Clarke predicts tough Tests against Pakistan seamers

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Clarke predicts tough Tests against Pakistan seamers

       [Brydon Coverdale](http://www.cricinfo.com/pakistan-v-australia-2010/content/current/story/466426.html#)

Australia’s Test vice-captain Michael Clarke believes Pakistan’s fast bowlers will be a handful during the upcoming Test series, on the evidence of their strong performances in the two Twenty20s at Edgbaston. The Australians found Mohammad Aamer and Umar Gul difficult prospects during the Twenty20s and both men are in the Test squad, where they will be joined by Mohammad Asif.
Add the coaching expertise of Waqar Younis and the swing of the red Duke ball, and the attack could cause problems in English conditions. Australia found the curving ball hard to counter during their 2005 Ashes defeat and they again failed to win last year, which means they haven’t triumphed in a Test series in England since 2001.
“They’re going to be tough opposition in the Test match,” Clarke said of Shahid Afridi’s men. "They’re going to have a very good attack, so our batters have to be at our best with the Duke ball that I’ll imagine they’ll get to swing, in conditions where, if it’s overcast, it’s going to be quite tough. I think we’re in for a really good Test series.
“If it’s overcast here, I think they’ll swing the ball nicely and they’ve got some pace as well. I think the Duke will help them. Conditions play a big part in England as to how much swing there is. If it’s overcast there’s generally a bit of swing the whole day. Hopefully the sun’s out.”
On Thursday, Australia will play with the red Duke for the first time on the tour when they begin a two-day warm-up match against Derbyshire. It will be a good opportunity for the selectors to see Ben Hilfenhaus, Australia’s best exponent of swing, in action after his seven-month lay-off due to knee tendonitis.
At the same time, Pakistan will be honing their skills with a tour game against Leicestershire. The first Test begins at Lord’s next Tuesday, before the teams move on to Headingley for the second Test beginning on July 21.

http://www.cricinfo.com/pakistan-v-australia-2010/content/current/story/466426.html

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Re: Clarke predicts tough Tests against Pakistan seamers

yah uss key Zara-e-nawazi hay :bummer:

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Re: Clarke predicts tough Tests against Pakistan seamers

Bowling was never an issue

Batting is still a questionmark

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I'd take exception to that. In Australia, except for that Sydney test, our bowlers were never able to bowl them out. Bowling has been just as erratic. One day our attack is firing on all cylinders and yet next day it will go Thussssss!.

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Clarke wary of Pakistan’s pace..

BIRMINGHAM: Australia may have lost back-to-back Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan but according to their Twenty20 captain and Test vice-captain Michael Clarke, his team’s worries against Pakistan’s pace attack will persist in the forthcoming two-match Test series.

While Pakistan’s fast-bowlers – Mohammad Aamer, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq and the returning Umar Gul – took 10 out of the 20 wickets to fall, it was the speed and the movement that worried the Australian batsmen at either end of their innings.

“Pakistan’s bowling has been outstanding and we can learn a lot from them from the way they bowled, especially at the death,” said Clarke after the 2-0 series-loss in Birmingham. “They are a tough opposition in the Test matches because of their bowling attack.”

Clarke singled out Gul, who returned to the squad after missing Pakistan’s defence of the World Twenty20 title they won in England last year and the Asia Cup, as a major difference between the two sides.

“Gul was simply outstanding. Pakistan’s always had a lot of talent but if you compare this team with the one that was in the West Indies, I think it’s good for them to have Gul back. Death-bowling is an art and it’s remarkable the way he bowled.”

Pakistan will go into the Test series with high hopes following the twin victories. However, with a 3-0 whitewash in Australia taking place earlier this year, and the repercussions, coach Waqar Younis met the Twenty20 wins with caution and guarded praise, reminding his players of the job ahead.

“Consecutive wins will definitely help the team and the momentum they take into the series but its still early days and Test cricket is an entirely different ball-game,” said Younis. “We’ve not lost that many series in England so that gives us confidence going into the series.”

Shahid Afridi will lead Pakistan in the Test matches after not playing in this format of the game for almost four years. Despite that, Younis remained confident of Afridi’s ability to perform.

“He’s very talented and aggressive. And that’s what you need. He hasn’t captained at this level before and hasn’t even played Test cricket for a while. It won’t be easy for him but he’s mentally very strong. And that will help him and the team.”

With these wins, Pakistan have forced Australia to take notice, despite the brutality witnessed at the start of the year. “Pakistan are a very good side in all three formats of the game,” added Clarke. “You have to be at your best when you play an opposition like that. Otherwise, you’ll simply get beaten.”

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Re: Clarke predicts tough Tests against Pakistan seamers

He is trying to make a competition out of the upcoming thrashing. I will be surprised if Pakistan performed as BD recently did in England.