M Shoaib Ahmed: Home advantage plays a decisive role (13 Apr 1998)

13 April 1998

Cricketing pattern: Home advantage plays a decisive role

By M. Shoaib Ahmed

IN THE last few years, the home advantage has played a vital role in the outcome of the various series. Pakistan enjoys a distinguished home record since 1972-73 losing merely four Tests in the last 26 years or so, while losing five Tests including three against the mighty West Indians, in Pakistan since 1969-70. The last country to beat Pakistan in Pakistan, apart from the West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa, was New Zealand that won a Test against the host nation, way back in 1969-70 and pocketed the series as well.

Of the 27 Test series played on the Pakistani soil, the host country bowed down only thrice. Of the remaining 24, Pakistan have won 17, while seven have petered out in draws. Pakistan are slight behind the West Indian as far as the series wins are concerned. The West Indies have lost only two, both against Australia in the last two decades, to Ian Chappell's Australians side in 1972-73 and Mark Taylor's team in 1994-95, though they were in danger of losing one to Pakistan in 1987-88.

The Australians have the satisfaction of winning the highest number of Tests and series on their home grounds. They have won 65 Tests and 24 series out of 35 series, They have lost only seven - four to the West Indians, two to the Englishmen and one to the next door neighbour, Kiwis (in 1985-86). Pakistan and its arch rival India have to yet taste a series victory in Australia.

England has the honour of playing the maximum number of Test matches at home; 144 to be precise. Ironically, England features in losing the maximum number of Tests, from 1972-73 to end of March 1998, as well as against 42 wins and 54 draws. England is at par with Australia, having hosted 33 series.

From 1978-79 (when the Pakistanis beat the Kiwis 1-0) to 1991-92, the Kiwis reigned supreme and were in fact unbeaten in a home Test series. The myth of their invincibility, however, was broken by England led astutely by Graham Gooch just prior to the 1992 World Cup; England winning by a 2-0 margin. New Zealand has the distinction of winning Test series against all the Test playing nations.

The Indians have managed to win 32 Tests and 13 series at their own soil which give them a success percentage of 67.39. The Sri Lankans have on the credit side of the ledger 8 wins off 34 Tests.

In the first 22 years of Pakistan history, they played a total of 24 series, winning 5, losing 9, drawing 10. This during the first of two very distinct phases in which Pakistan was led by AH Kardar, Fazal Mahmood, Imtiaz Ahmed, Javed Burki, Hanif Mohammad, Saeed Ahmed, Intikhab Alam, and Majid Khan in that order. Of them, Kardar led Pakistan to victory in two series, and Fazal, Hanif, and Intikhab Alam in one apiece.

Mushtaq Mohammad's appointment as captain marked the beginning of a very productive phase which has seen a complete transformation in Pakistan's fortunes. During this period, 22 years from 1976-77 v New Zealand to the most recent 1997-98 series v Zimbabwe, Pakistan has so far played a total 56 series won 28, lost 14, and had 14 drawn. Pakistan's successive captains in this phase have been Mushtaq Mohammad, Javed Miandad, Imran Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Wasim Akram Waqar Younis, Saleem Malik, Saeed Anwar and Rashid Latif.

Source:: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)