Sydney, Australia: Pakistan failure to take 20 wickets in all three Tests was responsible for their whitewash against Australia and the situation will not improve unless players get more exposure to conditions Down Under, captain Misbah ul Haq said on Saturday.
Pakistan arrived in Australia with their hosts in disarray after a 2-1 home series lost to South Africa. The tourists were confident that they could at least win one Test in the series if not emulate the Proteas
Despite theodd period of competitiveness, Pakistan were largely outclassed and their demise was completed at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Saturday when they crumbled to a 220 run defeat to lose the series 3-0.
“Our bowling is always our strength but in this series I was a bit disappointed that we could not take twenty wickets in any of the Tests. That’s why we were so behind in every game. It is very difficult for any Asian side to come here and take 20 wickets in a Test match. That’s an art and we could not do that and that mainly cost us the series”, ul-Haq told reporters after the match.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah was probably Pakistan biggest disappointment in the bowling department, he arrived in Australia with a big reputation but departed with right wickets at the cost of 672 runs.
Pakistan defeat on Saturday was their 12th straight lost in Australia since 1999, and ul-Haq is calling for young cricketers identifed as Test prospects to be given a chance to take the conditions down under earlier in their careers.
” If we are not touring more often in Australia and South Africa this could happen again and again. I have already suggested some of our players be sent to Australia on a regular basics to play games here, that is the only way we are going to improve. If we are coming here after four, give or six years. Seven or eight guys are coming here for the first time and we are going to struggle “, he added
