener.
The two teams will now travel to Sydney on Saturday (today) for the second One-day International match of the series that will be played there on Sunday.
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| Team needs unity: Yousuf |
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BRISBANE: Mohammad Yousuf once again underlined the need for unity after his team crashed to a five-wicket defeat against Australia in their first One-day International here at the Gabba on Friday, writes Khalid Hussain.
The Pakistan captain was visibly displeased with his team’s showing in the series opener and declared that the visitors could have done better.
“We should have done better and win this match,” he said after Pakistan failed to defend 274 as Cameron White hit 105 to give Australia a 1-0 lead in the series.
Pakistan were hoping to do better in the first ODI after suffering a 0-3 whitewash in the Test series which concluded in Hobart earlier this week.
However, Yousuf said that an improvement will only come if his team started showing better unity. “The team needs unity. They will have to play for the country,” he added.
Though the experienced batsman did not elaborate his comments, it seems that he is not happy with the way some of his players performed in the match.
Pakistan were hit hard by reports of discord within the team and Younis Khan’s decision to step down from captaincy and take a rest from international cricket last November only added fuel to fire.
At that time Younis had said that he had lost command of the team and was later replaced by Yousuf as captain for the twin tours of New Zealand and Australia.
Yousuf led Pakistan to a 1-1 Test series draw in New Zealand but his captaincy came under serious scrutiny after he failed to capitalise on a winnable position in the second Test against Australia in Sydney.
Pakistan suffered yet another whitewash against Australia and critics are now pushing for Yousuf to be axed for his poor captaincy.
By stressing the need for unity, Yousuf seems to have underlined the fact that for Pakistan the problems run deeper than just his inept captaincy.
When asked about making any changes for the second one-dayer to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday (tomorrow), Yousuf said that not many changes were needed but was quick to add that the final decision will be taken today.
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| White ton helps Aussies win 1st ODI against Pakistan |
BRISBANE: Cameroon White’s second ODI hundred helped Australia defeat Pakistan by five wickets with nine balls remaining in the first One-day International of the five-match Commonwealth Bank series here at the Gabba stadium on Friday.
White made 105 off 88 balls with four sixes and eight fours. He was bowled by Rana Naved-ul-Hasan when Australia needed only 15 runs to win the match.
Michael Clarke was run out by Rana Naved for 58. He added 102 runs with White for the fourth wicket stand.
Australia achieved the winning target of 275 runs in 48.3 overs after losing both openers for 37.
Fast bowler Mohammad Aamer dismissed Shane Watson for five and Mohammad Asif got Shaun Marsh out for 15. Later, Shahid Afridi got captain Ricky Ponting out for 27.
Asif, Aamer, Rana and Afridi obtained one wicket each for Pakistan.
After captain Mohammad Yousuf won the toss and elected to bat first, Pakistan made 274 runs and were all out in 49.4 overs.
Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal opened the innings and made 62 runs in 12.5 overs when the latter was caught by Michael Clarke off Shane Watson for 34. His 34-ball innings was laced with four boundaries.
Then came former captain Younis Khan and added 55 runs with Butt, who was caught behind by Brad Haddin off Doug Bollinger for an aggressive 72. He faced 81 balls and hit 12 fours.
However, captain Mohammad Yousuf was dismissed in a strange fashion, bowled by Bollinger and Pakistan lost three wickets for 123.
Later, Umar Ukmal and Shoaib Malik made significant contributions of 23 and 28, respectively
Younis batted very cautiously to score 46 from 74 balls with only one four.
But it was flamboyant Shahid Afridi who blasted a brisk 48 from only 26 balls. He smashed three sixes and five fours in his 32-minute stay at the crease.
After Afrid departed, the Australian bowlers wiped off the remaining two wickets for only five runs while allrounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan remained not out on eight.
For Australia, Watson claimed four for 36, Clint McKay three for 61 and Bollinger two for 37. |
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| Pakistan set Australia 275-run target in 1st ODI |
BRISBANE: Pakistan batsmen set a winning target of 275 runs for Australia in the first One-day International of the five-match Commonwealth Bank series here at the Gabba stadium on Friday.
After captain Mohammad Yousuf won the toss and elected to bat first, Pakistan were allou for 274 runs with two balls remaining.
Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal opened the innings and made 62 runs in 12.5 overs when the latter was caught by Michael Clarke off Shane Watson for 34. His 34-ball innings was laced with four boundaries.
Then came former captain Younis Khan and added 55 runs with Butt, who was caught behind by Brad Haddin off Doug Bollinger for an aggressive 72. He faced 81 balls and hit 12 fours.
However, captain Mohammad Yousuf was dismissed in a strange fashion, bowled by Bollinger and Pakistan lost three wickets for 123.
Later, Umar Ukmal and Shoaib Malik made significant contributions of 23 and 28, respectively
Younis batted very cautiously to score 46 from 74 balls with only one four.
But it was flamboyant Shahid Afridi who blasted a brisk 48 from only 26 balls. He smashed three sixes and five fours in his 32-minute stay at the crease.
After Afrid departed, the Australian bowlers wiped off the remaining two wickets for only five runs while allrounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan remained not out on eight.
For Australia, Watson claimed four for 36, Clint McKay three for 61 and Bollinger two for 37.
Pakistan are boosted by the inclusion of Younis and Afridi while Kamran Akmal has been restored at the top of the order.
Kamran was dropped from the Test team for his poor keeping during the Sydney Test but he will take the gloves and Sarfraz Ahmed will watch from the sidelines.
The pace bowler Naved-ul-Hasan, who has been playing Twenty20 games for Tasmania, has been preferred to Umar Gul and joined Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer in a pace attack that should enjoy the evening conditions.
Australia are carrying a 12-man squad and left out James Hopes.
Australia: Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Brad Haddin (wk), Nathan Hauritz, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger.
Pakistan: Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammed Aamer, Mohammad Asif, Saeed Ajmal. |
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| Pakistan can improve ODI ranking in series against Australia |
LAHORE: Pakistan can improve their ranking on the ICC One-day International table when they face Australia in a five-match series, which began in Brisbane on Friday.
While Australia lead second-ranked India by nine ratings points, Pakistan are at seventh position with 108 ratings points and four behind fourth-placed New Zealand. If Pakistan win the series by 3-2 or better, they will go up to fourth but would stay in seventh position in case of their failure to win a single match in the series while dropping four ratings points behind sixth-placed Sri Lanka.
In case of a 3-2 series win, Pakistan will earn four ratings points which will put them along side New Zealand on 112 ratings points but ahead of Daniel Vettori’s side by a fraction of the point.
A 4-1 series win will put Pakistan on 115 ratings points whereas a clean sweep will take them to 118 ratings points, one behind third-placed South Africa.
Even if Australia win the series 3-2, Pakistan will improve their rating by two places as they will leapfrog England and Sri Lanka into fifth place on 110 ratings points.
In contrast, Australia will retain their number-one position even if they lose all the matches of the series though they will drop to 123 ratings points but will earn three ratings points if they finish unbeaten in the series.
The odds are in favour of Australia as they have won 14 out of the last 20 ODIs against Pakistan who have won only five. On a head-to-head in Australia, Ricky Ponting’s side enjoy a 27-16 advantage with a tied game and one no-result while overall Australia have won 47 out of the 80 ODIs with Pakistan winning 29, one ending in a tie and three no-results.
In the ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, Pakistan Mohammad Yousuf is the only batsman in the top 20 on 15th position which he shares with South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs.
Outside the top 20 and eyeing an upward movement like their captain are Shoaib Malik (24th), Salman Butt (26th), Younus Khan (33rd), Misbah-ul-Haq (38th), Kamran Akmal (44th), Umar Akmal (56th) and Shahid Afridi (59th).
In the ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers, Shahid is the highest-ranked bowler from either side on 12th position. The other Pakistan bowler in the top 20 is off-spinner Saeed Ajmal on 17th spot. Shahid has a good opportunity not only to regain return to the top 10 but also improve his previous best ranking of eighth as he trails sixth-placed Harbhajan Singh of India by 19 points.
Other bowlers outside the top 20 and aiming to improve their rankings are James Hopes (26th), Umar Gul (27th), Shane Watson (30th), Mohammad Asif (44th) and Rana Navedul Hasan (56th). |
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| Pakistan batting against Australia in 1st ODI |
BRISBANE: Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf won the toss and elected to bat first against Australia in the first One-day International of the five-match Commonwealth Bank Series here at Gabba stadium on Friday.
The Australian team have a good amount of advantage since they are playing in their home ground and they have got a lot of practice. Although the Australian team is pretty high on confidence after bundling off Pakistan in the Test series, the One-day Internationals are a different ball game all together. Pakistan will surely want to make a good comeback by winning the One-day series and taking home the trophy for themselves.
Things are not going right for the Pakistan team for quite some time now; since none of the players got hired in the IPL team’s things are looking really sordid to say the least. A win in the ODI series can lift the moods of the Pakistan Cricket enthusiasts and rejuvenate or rather boost the team morale.
Pakistan have been boosted by the inclusion of Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi while Kamran Akmal has been restored at the top of the order.
Kamran was dropped from the Test team for his poor keeping during the Sydney Test but he will take the gloves and Sarfraz Ahmed will watch from the sidelines.
The pace bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, who has been playing Twenty20 games for Tasmania, has been preferred to Umar Gul and joins Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer in a pace attack that should enjoy the evening conditions.
Australia are carrying a 12-man squad and left out James Hopes, the Queensland allrounder, who is only with the team for this match. Ricky Ponting would have liked to have batted on a hard pitch with green tinges, but will be forced to chase under lights in steamy conditions.
Australia: Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Brad Haddin (wk), Nathan Hauritz, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger.
Pakistan: Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammed Aamer, Mohammad Asif, Saeed Ajmal.. |
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| Pakistan look for retribution in ODIs after Test mauling |
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BRISBANE: Pakistan are hoping that their rejuvenated team will have enough firepower to overcome Australia in the one-day series opener here at the Gabba on Friday (today) which promises to deliver a high-scoring game.
Mohammad Yousuf, the Pakistan captain, is confident that his team has the strength to give Australia a ‘fight’ in the one-day series and is looking to draw first blood in the series by clinching the opening One-day International.
With the return of experienced players like Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Pakistan believe they are in a better position to counter the Aussies, who swaggered to a 3-0 Test series whitewash against the tourists earlier this week.
“This is a much better team than the one that lost the Tests,” Yousuf said on Thursday referring to his one-day squad. “We have some really good one-day players, real match-winners who will help us to do well in the one-day series.”
Pakistan have opted for several changes in their playing eleven and will open with Kamran Akmal, the fumbling wicketkeeper who was axed from the third and final Test in Hobart after dropping three sitters in the Sydney Test earlier this month.
Younis Khan will be back at the No 3 position while Yousuf, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik and the big-hitting Shahid Afridi are expected to boost the middle-order.
“We have a good batting line-up for one-dayers,” said Yousuf, whose team flopped miserably in three run-chases in the Test series.
The tourists will hope that Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, the medium pacer who is likely to replace Umar Gul, will use his ‘Australian experience’ to lift them at the Gabba today. Rana recently featured in the Big Bash — Australia’s domestic Twenty20 tournament — for Tasmania and performed well with both the bat and ball.
The team management is expecting to strengthen Pakistan’s batting down the order in addition to his regular job as one of the three pacers.
Their recent head-to-head record show that Australia have a clear edge against the Pakistan are will begin the ODI series as hot favourites.
Australia beat Pakistan 3-2 in their one-day series in the United Arab Emirates last year and also beat the Greenshirts in the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa last October.
The hosts and Pakistan have two wins each in five head-to-head contests at the Gabba while one match was washed out. Pakistan have won six and lost seven of their 14 matches at the prestigious venue while Australia have been successful 14 times in 31 appearances.
The Pakistanis own the lowest score at the Gabba in an ODI after managing 71 against West Indies in 1992-93.
The visitors have unable to impress much on the current tour and not many critics are giving them a chance to win the ODI series.
But Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, is not taking anything for granted. He asked his players to come out with their best in the series, adding that Pakistan look to be a better ODI team on paper.
“If you read through their side, it looks a better team on paper than their Test team does. Guys like Afridi and Rana are very experienced and have been match-winners. Their one-day side does look particularly strong,” he said.
Ponting will be one of his team’s key players but all Australian eyes will be on the in-form allrounder Shane Watson, who was the player of the Test series with some excellent knocks and a few superb spells.
The playing conditions at the Gabba seem to be excellent and indicate towards a high-scoring match today. The ground has produced some big-scoring domestic games in the recent past where the captain winning the toss has almost always opted to bat first in a bid to post a big score on the board.
Pakistan (likely): Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Asif, Mohammed Aamer, Saeed Ajmal.
Australia (likely): Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Brad Haddin (wk), Nathan Hauritz, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger, James Hopes.
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| Younis confident of making his mark |
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BRISBANE: Younis Khan is confident that a “much-needed” sabbatical will help him make a successful return to international cricket here at the Gabba on Thursday (today).
The former Pakistan captain, who opted to take a rest after leading his team to a disappointing 1-2 defeat in its one-day series against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi last November, said that he is feeling very “energetic” and declared that he would go all out to make his presence felt in the five-match ODI series.
“I’ve been travelling with the Pakistan team constantly in the last five years,” he said on Thursday. “All those assignments and travelling left me completely drained and I had to take a break,” he added.
“I needed some time for myself and also for my family. I got that and now I am back and I feel very energetic. I had a really good time with my family so I am feeling very good at the moment and hope to do well in the coming matches.”
Pakistan missed the services of Younis, who bats at the crucial No 3 position, in the six Tests they have played in this season in New Zealand and Australia. The experienced batter is expected to boost Pakistan’s brittle batting in the ODI series.
Younis is confident that Pakistan are capable of bouncing back from the Test drubbing. “We did lose 3-0 in the Test series but the margin is a bit misleading.
“We could have easily won in Sydney and also gave them a tough time in Melbourne. I’m confident that our young side is capable of doing much better in the one-dayers and it is going to be different in this series.”
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| Probable for 1st ODI against Aussies named |
BRISBANE: Pakistan have announced the 11 probable for first One Day International (ODI) against World Champions Australia to be played here on Friday, Geo news reported.
According to sources, 11-member ODI squad comprised of Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Muhammad Yousuf, Umar Akmal, Shahid Khan Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Rana Naveed-ul-Hassan, Muhammad Aamir, Saeed Ajmal, Muhammad Asif and Umar Gul.
Skipper Mohammed Yousuf said former captain Younis Khan is player of international standards and appreciated his inclusion saying, his experience will benefit green shirts in five-match series.
Moreover, I will consult Younis Khan and am hopeful for good performance from him, he further said.
“Shahid Afridi is our strength”, Yousuf claimed, “We are much stronger side in this form of game as compared to Test matches.”
He appealed to senior players and nation for extension of encourage and support. |
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| Pakistan hope to bounce back in Brisbane |
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BRISBANE: For a team that was thrashed 3-0 by Australia in the recently-concluded Test series, Pakistan still come across as a buoyant side that is ready to turn the tables on the hosts in the one-day series that gets underway here at the Gabba from Friday (tomorrow).
The tourists arrived here from Hobart — the venue of the final Test which Pakistan lost by 231 runs on Monday — on Tuesday evening and went back to work on Wednesday by carrying out an extensive training session.
The mood in the Pakistan camp is upbeat with captain Mohammad Yousuf declaring that his boys will make it sure that the five-match ODI series will not be as “one-sided” as the Test series which saw the visitors falling in all three matches in Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart for their fourth 3-0 whitewash against the Aussies.
“The results in the one-day series are going to be different,” said Yousuf after the practice session.
“It’s not going to be one-sided like the Test series because we are a very strong one-day side.”
Yousuf, 35, is confident that Pakistan can give a strong show in the one-day series because their fielding is expected to improve with the return of experienced players like former captain Younis Khan and ODI vice-captain Shahid Afridi. Both Younis and Afridi missed the Test series but are back in Pakistan’s ODI squad. They are two of Pakistan’s best fielders and likely to boost the touring team’s fielding performance which was pretty pathetic in the Test series.
“We lost the Test series mainly because we dropped too many catches,” he said referring to the fact that Pakistan dropped 14 catches during the series. “But the return of senior players like Younis and Afridi is going to help us do better in that department. They are senior players and will give us a big boost in the one-dayers.”
To improve their fielding ahead of the one-day series seems to be Pakistan’s biggest task as they spent the best part of an extensive training exercise here at the Gabba on Wednesday by carrying out fielding and catching practice sessions.
“We are taking all possible steps to ensure that there are no more dropped catches in the one-day series or at least they are minimised,” said Abdul Raqeeb, while talking to ‘The News’ after the training session that spanned over more than three hours. “We are hoping that all this hard work will pay off in the one-dayers because we want to win this series.”
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| Tourists mull over ODI line-up |
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BRISBANE: With just one more day to go in the start of their one-day series against Australia, Pakistan are still pondering about their combination for the series opener here at the Gabba.
Sources in the team management told ‘The News’ here on Wednesday that they are keeping options open and will only finalise the playing eleven for the first one-dayer after a meeting on Thursday (today).
“There have been quite a few changes in our team after the Test series,” said a team official. “Most of the players added to the one-day squad have just joined us. They will have another training session tomorrow after which the tour selection committee will meet to decide the playing eleven for the first match,” he added.
The players who hade headed for home after the Test series include legspinner Danish Kaneria, fast bowler Mohammad Sami, and opener Khurram Manzoor.
Middle-order batsman Faisal Iqbal has also been excluded from the squad but he would return home next week after spending a few days in Melbourne with his family.
Former skipper Younis Khan, ODI vice-captain Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar Anjum and Khalid Latif have joined the tourists. All of them except Rao attended a training session here at the Gabba on Wednesday. Rao, the medium pacer, missed the session because he arrived on a different flight from Lahore and will begin training from Thursday (today).
Younis and Afridi are certain to play in the first ODI while Rana Naved may also feature in it as the team management are seriously considering him to be a part of the playing eleven because of the good form he has exhibited in the ongoing Big Bash — Australia’s domestic Twenty20 tournament — while playing for Tasmania.
Younis will come in for Faisal Iqbal at his regular No 3 position while former captain Shoaib Malik is likely to make way for Afridi. It remains to be seen that if Rana returns to the line-up, will he replace Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer or Mohammad Asif.
The team management is likely to vote for a five-man bowling attack that will feature two spinners in Saeed Ajmal and Afridi and three pacers.
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| ‘Dropping Ponting left Aamer shattered’ |
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BRISBANE: Mohammad Aamer, Pakistan’s teenage fast bowler, was so heartbroken after dropping Australia captain Ricky Ponting on the opening day of the third Test in Hobart that he was unable to give his hundred percent in the match which Pakistan went on to lose by 231 runs, writes Khalid Hussain.
The youngster dropped Ponting, who was batting at nought, and the master blaster then went on to score a match-winning double century on his home ground at the Bellerive Oval.
That knock helped Australia bat Pakistan out of the match and then complete their 12th consecutive victory over the visitors.
“He (Aamer) was completely shattered,” Abdul Raqeeb, Pakistan’s manager, told ‘The News’ on Wednesday. “He was clueless how he dropped that simple catch and knew that it took the game away from us. I think he was unable to give his hundred percent in the match at least not till Ponting got out,” he added.
Ponting, who had struggled for runs in the previous two Tests against Pakistan in Melbourne and Sydney, followed his 209 in the first innings with another fine knock of 89 in his second outing to win the man-of-the-match award in Hobart.
Aamer, 17, was touted as one of Pakistan’s most potent weapons when they arrived in Australia for a full series but the pacer didn’t really click in the series though he made a good start in Melbourne.
He finished with just eight wickets from two Tests at an average of 40.37 after missing the second Test in Sydney because of a groin problem.
The bowler struggled a bit during the third Test in Hobart, raising fears that he might not be fully fit.
However, Raqeeb stressed that Aamer is fully fit and will go all out to make his presence felt in the five-match one-day series against Australia getting underway in Brisbane from Friday (tomorrow).
“There is nothing wrong with Aamer’s fitness,” said Raqeeb. “He is a hundred percent fit and is hoping to play his role in the one-dayers.”
Aamer has taken 19 wickets from 11 One-day Internationals so far. He is not certain to play in the series opener here at the Gabba tomorrow because of the return of the experienced Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. The medium-pacer has been recalled to the one-day squad after impressing in the ongoing KFC Big Bash — Australia’s domestic Twenty20 tournament.
Rana did well with both the bat and ball while playing for Tasmania in the tournament and is in contention to play in the one-day series against the Aussies.
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| Gabba to be half-filled for first ODI |
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BRISBANE: Almost half of the stands at the Gabba are likely to be empty when Australia will host Pakistan in their one-day series opener here on Friday (tomorrow).
According to Daily Telegraph, the fading popularity of 50-over cricket will come into sharp focus when the hosts play before at least 10,000 empty seats in a fixture once routinely sold out.
Australia’s one-day series against Pakistan will be launched at the Gabba with officials expecting a crowd in the mid-20,000s for a stadium that holds almost 40,000, said the report.
For decades one-day games featuring Australia in Brisbane were routinely sold out before Christmas and were among the hottest sporting tickets in town, it added. “Interstate Twenty20 games featuring the Queensland Bulls have attracted around 17,000 in recent weeks — even with limited publicity and clashing with Test matches — showcasing the blossoming drawing power of the game’s shiny new toy and that the 50-over game is losing its lustre,” said the paper.
Shane Warne has called for Australia to dump the 50-over game just as England has already done with its county system.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori believes the 50-over game can survive but perhaps in a reduced format.
“It can survive but it may be limited to world events and the Champions Trophy,” Vettori said. “We may not see the seven-match series that we have in the past but I still believe it is a really good game which produces some unique cricketers.”
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| Younis, two other players leave for Australia |
KARACHI: Three cricketers including Younis Khan left for Australia to take part in one-day series against Australia.
Former Pakistan cricket team captain Younis Khan, all rounder Fawwad Alam and batsman Khalid Latif left for Australia from Jinnah International Airport.
A five-matches one day series will be kicked off from January 22. The three players vowed to perform well to get victory for Pakistan.
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| Rana hopes to shine in ODIs as all-rounder |
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HOBART: Rana Naved-ul-Hasan is confident of using his successful T20 exposure in Australia to help lift Pakistan in their one-day series against Australia getting underway in Brisbane from Friday.
The experienced Pakistan all-rounder told a group of Pakistani reporters here at the Bellerive Oval that he is ready to perform the role of a reliable all-rounder in the five-match ODI series which the tourists are looking to in to avenge their 3-0 whitewash in the Test series that ended here on Monday.
“I’m very confident about my form and fitness and hope to do well for Pakistan in the one-day series,” Rana said on Monday.“I’ve adapted myself to the Aussie conditions and am looking forward to the matches against Australia,” he added.
Rana has won the T20 cricketer of the season award that would be given to him by the Tasmanian Cricket Association for his excellent showing in the ongoing KFC Big Bash — Australia’s version of the Indian Premier League.
In Rana, the Tasmanian cricket fans found a new cult hero in Rana. He produced a man-of-the-match winning performance in the Tigers’ 17-run Big Bash victory over the Warriors on New Year’s Day. Later he took a hat-trick in the match against South Australia which his team lost to narrowly miss out on a final spot.
“The way I’ve played in the T20 tournament has given my confidence a big boost,” he said. Rana said that he is ready to shine with both the bat and ball in the one-day series against Australia.
“The good thing is that my form is good both in batting and bowling,” he said. “I’ve taken wickets and scored runs here this season and hope to do the same for Pakistan.” Rana, 31, is confident that Pakistan will bounce back from their Test whitewash and will do well in the limited-overs series.
“We are a very strong one-day side and with the return of top class players like Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan, I’m sure we will give a solid showing in the one-day series,” he said. Rana who was overlooked for the Test series against Australia was included in the one-day series and has joined the Pakistan team here in Hobart.
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| ‘Khurram needs to improve technique’ |
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HOBART: Young batsman Khurram Manzoor batted for more than five hours to help save Pakistan in their third Test against Australia here at the Bellerive Oval on Monday.
Pakistan, given an improbable task to chase 438 to win the Test, went on to lose it by 231 runs but the 23-year-old Khurram earned praise from critics for the steely resolve that he put on display during a 239-ball 77.
However, his skipper Mohammad Yousuf wasn’t impressed. Yousuf, regarded as one of Pakistan’s greatest Test batsmen, said that Khurram needs a lot of hard work to improve his technique.
“Khurram needs to do a lot to improve his technique,” Yousuf said after the end of the final Test. “He is not very sound technically. The selectors need to look at how people are playing, even if he is scoring only 10, they need to see how he has scored those 10 runs. If he stays with the team then maybe he can become better but if technically he isn’t good then who knows.”
These were harsh words for a player, who had bounced back from a lean patch to give Pakistan some hope of salvaging a draw in the Hobart Test. Khurram had scores of 2, 6, 4 and 0 in his previous four innings and needed a big score to justify his selection in the playing eleven ahead of Faisal Iqbal at the No 3 position. After falling for a duck in his previous outing here, Khurram batted with great determination in the second innings.
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Hobart: Pakistan’s Khurram Manzoor (right) kisses his badge after completing his half-century on the fifth day of their third Test against Australia at the Bellerive Oval here on Monday
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| Yousuf wants to stay as captain in spite of pressure |
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HOBART: Mohammad Yousuf suspects that captaincy may have affected his batting form but the Pakistan skipper still wants to keep the job.
“Maybe captaincy is affecting my batting. There is a lot of pressure on me, to speak to batsmen and bowlers. But somebody has to do the captaincy? I have just started it, only six Tests so far and you should consider the circumstances.
“I took it up when nobody wanted it. I have done okay I think. We drew the series with New Zealand and have troubled Australia here.”Yousuf, 35, was handed Pakistan captaincy last November when Younis Khan gave up the job to take a break from international cricket after leading Pakistan to a disappointing 1-2 ODI series defeat against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi.
The senior batsman had always fancied his chances to become Pakistan especially after Inzamam-ul-Haq retired in 2007. But he only got the job as a compromise candidate and has since attracted praise and criticism in equal measure.
He seemed fine in New Zealand where Pakistan held New Zealand to a 1-1 series draw but came under fire for his defensive tactics in the second Test against Australia in Sydney earlier this month. Pakistan lost the match by 36 runs from a seemingly winning position.
With the 231-run defeat in the Hobart Test on Monday, Yousuf has lead Pakistan to another whitewash against Australia. His job could be on the line but Yousuf hopes that he would be retained as captain for a long summer in England.
“I enjoy my job and I would like to keep doing it, trying to do it sincerely and lift the boys and myself,” he said. “I am a new captain and captains are not born. It takes time. I am willing to take help from anyone. They say I made mistakes. I probably did, for sure. It can happen. But tell me what to do, and then if I don’t learn or am not listening, then criticise me. I am ready; I will speak to anyone about it.”
When Pakistan arrived in Australia, many critics had thought they would give Australia a run for their money. Australia, they reckoned, was no more the side that was almost unbeatable at home till a few years ago.
“Australia looked a beatable side people say, but what about ours, how beatable did we look?” he asked. “We could’ve been better than them in Sydney but the pressure got to us. We’ve been bowled out chasing 120 before with bigger names in the team, like against South Africa in Faisalabad (in 1997-98). That had such big names in it, you name me one here, in this side.
“What happened to past Pakistan teams here? Yes Australia was strong but we were strong as well back then. Think of the names we have had, the biggest names in Pakistan cricket, who have been part of losses here: Wasim, Waqar, Inzamam, Saeed Anwar, Shoaib, Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Azhar Mahmood, Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan.”
Yousuf believes that with focussed planning Pakistan can bring improvement in their Test squad ahead of the ‘home’ series against Australia in England this July. “If we are honest, all of us stakeholders, and put together an honest team, we can have a good team. It will take time. It took India time as well, a lot of time. We can make this side better. We are weak in a few areas. We lost the series and are disappointed. But the way they played, a young side, inexperienced, I am happy with that.”
Yousuf also spoke about Australia — ranked at No 3 in the world — saying that to him they are still the best.
“Yes, Australia best team because they’re a good side with all good players,” he said. “If you see the statistics they have good batting averages, good bowling averages, the wicketkeeper averages nearly 40 (runs), they have a good side.”
Yousuf said that his team suffered a 3-0 whitewash against the Aussies because of dropped catches. “A lot of catches were dropped, that’s why we lost the series, otherwise maybe a different result,” he said.
But he rejected the idea that a specialist fielding coach might lift Pakistan. “Our chances are working hard and I don’t think that a fielding coach can do much. It’s all about having focused and the players will have to do it themselves.”
Yousuf also stressed that he was happy with the way his team has performed on this tour so far. “Obviously we lost the series and that is disappointing for the whole team but we played with a young and inexperienced side so I am happy,” he said.
When pointed out that Nathan Hauritz, who was previously an under-rated off-spinner, took 18 wickets in the three-match series, Yousuf smiled and said: “Yeah it makes it very disappointing that we gave so many wickets to him (Hauritz).”
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| Kamran Akmal to return for one-dayers |
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HOBART: Kamran Akmal will return for the one-day series against Australia getting underway from January 22 in Brisbane, Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf confirmed on Monday.
