Don't usually see a pitch that supports seamers so much: Azhar Ali

It was not a great day for Pakistan in Test cricket. Batsman Azhar Ali absolutely knows that. After having lost the first Test by 8 wickets, Pakistan are now hopeful of turning things around in the next. They were blown away by some exceptional swing bowling. The extra tinge of grass on the pitch saw the seamers rule the roost. Azhar spoke at length about the conditions that they played in.

Pakistan bundled out for a paltry 133 in their first innings as debutant Colin de Grandhomme bagged six-for. New Zealand could not post a high total either and managed just 200. With just 171 in their second innings, Pakistan knew they were in deep troubles. This was the first time when all 30 wickets of the 3 innings went to the seam bowlers.

No wonder why Azhar Ali remarked the pitch as the most seamer-friendly wicket he has ever played on. He mentioned the tracks in Sri Lanka assisting the seamers before. He further admitted that they have to play on whatever tracks they get.

“Maybe this is the most seam-friendly pitch I’ve played on in my international career. It reminds of one or two pitches in Sri Lanka where the ball moves for a couple of hours on the first day or two but it starts to settle down. Here the movement is there for longer. It’s New Zealand’s home conditions so we, as a professional team, just have to play on whatever we get, and that’s it,” quoted Azhar Ali.

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Adding further on the same note, Ali mentioned that such tracks have never been seen in Australia or England. He credited New Zealand for playing better cricket on the day. “You usually don’t see in Australia, New Zealand or England a pitch that supports the seamers so much. There was no pitch was like this in England. It swings around there, but not as much grass as that. But this is the pitch we got, and New Zealand played better than us,” added Azhar Ali.

Ali mentioned that the team knew they will be tested by short stuff. He hopes to turn things around quickly. He was in all praise for the Kiwi bowlers for sticking to their plans all the time.

“You expect sub-continent teams will be tested with that short stuff and we all knew that. But as time goes on, we’ll get better, and we’re hopeful to turn things around quickly. The New Zealand bowlers held their plans really well, and held their lines long enough to create chances. We couldn’t get the flow of runs going at any stage, so that’s why sometimes it’s hard as a batsman. You’re trying to play well and do everything right, but the opposition sometimes doesn’t allow you to score runs,” he said.

The New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson, was mighty pleased with his team’s performance. He spoke in favour of Pakistani side showing a lot of grit and courage early on. He then heaped praise on all his seam bowlers for doing exceedingly well.

“Without a doubt our bowling effort in the second innings was the decisive period. We were hoping for some movement off the surface and Pakistan showed a lot of resistance – especially early – and were very patient. But the way that four seamers got into spells and held their areas for long periods at a time, it was world-class. They passed it over for the next bloke to take up the baton, and it was a huge effort being patient and getting the rewards later on in the day yesterday,” said the Kiwi skipper.

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He praised Jeet Raval on the occasion too. Raval made his Test debut and struck a fifty in the first innings. Williamson called him a calm and composed character. He quoted, “Jeet came into international cricket and it looked like he’d been there for years. He was very calm, very relaxed, and stuck to the game plan. To go out and open the innings, against a very good bowling attack, on a surface that was offering something to the seam bowlers and achieve what he did was great to see, particularly in the first innings. Then he showed his composure again in the chase for the victory.”

Williamson concluded by saying that the win was a much-needed one. After having had two very tough tours to South Africa and India, this win meant a lot for team’s morale. “It’s nice to get a win, but more importantly to have a performance that didn’t show too much baggage from the past. There were a couple of really tough tours in South Africa and India. It was important we learned a lot, but at the same time, put some of that baggage away and tried to focus on what we needed to do here,” Williamson concluded.