NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND // Waqar Younis, the Pakistan coach, said he is at a loss to suggest a game plan for bowlers to curb scoring rates.
During his playing days, the former fast bowler was renowned as being one of the finest exponents of death-over bowling.
This World Cup has been characterised by the sorts of totals that would have been inconceivable in his playing days, with the strike rates in the final 10 overs of each innings in particular rising markedly.
Pakistan's batsmen barely broke sweat in posting 339 for six against the UAE in Napier, while Australia cruised to 417 for six in their 50 overs against Afghanistan in Perth – the highest score in the tournament's history.
Dawlat Zadran, the Afghan bowler who modelled his bowling action on Waqar, went for 101 runs in his 10 overs in Western Australia.
Waqar said there appears to be little bowlers can do to stop batsmen, who have most factors weighted in their favour in the modern game.
“You don’t really know which way to bowl,” Waqar said. “Still I believe the yorker is the best ball.
“There are different theories coming down from different coaches – use short balls – but I still think the yorker is the best delivery.
“People want to see big sixes and fours, I guess, and that is why rules have been changed in recent years.
“The wickets have become flatter, the batsmen are a lot fitter, there are a lot of things going in the batter’s favour. It is a crowd-pulling thing. For me, I think there should be an even contest.”
Pakistan’s coach suggested the knee injury that restricted the fast-bowler Mohammed Irfan to just three overs is not a major concern.
He also said his side’s spirits will be lifted by back-to-back wins and thinks they can still be a match for South Africa when the teams meet on Saturday in Auckland.
“The tournament is going to get tougher and tougher and we have to be ready for it,” Waqar said.
“We have done it in the past. We have beaten South Africa in South Africa.”
pradley@thenational.ae
