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Pakistan v Australia 2010
Pakistan will miss Yousuf and Younis - Hussey
July 11, 2010
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Michael Hussey believes Pakistan's batting depth will be seriously tested in the absence of Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan for the upcoming series against Australia. However, Hussey is wary of an "outstanding" attack that is likely to determine the fortunes of the side six months after they lost 3-0 in Australia.
Younis did not play in that series but has been one of their most reliable Test players in the past couple of years. Both he and Yousuf, the captain during the visit to Australia, average over 50 in Test cricket and in their absence, the only member of the top six who averages above 40 is Umar Akmal, who has played only six Tests.
"I think their depth is going to be tested," Hussey said. "You take Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf out of that team and you're losing two outstanding, classy players. That's going to be a big loss, particularly in the Test match arena. It's going to be very hard to find those runs that those guys consistently score in Test match cricket.
"But their bowling attack looks outstanding. They're very well balanced and they cover all bases very well. Run-making for us is going to be tough, but hopefully if we can bowl well and keep them under pressure, I'm hoping we can bowl them out for less runs than us."
Although Pakistan might enter the series with some confidence left over from their two Twenty20 victories in Birmingham, history is against them, as they haven't beaten Australia in a Test since November 1995. During the most recent series in Australia, Salman Butt was the only Pakistan player to score a Test century, and only he and Umar Akmal averaged above 30.
For the Australians, five men posted hundreds and averaged 50-plus including Hussey, whose 134 in Sydney helped Australia to a famous victory from what seemed an unwinnable position. He enters Tuesday's Lord's Test in fine form, having cruised to a century in the warm-up game in Derby, but he knows the challenge will be far greater against Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul and Danish Kaneria.
"I feel like I'm seeing the ball well, but it doesn't really matter in a practice game," he said. "I'd give all those runs back for a hundred at Lord's in a Test match, that's for sure. The Pakistanis have an excellent attack, it's going to be a lot better than the attack we faced up in Derby. It's going to be a huge challenge."
At 35, Hussey is one of the old men in an unusually inexperienced Australian squad . Five of the 14 members are yet to make their Test debut, although Steven Smith and Tim Paine will wear the baggy green for the first time at Lord's. Hussey said the youth in the group helped create genuine excitement ahead of a rare neutral Test.
"In our team we've got a great mix," he said. "All the guys love playing for Australia and you can really see it in their faces. Even Ricky Ponting at the moment, I think he's loving being captain of the team at the moment. It's a new team, it's fresh, he wants to have an input on how these young guys develop as cricketers and there's a real enthusiasm around the team."
Brydon Coverdale is a staff writer at Cricinfo
Feeds: Brydon Coverdale
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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Brydon Coverdale
Assistant Editor Possibly the only person to win a headline-writing award for a title with the word "heifers" in it, Brydon decided agricultural journalism wasn't for him when he took up his position with ESPNcricinfo in Melbourne. His cricketing career peaked with an unbeaten 85 in the seconds for a small team in rural Victoria on a day when they could not scrounge up 11 players and Brydon, tragically, ran out of partners to help him reach his century. He is also a compulsive TV game-show contestant and has appeared on half a dozen shows in Australia.
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It takes 11 test players to win a test match. You do not have even 7 test players. How do you expect to win against a formidable side? There could be one close match if Pak players can hold on to the catches. I would not be surprised to see Pak innings not crossing 220 runs. Mr. Afridi, you do not build a team against Auatralia ( as you said), you needed the experience of the two Y's. Hussay understood,but not the Pak Captain or the selectors. Good Luck.
Posted by humester on (July 13 2010, 03:05 AM GMT)Its so funny, everyone keeps chanting the names of Younis bhai and Yousuf and saying that without them this team has no chance. Well, let me ask you this: What did those two wonderful high class batsmen do when they did play their last test matches? Exactly! Maybe Younis and Yousuf were good in their hey day but they are useless now. Pak stands a better chance giving the youngters a chance rather than waste two slots with those two aging batsmen.
Posted by Desihungama on (July 13 2010, 01:36 AM GMT)Lot of people are commenting whether a certain player should be in the team or certain be dropped etc. It took Imran Khan a good six to seven years before he flushed out the then board favorites, inductees or whatever. And when Imran had each and everyone player that HE wanted in team Pakistan went on win the World Cup. In my opinion, Afridi is going to go along the same lines and exert himself on the board to get the players he want before the team is all set for the event.
Posted byi think everyone has forgotten tht we took aussies to the brink at sydney evn with all the infighting... there is no doubt pakistan can beat ANY team in the world.... bt sadly the fielding has alwys let thm down.....yes pakistan batting is weak comparatively to the past bt thts not an excuse to put up a good performance... n T20 is a form of the game where pakistan has performed...unfortunately sangakarafan is jst sad tht his team nvr wins it... nehow Aussies in test cricket are a superior side, however in my view a fighting performance is all tht pakistan requires.
Posted by upsrockstar on (July 12 2010, 17:46 PM GMT)What is the use of watching a test series when we already know the end result.....PAK whitewashed 2-0. One of the worst Pakistani sides with an equally worst captain.Even the Bermuda women's team can defeat them by an innings margin in a test.
Posted byIf Pakistan takes its catches and really knuckle down and bat through I think we can win.. although neither of those scenarios is probable. At least our bowling will be fun to watch.
Posted by sonjjay on (July 12 2010, 16:25 PM GMT)Well Pakistan has a very strong bowling dept its a pity that they dont quality batsmen. If they get some good batsmen in they'll be the pakistan of old , being an Indian fan i hope not, bt it will be good for circket, although they have shown signs of improvement i think their batting will let them down.
Posted by SangakaraFan on (July 12 2010, 16:02 PM GMT)Unfortunetly pakistan does not have any depth in batting without Yonis Khan.Rest all of them are good for T20 cricket ONLY where luck is 90% and 10% is talent. In test cricket pakistan gets HAMMERED by all test playing nations.They have all lost all Test series from 2006(SA,India,SriLanka,Australia have all beaten them).Umar Akmal was a FLOP in Australia's bouncy wickets.
Posted by abdulkareem79 on (July 12 2010, 14:26 PM GMT)yes you guys r right malik has no technique back foot player anyway i m thinking our middle order looks really weak malki's performace even against leicester was terrible i hope we get yusuf n yunis or somebody good not malik
Posted byHi All, Now this is the TIME to COMEBACK of WOUNDED LIONS i.e. AFRIDI ELEVEN & they will IMPUDENTLY GO FOR THE WILD HUNT v/s AUSSIE. I am pretty much sure "Michael Hussey" & most of the Spectators will be disappointed on what they think & say today. BR, KHIZAR (WELL WISHER OF CRIC-PAK)