Butt gives thanks as Pakistan beat Australia
Julian Guyer
Pakistan captain Salman Butt praised his young side and their
supporters after leading the team to a first Test victory over Australia
in 15 years in his first game in charge.
Pakistan just about held their nerve to complete a three-wicket win
on the fourth day of the second Test at Headingley here on Saturday as
they finished on 180 for seven.
And when tailender Umar Gul hit the winning run at 11.35am local time
(1035GMT) on the fourth day, it meant Pakistan had ended a record run of
13 straight Test defeats by Australia stretching back to 1995.
Retirement
Pakistan’s victory also saw them square the series at 1-1 after a
150-run loss in last week’s first Test at Lord’s which led to their
former captain Shahid Afridi’s retirement from five-day cricket.
A raw side, without senior batsmen Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan -
both left at home after the fall-out from bans imposed following
Pakistan’s 3-0 Test series loss in Australia last year - resumed on 140
for three.
They lost four wickets for 40 runs on Saturday before Gul hit
Mitchell Johnson for the decisive single.
Gilt-edge
Pakistan had blown a seemingly gilt-edged chance against Australia in
Sydney in January when, chasing 176, they were bowled out for 139 in a
36-run defeat.
“Knowing the history, it was a bit nerve-wracking,” opening batsman
Butt told reporters afterwards. “Thank God it went positively and we
won.” This series was played in England because no major international
cricket has taken place in Pakistan since an armed attack on Sri Lanka’s
team bus in Lahore in March last year. “Beating the world’s best is an
achievement which I owe to this young team,” Butt said. “We owe it also
definitely to the people back in Pakistan.
Home crowd
“We would have loved to have won this match in front of our home
crowd but unfortunately that is not possible at the moment. But still we
need to tell these people that we still remember them and we will be
back soon hopefully. “It means a lot. It’s a new beginning for Pakistan
cricket and the young side,” the left-hander added. Pakistan bowled
Australia out for just 88 on Wednesday thanks to a potent seam attack
featuring teenage left-arm quick Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and the
reliable Gul.
The trio are likely to pose England’s batsmen plenty of problems,
although they won’t have much time to recover before a four-Test series
gets underway at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
Test-best
Aamer finished with Test-best match figures of seven for 106 at
Headingley while Butt said Asif’s remorseless accuracy reminded him of
now retired Australia pace great Glenn McGrath. “I’m very fortunate,”
said Butt. “If they are not the world’s best, then they are amongst the
world’s top two or three. Mohammad Aamer is definitely amongst the
world’s best fast bowlers. “Mohammad Asif with the new ball is the best
fast bowler I’ve seen since Glenn McGrath.” Butt though vowed to prevent
his youthful side getting carried away by this victory.
“I hope they continue to learn and that this win doesn’t get into
their heads. We have to work harder because we know we will make
mistakes.”
LEEDS, England, AFP
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