After his impressive 'Bazball' revolution as England's Test coach, McCullum has agreed to take the reins for the country's white-ball teams
cricket2 days ago
Tuesday’s 11-run victory meant Pakistan had beaten Australia twice in two days after Monday’s 23-run success at Warwickshire’s headquarters.
It was a remarkable turnaround for Pakistan, now fielding a largely youthful side, after they’d lost all 12 of their previous matches against Australia across all formats, including a heart-breaking Twenty20 semi-final defeat in the Caribbean in May.
Pakistan’s preceding winless tour of Australia led to several players being either banned or fined, with former captains Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan frozen out.
But in their absence the likes of 20-year-old Umar Akmal, who made a match-winning 64 against Australia on Monday, and teenage left-arm quick Mohammad Aamer, whose returns of three wickets for 27 runs in both Edgbaston Twenty20s were crucial to the outcome, have grabbed a chance to shine.
Pakistan face Australia in the first of a two Test series at Lord’s next week and, while former fast bowler Waqar knows the five-day format is a different game, the coach believes the team can take justifiable confidence from their back-to-back victories.
“I think these two wins are really going to help us to get into the momentum,” he told reporters.
“Test matches are a different ball game fair enough, but with victory behind you it always helps.
“Umar Akmal is extraordinary then we also have Mohammad Aamer.”
Pakistan have been forced to play their home games abroad ever since an armed attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in March 2009 turned the country into a no-go zone for international cricket.
But, with Birmingham boasting one of the largest Asian populations in England, they were roared on to victory in both games by an overwhelmingly pro-Pakistan crowd.
“It’s been a while we’ve had such a crowd backing us,” Waqar said. “It’s good to see. We get good support here in England and it always helps.”
Australia, as in the first match, appeared to hold their opponents to a gettable total (162 for nine) only for their batsmen to be undone by a well-balanced Pakistan attack featuring fit-again seamer Umar Gul, who missed the World Twenty20 through injury.
It left Australia Twenty20 captain Michael Clarke anticipating a close two-Test series that concludes at Yorkshire’s Headingley headquarters ground in Leeds, where another sizeable Asian community is also likely to generate a partisan crowd.
And top-order batsman Clarke suggested overcast conditions could suit Pakistan’s pace attack.
“If it’s overcast in England, it generally swings all day,” he said. “Umar Gul is outstanding and they are going to be tough opposition in the Tests.
“I imagine they will get the Duke ball to swing in conditions which, if it is overcast, are going to be quite tough.
“Hopefully the sun’s out,” Clarke joked. “But we’ve got a good attack too. I think we are going to be in for a really good Test series.”
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