'If the ball is moving an inch, he is going to get out' - Michael Vaughan lashes out at Fawad Alam

Pakistan batsman Fawad Alam marked his comeback in international cricket after a long span of 10 years and 259 days. He was picked by the Pakistan side for their playing XI ahead of the second Test against England in Southampton. Fawad’s unusual return to the game hasn’t gone well with the former England skipper, Michael Vaughan and he has questioned his batting technique.

Coming after such a long span, all eyes were on Alam, but to everyone’s utter dismay, the batsman couldn’t make a mark and fell in hands of Chris Woakes for a four-ball duck. Soon after his disappointing performance, people started questioning his form and presence in the Pakistan side. Vaughan felt bringing back Fawad at such a crucial stage is ‘very typical of what Pakistan do.’

Vaughan told Cricbuzz, “I don’t understand why they have made that decision to bring in a guy, who has not played for 11 years and is 34 years of age, It’s very typical of what Pakistan do. With that technique, he [Fawad] is basically facing the wrong way when the ball is being delivered. If the ball is moving an inch, he is going to get out. I don’t think this was the time to play Fawad Alam.”

Pakistan won the toss in the second Test and decided to bat first, putting up 126/5 on board at the end of the rain-affected day. Hosts England registered the first match in their account by defeating Pakistan with 82 runs. Buttler and Woakes’ partnership became instrumental in gifting hosts the desired start.

Fawad Alam’s career so far

In this huge gap of almost 11 years, the batsman missed around 88 matches which is the second-longest halt experienced by a Pakistan player between two Tests. Prior to this, Younis Ahmed made a comeback after 17 Years and 111 days, missing of total 104 matches.

The 34-year-old batsman has so far featured in 4 Tests, 38 ODIs and 24 T20Is with 250, 966, and 194 runs respectively. He has been a prolific figure for Pakistan in domestic cricket with a whopping average of 56.78. Before being included in the Playing XI against England at Southampton, he was last seen playing a Test match against New Zealand in 2009.