“I think he will be back (for the one-day series),” Yousuf told ‘The News’ here at the Bellerive Oval. “We need him because of his batting credentials,” he added. Kamran, 28, was axed for the third and final Test after a horrible showing behind the stumps in the second Test in Sydney. The wicketkeeper dropped three sitters besides wasting a simple run-out opportunity to allow Australia to come back from the jaws of defeat and win the match by 36 runs.
The seasoned gloveman made way for youngster Sarfraz Ahmed, who was rushed to Australia by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) immediately after the Sydney loss. He was picked to make his Test debut in Hobart in controversial circumstances after Kamran expressed his reluctance to step down inspite of repeated instructions from the PCB.
Sarfraz, 20, was okay behind the wickets but failed to impress much with his batting abilities at the No 7 position. He fell cheaply for scores of 1 and 5 as Pakistan crashed to a 231-run defeat in the Test.
However, Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf believes that Sarfraz should go on to do well in Test cricket. “I think he (Sarfraz) is a good player,” said Yousuf. “He should stay with the team even if is not playing. We need to have an understudy always, all the time, to the wicketkeeper. If you are doing a long tour, over a month, then you need to have one along always.”
Yousuf praised Sarfraz’s batting abilities. “Technically Sarfraz is not bad. He didn’t score many runs but you should consider that he didn’t play in ideal circumstances. There was too much pressure on him. In any case, you can’t judge a player by his showing in his debut Test. I told him today, see Saeed Anwar’s debut, a pair. I had scores of 1 and 5 in my debut which is why we told him not to worry about it. You have to see whether the player has ability and I can see it in him.”
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| Players were inexperienced but performance was satisfactory: Yousuf |
HOBART: Skipper Mohammad Yousuf said at the end of the Test series against Australia that his tem comprised of inexperienced players but he was satisfied with their performance.
Mohammad Yousuf expressed satisfaction on the performance of the boys after a 3-0 loss against Australia.
He said that he is happy over the performance of the young players despite the defeat.
Defending poor performance of his batsmen in Sydney Test, Yousuf said that we played good on three days but Australia won the match in just one day.
We had a good opportunity of winning the Sydney Test as we playe dvery good on three days but we lost the match due to a poor performance on the final day. |
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| Pakistan humiliated by series whitewash in Australia |
HOBART: Mohammad Yousuf’s team lost the third Test with a big margin of 231 runs as Australia completed a clean sweep of the three-Test series, for four times in a row against Pakistan.
This was also Pakistan’s 12th successive defeat in a Test against the Aussies since 1999 and 27th overall in 55 Tests so far played between the two countries. Pakistan beat Australia for only eleven times while 17 matches ended in a draw.
Australia equalled the record for the most consecutive Test wins by any side over any other team, matching the 12-game streak currently held by Sri Lanka over Bangladesh.
Australia’s victory at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval came after lunch of the fifth and final day when they broke through some stubborn batting to bowl the tourists out for 206.
Pakistan needed huge 335 runs with six wickets in hand when they resumed the second innings at 103-4 with Khurram Manzoor on 23 and Shoaib Malik 18.
Pakistan lost two wickets for just 20 runs added to their overnight score as Shoaib was caught behind off Peter Siddle for 19 in the third over of the day and then debutant Sarfraz Ahmed fell in the similar fashion to his first innings dismissal, edging spinner Nathan Hauritz's first ball of his spell to Michael Clarke at slip.
However, Khurram with tail-ender Mohammad Aamer survived nearly 32 overs and added 66 runs for a seventh wicket stand.
Pakistan went to lunch at 168-6 with Khurram on 59, his third fifty in seven Tests, and Aamer on 12.
But after the break, Hauritz ended the resistance of Khurram who was caught behind by Brad Haddin after making a patient 77 off 239 balls.
Hauritz then got Umar Gul (0) out caught by Michael Clarke at first slip who took a great catch.
Mitchell Johnson (1-59) bowled Mohammad Asif (0) and later Peter Siddle bowled Danish Kaneria (1) to finish at 3-25.
Hauritz (3-30) was the leading bowler of the series with 18 wickets and took five in the second innings of the first two Tests.
Skipper Ricky Ponting was adjudged the man of the match for his 209 and 89 while Shane Watson won named man of the series for his 346 runs and five wickets. |
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| Pakistan 168-6 chasing huge target of 438 runs at lunch |
HOBART: Pakistan were 168 for 6 in their second innings against Australia while Australia moved two wickets closer to victory by lunch on the fifth day in Hobart but Khurram Manzoor refused to surrender and gave Pakistan at least a sniff of saving the Test. Manzoor's third Test half-century was slow and patient and at the break he was on 59 with Mohammad Aamer on 12, as Pakistan moved to 6 for 168.
Their victory target of 438 was not the issue for Australia, they simply needed to grab the remaining wickets while the weather held up. There was no rain on the final morning and the skies looked clear and promising despite showers being forecast.
Australia began impressively with Shoaib Malik caught behind off Peter Siddle for 19, after adding only one to his overnight score. Sarfraz Ahmed managed 5 before he was caught at slip off Nathan Hauritz in strange circumstances, when his edge clipped the gloves of Brad Haddin, went through the hands of Michael Clarke and onto his boot before bouncing up for Clarke to complete the catch.
There was no further joy for Australia and Manzoor's 194-ball half-century frustrated the hosts, who had a couple of close calls turned down. Manzoor survived a tight lbw shout in the first over when Asoka de Silva declined Siddle's appeal, and Australia's review was rejected when Hawk-Eye showed he was struck in the zone of uncertainty, perhaps just outside the line of off stump.
A perilously close run-out call also went in favour of the visitors when Brad Haddin whipped the bails off at the striker's end and the Australians thought they had Aamer caught short. The batsman was given the benefit of the doubt when the third umpire decided he could not be sure if Aamer had made his ground. |
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| ‘Sincere effort, not rain will save us’ |
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HOBART: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam declared on Sunday his team will put in a sincere effort to save its third Test against Australia instead of praying for rain to rescue them here at the Bellerive Oval on Monday (today), writes Khalid Hussain.
“We have to make a sincere effort tomorrow. We’re not hoping for rain, let me tell you this. We don’t play cricket like this. We have to make an effort to save this match,” Intikhab told reporters after Pakistan were reduced to 103-4 after Australia set them an improbable target of 438 on the fourth day of the dead rubber.
The coach admitted his players were facing a very tough task.
“It’s difficult now since we have lost four wickets. I thought conditions were a little different today. They did help the fast bowlers. Yesterday we saw the sun was shining and batting was a little easier.”
Intikhab once again underlined his team’s lack of Test experience when pointed out that Pakistan are facing yet another whitewash.
“I hope there isn’t another whitewash. But the thing is that we had a two year gap and didn’t play any Test cricket. I’m not making excuses (but) we have played too much ODI and Twenty20 cricket. It’s a bit difficult when you play too much ODI cricket and you come to Test cricket. In Test cricket you need to be very patient, need to be very determined.”
Intikhab took a swipe at his senior players for failing to do their job but hoped they would learn from their mistakes.
“I do hope we can learn from our mistakes, especially the senior players, they have to take responsibility. They should try and stay at the wicket but it hasn’t happened here. We can learn from our mistakes, we have youngsters in the side and they are learning. It takes time. They aren’t any superstars in our team, they have to really show what they are made from and learn from mistakes. Good sides always learn from mistakes and they get better and better.”
He praised Shane Watson for his brilliant spell (2-24) on Sunday, saying that Pakistan would love to have an all-rounder like the gutsy Aussie.
“Australians are very fortunate, the way their combination is — three fast bowlers and then Watson comes, who can bat and you can give rest to others. He has showed again and again his ability as an opening batsman who can bowl and get important breakthroughs.”
Intikhab played down the controversy that followed two run-outs on Saturday, brushing aside speculations that it might have affected the atmosphere in the Pakistan dressing room.
Mohammad Yousuf, the Pakistan captain, openly criticised Salman Butt as lazy and selfish after the opener was involved in two run-outs on the crucial third day.
“Of course we are united. He (Yousuf) probably made those comments in heat of the moment. Unfortunately we had two suicidal run-outs, and all of a sudden we lost four wickets. They can only learn from this, we can tell them, talk about it but at the end of the day they have to do it themselves and learn themselves.”
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| Inti calls for regular ‘fielding camps’ |
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HOBART: Intikhab Alam watched with disbelief as Mohammad Aamer floored a sitter to let Ricky Ponting off the hook on the opening morning of their third Test against Australia here.
The experienced Pakistan coach knew it was a costly miss and he wasn’t surprised when the Aussie skipper went on to plunder the visiting attack on his way to 209 at the Bellerive Oval in front of jubilant home fans.
“You can’t expect to win matches after dropping such simple catches,” Intikhab said here on Sunday. “It’s true that we are losing Tests again and again but the problem remains the same and that’s our poor fielding.”
To help Pakistan overcome this perennial problem, Intikhab floated the idea of holding regular fielding camps at all major centres of the country.
“You need to hold fielding camps lasting for at least 15 days on a regular basis,” he said. “You should have those camps in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other major centres and all (Test and first-class) players should attend them,” he stressed.
The former captain believes that unless his charges improve their fielding they will be unable to produce positive results on the Test arena, especially against top teams like Australia.
“You should have better fielding skills, you should have better catching skills,” he said.
“For that our players will have to take fielding very seriously. Unfortunately, back in Pakistan nobody is doing that.”
Pakistan have dropped more than two dozen catches on the twin Test tours of New Zealand and Australia this season and their players are now routinely described as “butter-fingered” by the local media.
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| Watson enjoying dream summer |
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HOBART: Australian all-rounder Shane Watson says he is “definitely” capable of improving even further on his dream summer as this time the much-improved opening batsman played a key role with the ball to all but end Pakistan’s hopes of saving the third Test at Bellerive.
Watson, who has been Australia’s leading run scorer this summer with his maiden Test century as well as four other scores of between 89 and 97 in the six Tests against West Indies and Pakistan, missed out with the bat in this game notching scores of just 29 and 1.
But instead he has had a key impact with the ball after snaring the key wickets of Pakistan’s two best batsmen in skipper Mohammad Yousuf and young gun Umar Akmal late on day four — both trapped plumb LBW as Watson got the ball to reverse swing in the overcast conditions.
Watson has now taken a more than handy 13 wickets for the summer in addition to his run-scoring heroics as his career averages with bat and ball begin to resemble those of a champion all-rounder.
“I think I can definitely keep improving,” he said. “I feel like I am only really getting better because this summer has been a big learning curve for a number of different reasons, whether it’s with my bowling or my batting and continuing to challenge my game with the mental application required.”
While Watson’s batting has won him high praise this summer, he believes it is his bowling which is in career-best shape.
“The more cricket I have played, the more resilient I feel and the better I feel with my bowling,” he said. “It’s been quite a long period of time now where I have been able to continue to bowl and your body does adapt and the more you are able to continue doing something then the more your body adapts and allows you to do it.”
“So I think I am bowling the best I ever have because I have been able to string so many games together and when you do that, you are able to continue to work on little things and continue to improve.”
As for the outcome of the Test, Watson believes the Australians only need the forecast rain on day five to stay away to wrap up a fifth win from six Tests this summer and a record-equalling 12th successive Test victory against Pakistan.
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| Pakistan facing whitewash threat in Hobart |
HOBART: Pakistan struggling at 103 for four when rain halted the play on fourth day of the third Test here at Bellerive Oval on Sunday.
However, it seems that rain cannot save Pakistan from another defeat and Australia are likely to complete whitewash in the three-Test series.
Australia set Pakistan a tough target of 438 runs for victory after captain Ricky Ponting declared their second innings at 219-5 after lunch.
Pakistan began their second innings with an uphill task but lost both openers for only 29 runs.
First, first innings centurion Salman Butt was bowled by Doug Bollinger for eight and later his partner Imran Farhat went for 14, caught behind by Brad Haddin off Peter Siddle for 14.
However, Khurram Manzoor and captain Mohammad Yousuf took the score to 61 before Yousuf was adjudged lbw off Shane Watson for 23.
Pakistan were reeling at 67 for three at tea with Khurram (17) and Umar Akmal (2) at the crease.
Earlier, Simon Katich succeeded in completing his ninth test century but in the next over, he was caught by Shoaib Malik at deep mid-wicket off legspinner Danish Kaneria.
However, Ponting missed his second century for the match as Australia lost three wickets for only 19 runs in a 15-minute period after lunch as they sent out pinch-hitters Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson in an unsuccessful attempt to quickly increase their total.
Ponting failed failed to become the seventh batsman in Test history to score a double-century and a century in the same match when he departed for 89 on the fourth ball after lunch. He tried to sweep Shoaib Malik and was taken down the legside by wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed and the umpire's not-out decision was overturned on review when replay showed the ball brushed Ponting’s glove.
Then Haddin was run out for eight and Mitchell Johnson was caught at cover by Imran Farhat off Malik for a duck as declaration came with Michael Hussey unbeaten on 13.
Pakistan still need 335 runs to avoid defeat with six wickets in hand when the play will be resumed on the fifth and final day.
Khurram Manzoor and Shoaib Malik are batting on 23 and 15, respectively as there is only one regular batsman in debutant Sarfraz Ahmed being left in the dressing room. |
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| Pakistan lose three wickets chasing 438 runs in Hobart Test |
HOBART: Australia set Pakistan a tough target of 438 runs for victory from just under five sessions after captain Ricky Ponting declared their second innings at 219-5 after lunch on fourth day in the third and final Test here at Bellerive Oval on Sunday.
Pakistan began their second innings with an uphill task but lost both openers for only 29 runs.
First, first innings centurion Salman Butt was bowled by Doug Bollinger for eight and later his partner Imran Farhat went for 14, caught behind by Brad Haddin off Peter Siddle for 14.
However, Khurram Manzoor and captain Mohammad Yousuf took the score to 61 before Yousuf was adjudged lbw off Shane Watson for 23.
Pakistan were reeling at 67 for three at tea with Khurram (17) and Umar Akmal (2) at the crease.
They still require 371 runs to achieve a record target for winning the match.
Earlier, Simon Katich succeeded in completing his ninth test century but in the next over, he was caught by Shoaib Malik at deep mid-wicket off legspinner Danish Kaneria.
However, Ponting missed his second century for the match as Australia lost three wickets for only 19 runs in a 15-minute period after lunch as they sent out pinch-hitters Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson in an unsuccessful attempt to quickly increase their total.
Ponting failed failed to become the seventh batsman in Test history to score a double-century and a century in the same match when he departed for 89 on the fourth ball after lunch. He tried to sweep Shoaib Malik and was taken down the legside by wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed and the umpire's not-out decision was overturned on review when replay showed the ball brushed Ponting’s glove.
Then Haddin was run out for eight and Mitchell Johnson was caught at cover by Imran Farhat off Malik for a duck when declaration was made with Michael Hussey unbeaten on 13. |
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| Australia set Pakistan 438-runs target for victory |
HOBART: Australia declared their second innings for 219 for 5 after lunch on fourth day setting Pakistan a difficult 438-run target to win third Test match.
Simon Katich brought up his 100 and Skipper Ponting got out on 89 runs after lunch on day four. |
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| Aussies were 200-2 cum overall 418-run lead at lunch |
HOBART: Australia were 200-2 and have mounted overall lead of 418 at lunch on fourth day of third Test match against Pakistan Simon.
Katich finally posted the century that had eluded him all summer as he and Ricky Ponting compounded Pakistan's pain with a brutal opening session on the fourth day.
Australia added 141 and extended their advantage to 418 runs as Pakistan continued to set defensive fields and waited for Ponting's declaration.
Katich has had trouble reaching triple-figures this season and had posted scores of 92, 80, 99 and 98. He hadn't scored a hundred since the Ashes opener in Cardiff and when he moved to 99, Pakistan tried to increase the pressure, but he found an easy single behind square on the leg side to register his century from 137 deliveries.
In the next over, Katich holed out to deep midwicket off Danish Kaneria and departed for an even 100, leaving Michael Hussey to accompany Ponting for the remaining ten minutes before lunch. At the break, Australia had reached 2 for 200 with Ponting on 88 and Hussey on 3 and no signs of the rain that was forecast. Ponting was left to decide whether to declare at lunch or bat again after the break.
Ponting survived a review on 62 when Pakistan felt sure they had him caught-behind off Mohammad Aamer. Asoka de Silva gave Australia's captain not out and there was no sign of an edge on Hot Spot, which left Ponting free to continue demoralising Pakistan with his attacking play.
With a hefty lead already in place, Ponting went after the bowling during the session and was happy to be inventive, driving in the air over fielders and taking balls from outside off to the leg side. The lack of intensity from Pakistan helped both batsmen, and Katich was gifted a boundary when his drive sailed straight through the legs of the cover fielder Salman Butt, who inexplicably failed to get a hand to the ball.
Katich's innings finished with 13 boundaries while Ponting went to lunch having struck 12 fours. If he bats again after the break he will have an opportunity to become only the seventh batsman in Test history to score a double-century and a century in one Test. |
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| ‘Yousuf is like an elder brother’ |
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HOBART: Pakistan opener Salman Butt promised on Saturday to bring about an improvement in his running between the wickets after skipper Mohammad Yousuf publicly criticised him for being lazy and selfish.
Butt smashed a ton on Saturday, a day after getting involved in the disastrous run-outs of Yousuf and Umar Akmal. It was hardly surprising when the Australian media battery persistently asked him questions about his response to Yousuf’s criticism.
“I don’t even know what he said.
“I didn’t ask you (in response to being told he said he is a lazy runner by a local reporter).”
When asked again, Butt added: “Well I sincerely I haven’t heard anything. Maybe he said something because he is the best player in the side and obviously the team needed him at the time.
Anybody in his place would’ve been like that so I don’t mind even if he said something. I think the next time we should be careful and be helpful to each other,” he said.
Butt said that Friday’s incidents have not affected his relationship with Yousuf. “He is my captain, senior player and like an elder brother.”
The question was asked yet again in a different way and Butt said: “We have played enough cricket not to think about these small things. Okay this happened, alright he is our best player, no doubt and it would’ve been very good had he stayed on and scored a big hundred but if something has happened you can’t keep on moaning about it.”
Butt, 25, praised Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif for a brave last-wicket stand of 53 runs and said that Pakistan will have to play much straighter in the innings which will most likely to be taking place on the fourth and fifth days of the Test.
“This pitch looks to be better than most other pitches we have played on the third day. Definitely on the fifth day the bounce will vary more. It happened in morning as well but will happen a bit more.
That’s what you expect on a fifth-day pitch so we will have to play much straighter.”
Butt rued his team’s lack of Test practice, saying that the twin tours of New Zealand and Australia were like a comeback for him and his colleagues.
“We haven’t played much Test cricket over last two years. Recently we have played about six, so it’s like a comeback after a year’s lay-off.
Test cricket is the most difficult cricket that exists. Twenty20 and ODIs are much easier formats than Test because it is a test of everything, your nerves and fitness. You cannot compare 450 overs, or a 30 hours match with a three-hour game, it’s totally different.”
Butt has scored three tons in his 27-Test career and two of them have come against Australia. He has been succeeding where most of his other teammates have failed over the years. Do the conditions here suit him?
“Maybe (these surfaces suit my game). Some of the shots that are my scoring shots are easier to play in Australia than they are in other places. But I haven’t played much Test cricket around the world. Out of my 27 Tests, I have played about 6 in Australia, 5-6 in Pakistan, one in England, five in India so it hasn’t been all over the world. So I can’t really compare.” |
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| Pakistan a lightweight team: Aussie journalist Roebuck |
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HOBART: Pakistan on Saturday received a vote of no-confidence from noted cricket writer Peter Roebuck, who described them as a lightweight side lacking intensity.
“Pakistan have disintegrated before our eyes. After Sydney it was always a possibility. Shattered teams are vulnerable. Moreover these tourists have shown little sign of cohesion. At times they were embarrassing. From the soft dropped catch in the first hour to the shambolic run-outs of two important batsmen, they were awful.
“No one with any respect for the giants of Pakistan cricket or any concern for a game in constant peril enjoyed watching the debacle. Australia played solid cricket, and their opponents did the rest,” Roebuck wrote in his column for the Sydney Morning Herald.
“In theory, spectators at the SCG witnessed one of the game’s most remarkable fightbacks. Yet Pakistan let their hosts off the hook with insipid tactics.
“Hobart has been much the same. Had an easy boundary catch been taken or a couple of the first morning gropes brought wickets, the Australians might have been removed cheaply,” he stressed.
Roebuck, who once captained Somerset, believes Pakistan have just wilted on this challenging tour.
“About the only thing that can safely be confirmed is that Australia remains the place that makes or breaks other teams. No side visiting these shores emerges unscathed. Strong outfits gain from the experience and leave with all the ingredients needed to raise their games. Weaker line-ups are slowly crushed.”
Roebuck had a word of praise for a young West Indian side that played here this summer before Pakistan.
“By the look of things, West Indies were strengthened by their tour. Increasingly, they played fearless cricket, exchanging blows and barbs with their opponents until the last ball was bowled. From captain to youngest player, they ended the series with reputations enhanced and confidence boosted.”
However, he offered contrasting comments about Pakistan, who are trailing the series 0-2 and seem to be danger of losing in Hobart too.
“No such optimism can be felt about a drifting Pakistan team containing some fine players but lacking the mettle required to answer this call. There is much to like about Mohammad Yousuf’s side.
Mohammad Asif is a silky seamer capable of putting together the sort of spells that were Glenn McGrath’s trademark. Umar Gul is a strong speedster with an ox’s heart. A couple of the youngsters are promising. Salman Butt is a tidy opener prone to foolish lapses.
Yousuf himself can wax lyrical with the willow. Yesterday he surely felt like kicking Butts.
“But his side is lightweight. The batsmen suffer from sketchy footwork, and slapdash strokes are the inevitable result. Although the players huddle at the start of every session, their cricket lacks intensity. Fractured nations need imposing leaders capable of patting backs and banging heads as required.
“Alas, there has not been any discernible improvement. At times, Pakistan have been chaotic.
“Yousuf’s reluctance to attack at the critical moment proves his lack of conviction. Nor can any ambitious team can drop as many catches, misfield as often or give away as many soft wickets and hope to remain intact.
“All the evidence indicates that Pakistan cricket lacks the single-mindedness and maturity needed to pursue high standards. Agendas, bickering and individuality block the path forwards. All and sundry play by their own lights,” he concluded.
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| Miandad wants to drop ‘undisciplined’ players |
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KARACHI: PCB Director General and former skipper Javed Miandad termed the team featuring in Australia as ‘undisciplined’ and said he would have sacked some of the players if he had the authority.
“If I had the authority, I would sack all those players who regularly violated the clauses of their central contracts by giving unnecessary statements that is only damaging the image of Pakistan cricket,” Miandad said on Saturday.
He further said that if he had authority he would have dropped all the undisciplined players and selected new players as the present team was only infuriating fans by displaying a series of poor performances.
“If I had my way I would drop them from the team and select new players because as this team is not winning us any matches in Australia,” he added.
The former great said the players lacked the application to do well in Test cricket. “Twenty20 has clearly damaged our cricket. When it first started, I had warned that it would damage us the most because already we have a weak domestic system to groom our players,” said Miandad, who has also coached the national team in the past.
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| We can still save this Test, says Malik |
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HOBART: Shoaib Malik is hoping to utilise his second outing to help save Pakistan in their third Test against Australia after falling short of doing that here at the Bellerive Oval on Saturday, writes Khalid Hussain.
The experienced batsman returned to form with a fighting 58 to share a fifth-wicket stand of 129 with opener Salman Butt (102) on the third day of the Test only to fall when Pakistan needed him the most.
Malik, who captained Pakistan for almost two years before getting the axe last January, got out playing a poor shot to allow his team’s first innings to fold for 301 in reply to Australia’s 519-8 declared.
“I should have stayed there longer,” Malik told ‘The News’ on Saturday. “I mean, it is still a good wicket and there was a chance for us to stay out there for around 140 overs and save this Test,” he added.
Australia decided against forcing follow-on and were 59-1 for a total lead of 277 at stumps on the fourth day.
It seems quite an uphill task for Pakistan unless wet weather, which is likely to prevail here over the next couple of days, saves them from yet another defeat.
But Malik, 27, is confident that Pakistan can still avoid a defeat here at the Bellerive without help from the weather gods.
“I think Australia would want to add around 170 more runs to the lead to take it around the 440-run mark,” he said. “For that they will have to bat till mid-day tomorrow to leave us with around 140 overs to survive. This wicket is not a very difficult one and I think we can do it.”
However, Malik admitted that the pressure of batting last on a fifth-day wicket that is expected to crack up could be a tough challenge.
“It won’t be easy,” he said. “It’s never easy to bat in the fourth innings with a huge lead piled up against you. But we will have to do it somehow and I believe that at least a couple of us guys will have to stay there at the wicket for long durations.”
When asked whether he was confident of playing such role along with Mohammad Yousuf, Pakistan’s skipper and their best batsman, Malik said he will try to give his best.
“We are the most experienced players in the side and naturally will have to perform our duty.”
Malik struck a brilliant 134 in the Colombo Test against Sri Lanka last July but flopped miserably in the first two Tests in New Zealand earlier this season. After knocks of 2, 32, 9 and 3 in Dunedin and Wellington, Malik was dropped for the third Test against the Kiwis in Napier last month and was also overlooked for the first two Tests against Australia in Melbourne and Sydney.
However, the failure of Misbah-ul-Haq to find form in those Tests forced the tour selection committee to recall Malik in the playing eleven for the Hobart Test.
“The time I spent on the sidelines has helped me focus on my batting,” he said. “I talked to our captain Yousuf about my batting because he is also our best batsman. It helped.”
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| Pakistan’ll bounce back against Aussies in ODI series |
SYDNEY: Pakistan's one-day vice captain Shahid Afridi is hoping that the team will bounce back in their limited-overs series against Australia after losing the Test series.
The flamboyant allrounder said Pakistan have the firepower to give the hosts a run for their money in the five-match ODI contest as well as the tour-ending Twenty20 International in Melbourne on Feb 5.
The one-day series will begin from January 22 in Brisbane.
Pakistan is currently trailing 0-2 in the three-match Test series and seems down and out in the third and final Test under progress in Hobart after Australia gained an overall lead of 277 runs in the first innings on the third day.
Afridi, 29, blamed lack of Test experience for Pakistan's below-par showing in the series but made it clear that Mohammad Yousuf's men are stronger in limited-overs cricket.
"There is no doubt in my mind that we are a very good one-day team. I'm confident that we will do much better in the ODIs and the Twenty20 game." Afridi said that Pakistan have a solid chance of winning the ODI series to avenge their Test defeats.
"I won't say that we are going to win the one-day series but our team definitely has the potential to do that. We will definitely be playing good cricket in the series." But he stressed that the team's senior players including himself will have to deliver to lift Pakistan's hopes in the one-day series.
"We are the ones who have to lead by example. It's always important for the senior players to perform their role but against top teams like Australia, it's just vital. You can't beat them without the senior players doing their job."
Afridi is in Adelaide with South Australia to feature in the Big Bash - Australia's domestic Twenty20 tournament. He was an instant success in the popular event and has played an important role in guiding South Australia to the final of the tournament to be held in Adelaide on Jan 23.
Afridi, however, will be missing the final as he will be joining Pakistan in Brisbane on Jan 19 ahead of the series opener there on Jan 22. |
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| Younis was called to strengthen batting: Yousuf |
HOBART: Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf is very upset for poor performance by his batsmen and said that he called for Younis Khan for strengthening team’s batting but selectors did not send him to Australia.
“Younis is a good player for the team and country. I have been saying for ages we need him. I also said that in New Zealand. You can ask the (national) selectors about why they didn’t pick him” Yousuf said here.
Yousuf had urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to rush Younis to Australia after the team’s batting flopped in the opening Test against the Aussies in Melbourne last month. But the national selection committee made it clear that it will only pick Younis once he proves his form on the domestic circuit.
“We don’t need to check him in first-class cricket,” said Yousuf. “He has an average of 50 in Tests and has been playing well for 10 years. We have to see him here, not there,” he said.
While the Pakistani selectors decided against rushing Younis to Australia for the Sydney and Hobart Tests, they have recalled the former captain for the one-day series that will begin from Jan 22 in Brisbane. |
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| Aussies take overall lead of 277 runs against Pakistan |
HOBART: Australia tightened the grip on the third Test as Pakistan were all out for 301 runs and failed to avoid the follow-on the third day here at Bellerive Oval on Saturday.
However, Australian captain Ricky Ponting did not force the follow-on and decided to bat in the second innings after gaining a big lead of 218 runs in the first.
Mohammed Asif and Umer Gul – two Pakistani tail enders resisted for long and succeeded to build up a valuable 53-run tenth wicket partnership before Asif was dismissed as Pakistan needed 19 runs more to avoid the follow-on.
Australia, not forcing the follow-on, went on to play the second innings and lost an early wicket for only one run on the board when fast bowler Mohammad Aamer got Shane Watson out caught at slip by Mohammad Yousuf for one.
At stumps, Australia were 59 for one with Simon Katich and Ponting batting on 33 and 25 respectively.
They have so far gained a huge lead of 277 runs with two days remaining for going for a possible whitewash against Pakistan.
