Rameez Raja Photo © PCB Having been mauled rather badly in the First Test, WaqarYounis and his charges must be going into the second encounter atOld Trafford determined to make amends, to redeem a modicum ofprestige

Rameez Raja30-May-2001
Rameez Raja
Photo © PCB
Having been mauled rather badly in the First Test, WaqarYounis and his charges must be going into the second encounter atOld Trafford determined to make amends, to redeem a modicum ofprestige. That may actually happen if they could turn the tables on areally resurgent England and level the series.This is early summer and conditions have been wet all along, to theextent that Old Trafford has only seen just one day’s cricket altogether.That is depressing stuff if you are sitting in the Pakistan dressingroom, for they are surely craving for some warm and dry weather tothrive.
Waqar Younis
Photo © CricInfo
But staying positive and doing well should be high on Pakistan’sagenda, regardless of the weather. They are quite capable of it, andhave in the past made some magnificent comebacks. But to achievethat end, they would have to lift the level of their performances, notby just a bit but by quite a few notches. That is easier said than done,considering the difficult conditions and the fact that they are upagainst an opposition who are not only in familiar environs and who exploit that as much as they can, but who are also going from strength to strength.In this there is a lesson for Pakistan who are hugely talented but, with anexception or two, as a team, are a set of under-achievers. What they reallyneed to concentrate on is to optimise their performance to not onlymake it on a par with their potential but also occasionally to surpass it.There is a huge incentive in it for all of them: the youngsters would bemaking the places their own if they perform under pressure, and earnfavourable notices from the highly informed media into the bargain, whilethe seniors would be adding to their prestige if they do well in what ismost likely their last big match in England. Application andconcentration should be the watchwords, both for the bowlers andbatsmen, and also in the field.As I said before, lapses in concentration are going to cost them dear as thisEngland side is an out and out professional unit and even half anopportunity is not likely to go abegging. Those who perished behindthe stumps at Lord’s would vouch for that, and also Wasim and Waqaras they were torn apart when they consistently bowled a short length.The two of them went for 99 and 77 runs for two wickets apiece,and, I believe, that must have shaken them enough to motivate them todo it right this time.The two of them seemed to be making amends in decimating Leicestershire in the first innings, but then county sides, and depleted ones at that, are a very different proposition to the England outfit. That said, the Ws’ performance against Leicester was more in sync with their reputations than the one at Lord’s, and if they returned similar figures, Pakistan’s task of bouncing back would be that much easier.For Wasim there would be added incentive to do well; this was hissecond home for about ten years when he was a star performer forLancashire. He knows the place and the people, and also the turf, likethe back of his hand. And he would want the spectators to see him onsong this one last time to leave an indelible impression.
Saqlain Mushtaq
Photo © CricInfo
Since Lancashire have Muttiah Muralitharan as their overseas professional, the wicket should afford some turn. That should be good news for Saqlain or Mushtaq, whoever is selected as, I think, the tour selection committee is not going to repeat the mistake of playing an all-pace attack. England, for their part, too have Robert Croft in their squad.Considering that the square and the outfield will be less green thanLord’s, the ball will perhaps get scuffed up enough to producereverse swing, which is also very welcome news for the Pakistani pacers.Despite a hopelessly ordinary show at Lord’s, bowling is not the mainconcern; batting is. The top of the order remains unsettled, and themanagement was even contemplating inserting Abdur Razzaq as anopener. That, to me, is a bit too much, for even playing him one downwas unfair. This tactic could pass muster in a one-day match, whereedges fetch you a run or two, and occasionally a boundary too; in aTest Match in seaming conditions, it is a negative tactic. Not only doesit end up adding to the anxiety levels, but also deprives the side ofan exciting all-rounder batting down the order.Traditionally, the best player of the side plays at one down, and itshould either be Inzamam or Youhana who should pick up the gauntletand move up the order to provide solidity. This is about time that theseniors in Pakistan batting pulled their weight; it is theresponsibility of the likes of Anwar, Inzamam and Youhana to deliver.Ironically, it was left to Younis and Razzaq to show them the way; and now that they have, this experienced trio should have their own say on theproceedings. A whole lot depends on them, and if they rise to theoccasion, Pakistan may make a fist of it.Ed: Rameez Raja is a former Pakistan captain, and a leadingcommentator on satellite channels.