SL_Fan
Senior ODI Player
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- Oct 21, 2012
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Azhar Ali speaking after Day 3 of the MCG Test:
"Very pleasing to score a 200 at the MCG, it's a great ground and scoring in Australia is always a subcontinental batsman's wish. I came with hopes of delivering for my team and I'm ecstatic about it, hopefully that can help us to get a good result in the game."
"I was focusing on each ball and setting small target for myself while batting. Pleasing to know I have the highest score by a Pakistani in Australia, it's a very proud moment for my career."
"Australia bowled really well in good areas, had to work hard for my runs and be patient sometimes. When the ball came into my zone, I focused on scoring off it. The balance was good and I was really confident about my footwork. I was very comfortable with my stance."
"The MCG pitch was a bit slower than the Gabba, there was a bit more lateral movement here while Gabba had more bounce and was quicker. The clouds also assisted swing bowling. Still very different from conditions we're used to. Stoppages made it a struggle for both batsmen and bowlers at times."
"The wicket dried up a little today and the movement had decreased. If it stays dry, reverse swing will come into play. We got some reverse today but Warner played a gem of an innings. If we can build pressure on Australian batsmen and control the run-rate and the ball reverses then we can get wickets."
"The game is wide open now, both teams have a chance. We need to come back in the morning and build pressure and get some wickets and take it from there."
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AZHAR Ali joined a club in which Viv Richards is the only other member after a history-making double-hundred at the MCG.
The Pakistani opener’s epic knock of 205 not out, which began on Boxing Day and ended after lunch on day three only when his captain Misbah ul-Haq declared, was the highest score by any Pakistan batsman in Australia.
It was also the second-highest score ever from an international player at the MCG, just behind West Indian superstar Richards’s effort of 208 scored in 1984, and only the second double-century by a touring player in Melbourne.
It continued an enormous year for Azhar, which included an unbeaten 302 against the West Indies in October and more than 1000 Test runs.
He said Wednesday’s achievement was one of the greatest moments of his life.
“It was a great moment for me and getting a double hundred at MCG is a big occasion in my life. Getting a double ton here I can remember for a very long time,” he said.
“This is a big, big tour for me and all of our teammates as a team focus of this tour and really want to do well here.
“This is always a historic game Boxing Day Test match important all over the world and especially when sub-continent team comes to Australia … batsmen really wanted to perform here.”
His 364 ball innings was a lesson in patience and determination, punctuated by constant rain breaks and included working against two new balls.
It could not have been in more stark contrast to the blitzkrieg hundred scored by his Aussie counterpart David Warner, who got to his ton in just 113 balls.
Azhar said conditions over the first two days dictated the way he batted, which included leaving as many balls as he hit.
“It’s hard sometimes when you get settled you start scoring some runs and suddenly the rain comes,” he said.
“I really concentrated quite hard which balls to play and which areas to score on. Good news was my feet was moving and judging the ball really well so really comfortable on the crease and feeling really confident about my decision making.
“It helped me to concentrate longer really comfortable what I was doing. When ball came into my zone was always ready to score runs.”
Azhar was unaware of the exalted company he was in, and just how close he was to breaking Richards’s record before Misbah declared, and he had to rush off.
“I didn’t know that but Richards is a big name would have been a great moment I would have crossed but still really happy what I’ve achieved today,” he said.
“Really proud moment for me and also Pakistan nation as well.”
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"Very pleasing to score a 200 at the MCG, it's a great ground and scoring in Australia is always a subcontinental batsman's wish. I came with hopes of delivering for my team and I'm ecstatic about it, hopefully that can help us to get a good result in the game."
"I was focusing on each ball and setting small target for myself while batting. Pleasing to know I have the highest score by a Pakistani in Australia, it's a very proud moment for my career."
"Australia bowled really well in good areas, had to work hard for my runs and be patient sometimes. When the ball came into my zone, I focused on scoring off it. The balance was good and I was really confident about my footwork. I was very comfortable with my stance."
"The MCG pitch was a bit slower than the Gabba, there was a bit more lateral movement here while Gabba had more bounce and was quicker. The clouds also assisted swing bowling. Still very different from conditions we're used to. Stoppages made it a struggle for both batsmen and bowlers at times."
"The wicket dried up a little today and the movement had decreased. If it stays dry, reverse swing will come into play. We got some reverse today but Warner played a gem of an innings. If we can build pressure on Australian batsmen and control the run-rate and the ball reverses then we can get wickets."
"The game is wide open now, both teams have a chance. We need to come back in the morning and build pressure and get some wickets and take it from there."
<iframe width="100%" height="100" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/299876721&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true"></iframe>
AZHAR Ali joined a club in which Viv Richards is the only other member after a history-making double-hundred at the MCG.
The Pakistani opener’s epic knock of 205 not out, which began on Boxing Day and ended after lunch on day three only when his captain Misbah ul-Haq declared, was the highest score by any Pakistan batsman in Australia.
It was also the second-highest score ever from an international player at the MCG, just behind West Indian superstar Richards’s effort of 208 scored in 1984, and only the second double-century by a touring player in Melbourne.
It continued an enormous year for Azhar, which included an unbeaten 302 against the West Indies in October and more than 1000 Test runs.
He said Wednesday’s achievement was one of the greatest moments of his life.
“It was a great moment for me and getting a double hundred at MCG is a big occasion in my life. Getting a double ton here I can remember for a very long time,” he said.
“This is a big, big tour for me and all of our teammates as a team focus of this tour and really want to do well here.
“This is always a historic game Boxing Day Test match important all over the world and especially when sub-continent team comes to Australia … batsmen really wanted to perform here.”
His 364 ball innings was a lesson in patience and determination, punctuated by constant rain breaks and included working against two new balls.
It could not have been in more stark contrast to the blitzkrieg hundred scored by his Aussie counterpart David Warner, who got to his ton in just 113 balls.
Azhar said conditions over the first two days dictated the way he batted, which included leaving as many balls as he hit.
“It’s hard sometimes when you get settled you start scoring some runs and suddenly the rain comes,” he said.
“I really concentrated quite hard which balls to play and which areas to score on. Good news was my feet was moving and judging the ball really well so really comfortable on the crease and feeling really confident about my decision making.
“It helped me to concentrate longer really comfortable what I was doing. When ball came into my zone was always ready to score runs.”
Azhar was unaware of the exalted company he was in, and just how close he was to breaking Richards’s record before Misbah declared, and he had to rush off.
“I didn’t know that but Richards is a big name would have been a great moment I would have crossed but still really happy what I’ve achieved today,” he said.
“Really proud moment for me and also Pakistan nation as well.”
Link
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