Earlier, opener Salman Butt and allrounder Shoaib Malik resumed the Pakistan’s first innings at 84-4 with their overnight scores of 34 and four, respectively.
Both batsmen batted with responsibility and survived the first session, adding 64 runs in two hours, and Pakistan were 158-4 at lunch. Butt was on 74 and Malik on 28.
After lunch, the two batsmen played with more confidence and took the score to 200.
Then Salman Butt completed his third Test century, the first by a Pakistani batsman in the current series, off 230 balls with 17 fours.
Ponting on that occasion introduced part-time bowler Simon Katich who dismissed Salman Butt, caught behind by Brad Haddin for 102.
Butt and Malik added 129 runs for the fifth wicket partnership.
Katich then dismissed debutant wicketkeeper batsman Sarfraz Ahmed for one and Aamer for four to claim three wickets for 34 runs in 10 overs. Danish Kaneria was also removed by Nathan Haurritz for eight.
Pakistan were tottering at 248-8 when Gul and Asif provided resistance to Australian bowlers and took the score to 297-9 at tea. |
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| Pakistan 301 all out, 218 runs behind Australia |
HOBART: Pakistan were 301 all out and failed to avoid follow-on in their first innings of the third Test match here at Hobart on Saturday, Geo news reported.
Mohammed Asif and Umer Gul – two Pakistani tail enders resisted for long and succeeded to build up 53-run partnership and remained only 19 runs short to avoid follow on.
But Australia did not avail follow-on chance and have commenced their second innings with 218-run first inning lead. |
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| Pakistan last pair struggling to avoid follow-on |
HOBART: Pakistan’s last pair of Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif are struggling hard to avoid the follow-on, an uphill task for tail-enders, here at Bellerive Oval on Saturday.
Pakistan are tottering at 297 for nine at tea on the third day of the third and final Test against Australia with Gul and Asif batting on 37 and 27, respectively.
Both tail-enders added 49 valuable runs for an unbeaten tenth wicket partnership.
Earlier, opener Salman Butt and allrounder Shoaib Malik resumed the Pakistan’s first innings at 84-4 with their overnight scores of 34 and four, respectively.
Both batsmen batted with responsibility and survived the first session, adding 64 runs in two hours, and Pakistan were 158-4 at lunch. Butt was on 74 and Malik on 28.
After lunch, the two batsmen played with more confidence and took the score to 200.
Then Salman Butt completed his third Test century, the first by a Pakistani batsman in the current series, off 230 balls with 17 fours.
However, he departed soon making 102, after adding 129 runs for the fifth wicket partnership.
Soon after Salman's departure, Pakistan were in trouble again losing four more wickets for 35 runs and Pakistan were reeling at 248-8. |
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| Pakistan 158-4 at lunch day 3 |
HOBART: Pakistan were 158 for 4 at lunch on day 3 in third Test match against Australia here at Hobart on Saturday, Geo news reported.
Two Pakistani batsmen opener Salman Butt struck watchful 74 and steady Shoaib Malik was playing on 28 not out. |
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| Pakistan self-destruct with two run-outs |
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HOBART: Pakistan were left with a mountain to climb after Ricky Ponting struck his fifth double century and Michael Clarke hit a career-best 166 to propel Australia to 519-8 declared on the second day of the third and final Test here at the Bellerive Oval on Friday.
As if a record 352-run stand between Ponting and Clarke was not enough, Pakistan scored a couple of own goals at the closing stages of the game to shoot themselves down from 63-0 to 94-4 at stumps.
Salman Butt ended the day unbeaten at 34 from 99 balls but he emerged as the villain for Pakistan after getting involved in the run-outs of his captain Mohammad Yousuf (7) and the in-form Umar Akmal (8).
At stumps, the tourists were 425 runs behind and facing a tough challenge of saving this Test over the next few days and avoid their 12th consecutive defeat at the hands of the Aussies.
It was the same old story for Pakistan, who have no one else but themselves to blame.
If Mohammad Aamer made the mistake of the day on Thursday by dropping Ricky Ponting on nought, Yousuf’s run-out came as second day’s lowest point for the visitors.
Yousuf, Pakistan’s key man in this Test and perhaps the only one capable of saving it, seemed to be settling down for a big knock on what is a flat wicket.
He had taken 23 balls to reach seven when he drove Doug Bollinger through mid-off and thought he could get three. But Butt said no to his call for the third run even as Yousuf kept running for it and was halfway down the pitch before finally deciding to retreat. But a good throw from Mitchell Johnson from deep mid-off went straight to Haddin and the ‘keeper made no mistake.
That was not all. Butt had a role in another run-out just four overs later when Umar went back in similar fashion.
Umar, who had warmed up with two fours in a Johnson over, pushed Nathan Hauritz to mid-off and raced for a single only to see Butt glued at the other end. The youngster tried to dash back but a Peter Siddle throw was converted into yet another dismissal by Haddin.
Pakistan were gasping at 84-4 and hoping for a miracle to avoid yet another 3-0 whitewash against the Aussies.
They could have been better off after racing to 63-0 in the 23 overs but Imran Farhat and Khurram Manzoor just threw away their wickets, both falling to Siddle while playing poor shots.
Farhat, who seemed in fine nick as he cruised to 38 off 68 balls, nicked one to Haddin while Khurram (0) survived just fours balls before flashing at a delivery outside his off stump only to edge it straight to Ponting in the second slip.
Butt and Shoaib (Malik) then batted out the last 15 balls as Pakistan ended yet another day on a frustrating note.
Earlier, Ponting and Clarke almost batted Pakistan out of the Test by sharing a 352-run stand for the fourth wicket.
The duo did it with an enviable ease. It is the biggest fourth-wicket partnership by an Australian pair on home soil and eclipses the 336-run stand between Bill Lawry and Doug Walters against the West Indies in Sydney in 1968-69. The highest fourth-wicket stand for Australia anywhere in the world is the 388 put on by Bill Ponsford and Don Bradman at Headingley on the 1934 Ashes tour.
Resuming their innings at 302-3, the hosts just cruised to 393 at lunch with both Ponting and Clarke in sublime form.
The only time the visitors came close to breaking the partnership in the first session was when Clarke survived an anxious moment on 113 when Umar Gul was convinced of an edge and used Pakistan’s last referral for the innings by challenging Rudi Koertzen’s not-out decision. Koertzen’s call was upheld by the TV umpire when Hot Spot presented no evidence of a bottom edge even though there was a noise.
Ponting, meanwhile, was back to his brilliant best. He cut, drove and pulled with supreme confidence and was particularly harsh on Danish Kaneria. But the leggie did come close to scalping the Aussie skipper, who drove him through the covers where Imran Farhat was unable to catch it.
Ponting, who was then at 167, raced to his first double hundred in five years with a superb cover drive off Kaneria and then raised his bat to an adoring home crowd that included his father, mother and sister. It was his first double hundred at the Bellerive Oval and came off 342 balls with 25 fours.
But before that, Pakistan took their first wicket in almost 102 overs when Kaneria bowled Clarke but only after the Australian vice-captain had reached a career-best 166. It surpassed his previous best of 151 on debut back in 2004 in Bangalore.
Ponting was the next man to go when he spooned a catch to Yousuf off the bowling of Aamer.
Brad Haddin then smashed a whirlwind 41 off just 34 balls with five fours and a six, adding 55 off 56 balls for the sixth wicket with Marcus North (21). Haddin miscued an attempted big hit off the bowling of Kaneria to Gul at deep mid-on before North fell to Asif, edging him to gloveman Sarfraz Ahmed.
Johnson and Nathan Hauritz added 20 more runs in three overs as the Aussies tried to step up on the gas. The fall of Johnson, who gave debutant Sarfraz his third catch of the innings, forced Ponting to declare at the stroke of tea.
Kaneria was Pakistan’s most successful bowler though his figures of 3-189 from 15.2 overs hardly look impressive. The tall legspinner was unable to trouble the Aussies much and got his first wicket after having conceded 124 runs from 33 overs.
Score board
Australi won toss
Australia 1st innings
S R Watson c Imran Farhat b Gul 29
S M Katich lbw b Asif 11
*R T Ponting c Yousuf b Aamer 209
M E K Hussey c Sarfraz b Aamer 6
M J Clarke b Kaneria 166
M J North c Sarfraz b Asif 21
†B J Haddin c Gul b Kaneria 41
M G Johnson c Sarfraz b Kaneria 8
N M Hauritz not out 12
Extras (b1, lb3, w5, nb7) 16
Total (8 wickets dec, 142.5 overs) 519
Did not bat: P M Siddle, D E Bollinger
Fall: 1-28, 2-52, 3-71, 4-423, 5-443, 6-498, 7-499, 8-519
Bowling: Mohammad Asif 36-8-104-2; Mohammad Aamer 31-7-97-2 (2nb, 5w); Umar Gul 25-4-98-1 (4nb); Danish Kaneria 42.5-2-189-3; Shoaib Malik 8-0-27-0 (1nb);
Pakistan 1st innings
Imran Farhat c Haddin b Siddle 38
Salman Butt not out 34
Khurram Manzoor c Ponting b Siddle 0
*Mohammad Yousuf run out (Johnson/Haddin) 7
Umar Akmal run out (Hussey/Haddin) 8
Shoaib Malik not out 4
Extras (b1, w1, nb1) 3
Total (4 wickets, 36 overs) 94
To bat: †Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif
Fall: 1-63, 2-63, 3-74, 4-84
Bowling: Bollinger 6-2-13-0 (1w); Siddle 10-3-20-2; Johnson 7-1-32-0; Hauritz 13-4-28-0 (1nb)
Test debut: Sarfraz Ahmed (Pakistan)
Umpires: E A R de Silva (Sri Lanka) and R E Koertzen (South Africa). TV umpire: B R Doctrove (West Indies). Match referee: R S Madugalle (Sri Lanka)
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| Captain takes a swipe at ‘lazy’ Salman Butt |
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HOBART: Mohammad Yousuf on Friday labelled Salman Butt as a ‘lazy runner’ and also accused him of selfishness after the Pakistan opener was involved in two run-outs, leaving the tourists in neck-deep trouble at the end of the second day of their third Test against Australia.
“(There were) easy three runs there (but) if somebody is not coming out of box, what can I do or anyone can do? He (Butt) must come out, or shout that he doesn’t want to come. Not like this.
“We are not playing for self, we are playing for country. I am 35 years old and if I can get three runs, he is 25 years old, why can’t he take the runs? We both fielded for the same 140 overs. We play for country here not for self,” said Yousuf after Pakistan ended the second day at 94-4 in reply of Australia’s 519-8 declared.
Butt ignored Yousuf’s call as the Pakistan captain ran for a third run and fell way short after being forced to retreat.
Just ten runs later, Umar Akmal was ran out after Butt ignored his call for a single, leaving Pakistan at 84-4.
Yousuf believes that it was again Butt’s fault again. “He is a little lazy runner everybody knows that,” said Yousuf.
However, he decided against saying anything to the batsman in the dressing room at the end of the day’s play since he is still unbeaten.
“It’s not good to talk to him straight away after he comes back because we are still playing and are still not out of the match. Maybe they (Butt and Shoaib Malik) both will play till tomorrow evening.”
Yousuf said that Pakistan will try to boost Butt’s confidence. “We will try to lift him so that he can play the whole day tomorrow.”
Yousuf, who took his time before heading back to the dressing room after his dismissal, said that he was wondering why a 25-year-old can’t go for a third run.
“I just stopped, not saying anything, just very sad because he (Butt) is 25 and he can’t run. That is why I was standing there but I cannot say anything to him. I can only back him to play a long innings. On a flat wicket, two run-outs are very disappointing.”
Yousuf conceded that it was now difficult for Pakistan to save this Test. “It is tough. But it is a very flat wicket and if we played for the country and try to survive sessions instead of going for runs maybe we can save the game.”
Yousuf believes that his bowlers who conceded too many runs were also responsible. “When you lose, it is because every discipline goes bad. Bowlers have also given 500 runs.”
But Yousuf defended his legspinner Danish Kaneria who gave away 189 runs for his three wickets.
“If Danish bowls so many overs he will give away runs. Leggies are wicket-taking bowlers not containers. There is nothing in the pitch for him here.”
It is quite a batting paradise here at the Bellerive Oval and there was a big chance that Yousuf could have scored a big one here. “I can’t say about runs but the plan was to bat long on this pitch. This match can be saved. It is difficult but not impossible. We cannot give up on it.”
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| Afridi confident tourists will do better in ODIs |
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HOBART: Shahid Afridi is confident of a reversal in Pakistan’s fortunes in their limited-overs series against Australia getting underway from January 22 in Brisbane, writes Khalid Hussain.
The Pakistan vice-captain told ‘The News’ in a telephonic interview from Adelaide on Friday that the tourists have the firepower to bounce back from their Test series defeat and give the hosts a run for their money in the five-match ODI contest as well as the tour-ending Twenty20 International in Melbourne on February 5.
Pakistan are currently trailing 0-2 in the threep-Test series and seem unlikely to win the third one either as Australia were in complete control of the match on the second day on Friday with skipper Ricky Ponting smashing 209.
Afridi, 29, blamed lack of Test experience for Pakistan’s below-par showing in the series but made it clear that Mohammad Yousuf’s men are stronger in limited-overs cricket.
“The problem is that in this (Test) team most of them are one-day players,” said Afridi. “There is no doubt in my mind that we are a very good one-day team. I’m confident that we will do much better in the ODIs and the Twenty20 game.”
Afridi said that Pakistan have a solid chance of winning the ODI series to avenge their Test defeats. “I won’t say that we are going to win the one-day series but our team definitely has the potential to do that. We will definitely be playing good cricket in the series.”
But he stressed that the team’s senior players including himself will have to deliver to lift Pakistan’s hopes in the one-day series.
“We are the ones who have to lead by example. It’s always important for the senior players to perform their role but against top teams like Australia, it’s just vital. You can’t beat them without the senior players doing their job.”
Afridi is in Adelaide with South Australia to feature in the Big Bash — Australia’s domestic Twenty20 tournament. He was an instant success in the popular event and has played an important role in guiding South Australia to the final of the tournament to be held in Adelaide on January 23.
Afridi, however, will be missing the final as he will be joining Pakistan in Brisbane on January 19 ahead of the series opener there on January 22.
Will he miss playing the eagerly-awaited Big Bash final?
“Not really,” he said. “I mean for me playing for Pakistan is the ultimate thing and I hope to play my role in the one-day series.”
Afridi, however, will be featuring in Redbacks’ preliminary match of the event against New South Wales at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium on Sunday (tomorrow) night.
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| Don’t expect miracles from us: Yousuf |
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HOBART: Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf declared on Friday that people should stop expecting his below-par and inexperienced teams to perform miracles at the Test arena.
“If you expect something of this side, then maybe that is the wrong expectation. You have to see where we are playing, which team we are playing. You should keep that in mind. Our team doesn’t have many world class players. Most of the batsmen average below 30. Then how can you expect them to come here and beat top teams like Australia,” said Yousuf.
Yousuf’s Pakistan are trailing 0-2 in the series and it seems that only rain can save them in the third and final Test in Hobart.
But Yousuf was quick to point out that in the past Pakistan have lost by 0-3 margins here even with stronger teams with big names like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. He said that at least Pakistan came close to beating Australia in Sydney last week.
“Over the years, many teams came here from Pakistan and big players but nobody performed like the way we did here. Obviously we lost the series but at least we came close to winning (in Sydney). We have a young team without any big players but they are trying and I appreciate it. I think people should also appreciate that.”
Yousuf said that chronic problems like poor catching will need long term measures. “People who are involved in first-class cricket, coaches and everyone should look at what they are doing in domestic cricket. This is not the stage to learn cricket.”
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| Bellerive Oval in strict crowd control |
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HOBART: The Bellerive Oval has seldom seen the sort of strict security measures that are in place for the ongoing third Test match between Pakistan and Australia.
Plainclothes police and security staff are monitoring the crowd at the picturesque ground where the spectators have been asked to behave or get ready to go behind bars.
The police and security staff are looking for racial vilification and over-indulging in alcohol, while beach balls will be deflated and Mexican wave instigators will be ejected and banned for life, according to reports in the local media.
Cricket Tasmania and Cricket Australia have announced that these measures are in place to ensure everyone has a good time at the Hobart Test which got underway on Thursday.
There are 25 police officers and 25 security staff inside the ground keeping a close eye on the crowd, with more traffic police and other officers outside Tasmania’s international cricket venue.
Officials have earned that there will be no warnings for anyone caught racially vilifying any player or patron.
“You are actually arrested,” said an official.
“From the last international here, a patron was successfully charged and convicted for racial vilification. He went right through the system and was found guilty.
“Cricket Australia is very strong on it, Cricket Tasmania is strong on it and there is zero tolerance in that respect,” he added.
Cricket Tasmania chief executive David Johnston said that around 8,000 fans turned up at the Bellerive Oval for the opening day. He hoped that the ground record of 29,186 set in 2005 against the West Indies for the entire Test will be surpassed in the ongoing match.
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| Skipper reiterates Younis’ need |
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HOBART: Just before the start of the Sydney Test when Mohammad Yousuf was asked about the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision not to heed his SOS call for the inclusion of experienced batsman Younis Khan in the touring party, the Pakistan captain had shrugged his shoulders and said that it wasn’t his call.
But both his tone and his answer were different when he was asked the same question again here at the Bellerive Oval on Friday with Pakistan’s batting line once again in tatters.
“Younis is a good player for the team and country. I have been saying for ages we need him. I also said that in New Zealand. You can ask the (national) selectors about why they didn’t pick him?” he said.
Yousuf has urged the PCB to rush Younis to Australia after Pakistan’s batting flopped in the opening Test in Melbourne last month. But the national selection committee made it clear that it will only pick Younis once he proves his form on the domestic circuit. “We don’t need to check him in first-class cricket,” said Yousuf. “He has a average of fifty in Tests and has been playing well for ten years. We have to see him here, not there.”
Yousuf was also unhappy with the suggestions coming from various quarters for the inclusion of youngsters in the national team.
“I don’t understand all this noise about having youngsters. I mean if he is good then its okay. Umar Akmal and Aamer, they are good — can they be dropped? But if you force it then what is the point? Why the rush to kick out older players? Is there anyone to replace them? Bring someone new then replace the old ones.” |
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| Ponting’s double ton his best at Bellerive |
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HOBART: Australian captain Ricky Ponting has scored his fifth and the first double Test century at Bellerive Oval here on Friday.
The captain batted for just under nine hours to post 209 runs.
Vice-captain Michael Clarke could not be there for him having fallen on 166, but waited outside the dressing room door for Ponting as he walked off the ground to a standing ovation.
Ponting’s mother, father and sister were on hand to witness the innings which began with him dropped from the fourth ball of his innings yesterday.
The Australian captain was recently nominated as player of the decade but had been in a rare barren patch. He had not scored three figures for nine Tests.
Ponting scored 25 bounadries in his marathon innings before chasing a wide ball and offering a simple catch to Pakistani captain Mohammad Yousuf off the bowling of Mohammad Aamer when on 209, midway through the second session of the second day of the third and final Test.
Ponting brought up his double hundred driving Kaneria through a gap in the covers and then raised his bat to an adoring crowd , including his parents, at his home ground.
“This is the seventh Test we’ve been to and he’s played 142,” Ponting’s father Graeme said.
“That’s not many.
“It was special to be here when something like that takes place. We were at his first one when he was given out on 96 and that was no fun. And we’ve been there when he got a century (in his 100th), but today was very special.”
Clarke fell asleep and was bowled by Danish Kaneria earlier. He would dearly loved to have been there when his captain got the double ton and wouldn’t mind one for his own mantelpiece.
The union had been fruitful for both. Not only had they rescued the team, they had rediscovered their own form.
Both had battled through tough periods. In Clarke’s case it was the ball outside off, in Ponting’s it was the short ball.
Clarke could not stop grinning as they both walked off with unbeaten centuries on Thursday.
“(It was) I guess an opportunity to spend some more time with the skipper in the middle, we haven’t batted too much throughout this summer together and I really enjoyed it,” he said.
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| Pakistan in trouble after sound start in third Test |
HOBART: After a solid opening stand of 63 runs, Pakistan lost four quick wickets and were reeling on 94 for four at stumps on second day of the third and final Test match here at Bellerive Oval on Friday.
Openers Imran Farhat and Salman Butt, both left-handers, were looking set to challenge Australia's formidable total of 519 for eight declared.
However, paceman Peter Siddle made a breakthrough, claiming two wickets in four balls to put Australia on top. He claimed Imran Farhat caught behind by Brad Haddin for 38. It was Haddin's 100th dismissal in Test cricket.
Just four balls later, Siddle dismissed Khurram Manzoo dismissed for a duck, caught by Ricky Ponting at second slip to be.
Later, two run outs put Pakistan into deep trouble. First captain Mohammad Yousuf was out taking third run from his off-drive and then young Umar Akmal was also runout. Yousuf made seven and Umar got eight with the help of two fours in an over.
However, opener Salman Butt still holds one end making a patient 34 while Shoaib Malik batting on four when the second day’s play ended.
Earlier, captain Ricky Ponting declared Australia’s first innings at 519 runs for eight wickets at tea after resuming at 302 for three this morning.
Ponting and his deputy Michael Clarke continued to put Pakistan's bowlers to the sword to add further 91 runs during the first session.
In the process both players reached the 150 mark as Ponting went to lunch not out on 180 - his highest score at his beloved home ground surpassing the 157 he scored against New Zealand in 2001 - while Clarke was unbeaten on 153.
Pakistan again missed a chance to get rid of Ponting with another dropped catch - taking its total number of missed chances in the series to 15 - as Australia had all but batted the tourists out of the game by lunch having reached 3-393.
Ponting however ccompleted his fifth Test double hundred before his partner departed on 166, bowled by leg-spinner Danish Kaneria. The pair made 352 runs for a record fourth wicket partnership.
Later, Ponting also went on 209, caught by captain Mohammad Yousuf off fast bowler Mohammad Aamer.
Then wicketkeeper batsman Brad Haddin and middle-order batsman Marcus North made together 55 runs before Haddin was caught by Umar Gul off Kaneria for 41 and one run later, North also went for 21, caught by wicketkeeper Sarfraz off Mohammad Asif.
The declaration came as soon Mitchell Johnson was caught behind off Kaneria for eight. |
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| Australia declare 1st innings at 519-8 against Pakistan |
HOBART: Captain Ricky Ponting has declared Australia’s first innings at 519 runs for eight wickets at tea on second day of the third and final Test against Pakistan here at the Bellerive Oval on Friday.
Resuming at 302 for three this morning, Ponting and his deputy Michael Clarke already completing their individual hundreds continued to put Pakistan's bowlers to the sword to add further 91 runs during the first session.
In the process both players reached the 150 mark as Ponting went to lunch not out on 180 - his highest score at his beloved home ground surpassing the 157 he scored against New Zealand in 2001 - while Clarke was unbeaten on 153.
Pakistan again missed a chance to get rid of Ponting with another dropped catch - taking its total number of missed chances in the series to 15 - as Australia had all but batted the tourists out of the game by lunch having reached 3-393.
Ponting however succeeded in reaching his fifth Test double hundred after his partner departed on 166, bowled by leg-spinner Danish Kaneria. The pair made 352 runs for the fourth wicket partnership.
Later, Ponting also went on 209, caught by captain Mohammad Yousuf off fast bowler Mohammad Aamer.
Then wicketkeeper batsman Brad Haddin and middle-order batsman Marcus North made together 55 runs before Haddin was caught by Umar Gul off Kaneria for 41 and one run later, North also went for 21, caught by wicketkeeper Sarfraz off Mohammad Asif.
The declaration came as Mitchell Johnson was caught behind off Kaneria for eight. |
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| Aussies onslaught continues against Pakistan second day |
HOBART: Australia captain Ricky Ponting and his deputy Michael Clarke were closing in on history as the pair continued to put Pakistan's bowlers to the sword on day two of the third Test at Bellerive Oval.
And yet again Pakistan missed a chance to get rid of Ponting with another dropped catch - taking its total number of missed chances in the series to 15 - as Australia had all but batted the tourists out of the game by lunch on day two having reached 3-393.
The pair added 91 runs in the 27 overs of the morning session, with no loss of wicket.
In the process both players reached the 150 mark as Ponting went to lunch not out on 180 - his highest score at his beloved home ground surpassing the 157 he scored against New Zealand in 2001 - while Clarke was unbeaten on 153.
Ricky Ponting is looking set for a double ton after completing his 39th Test hundred in his 142nd Test. |
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| I thought it was all over: Aussie skipper |
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HOBART: Ricky Ponting was already thinking about having a long day in the change-room when he scooped a Mohammad Asif delivery straight to Mohammad Aamer at deep fine leg here at the Bellerive Oval on Thursday.
But the 17-year-old floored an easy catch and now the Australia captain is still unbeaten on 137 in the third Test.
“I was thinking about having a long day in the change-rooms, actually, with not much to do, what paper I was going to read. It was a bit like that, wasn’t it? When you hit one like that it just feels like it hangs in the air forever. It was probably too easy a catch, actually, he didn’t have to move at all, didn’t have to take a step. Thankfully he put it down, gave me another opportunity and 70 or 80 overs later I’m still out there,” said Ponting.
Ponting struggled with the pull shot throughout his knock but refused to give it up, raising question as to whether he was trying to make a point. “It’s always just been one of the shots that I’ve naturally played. Pup (Michael Clarke) asked me tonight if I’d thought about not playing it, and I can’t. It’s just an instinctive sort of thing.”
At that time Clarke — seated next to Ponting at the press conference — interjected: “I told him to retire if he stopped it. Never stop playing it. It’s got him 6000 Test runs — one shot.”
Ponting added: “I don’t look at it as being a statement. It’s just one of those shots that comes more natural to me than it does to most. It’s a lot to do with the way I pick the bat up and the way my foot movements are, is the reason I play the shot as much and as often as I do.
“Today I struggled with it early on because I wasn’t watching the ball closely enough and the wicket being a bit on the slow side and the ball holding in the surface a little bit; it was even harder to play those shots early on today.
As you can see today, the longer I stayed out there the more of those I started to hit in the middle and picked up a few boundaries late in the day with it, so it looks like I’ll continue to play it.”
Ponting, who kissed his helmet for the first time, after reaching his 39th ton in front of around 8000 home fans, said that it was a memorable innings for him.
“I haven’t done it (kissed the helmet) before. It’s the first time today, because it meant a lot to me today, to battle away the way that I did and then get through and make a hundred in front of my home crowd.
“My parents and my sister and everyone is down here as well, watching the game, so they would’ve had some anxious and nervous moments early on through my innings today.
“It does mean a lot to me to come back here and even just to play in Tasmania. But to make a hundred — I think that’s my third international hundred down here — a Test hundred against New Zealand and a one-day hundred against New Zealand as well ... today meant a lot to me.” |
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| Tourists continue to rue poor catching |
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HOBART: When Mohammad Aamer dropped Ricky Ponting for a duck on the first morning of the third Test here on Thursday, he almost ended Pakistan’s hopes of recording a consolation win in the series-ending match.
The Australian skipper made the most of the opportunity and was batting at 137 at stumps, having shared an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 231 with his vice-captain Michael Clarke (111).
“It was a bad drop,” said Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam. “It was a vital catch, an easy one,” he stressed fully aware that Ponting’s fighting knock has made it really tough for Pakistan to stage a comeback.
Fielding has been Pakistan’ Achilles heals on the twin tour of New Zealand and Australia. They dropped ten catches in New Zealand where they barely managed to draw the three-match test series 1-1 against an average Kiwi side.
Pakistan’s fielding got worst after they arrived in Australia and have so far dropped 14 catches in this series. According to an estimate, those howlers have made Pakistan concede a grand total of 551 runs as beneficiaries like Shane Watson, Mike Hussey and Ponting have made the most of them.
Intikhab’s team has also been blamed for its fragile batting but the wily coach believes that it’s their poor fielding that have let Pakistan down in Australia.
“I will not blame our batting,” he said. “It’s the fielding that’s ruining us, especially the catching. Our biggest problem is poor catching.”
Intikhab said that, along with fellow coaches Waqar Younis and Aaqib Javed, he has tried every possible way to help the players improve their fielding. “We’ve tried everything. But the problem is that you can’ teach them these things overnight.”
Intikhab, however, made it clear that the appointment of a specialist fielding coach won’t serve any purpose. “Even a specialist fielding coach cannot do anything,” he stressed. |
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| We need big knocks from senior players: Intikhab |
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HOBART: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam declared on Thursday that a couple of big knocks from his senior batsmen can bring the tourists back in contention to win their third and final Test against Australia here.
Intikhab agreed that Australia have batted themselves in a strong position after reaching 302-3 on the first day but was quick to add that his team’s hopes of winning the Test were still very much alive.
“It’s far from over,” he said. “There are still four more days to go in this Test. It’s quite a flat wicket and I’m confident we will also score some runs here. What we need is a couple of big knocks from our senior players and then anything can happen.”
Pakistan are already trailing 0-2 in the three-match series and are looking to avoid their fourth consecutive 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Australia here.
Intikhab predicted that the Bellerive Oval wicket will start cracking up on the third day and might pose some problems for the batters on the fourth and fifth days.
