Pakistan plan to humble Aussies on spinning track (22 October 1998)

22 October 1998

Pakistan plan to humble Aussies on spinning track

By Samiul Hasan

KARACHI, Oct 21: Pakistan plan to demolish Australia in the third and final cricket Test on a spinning track but are praying at the same time that the strategy doesn't backfire.

The wicket looks quite barren as it is the only 22-yard strip which is bald, muddy and brown though surrounded by the lush green outfield.

Trailing 1-0 in the three Test series, Pakistan will go into the third Test with their back to the wall. They are caught up in a must-win situation to keep their 44-year-old and 32-match unbeaten record (16 wins, 16 draws) at the National Stadium intact.

"It is going to be spinners paradise. It would turn a lot. But it is still to be seen if our bowlers can bowl well on it," Pakistan coach, Javed Miandad, said.

"We haven't finalized our side yet. But a minimum of two spinners would definitely play," Miandad added.

Miandad's counterpart Geoff Marsh opined: "The wicket is what we had expected. It is a good wicket and obviously is going to turn."

Australian skipper Mark Taylor admitted that the wicket would suit the spinners. "It is a spinning track. We have, therefore, decided to bring in Gavin Robertson (the off-spinner) in place of Ricky Ponting."

Australia have also strengthened their spinning department by recalling Darren Lehmann - a left-handed middle-order batsman and more than a part-time left-arm spinner.

Lehmann scored 98 in Australia's an innings and 99-run victory at Rawalpindi in the first Test and followed it up by slamming centuries in each innings in the four-dayer against Rawalpindi Division Cricket Association. He had missed the drawn second Test because of groin injury.

Paceman Damien Fleming is expected to pave the way for Lehmann. That would leave Colin Miller to share the new ball with Glenn McGrath. Miller, later in the innings, returns to bowl tight off-spinners.

Though Pakistan have yet to announce their playing eleven, the spinning responsibilities would be shared by two inexperienced bowlers. They have Arshad Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq and the 32-year-old Shakeel Ahmad at their disposal. Shakeel, who has captured 24 wickets in three matches this season, hasn't played a Test and Arshad and Saqlain share 16 Tests and 60 wickets between them.

In all probability, Shakeel will be getting his Test cap on Thursday and, as situation stands at the moment, his partner will be Arshad who made his debut against the West Indies last year at Peshawar and remained wicketless.

This leaves Pakistan with one of the weakest and most inexperienced spinning pairs ever to play in a Test. This means that the strategists are hoping to beat Australia on a spinning track without the help of their spinners.

The strategy to prepare a spinning track looks lacking in wisdom as Pakistan has a battery of fast, aggressive and experienced pacemen. If Pakistan had any realistic chance of beating Australia, that was by preparing a wicket more responsive to the seamers than the spinners. But they have opted for the latter.

The plan to prepare slow and turning track would have been worth a try had Mushtaq Ahmad not been unfit. But without Mushtaq, it might turn out too big a gamble.

However, there were smiles in Pakistan camp after Wasim Akram declared himself fit and would be opening the bowling with Shoaib Akhtar.

"Mushtaq Ahmad's absence is a blow. But instead of ruing that loss, we should be happy that Wasim Akram is back in the side. His services are tremendous and on his day, he is unmatchable," skipper Aamir Sohail said.

Akram had a good session in nets and in fact created a panic when his lethal yorker struck on the front toe of Inzamam-ul-Haq. Inzamam later limped out of the ground.

However, Inzamam said the injury was not that serious and he would be playing tomorrow.

"It was quite nasty. I am in a little pain but there is nothing serious about the injury," Inzamam said.

If Australia have a better and more balanced outfit, history is on Pakistan's side who have never lost here. The home team has met the tourists seven times before and have emerged winners on five occasions, including four in a row.

Their last win over the Australians was nothing less than heart-stopping when Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mushtaq Ahmad shared in a match-winning 57-run last wicket partnership.

"Obviously, Pakistan's record at this ground is very impressive. But four years ago, we came within one ball of beating them," Australian skipper Mark Taylor, who scored a pair then, said.

"We have played better cricket in the first two Tests. There is no reason why we can't continue the good work," Taylor added.

But Javed Miandad was very cautious. "I don't believe in records. It is not necessary that if we haven't lost here, we would never lose.

"But our objective would be to play positively and win the Test. We are mentally and physically fit and ready for the next five days," he stated.

All said and done, there would not be fireworks like Peshawar. In fact, it is going to be a tough task for the batsmen to show their prowess in difficult conditions such as this one.

But toss is going to prove vital. Any captain making the right call will have little hesitation in electing to bat first.

Australia (likely): Mark Taylor (captain), Michael Slater, Justin Langer, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh, Darren Lehmann, Ian Healy (wicketkeeper), Colin Miller, Gavin Robertson, Stuart MacGill, Glenn McGrath.

Reserves: Ricky Ponting (12th man), Michael Kasprowicz, Damien Fleming.

Pakistan (likely): Aamir Sohail (captain), Saeed Anwar, Ijaz Ahmad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Salim Malik, Yousuf Yohanna, Moin Khan (wicketkeeper), Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Shakeel Ahmad, Arshad Khan.

Reserves: Shahid Afridi (12th man), Azhar Mahmood, Mohammad Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shahid Nazir.

Umpires: David Orchard (South Africa) and Riazuddin (Pakistan)
TV Umpire: Feroze Butt (Pakistan)
Match Referee: Peter van der Merve (South Africa).

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