"Wickets will be better in Australia, this team has the capability to make a comeback" : Misbah

[Abdullah719]

"Wickets will be better in Australia, this team has the capability to make a comeback" : Misbah

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq believes it can bounce back from its 2-0 loss in New Zealand when it takes on a new-look Australia in a three-test series next month.

"Australia is not a settled team, and they have made changes in the last (test) match (against South Africa)," Misbah said in Lahore on Wednesday.

"Their new players are familiar with their own conditions, but at the same time when someone comes new into test matches, you have a chance to exploit it."

Australia avoided being whitewashed by South Africa as new caps Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb, and Nic Maddinson won the day-night third test in Adelaide last weekend.

Misbah returned home after losing the first test in Christchurch because of the death of his father-in-law. He would have missed the second test in Hamilton anyway, because he was handed a one-match suspension for another slow over-rate. He will rejoin the team before the first day-night test in Brisbane on Dec. 15.

Pakistan's top order struggled in seaming conditions in New Zealand. They lost nine wickets in the last session in Hamilton to lose by 138 runs.

Only opener Sami Aslam and Babar Azam scored half-centuries in four test innings. However, Pakistan kept faith in the same 16-man squad for the three tests against Australia.

"Conditions were difficult in New Zealand with plenty of grass on both wickets," Misbah said. "But I believe wickets will be better in Australia, and this team has the capability to make a comeback."

Pakistan, which rose to No. 1 in the test rankings, slipped to No. 4 after losing in New Zealand. But Misbah said Pakistan wasn't suddenly a bad team.

"In one series, if your bowlers or batsmen do not perform, you can't say it's not a good team," he said. "We have been taking 20 wickets (in a test match) in UAE, and I hope the players have learnt their lessons in New Zealand."

The 42-year-old Misbah, who has already quit ODIs and Twenty20s for Pakistan, has no immediate plans to quit tests, and said as long as he stayed fit and the team needed him he will play on.

"The team's confidence level has come down with the recent performances in New Zealand. I am focusing on the Australian series and raising the level of the team and regaining the confidence of players.

"I have said before, you don't know what happens tomorrow, but I have no fitness problem and hope to play as long as I stay fit. If I felt the team still needs me and I stay fit, I will continue playing."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap...kistan-bounce-against-new-look-Australia.html

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq believes it can bounce back from its 2-0 loss in New Zealand when it takes on a new-look Australia in a three-test series next month.

"Australia is not a settled team, and they have made changes in the last (test) match (against South Africa)," Misbah said in Lahore on Wednesday.

"Their new players are familiar with their own conditions, but at the same time when someone comes new into test matches, you have a chance to exploit it."

Australia avoided being whitewashed by South Africa as new caps Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb, and Nic Maddinson won the day-night third test in Adelaide last weekend.

Misbah returned home after losing the first test in Christchurch because of the death of his father-in-law. He would have missed the second test in Hamilton anyway, because he was handed a one-match suspension for another slow over-rate. He will rejoin the team before the first day-night test in Brisbane on Dec. 15.

Pakistan's top order struggled in seaming conditions in New Zealand. They lost nine wickets in the last session in Hamilton to lose by 138 runs.

Only opener Sami Aslam and Babar Azam scored half-centuries in four test innings. However, Pakistan kept faith in the same 16-man squad for the three tests against Australia.

"Conditions were difficult in New Zealand with plenty of grass on both wickets," Misbah said. "But I believe wickets will be better in Australia, and this team has the capability to make a comeback."

Pakistan, which rose to No. 1 in the test rankings, slipped to No. 4 after losing in New Zealand. But Misbah said Pakistan wasn't suddenly a bad team.

"In one series, if your bowlers or batsmen do not perform, you can't say it's not a good team," he said. "We have been taking 20 wickets (in a test match) in UAE, and I hope the players have learnt their lessons in New Zealand."

The 42-year-old Misbah, who has already quit ODIs and Twenty20s for Pakistan, has no immediate plans to quit tests, and said as long as he stayed fit and the team needed him he will play on.

"The team's confidence level has come down with the recent performances in New Zealand. I am focusing on the Australian series and raising the level of the team and regaining the confidence of players.

"I have said before, you don't know what happens tomorrow, but I have no fitness problem and hope to play as long as I stay fit. If I felt the team still needs me and I stay fit, I will continue playing."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap...kistan-bounce-against-new-look-Australia.html

That means he might continue till 2018.

 

[nitrous]

Negative ans defensive approach will cost Pakistan the Aussie series, mark my words!

 

[Jan Sher]

This should be Misbah's last Test series, even if we win it! Enough with the negative mindset. We need a young captain.

 

[Markhor]

Misbah's not going to go on beyond the Australia series. He pretty much hinted at it a few months ago.

 

[Shafi]

So that confirms both Misbah and Younis will be until 2018 if not 2020. PCB you are really something!!!!