Commenting on the first day’s play, Intikhab rejected the impression that Pakistan became too defensive in the post-lunch session.
“We were just trying out different things. (Danish) Kaneria was brought in but he was unable to bowl well in the beginning.”
The coach ended doubts about the fitness of young pacer Mohammad Aamer, saying that he is a 100 per cent fit.
“Nothing’s wrong with him. He was having a problem with his boots. His big toe was hurting him so we made a hole in his shoe and he was okay.”
Pakistan didn’t use Aamer in the second session but Intikhab said that it was done just to keep him ëfresh’.
Intikhab said that his bowlers were unable to give a consistent showing. “We bowled well in patches, before tea we didn’t bowl well at all. They got on top. After tea, half an hour again we had a problem. Then Kaneria was switched ends and settled down. It is a very good batting track. I haven’t seen a wicket like this. It was quite different when we last came here for the tour match (last month).” |
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| Australia to go with T20 stars for first ODI |
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SYDNEY: In a further concession to the Twenty20 game, Australia’s selectors have made the rare decision to consider the state’s prospects in the Big Bash for the opening one-day internationals against Pakistan.
Andrew Hilditch, the panel chairman, has chosen trim 12-man squads for the first match in Brisbane next Friday and the second one in Sydney the following Sunday, while trying “to ensure as many players are available” for the two finals of the local competition.
Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia are attempting to join South Australia as qualifiers for the $12m Champions League Twenty20 in India later in the year. Hilditch insisted the national squads were chosen “whilst not compromising the performance and preparation of the Australian team”.
In previous campaigns Australia have carried around larger squads of 13 or 14 for the ODI series and refused to release anyone for domestic duty. There was anger from the states last year when the ODIs were made unavailable by Cricket Australia for the Big Bash preliminary final. However, all players not involved in the Hobart Test have been cleared to appear in the game on Tuesday, which will give the winner a place in the decider against South Australia on January 23.
Mitchell Johnson has been rested from the first three ODIs while Queensland’s James Hopes is in for the Brisbane opener before being replaced by Western Australia’s Adam Voges for the second fixture.
“This selection has been made with a view to ensuring we have flexibility within the squad of 12 players to accommodate the different conditions at each venue,” Hilditch said.
Johnson has appeared in all six Tests of the local summer and will be needed to guide Australia over a gruelling campaign that takes in series against Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand on the way to the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies.
Mitchell Johnson will rejoin the national squad in Perth for the final matches of the five-game one-day series against Pakistan on January 29 and 31.
Australia squad: Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), James Hopes (for Brisbane), Adam Voges (for Sydney), Nathan Hauritz, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger.
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| Kamran Akmal working out comeback plan |
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HOBART: Kamran Akmal may have been unhappy with the team management’s decision to sack him for the third Test against Australia but the Pakistan vice-captain is slowly getting over it.
Sources in the Pakistan team told this correspondent on Thursday that the embattled gloveman sulked for days before finally managing to get into a more positive frame of mind on Wednesday when it was officially announced that Sarfraz Ahmed will replace him in the playing eleven for the final Test here at the Bellerive Oval.
To make Kamran feel better, Mohammad Yousuf announced a day before the start of the third Test that the wicketkeeper has been rested rather than dropped and hoped that he would return soon.
Kamran, it seems, has decided to work hard for a successful comeback as he spent a lot of time with his Australian counterpart Brad Haddin on the first morning of the third Test when Australia were batting after having won the toss.
Television footage showed Haddin and Kamran in deep discussion near the players’ dressing rooms.
Haddin, who took a stunning catch to send Salman Butt back in Sydney, offered help to Kamran after the second Test in which the Pakistani dropped three sitters besides wasting a run-out opportunity.
Haddin, in fact, hoped that Kamran would play in the Hobart Test. “We’ve all had those days and it feels just like quicksand,” Haddin said in an interview on Wednesday.
“It feels like you can’t fight your way out of it, but it’s a new Test match and it gives you a couple of days to get away from the game and have a think about what happened.
“ ... He’s played 50 Tests, so he’s a quality international cricketer and I would be surprised if he didn’t come out all guns blazing in this Test match.”
But Pakistani officials were not so sure. They opted for Sarfraz, who was rushed to Australia immediately after Pakistan lost the Sydney Test.
However, Kamran is unlikely to stay out of the team for long as Pakistan are expected to recall him for the one-day series against Australia that gets underway in January 22 in Brisbane.
Kamran is regarded as an explosive one-day batsman which is why he is likely to preferred over the 22-year-old Sarfraz.
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| Australia name two squads for opening two ODIs against Pakistan |
SYDNEY: Cricket Australia have named two separate 12-man squads for the two opening matches of the one-day international series with Pakistan, with Mitchell Johnson being rested.
Ricky Ponting will lead the team in both matches to be played at the Gabba on January 22, at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 24.
Selectors opted to give fast bowler Johnson a break on the back of his heavy workload through back-to-back three-match Test series against West Indies and Pakistan.
"Mitchell Johnson is having his workload managed for the first three matches of the Commonwealth Bank Series and will rejoin the squad in time for the two ODIs against Pakistan in Perth," Hilditch said.
Queensland all-rounder James Hopes was named to play in the opening game on his home ground with Western Australia's Adam Voges coming into the squad for the second match
"James Hopes has been selected for the Brisbane match with Adam Voges replacing him for Sydney. This selection has been made with a view to ensuring we have flexibility within the squad of 12 players to accommodate the different conditions at each venue," Hildich said.
Hilditch said the squads were chosen so as many players as possible were available for the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash domestic tournament preliminary final and final.
Hildich also said "not compromising the performance and preparation of the Australian team" was a priority.
Team for first match: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vc), Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, Mike Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay
Peter Siddle, Shane Watson, Cameron White.
Team for second match: Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke (vc), Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Mike Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White. |
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| Ponting, Clarke tons take Australia to 302-3 against Pakistan |
HOBART: Australian batsmen dominated the first day’s play after losing three early wickets in the third and the final Test here at the Bellerive Oval on Thursday.
Captain Ricky Ponting and middle-order batsman Michael Clarke cracked hundreds to take Australia to a formidable 302-3 after losing three early wickets for 71 runs.
Both batsmen added 231 runs for an unbeaten fourth wicket partnership.
At stumps, Ponting was batting on 137 while Clarke remained not out on 111 and they cracked 17 and 11 boundaries, respectively.
Both are celebrating a welcome return to form after weathering difficult summers and an indifferent start to their innings.
The Australian captain had yet to score when he was dropped on the boundary by Mohammad Aamer off the bowling of Mohammad Asif in the first session.
Clarke lunged and missed repeatedly at Asif outside off stump early in his innings but could not get an edge and managed to play himself into form the day went on.
Asif trapped Simon Katich (11) in front with the score on 28, but his extended appeal was turned down by umpire Asoka de Silva. However, he gave him out after the Pakistanis asked for a review and were successful.
Watson (29) was caught at point by Imran Farhat from the bowling of Umar Gul (1-36) with the score on 52.
Aamer made up for his dropped catch by having Michael Hussey (6) caught by debutant wicket keeper Sarfraz Ahmed and Australia were struggling at 3-71.
Earlier the captain had won the toss and chose to bat on a wicket that had some life in it.
Pakistan made four changes, bringing in Sarfraz, Aamer, Shoaib Malik and Khurram Manzoor in place of Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Misbah-ul-Haq, respectively while Australia brought Simon Katich back from injury.
Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger. 12th man: Clint McKay.
Pakistan: Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Khurram Manzoor, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria. 12th man: Faisal Iqbal. |
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| Ponting, Clarke consolidate Aussie position against Pakistan |
HOBART: Captain Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, taking Australia out of trouble at 71-3 to 192-3 at tea, consolidated the team’s position on the first day in the third and the final Teat against Pakistan here at Bellerive Oval on Thursday.
They added 121 runs for the unbeaten fourth wicket partnership and batting on 84 and 59, respectively. Ponting hit 10 fours and Clarke four boundaries in their innings. Both are celebrating a welcome return to form after weathering difficult summers and an indifferent start to their innings.
The Australian captain had yet to score when he was dropped on the boundary by Mohammad Aamer off the bowling of Mohammad Asif (1-60).
Clarke lunged and missed repeatedly at Asif outside off stump early in his innings but could not get an edge and managed to play himself into form the day went on.
Asif has bowled well but without luck. He induced a skied pull from Shane Watson fell out of reach of fielders when the opener was 11.
The bowler trapped Simon Katich (11) in front with the score on 28, but his extended appeal was turned down by umpire Asoka de Silva.
The Pakistanis asked for a review and were successful, Hawkeye showing the ball would have hit the top of the stumps.
Watson (29) was caught at point by Imran Farhat from the bowling of Umar Gul (1-36) with the score on 52.
Aamer (1-36) made up for his dropped catch by having Michael Hussey (6) caught by debutant wicket keeper Sarfraz Ahmed and Australia were struggling at 3-71.
Earlier the captain had won the toss and chose to bat on a wicket that had some life in it.
Pakistan made four changes, bringing in debutant wicket keeper Sarfraz, Aamer, Shoaib Malik and Khurram Manzoor in place of Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Misbah-ul-Haq, respectively while Australia brought Simon Katich back from injury.
Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger. 12th man: Clint McKay.
Pakistan: Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Khurram Manzoor, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria. 12th man: Faisal Iqbal.
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| Australia 80-3 at lunch on day 1 |
HOBART: Australia were 80 for the loss of 3 wickets at lunch on day first of third Test match against Pakistan here at Hobart on Thursday, Geo news reported.
A dropped catch when Ricky Ponting was yet to score could prove costly for Pakistan but their fast bowlers still made a bright start to the dead rubber in Hobart, grabbing three wickets in the first session. Mohammad Asif in particular was threatening in the overcast, swing-friendly conditions as Australia wobbled to 3 for 80 at lunch having chosen to bat.
There were plenty of positive signs for the visitors, who faced a major challenge to lift their mood following their capitulation in Sydney. Four changes to the team helped freshen things up and the debutant wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who replaced Kamran Akmal, pouched his first Test catch when Mohammad Aamer drew an edge behind from Michael Hussey on 6.
But sometimes, the more things change the more they stay the same and Pakistan's fielding remained generally disappointing. Aamer, one of the inclusions after missing Sydney with a groin niggle, put down the simplest outfield catch imaginable to deny Asif a wicket when it looked like Ponting would be caught on the boundary hooking for a duck, for the second time in two Tests.
The teenager Aamer, who has not taken a catch in his eight-Test career, did not have to move a single step and waited as the ball sailed towards his stomach and bounced out of his hands. He sat on the ground with his head in his hands, knowing what a costly mistake it could be, although it didn't discourage Ponting from hooking and he was later hit on the helmet going for one off Umar Gul
Asif had already seen another opportunity evade his fielders, when Shane Watson top-edged an attempted pull. Khurram Manzoor, another of the new men for this Test, and Imran Farhat ran back from the cordon but managed to collide with each other and miss the ball completely, allowing Watson a reprieve when he was on 11.
Fortunately for Pakistan, that mistake wasn't crucial and Watson departed soon afterwards for 29 when he cut Gul straight to gully, where Farhat took the catch. Watson had looked impressive in striking five fours and was more convincing than his captain Ponting, who struggled to get his pulls and hooks right and reached a scratchy 26 at the lunch break with Michael Clarke on 7.
The first breakthrough came when Simon Katich's return from an elbow injury was cut short by a lovely Asif delivery that pitched on middle stump and straightened. The umpire Asoka de Silva gave Katich not out but after a protracted discussion between the Pakistani brains trust, a review was requested and Katich was removed. |
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| Australia decide to bat versus Pakistan |
HOBART: Australian captain Rickey Ponting has won the toss and decided to bat first in third cricket Test match against Pakistan here on Thursday morning, Geo news reported.
Kangaroos are already up in the series with 2-0 decisive lead. |
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| Pakistan look to put life in dead rubber |
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HOBART: Pakistan will be playing for much more than regaining their lost pride when they take on Australia in what is a dead rubber here at the picturesque Bellerive Oval on Thursday (today).
Mohammad Yousuf’s men will have a point to prove in the final Test after having lost the second match in Sydney last week from a winnable situation. Many critics rejected the tourists as a bunch of men with little self-belief after they squandered a solid 206-run lead to lose the Sydney Test by 36 runs.
Pakistan are hoping that the return of Mohammad Aaamer, the young pacer who missed the Sydney Test because of a groin problem, will boost their attack. Aaamer, who will replace fast bowler Mohammad Sami, is one of the four changes Pakistan have made for the third Test with out-of-form Misbah-ul-Haq making way for Shoaib Malik. Faisal Iqbal has been dropped as Pakistan have opted for opener Khurram Manzoor to play at the crucial No 3 position.
Young gloveman Sarfraz Ahmed will make his debut after vice-captain Kamran Akmal was dropped after a poor showing behind the stumps in the second Test in Sydney.
“We have made some changes,” said Mohammad Yousuf, the Pakistan captain. “We have given a lot of chances to Misbah. Now we play Malik. He can bowl too,” he added.
“We have give Kamran some rest. Sarfraz will be our wicketkeeper. He is a good young player.”
Yousuf hoped that the changes will finally help Pakistan “solve all areas” and win their first match of the series.
“We are not playing good cricket on the last days. In Melbourne we couldn’t do well on the last day. Same thing happened in Sydney. There have been problems in some areas and we have to solve them so we can start winning.”
Yousuf said that Pakistan’s solid showing on a tour match in Hobart last month will give them added confidence.
No team has ever beaten Australia at the Bellerive Oval — Ricky Ponting’s home ground — and on current form it won’t be wise to bet on the inconsistent tourists to end the home team’s unblemished record here.
But ask the Pakistanis and they will tell you that anything is possible. “I think we can do it,” Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam told ‘The News’.
“We came close to beating them in Melbourne and almost beat them in Sydney. I’m confident we will go all the way here.”
Pakistan are desperate to avoid a defeat here. If they fall again it will be their 12th consecutive loss and fourth 3-0 whitewash against the Aussies in a row. They haven’t beaten the Aussies in 15 years.
Yousuf believes that his boys are capable of playing good cricket. “I can’t say anything about winning or losing (this match) but I can tell you are going to play good cricket here,” he said on Wednesday.
Australia, meanwhile, have been boosted by the return of prolific opener Simon Katich, who missed the Sydney Test because of an elbow injury.
Local fans are hoping that Rickey Ponting, the Australian captain, will return to form on what is a flat wicket at the Bellerive Oval.
Ponting has scored just 80 runs in the series so far and is now under pressure to regain his form.
The man of the moment for Australia right now is opener Shane Watson, who has scored 579 runs at 72.37 in five Tests this summer. He is playing his first Test in Hobart where he started his first-class career in 2000-01.
Experts are expecting the Bellerive Oval wicket will be full of runs though it traditionally assists swing bowlers, which means Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif can shine here.
Ponting, however, believes that the bowlers will have to work hard here.
“It looks like a pretty good wicket now, a fair bit drier than it has been over the last couple of days,” he said.
“As the state games have been this year, they’ve been pretty good batting wickets and it’s been pretty hard to bowl sides out, so I’d imagine this might be the same.”
Nestled on the eastern shores of the Derwent River, Bellerive Oval witnessed a thriller in 1999-2000 when Pakistan last played a Test here. Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer rescued Australia from 5 for 126 to chase down 369 against Pakistan.
Squads:
Pakistan: Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif.
Australia: Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger.
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| Yousuf hopes Younis will be back for one-dayers |
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HOBART: Mohammad Yousuf is confident that his long-time batting partner Younis Khan will make a successful comeback in the one-day series against Australia getting underway from January 22 in Brisbane.
“Inshaallah he (Younis) is coming for the ODIs,” Yousuf said here at the Bellerive Oval on Wednesday.
“He is a very good player. He has played well in the past and we need him for the No 3 position,” said Yousuf.
Pakistan are yet to announced their ODI squad but are expected to do that on Thursday (today).
Yousuf replaced Younis as the Pakistan captain last November when the latter pulled out of the Test tour of New Zealand after leading the national team to a disappointing 1-2 defeat in the one-day series against the Kiwis in Abu Dhabi.
After the Test tour of New Zealand, Younis decided against making himself available for the Tests against Australia.
However, he expressed his willingness to make his international return after Pakistan lost the opening Test in Melbourne last month. But by then, the national selectors and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had decided to stick with Faisal Iqbal for the No 3 spot.
However Faisal is unlikely to be retained for the one-dayers which means that Younis could be recalled for the five-match series.
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| Pakistan should not pick T20 players for Tests: Ponting |
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HOBART: Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes that Pakistan can field a better Test squad if they ignore players with a Twenty20 mindset while picking a team for the longest version of the game.
Ponting described the Akmal brothers — Kamran and Umar — as Twenty20 players and singled out former captain Shoaib Malik as somebody who was better suited to Test cricket.
“It’s not all about every single young player in Pakistan having a Twenty20 mindset or a Twenty20 technique. There are plenty of those players around. The two Akmals are the standout ones that are naturally aggressive strokemakers. They’ve got those two batting in the middle order,’ Ponting told reporters at the Bellerive Oval on Wednesday.
“I think the rest of them have got very sound Test match techniques. Look at the two openers — they worked really hard last week in Sydney in really tough conditions. Their No 3 looks to me to be a Test-match only sort of player, he doesn’t look like he’d really be a Twenty20 player, Yousuf’s the same.
Ponting expressed his surprise that Malik was ignored for the first Two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
“It depends who they pick, doesn’t it? They’re picking strokeplayers, dashers — they don’t have to pick those guys in their side. I’m sure there are other guys around Pakistan that can play Test cricket. Shoaib Malik is a great example, he’s someone who can bat for long periods of time but there he is sitting on the sidelines.”
“I think that might be a bit of a, not an excuse, but they’ve only got a couple of batsmen in their line-up who you’d really say are more suited to the shorter forms of the game. We’re probably the same, we’ve got guys like Haddin and Watson that have started their careers in the shorter forms of the game and turned themselves into Test players.”
The Tasmanian said that his team is high on self-belief. “There’s a lot more self-belief around the side than there probably was at the start of this summer, even, and looking back at different parts of the Ashes. It’s one thing we’ve lacked a little bit in the last couple of years,” he said.
“We’ve been competitive in every series we’ve played and we’ve had moments in most Test matches that we’ve played in the last couple of years to put sides away and haven’t been able to do it. A lot of that comes down to that inner belief and self-belief that you’ve got the ability to get the job done.”
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| Pak players issued gag order |
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HOBART: The Pakistan team management has finally issued a gag order to its players following a series of controversies in the aftermath of the tourists’ 36-run defeat against Australia in Sydney last week.
Mohammad Yousuf, the Pakistan captain, said here on Wednesday that his players have been told not to talk to the media without prior permission from the team officials.
“We have told them to keep quiet and only talk to the media after getting permission from the team management,” said Yousuf. “Once permission is granted, the players should be with the team manager (Abdul Raqeeb) at the time of interview,” he added.
Yousuf said that the step has been taken after his team attracted a lot of negative publicity on the issue of Kamran Akmal — the vice-captain.
Kamran, who was dropped for the third Test in Hobart after a poor show in the second Test, was quoted as saying in interviews that he has the support of his fellow players and the team management and will play in the final Test. He kept repeating those comments even as the PCB and the team officials announced that Kamran will be replaced by young wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed here at the Bellerive Oval.
Yousuf played down the issue saying that sometimes the players are misquoted or they are aware that they are talking to a media person.
“I’m sure there was a lot of misunderstanding over the last few days,” he said. “That’s why we have decided that enough is enough. Now even the vice-captain will not be allowed to talk to the media.”
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| Kamran rested after SCG blunders |
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HOBART: After days of confusion and uncertainty it’s finally official: birthday boy Kamran Akmal will bow out and Sarfraz Ahmed will come in to keep the wickets for Pakistan in the third Test getting underway here at the Bellerive Oval on Thursday (today), writes Khalid Hussain.
The announcement came from Mohammad Yousuf, the Pakistan captain, who said that the embattled gloveman has been ‘rested’ and will be replaced by the 22-year-old Sarfraz, who was rushed to Australia immediately after the second Test in Sydney where Kamran’s ‘iron gloves’ enabled the tourists to snatch defeats from the jaws of victory.
“We have given Kamran rest and Sarfraz will play tomorrow,” Yousuf told reporters here on Wednesday.
There was nothing new in the announcement as almost a week ago, Intikhab Alam — the Pakistan coach — had told ‘The News’ in Sydney that Sarfraz will replace Kamran in Hobart.
But since then, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding Kamran, who gave several newspaper interviews saying that he would be Pakistan’s wicketkeeper in Hobart.
Only after it had snowballed into a major issue that the team management was forced to tell Kamran, also the team’s vice-captain, to keep his mouth shut.
But even then an Australian reporter claimed that Kamran, who celebrated his 28th birthday on Wednesday, rang him up and told him that he is going to play the final Test.
“It’s all rubbish,” team manager Abdul Raqeeb told ‘The News’. “He (Kamran) doesn’t even have the phone numbers of any reporters. He didn’t give any interview yesterday.”
Yousuf, too, defended Kamran describing him as a very senior player with a lot of contribution for the Pakistan team.
“Everybody is aware that he (Kamran) is a very senior player and has done a lot for Pakistan,” said Yousuf, who publicly supported Kamran after he allowed Michael Hussey to score a match-winning 134 by dropping him three times off leggie Danish Kaneria.
“Everybody knows his capabilities,” said Yousuf who believes that Kamran should make a comeback “soon”.
Before the Hobart axe, Kamran played 42 consecutive Tests for Pakistan. It will be for the first time since October 2004 — in Karachi against Sri Lanka ñ in which Kamran will not be in the Test eleven for Pakistan. He has played 48 Tests since making his debut against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2002. Kamran, who has taken 159 catches, has established himself as a key middle-order batsman with 2550 runs at 33.55.
His replacement — Sarfraz Ahmed — is rated highly as a wicketkeeper on the domestic circuit.
He has played second fiddle to Kamran for the last few years and will be making his Test debut on Thursday.
Yousuf said that he expects Sarfraz to do well in Hobart. “Obviously he is excited because it is his debut Test,” said the Pakistan skipper. “He is good young player.”
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| Yousuf eager to find form |
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HOBART: Mohammad Yousuf knows his team is expecting a big hundred from him in the third Test starting here on Thursday (today).
And the Pakistan captain believes he can do it. “I think of all our batsmen (on this tour) my form is the best,” he said here at the Bellerive Oval on Wednesday. “But somehow the big runs are not coming,” he added.
Yousuf, Pakistan’s most experienced batsman, has had made good starts in the last two Tests but failed to convert them into the big knocks that Pakistan so desperately needed in Melbourne and Sydney. Last week when Pakistan were chasing 176 to level the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Yousuf seemed to be in top gear as he raced to 19 with four hits to the fence only to hit one straight into off-spinner Nathan Hauritz.
Pakistan went on to lose the match by 36 runs.
“When I go out to bat, the ball comes right off the middle. Maybe I am hurrying it a little. I don’t think there is anything else.”
If Pakistan are to record a consolation win in this dead rubber here, they will need Yousuf to get the big runs that have eluded him on this tour so far. “I hope it will come soon. I feel I can do it but let’s see.”
Yousuf stressed that it is the inability of Pakistani batsmen to stay on the crease long enough that has been hurting the team on this tour.
“Our middle order is scoring fifties but nothing bigger and this will happen,” he said. “These guys are all young and if you look at their averages, they are also low in the twenties. All of us are in good form, but we need to score 300 or 350 because our bowling is good enough to get them.”
Yousuf also spoke about Umar Akmal, the young batting sensation, who has been in good form Down Under this season.
Umar, 19, made a century on debut against New Zealand in Dunedin but has failed to convert fifties into hundreds since then.
Yousuf predicted that Umar will do better in the future. “He is too young, and has played just five Tests,” he said. “On this tour he has played very well and after this tour he will have more confidence. This is the best team in the world, difficult situations and conditions, everything difficult and when you go from here you perform well against other teams and get confidence. He has changed his game a little and is a very clever player. He represents a good future for Pakistan.”
Yousuf hoped that Umar and his teammates will click here, enabling Pakistan to play good cricket in this Test.
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| Aussie skipper backs struggling Siddle |
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HOBART: Peter Siddle on Wednesday received a word of praise from Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf for winning the second Test for Australia in Sydney last week.
“I tried everything (in the Sydney Test) but Siddle played too well,” Yousuf said here at the Bellerive Oval. “He listened to his captain and played confidently,” added Yousuf referring to the second Test in Sydney where tailender Siddle shared a record ninth-wicket stand of 123 with Michael Hussey to help Australia come back from the dead and win the match.
Perhaps Yousuf was unaware that Siddle is under pressure to retain his place in Australia’s playing eleven.
The pacer may have contributed with the bat but so far he has been unable to take many wickets this season.
Siddle has so far taken just six wickets this summer at 68.33 while fellow pacers Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger and off-spinner Nathan Hauritz have each collected 20-plus victims.
However, for Ricky Ponting, Siddle is still a first-choice bowler.
“I’m not that worried about the wicket column next to his name because what he’s doing at the moment is forming part of a really good bowling attack,” said the Australia captain.
“That’s one thing that I’ve stressed with the selectors the last couple of years — it’s about making sure we pick an attack and not just trying to look at the next best bowler that’s going around the scene. I think it’s important that the bowlers in the line-up really complement each other well.
“Sids has had to do the bullocking sort of work and charging from one end to another and pretty much keep the run-rate down and not worry about attacking too much. It could have been a different story last week — he had a chance put down at first slip early on in Sydney and that could have changed things for him but what he’s been able to do is still bowl consistently well and bowl good spells. What that does is make life a bit easier for the guy he’s bowling in tandem with.”
Another Aussie in the danger of losing his spot on the team is Marcus North. The middle-order batsman has been awfully out of form in recent months. He has not passed 10 in his past four innings and could face the axe if he fails again in Hobart.
But Ponting is still backing his man.
“We sat down during the second innings of the Sydney Test match last week together,” he said. “I think we’re both feeling a bit the same about the game at the moment, it feels like the game has got hold of us both a little bit and won’t let us go. Talking to him about it, it feels like every little mistake that we’ve made has tended to mean that we’re out.
“But it’s probably only a couple of games for him. It’s not that long ago that he was our standout batsman in our line-up. If you look back at the Ashes, he was our best player right through the Ashes series and started the summer well in Brisbane. It’s only a couple of games ago that he was on top of his game and that’s how quickly it can change.”
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| Pak-Australia 3rd Test from today |
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will enter Hobart cricket ground on Thursday (today) for playing the third cricket Test against Australia under huge pressure.
Bickering in the team and an unexpected defeat at Sydney would be the causes of this pressure. Pakistan lost at Sydney by 35 runs after taking a flying start in the five-day game. Also, team management is forced to make hard decisions regarding poor performs including wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.
However, Ponting’s side will be confident of a clean sweep as they were close to a defeat in the second fixture of the three-match rubber. But Mike Hussey changed the complexion of the game by hitting 134 not out. Pakistan fielders particularly Kamran Akmal supported him well by muffing the chances.
Skipper Muhammad Yousuf and Umar Akmal also failed to make any contribution to target chase of 176. He is a talented player but Umar plays his own game. He started his Test career with a bang by hitting marvelous ton on debut against New Zealand in the recently concluded series that ended in 1-1 draw.
Now, it was the duty of 70-year-old coach Intikhab Alam to bring up this talented young gun. But, the coach is also not focusing on his job because he has been plunged into players’ politics in a bid to save his position in the team management.
However, in the last tie against the Kiwis, the fielding was the only weak area of Pakistan team but unfortunately, Intikhab Alam could not overcome it against Australia. It means the coach did not concentrate on the fielding department and boys repeated the same errors in the crucial series of year 2009/10.
Cricket lovers were expecting that after Sydney defeat coach would have resigned but he is still with the national squad and dreams of winning the final Test to save his blushes. |
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| Sarfraz to replace Kamran in Hobart Test |
HOBART: Pakistan's management has confirmed that embattled wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has been axed for the third and final Test against Australia.
Akmal had a nightmare Test in Sydney, dropping four catches - three of them were nicks from man-of-the-match Mike Hussey off the bowling of Danish Kaneria - in Australia's second innings.
His poor performance resulted in the Pakistan Cricket Board sending an SOS to youngster Sarfraz Ahmed ahead of the final Test in Hobart.
There were also suggestions that Kamran would be played as just a batsman with Sarfraz taking over the glove duties, but the 48-Test veteran insisted he won't go down that route.
Coach Intikhab Alam, though, has made it clear that Sarfaz will make his debut at the Bellerive Oval.
Intikhab also dismissed suggestions that Kamran's brother, Umar, feigned a back injury as a form of boycott on Monday. |
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| Katich cleared to play third Test at Hobart |
HOBART: Australian opener Simon Katich has been cleared to return for the third Test against Pakistan, starting in Hobart on Thursday.
Katich missed the second Test in Sydney with an elbow injury, but looked comfortable in the Bellerive Oval nets this morning.
Opening partner Shane Watson says Katich is a definite starter.
New South Wales opener Phillip Hughes took Katich's place in Sydney and had been on standby for Hobart.
He has now been released to return home, where he is expected to play for the Blues in Wednesday night's Twenty20 clash against Queensland at Sydney's Olympic stadium.
