Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur speaks about the selection decisions facing the team ahead of the Hamilton Test, and looks ahead to the tour of Australia
Andrew Fidel Fernando in Hamilton23-Nov-2016Misbah-ul-Haq is unavailable for this match. What do you lose when a player like that goes?
You lose a massive amount. You don’t only lose a player that averages in the high forties and gets runs at No. 5 for you. When you lose your leader, it becomes really tough. But you have to put a positive spin on it. It’s a real opportunity for one of the other young players to step up. In terms of leadership we will have it covered within the team, but Misbah’s been an unbelievable captain for Pakistan for such a long time that to replace him is very, very difficult.What are your thoughts about a possible replacement?
We’ve got two options. Mohammad Rizwan can slot into the middle order – he’s travelled around with us for a long time. He’s trained with us. He went through the England series. We sent him back to play some domestic cricket and he responded by getting 167 and a 95. That’s one option. Or we can have a look at Sharjeel Khan. If we use Sharjeel at the top of the order, that makes quite a few changes.Are you hesitant to do that, with the openers bedded in recently, and Azhar Ali making runs?
That becomes an issue because Azhar might have to go back down to three, and Babar Azam – our young gun, who I think is going to play for Pakistan for a long time and do really well – slides down to six, and Asad Shafiq might have to go back up. It’s a lot of disruptions to our batting order. We’ve just got to have a look at the pitch and decide what we think is the best combination.What we do know is Sharjeel brings an ability to take the game away from the opposition in one session. He does that. He reminds me of a young David Warner when he came into the Australia side. If we can get Sharjeel’s defensive game to where it needs to be, it could be very exciting for us, because he can be very destructive at the top of the order. That’s something exciting – there’s a bit of romance there, if you like. Then you have Rizwan, who has wholehearted grit and determination. He’s a very, very good player.”Sharjeel reminds me of a young David Warner”•Getty ImagesIf Sharjeel’s defence has a little way to go, will conditions determine your decision?
I think so. His defence is good – and I’ve told him this – but for him to become a Test batsman, we just need to keep working on the defensive side of his game. He’s got a very good attacking side.You’ve got that settled middle order, but is your top three something that still needs work?
To a point. I think Sami’s done really well. He’s showed a real maturity. Azhar’s done exceptionally well whenever he’s had a go at the top of the order – he’s a quality player. The dilemma for us in the last Test was whether Asad Shafiq stayed at three or we moved Babar in at three. One of them was going to bat three and one was going to bat six. We went to Asad at six because that was the sort of stable batting order for a long period of time. I think Babar has the capability to bat No. 3. That’s where he bats for his local team and in one-day cricket. There is no problem with Babar. Technically he’s all good.You left out Wahab Riaz on a green pitch in the last match, which suggests you are picking attacks based on the pitch…
The dilemma we had in the last Test – and this could go a long way to stopping all the questions I’m getting from Pakistan – was that we preferred Rahat Ali in the Test because of the pitch conditions. We wanted seam bowlers and swingers of the ball, rather than a guy who can bowl really quick. We thought that’s what the wicket determined, and were proved right in that regard.The other option we had was whether we played all four seamers and left Yasir out. The thing with that for me – and I’ve seen it over such a long period of time – is that a quality spin bowler like Yasir can attack and defend for you. Had the game gone into day five, I think spin would have played a big role. So often you select for the first innings, because you see the pitch is green. I’m of the opinion that if three quick bowlers won’t do it, then neither will four. I’d rather have someone who can change the tempo and pace – give us a variation as you go later in the game – to take the second-innings wickets as well.You know, we’re very lucky with our bowling unit that we can pick a horses-for-courses team. If the ball’s going to reverse, and the wicket has pace and bounce, Wahab is our No. 1 choice. We’ll pick our attack and put our options together as to what will get us 20 wickets.Wahab did well in Pakistan’s last Test in Hamilton. Does that make him more likely to play here?
It’s more likely that the ball’s going to reverse-swing here. The pitch was green today, which we don’t really mind, because we do have an attack that can really exploit that. Wahab is an option for us.”We’ve just got to use Wahab when the conditions are right”•AFPIs the horses-for-courses philosophy something you will stick with through your southern-hemisphere tours?
Yes, because Wahab, in Australia – particularly at the Gabba – becomes weapon No. 1, given his pace and ability to get reverse swing. He is a phenomenal bowler, because he provides us both options. We’ve just got to use him when the conditions are right. Then he becomes our trump card.Mohammad Amir’s made a good return to cricket, but we haven’t yet seen him get those big hauls yet. What does he have to improve to do that?
He’s been very good since he’s come back. He’s had a lot of dropped catches – particularly in England. But he’s bowling well and he’s getting better. Every time I see him bowl, I see pace coming back and I see confidence coming back. He’s starting to swing the ball again. He’s got his confidence to bowl his bouncer. I’m hoping he hits his stride soon and gets rewards for all the work he’s put in.Have you seen him change mentally in the time you’ve been involved?
Yes, that confidence is there because he’s now being judged just as a cricketer again. He’s a wonderful bowler and a wonderful feller – he’s really a good bloke. His work ethic is second to none.Despite the horses-for-courses outlook, is he someone that will be considered on any kind of pitch?
Yeah he is, because he swings the ball at good pace. But again, our bowlers know that there’s no comfort zone for anybody. They know that at any given time, we’ve got another four bowlers that can do the job. So it’s great. There’s a nice little bit of internal competition going on, though they are a tight unit.If you do well over the next four Tests, you do have a chance to push for that No. 1 ranking. How much does that motivate the side?
It’s a massive thing for Pakistan. To get to No. 1 after our England series was amazing – they haven’t played at home for so long. The players have spoken about their desire to get that No. 1 tag back and the motivation is as big as it’s ever been. But we’re under no illusions. It’s going to be tough. New Zealand played unbelievably well in the last match and were really disciplined. They are a tough team and we’ll have to play very well to beat them.Then we go to Australia, who are regrouping, but in their home conditions, are going to be very strong. There’s quality there. We’re playing Test matches away from home in very tough conditions, but there is a desire to get there.The teams pushing for that top spot are all flawed in some way. Where do you think Pakistan has most room for improvement?
We just want to keep getting better and better outside subcontinent conditions. We’re going to be challenged down here with the short ball and the pace of the wicket. I know, because I’ve coached against subcontinent teams when I was with South Africa and Australia. When a subcontinent team arrives, you’re going to bounce them. You’re going to come hard at them for all the times that you got nailed by spin in the subcontinent. That’s what’s going to happen to us. We’ve got to be up for that challenge. We’ve got to work on our play against the short ball – we’ve got to work out how to score and defend off it. But our players can do that because they are quality players. I’m trying not to make a massive issue of it, because they’re all good enough.