 

[Shafi]

If SK so eager to keep Misbah till 2018 why not make him captain for ODI. At least he will do better job than Azhar

 

[Speedster777]

Misbah should retire after this series.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Pitches may be flatter as Australian batting is in shambles. But will Pakistan make use of it?

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Misbah and Younis must set the bowling machines at 95mph and practice hard.


Hope there is facility for such sessions in Nets.


They must test themselves before they face Starc.

 

[QalandarFan]

That means he might continue till 2018.

I read a thing saying PCB has asked him to continue till 2018, not sure if it is true or not.

 

[QalandarFan]

This should be Misbah's last Test series, even if we win it! Enough with the negative mindset. We need a young captain.

If Misbah retires Azhar is becoming captain, he's a downgrade on Misbah.

 

[Speedster777]

Forget about winning Test matches outside UAE flat tracks as long as Misbah and Azhar are our captains.

 

[Jan Sher]

If Misbah retires Azhar is becoming captain, he's a downgrade on Misbah.

Tragic times ahead

 

[Ami]

I hope Pakistan lose...only way to get rid of these 2

 

[Hawkeye]

Look at all these calling for Misbah's head.

You geniuses, he's the reason we're a top Test team. And he'll do well in Aus as well, just like England.

NZ pitches were too green, impossible for any team to win.

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

That means he might continue till 2018.

Hope he does. I don't have much faith in Azhar's captaincy and PCB don't have the guts to make Sarfraz captain.

Apart from that, I feel that we will miss Misbah much more than Younis. Misbah makes our middle order very solid and his ability to hit 6s at will is very handy.

Don't understand why people are still against Misbah.

Totally understand criticism for Younis tho.

 

[Hawkeye]

Forget about winning Test matches outside UAE flat tracks as long as Misbah and Azhar are our captains.

Remind me who made us a top Test team and took us to top rankings, even beating the best side in the world England at their home? Even becoming our best bat there?

Cut the hatred and bias, genius.

 

[The_Odd_One]

I want Misbah to retire after the Australian tour and Younis too unless he gets very close to 10k runs.

 

[PakLFC]

Does not matter what the wickets are like. We can't bat in Aus and NZ conditions.

 

[Hawkeye]

Does not matter what the wickets are like. We can't bat in Aus and NZ conditions.

We'll bat well in Aus.

I predicted before the tour that our most difficult tour will be NZ because of green pitches. We fail against lateral movement.

 

[PakLFC]

We'll bat well in Aus.

I predicted before the tour that our most difficult tour will be NZ because of green pitches. We fail against lateral movement.

I just don't have any faith in our batting line up. We start slowly with Azhar standing their all day. Then come the so called talented ones like Babar and Shafiq scoring a good 40 before edging it to slip. This exposes our long tail that the Aussies will remove within half and hour. Aussies will whitewash us, easily. They may not be the force they once were but are still way to good for our fragile batting line up.

 

[The_KING]

Forget about winning Test matches outside UAE flat tracks as long as Misbah and Azhar are our captains.

Remind me who was the man of the series in a drawn series in England where we won 2 matches to become number 1. At least get your facts right before hating.

 

[Pete Rose]

I think moaning about how Misbah and his band of cricket in Australia misses the point that we last won a test there in 1995. In that period we had some super aggressive super grifted talent playing for us.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Problem is not misbah but inconsistent shafiq and younis. They score once per 6 innings and keep their place in the team. Whereas azhar ali is a very defensive batsman. If your plan is to block and keep your run rate at less than 1.5 send azhar to bat first. In australia you can only beat them by outscoring them with a good run rate which azhar, sami and shafiq are not capable of.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Look at all these calling for Misbah's head.

You geniuses, he's the reason we're a top Test team. And he'll do well in Aus as well, just like England.

NZ pitches were too green, impossible for any team to win.

Hope he does. I don't have much faith in Azhar's captaincy and PCB don't have the guts to make Sarfraz captain.

Apart from that, I feel that we will miss Misbah much more than Younis. Misbah makes our middle order very solid and his ability to hit 6s at will is very handy.

Don't understand why people are still against Misbah.

Totally understand criticism for Younis tho.

No one is calling for Misbah's head.

How long do you want him to play ?

He is 42 now.

43 , 44 ? 48 ?

I am not understanding your point. Misbah is not going to be around forever. The team has to move on one day.

We need to play cricket in 2025 and 2030. I am sure you will be saying, "Misbah should bat till 50" if he is good enough.

The problem is, we haven't blooded any captain since his tenure, and his continuance, without developing any captaincy options is just hurting us.

I am a Misbah fan, but I honestly believe, he should call it quits after Australia tour.

He will hurt his legacy if he keeps going on.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Hope he does. I don't have much faith in Azhar's captaincy and PCB don't have the guts to make Sarfraz captain.

Apart from that, I feel that we will miss Misbah much more than Younis. Misbah makes our middle order very solid and his ability to hit 6s at will is very handy.

Don't understand why people are still against Misbah.

Totally understand criticism for Younis tho.

Because he is 42 and not getting any younger.

