Shan Masood Distinguishes Between Batters and Bowlers After Defeat to England in Multan
Shan Masood drew a clear line between his team’s batters and bowlers following their innings loss to England in Multan. He defended the batters but criticized the bowlers for their failure to secure 20 wickets, largely dismissing the pitch conditions as an excuse.
Shan Masood Highlights England’s Success on Challenging Pitch
In his post-match remarks, Shan Masood stated, “England showed that taking 20 wickets is achievable on this pitch. We cannot look for easy answers; otherwise, we wouldn’t have amassed such a large first-innings score. Winning a Test match requires taking 20 wickets and posting runs in the first innings.”
He acknowledged that the team had repeated errors, saying that after scoring 550 runs and batting for two days, scoreboard pressure becomes a factor.
Persistent Failure to Take 20 Wickets
Masood repeatedly pointed out the team’s inability to secure those vital 20 wickets, while his analysis of the batters’ performance in the second innings was notably brief. He admitted that losing “one or two fewer wickets yesterday” would have been beneficial, but did not explore the batting issues further.
Pitch Conditions and Criticism from Commentators
There has been much discussion about the pitch’s lack of assistance for bowlers as the match progressed. Chris Woakes commented that the pitch “provided minimal support for bowlers,” while broadcaster Mike Atherton referred to it as “a particularly poor pitch.” In contrast, Shan Masood stated, “Both teams faced the same pitch, and each had comparable bowling line-ups. They executed their plans more effectively.”
Adapting Strategies to Changing Match Conditions
He emphasized the need for adaptation to the evolving conditions during the match, mentioning their anticipation that the pitch would deteriorate quickly but noting that their strategies did not yield the desired results.
Critique of Bowlers with the New Ball
Shan Masood particularly criticized the bowlers for their performance with the second new ball, highlighting that by that point, England had surpassed 400 runs, with Harry Brook and Joe Root forming a historic partnership. He noted that there were missed opportunities to take advantage of the new ball and that the bowlers needed to better handle the pressure.
While he acknowledged individual misfortunes, such as Naseem Shah’s near dismissal of Joe Root, Masood’s analysis did not focus extensively on the team’s batting failures in the second innings. The extreme heat and lengthy time spent on the field were also factors affecting performance, as noted by high-performance coach Tim Nielsen.
Also Read:Pakistan with Another Historic Defeat at Home.
Selective Critique Amidst Team Struggles
Some may argue that Masood has selectively framed his critique, particularly in light of Pakistan’s collapse to 82 for 6, contrasting sharply with England’s impressive batting. He emphasized the importance of avoiding significant deficits to strengthen Pakistan’s third innings but noted that even slight leads have not led to robust performances in the past.
Shan Masood stressed the need for Pakistan to integrate their batting and bowling efforts to succeed in future matches. “Winning hinges on ensuring that both batting and bowling can work in harmony, especially in the third and fourth innings,” he asserted.
