NEWS
Follow UsBetween July 1, 2021 and July 1, 2023, Pakistan batters in Tests averaged 35.2, which was the third-best in the entire world, behind Sri Lanka and Australia. At the same time, however, they were one of three teams to bat at a strike rate less than 50, going at 49.9. Only Zimbabwe (46.9) and West Indies (45.5) went at a slower rate in this period.
On the basis of this evidence, many — in fact, everyone — expected Pakistan to bat slow and bat long against Sri Lanka on Day 2 but much to everyone’s shock, Babar Azam’s men batted at a jaw-dropping run rate of 4.91. Abdullah Shafique (19 off 28) and Shan Masood (39 off 30) set the tone for the dash and the hard-hitting approach was driven forward by the partnership of Saud Shakeel and Agha Salman, who added 120 unbroken runs in just 148 balls.
Post Day 2, Masood revealed that the flashy approach the visitors took on Day 2 was them merely putting to action what they’d spoken about in lead-up to the series.
"The last Test cycle gave us a big reflection, and this management was very firm that one of the things that was lacking with us not winning Test matches or not finishing them off, was that we weren't scoring at such a high rate as our opposition. That has been a concentrated effort,” Masood said.
"There were guys who were given a grant to go and play cricket in England, but the rest of the guys put in a lot of hard work during two skill camps that were based in Lahore and Karachi before we flew out to Sri Lanka. The emphasis was on scoring runs, just to put the opposition under pressure.
"In the camps, everything was left to individual preferences, but they were provided platforms to experiment - to play all kinds of shots, see what suited them, what kinds of oppositions they were coming up against. If you look at the players in our set-up - particularly Saud and Agha - you can see subtle changes that have allowed them to score quickly."
One key tactic of Pakistan, Masood revealed, was to not let the Sri Lankan spinners settle and choke the batters. The trade-off was that the visitors lost plenty of wickets — they were 101/5 at one point — but Masood said that the aggressive approach allowed Pakistan to ‘stay in the game’. Babar’s side ended the day on 221/5, something Masood described as an ‘even position’.
"Coming into these conditions in Sri Lanka, one thing Sri Lanka does is hold the opposition to miserly run rates, and they get the wickets in between as well," Masood said.
"Yes, we lost wickets, but that way of playing allowed us to stay in the game. Once we got that one healthy partnership, the two teams are in an even position now."
Still trailing by 91 runs, however, Pakistan are still a long way behind in the Test. Especially at a venue like Galle, which is notorious for fourth-innings collapses. Masood admitted that Pakistan will have to score as much as possible in the first innings in order to ensure they don’t end up chasing a mammoth total in the fourth innings.
"Normally you see Test matches move from day three, but from what I've seen at Galle, Test matches finish in four days," Masood said.
"There are some funny things that happen here because the ball keeps doing something. The breeze alows the fast bowlers to stay in, there's some reverse swing, there's some nice carry, the spinners are always the main frontrunners. While you're there, make the most of it. You want to limit that fourth innings chase to as little as possible."
