da bet vitoria： Mohammad Yousuf, the Pakistan captain, has admitted Mitchell Johnson’s first over “killed” his team’s chances of pulling off a successful chase
Osman Samiuddin at the MCG30-Dec-2009
Mitchell Johnson sent back Umar Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq in the first over of the day to effectively eliminate any hopes of a stunning chase•Getty Images
Pakistan woke up this morning believing they could pull off a world recordchase and surprise Australia at the MCG. But the first over of themorning, from Mitchell Johnson, effectively put paid to any such hopes.Umar Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq fell off consecutive balls and a robustovernight position suddenly became 170-5.Mohammad Yousuf, Pakistan’s captain who was unbeaten overnight on 47, wasconfident his side could get the further 251 runs, on what was still agood surface for batting, but admitted Johnson’s first over “killed” theirchances. “I was 70% confident maybe we will win, because 251 in 90overs, if we don’t give away early wickets [was possible] and maybe they [would] come under more pressure,” he said. “The first over put us under pressure. Johnson’s first over killed us.”The 170-run loss was Pakistan’s tenth successive Test loss to Australia, arun stretching back ten years, to 1999. There were moments on the thirdand fourth day where Pakistan battled hard, but Yousuf felt the game wasessentially lost during the first couple of days, a period where Pakistanbowled and fielded poorly. “In the first innings we didn’t bowl in theright areas and our fielding was poor,” he said. “We dropped a couple ofcatches and both the openers made 90-plus. We were a little shaky in thefirst innings with bat and ball. If we had got them for 300 and gotten 250ourselves, it would have been a different game.”The bowling didn’t happen I think on the first day in the right places.We tried to get too many out, whereas Australia bowled to contain runs andthey got wickets from that. In the second innings we did that and wemanaged to pick up wickets.”Pakistan travel to Sydney on New Year’s eve, where the second Test begins on January 3. Despite the loss, Yousuf remains confident thepositives from Melbourne can help his side fight back. There is already talkof Pakistan playing two spinners at the SCG, even if it isn’t quite theturner now that it has been. Danish Kaneria is fit, after missing the MCG Test due to a finger injury.”There are positives from here, in some performances, especially MohammadAamer in the second innings,” Yousuf said. “He pitched the ball in the right areas andthat’s why he took five wickets. Umar Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq both battedwell in the first innings as well but we have all areas to improve in.”We haven’t seen the wicket [at Sydney]. But if it’s the same wicket wesaw last matches, hopefully maybe two [spinners]. Some games I saw inSydney, if it behaves the same it may be difficult for Australia.”There might be more personnel changes by the time the Test begins.Pakistan’s team management has already asked the selection committee tosend Younis Khan, the former captain, to reinforce the batting order.Pakistan’s batsmen have struggled in this Test, with few exceptions, andtheir top order is particularly wobbly. They have tried four differentone-downs in four Tests, though nobody has convinced. The request forYounis was made a few days ago but a decision is expected sometime today.”Obviously Younis is a very experienced player and a very good player,”Yousuf said. “He’s got a 50 average in Test matches. We miss him a lot, heis a very crucial number three. We already told them to send him, so theywill decide now. They have not decided yet so I don’t know when he iscoming. I have spoken [with him]. He is willing to play. We lost here butwe are looking forward to two Test matches. The series is not finishedyet. Hopefully, we will be trying harder the next game.”