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Pakistan High Performance Coach Tim Nielsen addressed a press conference after day 4 of the 1st Test between England and Pakistan:
Brink of Defeat and Why Can't Pakistan Take Advantage of Home Conditions:
"I think you've probably seen over the three Test matches that we've had some really positive moments. We batted very well in the first Test against Bangladesh. We batted very well in the first innings here against Bangladesh. We had them 6 for 26 at one stage in the first innings. Unfortunately, we just haven't been able to play our best cricket for long enough over the five days. That is the challenge of Test match cricket. The team that can play the most consistent and efficient cricket for five days is usually the one that has the best chance of winning. We've made mistakes either with the bat, the ball, or in the field at times in all three games that have ended up being crucial, and in the end, we haven't been able to recover from those positions."
"I think everyone's pretty clear that our best cricket is competitive cricket, but there is quite a big gap between our best cricket and the rest of our cricket, and we need to close that gap so that we're playing closer to our best for longer periods."
Pitch Surface and Forecast:
"I think we probably thought, with the forecast heat, that the wicket might have deteriorated quicker. It's held together pretty well, hasn't it, over the four days so far? Even this evening with the new ball, the hard new ball hit the surface hard, and there was some movement. A couple of deliveries didn’t bounce, and a couple bounced a bit more. But overall, I think it's been pretty consistent."
"So, I would suggest we would have liked a surface that maybe offered a bit more deterioration so both the spinners and fast bowlers had more of a chance. But once again, we made 550 runs, and then we couldn’t bowl the opposition out for less than 800. They played so well. You know, they were too good for us today. So, while the pitch is important, we just need to play better on whatever surface we are presented with."
Babar Azam's Poor Form in Test Cricket:
"Yeah, it's a concern for him. He's very aware of it. People are obviously talking about it a lot. The interesting part, I think, is that he continually gets to 20, 30, even 40 at times, and then is getting out. To get through the start of your innings and make 30 or 40 runs suggests that there's not too much of a technical problem. You're able to cope with the fast bowlers or the spinners. So maybe just being clearer in his mind, being able to move through the gears of his innings at the moment is more difficult for him than it has been in the past."
"I expect opposition bowlers and teams have become more aware of how he likes to score, so they are bowling differently to him and have different fields for him. These are the challenges of an elite player—going from being one of the world's best, going through a tough time, and then working back to where he wants to be. He's working very hard. He's fit, he's motivated, and he's working hard. So I'm sure, in time, he will find that magic again and start making significant runs for Pakistan."
Harry Brook's Magical Performances in Pakistan:
"I've kind of been thinking about it for about 12 hours, to be honest. Yeah, he's just playing so well. He's got such power. He's well organized. He sets up beautifully when we bowl straight. But because of his power, we almost got scared of bowling straight at times as well. He puts such pressure back on the opposition bowlers."
"I thought just as importantly today, as great as his innings was, it was awesome to see him still running threes when he was 310 not out. You know, it’s hot out there, and England has come from playing Australia in cold conditions, wearing beanies and jackets, to 40° weather here every day. So, it’s a real credit to them and their system. He’s a 20-Test match player now, and to have scored 300 runs, which I think may be only the fifth time ever in English cricket history, that’s pretty storied company. So, you might need to give us a couple of days to come up with a solution. Maybe if he nicks one or misses one early on, that would be a good start for us."
Pakistan's Cricket Poor Performances and Environment in the Dressing Room:
"We got bashed up a little bit today, there’s no doubt about that. The heat, the length of time—150 overs in the field. We didn’t have our spinner, who is still in the hospital today, so that’s been tough. We had to rely on our second spinner, Salman, and even Saim to bowl some overs. They did a good job, but when you’ve got two guys on over 200 on a wicket like that, when you’re bowling part-time spin, if you’re going for less than 6, 7, 8 runs an over, you’re probably doing pretty well. So, while everyone’s a bit disappointed tonight, there are some good young, enthusiastic cricketers who are only just in the early stages of their Test careers. If they’re learning anything, it’s that Test cricket is hard, and that’s not a bad lesson to learn because it doesn’t get easier. They’ll need to continue to be resilient, strong, and tough, and understand why England is so good when we play them this way and how we are going to try and get to that level in the near future."
Update on Abrar Ahmed:
"I can’t tell you, I’m sorry. I know he’s still in the hospital. We were kind of aware once we lost our sixth wicket this afternoon that it was like, ‘Okay, is he going to be able to get here?’ But he was still in the hospital, and that’s all I know. I couldn’t tell you more than that. I’m not even sure exactly what the condition is, to be honest, so I wouldn’t be willing to say anything more here."