Australia are leading the three-Test home series 2-0. |
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| Vital changes expected in PCB: Muhammad Ali Shah |
HYDERABAD: Provincial minister for sports, Sindh, Dr Muhammad Ali Shah indicating vital changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board set up, said that consultations with PCB director-general Javed Miandad are going on.
Talking with Geo News on the occasion of an inaugural ceremony of the Sindh Sports Board hostel, Dr Muhammad Ali Shah said that the management is responsible for Pakistan cricket team’s shameful defeat in Sydney.
He said that the coach did not make plan which was needed to win the match nor the players were guided in this regarded and this is why a golden chance of winning the Sydney Test was wasted. |
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| Wasim advises PCB to introduce new cricketers |
KOLKATA: Former captain Wasim Akram severely criticizing Pakistani cricketers playing in Australia, has advised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to give chance to new cricketers.
Wasim Akram, who is present in India for coaching of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), said that senior players are the cause of chaos in the Pakistan team and they are scoring less runs. Therefore, they should be replaced by such young players who by learning in a year may be able to serve the country for the next two decades.
Wasim understands that Test cricket is the only game of cricket and it is like a long race for which every team requires special talent, mental fitness and spirit. Presently, Pakistan cricket team lack all these qualities.
Wasim Akram termed Mohammad Yousuf an inexperienced captain but added that he has the potential of looking a better captain in coming days. |
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| Confusion over Akmals persists |
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HOBART: Umar Akmal, Pakistan’s teenage batting sensation, is fully fit and will feature in their third and final Test against Australia starting here from Thursday, a team official told ‘The News’.
Abdul Raqeeb, the Pakistan team manager, said that Umar suffered from a stiff back but has recovered from it now. “It was nothing serious. He had a stiff back and needed some treatment. He should be back in the nets tomorrow and will play in the Test.”
His comments came soon after the 19-year-old Umar said in an interview that he is unfit and will not play in the third Test here at the Bellerive Oval.
“I’m not playing, I have a side strain,” Umar was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.
Umar, who is Pakistan’s most successful batsman of the tour, raised a lot of question marks by suddenly announcing that he is injured just a day after his elder brother — Kamran Akmal — was axed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) because of his poor showing behind the stumps in the second Test in Sydney.
Even Australia captain Ricky Ponting expressed his surprise over the issue. “It might be in protest. It’s a strange situation. Umar has looked their second best batsman behind (Mohammad) Yousuf,” Ponting said on Monday.
Sources told ‘The News’ that the team management suspected that Umar could be faking the injury to put pressure on the tour selection committee so that it decides against replacing Kamran with young gloveman Sarfraz Ahmed.
The team management decided to send the youngster for medical scans which cleared him of any injury.
While the team management has passed Umar as fully fit and want him to play in the upcoming Test, Kamran — the team’s vice-captain — insisted that his brother is suffering from fitness problems.
Kamran has been acting quite strangely since the PCB’s decision to ‘drop’ him from the final Test after he dropped three sitters in Sydney and allowed the Aussies to come back from the jaws of defeat to win the second Test.
Initially, Kamran announced that he will keep the wickets for Pakistan here. Later, when the team management told him that he can play as a specialist batsman, he turned down that option.
“I am very happy with being wicketkeeper-batsman, not only batsman,” said Kamran. “I have played for Pakistan as a wicketkeeper-batsman with pride, so hopefully I am playing a similar role.”
A final decision on whether Kamran will retain his spot or will he surrender it to Sarfraz will be taken in a tour selection committee meeting tomorrow.
Kamran is a member of the four-man committee that includes captain Mohammad Yousuf, coach Intikhab Alam and manager Abdul Raqeeb.
This means that Kamran will have a say in whether he is retained or dropped for the third Test. Sources told ‘The News’ that Intikhab and Raqeeb will vote for the inclusion of Sarfraz in the squad but Yousuf’s vote might go in Kamran’s favour. In case there is a stalemate then the captain is going to have a final say.
According to sources, Yousuf will find it difficult to go against the wishes of the PCB. His captaincy is already under scrutiny after he led Pakistan to a defeat in Sydney from a commanding position.
With the series already lost following defeats in Melbourne and Sydney, Pakistan seem to be down and out ahead of the third and final Test. The confusion over the two Akmals and the clear divisions within the team will make it almost impossible for Pakistan to avoid yet another whitewash against the Aussies.
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| Australia to play North in Hobart |
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Hobart: Australia will keep faith in Marcus North — the out-of-form middle-order batsman — at least for the third Test against Pakistan, their coach Tim Nielsen announced on Monday.
“In this Test match, he’s safe,” Nielsen said of North. “We’ll have Phil (Phillip Hughes) there as a standby player for Simon (Katich) as in Sydney. We must keep in perspective it was only a couple of months ago that Marcus had three centuries in five Tests. He’s having a bit of a dip in form at the moment,” he told the Australian newspaper.
North has been unable to impress much this season. In his five Tests at home this summer, he has scored 186 runs at 23.25 and he hasn’t passed 10 in his past four innings.
“It happens in our game, different players go through rough trots. He’s a good player and I’m sure he will perform this week. Probably the major thing is he hasn’t been able to get through that difficult period from nought to 20. It’s been one of those summers for him, perhaps a little bit like what Michael Hussey went through, and he’s come out the other end playing so well.”
Nielsen said that his team needs to improve in a few areas in spite of the fact that the hosts have won five of their last six Tests.
“The biggest thing for us is that while we had a tremendous result in Sydney, we certainly didn’t play at our best for the four days,” he said. “It’s good to go into the last Test match on such a high, but I think there’s probably a few guys who feel they could do a little better personally as well. It’d be nice to finish off our Test match summer now with a really complete performance.”
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| Haddin wants 3-0 whitewash |
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HOBART: Brad Haddin warned on Monday that buoyed up by their great escape in Sydney, Australia will ruthlessly push for a 3-0 series whitewash against Pakistan in the third Test in Hobart later this week.
The Australian wicketkeeper said in an interview that the Aussies want to win every Test they play and will go all out for another against the visitors here.
“We want to make sure we come away with a 3-0 win. We have the opportunity to do it and with a bit of luck we can,” Haddin said.
“It’s been an enjoyable series to date, topped off with that outstanding win in Sydney, but we spoke at the start of the summer that we wanted to win every Test match.
“We had the one draw against the West Indies and we don’t want that same result or a loss here. “We’re here to have a clean sweep and show our dominance of the series.”
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| Aussies recieve Katich boost |
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HOBART: Looking set for yet another clean sweep against Pakistan, Australia received a big boost on Monday when prolific opener Simon Katich was declared fit for the third and final Test getting underway here from Thursday.
Katich missed the second Test in Sydney because of an elbow problem and was replaced by yloung opener Phillip Hughes, who was unable to impress much in the match which Australia won by 36 runs after conceding a 206-run lead in the first innings.
The experienced left-hander declared himself fully fit for the final Test after batting without discomfort during a net session at the Bellerive Oval on Monday.
He batted for almost an hour in the nets in two stints and will take his place against the tourists if he passes a final fitness test with Australia’s physiotherapist Alex Kountouris on Tuesday (today).
“It feels good,” Katich said of the elbow injury. “Alex wants me to wait until the morning to see how I pull up, but it felt really good. I wasn’t hampered at all. It’s amazing what a week can do.
“The pain has subsided. The swelling has gone down. “I’ll train again (today) and Alex wants to see how I pull up after that. The elbow feels good now and I’m pretty sure it should be fine.”
There was more good news for Australia as their skipper Ricky Ponting is showing no signs of an injured elbow that has dogged him in the series so far. He took part in a net session without a guard on the left arm he injured against the West Indies last month.
Ponting has been dismissed cheaply by Pakistan in Melbourne and Sydney but will now be looking to regain his lost form on his home ground in Hobart.
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| Kamran refuses to play 3rd Test as batsman alone |
HOBART: Pakistan cricket team’s vice-captain Kamran Akmal has refused to play only as batsman in the third Test against Australia, commencing from Thursday at Hobart.
He is confident that he will display the best performance as wicketkeeper in the Hobart Test to compensate his failure in the Sydney Test.
Kamran Akmal’s position in the side has come under intense scrutiny after a dismal performance in second Test at Sydney in which he dropped four catches and failed with the bat as Pakistan handed Australia a remarkable win that sealed the series.
The Pakistan Cricket Board immediately decided to send Sarfraz Ahmed to replace Kamran as wicketkeeper in his debut Test at Hobart.
This has also been suggested to play Kamran Akmal as a specialist batsman in a faltering middle-order but the Pakistan vice-captain has defied the PCB directives, maintaining that he will play at Hobart as wicketkeeper-batsman.
He still hopes that only he will be present behind the wicket in the third Test.
Kamran said that he is playing for Pakistan for eight years as a wicketkeeper-batsman with pride and his career cannot be ended just because of a bad day.
He further said that Australia’s former wicketkeeper Ian Healy also helped him and after this an improvement is expected in his ‘keeping.
Team management says the decision of Kamran Akmal’s inclusion in the final eleven will be taken at a meeting a day before the Test match. |
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| Akmal brothers using pressure tactics? |
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HOBART: Umar Akmal on Sunday complained of a stiff back, making himself a doubtful starter for Pakistan’s third and final Test against Australia starting here from Thursday.
However, ‘The News’ has learnt through reliable sources that the 19-year-old batsman could be faking the problem in a bid to pressurize the team management to retain Kamran Akmal — his elder brother — for the Hobart Test.
Kamran is supposed to pay the price for his horrible showing in the second Test in Sydney last week by making way for young stumper Sarfraz Ahmed for the third Test here.
Sarfraz was rushed to Australia by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after Kamran dropped three sitters and also wasted a run-out chance during the Sydney Test which Pakistan lost by 36 runs on the fourth day after taking a 206-run first innings lead.
Immediately after the end of the Sydney Test on Wednesday, the PCB announced that it is sending Sarfraz to Australia as a replacement for Kamran, adding that the 22-year-old gloveman will ‘participate’ in the Hobart Test.
Sarfraz, who is yet to make his Test debut but has played One-day Internationals for Pakistan, arrived in Hobart on Sunday and will be attending the pre-match practice sessions over the next three days.
However, sources told this correspondent that an influential group of players in the Pakistan squad is unhappy over the possible axing of Kamran and is pushing for his spot in the playing eleven for the Hobart Test.
Even Mohammad Yousuf, the Pakistan captain, is reluctant to drop Kamran as he is of the view that the experienced player is a key component of the team’s batting order.
Sources said that Umar’s back problem which came out of the blue is linked to Kamran’s possible axing from the Hobart Test.
Umar, who just made a sensational debut last November against New Zealand, has already become an important member of the national team because of his aggressive batting. The Lahore youngster smashed a century (129) on debut in Dunedin and has since then piled up 555 runs from five Tests at 55.50 with one ton and four fifties.
He has shown no signs of fitness problems but suddenly complained of a back injury after a couple of practice sessions here at the Bellerive Oval.
“Umar has a stiff back. It’s nothing serious and we expect him to be fit for the third Test,” Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan coach, told ‘The News.
“It is not uncommon for players to have such problems and I think that with some treatment he should be okay,” Intikhab added.
However, things might not be that simple.
Sources placed inside the Pakistan team said that Umar could opt to stay away from the forthcoming Test because of the ‘injury’ to bring the tour selection committee under pressure to keep faith in Kamran for the final Test.
Kamran, meanwhile, announced that he has the support of his teammates and officials and hopes to play here later this week.
The under-fire wicketkeeper said on Sunday that critics should not judge him on the basis of his showing on ‘one bad day’.
“I was very successful with my batting and wicketkeeping on the tour of New Zealand tour and in the matches before that tour.
“But I think the third day of the Sydney Test match was not good for me. But this happens. I’m very keen. My confidence is very high.”
Kamran, it seems, is confident that he will play in Hobart. “Inshallah, definitely, for this upcoming Test match ... I will perform very well. I will play the third Test match and more matches for my country.”
Kamran said that he is aware of the strong criticism back home but was quick to add that he remains focussed on the next Test.
“I know the people are very disappointed for this performance in the Sydney Test...(But) I’m concentrating on calming down and performing well in the next Test match.”
Kamran’s upbeat mood indicates that he is getting much-needed support from the Pakistan dressing room. But if he plays in Hobart in spite of a stern announcement by the PCB will mean that player power stills reigns supreme in Pakistan cricket.
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| Sarfaraz to play in Hobart: Coach |
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HOBART: There may be a ‘debate’ going on whether to retain Kamran Akmal for the third Test against Australia in Hobart but Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam says that young gloveman Sarfraz Ahmed will be standing behind the stumps in the match.
Intikhab told ‘The News’ on Sunday that Sarfraz will be replacing Kamran as the wicketkeeper for the Hobart Test.
However, he did not rule out retaining Kamran in the playing eleven but only as a specialist batsman.
“Sarfraz will be playing this Test as our wicketkeeper,” he said. “We will wait and see if Kamran can play as a specialist batsman,” he added.
The idea to include Kamran, who flopped miserably behind the stumps in he Sydney Test, as a specialist batsman was floated after several players expressed their displeasure over the vice-captain’s axing.
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| Inti says toss will be vital in Hobart |
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HOBART: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam believes that the toss will play a vital role in the outcome of their third and final Test against Australia which gets underway here from Thursday, writes Khalid Hussain.
Intikhab told ‘The News’ on Sunday that he has taken a look at the Bellerive Oval pitch, adding that he expects it to start cracking up on the third day of the match.
“The pitch right now has some grass on it,” he said. “But I expect that it would be rolled down over the next few days. We can expect to see the wicket cracking up on the third day and by the fourth day it would be difficult to bat on.”
According to the Pakistan coach, any team who wins the toss here is going to bat first.
“He (Ponting) has been opting to bat without no matter what the conditions are which means we can expect him to bat first here too if he wins the toss,” said Intikhab, a former Pakistan captain.
“For us there is no choice but to bat first here if we win the toss,” he stressed. “What we will need to do is to bat out the first two hours and then go for a good total. This wicket is going to be a difficult one on the fourth and fifth day which means that chasing any total won’t be easy. It will have ample turn and an uneven bounce.”
It is warm in Hobart and the weather forecast suggests that this spell is likely to continue over the next few days. “The heat means that the wicket won’t have much moisture in it,” said Intikhab.
Pakistani players, who reached here on Friday from Sydney, have gone through two extensive training sessions. On Thursday, they carried out an extended session that spanned over three-and-a-half hours.
“The boys are working hard,” he said. “We have already lost two matches in this series and the only way the boys can redeem themselves is by winning this one,” added the coach.
Pakistan are planning to decide their playing eleven for the Hobart Test on Wednesday, just a day before it begins though it seems they have already made up their mind about the possible changes.
Shoaib Malik, the former captain, is all set to replace Misbah-ul-Haq in the middle-order. Misbah will have to pay the price for his indifferent form in the last three innings of the series against Australia.
Young opener Khurram Manzoor is expected bat at the No 3 position as a replacement for Faisal Iqbal while a fit-again Mohammad Aamer will return to the squad, replacing Mohammad Sami. Though there is still some confusion over the wicketkeeper slot but it is expected that young gloveman Sarfraz Ahmed will come in place of the fumbling Kamran Akmal for the dead rubber.
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| Marcus North upbeat in spite of barren run |
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HOBART: Under-fire Australian batsman Marcus North is confident of finding his lost form in the third and final Test against Pakistan in Hobart after flopping miserably in the first two matches.
North, who has scored just 22 runs in the series so far, said in an interview on Sunday that he has never taken his spot for granted but does not believe the Test in Hobart will decide his immediate international future.
“Look, I don’t feel like this is a disaster,” North told the Sunday Herald Sun. “I’ve missed out the last two Tests. If I was feeling uncomfortable with my game, I’d be going out and seeking some advice from people. But I’m honestly feeling good. I know I can get a result next week.”
Michael Hussey’s return to form has put extra pressure on the batter who remains positive in spite of the tough going.
“I haven’t lost my confidence,” North said ahead of Thursday’s final Test. “Why shouldn’t I be going into this Test feeling positive? It’s taken me 10 years to play for Australia, I’ve been part of this great team for a year and I’ve just been in an amazing Test win for my country. Obviously, I want more runs, but I’m living my dream and I want to keep it going for as long as possible.
“I feel I’m hitting the ball really well in the nets. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to stay out there long enough to build an innings and get that big score. It wasn’t long ago that I hit 68 against the West Indies in Perth and two games later people are asking questions about me. I know I’ve got to start contributing and getting some runs. Hopefully, it starts this week.”
North and his teammates arrived in Hobart on Sunday and will carry out practice sessions at the Bellerive Oval.
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| Fearless Ponting won’t give up pulling |
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SYDNEY: Australia captain Ricky Ponting is confident that he will once again be playing the pull shot with perfection once his elbow injury is fully healed.
The Tasmanian master blaster has been out of form since sustaining the injury during the Test series against the West Indies earlier this season. Some critics have even suggested that Ponting’s illustrious career has entered the twilight zone.
But he made it clear in an interview on Sunday that his pulling will become less risky as soon as his injured elbow heals properly.
Ponting, 35, has been dismissed twice to the shot during the last two Tests against Pakistan in Melbourne and Sydney and there have been calls for him to shelve it to extend his outstanding career.
However, he is determined to keep playing the way that has gained him 11,561 runs at 54.79 in 141 Tests. “Wait until I get fit again and we’ll see if everyone is still saying the same thing about it then,” Ponting told the Sunday Telegraph.
“They are such reactive shots, they are instinctive. I’m not sure how people in the past have gone about putting them away.
“I think I have been out twice this summer pulling, but it is a shot that keeps bringing me runs so we’ll see how we go with that. But as I said, if I get my elbow right then I think you’ll see me playing with a lot more freedom and not only those shots, but a lot of other shots around the ground as well.”
Ponting is enduring his worst home Test summer in more than a decade after picking up 216 runs in the five games against West Indies and Pakistan. The problems stem from his sore left elbow, which was tenderised by a Kemar Roach bouncer in Perth last month, and there have also been suggestions that he step down from his preferred No 3.
“I read it for the first time the other day midway through the Test match, when all the negative stuff was in the papers about the team and about certain individuals and selecting of the team,” he said. “I haven’t thought about that.
“But if the day comes where I think there is someone better in the order to bat at No 3 than myself, then by all means I will give it some thought, but I still think I’m the best equipped to be batting at No 3 in the Test side. Hopefully I can show everybody that over the next few weeks.”
There is a week’s rest between the second and third Test and Ponting is confident that he will be in better shape when he takes the field on his home ground in Hobart for the final match starting from Thursday.
“Where I’ve struggled with it is I’ve had two or three days at a time in between batting days and I’ve just needed a little bit longer than that,” he said. “From where I batted in the second innings in the Sydney Test, I’ll have had about six or seven days without batting. So when I hit the nets on Monday it will be better than it has been in the last couple of weeks.”
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| Captain refuses to drop Karman from third Test |
SYDNEY: Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf's team is on a collision course with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, amid angry calls at home for sackings after the side's devastating loss in Sydney.
The besieged gloveman says he has the support of his teammates, coaching staff and tour management, many of whom have been named along with him as facing the axe in a PCB review slated for after this tour.
Kamran says he is expecting to play in Thursday's third Test in Hobart, despite his PCB replacement Sarfraz Ahmed arriving in Hobart on Sunday.
A PCB statement last week said: "Sarfraz Ahmed will be participating in the third Test in Hobart."
Skipper Yousuf is standing by the 'keeper, refusing to cast him out after his four dropped catches and bungled run out in Sydney.
Yousuf has brushed off Kamran's poor performance as an aberration, saying he played well in New Zealand and deserves his backing.
Kamran meanwhile describes his Sydney performance as "one bad day" in a long successful career.
"I was very successful with my batting and wicketkeeping on the New Zealand tour and before the New Zealand tour. So I was very happy," Kamran told a news agency in Hobart on Sunday.
"But I think the third day of the Sydney Test match was not good for me – this happens.
"I'm very keen. My confidence is very high.
"Management is very confident for me and coaches, Intikhab Alam, Waqar Younis, Aqib Javed, and my teammates also.
Kamran says former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy has been helping him with his glove work.
"I've been picked for the Pakistan team for the past ten years and for the last eight years I've been playing as wicketkeeper/batsman," Kamran said, dismissing suggestions he'd play as a specialist batsman.
The Australian team arrives in Hobart on Sunday night. |
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| Umar Akmal faces fitness problems |
HOBART: Young Pakistani middle order promising batsman Umar Akmal has come to fitness problems due to muscle pull amid practice session here in Hobart on Sunday evening, Geo news reported.
He was a due inclusion in third cricket Test match against Australia to be played here from 14 January due to his constant performance in all forms of cricket.
It may be mentioned during his short Test cricket career, the stylish and brave Umar has struck one brilliant century and four half centuries, averaging in 60s. |
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| Tourists yet to decide on gloveman for Hobart |
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HOBART: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) minced no words when it announced a day after the national team’s stunning defeat in the Sydney Test on Wednesday that young wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed will ‘participate’ in the final Test here as a replacement for Kamran Akmal.
However, ‘The News’ has learnt through reliable sources on Saturday that the tour selection committee is not convinced and will have a ‘debate’ on the issue before taking a final decision on it within the next couple of days.
Kamran, it seemed, was out of the final Test after he dropped four easy catches besides squandering a run-out opportunity in the second Test.
His pathetic showing behind the stumps was seen as the biggest reason behind Pakistan’s 36-run defeat that came after the tourists had taken a 206-run lead against the Aussies.
Just a day later, the PCB issued a press release from its headquarters in Lahore saying that Sarfraz will be rushed to Australia where he will participate in the third Test starting at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart from January 14.
Sarfraz, 20, is scheduled to join the national team here on Sunday (today).
Just the other day, Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam confirmed to this correspondent that Sarfraz is all set to make his debut in Hobart as a replacement for the fumbling Kamran.
However, it seems that the team management is now having second thoughts.
Sources told ‘The News’ that Kamran has a lot of influence within the team and most of the players want him to play the third Test instead of Sarfraz.
Kamran himself has also shown his desire to feature in the Hobart Test, saying that he would do his best not to repeat the mistakes of Sydney in the future.
He said that the second Test is like a nightmare for him as he gave the worst performance of his career in it.
But he was quick to add that no cricketer commits mistakes intentionally. The under-fire ‘keeper stressed that he has always tried to give his best for Pakistan and will compensate for his blunders at the Sydney Cricket Ground by shining in the coming matches.
Kamran said that he received valuable tip from Ian Healy, adding that he will seek more help from the former Australia Test wicketkeeper ahead of the Hobart Test.
Many critics have suggested that the non-top cricket that Kamran has played in recent years could have affected his performance. But the player doesn’t think so. Kamran said that he is not tired and was ready to play the Hobart Test. |
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| PCB consulting with Afridi for T20 matches |
LAHORE: The selection committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has started consultations with national T20 captain Shahid Afridi for the Twenty20 Internationals to be played against Australia and England.
PCB selection committee chairman Iqbal Qasim told Geo News that the consideration of names of players for the T20 matches against Australia and England has been started and T20 team captain Shahid Khan Afridi has been contacted on telephone in this regard.
Shahid Afridi is playing domestic cricket in Australia these days.
Pakistan will play their only T20 match on the tour of Australia on February 5 at Melbourne while they will play two T20 matches against England in Dubai on February 19 and 20. |
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| Team to learn lesson from mistakes: Yousuf |
SYDNEY: Pakistan cricket team captain Mohammad Yousuf said that his team would have to learn from its mistakes which would enable it to outplay any team of the world.
The national team captain said that Pakistan team still has the ability to beat Australia and any team of the world but for this, it has to overcome its weaknesses.
Yousuf said that criticism on the defeat at Sydney was expected but it should be positive and besides this, positive aspects of the team should also be highlighted.
He said that before the series against Australia, nobody was hoping that the Pakistan team would give the hosts a tough time. However, our team displayed better performance in Sydney Test and it dominated the match for three days but one day’s poor performance became the cause of defeat.
He said that he is ready for Hobart Test and he hopes that his team would show 100 per cent performance there. |
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| Kamran Akmal puts family over country |
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SYDNEY: Experts may be underlining various flaws in Kamran Akmal’s technique but there is a big chance that the fumbling wicketkeeper let Pakistan down in the Sydney Test because for him family came first.
‘It was learnt through sources here that during the second Test Kamran was forced to stay up late for babysitting on several occasions, something that could have affected his showing in the match which Pakistan lost by 36 runs after securing a 206-run first innings lead.
According to eyewitnesses, Kamran was often seen pacing down the corridor on the floor of the Inter Continental hotel in central Sydney with his baby in his arms.
“His (Kamran’s) wife used to go to sleep and the player had to look after the infant baby,” explained the eyewitness.
Kamran, Pakistan’s vice-captain and one of the team’s senior members, dropped four catches and a run-out opportunity during the second Test.
He floored Michael Hussey three times off leggie Danish Kaneria and the experienced Australian batter went on to score an unbeaten 134 to win the match for the hosts.
The Lahore-born Kamran’s poor performance behind the stumps has forced the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to replace him with young wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed for the third and final Test getting underway from January 14 in Hobart.
According to details, Kamran is not the only Pakistani player who is in Australia with his wife and kids. Majority of the players including Mohammad Yousuf, the Pakistan captain, are staying here with their families.
“On the floor where the Pakistan team is staying, you can always hear some kids crying. It seems like the players are here on some family holidays,” said the source.
Families on tour is a controversial issue in the world of sports.
Ask the Australian cricketers and they will tell you that it is a difficult matter to legislate.
In 1981, the wives were not allowed to stay with their husbands in the Australian team hotel so most of the players stayed outside.
According to some senior players, it badly affected team spirit.
In 1985, Australia’s cricket chiefs changed the policy and the wives were allowed to stay in the hotel. It did work better but some of the team members had young children with them and it ruined sleeping patterns.
In 1989, Allan Border, the great Aussie skipper, said there were to be no partners on tour until the Ashes were won. Border’s boys bonded like brothers to win the Ashes 4-0.
Meanwhile, the Kamran Akmal saga continues and even experts like Ian Healy, the former Australia ‘keeper has joined the bandwagon.
Healy has underlined some flaws in Kamran’s technique and has expressed his willingness to work with him.
“Sometimes the left-handed (batsman) gets quite difficult with the backlift high under his eyes and Kaneria probably threatens to spin it more than he actually spins it so he is worrying is it going to spin or bounce or go straight on,” Healy said in an interview.
“I think we can fix it easily enough and he probably needs to spend some time in the nets with Kaneria.”
Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan ‘keeper believes the diminutive Kamran has become too heavy.
“He had too many technical faults, he had put on too much weight for a wicketkeeper of his size and wearing a helmet to the spinners was really hampering him,” Rashid said.
May be they are right. Or may be Kamran just needs to stay away from his family and focus on national duty. |
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| Sarfraz to join team in Hobart tomorrow |
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SYDNEY: Sarfraz Ahmed, the young Pakistan wicketkeeper, will join the national cricket team in Hobart on Sunday (tomorrow) ahead of the third Test against Australia starting there from January 14.
The 20-year-old Sarfraz is being rushed to Australia from Pakistan after being picked as replacement for the experienced Kamran Akmal, who was dropped for his pathetic showing behind the stumps in the second Test earlier this week.
Pakistan reached Hobart on Friday evening still reeling from a stunning 36-run defeat against Australia after having taken a 206-run lead over the hosts in the second Test in Sydney.
“Sarfraz will join the team on the 10th,” Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan coach, told ‘The News’ on Friday. “We will begin our training sessions from tomorrow afternoon,” he added.
Sarfraz, who has played eight One-day Internationals, is all set to make his Test debut in Hobart.
He was Kamran’s understudy on the tour of New Zealand that preceded the series against Australia. But he was sent back home after the three-match Test series against the Kiwis.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was forced to recall Sarfraz after Kamran flopped miserably in the Sydney Test, spilling four catches and wasting a run-out opportunity.
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| ‘Sydney will haunt Pakistan’ |
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SYDNEY: Peter Siddle has declared that Pakistan face a near impossible task to recover from their Sydney debacle in the third and final Test in Hobart but Intikhab Alam believes that the Australian pacer could be in for a big surprise, writes Khalid Hussain.
“Coming from a stage where they were, first innings, 200 runs in front, that was a big lead and obviously a good opportunity for them to beat a side like Australia,” Siddle said in an interview on Friday.
“For us to fight back and put a lot of pressure on them with the bat at the end and obviously with the ball the way (Nathan) Hauritz and Mitchell Johnson especially attacked them ... it’s definitely going to hurt them and definitely going to play on their minds a lot coming into Hobart.”
Pakistan dropped Michael Hussey three times allowing the Australian batsmen to hit an unbeaten 134 and in the process enjoy a record ninth-wicket stand of 123 with Peter Siddle. Later, chasing 176 the Pakistanis crumbled under pressure to suffer a 36-run defeat in a match that they should have won.
According to Siddle a lack of exposure to Test conditions over the past couple of years may have hurt the Pakistanis, whose batsmen in particular have found it difficult to shake an attacking mindset and are always willing to throw away their wickets.
“They’ve done well in the short forms of the game and ... probably that’s their downfall in Test cricket — they play a bit aggressively and come at you,” he said.
