'Avoid being defensive'- Inzamam-ul-Haq advises Pakistan batsmen to break free from their cocoon

Former Pakistan cricketer Inzamam-ul-Haq has a great piece of advice for Pakistan batsmen playing against England during the second Test at Southampton. During the opening day of the game at The Rose Bowl, he felt that the visitors were quite scared and being defensive in their approach and that’s were England is getting effortless in dominating them.

Opener Abid Ali made a decent contribution of 60 runs but England’s seam bowlers have been using the conditions to register the match in their account. The entry of Fawad Ali in their playing eleven after almost 11 years also raised eyebrows as he fell prey to Chris Woakes for a four-ball-duck. Struggling through their ways, the green army was able to put 126/5 at the end of rain hit day.

Inzamam-ul-Haq opines

On his YouTube channel, Inzi advised Pakistan batsman to stop being defensive in approach. He said, “Pakistan batsmen were scared of playing their shots. If you look at most of their dismissals, their bat was behind their leg. When you meet the ball, your bat should be ahead of your leg. You are getting caught at slips because you are employing a defensive approach.

“I request the batsmen and team management to play aggressive cricket, in order to beat England. Otherwise, we will be depending on rain to save us in this Test.”

At the end of first and a rain hit day, Pakistan had their problems, losing wickets at regular intervals. However at the end of the second day at Southampton, Pakistan closed on 223/9 where significant innings by wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan pulled Pakistan towards a respectable zone. His unbeaten knock of 60 runs was talk of the day. James Anderson and Stuart Broad dominated the bowling show from the England side.

In the ongoing Test, the hosts are yet to show up with the bat. The Joe Root-led English team is leading the series by 1-0 after winning the opening match by three wickets. After the third Test, the T20I series between the two nation will commence at the end of the month.