Australians, having the world's best pace and leg spin attack and a strong batting line-up in their armoury, are all set to welcome the inconsistent young Pakistan team. Pakistan team, led by Mohammad Yousuf, is all set to face the world's strongest side, Australia, for the 10th Test series on the Aussies soil, beginning on December 26 at Melbourne.
First Test between Pakistan and Australian got of on December 26 at Melbourne. However, Yousuf was optimistic that beating Australia in the Test series was not a distant dream, as the hosts are in the process of rebuilding their team following the retirements of stars like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist.
Expressing satisfaction over return to form of openers Salman Butt and Imran Farhat, Yousuf said beating the Aussies in Test series was not a distant dream, a feat that has never been achieved by Pakistan. "The feeling one had some years ago that beating Australia in Australia is impossible is no longer there among our players," Yousuf said, adding: "I think we have a bowling attack that is capable of causing problems for Australia and they are now beatable," Yousuf said.
Yousuf's optimism was endorsed even by former captain Ramiz Raja who believed Pakistan could give tough time to Australia, provided they played with some attacking flair to knock the Aussies pacers. Raja is of the opinion that Pakistan have a golden opportunity to beat the world champions in their own backyard, as Australia are no longer the awe-inspiring side they used to be.
Batting & fielding At the same time, Yousuf and coach Intikhab Alam admitted that Pakistan needed to improve their middle order batting and fielding. "Our bowling is not a worry and they did well in New Zealand, but we have to lift our batting and fielding standards. "It is up to us now to take advantage of the situation.
Yousuf also said the pitches in Australia normally had more bounce and pace and batsmen needed to apply themselves accordingly and adjust themselves to their techniques. On the eve of the team's departure from New Zealand to Australia, Intikhab confessed that since the present team was weaker than the teams previously visited Australia, there would, therefore, be tremendous pressure on the team.
WAQAR YOUNUS FACTOR: Yousuf welcomed the appointment of former Test star bowler Waqar Younus as bowling and fielding coach. He said since Waqar Younus lives in Australia and was well aware of the behaviour of the wickets, weather conditions and above all the weaknesses of Aussies batsmen.
His tip to Pakistani pacers, especially Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Sami, would help them improve. As regards spin bowling, one must remember that like the Kiwis, the Aussies are not good at playing leg-spin and again one hopes that Danish Kaneria will create trouble for the hosts. It is surprising that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has assigned the responsibility of improving the fielding, but it ignored the most important department, batting, which needs proper coaching and training.
Fielding requires mental and physical fitness and agility on the ground, which is possible only if the fielders realise their responsibility. Mere coaching is not enough to improve fielding, as in the past the PCB acquired the services of South African fielding wizard Jonty Rhodes, but he too could not do the needful.
SELECTION FLAWS: Coaching flaws apart, the selection of the team for the tour has exposed the vision of chief selector Iqbal Qasim and his associates. Surprisingly, the selection committee banked only on two openers and one wicket keeper, ignoring the injury factor of the players on bouncy and hard tracks in Australia. It seems that the selectors gave preference to strengthening the bowling department.
As such, the team needed an experienced wicket keeper for the long tour to lessen the pressure on Kamran Akmal. Moreover, inclusion of former captain Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq in the team is surprising. In the recently concluded three Test series against New Zealand, both the batsmen have failed to prove their mettle.
PAKISTAN'S TRACK RECORD: Pakistan's track record in the previous nine series on the Australian soil is very poor. They have not won a Test series in Australia, although they drew thrice, in 1964-65; 1976-77; and 1979-80. In the 1999 series, Australia won the first Test in Brisbane by 10 wickets, the second Test in Hobart by four wickets and the third one in Perth by an innings and 20 runs.
Australia defeated Pakistan in 15 Test matches of the six Test series, including two whitewashes, and seven Test matches ended as drawn. Of the 26 Test matches, Pakistan could win only four since 1964-65 when they first faced Australia in Melbourne in the one-off Test. The first-ever Test match between Pakistan and Australia in Australia was played at Melbourne in 1964-65, which was drawn.
The match was memorable for Little Master Hanif Mohammad, who hammered 104 in the first innings followed by 93 in the second, and fast medium bowler Arif Butt, in his maiden Test, took six wickets for 89 runs in the Australia's first inning. Of the four previous Test matches Pakistan had played at Perth, their performance was below standard. They suffered innings defeats in two Test matches, seven-wicket and 286-run defeats in one each Test. Their highest was 298 and the lowest 62
Anyhow, beating the Aussies in their backyard is not a distant dream as Yousuf put it, one hopes the dream will come true, which is possible only if fielders and batsmen perform to their full potentials. If the Pakistani batsmen understood the behaviour of the wickets, adjust themselves in the Australian conditions and have the ability to mould themselves accordingly, Pakistan's chances for success would be brghtened.
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