shame on you ALooooooo…shame on whole team…shame on disappointing all of us..shame on letting a proud nation down…every one is making fun of us…
The shame of a proud nation
By Peter Roebuck
December 20, 2004
Pakistan might as well sack their captain and put four of their batsmen on the next flight home. Senior figures in Pakistani cricket need to make it abundantly clear to the incumbents and their successors that the surrender witnessed in Perth is unacceptable. These tourists stay in plush hotels and enjoy the adulation of millions of cricket lovers in their homeland. It is an opportunity that has been squandered, a trust that has been betrayed.
Bear in mind that this was not the first abject performance produced by these pampered prima donnas. In Sharjah not so long ago they managed to lose all 10 wickets in a single session and never mind that the mercury was soaring and the pitch blameless. Many of the same batsmen appeared in that match and threw their wickets away in the same careless manner.
Of course the man in charge must take most of the blame. Inzamam-ul-Haq batted dreadfully in both innings. In his first effort he omitted to move his feet and was bowled by a straight ball. In his second effort he played at a widish ball with an open face and had the temerity to stand his ground in apparent bemusement after the umpire had
given him out. In the rush of wickets Channel Nine did not have time to show its snickometer readings but informed sources confirmed that a clear edge had been detected.
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Nor was Inzamam’s batting the worst of it. He spent most of the third day off the field complaining of a stomach bug and a backache. A captain must set the example for his players. His performance and manner compared unfavourably with the response of Sourav Ganguly last year. With his team in difficulty in the first match of the series, the supposedly fragile Bengali strode to the crease and scored a brave century. By now Inzamam ought to realise that there is no place to run, no place to hide.
Inzamam’s fellow batsmen were almost as culpable as their leader. Between them they occupied 31 overs and were lucky to last as long. Throughout the innings swishes eluded frustrated slip fieldsmen. Most of the runs came from edges and overthrows. An inebriated teenager could not have driven as carelessly as the cream of Pakistani batting. A desperate boxer does not lash out as wildly as the men responsible for upholding the reputation of a country that sits fourth in the international rankings should.
Imran Farhat is a case in point. If his batting in this match was anything to go by he has not learnt anything from his experiences during the past few years. He still plays away from his body, thereby keeping the slip cordon on tenterhooks. Admittedly he lost his wicket without playing a shot in the second innings but that merely emphasised his confusion. Stuart Carlisle scored a hundred and Sean Ervine reached 50 in last year’s WACA Ground Test. Carlisle and his fellow Zimbabwean are not unusually talented but have big hearts and tight techniques.
Abdul Razzaq was just as bad. Certainly he was batting too high in the order because the wrong team had been chosen but that does not excuse his slog in the first innings or the flirtation outside off stump produced in his team’s second attempt. More is expected from a senior man. Younis Khan and Yousuf Youhana waved airily as Pakistan utterly failed to survive the opening onslaught. Their anonymity counts against them. Just as the Americans ought to include their most distinctive golfers in their Ryder Cup team, so Pakistan need to confront Australia with their biggest characters.
If the Pakistanis are looking for inspiration they might consider the valour shown in Adelaide in January, 1948 by the distinguished Indian batsman Vijay Hazare, whose passing was mourned yesterday. Arriving at the crease after his team had been mauled in the first two Tests of the series and with his side in trouble chasing Australia’s mammoth 674, Hazare scored 116. Returning to the middle after two wickets had fallen in successive balls in the first over of the follow-on, Hazare scored 145. His achievement drew the admiration of his opponents and counts among the proudest moments in the annals of his country’s cricket. India found honour in defeat.
About the only regret felt in roundly condemning a touring team present in body but not mind or spirit is that it detracts from a sturdy performance from the Australians. Glenn McGrath was magnificent as he moved the ball around on a fourth-day pitch. Justin Langer was superb in both innings and deserves a place in the 50-over side. Michael Kasprowicz improves with every match. Shane Warne enjoyed teasing his opponents. Adam Gilchrist was outstanding and sporting. Darren Lehmann was the only disappointment.
Australia march to Melbourne. Pakistan will arrive with their tails between their legs. Unless drastic changes are made in the touring team’s attitude and line-up there is no point in them crossing the Nullarbor.
moron is back