We don't have any captain, and we need to give chances to someone as captain. I wouldn't be averse to Misbah stepping down after Australia and forcing PCB to choose a captain.

PCB is sleeping on this issue, because they think Misbah will last forever.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Good leadership from Misbah.

 

[Hawkeye]

No one is calling for Misbah's head.

How long do you want him to play ?

He is 42 now.

43 , 44 ? 48 ?

I am not understanding your point. Misbah is not going to be around forever. The team has to move on one day.

We need to play cricket in 2025 and 2030. I am sure you will be saying, "Misbah should bat till 50" if he is good enough.

The problem is, we haven't blooded any captain since his tenure, and his continuance, without developing any captaincy options is just hurting us.

I am a Misbah fan, but I honestly believe, he should call it quits after Australia tour.

He will hurt his legacy if he keeps going on.

Where did you read in my post that he should play for 5 more years or anything like that?

It's obvious I was referring to the apparent hate in this thread. Retiring in 2017/2018 is fine.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Where did you read in my post that he should play for 5 more years or anything like that?

It's obvious I was referring to the apparent hate in this thread. Retiring in 2017/2018 is fine.

Five years of playing will definetely be the destruction of him
The pcb should stop chasing after him and let him retire gracefully

 

[Snatch]

Bit arrogant making the statement that wickets will be "better" in Australia.

Think it would have been more appropriate to say they should be "more suitable" for his team.

There was nothing wrong with those NZ wickets, especially the 2nd test, which was a fantastically good Test match wicket. Just Pakistan didn't have the skill to be able to cope with difficult conditions.

You need proper skill to be able to play on wickets such as those, & Pakistan just weren't up to it with either bat or ball. Nothing to do with 'better' wicket likely in Australia. Seems like a real cop-out & cheap shot from Misbah. Disappointing.

 

[Abdullah719]

Bit arrogant making the statement that wickets will be "better" in Australia.

Think it would have been more appropriate to say they should be "more suitable" for his team.

There was nothing wrong with those NZ wickets, especially the 2nd test, which was a fantastically good Test match wicket. Just Pakistan didn't have the skill to be able to cope with difficult conditions.

You need proper skill to be able to play on wickets such as those, & Pakistan just weren't up to it with either bat or ball. Nothing to do with 'better' wicket likely in Australia. Seems like a real cop-out & cheap shot from Misbah. Disappointing.

"Conditions were difficult in New Zealand with plenty of grass on both wickets," Misbah said. "But I believe wickets will be better in Australia, and this team has the capability to make a comeback."

Pretty sure he means 'wickets will be better' for the batsmen, i.e. easier to bat on.

He is hardly the type to whine about pitches.

 

[Snatch]

Pretty sure he means 'wickets will be better' for the batsmen, i.e. easier to bat on.

He is hardly the type to whine about pitches.

I think you're correct actually, which makes it all the more disappointing that he articulated it so poorly.

 

[khurram39]

Although wickets were not the same as in NZ but we need the same commitment we have earlier at the start of the year or in home series. Lack of temperament and commitment will result the same.
if he scores and remain fit then i think no one has a ? on his inclusion in team but PCB has to think out of the box for the future captain.

 

[khurram39]

Hafeez may have a recall during the series as we miss the 5th bowling option seriously.

 

[shariqnoor]

Misbah has done the perfect thing by saying that will play as long as he considers himself fit. Of course he knows he will retire after the Australian series. But if he had said publicly that he plans to retire after the Australian series, this series would've turned into a Misbah-farewell and our boys would've lost focus on the task at hand. Misbah again has shown that he puts the team first over himself. He carries himself very elegantly.

 

[Pete Rose]

Personally, I think the Pakistan players under estimated the NZ tour. They saw it as preparation for Australia.

 

[MRSN]

Problem is not misbah but inconsistent shafiq and younis. They score once per 6 innings and keep their place in the team. Whereas azhar ali is a very defensive batsman. If your plan is to block and keep your run rate at less than 1.5 send azhar to bat first. In australia you can only beat them by outscoring them with a good run rate which azhar, sami and shafiq are not capable of.

note [MENTION=107807]Pete Rose[/MENTION]

 

[Pete Rose]

note [MENTION=107807]Pete Rose[/MENTION]

Yeah, we had players like that in the past and they got pummeled. I would suggest that people go back and watch the batting partnership and run rate for dean Elgar and dumminy against Australia in the second test.

 

[MRSN]

Yeah, we had players like that in the past and they got pummeled. I would suggest that people go back and watch the batting partnership and run rate for dean Elgar and dumminy against Australia in the second test.

but we need bowlers like SA to give our batsmen that luxury.

 

[Pete Rose]

but we need bowlers like SA to give our batsmen that luxury.

It will make for a closer series.

 

[Masood Ahmad]

Pakistan vs Australia

Forget about winning Test matches outside UAE flat tracks as long as Misbah and Azhar are our captains.

Pakistan drew the series in england InshaAllah they will come back strong in Australia every asian team struggles outside Asia