It is becoming increasingly hard to look away from the disaster at Lord's as former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir continues to stir the pot. Amir accused the current Pakistan batting line-up, which includes the likes of Babar Azam, of not being able to survive the tricky conditions of England.
England pushed their rivals into the ditch on Day 2 of the second Test, wrapping up the tourists' innings for a meager 110 after posting 290 in their first innings. England will face off against Pakistan on the third day of the match with a two-day advantage, holding a commanding lead of 261 runs over their rivals before the lights were turned off due to bad light.
Mohammad Amir explains collapse at the Home of Cricket
Pakistan's top order folded against a disciplined English attack that attacked the wickets relentlessly. Jofra Archer struck early, removing Shan Masood for one, and Josh Tongue soon followed up, dismissing Abdullah Shafique for five. Premier batsman Babar Azam failed to respond to the moving ball and was out for eight; Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan also fell cheaply when the innings needed a firm hand.
Lone warrior Azan Awais battled through a stoic 46 from 102 deliveries to briefly offer a chance of a competitive total, before Ollie Robinson removed him and the tail collapsed swiftly. Robinson spearheaded the attack, taking a stunning 4 for 11 from 13 overs, backed in three wickets by Archer and two by Tongue.
On the back of the debacle, Amir laid bare his frustration with the players' ability, saying they were doing as much as they can do.
“Honestly, these people are doing as much as their ability allows. It's not their fault,” he noted. “Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf could score runs everywhere, including in England, Australia and NZ. The more ability you have, the more you can achieve. In these conditions, I think these batters can only do this much.”
Amir raised one caveat, indicating if they were to take them to Pakistan and prepare slow or turning pitches, that could be a different ball game.
Although Amir's comments provide one lens into a shortfall of individual skill, it is more of a damning indictment on the cricket system in Pakistan.
To compare this Pakistani team with Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf highlights a system issue, not an individual shortcoming. Both Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf had success in Pakistan and other countries because the domestic conditions, technical coaching, and early exposure to seam-friendly pitches made them more prepared to play in other countries.
If the current setup only allows the batters to “do this much” abroad, the problem is the system that has a batting unit reliant on home comforts, being ill-prepared when the ball starts moving.
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