"I thought Pakistan played the perfect game" : Kane Williamson

[Abdullah719]

Kane Williamson speaking after Pakistan won the 2nd Test against NZ:

"There were some great improvements with the bat in the second innings but that session where Yasir bowled extremely well and put us under pressure and bowled in some demanding areas... At the same time we do need to be better in that area"

"I thought they played the perfect game, they batted for 2 days on that surface and got it to a stage where it was going to offer a bit of assistance for the spinners and they took full advantage of that"

"It's about improving and we showed that in the 2nd innings, the wicket had aged a bit more and there were signs of that improvement. It was good to score 300 batting last but the damage was done in that one session where there were seven wickets for not many runs"

"Pakistan set it up well with the bat where they were able to get 400 in 2 days, they played to the conditions very nicely so a lot of credit to the way they went about their business"

"The ball from Yasir was a very good delivery (to me) but he bowled a number of very good deliveries. He's an exceptional bowler and it's a great challenge to face him"

"It's important we learn some lessons quickly, it was a one-sided match but there were some good signs and if we put it together ahead of the last game, 1-1, a decider, back in Abu Dhabi, it's important we look to do that"

 

[Abdullah719]

But but we were too slow...

But but why enforce the follow-on...

 

[Usman Chadda]

What does this fool KW know about cricket. Pakistan batted horribly according to the esteemed critics on PP

 

[Mamoon]

What else do people expect the opposition captain to say after suffering an innings defeat and flopping individually?

Yasir produced a once in a lifetime spell which negated everything else, so this outcome is not a template for future reference.

He took the toss out of the equation and also ensured that Pakistan do not pay for their inability to score 500 after batting for nearly two full days with half of the wickets intact.

People are acting as if our slow batting has not cost us in the past and will not cost us in the future - we are number 6 for a reason, and our inability to dominate the opposition bowling has been a major contributor to our mediocrity.

That is the issue with our fans. One win and the world becomes a bed of roses and everything is forgotten.

Let’s hope Sarfraz gets lucky with the toss again. Yes I am aware that the Dubai pitch becomes better later on, but we are mental midgets who cannot cope with any scoreboard pressure in the fourth innings.

Overall, a very good win but it was largely down to a freakish display by one player rather than a complete all-round performance.

Batting was negative as usual, but it was good to see Haris scoring big and Babar continuing his form in Tests. The bowling was a one man show as well - Bilal was poor as usual and Abbas has been completely negated so far. Hasan was good but he too was riding on Yasir’s coattails.

Overall, an okay performance minus the freak-show. New Zealand can win the series if they win the toss in the third Test.

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

What else do people expect the opposition captain to say after suffering an innings defeat and flopping individually?

Yasir produced a once in a lifetime spell which negated everything else, so this outcome is not a template for future reference.

He took the toss out of the equation and also ensured that Pakistan do not pay for their inability to score 500 after batting for nearly two full days with half of the wickets intact.

People are acting as if our slow batting has not cost us in the past and will not cost us in the future - we are number 6 for a reason, and our inability to dominate the opposition bowling has been a major contributor to our mediocrity.

That is the issue with our fans. One win and the world becomes a bed of roses and everything is forgotten.

Let’s hope Sarfraz gets lucky with the toss again. Yes I am aware that the Dubai pitch becomes better later on, but we are mental midgets who cannot cope with any scoreboard pressure in the fourth innings.

Overall, a very good win but it was largely down to a freakish display by one player rather than a complete all-round performance.

Batting was negative as usual, but it was good to see Haris scoring big and Babar continuing his form in Tests. The bowling was a one man show as well - Bilal was poor as usual and Abbas has been completely negated so far. Hasan was good but he too was riding on Yasir’s coattails.

Overall, an okay performance minus the freak-show. New Zealand can win the series if they win the toss in the third Test.

Do you ever read your previous posts where you predict our all too often "bleak" future?

I vividly remember you warning us that Aus and Nz tours in UAE are gonna "expose" and "humiliate" this mediocre team which has zero character, no reliable batsmen and an average bowling attack at best.

Even a chameleon doesn't change its colour as often as your excuses to downgrade Pakistan's achievements.

 

[PakPremi]

Pak and their love affair with F- wins.

Win ODI Championship - Fluke
Win T20 and top ranking - Format not important
Win Test match (that too comprehensively) - Freak

Pak are now "no 6 for a reason in Tests" (as oppose to "no 7 for a reason") - I see that as a progression albeit slow one.

 

[PakPremi]

Do you ever read your previous posts where you predict our all too often "bleak" future?

I vividly remember you warning us that Aus and Nz tours in UAE are gonna "expose" and "humiliate" this mediocre team which has zero character, no reliable batsmen and an average bowling attack at best.

