Australia's ascendancy: Pakistan needs herculean effort to bounce back (12 October 1998)

12 October 1998

Australia's ascendancy: Pakistan needs herculean effort to bounce back

Lateef Jafri

There have been widespread disappointments in the country, from the fans to the general cricket followers, over Pakistan's massive defeat by an innings in the first Test in Rawalpindi against Australia.

No doubt the chroniclers and the statisticians were more astonished by the fall from grace of the national unit than those who hold cricket as a game of turn and twist. The loss was more depressing since Pakistan had an impeccable record at home and only an Australian touring set under the leadership of Richie Benaud had lowered the colours of this country by 2-0 as long ago as 1959-60. The home formation had capitulated by an innings to Viv Richards' West Indian lineup in three days 11 years ago in a Test match at the country's cricket headquarters, Qadhafi Stadium. But that setback only gave the chance to the Caribbeans to cancel out their earlier ignominy at Faisalabad in the same series.

The experts are pointing out many mistakes committed by the technocrats, including the famed coach, Javed Miandad, captain Aamir Sohail and the selectors, all of whom have represented the country in the Test matches. Why they misread the wicket and fielded an imbalanced combination to face a resilient Australia is a puzzling question? Of all the persons Miandad reportedly asked the groundsman to shave off the grass from the playing strip. Then three spinners were packed into the side to put loads of responsibility on them - perhaps to exploit a responsive pitch. The wicket may have been on the slower side but was not amenable to the Pakistani bowlers' trickery. An explanation could hardly be found for Miandad's advice to the groundsman, if at all the reports circulating in cricket circles are taken as true.

As one sees the Test, which ended 13 minutes after the start on the fifth morning, it was the batting that led to the downfall and humiliation of the team by an innings and 99 runs. Apart part from Saeed Anwar's bold century in the first innings there was no upper order, no middle line and the tail was too long. One may agree with Cricket Board Chairman Khalid Mahmud that the country was playing its first Test after six months. They were facing the adversary with a one-day mentality. But this is the age of duality of competition and the combatants have to be prepared for both types of the game - the nascent cricket and the five-day Test encounters. The panicky batting after the bold performance in the Sahara Cup was saddening as well as surprising.

The skipper, Aamir Sohail, to the onlookers at the Pindi Stadium and the TV viewers, appeared technically incapable of riding the storm with scores of four and 13. There were no recognised batsmen to nurse and rescue the innings as one and two down batsmen. The absence of Ijaz Ahmad, a brave and sensible stroke-maker, was sorely felt. The big occasion proved too much for inexperienced Mohammad Wasim. Leaving aside the failures of Sohail and the selected No. 3 batsman, there was no player with a sound technical skill to stem the rot in the second knock, if Pakistan's moderate effort in the first innings was being seen as good enough for the visitors, who had come better prepared for a gallant and impressive display. The grim antagonism of Inzamam and the usual watchfulness of Salim Malik were missing to the consternation of the onlookers of the game.

On a grassless and easy-paced pitch the Pakistan seamers, sans Waqar Younis, had a difficult task on hand yet Wasim Akram's struck blows on the Australians with finely controlled pace bowling startled the batsman. The visitors were 28 for 3. But then the strength and balance in the Australian lineup showed up with batting which was sound, skilful and hearty. It was soon evident that the match was going Australia's direction, howsoever the Pakistani attack worked hard on a wicket which was not giving any assistance to it. Later, it was seen that Australia, with batsmanship of variety, was fully equipped to comfortably deal with the Pakistan attack and rattle up a score of 513, Michael Slater (108), Steve Waugh (157), Darren Lehmann(98) and Ian Healy (82), revelling in their strokes and hitting the bowling on quick feet.

Some cricket watchers have pointed out that the string of inquiries against alleged bribery, betting and match-fixing scandals and the character-assassination of some senior players viz Salim Malik, Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mustaq must have affected their game. How could have they mustered more enthusiasm in their display? If that is so can Pakistan storm back into the series and put up an imposing performance in the remaining two Tests? Let the officialdom find out.

Pakistan lost the first Test by a heavy margin. They will be under considerable pressure on the playing -fields of Peshawar and Karachi. The tails of the Australians are virtually up. Can Pakistan seize the initiative from their rivals?

Khalid Mahmud, PCB Chairman, feels that Australia stands on a firm footing after winning the first Test but coach Miandad feels that his squad can lift itself and play positive cricket against the formidable touring opponent.

However, there is a feeling in the cricket circles that the playing outfit needs drastic restructuring in both bowling and batting, which is to be more responsible and determined. Why not draft Aqib Javed, the medium-pacer, who usually bowls his heart out, into the squad? The coach and the captain have also to show a more serious approach to the game. If the visitors are exhibiting competence in both batting and bowling the Pakistan side too has intelligent professionals to put up a fight and pull the matches out of fire.

The match turned out to be a grand success for Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Ian Healy who found the pitch to be ideal for him to play a felicitous innings of 82, giving joy to the spectators with splendid and powerful drives all-round the wicket. But more glory came to him behind the stumps when later he passed compatriot Rodney Marsh's record with an aggregate of 356 dismissals, with safe and quick work as a keeper.

Where the Pakistan bowlers did not prove effective, Australia's leg-spinner McGill took nine wickets for 113, filling the breach efficiently of the world-famed Shane Warne, nursing an injured shoulder. He tricked and snared the home batsmen with his flight and turn. With a muscular physique McGrath, among the seamers, was the more penetrative and hostile on a docile pitch. He will need watching and careful treatment by the Pakistani batsmen as he prepares to put his full weight into the attack in the next engagements.

Source :: The dawn (www.dawn.com)