Wasim Akram advised the Pakistani players to focus on their line and length.© X (Twitter)
Wasim Akram was critical of the approach of Pakistan players during the first Test against Australia at Optus Stadium in Perth. His reaction came after Australia amassed 487 in 113.2 overs against Pakistan, in David Warner’s 26th Test century. The former Pakistan captain noted that subcontinent players are often bothered by the pace and bounce on Australian tracks. Akram advised the Pakistani players to focus on their line and length to make breakthroughs.
“Australia is a different ball game. Kookaburra ball after 15 overs, it doesn’t do anything. They want you to bowl a short ball. They’re good at the bounce. They can pull well. They can link well. I think my advice is to… For all Pakistani bowlers, this length is key.”
“The moment you get the length right, that’s where you trouble the batsmen, not with the short balls. Don’t get excited about the bounce here at Optus Cricket Ground,” he added.
Warner, who scored 164 runs in the first innings, also echoed Akram’s sentiments, saying Pakistan’s players were “out of their league” in the first innings.
“Sometimes opposition teams come to Australia and they bowl one or two up and then they get pushed back down the ground, and then they go that length away. Whereas if you look at our bowlers, they’re constantly trying to hit that length, and they want you to ‘I’ve gone straight past them.’ “I don’t think I scored a single goal on the ground today, and that’s when you know you took them out of their height. I don’t think they threw enough balls in the right area to make a shot,” he added. “You make us play.”
Warner helped Australia to a 216-run lead in the first innings, but was dismissed for a duck in the second innings.
Australia had bowled out Pakistan for 271 in the first innings as veteran spinner Nathan Lyon moved within one wicket of the 500 mark. The off-spinner finally reached the milestone on Sunday as Australia registered a 360-run win.
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