Even a chameleon doesn't change its colour as often as your excuses to downgrade Pakistan's achievements.

Face it Pak will never be India - win on pitches we can easily tailor to our requirement at home and do not win much abroad. Pak fans should stop celebrating beating a team higher in ranking than Pak and hold 3 days mourning procession.

 

[Mamoon]

Do you ever read your previous posts where you predict our all too often "bleak" future?

I vividly remember you warning us that Aus and Nz tours in UAE are gonna "expose" and "humiliate" this mediocre team which has zero character, no reliable batsmen and an average bowling attack at best.

Even a chameleon doesn't change its colour as often as your excuses to downgrade Pakistan's achievements.

I see too much chest thumping from the fans. It appears that they have forgotten the Asia Cup and our poor record against the top half teams in the last 12 months.

They have also forgotten that we have lost 3 out of 6 Tests in the UAE under the inspiring tutelage of Sarfraz.

Sarfraz is a poor player/captain of a mediocre team, but Mickey is among the top coaches in the world. However, Test cricket in Asia seems to be his Achilles’ heel.

From a management and tactical point of view, this is the 6th straight botched Test match in the UAE resulting in three defeats, one draw and two wins. Both wins were down to incredible individual performances by Abbas and Yasir respectively that papered over the cracks.

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

I see too much chest thumping from the fans. It appears that they have forgotten the Asia Cup and our poor record against the top half teams in the last 12 months.

They have also forgotten that we have lost 3 out of 6 Tests in the UAE under the inspiring tutelage of Sarfraz.

Sarfraz is a poor player/captain of a mediocre team, but Mickey is among the top coaches in the world. However, Test cricket in Asia seems to be his Achilles’ heel.

From a management and tactical point of view, this is the 6th straight botched Test match in the UAE resulting in three defeats, one draw and two wins. Both wins were down to incredible individual performances by Abbas and Yasir respectively that papered over the cracks.

Take out Williamson and Taylor from NZ. How far do you think they'll go in tests?
Take out Amla and Faf from SA. How well would they fare?
Take out Kohli and Pujara from India. How well will they perform?

Its not been a decade since we lost Misbah and Younis, 2 of our best test batsmen by a country mile. Its only been a year and a half. How would you expect such a young team to cope? There will obviously be defeats and tactical errors.

There IS no humiliation or exposing anyone. No one is claiming this team to be the AUS of 2000s or WI of 1980s but wrist-slitting isn't the way. If the nation starts thinking like you and sharing your views then I'm afraid the players might as well retire ASAP and give up on life itself because either all of their excellent performances are a fluke or their failures are what truly defines them because no matter what they do, all they get is criticism and disappointment from individuals like you and others.

 

[IMMY69]

Take out Williamson and Taylor from NZ. How far do you think they'll go in tests?
Take out Amla and Faf from SA. How well would they fare?
Take out Kohli and Pujara from India. How well will they perform?

Its not been a decade since we lost Misbah and Younis, 2 of our best test batsmen by a country mile. Its only been a year and a half. How would you expect such a young team to cope? There will obviously be defeats and tactical errors.

There IS no humiliation or exposing anyone. No one is claiming this team to be the AUS of 2000s or WI of 1980s but wrist-slitting isn't the way. If the nation starts thinking like you and sharing your views then I'm afraid the players might as well retire ASAP and give up on life itself because either all of their excellent performances are a fluke or their failures are what truly defines them because no matter what they do, all they get is criticism and disappointment from individuals like you and others.

A true sports fan supports their team no matter what. They feel the pain when the team loses and experience great the joy when they win, despite the flaws.

I support Arsenal, my football team, through thick and thin and the highs and lows that go with winning and losing (more using then winning in recent years). However, every victory is celebrated, not like we are suddenly the best side in the world, let alone in the Premiership. But a victory brings hope that another victory is around the corner.

The English football team have not won anything since 1966 but it doesn't stop tens of thousands turning up to watch them play and millions at home watching on TV even when they were extremely poor.

Thats the beauty of sport and having a team to support, whether its a domestic or international team.

You can't call yourself a fan if all you do is ridicule and criticise or blame it on a fluke.

 

[PakPremi]

I have not seen any chest thumping by Pakistani regular posters despite sublime performance by the team so far starting with Australia series and ending with this test match thumping win, with the exception of one heads gone hour in the first test match in this series. The unpredictable Pak team could easily lose next test but winning test matches against team higher than us is source of celebration not mourning. We will also mourn if and when we lose this series as well but so far Sarfraz and team have done us proud. There are few tweaks required to this test team like dropping Hafeez and adding another good spinner (for SA series Shahin Afridi would also boost the team).

 

[Ab Fan]

I back Williamson to hit a century in third test. He doesn't have any yet so we can expect one from him. Interesting series ahead, although I think Pakistan will eventually take this.