Cricket World Cup 2019: Pakistan preparing for bouncer tactics from England, says Azhar Mahmood
Bowling coach expects batsmen to be troubled just as they were during defeat to West Indies at Trent Bridge
June 2, 2019
Pakistan are braced for a bumper barrage from England after wilting under the West Indies' aggressive approach in their 2019 Cricket World Cup opener at Trent Bridge on Friday.
Some of the Pakistan batsmen were either troubled or dismissed by short-pitched deliveries as they were blown away for 105 to crumble to a seven-wicket defeat.
The strategy is hardly revolutionary at this level but has been cited as a major factor for the low scores that have so far defined the opening few matches of the tournament.
Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood insists their batsmen must be prepared after readily admitting the bouncer ploy is likely to be liberally used by their next opponents at the same venue on Monday.
The last time we played Pakistan, @chriswoakes... 🖐#CWC19 content: https://t.co/JgOo0hYP2O#ExpressYourself #CWC19 #WeAreEngland pic.twitter.com/A4RcCHXzxI
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 2, 2019
Mahmood, a former stalwart of county cricket at Surrey and Kent, said: "We didn't handle the short ball really well and we practised a lot, and we know it will come.
"When teams come from the subcontinent, the other teams will use those sort of tactics.
"All the teams will bowl short against us so we are practising, and we've done it before, so I think we need to move on and concentrate on the next game."
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Pakistan's chastening start to the tournament means they have now lost their last 11 completed one-day internationals, a streak dating back to January which includes a 4-0 series defeat to England last month.
However, England need no reminder of Pakistan's potential on the global stage after dumped Eoin Morgan's side out of the Champions Trophy en route to lifting the trophy on these shores two years ago.
"We can beat them," Mahmood said. "It would not be an upset. We have ability to beat them.
"If you see the one-day series, we were not that far from England. They scored 1,430-odd runs, we scored 1,370 runs, so we were 70 runs short.
"Our fielding was not up to the mark and we give an extra bonus because we had an inexperienced bowling line-up. They need to learn from their mistakes. So we know what England can do, and we know what we can do."
The pitch that will be used is the same strip on which England piled up a world record 481-6 against Australia 12 months ago as well as the second highest total on the all-time list, 444 against Pakistan in 2016.
Mahmood, who said Asif Ali is in contention to feature for his tournament bow, added: "[England] have skill, and they are the best batting line-up.
"The 480 pitch has been a world-record pitch, but they have to play 300 balls to get to that record. We have to bowl 10 good balls to get 10 wickets, so we have ability and the skills to do that."
Published: June 2, 2019 07:11 PM
