Worried about Pakistan’s batting, even with Anderson missing: Wasim Akram

Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram expressed his concerns about the adaptability of his team’s batting line-up in the seaming conditions against England.

It is known fact that the men in green are one of the best bowling units around the globe and with Mohammad Amir in top notch form, they could well create problems for the English batsmen. Thus, the performance of their batting will determine a lot of things in the series.

“It’s Pakistan’s batting that I’m worried about, even with James Anderson missing,” Akram wrote in The Sunday Times. Akram made it very clear that their batsmen have to use their feet. “Any player with a back-foot technique, or who is neither forward nor back, will struggle against these bowlers in these conditions.”

“I hope Pakistan have done their homework because the new ball swings a lot more in England, and can reverse more too. Credit to England’s bowlers; they have learned not just how to reverse the ball but how to maintain it so that it reverses for longer,” he added.

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Akram advised some tactics against Gary Balance:

England has included Gary Balance in their squad for the series. Akram advised his bowlers to pitch the ball up, so as to exploit his weakness. “From what I have seen of Gary Ballance he is mainly a back-foot player,” Akram said. “I would expect Pakistan to pitch the ball up and take it away from him, posting three slips and a gully, while keeping open point, mid-off and extra cover to encourage the drive.

“That way you have a chance of him nicking off. But you have to be consistent and patient. England is a great place to use the width of the crease against left-handers. Start off close to the stumps, and then once in a while go wide. You can go round the wicket, or over, as long as you keep good control of the ball,” he said.

Explained how to use leg-spinner Yasir Shah in England:

He also gave some advice to skipper Misbah-ul-Haq about the importance of leg-spinner Yasir Shah in the squad, and how he can be best utilized.

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“The great thing about having pace and spin working together is that it does not matter so much what the pitch is doing, or whether you win the toss. You have the bases covered,” he said. “Myself, Waqar and Shoaib Akhtar used to operate in short bursts while Saqlain Mushtaq attacked or defended. One of us was always fresh to come back. Misbah-ul-Haq is an experienced captain with a good brain and knows how to handle his bowlers,” he concluded.