Pakistan ready to pick an extra seamer if necessary

While Pakistan have a strong spin bowling attack, head coach Misbah-ul-Haq revealed they will not hesitate to drop one for an extra seamer if the conditions in Rawalpindi call for such a move.
Pakistan still expect to need their spinners
That being said, Misbah believes the pitch will be on the dry side which would end up giving more assistance to the spinners.
“One day before the Test or the morning of the match, based on those conditions… we will take the decision. It isn’t necessary that if there isn’t much help for a particular bowler, one has to go with him… we are ready. If it is obvious that we need to add a fast bowler, we will add,” Misbah said at a press conference.
“We have tried to keep the home advantage, for the pitch to be a bit dry, normally the conditions what we see in first-class cricket… obviously the pitch would be more green, moisture also would be more. Hopefully, the pitch would be on the drier side, a bit different… hopefully it would be like what we like…let’s see… we would get to know better on the last day (before the Test),” he added.
Hasan Ali set to shine
Misbah is also confident Hasan Ali will bounce back strongly in the second Test after he failed to impress in the first game against South Africa.
“In my opinion, Hasan has bowled well throughout the season, a little bit of margin you have to give because when you’re making a comeback after long, you might get a bit ambitious and try to do something too soon,” he said.
“Hasan as a whole package, the edge that he gives to the team… the run out he made (Temba Bavuma’s run out) in the first innings, his batting, his bowling also he proved… with the old ball, with the new ball… leading wicket-taker as a pacer in the season (first-class cricket). With time, he will get better.”
Back to winning ways
The head coach was delighted to get back to winning ways after a difficult time in New Zealand prior to the victory over the Proteas.
“It was a much needed win. The best thing was the way the team fought back from a difficult situation. It was a great performance,” he added.
“We hope that we don’t get complacent (ahead of the second Test)… the conditions could be different, wherever we performed well (in the first Test), we hope to continue, and wherever we have to improve, to look at it because the South African team is a tough team, and they will try to level the series. We should prepare well and try to win the series.”
Latest
-
News
Jamie Overton falls just short of debut Test century as England take narrow lead
Newcomer Overton was caught behind for 97.
-
News
George Scrimshaw holds final-over nerves to guide Derbyshire past Lancashire
Scrimshaw successfully defended the 10 runs in the final over.
-
England
Jonny Bairstow and England looking to ‘take the game forward’
Bairstow hit a run-a-ball hundred for the second Test in succession as England fought back spectacularly against New Zealand.
-
England
Jonny Bairstow century leads thrilling England fightback at Headingley
The Yorkshireman made 130 not out and put on 209 with debutant Jamie Overton to rescue his side from 55 for six against New Zealand.
-
England
England top order left in tatters as New Zealand gain upper hand at Headingley
The hosts were 93 for six in reply to New Zealand’s 329 all out.
-
New Zealand
Daryl Mitchell breaks record with another century against England
Mitchell broke Martin Donnelly’s New Zealand tally of 492 runs in a series in England, set back in 1949.
-
England
Superb James Vince ton leads Hampshire to shock win over Somerset
Sussex’s five-match losing streak came to an end with a 17-run win over Surrey.
-
England
Adil Rashid to miss England’s India white-ball series to make Mecca pilgrimage
Rashid has found it difficult to make the pilgrimage due to timings and commitments.
-
England
Jack Leach pleased with good luck but admits freak dismissal no collector’s item
New Zealand closed the opening day of the final Test against England on 225 for five after Henry Nicholls was dismissed in bizarre fashion.
-
England
Stuart Broad stars on day one for England but error of judgement proves costly
Broad kept a week of celebrations going strong by striking before a run had been added and followed with the key scalp of Kane Williamson.