“At times it does pay off for them — young Umar Akmal has come at us a few times and has scored quickly and scored well. “It is something that does help them but obviously it’s a massive weakness for them as well.”
Intikhab, the Pakistan coach, meanwhile declared that his team has the potential to bounce back in Hobart.
“We can play better cricket,” he said. “We gave them (Australia) a tough time in Melbourne and almost beat them in Sydney. I’m confident that we will do even better in Hobart and go on to win the Test.”
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| Katich returns to Aussie squad |
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SYDNEY: Prolific opener Simon Katich, who is racing against time to get fit for the third and final Test against Pakistan in Hobart, has been picked in a 13-man Australian squad.
The left-hander, who sat out the second Test in Sydney because of an elbow injury, will have to prove his fitness to be able to play in the third Test getting underway at the Bellerive Oval from Thursday.
According to Australian team’s physiotherapist Alex Kountouris is getting extensive treatment to recover from the injury. “Simon has been having regular treatment on his arm injury since being ruled out of the Sydney Test and will travel to Hobart with the squad where he will continue his rehabilitation,” Kountouris said on Friday.
“A decision on his availability will be made closer to the start of the Test in Hobart after he’s had an opportunity to bat in the nets to test his injury.”
Andrew Hilditch, Australia’s chief selector, said that Katich will be given ample time to prove his fitness.
“Simon continues to make progress on his elbow injury and with a week to go before the Test starts in Hobart, he will be given as much time as possible to prove his fitness.”
Apart from bringing back Katich, Australia have decided against making any other changes to the squad that recorded a stunning 36-run triumph over Pakistan in the second Test to seal a 2-0 series win.
Even Marcus North, who has been terribly out of form, has been retained while Phillip Hughes is expected to get another chance in Hobart.
Australia squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Phillip Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Clint McKay, Marcus North, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson.
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| Chairman PCB, coach, manager called for Pakistan’s defeat in Australia |
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly’s standing committee for sports has called the chairman and the chief operation officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), coach and manager of the national cricket team for disappointing performance of Pakistan against Australia.
The committee has also imposed fine of Rs100,000 on hockey player Rehan Butt while the coach and the manager of the team have been fined for Rs50,000 each for the objectionable pictures’ publication in media.
The committee members at a meeting, presided over by its chairman Jamshed Dasti, expressed severe anger over the publication of the national hockey team players’ objectionable pictures.
Jamshed Dasti has directed to impose fine of Rs100,000 on Rehan Butt and Rs50,000 each on the coach and the manager.
The committee through a unanimous resolution has recommended to sack chairman PCB Ijaz Butt.
The members of the committee said that Butt is not capable of running the cricket board and he should immediately be removed.
Secretary Establishment Division Ismail Qureshi told the committee that the Punjab government has been asked to explain regarding making any operation against high-level police officers for their negligence in security of the Sri Lankan cricket team.
After the Punjab government sends the case against the concerned police officers then the operation will be made after getting an approval from the prime minister. |
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| Aussie squad announced for final Test against Pakistan |
HOBART: Australian cricket team has been announced here on Friday for the third and the final Test against Pakistan.
Marcus North will be a part of the 13-man squad despite poor performance in the series.
Australia have won the series defeating Pakistan in both the earlier Test matches but North has been included in the team despite his poor form.
North has made only 20 runs in the all four innings of two Tests against Pakistan.
On the other hand, opener Simon Katich has also been included in the squad. He could not play the second Test due to knee injury and he was replaced by Phillip Hughes to open the innings with Shane Watson.
If Katich passes fitness test then he will be a part of the final eleven in Hobart Test.
The most successful bowler of the series spinner Nathan Hauritz will play the third Test despite a thumb injury. |
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| Intikhab calls for separate T20 squad |
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SYDNEY: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam on Thursday urged his bosses to form a different team for Twenty20 Internationals, saying that the players chosen for Tests and one-dayers should be kept away from the shortest version of the game.
In a newspaper interview, Intikhab said that he foresees a bleak future for Test cricket as far as Pakistan is concerned, saying that the rise of twenty20 cricket is ruining it.
He said that a number of steps will have to be taken in a bid to ensure that Pakistan overcome their decline in the Test arena.
One of the ways he has suggested is to make a separate team for Twenty20 Internationals. “I think we will have to that,” said the former Pakistan captain.
“If you play too much Twenty20 cricket then it becomes almost impossible for you to have the sort of patience and temperament that you need to shine in Test matches,” he said. “In Twenty20 cricket all you have to do is to hit the ball out of the park. But in test matches, it is all about staying on the wicket. It is hard work and needs a lot of character.”
Intikhab was echoing the views expressed by Mohammad Yousuf, the Pakistan captain, who said in an interview last week that Twenty20 matches will finish Pakistan cricket.
Both Intikhab and Yousuf are under fire for failing to guide Pakistan to what would have been a rare win against Australia in their second Test in Sydney earlier this week. Pakistan squandered a 206-run lead in the Test to lose it by 36 runs.
Intikhab said that Pakistan cannot win Tests against top teams like Australia unless they have some world class batsmen.
“You can’t go out and beat top teams like Australia when you don’t have any world class batsmen in your team,” he said.
“There is Yousuf but he is already 35 and does not have much time left in international cricket. Apart from him, there is nobody who can claim to be a world class batsman,” he said candidly.
Intikhab said that he rates young sensation Umar Akmal highly but the 19-year-old can only transform his talent into international success if he curbs his weaknesses. “He needs to learn from his mistakes. He should know that in Test cricket you can’t just throw away your wicket. He will have to work on his defence.”
Intikhab agreed that experienced batsman Misbah-ul-Haq might find it really tough to retain his place in the national team after having scored just 11 runs from his past three innings.
The coach was also not very pleased with the way leggie Danish Kaneria bowled in the second Test, saying that the experienced player lacks what it takes to be a great bowler.
“He (Danish) has taken 250 wickets but he still can’t read a situation accurately and bowl accordingly,” he said.
Kaneria took five wickets in the second innings, but bowled too many loose deliveries to help Australia’s cause. |
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| Changes on the cards in team management |
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SYDNEY: The writing seems to be on the wall for Pakistan team management and some of the players after the tourists lost their second Test to go down 0-2 in their three-match series against Australia.
The harsh tone of a media release issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board after Pakistan’s 36-run defeat in the Sydney Test makes it clear that some drastic changes could be made to the team and its management after the third Test which begins in Hobart from January 14.
“Pakistan Cricket Board shows it utmost concern over the poor performance of Pakistan cricket team in the second Test played in Sydney Australia.
“Chairman Selection Committee was invited today for a meeting with Chairman of PCB to evaluate the situation. As an urgent action, it was agreed to send wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed to Australia before the third Test to reinforce the wicket keeping department. The tour selection committee has been informed accordingly. As a result, Sarfraz Ahmed will be participating in the third Test in Hobart,” it added.
“An overall review of performance of the team shall be carried out by the board after completion of the Australian tour,” it concluded.
According to sources the ‘review’ could result in some sweeping changes within the team management.
Facing some tough times ahead is Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan coach. Intikhab has been under a lot of criticism and might lose his job if his team fails to come out with an improved performance in the Hobart Test and the One-day series.
Also placed under the scrutiny is Mohammad Yousuf, the 35-year-old senior batsman who was given the captaincy after Younis Khan opted out of the twin tours of New Zealand and Australia last November.
Yousuf’s defensive tactics on the fourth day of the second Test in Sydney have put a question mark over his future as Pakistan captain.
He could go if Pakistan failed to do better in the remaining matches of the tour that will conclude with a Twenty20 International in Melbourne next month. |
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| Pakistan set to make four changes for Hobart Test |
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SYDNEY: Pakistan are likely to make around four changes to the line-up that lost the second Test against Australia from a seemingly winning position here for the third and last match in Hobart getting underway from January 14.
Kamran Akmal, the man who is the biggest culprit behind Pakistan’s stunning 36-run defeat here at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Wednesday, will make way for young wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed.
Akmal dropped four catches in the second Australian innings -ñ three of them came off the bat of Michael Hussey -ñ who made a match-winning century.
Also facing the axe is the experienced Misbah-ul-Haq, who is expected to be dropped in favour of Shoaib Malik, the former Pakistan captain who is yet to get an opportunity to play on this tour.
Misbah began the tour well with an unbeaten 50 in the opening Test in Melbourne. But he fell for a first-ball duck in the second innings as Pakistan lost the Test.
The Mianwali-born batter, who was a replacement for Younis Khan for the twin tours of New Zealand and Australia, flopped completely in Sydney as after a forgettable outing in the first innings he fell for a duck in his second outing when Pakistan were chasing 176 to win their first Test on Australian soil in 15 years.
Malik, who has been unimpressive with the bat in recent times, is all set to get a chance to play in Hobart where Pakistan will be looking to avoid yet another whitewash against the Aussies.
“We are thinking about playing Malik in Hobart,” Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan coach told ‘The News’ here on Thursday. “Misbah is not in good form and we need somebody experienced to take his place if he is out of the team for the next Test,” he added.
Faisal Iqbal is also likely to sit out of the third Test, paving way for opening batsman Khurram Manzoor. The Karachi player will be playing on the No 3 spot behind openers Salman Butt and Imran Farhat.
The news from the Pakistan camp is that young fast bowler Mohammad Aaamer is fit and is all set to return to the playing eleven in Hobart. Aamer missed the Sydney Test because of a groin problem but is now expected to replace fast bowler Mohammad Sami in the line-up. Sami bowled well in Sydney but the team management is expected to pick Umar Gul as one of the three pacers along with Aamer and Mohammad Asif.
Pakistan are scheduled to fly out of Sydney for Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, Friday (today) afternoon and will begin preparing for the final Test from tomorrow. |
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| Kamran Akmal needs rest, says Intikhab |
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SYDNEY: Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan coach, believes that a sabbatical from international cricket will be good for under-fire wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.
Akmal did a horrible job behind the stumps in the second Test in which he dropped four catches and also wasted a run-out opportunity.
On Thursday, he was replaced in Pakistan’s Test squad by young stumper Sarfraz Ahmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
When approached for his comments over the move, Intikhab said that he was not informed about it. “I don’t know about it yet,” said the coach. “But I think it is a good decision because it has become quite clear with the way he (Akmal) performed in he Sydney Test that he needed to stay away from international cricket for a while,” he said.
Intikhab said that Akmal has been showing some signs of fatigue over the past few weeks but the team management was persisting with him because of his batting prowess. “He is one of our main batsmen which is why we continued with him but in this Test he was really bad. I think he has been playing too much cricket.” |
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| Yousuf hopes to lift team’s downbeat morale |
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SYDNEY: Mohammad Yousuf spent the most of Thursday trying to talk his players out of depression following his team’s disappointing defeat in the second Test against Australia.
The Pakistan captain told his players that the Sydney loss was a thing of the past and they will now have to give their best in the third and final Test in Hobart and avoid a 3-0 whitewash.
“It’s really heartbreaking to lose such an important Test from such a strong position,” he said referring to the fact that Pakistan dominated the match on the first three days after bowling out Australia for just 127 but then went on to lose by 36 runs on the fourth day.
“But the problem is that if I will continue ruing that loss then what will happen to the boys.
“We still have one more Test to play and then there is the Test series. We need to come out from the depression and start focussing on the remaining part of the tour.
“As captain, it is my job to help lift the morale of my team and I’m trying my best to do that.”
Yousuf and his boys took a long, hard look at the reasons why they lost the second Test after taking a huge 206-run lead against the Aussies.
They had a long meeting at the Sydney Cricket Ground immediately after the match in which the team officials spoke to the players about there failure to the finish the match.
The team management also spoke about the importance of making a forceful come back by winning the third Test and by doing well in the one-day series that will get underway from January 22 in Brisbane.
But so far all those efforts have gone in vain. The general mood in the Pakistan camp is quite tense as the players are well aware of the fact that they just threw away a match that they should have won.
There also fears of major changes within the team, adding to the prevailing uncertainty.
However, Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam put up a brave face on Thursday, saying that his charges will come out with a better showing in Hobart.
“It’s true that we have lost the Test from a winning position and it makes all of us feel really bad. But it is time for us to move on because there are more matches to play on this tour,” he told this correspondent.
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| Federer and Nadal ease into Doha quarters |
DOHA: Roger Federer, aiming to regain a title he last won four years ago, reached the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open with a performance which for the second successive day suggested he is starting the new season well rested and in fine shape.
The Grand Slam record-breaker won 6-2, 6-4 against Evgeny Korolev, a young and rising Russian on the verge of the world's top 50 who hit ambitiously but looked capable of achieving more than he actually did.
Federer contained him well, moved excellently, prevented his inexperienced opponent from feeling comfortable, and from time to time had moments of sublime attacking, which helped maintain an intimidating aura.
"This was a more dangerous match than my first one because he is a big ball striker and plays aggressive on forehand and backhand," Federer said.
"Conditions were difficult today, it was very slow out there and I had to be patient and grind it out, so I was happy with the way I adapted and with the way the match went."
Federer was helped by several moments when Korolev beat himself - perhaps overly aware of Federer's reputation - notably after he broke the great man's serve to get back to 2-3, only to play a poor service game himself.
Then unaccountably Korolev failed to appeal against a line call on the opening point of the final game, when he was serving to save the match.
Hawkeye was showing as on the line a drive which had been called out, but the Russian missed his chance to get the decision overturned.
By contrast at 15-30 Federer appealed against another 'out' call, on his own drive this time, and got it reversed, taking the score to 15-40 and giving him two match points.
Korolev fought back bravely and saved both of them but still lost that game and the match. Had he appealed, as Federer did, he should have reached 5-5 with all to play for.
Federer is seeded to play a final on Saturday against his greatest rival, Rafael Nadal, who looked particularly pumped up after dismissing Potito Starace, a former top 30 player from Italy, by 6-2, 6-2. |
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| Kaneria becomes first Pakistani spinner to take 250 Test wickets |
SYDNEY: Pakistan’s leg-spinner Danish Kaneria claimed five wickets in the second innings of the second Test against Australia here at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
His fifth victim was Doug Bollinger by dismissing whom he became the first Pakistani spinner to reach the milestone of 250 wickets sin test cricket.
He preformed the feat of taking five wickets in an innings for the 15th time while he has taken ten wickets in a match twice in his 57-Test career.
The 30-year-old bowler, who belongs to Karachi, is Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 250 wickets in 57 tests, followed by former cricketer Abdul Qadir with 236 wickets in 67 Tests. |
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| Australia beat Pakistan by 36 runs, win series 2-0 |
SYDNEY: Pakistan were all-out for 139 runs loosing second cricket Test match against Australia by 36 runs here at SCG, Geo news reported.
Australia set Pakistan 176-run easy target to win Test match but despite easy wicket on fifth day, Pakistan could not defeat World Champions.
Hauritz claimed 5-wicket haul, while Johnson and Bollinger took 3 and 2 wickets respectively. |
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| Pakistan need 99 more runs to win Sydney Test |
SYDNEY: Pakistan were 77 for three at tea in their second innings chasing 176-run target for victory in second Test match against Australia here at SCG on Wednesday.
Visitors lost three wickets in quick succession and were looking under pressure at 51-3 while chasing an easy target.
Those got out were Imran Farhat (21), Salman Butt (22) and Faisal Iqbal (7).
However, captain Mohammad Yousuf and young Umar Akmal came to rescue and took the score to 77-3 when tea break brought game to halt.
Yousuf and Umar were at the crease with 19 and eight, respectively.
Mitchell Johnson claimed two wickets and Doug Bollinger took one wicket for Australia.
Earlier, overnight batsmen Michael Hussey and Peter Siddle resumed the Australia’s second innings on the fourth day at 286-8, with a lead of 80 runs against Pakistan.
The plucky pair continued batting to frustrate Pakistan bowlers and extended the lead to 167 runs to go to lunch at 373-8.
Hussey completed his eleventh Test hundred with 14 fours in his 47th Test and was batting on 127 at lunch with Siddle on 37.
However, only eight runs were added to the score after lunch and Australia’s second innings folded at 381, setting Pakistan a winning target of 176 runs.
First, Siddle was dismissed by fast bowler Mohammad Asif for 38, a valuable contribution, then Bollinger was clean bowled by Danish Kaneria who became the first Pakistani spinner to take 250 wickets in Test cricket.
Hussey remained not out on 134, batting for 385 minutes and hitting 16 boundaries.
Pakistan openers Imran Farhat and Salman Butt began the Pakistan second innings going on for beating Australia for the first time in 14 years. |
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| Pakistan set 176-run target for victory |
SYDNEY: Australia were dismissed for 381 runs in second innings setting Pakistan 176-run target to win second Test of three match series here at SCG on Wednesday.
Pakistan took two quick wickets shortly after lunch break dismissing Bollinger and Siddle – two Australian tail-enders.
Michael Hussey remained unbeaten for 134 runs while Danish Kaneria claimed 5 wickets to complete his 250 wickets in test matches.
Now, Pakistan require 176 runs to end their ten-Test losing streak against the Australians and take the current three-Test series to a decider in Hobart. Mohammad Asif and Danish Kaneria claimed the final two Australian wickets six overs after the lunch break, but not before the hosts had added 95 runs on the fourth morning.
Mohammad Asif ended the obstinate 123-run ninth-wicket stand of Michael Hussey and Peter Siddle by removing the latter to a shorter delivery gloved to slip.
Danish Kaneria then completed the innings and a personal five-wicket haul by bowling Doug Bollinger with a delivery that ricocheted off the batsman's elbow and foot. Michael Hussey remained unbeaten on 134 and assured Pakistan a nervous run chase on a true SCG wicket. |
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| Australia lead by 167 runs at lunch |
SYDNEY: Australia were 373 for 8 with overall lead by 167 runs in second innings at lunch against Pakistan here at SCG on Wednesday.
Two Australian batsmen Michael Hussey and Peter Siddle have placed 116-run partnership at 9th wicket with Hussey playing on 127 while tail-ender Siddle is unbeaten on 37 runs. |
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| Kaneria puts Aussies in a spin |
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Sydney: The high point for Danish Kaneria on Tuesday came when he bamboozled Mitchell Johnson with a googly for his fourth wicket of the day as Pakistan took a giant step towards winning their second Test against Australia here on Tuesday.
Thanks to Kamran Akmal, however, Danish will also remember the third day of the Test for all the wrong reasons. The wicketkeeper dropped experienced batter Michael Hussey on three occasions during the day’s play; depriving the leggie of a well-deserved five-wicket haul and more importantly delayed an expected Pakistan win in the match.
Danish must have left fuming over the lapses especially because Kamran has made it a habit to drop catches off his bowling. But he hid it well.
Danish smiled when he was asked about it.
“One is ok, two is ok, three is too much I think,” he told reporters.
“I can’t do much else. He is trying his hardest and let’s just hope nothing goes wrong because we have another day and a Test at Hobart. It’s part of the game. He never means to do something wrong but it’s gone now, history. He said ‘Sorry mate. Three times’”
Danish, who was hit for 17 runs in an over in the first innings by Johnson, avenged that treatment by shattering his stumps to finish the day with 4-117.
“I enjoyed it,” said Kaneria, who limped out of the stadium because of cramps just before stumps. “It’s nothing serious. I had some icing and stretching and hopefully I’ll bowl tomorrow.”
Danish, who missed the first Test because of an injury, praised his officials and captain Mohammad Yousuf for giving him confidence.
“I had an injured finger and was out of first Test,” he said. “My rhythm was not coming initially and something was wrong. So I just motivated myself. Waqar, Aaqib, especially the captain, and Inti all did as well. Then I just made myself think what am I doing wrong, I just focussed, thought that I am doing everything ok and just lacking a bit of confidence. I came back hard and did well after that.
“You don’t know when you will play or not. I was aiming to come back hard here. I’ve played here before and seen so many matches here. The SCG has never been so green but in the second innings it came good and I tried my best to deliver.”
He played down a few run-ins with players and umpires during the day. “They (umpires) said you just need to calm down so I put tape on my mouth.”
Danish was confident that Pakistan will go on to win today but made it clear that they will have to fight for it.
“We have to play positive because cricket is a funny game. The Australians will come hard when they come to bowl. Nobody likes losing, it will be tough but we are very confident and should play our natural game. Australians always play hard cricket and tomorrow is a new day. Let’s see how it goes on. No matter if they get 120 or 130, we need to chase it down. I am and our team is very confident of our batting line-up.” |
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| Watson falls agonisingly short of ton, again! |
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SYDNEY: Shane Watson shows he hasn’t conquered the nervous nineties at all as he choked on yet another ton at the SCG here on Tuesday.
Shane Watson’s recent-but-remarkable trait of falling agonisingly short of Test centuries continued at the SCG with the Australian opener dismissed for 97.
After his breakthrough Test century in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, Watson has now been removed in the 90s (as well as a score of 89) three times in Test cricket since the start of December.
His much-awaited century in Melbourne was not achieved without difficulty, however, with the all-rounder creeping through the nervous 90s before he was dropped on 99. He scampered through for the vital single.
Watson made 97 of 159 runs while he was at the crease, smashing 11 fours and three sixes, but still his hoodoo persisted.
He was philosophical about falling in the 90s for the third time in his short Test career, the opener gloving a rearing delivery from Umar Gul to Faisal Iqbal at second slip.
“I’m not really worried about it. I was really happy with the way I batted today,” he added.
“Of course it’s always nice to try and break that 100 barrier but I suppose I’m lucky I didn’t get that ball earlier in the innings otherwise I would have been out. “It’s just one of those things.”
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| We can’t rest Kamran Akmal, says Yousuf |
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SYDNEY: If Mohammad Yousuf was unhappy with Kamran Akmal for spilling three sitters on the third day of the Sydney Test against Australia on Tuesday he didn’t show it.
The Pakistan captain, in fact, came out with strong support for the wicketkeeper almost calling him a player who cannot be dropped.
“Things like this happen in cricket,” said Yousuf referring to Kamran’s poor catching on Tuesday when he dropped Michael Hussey on 27, 45 and 52 off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria. “Kamran is always trying his best,” he added.
But Yousuf is well aware of the fact that in international cricket no wicketkeeper can drop catches so frequently. When asked why Pakistan can’t rest Kamran, who has been playing non-stop cricket in recent years, Yousuf said that his team cannot afford to leave out the stumper because of his batting prowess.
“You tell me, how can we afford to give him (Kamran) a rest?” he asked. “He is such a good batsman. He scored well in New Zealand and we need him here.”
Yousuf said that as captain he wants to back his players, especially if they are struggling in any area.
“The best thing to do is to back your players when the going gets tough,” he said. “Look at (Australia captain) Ricky Ponting. He is getting support from every quarter even he is not scoring many runs.”
Yousuf refused to comment on Pakistan’s chances of winning the second Test, saying that he will not say anything before the end of the match. “It only ends when it ends. When a team like Australia is involved you can’t predict anything.”
Pakistan are expected to chase a small victory target after bowling Australia out for just 127 and then taking a 206-run lead. The Aussies were placed at 286-8 at stumps on the third day, just 80 runs ahead of Pakistan.
Yousuf must be aware of the 1993-94 Test between Australia and South Africa here at the Sydney Cricket Ground in which the hosts stumbled chasing 117 and lost by five runs.
Yousuf said that Pakistan will have to take the two remaining Aussie wickets quickly and then avoid making any mistakes in the run-chase.
“It would be great to finally win a Test against Australia,” he said referring to the fact that Pakistan have not won a Test here in 15 years.
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| Lobster dinner boosts Gul |
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SYDNEY: It took a 700-dollar dinner of lobster and fish at a trendy North Sydney restaurant for Umar Gul to regain his lost form.
The lanky pacer, who flopped in New Zealand before being dropped for the first Test in Melbourne, took three key wickets in the second Test against Australia here to bring Pakistan within sights of a series-equalling victory on Tuesday.
Gul’s performance was in contrast to his first day outing on a greener and juicier SCG wicket when he just took the wicket of No 11 Doug Bollinger after fellow pacers Mohammad Asif (6-41) and Mohammad Sami (3-27) ripped through the Aussie batting to skittle them for just 127.
Following yet another below-par showing, there was even talk of axing Gul again to make place for young fast bowler Mohammad Aamer for the third and final Test in Hobart next week. Aamer, who is expected to be fit for the last Test, had to sit out in Sydney because of a groin problem. In fact, it was because Aamer’s exit that Gul was given a chance to play in the second Test.
Gul said that he was bored of having the same meals everyday and decided to explore a sea food restaurant near the team hotel with Imran Farhat, the left-handed opener.
“I decided to go and have something different and took Imran along,” said Gul. “We went to this sea food place and had an excellent dinner of lobster and fish.”
In the end, the Pakistanis found out to their utter surprise that the dinner had cost them 700 Australian dollars (Rs52,000). “It was really expensive,” he said.
When this correspondent said that it was worth it since it might have helped him get back his lost form, he smiled and responded “May be.” |
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| A pink tribute to Jane |
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SYDNEY: Almost 25,000 turned up at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday most of them wearing pink to mark the Jane McGrath Day here.
Fans were encouraged to wear pink on the third day of Pakistan’s second Test against Australia as a mark of support for the McGrath Foundation, which raises funds to places breast care nurses in regional centres. Jane was the wife of Glenn McGrath, the legendary Aussie who retired from cricket as the game’s most successful fast bowler.
She died in 2008 and was considered as the brave face of breast cancer. Now Glenn and their children, James and Holly, are sharing her legacy through the McGrath Foundation, which raises funds to help fight breast cancer. On Tuesday, the SCG Trust will rename the famous Ladies Stand the Jane McGrath Stand for the day.
McGrath, meanwhile, came at the media centre at the SCG on Tuesday to receive a cheque from the Australian Cricket Media Association in support for his foundation. |
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| Pakistan in sight of victory against Aussies |
SYDNEY: Pakistan took full control of the second Test match here at the Sydney Cricket Ground when their bowlers grabbed eight wickets of Australia’s second innings on Tuesday.
Australia were reeling at 286 for eight when the play ended on the third day of the five-day match.
Michael Hussey, who came at number four is still at the crease with a fighting 73. The other batsman is tail-ender Peter Siddle (10 not out).
Pakistan need only two wickets to go for chasing an expected easy target to beat Australia at their own ground.
Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria captured four wickets for 117 runs while seamer Umar Gul claimed three for 62. Fast bowler Mohammad Asif took one wicket while Mohammad Sami could not get any wicket.
Earlier, openers Shane Watson and Phill Hughes provided a solid start of 105 after Pakistan were all out for 333 with an impressive lead of 206 runs.
Australia were 86 for no loss at lunch but lost three wickets in the second session.
First, Hughes went for 37, later captain Ricky Ponting lost his wicket for 11, then Watson fell for 97.
Australia resumed at 199 for three after tea but Danish Kaneria destroyed their batting line taking three more wickets. He dismissed North (2), Haddin (15) and Johnson (3) before Asif removed Micheal Clarke for 21.
Umar Gul claimed the eight Australian wicket getting Nathan Hauritz out four. |
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| Australia fight back against Pakistan with 199-3 |
SYDNEY: Australia's attempt to fight back against a first-innings deficit of 206 runs suffered a blow when opening batsman Shane Watson fell for 97, taking the Australian second innings score to 3-159.
At tea, they were 199 for three, only seven runs away to overcome the 206-run deficit in the first innings.
Michael Husssey and Michael Clarke were at the crease with 35 and 14, respectively.
For Pakistan, Umar Gul claimed two wickets while spinner Danishs Kaneria took one wicket. Fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sami could not get any wicket so far.
Earlier, captain Ricky Ponting lost his wicket for 11, and opener Phil Hughes went for 37.
Watson reached 50 just before the lunch break, taking a cheeky single to secure the milestone. His half-century also included one six and six fours.
The recalled Hughes, 21, looked much more settled and watchful than he had in the first innings, when he faced 10 balls before holing out for a duck.
He was on the defence early, but got off the mark with a flourish, driving through point for four. As he gained confidence he began to play with more authority, hitting four fours in his pre-lunch tally of 31.
Australia began their second innings 206 runs behind after Pakistan were bowled out for 333 in the first over of play this morning. |
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| Australia 86-0 at lunch vs Pakistan |
SYDNEY: Australia were 86 for no loss in second innings against Pakistan at lunch on day 3 of second Test match here at SCG, Geo news reported.
Shane Watson and Phillip Hughes have put good show making unbeaten opening stand of 86 runs with Watson (51) shone with quick half century while Hughes playing on watchful 31 runs.
Australia's openers capitalised on a flattening pitch and a Pakistani reprieve to advance to 0 for 86 in their second innings, reducing to 120 the tourists' overall lead.
Shane Watson raised his 1000th Test run with a lofted pull stroke that Danish Kaneria, fielding at fine leg, dropped over the boundary rope on a morning that saw the hosts restore a degree of parity to proceedings.
Pakistan added just two runs to their overnight first-innings total as Doug Bollinger (4 for 72) snuffed out Kaneria with his fifth ball of the morning.
That took Pakistan's lead to 206 - their second-highest first-innings advantage over the Australians in 54 years of competition between the two countries - although with the SCG pitch nowhere near as threatening as the opening day, the Australians would not have entirely counted themselves out of the contest. |
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| Butt belives tourists can win |
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SYDNEY: Salman Butt struck a fine 108 when he last played a Test against Australia in Sydney five years ago.
