People say that winning is an art, but no one ever says anything about losing. Well, losing is an art too - an art that Pakistan cricket team excel in. They lost the test series and was the losing side in a 5-0 whitewash in the ODI's. Pakistan's tour of Australia has been full of 'what ifs' and missed opportunities. The test match at SCG was one of the many instances where Pakistan were clearly on top of the game throughout, but managed to falter at the last stage due to some unexplainable tactics that can be described in no other way than stupid, and batting and fielding that was utter rubbish and pathetic. The team played good cricket in patches and looked like a Pakistan A team. So why should the T20 match [SCORECARD] be any different?
Pakistan bowling as usual was good, and thanks to some tight fielding (surprising that Pakistan fielded well, considering their recent performances) restricted Australia to a miserly 127 thanks to Umar Gul's 3 strikes. Umar once again showed just why he's the best in T20 and what a performance he came up with to restrict Australia to their third lowest score in T20's. David Hussey was the lone fighter in the Australian team and his small partnership with the captain, Micheal Clarke helped Australia reach a plus 100 score. The younger Hussey looks to walk in the footsteps of his brother and is a wonderful find for Australia. The Pakistani fielding finally came good and effected three run outs.
Australia being bowled out cheaply needed to strike early, and this they did through Shaun Tait. Tait bowled with fire and looked to spill blood on the pitch. He was fast and furious and rushed the batsmen. The Pakistani batsmen were pushed onto the back-foot and looked afraid to face his deliveries. It was some of the best hostile fast bowling I've seen in recent times. It must come as no surprise that the tormentor clocked the fastest ball on Australian soil - bowling at 160.7kph. In his first spell he never bowled below 150 Km, and made Johnson look terribly slow. Tait who always had the talent to succeed at the highest level, finally seems to have come out of the many injuries that hampered his career so far. Ever since I saw him in 2006, I knew that I had seen a sensation and was bitterly disappointed at the way his international career had progressed so far. But if today's are anything to go by, Tait is on the comeback trail, and it won't be long before he becomes a regular for Australia in the shorter formats. With the absence of Brett Lee, Tait will be eying his spot, but so will Nannes. But Nannes, can always turn up in orange colours if Australia reject him. I believe it's Tait's time now.
Pakistan's batting was woeful yet again and melted under the pace of Tait. Only three players of the Pakistani team reached double figures, and one of them was a bowler - Umar Gul (10). Pakistan has a lot to think about, but one of their worries over Kamran Akmal is over. Kamran looked in perfect touch and was unaffected by the pace assault his team was targeted at. Kamran looked like he could do it for his team, but sadly he didn't, and his amazing 64 runs from 33 balls became just another good knock in the valley of despair. But Kamran will be a happy man even though he ended on the losing side, because he finished what was a miserable tour for him and Pakistan on a personal high. He showed and world his worth and just why he is in the team and hopefully proved his critics wrong.
Pakistan must do a study on their disastrous tour and forget the art of losing.
2 Comments:
It was one of the oddest things when I caught myself thinking as you obviously did, 'MJ isn't that fast' when he bumped Rana with a 149kmh delivery.
Last ODI against Pakistan, he was bowling quickest he had all summer at 153, but Tait made him and Nannes look pedestrian.
Tait isn't fit enough to play one dayers, he'll probably just be in the twenty/20 team, but he is incredibly exciting to watch.
Why isn't Tait fit for ODI's? I damn well think he is. I understand test cricket, but can't he bowl another 6 overs to make his quota?
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