Perth: Pakistan cricket's Waterloo

Published December 20, 2004

The result of the first Test between Pakistan and Australia was not unexpected and, therefore, not disappointing. May be the average cricket fan or the more 'patriotic' among us were hoping against hope that Inzamam's erratic band would perform some miracle and that also at Perth -now named Pakistan cricket's Waterloo.

And it has proved so where Pakistan have yet to win a Test match ever since their first tour of Australia in 1954-65. They have played five Tests there and lost all. What was frustrating and shocking was the 'disgraceful' performance of the Pakistanis, allowing the Australians to practically pull the rug from under their feet.

The adjective 'disgraceful' has been borrowed from none other than our highly pampered, highly paid coach Bob Woolmer. Even he appeared so cheesed off with the way the Pakistan top and middle order performed in the first innings that he could not stop shouting 'foul'.

Managers and coaches normally do not choose to react -and that also in such a harsh manner - in the middle of a match. That is considered bad manners in sports. But Bob is so fond of issuing statements and criticizing his 'own' team that he could not help babbling on Friday: "If you saw how Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami batted (in the first innings), it was a disgraceful performance in the front (i.e. the top and middle order)."

But the coach probably realized that the comment was a wee bit harsh and went on to add: "I will talk to each of the players to determine the problem." Whether he talked to the players later in the evening or not we don't know.

But the collapse in the second innings on Sunday at least confirmed that even if Woolmer did talk to them it had had no effect. The way Glenn McGrath and the two other seamers rattled the top and middle order on Sunday was simply horrifying. Inzamam's innings was just a replay of his first innings performance and so was that of Imran Farhat.

But one must give Woolmer the credit of being honest (but completely out of wits) when he said after Pakistan were bundled out for 179. "If I could put my fingers on why it is happening I would have stopped it by now."

Most of us have doubts if Woolmer could really have stopped what is 'happening'. But at least he has the 'honesty' to accept that he is unable to understand to the root cause - and that also after spending almost a year with this team. One can sympathize with him but cannot help him.

All said and done, the fact is that Pakistan on Sunday suffered one of the most humiliating defeats since they have been playing Test cricket. Except for a two-hour bright spot on the first day when it seemed they had the world champions in all sorts of trouble there was not a moment for the Pakistani fan to cheer during the three days and two hours that this first Test lasted. And as has been in the past there were fitness problems.

Shoaib Akhtar sustained injury in his left shoulder while fielding during Australia's second innings on Saturday and had to leave the field for the rest of the day after bowling only 6.3 overs.

This brought to memory a discussion some of us were having a day before the Test began. A former Test cricketer was commenting that he did not recollect when Shoaib had played any full Test series without either being injured half-way or being completely out of action. But the more optimistic among the group did not share the view that the same would happen on this tour. Shoaib did not take long to disappoint his ardent fans.

When these lines were being written there was no news if Shoaib would be fit to bowl in the second Test that begins on Sunday in Melbourne. He did come to bat in the second innings yesterday but the stay at the wicket was so brief that it is hard to say if he is fully fit to take on the mighty Australian batting.

Many of us would remember the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief blaming the Australian cricket management that the ACB makes it a point to play the first Test at the Perth ground.

Much as this comment was uncalled for and un sporting - more so coming from the chief of the cricket management - it was neither here nor there. At best it was a pre-emptive lame excuse.

And coach Woolmer, of all persons, did not take long to reject this line of argument. "In his comments on Friday, he rejected the 'Perth bogey' and said that his team had plenty of time to get used to local (Perth) conditions."

After all something appear to be seriously wrong somewhere. And someone has to take the responsibility. Some say it is the coach, others blame the team management including the captain and still others hold the selection committee responsible. But it is too early to pass a verdict. Let us wait till the Melbourne Test before starting to scratch our heads.

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