He once again scored a brave 71 on the second day of their second Test here at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) but refused to draw comparisons between the two knocks.
“There is no similarity between the two wickets. The last time I batted here the pitch as usual supported spinners. But this one is a paradise for seam bowlers,” he said at a press conference here on Monday.
Butt put on a much-needed opening stand of 109 with Imran Farhat (53) to help Pakistan reach 331-9 in reply of Australia 127.
The left-handed opener believes things could have been much better for Pakistan. “It could have been better for us,” he said. “But we lost too many wickets.”
Butt said that the SCG pitch had everything to do with Pakistan’s failure to post a bigger total.
“Actually this track is like that. Wickets will come in heaps here. It will change slightly but not that much and there will be something for the bowlers (tomorrow).”
Butt said that he and his teammates have given an improved performance in Sydney after a big loss in the opening Test in Melbourne because they are slowly adapting to Test condtions.
“We lack Test experience. Those guys (Australia) play a lot of Tests. I and Michael Clarke began our Test careers together and he has played twice as many Tests than me.”
Butt was pleased that he and Farhat are slowly forming a prolific opening partnership. “It is good sign for Pakistan that we are scoring runs.”
It was the third century stand between Butt and Farhat, who have opened together in a total of nine Test so far.
Butt was confident that Pakistan will secure a win here.
“We can do it. I believe that if Danish (Kaneria) will do what he is capable of then we are going to win.”
Meanwhile, Australia pacer Doug Bollinger said that his team fought back in the match by taking quick wickets with the second new ball on the second. But he was quick to add that much will depend on how they bat in the second innings on Tuesday (today).
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| Yousuf rues missed opportunity |
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SYDNEY: Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf on Monday rued throwing away his wicket in their second Test here, saying that his team could have finished on a stronger position at stumps on the second had some of the batsmen avoided playing bad shots.
Yousuf said that Pakistan could have almost batted Australia out of the Test had they gained a first innings lead of 350 but said that some rash shots from a him and a couple of other batters means the tourists still have some hard work ahead.
“We could have taken ourselves to a stronger position,” he told a group of Pakistani reporters here at the Sydney Cricket ground (SCG) on Monday. “A bigger lead would have brought Australia under a lot of pressure.”
Yousuf blamed himself and three other middle-order batters – Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal – for playing rash strokes. “I lost my own wicket because of a bad shot. A few other batsmen also got out needlessly.”
Pakistan finished day two at 331-9, 204 runs ahead. At one stage they were placed at 237-3 and seemed set for a huge lead over the Aussies.
Yousuf, who is hoping to lead his team to its first win over Australia since 1995, said that he expects his bowlers to do well again.
“They bowled superbly on the first day and I’m sure they can do that again in the second innings.”
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| Katich in race against time to be fit for Hobart |
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SYDNEY: Experienced Australian opener Simon Katich is battling against time in a bid to get fit for the third and final Test against Australia starting from January 14 in Hobart.
He was forced to sit out of the second Test under progress here at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) – his home venue – on the morning of the first day because of an elbow injury and was replaced by young opener Phillip Hughes.
Katich, Australia’s top run-getter in 2009, was struck on the elbow by young Pakistani pacer Mohammad Aamer during the first Test in Melbourne last week.
“Simon has been for scans. He has a bruised bone and bruised tendon in the right elbow,” team physio Alex Kountouris said here on Monday. “We are hopeful he will be available for selection for the next Test.”
Australia missed the experience of Katich in Sydney where they were bowled out for a paltry 127 by Pakistan on a rain-hit opening day on Sunday. Hughes, his replacement, fell to Mohammad Sami for a duck to trigger the Aussie collapse.
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| Danish Kaneria the main man, says Waqar Younis |
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SYDNEY: Waqar Younis on Monday singled out leg-spinner Danish Kaneria as his main assault man as Pakistan look to push for a series-equalling victory over Australia here at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Tuesday (today), writes Khalid Hussain
Pakistan’s bowling coach believes that even the third day SCG track could offer enough turn for Kaneria to trouble the Aussies and help Pakistan secure what would be a morale-boosting win for the tourists.
“A lot will depend on Kaneria. It’s now his turn to take responsibility and finish the job,” said Waqar, one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket.
Kaneria was hit out of the attack by Aussie tail-enders – Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Hauritz – in the first innings but then it didn’t really matter as pacers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sami routed the hosts for just 127 on the opening day of the Test.
At stumps on the third day, Pakistan had reached 331-9 for a 204-run lead.
Will that be enough for the tourists?
“May be,” said Waqar. “But when it comes to a big team like Australia you can never be sure.”
But that said, Waqar added that Pakistan can even finish the match on its third day on Tuesday. “We could have had a bigger lead but it’s still not bad. We are in a strong position and with some good bowling; we can certainly win here even tomorrow.”
Waqar, a former Pakistan captain who was roped in by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a bowling and fielding coach for this series, is expecting his bowlers to come out with another disciplined show in the second innings.
“The way we bowled was a treat to watch,” he said referring to his pacers’ heroics on the opening day. “They bowled like a unit and never gave Australia a chance.”
Asif took 6-41 after Sami picked up three top order wickets to put the hosts on the back foot.
Waqar showered praise on Sami, who was once discarded by Pakistan cricket’s think-tank as spent force, saying that the fast bowler has proved his critics wrong with a stunning performance in his first Test in 25 months.
“Sami was just coming back. He was under tremendous pressure. But he bowled brilliantly and was all fired up. It was great.”
It is generally believed that Sami only made the cut for Sydney after pacer Mohammad Aamer was ruled out of the Test because of a groin problem. But Waqar revealed that Sami was set to play here in any case, adding that Gul might have missed it if Aamer were fit to play.
“It is a bit sad that Aamer missed the chance to bowl on this wicket,” Waqar said of the 17-year-old pacer who rattled Australia in Melbourne with a stunning five-wicket haul last week.
Commenting on Asif, Waqar said that the pacer will deliver almost each time if offered to bowl on a wicket like the one he was given at the SCG. “This wicket was tailor-made for him,” he said.
Waqar hoped that Asif and Sami will shine again with the new ball when the Aussies bat again today.
“The overs we bowl with the new ball will be crucial,” he said. “The effort will be there because this is our chance to fight our way back into series.”
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| Pakistan lead Australia by 206 runs in 1st innings |
SYDNEY: Pakistan were all out for 333 runs in their first innings in reply to Australia’s 127 runs, thus leading for 206 runs over hosts in second Test match here at SCG on Tuesday.
Very shortly after the start of third day, Pakistani tail enders could only add 2 more runs to their overnight total of 331 runs and lost the only wicket they secured yesterday.
Aussie pacer Bollinger finished with 4 victims under his belt. |
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| Pakistan needs a good all-rounder for better Test results: Yousuf |
SYDNEY: Skipper Muhammad Yousuf feels that Pakistan will have to find a good all-rounder if it wants to improve its showing in Test cricket.
Yousuf lamented that when it comes to One-day and Twenty20s Pakistan have plenty of talented all-rounders, but in Tests they are hard to find.
Former captain Shoaib Malik had performed that role of an all-rounder but in recent times he doesn't bowl much while Abdul Razzaq has almost retired from Tests.
In the first Test against Australia, Pakistan had to rely on just four bowlers and have faced criticism from some experts, who believe that they should show more aggression and play with five specialist bowlers to achieve better results.
'How can we do that. That would mean dropping one batsman. It would further weaken our batting. What we need right now is an all-rounder. He could be our fifth bowler,' Yousuf was quoted as saying in The News.
Yousuf, who replaced Younis Khan as the Pakistan captain last year, is likely to get a longer stint as a regular skipper.
Asked whether he was disappointed when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ignored his request to send Younis to Australia, Yousuf said: 'I can't say anything about it. It's been many days since I made the request. It's not my call. It's up to the board and the selectors to make the decision.'
Yousuf had made the request during the Melbourne Test when Pakistan's batting flopped yet again. However, Younis failed to regain his form in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy forcing the PCB to turn down the captain's request. |
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| Pakistan take 204-run lead over Australia 2nd day |
SYDNEY: Pakistan gained a big lead of 204 runs over the Aussies despite a collapse in the final session of the second day of the second Test match here at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday.
They lost seven wickets in the third and the last session of the day.
At stumps, Pakistan were 331 runs for nine wickets with tail-enders Danish Kaneria (2) and Mohammad Asif (0) at the crease.
Pakistan resumed at 14-0 in the morning and both openers, playing steadily added 70 runs in the first session and succeeded in reaching 100 without being separated after lunch.
This was the second century stand between the pair of Imran Farhat and Salman Butt in Test cricket.
However, the partnership was broken by spinner Nathan Hauritz when Imran Farhat was caught behind by Brad Haddin on an attempted sweep shot.
Imran made 53, his 13th half-century in 32nd Test. He hit four boundaries in his 140-ball innings and together with Salman Butt made 109 runs.
Later, Salman Butt was also caught behind off Mitchell Johnson for 71, made with the help of nine fours. This was his eighth fifty in 26th Test.
Pakistan were 190-2 at tea with Faisal Iqbal and captain Mohammad Yousuf batting patiently. They carved out a 61-run partnership off 83 balls before Faisal departed on 27.
Yousuf was joined by young Umar Akmal who batted aggressively and scored 49 from 48 balls with nine fours. Yousuf also fell in the forties (46).
Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal could not make good scores and were dismissed on 11 and 14, respectively.
However, Misbah completed 1,000 runs in his 19th Test.
Mohammad Sami and Umar Gul contributed 13 and 12 runs, respectively.
For Australia, Doug Bollinger was the most successful bowler, taking three for 70 runs while Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson claimed two wickets each. Peter Siddle and Hauritz took one wicket each. |
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| Pakistan 331-9; lead 204 at stumps Day 2 |
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SYDNEY: Pakistan were 331 for 9 in first innings, leading over Australia for 204 runs at stumps on Day 2 of second cricket Test match here at SCG on Monday, Geosuper reported. |
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| Pakistan building lead over Australia at Sydney |
SYDNEY: Pakistan have lost their both openers but they are gradually enhancing their lead over Australia here at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the second Test.
They have built a 63-run lead over Australia's first innings total, going to tea break at 190 runs for two wickets with skipper Mohammad Yousuf and Faisal Iqbal batting on 27 and 24, respectively.
Pakistan lost their both wickets during the second session – first went Imran Farhat, caught behind by Brad Haddin off Nathan Hauritz on an attempted sweep shot and later, Salman Butt, also caught behind off Mitchell Johnson.
Imran made 53, his 13th half-century in 32nd Test. He hit four boundaries in his 140-ball innings.
Butt scored 71, his eighth fifty in 26 Tests, with nine fours. He faced 164 balls.
Both provided a solid opening stand of 109 runs, the second century partnership by the pair in Test cricket.
Butt’s last ton in the long form of the game came in November 2005 against England, and his only other score of 100 or more was at this ground in the corresponding Test in 2005, when he hit 108.
Yousuf and Iqbal patiently carved out a 46-run partnership off 54 balls in the middle session, arresting any momentum shift that the Australians may have achieved with their two wickets.
Ricky Ponting's men wasted one of their referral opportunities when Yousuf was on 3.
Haddin and the slips cordon confidently went up for a caught behind appeal off Shane Watson's bowling, and with Ponting in the dressing room Michael Clarke asked for the decision to be sent upstairs.
But television replays clearly showed the ball came nowhere near the bat, instead clipping the top of the Pakistani captain's pad before reaching Haddin's gloves.
Watson was clearly dismayed, after missing a chance to have his first wicket for the innings in the opening session. |
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| Pakistan 190-2 at tea Day 2nd |
SYDNEY: Pakistan were 190 for 2 in their first innings at tea on second day of second cricket Test match in reply to Australia’s 127 runs here at SCG on Monday, Geosuper reported.
Pakistani skipper Mohammed Yousuf and Faisal Iqbal were two unbeaten batsmen playing respectively on 27 with 5 fours and 24 with 3 fours. |
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| Pakistan 84-0 at lunch on Day 2 |
SYDNEY: Pakistan were 84 for no loss in first innings at lunch on Day 2 of second Test match against Australia here at SCG, trailing by 43 runs with all 10 wickets in hand in reply to Kangaroos total of 127 first innings’ score.
Two left handed opening pair from Pakistan put up good, steady and watchful show, and successfully managed to accumulate 84-run stand, living dangerously as plenty of deliveries missed much closely edges of their bats many times.
Imran Farhat was unbeaten on 49 runs with 4 fours while Salman Butt was standing at 26 with one four only. |
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| Pakistan relieved over steady start on Day 2 |
SYDNEY: Pakistan were much more pleased with their steady and watchful start, living dangerously to have managed scoring 60 runs for no loss in 20 overs on Day 2 in reply to Australia’s 127 runs of first innings in second cricket Test match of Bouncer series on Monday here at SCG, Geo news reported.
Two Pakistani left-handed batsmen kicked off innings from 14-0 of their overnight score and successfully added 46 runs during today’s play.
Giving Pakistan a solid 60-runs opening start, the openers Imran Farhat is playing on 35 not out while Salman Butt is unbeaten on 18.
Earlier on Day 1, Pakistan pacers Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Sami managed to bundle out Kangaroos for 127 runs in their first innings. |
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| Yousuf searching for Test all-rounder |
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SYDNEY: Now in his fourth Test as Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Yousuf is well aware that he might go on to lead the team for a longer tenure than previously expected.
With Younis Khan, who Yousuf replaced as captain last November, unlikely to return to the role and no other suitable candidate in sight, the experienced batsman could get confirmed as Pakistan’s regular skipper.
But to ensure it, he needs to bring about some noticeable improvement in his team’s performance graph, especially in Test cricket.
One of the key areas, Yousuf has identified apart from improving the standard of fielding is to find a good Test all-rounder. Pakistan have plenty of blokes to fill up that role when it comes to One-day and Twenty20 cricket but cannot find a single one for Test cricket.
Shoaib Malik performed that role but he doesn’t bowl much any more while Abdul Razzaq has almost retired from the longest format of the game.
Pakistan have to rely on just four bowlers and have faced criticism from some experts, who believe that they should show more aggression and play with five specialist bowlers to achieve better results.
“How can we do that,” Yousuf told ‘The News’ on the eve of the second Test in Sydney. “That would mean dropping one batsman. It would further weaken our batting,” he said.
“What we need right now is an all-rounder,” he said. “He could be our fifth bowler.”
After two relatively barren years as far as Test cricket is concerned, Pakistan are scheduled to play plenty of Tests in 2010. By announcing that he wanted a reliable all-rounder in his Test team, Yousuf has given national selectors plenty of food for thought.
Speaking on a different issue, Yousuf was non-committal when asked whether he was disappointed when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ignored his request to send Younis to Australia.
“I can’t say anything about it. It’s been many days since I made the request. It’s not my call. It’s up to the Board and the selectors to make the decision,” he said.
Yousuf had made the request during the Melbourne Test when Pakistan’s batting flopped yet again.
However, the fact that Younis failed to regain his form in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy forced the Board to ignore the SOS from its captain. |
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| Asif exorcises his Sydney demons |
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SYDNEY: Five years after making a forgettable debut here at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Mohammad Asif was over the moon on Sunday with a career-best haul that has put Pakistan in a commanding position against Australia in their second Test.
Back in 2005, Asif finished wicket-less and Pakistan went on to lose the Sydney Test. But this time it was a different story.
The Sheikhupura-born fast bowler took full advantage of conducive conditions to pick up 6-41 as Pakistan bowled out Australia for just 127 on the opening day.
“I just bowled in the right areas,” said Asif and added that he wasn’t surprised when Australia captain Ricky Ponting opted to bat first in spite of difficult playing conditions.
“We weren’t surprised because we know he tends to bat first,” said Asif. “May be he knows the wicket better than us.”
Asif recalled his first Test here and said that it brought back some bad memories. “Yes I had some bad memories of this ground but it is totally a different experience today.”
The pacer said that he was hoping to bowl first on the SCG track under overcast conditions. “I knew that if we get to bowl first, we will just rip through their batting. And we did.”
He said that a fiery opening spell from fellow pacer Mohammad Sami that fetched him three wickets in quick succession was of great help.
“Sami bowled really well today. He was really fast and on target.”
Asif said that there is still enough juice in the wicket to last for the next two or three days, adding that he would be disappointed if Pakistan failed to win this Test. “But it will depend a lot on how we bat tomorrow,” he told this correspondent. “If we manage to put on a good total then I’m sure we will win it.”
Asif said that the wicket will continue to assist pacers, who will stick to a good line and length.
“The conditions here are good, very much like Dunedin and Wellington,” he said referring to two of the venues where Pakistan played Tests against New Zealand earlier this season.
Asif, who took his time to get in top gear, said that changing the bowling end after the first drinks break helped his cause.
“The end I started bowling from was a bit uncomfortable but the other one (Paddington End) was okay. It was easier bowling from there.”
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| Battered Ponting defends decision |
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SYDNEY: Ricky Ponting’s contentious decision to bat first on the greenest SCG pitch in recent memory confirmed a suspicion that the Australian captain will never again send in the opposition, no matter how heavily the conditions favour the seamers.
The Australian captain has not elected to bowl since his fateful decision to send England in at Edgbaston in 2005. In fact, he has done so only twice in his captaincy, for a nine-wicket win in Wellington earlier that year and the Ashes loss in Birmingham.
The decision baffled some former Test greats. Both former opening batsman Michael Slater and former fast bowler Geoff Lawson believed Ponting got it wrong by electing to bat in conditions that clearly favoured the bowler.
“The question will be ‘Did Ricky do the right thing?’ In hindsight I think he made an error of judgment,” Nine Network commentator Slater said. Lawson also said bowling was the best option.
After winning the toss and batting Ponting said: “It is always my preference to bat and the guys inside (the dressing-room) are happy with that decision.”
“The bowlers will be disappointed I won the toss and batted, they would have liked to have got out here and had a crack on this sort of wicket. It’s not often these days you get to bowl in these sort of conditions. But hopefully the batting group can do the right thing.”
The captain’s bad day started at the coin toss and did not improve. He is still carrying the elbow injury suffered in Perth last month and it showed in his dismissal for a golden duck in which he was caught playing a half-hearted pull shot for the second time in as many innings.
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| Pakistan confident Aamer would recover for Hobart |
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SYDNEY: Pakistan are confident that young fast bowler Mohammad Aamer will get fully fit in time to feature in the final Test against Australia to be played in Hobart from January 14.
Aamer, 17, missed the ongoing Sydney Test because of what team officials are describing as a minor groin problem but is recovering well for Hobart.
Pakistan manager Abdul Raqeeb told ‘The News’ here at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday that Aamer has received some treatment and is responding well to it.
“He had some icing and will be resting for a few days,” said Raqeeb.
“He was rested (for the Sydney Test) on the advise of the doctors because he was really stiff but hopefully he will be fully fit for Hobart.”
Aamer took a stunning five-wicket haul in the first test in Melbourne and was expected to play a key role for the tourists in Sydney but he was ruled out of the second Test on Saturday.
Mohammad Sami, who replaced Aamer in the playing eleven, bowling a sensational spell with the new ball to rock Australian top order on Sunday.
Team management will find it difficult to drop him after Sunday’s show but if Aamer is fit then he should come in for Umar Gul, who has been unable to impress much in recent times.
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| Sizzling Sami refreshes memories of Auckland |
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SYDNEY: On New Year’s Day at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), I asked Intikhab Alam as to whether he would prefer Mohammad Sami over Umar Gul to replace Abdur Rauf in the line-up for the second Test against Australia, writes Khalid Hussain.
As usual, the Pakistan coach didn’t give a direct answer but hinted that he would go for Gul. “Look at his (Sami’s) average, it’s over 50. You can’t have that kind of average in Test cricket,” he murmured.
Sami, 28, easily had one of the worst bowling averages in Test history with 81 wickets from 33 Tests at 51.37 before going into the SCG Test which got under here on Sunday.
But as Mark Twain once asserted “there are lies, damn lies and statistics”, in Sami’s case those stats are quite misleading.
He proved it with a stunning spell in what is his first Test in more than two years, scaring Australia’s top order with some menacing pace to pick up three quick wickets in the opening session of the Sydney Test. Sami scalped Phillip Hughes, captain Ricky Ponting and the in-form Shane Watson to set the stage for some further destruction from new-ball partner Mohammad Asif.
Sami’s spell reminded one of his debut Test in Auckland which earned him a lot of praise from experts including Imran Khan, the legendary Pakistan captain. The former captain is still Sami’s biggest supporter.
Sami began his Test career with a bang in March 2001, rattling New Zealand in the second innings (5-36) in the Auckland Test for match figures of 8-106 that helped Pakistan win by 299 runs.
It was mostly downhill for the pacer from Karachi as he kept getting in and out of the Pakistan line-up. The speed was still there but he was a like a misguided missile, bowling in all the wrong areas more often than not.
This correspondent had a chat with Sami during the 2006 tour of England and he kept saying that during his Test career he has played under different coaches and each of them came up with a different advice. “Sometimes I was told to just bowl fast and sometimes they would ask me to focus on my line and length. When I bowled fast, they would say I was giving away too many runs. When I stuck to a particular line, they would say I wasn’t taking any wickets. It happens all the time and it’s not very encouraging.”
Then there is this luck factor, or perhaps the lack of it. Facts, cold hard facts, would tell you that he is easily one of the unluckiest bowlers to have played Test cricket.
There have been too many dropped catches off his bowling especially in England three summers ago. “It’s actually frustrating when catches keep spilling. It just shatters your confidence,” Sami told this correspondent on the tour of India in 2007.
Another reason why Sami has so far failed to tear away the tag of an under-achiever is that he has seldom received support from his coaches.
Just before the first Test against India at Kotla, Sami was recalled to boost the pace attack. Asif was unfit while nobody was quite sure about Shoaib Akhtar. And with the Indian batsmen set to shine on flat home tracks, Sami was well aware what was in store for him.
“Kurbani ka bakra bananey kay liye hum he miltay hain,” Sami told me at a dinner hosted by Pakistan’s High Commissioner in New Delhi. Off course, all of it was off the record at that time.
It’s not that Sami was completely justified in feeling like that. It’s just that nobody seemed to care and that was visibly hurting him.
After that tour, Sami switched allegiance to the Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2008 and then returned to club cricket in Karachi last year after the rebel league began to close shop.
Not many are aware that Sami is an accomplished batsman at the club level back home and once aspired to be an all-rounder. With a little more effort in the nets he can realise that ambition and could be the sort of bowling all-rounder which Mohammad Yousuf, the Pakistan captain, is looking for.
It was back in that Test in Delhi that Sami proved that he could bat.
In what was quite a difficult wicket, Pakistan were reeling at 142-8 and seemed completely down and out. But then Sami shared a stunning ninth-wicket stand of 87 with Misbah-ul-Haq to help Pakistan reach relatively safer shores. He stayed at the crease for three hours, playing with a lot of composure. Off course, his Test record of 458 runs at a mere 12.05 doesn’t show.
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| Hussey disappointed after collapse |
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SYDNEY: The pitch was tough but Michael Hussey felt Australia under-performed in falling to a disappointing 127 on the opening day at the SCG.
After winning the toss, the hosts tumbled to 7 for 62 and had to rely on 38 from Mitchell Johnson and Hussey’s 28 to push them to three figures.
“We knew we were going to have to tough it out in the first couple of hours and we weren’t able to do that,” Hussey said. “They did bowl well, we must give them the credit, but for myself, I was a bit disappointed with the way I got out after doing some hard work.”
Hussey had played the most sensibly of the specialist batsmen before pulling at Asif and being caught off the top edge at first slip. It was an unnecessary mistake but Hussey wasn’t the only one who messed up, with Ricky Ponting, Phillip Hughes and Brad Haddin also responsible for their exits.
“At the end of the day we are disappointed to be bowled out for 127,” Hussey said. “Come tomorrow with a positive attitude, if we bowl patiently and with real discipline, we’ll create enough chances to hopefully have the game on an even keel tomorrow night and then the toss is irrelevant.”
Green tops have become rare in the modern game and the bowlers deserve to enjoy their days with assistance in the air and off the pitch. However, Hussey said the days could still be fun for batsmen.
“I really enjoyed the challenge,” he said. “In some respects the pressure goes off the batsmen a little bit, the pressure is more on the bowlers, who are expected to get you out cheaply. It’s really rewarding if you can get through the period on a tough pitch, it doesn’t get any tougher than that as a batsman.”
A major problem for the run-makers is they don’t run into seaming surfaces very often and have to play from the memory of their club or county days.
“We’re generally well treated everywhere around the world with excellent batting conditions,” Hussey said. “Sometimes in net practice in places around Australia and the world, you do get some spicy conditions, so you do practice a little bit. For me, growing up in Wanneroo (in Perth), plenty of our net sessions were like that. It takes you back to your youth a little bit.”
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| Asif, Sami knock out Australia for 127 |
SYDNEY: The opening bowling pair of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sami produced a lethal attack routing the Aussies for a mere 127 runs in the first innings on the opening day of the second Test match here at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Pakistan in reply were 14 for no loss with Imran Farhat (9) and Salman Butt (3) at the crease when the play ended early due to bad light.
Mohammad Asif grabbed six wickets for 41 runs, his career best, while Mohammad Sami, playing for the first time in more than two years, dismissed Australia’s three top-order batsmen and Umar Gul claimed the last wicket.
The main scorers for Australia were Mitchell Johnson (38), Michael Hussey (28) and Nathan Hauritz (21) while Marcus North was the only other batsman to reach double figures.
Captain Ricky Ponting and opener Phillip Hughes, coming in for the injured Simon Katich, were got out for a duck as both were removed by Sami on successives deliveries.
Shane Watson, fresh from making his maiden Test century in Melbourne, opened the innings with Hughes and could score only six.
Earlier, captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first on the rain-affected pitch. The play started after lunch in overcast conditions on a pitch with plenty of grass on it.
Australia made one change in their team with Phillip Hughes at the top of the order while Pakistan made three changes with bowlers Sami, Umar Gul and Danish Kaneria replacing injured Mohamamd Aamer, Abdul Rauf and Saeed Ajmal.
Australia: Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (captain), Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger. 12th man: Clint McKay.
Pakistan: Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria. 12th man: Khurram Manzoor. |
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| Pakistani pacers bundle out Aussies for 127 |
SYDNEY: Pakistan pace bowlers demolished Australian team for a mere 127 runs on the opening day of the second Test match here at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday.
Mohammad Asif grabbed six wickets for 41 runs, his career best while Mohammad Sami made a fine comeback taking Australia’s first three wickets for 27 and Umar Gul claimed the last wicket.
The main scorers for Australia were Mitchell Johnson (38), Michael Hussey (28) and Nathan Hauritz (21) while Marcus North was the only other batsman to reach double figures.
Captain Ricky Ponting and opener Phillip Hughes, coming in for the injured Simon Katich, were got out for a duck as both were removed by Sami on successives deliveries.
Shane Watson, fresh from making his maiden Test century in Melbourne, opened the innings with Hughes and could score only six.
Earlier, captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first on the rain-affected pitch. The play started after lunch in overcast conditions on a pitch with plenty of grass on it.
Australia made one change in their team with Phillip Hughes at the top of the order while Pakistan made three changes with bowlers Sami, Umar Gul and Danish Kaneria replacing injured Mohamamd Aamer, Abdul Rauf and Saeed Ajmal.
Australia: Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (captain), Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger. 12th man: Clint McKay.
Pakistan: Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria. 12th man: Khurram Manzoor. |
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| Asif, Sami demolish Aussie batting lineup |
SYDNEY: Fast bowlers Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Asif devastatingly bowled to demolish the Australian batting line as the hosts reeling at 67 runs for seven wickets at tea on the opening day of the second Test here at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Australia’s all regular batsmen have returned to the pavilion and now bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Hauritz are at the crease with seven and two, respectively.
Asif grabbed four wickets for 18 runs from 11overs and Sami staged his comeback with three for 21 from 10 overs.
Earlier, captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first on the rain-affected pitch. The play started a while later after lunch in overcast conditions on a pitch with plenty of grass on it.
Shane Watson opened the innings with Phillip Hughes coming in for the injured Simon Katich but they could not resist against the devatating bowling by Asif and Sami.
Hughes was dropped by Umar Akmal in the gully off Sami’s very first ball but soon he got two wickets on two balls, dismissing Hughes and Ponting on ducks.
However, Sami could not get hat-trick as his appeal for lbw was rejected after referral was called. The replay showed that Watson was struck outline the of off and he was playing a shot.
Later, Watson, fresh from making his maiden Test century in Melbourne, also departed caught behind by Kamran Akmal again off Sami for six and Australia were ten for three.
Later Asif in his second spell demolished the remaining batting line – dismissing Mike Hussey (28), Michael Clarke (3), Marcus North (10) and Brad Haddin (6).
Australia made one change in their team with Phillip Hughes at the top of the order while Pakistan made three changes with bowlers Sami, Umar Gul and Danish Kaneria replacing injured Mohamamd Aamer, Abdul Rauf and Saeed Ajmal.
Australia: Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (captain), Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger. 12th man: Clint McKay.
