Haider provides hope for Pakistan

By Gemma Wright

It’s not often that a guy given out first ball in both innings goes on to make a half-century. Zulqarnain Haider, on debut, did just that, however, ensuring that England could face a tricky few hours on the fourth day at Edgbaston. On this pitch, against Pakistan’s attack, victory is far from assured.

If Pakistan do win, they will owe a large debt to Haider. After his first ball dismissal in the first innings, his heart must have sunk when he saw the umpire raise his finger to his first ball in the second.

Wisely, however, Haider asked for a review and subsequently won a reprieve. Had the decision not been overturned, Pakistan would have been six down and still 97 runs behind. The game would surely have been over before tea.

As it was, however, Haider seized his opportunity. First with Amir, who resisted 117 balls for his 16 runs, and then Ajmal, who counter-attacked in his 79-ball half-century, Haider showed the patience, application and skill that Pakistan have so sorely missed this series. His 88 is Pakistan’s highest score of the series so far, while his 115-run partnership for the eighth-wicket with Ajmal is their highest of the series. Their fortitude should be an example to their top-order colleagues.

Barring miracles, England will still win this Test. But their performance on the third day was not entirely convincing. It suggested that, on flatter pitches and against more resilient opponents, their attack may still struggle for penetration. They have been flattered by playing against opponents as brittle as Bangladesh and Pakistan and must remember that tougher challenges lie ahead. Had Pakistan held all their chances, England would surely be struggling.

Stuart Broad was particularly disappointing. While he bowled respectably, his petulance is becoming unattractive. At one stage he hurled the ball, quite unnecessarily, into Haider’s chest, while he also moaned excessively after a referral decision went against him. In the age of TV replays, there can be no excuse for such behaviour. Broad really needs to curb such tendencies. He’s too good a cricketer to taint his reputation with such antics. He has already been charged by the match referee and will be very, very lucky if he escapes censure. No Englishman has ever faced suspension by the ICC; Broad may well be the first.

At least Graeme Swann was impressive. Utilising a dry pitch expertly, he found a prodigious amount of turn and finished with his best figures in Tests. He struck, once again, in his first over, with a delivery that he later rated “the best ball I’ve ever bowled.” Pitching outside Farhat’s leg-stump, it turned sharply to hit the top of off. The delivery that bowled Ali, pitching outside off and turning sharply through the gate, lost little by comparison. At one stage, Swann delivered 67 consecutive dot balls and only Haider’s long reach and utter devotion to survival above run-scoring helped Pakistan resist.

Gradually, however, Haider became more expansive. Somehow putting the plight of his father, who has been in a coma in Pakistan suffering from hepatitis, to one side, he produced some sparkling drives off front and back foot and looked on course for a maiden century until he mis-timed a drive to mid-off. His obvious delight upon reaching 50 was charming.

Afterwards, Pakistan captain Salman Butt expressed his disappointment at Broad’s behaviour. “It’s just frustration,” he said. “It’s not good to see people throwing balls intentionally at others and not even apologising properly.”

England should still win. Steve Rouse, the Edgbaston groundsman, felt the use of the heavy roller before the Pakistan innings had deadened the pitch and that batting would probably be more straightforward as a result. But the turn will remain and Pakistan’s seam attack – shorn of the injured Umar Gul – will remain a handful.

Either way, at least the series has become a little competitive. For Pakistan, the spectators and an England team that need to be tested more ahead of the Ashes, that can only be a good thing.

*Tickets for the fourth day will be priced at £20 for adults but will be free for Under 16s. Anyone who has purchased a full priced ticket will be offered either a free ticket for day 1 of the npower Test match next summer against India or the chance to bring 2 guests free on the fourth day of this game. Book online at www.edgbaston.com and use the ‘Ticket Fast’ option to print your ticket at home to save queuing.