Pakistan have plans for Lyon, says Sarfraz
dubai — A dry pitch under a scorching sun often prove fatal for batsmen in Test cricket, especially if the batters have grown up playing on wickets that help bowlers of quicker variety.
Asian teams have a long history of tormenting such opponents with their wily spinners and chirpy close fielders. But it can also backfire on them when the rival team is armed with a quality spinner.
A Nathan Lyon-inspired Australia almost beat India on the Indian dustbowls last year.
Pakistan, on the other hand, paid the price for leaving too much for Yasir Shah on the wicket only to be caught off guard by Rangana Herath, Sri Lanka’s late bloomer, last year in the UAE.
Now as Pakistan begin their twoTest Australia series in Dubai on Sunday, captain Sarfraz Ahmed knows the threat posed by Lyon cannot be taken lightly.
“Our batsmen need to take responsibility,” Sarfraz said when asked about his team’s plan against the world’s best off-spinner.
“We played well against Lyon in 2014 when we won the series in the UAE. But he is a different bowler now. He has got lots of wickets in Asia. But we do have plans for him and hopefully we will executive those plans well against him in the match.” The Pakistan wicketkeeper asked his batsmen to score the big ones against Tim Paine’s team.
“In the past, our batsmen have always scored the runs and put the team in strong positions. Now our batsmen haven’t been able to convert their starts,” he said.
“Hopefully, they will be able to do that in this series. Our batsmen have really worked hard in the practice sessions. When we get the opportunity, hopefully we will be able to score big.”
The Pakistan captain is ready to challenge the inexperienced Australian batsmen with three spinners. On his debut, off-spinner Bilal Asif will need to support Yasir while the veteran Mohammad Hafeez will also be asked to bowl his off-breaks. And Sarfraz is naturally banking on the talismanic Yasir to take the Kangaroos.
“Yasir got injured England, but he has played first class cricket before coming to the UAE for this series. He has played a few first class matches and worked really hard,” he said. “He has bowled really well in the practice sessions. He is our main bowler. The way he has performed for Pakistan in the past, I hope he will be able to do that again and win matches for Pakistan here.”
He has been playing really well in domestic matches. That’s why we have picked him for this Test series,” Sarfraz said.
Hafeez scored 213 and took four wickets in his last first class game in Pakistan. “We want to take advantage of his form by playing him as an opener. He can also the do the job of the fifth bowler as we have often missed a fifth bowler in Test matches. I hope he will carry his domestic form into this series.”