By IANS
New Delhi : Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson said the effects and the mindset of one-day cricket resulted in the collapse of their batting line-up on the first day of the opening Test at the Feroze Shah Kotla Thursday.
“Probably I would have felt better if we were not reduced to 142 for eight at one stage. But the pitch is not that easy. We played shots as if we have one-day cricket at the back of our mind,” said Lawson in the post match press conference.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat, but the decision backfired. It took a determined 68-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Misbah-ul-Haq (71 not out) and Mohammed Sami (20 not out) to end the day at a more respectable 210 for eight.
“Both Misbah and Sami were good. I think other batsman should learn from them. Sami was given some instructions when he went out to bat and he followed them accurately,” said Lawson.
The Australian also said his boys were disappointed at not being able to convert their good starts. Yasir Hameed (29) and Mohammed Yousuf (27) started solidly but failed to build on them.
Asked, if this Test match would go the full length, Lawson said, “I don’t know. But the history of this pitch is that it falls apart. If we make 250 in the first innings, I think it would be nice.”
He added, “We have to bowl accurately. If we bowl straight it would be tough for India.”
On whether the decision to bat first had backfired, Lawson said: “I will tell you at the end of the match. When you win a toss, you can either bowl or bat. And when we decided to bat, we have to really do it well.”