Brink of Defeat and Why Can't Pakistan Take Advantage of Home Conditions:
"I think you've probably seen over the three Test matches that we've had some really positive moments. We batted very well in the first Test against Bangladesh. We batted very well in the first innings here against Bangladesh. We had them 6 for 26 at one stage in the first innings. Unfortunately, we just haven't been able to play our best cricket for long enough over the five days. That is the challenge of Test match cricket. The team that can play the most consistent and efficient cricket for five days is usually the one that has the best chance of winning. We've made mistakes either with the bat, the ball, or in the field at times in all three games that have ended up being crucial, and in the end, we haven't been able to recover from those positions."
"I think everyone's pretty clear that our best cricket is competitive cricket, but there is quite a big gap between our best cricket and the rest of our cricket, and we need to close that gap so that we're playing closer to our best for longer periods."
Pitch Surface and Forecast:
"I think we probably thought, with the forecast heat, that the wicket might have deteriorated quicker. It's held together pretty well, hasn't it, over the four days so far? Even this evening with the new ball, the hard new ball hit the surface hard, and there was some movement. A couple of deliveries didn’t bounce, and a couple bounced a bit more. But overall, I think it's been pretty consistent."
"So, I would suggest we would have liked a surface that maybe offered a bit more deterioration so both the spinners and fast bowlers had more of a chance. But once again, we made 550 runs, and then we couldn’t bowl the opposition out for less than 800. They played so well. You know, they were too good for us today. So, while the pitch is important, we just need to play better on whatever surface we are presented with."
Babar Azam's Poor Form in Test Cricket:
"Yeah, it's a concern for him. He's very aware of it. People are obviously talking about it a lot. The interesting part, I think, is that he continually gets to 20, 30, even 40 at times, and then is getting out. To get through the start of your innings and make 30 or 40 runs suggests that there's not too much of a technical problem. You're able to cope with the fast bowlers or the spinners. So maybe just being clearer in his mind, being able to move through the gears of his innings at the moment is more difficult for him than it has been in the past."
"I expect opposition bowlers and teams have become more aware of how he likes to score, so they are bowling differently to him and have different fields for him. These are the challenges of an elite player—going from being one of the world's best, going through a tough time, and then working back to where he wants to be. He's working very hard. He's fit, he's motivated, and he's working hard. So I'm sure, in time, he will find that magic again and start making significant runs for Pakistan."
Harry Brook's Magical Performances in Pakistan:
"I've kind of been thinking about it for about 12 hours, to be honest. Yeah, he's just playing so well. He's got such power. He's well organized. He sets up beautifully when we bowl straight. But because of his power, we almost got scared of bowling straight at times as well. He puts such pressure back on the opposition bowlers."
"I thought just as importantly today, as great as his innings was, it was awesome to see him still running threes when he was 310 not out. You know, it’s hot out there, and England has come from playing Australia in cold conditions, wearing beanies and jackets, to 40° weather here every day. So, it’s a real credit to them and their system. He’s a 20-Test match player now, and to have scored 300 runs, which I think may be only the fifth time ever in English cricket history, that’s pretty storied company. So, you might need to give us a couple of days to come up with a solution. Maybe if he nicks one or misses one early on, that would be a good start for us."
Pakistan's Cricket Poor Performances and Environment in the Dressing Room:
"We got bashed up a little bit today, there’s no doubt about that. The heat, the length of time—150 overs in the field. We didn’t have our spinner, who is still in the hospital today, so that’s been tough. We had to rely on our second spinner, Salman, and even Saim to bowl some overs. They did a good job, but when you’ve got two guys on over 200 on a wicket like that, when you’re bowling part-time spin, if you’re going for less than 6, 7, 8 runs an over, you’re probably doing pretty well. So, while everyone’s a bit disappointed tonight, there are some good young, enthusiastic cricketers who are only just in the early stages of their Test careers. If they’re learning anything, it’s that Test cricket is hard, and that’s not a bad lesson to learn because it doesn’t get easier. They’ll need to continue to be resilient, strong, and tough, and understand why England is so good when we play them this way and how we are going to try and get to that level in the near future."
Update on Abrar Ahmed:
"I can’t tell you, I’m sorry. I know he’s still in the hospital. We were kind of aware once we lost our sixth wicket this afternoon that it was like, ‘Okay, is he going to be able to get here?’ But he was still in the hospital, and that’s all I know. I couldn’t tell you more than that. I’m not even sure exactly what the condition is, to be honest, so I wouldn’t be willing to say anything more here."
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