DUBAI // How do you solve a problem like Pakistan’s batting? There probably never will be a catch-all answer to that old chestnut.
However, a pretty good place to start might be to take the video of this Graeme Smith innings, tape the batsmen’s eyelids open, and force them to watch it on a loop. No stopping for lunch, tea, sleep, or Breaking Bad, until the penny has dropped.
This effort by the South African captain has been a masterclass in run gathering; even the very best could learn from it.
Out of sync at the start, tested by a 7ft 1ins fast bowler in Mohammed Irfan and against arguably the world’s best spinner in Saeed Ajmal, he refused to relent. A wicket has rarely been as ferociously guarded.
According to Mohammed Akram, Pakistan’s bowling coach, Smith’s innings was both an example to follow and a reason for optimism. It went to show there are runs left in this pitch yet.
“All credit to Smith, he was out of form and he scratched hard throughout his innings but he stayed at the crease,” Akram said.
“The idea is to stay at the crease on a pitch like this and cash in. Winning the toss and batting first shows we were confident of this being a batting pitch for the first three and a half days.
“We have seen that today. The pitch is good and I’m sure the batsmen are watching and really optimistic that they can apply themselves and stay at the crease as long as possible.”
There is often many a slip between theory and practise when it comes to Pakistan’s batting, though.
They could just as likely rack up a mammoth tally, like in Abu Dhabi, or subside to less than a hundred. There are rarely any clues as to which will turn up, even for the coaching staff.
“That has been the case for a long time and we do accept that,” Akram said.
“We are working on a lot of things trying to overcome this, but that is how it is.”
Smith said he anticipates batting on in the hope the pitch will start to become uneven and thus assist his trio of pace bowlers, plus Imran Tahir, the leg-spinner who took five Pakistan wickets in the first innings.
“Ideally, we would want to bat once in this game, that is goal No 1,” Smith said after collecting the fifth double century of his Test career.
“Plus, we want the wicket to deteriorate a bit more, as it’s very dry. We definitely have the attack that can take advantage if we do get a really big innings.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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Audio: Pakistan coach praises his bowlers' efforts
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
'Of Love & War'
Lynsey Addario, Penguin Press
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
MATCH INFO
South Africa 66 (Tries: De Allende, Nkosi, Reinach (3), Gelant, Steyn, Brits, Willemse; Cons: Jantjies 8)
Canada 7 (Tries: Heaton; Cons: Nelson)
Reading List
Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:
Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung
How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever
Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays
How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
