jeetu
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Pakistan looking to play the long game in second test against Black Caps
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricke...e-long-game-in-second-test-against-black-caps
The tourists head into the second test in Hamilton, starting on Friday, 1-0 down after a quickfire shootout in Christchurch, where despite a first-day washout at Hagley Oval, the match was done and dusted in less than two and a half days' playing time.
Now, already without fearless leader Misbah-ul-Haq, who jetted home following the death of his father-in-law, the world No 2-ranked side have to find a way to fight back, on a pitch set to have a similar green hue and perhaps extra pace and bounce, amid a showery forecast.
The visitors' top order showed grit and determination in their second innings at Hagley, and while it wasn't close to being riveting test cricket, it was the job that had to be done to try and get classy leg-spinner Yasir Shah into the contest, before a flurry of wickets late in the day put the result beyond doubt.
So while bowling coach Azhar Mahmood said he was "having fun" watching his bowlers on the seam-friendly wickets, he knew if the game could be prolonged as long as possible, Yasir could provide the winning or losing of the game for them, on a Hamilton track which also tends to give the spinners a bit.
"Definitely we want the game to go for the fourth and the fifth day so Yasir can come [into it]," Mahmood said. "He's one of the best bowlers in the world."
"Normally on this ground, when I've played here and watched games, the ball turns on the fourth and fifth day.
"We have to be more disciplined in the batting, which we did in the second innings [in Christchurch], we didn't drive [many] balls."
Pakistan are still to decide on Misbah's replacement - tossing up between Sharjeel Khan or Mohammad Rizwan - while plenty will fall on the shoulders of veteran Younis Khan - who had a test to forget in Christchurch, scoring a combined 3 off 16 balls - and stand-in captain Azhar Ali, who recently scored a triple hundred against the West Indies and ground his way to 31 off 173 balls in the second innings at Hagley.
"[The] new ball is crucial here, so if you don't lose a wicket with the new ball you can bat long," Mahmood said.
"We're a good enough side to come back, and come back hard in this game.
"There's no excuse, so we have to play positive, and good cricket."
Mahmood, the former international allrounder, was only appointed onto the Pakistan coaching staff earlier this month, having inked a two-year deal in replacing Mushtaq Ahmed. It followed temporary stints earlier in the year because Mahmood, at 41, was in fact still playing, with English county club Surrey.
Mahmood's playing days also saw him feature as a Twenty20 import for Auckland a few seasons back, and while many Kiwis were pleasantly surprised by the first-up efforts of Colin de Grandhomme - whose 6-41 represented the best figures by a New Zealander on test debut - Mahmood said he didn't have reason to be taken aback.
"I know his ability, especially with the conditions he got on the day, and he bowled in good areas, asked batsmen to make mistakes, which we did."
"So there's no surprise, he's a quality cricketer. I believe he's more a batting allrounder than a bowling allrounder. In my time when I was at Auckland he hardly got asked to bowl in T20 games, but he's an improved cricketer, he's a quality player, so well done to him."
Despite also being around the Auckland scene, fellow first-test debutant Jeet Raval hadn't been seen facing any bowling by Mahmood, and the tourists were swiftly working plans for him after the first innings.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricke...e-long-game-in-second-test-against-black-caps
The tourists head into the second test in Hamilton, starting on Friday, 1-0 down after a quickfire shootout in Christchurch, where despite a first-day washout at Hagley Oval, the match was done and dusted in less than two and a half days' playing time.
Now, already without fearless leader Misbah-ul-Haq, who jetted home following the death of his father-in-law, the world No 2-ranked side have to find a way to fight back, on a pitch set to have a similar green hue and perhaps extra pace and bounce, amid a showery forecast.
The visitors' top order showed grit and determination in their second innings at Hagley, and while it wasn't close to being riveting test cricket, it was the job that had to be done to try and get classy leg-spinner Yasir Shah into the contest, before a flurry of wickets late in the day put the result beyond doubt.
So while bowling coach Azhar Mahmood said he was "having fun" watching his bowlers on the seam-friendly wickets, he knew if the game could be prolonged as long as possible, Yasir could provide the winning or losing of the game for them, on a Hamilton track which also tends to give the spinners a bit.
"Definitely we want the game to go for the fourth and the fifth day so Yasir can come [into it]," Mahmood said. "He's one of the best bowlers in the world."
"Normally on this ground, when I've played here and watched games, the ball turns on the fourth and fifth day.
"We have to be more disciplined in the batting, which we did in the second innings [in Christchurch], we didn't drive [many] balls."
Pakistan are still to decide on Misbah's replacement - tossing up between Sharjeel Khan or Mohammad Rizwan - while plenty will fall on the shoulders of veteran Younis Khan - who had a test to forget in Christchurch, scoring a combined 3 off 16 balls - and stand-in captain Azhar Ali, who recently scored a triple hundred against the West Indies and ground his way to 31 off 173 balls in the second innings at Hagley.
"[The] new ball is crucial here, so if you don't lose a wicket with the new ball you can bat long," Mahmood said.
"We're a good enough side to come back, and come back hard in this game.
"There's no excuse, so we have to play positive, and good cricket."
Mahmood, the former international allrounder, was only appointed onto the Pakistan coaching staff earlier this month, having inked a two-year deal in replacing Mushtaq Ahmed. It followed temporary stints earlier in the year because Mahmood, at 41, was in fact still playing, with English county club Surrey.
Mahmood's playing days also saw him feature as a Twenty20 import for Auckland a few seasons back, and while many Kiwis were pleasantly surprised by the first-up efforts of Colin de Grandhomme - whose 6-41 represented the best figures by a New Zealander on test debut - Mahmood said he didn't have reason to be taken aback.
"I know his ability, especially with the conditions he got on the day, and he bowled in good areas, asked batsmen to make mistakes, which we did."
"So there's no surprise, he's a quality cricketer. I believe he's more a batting allrounder than a bowling allrounder. In my time when I was at Auckland he hardly got asked to bowl in T20 games, but he's an improved cricketer, he's a quality player, so well done to him."
Despite also being around the Auckland scene, fellow first-test debutant Jeet Raval hadn't been seen facing any bowling by Mahmood, and the tourists were swiftly working plans for him after the first innings.
