Zaheer advises Pak batsmen to be patient

KARACHI: Former cricket great Zaheer Abbas Saturday advised Pakistani batsmen to exercise patience at the crease and frustrate the Australian bowlers during the second Test in Melbourne starting on Sunday.

“Just hold your horses, stay at the crease with patience and to a degree where the Australian bowlers get frustrated because that is the only way to come good against the world champions,” Abbas told AFP. “Don’t panic, play positively and don’t think that the Australian bowlers are unplayable,” Abbas advised the Pakistani batsmen. Abbas, known for his cover drives, played 78 Tests for Pakistan accumulating 5,062 runs. He was labelled “Asian Bradman”, after the legendary Australian batsman Sir Donald Bradman. “It is all in the mind and a matter of staying at the crease, you hold your horses and others get frustrated,” said Abbas, who made 1,141 runs in 20 Tests he played against Australia. Pakistan were widely criticised for their 491-run loss to Australia in the first Test at Perth.

Ten of the 13 Pakistanis out caught in the first Test were snapped up behind the wicket as Glenn McGrath and Michael Kasprowicz exploited the touring batsmen’s inability to cope with the extra bounce and pace of the WACA Ground wicket. Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq managed just one and nought while the equally experienced Yousuf Youhana made one and 27 as the visitors were bowled out for a paltry 179 and 72 in the two innings. “Inzamam is a known performer and he must inspire the team while Youhana must take responsibility and come at number three,” said Abbas. “He (Youhana) is playing for his country and that means taking responsibility and he must fight it out for his country and for his teammates.”

Abbas said when he played Australia he had to face potent attackers. “Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thompson were not only dangerous but were lethal bowlers and you can’t compare the current Australian attack with them. “Our batsmen must see off the new ball and (not) get carried away on the spin of Shane Warne, that’s what they did at Perth,” Abbas said. afp

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