Arthur calls on Pakistan to toughen up for Tests
‘Loss to NZ highly disappointing’
ABU DHABI, Dec 8, (AFP): Disgruntled coach Mickey Arthur demanded his players toughen up and seize key moments in Test matches after sloppy batting handed New Zealand an away series win over Pakistan for the finding their range.
Rahul hit a big six off Pat Cummins as the pair grew in confidence and they were racing along before Mitchell Starc enticed Vijay into nicking an attempted drive to Peter Handscomb in the slips and he was out for 18.
Rahul played some audacious strokes before a loose shot to a Josh Hazlewood ball found a big edge and he was caught behind for 44 by Tim Paine.
The unflappable Pujara crucially survived two decisions by the umpire giving him out, with both reversed on review in a cruel blow to Australia.
In the first, he was initially dismissed caught behind off Lyon on eight, and in the second was adjudged out lbw, also to Lyon, on 17.
The prolific Kohli, who emerged to boos from a section of the crowd, shunned his trademark flamboyance to grind out runs before jabbing at a short ball from Lyon and Aaron Finch took an easy catch.
On the way, he reached another milestone, joining a select few Indians first time in 49 years.
New Zealand pulled off a come-from-behind 123-run victory in the third and final Test in Abu Dhabi on Friday to end their long wait for a 2-1 series win.
Pakistan had dismissed the Kiwis for 153 in the first innings of the first Test in Abu Dhabi only to lose by a narrow four-run margin.
Pakistan bounced back by winning the second Test in Dubai by an innings and four runs but again failed to build a sizeable lead in the first innings of the third Test, a fact Arthur believes cost them the series.
“We missed opportunities and despite winning most of the sessions in the two losses we could not grab the moments to force a win,” Pakistan coach Arthur told AFP.
“It was our series to win but we ended up as the losing side and that’s highly disappointing.”
Arthur said Pakistan not gaining big leads in the first and third Tests was crucial.
“We have to have a look at our batting on the last day and that is
India’s Murali Vijay plays a sweep shot while batting during the first cricket
Test between Australia and India in Adelaide, Australia on Dec 8. (AP)
– including Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid – to score 1,000 Test runs in Australia.
Earlier, Australia added just 44 runs to their overnight 191-7 with Head’s dismissal signalling a quick end, with the final wicket falling next ball.
After two days of stifling hot weather, play began 45 minutes late in gloomy conditions, with the Adelaide Oval lights on.
It only lasted 3.4 overs before the drizzle began again and the umpires called them off after Starc was caught behind for 15 by Rishabh Pant, getting an edge to a Bumrah delivery.
Play resumed after an hour with Lyon accompanying Head, who looked on track to better his previous best Test score against Pakistan in October before prodding at a Mohammed Shami ball.
Hazlewood padded up but was gone for a golden duck, again to the ShamiPant combination, leaving Lyon unbeaten on 24.
For India, Ravichandran Ashwin finished with 3-57 and Bumrah had 3-47. tough in the UAE,” said Arthur.
Pakistan lost all ten wickets on the final day in both the defeats. They have now lost all ten wickets on the final day six times since Arthur joined in May 2016.
Apart from the three occasions in Abu Dhabi – against Sri Lanka last year and twice against New Zealand in this series – they also collapsed at Birmingham, Hamilton and Melbourne – all in 2016.
Arthur said he backs his players, especially under-fire senior batsmen Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.
“The quality is there as they are the best players in Pakistan who are working very very hard and I back them to the hilt,” said Arthur.
“But we need to be tougher in the crucial moments and that comes to us grabbing moments and being tough and we could not do this in this series which is disappointing.”
He added: “I will defend Asad and Azhar to the hilt. Asad is a wonderful player. I rate him very highly and I still feel his best days are ahead of him.”
Arthur now hopes Pakistan can do well in South Africa, a country where they have won only two Tests and were thrashed 3-0 on their last tour in 2013.
“I reckon we can go to South Africa and do well,” said Arthur.
“I believe and trust in these players, we have got some very talented cricketers and some good young players.
“We need to nail down our good positions which we are not doing and that’s the problem area.”
The first of three Tests starts in Centurion from Dec 26.