COLOMBO, Sept 30: Australian Test captain Steve Waugh is not entirely sure whether he will know some of the players who turn out for Pakistan in the first cricket Test starting Thursday.
Pakistan has been hit by withdrawals and injuries to senior players while others have been dumped, meaning a bevy of young and unproven Pakistanis will take on the world champion in the first of three Tests at neutral venues.
“I’m not even sure who’s in their team to tell you the truth,” Waugh said.
“The young Pakistani players have got a lot of talent and I’m sure they’ll pull out someone who does very well at Test cricket without us even knowing about them.
“With other countries you know what you’re going to get but with Pakistan, half the time they don’t even know what they’ve got.”
The changes include openers Imran Farhat and Taufiq Umar, middle-order batsmen Hasan Raza and Faisal Iqbal, leg spinner Danish Kaneria and fast bowler Mohammad Zahid, who have all played for Pakistan in Tests or One-day Internationals.
Those six have played only 28 Tests between them. Uncapped allrounder Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan also makes the squad.
Waugh said the injuries to middle-order batsmen Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana were a big blow.
“Inzamam’s a big loss, particularly on the flat, low Sharjah wickets where he likes to dominate.
“And Youhana’s probably one of their better batters as well so that leaves a big hole in their batting.”
Waugh said Australia’s line-up had not been discussed but said the pitch conditions would dictate whether young Queenslander Nathan Hauritz played his first Test.
“I think you’d have to consider two spinners if the wicket’s like it was for the (Champions Trophy) semifinal the other night, you’d be silly not to look at it — but the word is the Test wicket will have a bit of grass on it.”
Mark needs runs
SYDNEY: Veteran batsman Mark Waugh has conceded he needs to start scoring some centuries if he is to hold on to his cherished place in the Australian Test team.
The 37-year-old senior batsman is under pressure to hold on to his place in the Test side after he and his twin brother, Steve, were dropped from the national one-day squad this year.
“Yeah, I think I need runs,” Waugh told Australian Associated Press in Colombo on Monday ahead of Australia’s first Test against Pakistan that begins there this week.
“Last summer I made a lot of 30s and 40s and realistically I need to make 100s or 70s and 80s so, yeah, I think I’ve got to make some runs.
“But I’m not putting any more pressure on myself than normal, I’m just going to go out there and enjoy it and whatever happens, happens.”
The series against Pakistan, which is being played in Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates because of security fears in Pakistan, precedes a five-Test Ashes series with England at home starting in November.
Waugh said he had felt some pressure over the past couple of years, but will try to avoid negative thoughts before the Pakistan Test series, which starts on Thursday.
“Before the game is when you’ve got time to think, especially in a place like this where there’s not a lot a do — you just try to have think positively,” he said.—PPI/AFP