Pakistan: Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria. 12th man: Khurram Manzoor. |
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| Sami’s devastating bowling against Aussies at Sydney |
SYDNEY: Fast bowler Mohammad Sami staged his comeback with a bang as he devastatingly bowled to grab all three wickets which Australia lost in the first hour’s play after captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first on the rain-affected opening day of the second Test against Pakistan at the SCG.
Play started a while after lunch in overcast conditions on a pitch with plenty of grass on it.
Shane Watson opened the innings with Phillip Hughes coming in for the injured Simon Katich but they could not resist against the devatating bowling by Mohamamd Asif and Sami.
Hughes was dropped by Umar Akmal in the gully off Sami’s very first ball but soon he was dismissed on duck, caught in the slips by Faisal Iqbal and then Ponting got first ball duck.
However, Sami could not get hat-trick as his appeal for lbw was rejected after referral was called. The replay showed that Watson was struck outline the of off and he was playing a shot.
Later, Watson, fresh from making his maiden Test century in Melbourne, also departed caught behind by Kamran Akmal gain off Sami.
Australia are now struggling at 25 for three with Michel Hussey and Michael Clarke batting on 13 and 3, respectively.
Sami has so far taken three wickets for 11 runs from seven overs, four of which were maiden. He is being assisted by Asif and Umar Gul.
Australia made one change in their team with Phillip Hughes at the top of the order while Pakistan made three changes with bowlers Sami, Umar Gul and Danish Kaneria replacing injured Mohamamd Aamer, Abdul Rauf and Saeed Ajmal.
Australia: Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (captain), Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger. 12th man: Clint McKay.
Pakistan: Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria. 12th man: Khurram Manzoor.
Umpires: EAR de Silva (SL) and BR Doctrove (WI), TV umpire RE Koertzen (SA). Reserve umpire BNJ Oxenford. Match referee: RS Madugalle (SL). |
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| Good show in first class cricket to prove Shoaib fitness: Waseem |
LAHORE: Former Test legend Waseem Akram has proposed Shoaib Akhter to play first class cricket to prove his fitness if he wants to make a comeback again in international cricket, Geo news reported.
This Waseem said amid a premier show of a Hollywood film here in Lahore on Saturday.
Talking to media on the occasion, former Pakistani Test captain said, “It rests with Shoaib alone to decide weather or not he can play Test cricket any more.”
Waseem held responsible inexperience and infancy batting side of Pakistan to loose first Test match against Australia, adding, “Younis Khan must be included in squad if skipper Mohammed Yousif wants so.” |
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| Aussies win toss, bat first in 2nd Test vs Pakistan |
SYDNEY: Australia have won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket Ricky Ponting admitted would "aid the bowlers". The SCG pitch has a distinct green tinge after a week of rain in Sydney and, in what he described as "not an easy decision", Ponting opted to give Pakistan's seamers first look at the wicket.
The tourists' attack is vastly different to that which took the field for the Boxing Day Test last week. Danish Kaneria and Mohammad Sami replace Saeed Ajmal and the injured Mohammad Aamer, while Umar Gul takes the place of Abdur Rauf. They will face a new-look Australian opening combination, with the recalled Phillip Hughes to partner Shane Watson at the top of the order.
Australia's first choice opener, Simon Katich, underwent a fitness test on his damaged right elbow on Sunday morning and, despite batting for more than 20 minutes in the indoor nets, he was deemed unfit to play. Hughes will now play his first match in Australian colours since his demotion after the Lord's Test. He has yet to play a Test on home soil.
Rain delayed the scheduled start time until 2pm. An extended second session will now run from 2pm until 4.20pm, and the final session 4.40pm to 6.30pm. The Pakistanis will take the field in distinctive pink caps in support of the McGrath Foundation. |
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| Rain delays start of Pak-Aus 2nd Test |
SYDNEY: Rain and shadowed overcast has delayed the start of second cricket Test match between Pakistan and Australia cricket teams here at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday morning.
It may be mentioned, Kangaroos will go for second match with already having one match lead in three Test match series having trounced Pakistan with 170 runs in first Test match. |
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| All eyes on Kaneria as Pakistan hope to level series |
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SYDNEY: Pakistan will be searching for their first Test win in Australia in almost 15 years when they take on Ricky Ponting’s men in the second Test starting here from Sunday (today) with their hopes hinging on fit-again leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.
Kaneria missed the Melbourne Test because of an injured finger but is now fully fit and is looking forward to the sort of performance which he believes will be able to give the Pakistanis a rare win here at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) that was soaked by heavy rain on Saturday.
It was here in 1995 that Pakistan last won a Test in Australia.
They’ve lost 10 consecutive Tests against the Aussies since then including the series opener in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Though SCG curator Tom Parker has made it clear that wet weather in Sydney means that the pitch will have a lot of juice for fast bowlers and will only offer ample turn to spinners on the last two days, Pakistani management is hoping that Kaneria will click.
“He is one fine spinner, who has been taking wickets consistently for Pakistan in the last eight, nine years,” Yousuf told ‘The News’ ahead of a nets session on Saturday.
“I’m actually surprised that he doesn’t get enough respect back home because I believe he is a match winner,” said Yousuf.
Ricky Ponting, Yousuf’s Australian counterpart, had similar views about Kaneria, the 29-year-old from Karachi with 245 wickets from 56 Tests at 33.84.
“He’s a very good bowler. I saw his record come up against some of the great spinners of the last 10 years and it stacks up very well against the best of them,” said Ponting.
There is additional responsibility on Kaneria because another potential match-winner — Mohammad Aamer — has been ruled out of the Test because of what team officials are describing as a minor groin injury.
Aamer bowled a sensational second innings spell in Melbourne, picking up five wickets and was expected to shine again in Sydney.
With him out, Pakistan will be hoping that comeback pacers Umar Gul and Mohammad Sami will add firepower to their attack.
Sami has not played a Test since 2007 while Gul has been going through a lean patch. Sami can excel if he bowls fast enough while Gul will have to reproduce the sort of reverse that made him one of the heroes of Pakistan’s title-winning triumph in the ICC World Twenty20 in England last summer.
In such circumstances, the one man who can actually deliver for Pakistan is Mohammad Asif. He picked up 19 wickets on the Test tour of New Zealand but was unable to really click in Melbourne.
The pacer, who made a wicket-less debut at the SCG in 2005, is confident of doing much better this time.
“I’m much more experienced now and my form is good which gives me a lot of confidence ahead of the match,” he told this correspondent.
Yousuf, meanwhile, said that Pakistan have decided to stick with a three-man pace attack because of the SCG green top.
“There is plenty of grass on the wicket which is we will need three pacers.”
He ruled out playing five bowlers, saying that it will leave his brittle batting line-up even more fragile. “We cannot afford to leave out a batsman because already we have been struggling with the bat,” said Yousuf.
The mood in the Pakistan camp, according to Yousuf, remains upbeat in spite of the Melbourne defeat.
“I’ve been telling the boys to fight and to learn from their mistakes,” he said. “It’s not about winning or losing it’s about how we play. I think he had some good sessions in Melbourne and that’s a good sign.
Ponting, meanwhile, is not ruling out a Pakistan backlash. “We know what to expect from them, we know they have some very talented players. Last week we had their measure, up to us to make sure we start well again,” he said.
The conditions, like Melbourne, could help Pakistan. Its hot and humid in Sydney and the track will eventually offer enough turn.
But can the tourists make full use of it?
“We will have to,” said Yousuf. “The conditions favoured us even in Melbourne where it was quite hot and the wicket was dry. I hope this time we will do better.”
Squads:
Pakistan: (likely) Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria.
Australia: (likely) Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting
(captain), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger.
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| Ponting wary of backlash |
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SYDNEY: Ricky Ponting is wary of a Pakistan backlash in the second Test that begins here from Sunday (today), saying that teams can become dangerous after suffering a heavy loss.
And the Australian captain has singled out comeback leggie Danish Kaneria as the danger man, someone who can give Pakistan’s hopes of levelling the series a boost here at the Sydney Cricket Ground over the next five days.
“Teams are probably at their most dangerous when they’ve come off a heavy loss like last week,” Ponting told reporters here on Saturday.
“That happens a lot in international cricket. It has happened against us a few times... the way England bounced back in the second Test there.”
Ponting warned his players against any complacency after crushing Pakistan by a 170 runs in the first Test in Melbourne.
“The challenge for us is to not get carried away with what we’ve done.”
He believes that with an expected return of Kaneria, who sat out in Melbourne because of an injured finger, can help Pakistan put up a better fight in the second Test.
“He’s a very good bowler. I saw his record come up against some of the great spinners of the last 10 years and it stacks up very well against the best of them,” he said. “His record is actually better than Abdul Qadir and everyone knows how highly regarded he was. We have played him here before and he has bowled well against us before.”
Kaneria has taken 245 wickets in 56 Tests to sit fourth on Pakistan’s all-time wicket-takers’ list. During Pakistan’s last Test series in Australia in 2005; he picked up 15 wickets in three Tests, eight of them at the SCG.
“Leg-spinners have got that knack of being able to take wickets,” said Ponting. “That’s probably one area from last week that we (dominated). Our spinner took six or seven wickets in the game last week and theirs only got one or two. So that’s an area they’ll look to strengthen in this game.”
Ponting hoped that his bowlers will start from they left off in Melbourne.
“I can’t remember us bowling that well in the last couple of years of Test-match cricket.
“It was our best and most disciplined effort. The challenge for all of now is to make sure that we keep those standards up for the remainder of the summer.
The batting maestro struggled against the short ball against the West Indies last month but declared that he would be happy to pull such deliveries away here.
“I said that going into the last game and I got out playing a pull-shot. I’m more than happy for anybody to bowl there to me. I just need to play the shot a bit better than I did last week.”
Ponting had a word of praise for Pakistan’s young batting sensation — Umar Akmal — but said that his bowlers will make life difficult for the 19-year-old.
“He’s talented and he’s dangerous, both him and his brother. We picked up a few things from last week that we can keep signalling out to him, and making it difficult for him. He’s showed in that one over from Sidds (Siddle), how dangerous he can be. Even the start of the second innings we had him under good wraps there. He’s the sort of player who likes keeping the game going forward and scores quickly, so generally those players are going to give you some chances.”
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| Tourists suffer Aamer blow |
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SYDNEY: Pakistan suffered a major blow less than 24 hours before the start of their crucial second Test against Australia when in-form fast bowler Mohammad Aamer was ruled out of the match because of a minor groin injury, writes Khalid Hussain.
Intikhab Alam, the Pakstan coach told ‘The News’ here at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday that the team management has decided against fielding Aamer in the second Test in order to shield him from a serious injury.
“Aamer was very stiff after the last Test. The problem is with his hamstring muscles and the groin area. He is not injured seriously but we don’t want to take any chances because we want him fit for the last Test and for the One-day series (against Australia),” he said.
Aamer’s exit means that both Umar Gul and Mohammad Sami will be returning to the line-up for the SCG Test.
“Both Gul and Sami are bowling well and we believe that together with (Mohammad) Asif, they will form a potent pace attack,” said Intikhab.
Though Intikhab tried to play it down, Aamir’s exit is a huge loss for Pakistan because he as their best bowler in the first Test in Melbourne which the visitors lost by a 170 runs.
Before Intikhab’s announcement, there was some confusion whether Aamer was fit to play the Test.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf had expressed his fears that the youngster might be too stiff to play in the second Test.
“There are doubts about Aamer because he is really stiff. But we will wait for the assessment of the two bowling coaches before taking a decision,” Yousuf told ‘The News’.
However, just minutes later Aamer quickly shrugged off any such concerns, saying that he is fully fit and itching to take the field at the SCG. “There was a bit of stiffness (after the Melbourne Test) but its okay now. I’m ready for this Test.
In that interview with this correspondent, Pakistan cricket’s latest wonder boy was brimming with confidence.
Aamer, 17, was backing himself to repeat the sort of performance that gave him the spotlight in Melbourne and said that all he needs to do is continue bowling in the ‘right areas’.
Contrary to expectations that he might start with some short-pitched stuff at the Aussie top order, Aamer made it clear that he would use the new ball ‘properly’.
“I have to bowl in the right areas,” he said.
“You can’t afford to waste the new ball which is why it is important to bowl wicket-to-wicket initially.”
Aamer hauled 5-79 in the second innings in Melbourne, giving Pakistan some hope of winning the Test. During that spell, he hit Aussie opener Simon Katich with a shorter one, leaving him nursing an elbow injury.
Phillip Hughes might replace Katich for the second Test and Aamer said that he will be happy to bowl at the young opener if he plays in the match. “I’ve played against him (Hughes) when I came here with Pakistan’s underó19 team. In the five matches we played against them, I got Hughes out two or three times. He is an okay batsman.”
Pakistan colts did play five games against their Australian counterparts but according to the records, Aamer scalped Hughes just once but by then the Aussie had already completed his century. He will have to wait till the Hobart Test to have any chance of bettering that tally.
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| Fielding woes a mystery for Yousuf |
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SYDNEY: Mohammad Yousuf has seconded his coach Intikhab Alam’s assessment that Pakistan cannot transform their butter-fingered players into world class fingers through shortcuts, saying that it would need long-term efforts to overcome this weakness.
The Pakistan skipper told ‘The News’ in an interview here at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Saturday that even a specialist fielding coach will be unable to address the problem, saying that such a step was taken in the past but yielded little success.
“We had Jonty Rhodes before the tour of England and went on to spill around 20 catches during that series,” said Yousuf referring to South African great Rhodes’ brief stint as a fielding consultant three years ago. Pakistan went on to lose the four-match Test series against England 0-3.
Fielding has been Pakistan’s biggest concern on the twin tours of New Zealand and Australia and many experts have warned that without better catching they cannot do well against top sides like Australia.
Pakistan floored six catches in their 170-run loss against Australia in the first Test in Melbourne. There were several dropped catches during the Test tour of New Zealand earlier in the season when Pakistan barely managed to draw the three-match series 1-1.
There have been reports that the Pakistan Cricket Board is mulling over the idea of roping in a specialist fielding coach even though it appointed former Test pacer Waqar Younis as the team’s bowling and fielding coach.
Yousuf said that he and his teammates have tried everything in the book to improve the fielding performance. “We have been carrying out extensive fielding sessions. What else can you do,” he said.
The captain finds nothing wrong with the way his players go for their catches. “I don’t know why we drop so many catches because all of these guys are good fielders,” he said.
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| India hold record of making highest score at SCG |
ISLAMABAD: The record of making the highest score at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) has been held by India.
As per details, India set this record in 2004 when they made 705 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the first innings of the Sydney Test against Australia.
In this innings, Little Master Sachin Tendulkar remained not out on 241 while VVS Laxman scored 178.
The second highest score at the SCG was made by Australia, who scored 659-8 against England in 1946.
Pakistan’s highest score at this ground is 360 which was made twice – first in 1973 and later in 1977 – against Australia. |
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| Pakistan couldn’t win Test against Aussies for 14 years |
SYDNEY: The second Test match between Australia and Pakistan is beginning here tomorrow.
Pakistan could not win any Test against Australia for 14 years.
Australia are leading the three-Test series 1-0.
Phill Hughes has been included in the Australian team in place of opener Simon Katich who is suffering from knee injury.
Captain Australian team Ricky Ponting said that his bowlers performed very well and the same performance is also expected in the second Test.
Meanwhile, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has returned to the Pakistan team.
Kaneria had claimed seven wickets in the Sydney Test Pakistan played in 2005.
Younis Khan will join the national team before the third Test.
Sydney was the same venue where Pakistan won their last Test against Australia. |
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| Three changes in Pak squad for Sydney Test |
SYDNEY: Three changes have been made in the Pakistan squad for the second Test match against Australia beginning here tomorrow.
Fast bowlers Mohammad Sami and Umar Gul and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria have been included in the team in place of Mohamamd Aamer, Abdul Rauf and Saeed Ajmal.
Captain Pakistan team Mohammad Yousuf told Geo news that the Sydney wicket has enough grass which would help fast bowlers and this is why Sami and Gul have been included in the team.
The Pakistan team consists of the following players:
Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Umar Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul and Danish Kaneria.
On the other side, Australia have made only one change in their team by including New South Wales batsman Phillip Hughes in place of injured opener Simon Katich for the second Test. |
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| Fawad Alam, Abdur Rauf called back home |
MELBOURNE: Left-handed batsman Fawad Alam and fast bowler Abdur Rauf have been asked to fly back home to leave Pakistan with a 15-man squad for the remaining two Tests.
"Pakistan Cricket Board has instructed the Team Management in Australia to send Fawad Alam and Abdur Rauf back immediately in order to reduce the size of squad to 15 players," a PCB release stated.
"The decision about any replacement will be made during the second Test Match by the Selection Committee after watching the performances of players."
Alam, who scored a century on debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo, has failed to impress in his next two Tests. Rauf, quite surprisingly, replaced Umar Gul for the Boxing Day Test, but managed to grab just one wicket while conceding 119 runs and dropped Shane Watson at point with the batsman on 99.
The second Test gets underway in Sydney on January 3. |
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| Kaneria in, Ajmal out as tourists opt for one spinner |
SYDNEY: Pakistan have almost given up plans to field two spinners in their second Test against Australia and will stick with three pacers for the match getting underway here at the Sydney Cricket Ground from tomorrow (Sunday).
‘The News’ learnt here through reliable sources on Friday that the tourists will make two changes to the line-up that fell to a 170-run defeat in the first Test in Melbourne earlier this week.
Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria is set to return to the playing eleven in place of off-spinner Saeed Ajmal while pacer Umar Gul is likely to come in for Abdur Rauf. Gul was overlooked for the first Test because of an indifferent form and minor fitness problems as the team management opted for the inexperienced Rauf for the Boxing Day Test.
Rauf had bowled exceptionally well in the nets and according to team officials was impressive during a three-day practice match in Hobart that preceded the first Test in Melbourne.
The tall pacer flopped at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and is now set to catch a flight back home after being recalled by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) along with left-handed middle-order batsman Fawad Alam.
Team officials told ‘The News’ that the final eleven will only be decided just before the match, after taking a look at the SCG wicket.
On Friday, it was quite a green top but Pakistan are expecting that most of it would be shaved ahead of the second Test. Traditionally, SCG is supposed to be a good wicket for spinners but results in recent Tests suggest that it is the fast bowlers who take more wickets here.
Pakistan have been considering the idea of playing both Kaneria and Ajmal in Sydney in a bid to make the series 1-1 but playing conditions in Sydney have forced them to change their mind. The pitch is unlikely to offer too much turn while the fact that it is expected to be mostly cloudy with a few showers during the course of the Test has made the team management to almost decide keeping three pacers and a spinner in the line-up.
Some critics have been advocating the idea of playing five specialist bowlers but coach Intikhab Alam told this correspondent that it was quite unlikely. “We will most probably be playing four bowlers and I think three of them will be pacers. But the final line-up will only be decided tomorrow after a detailed discussion.”
While the team management is convinced that Kaneria will play in Sydney, they are still undecided whether Gul or Mohammad Sami should replace Rauf.
Sami, who was sent to Australia as a reinforcement player, could have played in Melbourne but had to eventually sit out after landing in Australia just a day before the start of the first Test.
On the morning of the day he left for Melbourne, Sami ripped through the Habib Bank (HBL) batting line that included former Pakistan captain Younis Khan, picking up six wickets to help win the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final for his side — the Karachi Blues.
On Friday, Sami — who is regarded among Pakistan’s fastest bowlers — once again bowled with a lot of pace in the nets and was keenly watched by both Intikhab and Waqar Younis, the bowling coach.
However, in spite of his speed, Sami could be ignored again for the Sydney Test as it seems that the team management is more interested in recalling Gul.
There have been reports that Gul is suffering from serious fitness problems but the lanky pacer showed little or no such signs as he bowled a few spells during Friday’s nets at the SCG.
“Gul was never injured,” said Intikhab. “We only picked Rauf instead of him because we thought he (Rauf) was in better form,” said the coach.
“For the next Test, both Gul and Sami are in contention,” he added.
Pakistan are unlikely to make any changes to the batting line even though it failed to fetch them any big scores in either innings in Melbourne. Shoaib Malik, an experienced middle-order batsman, had a lengthy stay at the crease during the nets making journalists wonder whether he is in line to make a return after being dropped from the playing eleven because of an indifferent form.
But the team management is hoping that batters Faisal Iqbal and Misbah-ul-Haq perform better in Sydney after getting a few runs in Melbourne.
Openers Imran Farhat and Salman Butt failed to make any worthwhile contributions at the MCG but the duo is set to get another chance.
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| Aamer is fast and hostile, says Watson |
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SYDNEY: Shane Watson is bracing himself for another fiery battle with Pakistan’s Mohammed Aamer at the SCG on Sunday, describing the teenager as “very fast and very hostile”.
The 17-year-old left-armer gave a stunning display in Pakistan’s 170-run defeat in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, taking 5-79 from 24 overs in Australia’s second innings.
With a thick mop of black hair and wearing a white headband almost as thick, Aamer mesmerised the Australian batsmen with his swing, pace and seam movement.
Opener Watson, who made 93 run out and 120 not out in the first Test in Melbourne, managed to avoid losing his wicket to the talented young quick.
However he’s only too aware of the 150 km/h onslaught that’s coming his way in Sunday’s second Test.
“The only way you can knock his confidence around is to try and get him to bowl a lot of overs. It was amazing, he just kept coming,” Watson said on Friday.
“Even in the second innings he was able to string a number of spells together that were still very fast and very hostile. He’s an amazingly talented young guy.
“He’s very clever with what he bowls. He doesn’t bowl too many bad balls, which is amazing for a 17-year-old, and he bowls at good pace.
“It’s great fun and a good competition out there. He doesn’t take a backward step and neither do I.
“He’s definitely up there with (West Indian) Kemar Roach. Kemar Roach obviously bowls with very good pace, but the left-armer definitely brings in a different trajectory to you and different angle.
“They’re very similar pace. You’ve got to be on your toes and ready to go otherwise you could get yourself into a bit of trouble.”
Pakistan are set to recall leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, possibly for off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, with Umar Gul a chance to replace paceman Abdur Rauf.
Watson says the inclusion of Kaneria, back from a finger injury, would give the touring team’s attack a stronger look.
“My first Test match was here against Pakistan and he got six or seven wickets in that innings (7-188 in November 2005),” Watson said.
“It will give them a little more firepower with it spinning in Sydney.”
Watson also backed Australia’s bowlers to do well in Sydney, saying their performance in Melbourne was very impressive.
“It’s the most complete bowling performance we’ve had since I’ve been involved with all these guys,” pace bowler Watson said.
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| No short-cuts to improve fielding: Intikhab |
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SYDNEY: Since day one of their tour Down Under that first took them to New Zealand before coming to Australia for a full series, Pakistan have been looking for ways and means to improve their fielding that has so far proved to be their Achilles heel.
But more than six weeks and four Tests later, Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam declared on Friday that there are no shortcuts that can make his charges better fielders overnight.
“To improve your fielding you will have to go back to grassroots level,” Intikhab sain in a newspaper interview here at the Sydney Cricket Ground. “There are no short-cuts. You cannot teach a cricketer how to field better in a few training sessions or through any lectures. You can only guarantee that a player will go on to become a world class fielder if he has received extensive training since his younger days,” said the former Pakistan captain.
Intikhab and fellow Pakistan team officials have been under constant criticism for their inability to bring about an improvement in the fielding department. Many critics blame Pakistan’s poor fielding as one of the major reasons why they almost lost a Test series in New Zealand last month and are now trailing 0-1 in the three-match contest against Australia.
In New Zealand, butter-fingered Pakistani players dropped several catches; many of them sitters, throughout the series even as team officials kept promising that there will be an improvement. They later hoped that things will change in Australia but Pakistan began their Boxing Day Test in Melbourne by flooring a couple of catches early in the day as the hosts went on to pile up a substantial first innings total that turned out to be too big for Pakistan. The visitors lost the match by 170 runs.
“We have tried everything that we can to help our players become better catchers during this tour,” said Intikhab. “But the problems run deeper. In Pakistan we don’t have a culture that can help produce world class fielders.”
Intikhab said that the country’s cricketing authorities will have to take this issue very seriously.
“It’s good to have specialised camps for batsmen and bowlers but I believe what we need most desperately is a system that can help produce good fielders.”
According to the coach, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) can play its part by staging regular camps where youngsters can sharpen their catching and fielding skills but was quick to add that it is departments and associations which need to play an even bigger role.
“What we need is a system in which there is proper and regular training of fielders at the junior level all over the country. The only way that can be done effectively is by having the departments and associations, who have their own cricket teams, having such exercises regularly and with the help of experienced and qualified coaches,” said Intikhab. |
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| We will go all out to level the series, vows Intikhab |
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SYDNEY: Pakistan have the potential to beat Australia and level the three-Test series 1-1 here next week, coach Intikhab Alam said on Friday.
Intikhab told ‘The News’ in an interview here at the Sydney Cricket Ground that his charges gave Australia some anxious moments before losing the first Test in Melbourne and they are now confident of doing much better in Sydney.
“We could have secured a better result in Melbourne had there been some luck,” said Intikhab whose team lost the series opener by a 170 runs. “But this is now a thing of the past and all of us are focussed on the next Test and will go all out to keep the series alive.”
Intikhab and his charges may remain hopeful of beating Australia in Sydney but very few critics are giving them much chance of doing so.
Australia seemed beatable before the start of the series after an unimpressive showing against the West Indies earlier this season but looked a completely different side when they demolished Pakistan in Melbourne. The Aussies were particularly ruthless on the final day of the first Test as they routed the tourists with a clinical bowling display to win the match by a 170 runs.
Experts are predicting that the hosts will record another convincing victory to seal the series in Sydney.
However, Intikhab said that you can’t predict the outcome of cricket matches. “It is a very unpredictable sport,” he said.
“You never can tell how a team will perform in a particular cricket match. I can just that nobody should rule our chances of winning here.”
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| Faisal optimistic Pakistan can bounce back |
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SYDNEY: When Younis Khan opted out of the tour of New Zealand last November, one of the batsmen Pakistan were hoping will fill in for the experienced No 3 was Faisal Iqbal.
Faisal was overlooked for the first Two Tests against the Kiwis in Dunedin and Wellington but was picked for the final Test in Napier in which he scored 6 and 67. With the second innings fifty, Faisal confirmed his place for the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne but failed to capitalise on the good starts he got there and could score just 15 and 48.
Faisal, who is now set to play at the crucial No 3 position in the second Test in Sydney, said he was looking forward to the challenge.
“I’ve always been a team man in the side, for as long as I have been playing for 8-9 years, whatever number I play at. I always did my best, at opening, 3, 4, 5 and I try to do whatever job is given to me.
“Whichever way the management makes you play I just love to be part of the squad,” Faisal told reporters here at the SCG on Friday.
Faisal, who has scored 1090 runs from 25 Tests at 27.25, said that he and his teammates are confident of bouncing back in the series after losing the first Test in Melbourne.
“...Definitely we can bounce back, Pakistan has always been like that. Whenever we lose a Test, we go hard in the next Test and that is how the team works. Guys are really focussed and we’ll be working hard today and tomorrow,” he said.
In recent days, there has been a lot of hype about the return of Younis Khan, the former Pakistan captain to help strengthen Pakistan’s batting in Australia. Faisal is well aware of the fact that he will have to make room for Younis if he is back but the 28-year-old said that it would be good news for his team.
“If he comes it will be a bonus for the team, one of the best batsmen in Pakistan cricket for a long time. It will be good if he is around in the team.”
Pakistan have failed to put up substantial partnerships in recent Tests and Faisal said that it is one area that needs a lot of improvement.
“The guys are thinking about it ñ- they need to learn from their mistakes, hopefully they are preparing mentally for it and will try their best.”
Pakistan have fielded poorly on this tour Down Under, spilling several catches and Faisal conceded it was a big problem for Pakistan.
“We all are working very hard on fielding. We’ll do more on it now and tomorrow — we’re doing our best for it. Coaches are very helpful so it depends on the guys as well how they practice seriously and work out the flaws.”
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 |
ODI
| Rank |
Country |
Matches |
Rating |
| 1 |
Australia |
43 |
5706 |
| 2 |
India |
46 |
5581 |
| 3 |
South Afirca |
26 |
3085 |
| 4 |
New Zealand |
25 |
2789 |
| 5 |
England |
33 |
3606 |
| 6 |
Sri Lanka |
40 |
4336 |
| 7 |
Pakistan |
32 |
3337 |
| 8 |
West Indies |
21 |
1589 |
| 9 |
Bangladesh |
32 |
1727 |
| 10 |
Zimbabwe |
32 |
823 |
| 11 |
Ireland |
6 |
152 |
| 12 |
Kenya |
14 |
28 |
TEST
| Rank |
Country |
Matches |
Rating |
| 1 |
India |
35 |
4359 |
| 2 |
South Afirca |
35 |
4197 |
| 3 |
Australia |
39 |
4586 |
| 4 |
Srilanka |
31 |
3574 |
| 5 |
England |
44 |
4712 |
| 6 |
New Zealand |
29 |
2337 |
| 7 |
Pakistan |
25 |
2008 |
| 8 |
West Indies |
29 |
2224 |
| 9 |
Bangladesh |
22 |
264 |
|
|
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