Australia opener David Warner said he hopes for an improved pitch for the second Test in Karachi which begins from March 12 onwards. The first Test ended in a high-scoring draw that saw both teams making 400 plus in the first innings and Pakistan openers batting out the entire fifth day.
14 wickets fell in the match in Rawalpindi, with Australia managing to take four of them. Imam Ul Haq scored two centuries in the match, while Azhar Ali and Abdullah Shafique scored a century as well.
The pitch at the Pindi cricket stadium was criticized by the cricket fraternity, while PCB chief Ramiz Raja defended it by saying they couldn’t prepare a pitch with pace and bounce which would help Australia, especially with the home team without a few of their key bowlers.
Ahead of the second Test match in Karachi, Australia’s David Warner hoped for sporting pitches going forward.
“I just want a game where you can actually create 20 chances. It's something that's going to be exciting and entertaining for the crowd. When he (Lyon) was hitting that rough, it wasn't doing anything, was just pretty much going straight on slow off the wicket. There wasn't any variable bounce, which you generally do see on worn wickets,” Warner said.
David Warne said that batting first at the National Stadium in Karachi will be beneficial. He also said that Rawalpindi’s pitch had no support for the bowlers, and he expects a better pitch in Karachi.
“I think batting first at National Stadium will be more beneficial! It’s easy to bat when there’s no bounce and pace on the pitch. Pitch for Rawalpindi Test was not favorable to bowlers. Let’s hope pitch for Karachi Test will provide quality cricket to fans,” he added further.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will still miss the services of Faheem Ashraf, who had missed the first Test due to injury, as he tested positive for COVID-19. Hassan Ali and Haris Rauf are expected to be available for the second Test match.
(Times of India inputs)
