Even though Pakistan suffered a painful defeat in the low-scoring first Test in Jamaica against West Indies, bowling coach Waqar Younis was pleased with the effort put in by his team’s bowling unit.
“When you miss so many opportunities in such tense moments then that will definitely hurt you. But overall if you analyse the bowling I must say all the bowlers bowled really well throughout the Test match,”
said the fast bowling legend in a virtual press conference, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“Despite the small target, they put in all the hard work, responded well, the way they fought in the game, and never let it go easily.”
Bowlers, Waqar said, are meant to create opportunities and the way his team’s young attack did in the closing stages at the Sabina Park was a reason to be “proud” for him.
Pakistan’s three frontline quicks – Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali – have a collective experience of only 56 Test caps behind them.
Pakistan’s batting let them down in the first Test, getting out for scores of only 217 and 203 on either side of West Indies’ 253 in the first innings.
Waqar said he doesn’t think the surface for the next Test will get any less pace-friendly in Jamaica, making it important that the visiting batters apply themselves better and approach the challenge more positively.
“One has to apply himself on such pitches and has to be positive as a bowler and as a batter. Sometimes you have to take risks to score runs and whoever scored runs was taking risks to build up the board.”
he said.
1-0 down in the two-match series and having conceded crucial World Test Championship points, Pakistan will look to make amends in the next game, starting Friday.
