Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali has backed his bowlers to back up their good work on Day 1 in Melbourne and back it up on Day 2 of the boxing day Test match. Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first at the MCG. After Day 1, Australia are 187/3 for 66 after rain played a spoilsport role.
Pakistan continued with a four-man pace attack after paceman Noman Ali was ruled out of the second Test with acute appendicitis. The team is already missing key players like Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed and debutant Khurram Shahzad.
With Pakistan’s bowling line-up struggling, experienced pacer Hasan Ali was one of the changes in Pakistan’s XI. In the day’s post-match press conference, Hasan Ali spoke about the performance of Pakistan’s bowlers and their pace.
“I don’t know who has slowed down; my focus has never been on pace and I have never bowled at 150 km/h. I think it’s best to stick to the area around the top of the stump. “I haven’t heard these rumors (about the bowlers’ pace dropping) and we don’t care about them.” Ali said in response to comments from Mitchell Starc, who said Pakistan’s pacers had little pace in the first Test.
Australia scored 487 in the first innings of the first Test and 233/5 in the second innings. Shaheen Afridi and Co. really struggled to dismiss the Australian batsmen and they bowled with less pace according to Starc.
“I think everyone was a little surprised by the lower pace of the Pakistan bowlers when you’re usually used to some guys hitting 150,” “I don’t think that pace is the be-all and end-all of it, but “It certainly plays a part and I can help,” Starc said.
Our focus is on the game: Hasan Ali, Pakistan’s pacer
The experienced Pakistan pacer further spoke about their good work on the opening day of the Test match and how they are preparing for the next four days of the Test match.
“Our focus is on the game, and that’s where it should be. As a unit, we bowled well today. We have an advantage because we have not lost races. But we are not satisfied that the work is done: there is a long way to go. If we take them out for less than 250, we will have a great chance to win.”
Pakistan is on a 15-match losing streak against Australia in Australia in Test matches. Batsmen must pull up their socks and bat in this test match. They were well below average in the first test in Perth. They were bowled out for 271 and only 89 in the two innings of the first Test.
Meanwhile, Hasan Ali’s comments were a response to Starc’s comments about the Pakistan pacer’s lack of pace. The Pakistan pacer bowled 14 overs and took 1 for 28. Ali was rested from the first Test when Pakistan perhaps needed his experience more than a specialist spinner.
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