England vs Pakistan: Hasan Ali expresses his desire to become the No 1 Test bowler

The visiting Pakistan team played outstandingly well to outplay the host England team on the first day of the first Test match at the Lord’s. The Pakistan fast bowlers delivered a remarkable performance to contain the English batsmen and thus bowled out England for 184 runs.

The fast bowling duo of Mohammad Abbas and Hasan Ali finished the proceedings by scalping four wickets each to restrict the opposition within a low total. After a successful last year in the shorter formats, Hasan expressed his desires to replicate his limited overs wonders in Test cricket as well.

I want to become the No 1 bowler in Test matches: Ali

Hasan delivered a sensational opening spell in which he claimed the prized scalp of the England skipper Joe Root and middle-order batsman Dawid Malan. He then returned with a sharp finishing spell after the tea break and picked up the wickets of returning Jos Buttler and Mark Wood to restrict the opposition to 184 runs in the first innings. After recording amazing figures at the iconic Lord’s, the pacer promised to become the No 1 bowler in the longest format of the game.

“Like I became the number one bowler in One Day Internationals, I want to become number one in Tests too,” said Ali in a conversation with the media persons after the end of the first day’s play.

He mentioned that the bowling coach Azhar Mahmood had a long discussion with the Pakistan bowling unit on the plan to bowl straight and full-length deliveries. Hasan reckoned that the conditions and the pitch became quite effective when our fast bowlers were pitching the ball full and straight in line with the stumps. The pacer also revealed that he never felt the need to bowl bouncers at any point in time.

“We had a long meeting, where Azhar Mahmood told us to bowl straight and full length. That’s why we got help from the pitch and were successful. There was no need to bowl bouncers because we were getting help from bowling straight and pitching the ball up. It would have made no sense to bowl bouncers,” further added the Pakistan fast bowler.

All our bowlers and fielders did really well to restrict England

The 24-year old stated that the Pakistan bowlers bowled superbly and also got the desired support from the fielders to restrict the opposite team. He praised his teammate Abbas who also picked up four wickets, for his consistency and ability to swing the ball in both the directions.

“The way the bowlers bowled is there for all to see but after that, the fielders also did well, holding onto catches and the ground fielding was also very good. Abbas Bhai is a very good bowler, he bowls at the same spot and moves the ball both ways, my role is also to bowl in an attacking manner and to take wickets for the team,” concluded Hasan.

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