Dubai: Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq believes patience is the key factor in Tests. A thinking cricketer, the articulate Haq wants his boys to ensure victory does not slip away from them for the second time in the series during the second Test against Sri Lanka, commencing today at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
"Whether bowling or batting, the key is patience. Following our performance in the first Test in Abu Dhabi we discussed on the importance of sticking to the basics. Batsmen should perform according to the situation, while bowlers must hit the right areas," said Haq, who has refused to be disappointed by not winning the first Test despite bowling out Sri Lanka for 197 in the first innings of the first Test in Abu Dhabi.
Haq admitted that fielding did let the team down. "We have worked hard on our fielding for the last two days. We are confident we will do better in the second Test," he said.
Haq rejected Sri Lankan skipper Tillakarate Dilshan's claims that the Sri Lankan team have gained a lot of positives by holding Pakistan to a draw in the first Test.
Missed chance
"It is Pakistan who have gained a lot of positives from the first Test. We would have got at least 30 wickets had we held on to the catches. Our batsmen played very well too. Sri Lankans played well but we still have the edge over them," said Haq, who had hit an unbeaten 76 runs in the only Test match played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium against South Africa last year.
When asked about the wicket for the second Test, Haq said: "The wicket is the same we played against South Africa last year. During that match it had turn and bounce for the spinners. I don't know how it will behave this time. In Abu Dhabi, the wicket got flatter and flatter as the match progressed. In Dubai, the wicket may produce more turn and bounce as the match progresses."
Haq too has a recipe for success in Test cricket.
"It is important to stick to the basics in Test cricket. As a batsman, the more time you spend in the middle the more runs you can pick. It is important to play session after session and runs will automatically come."
Haq is also delighted that there is stiff contest for the playing eleven. "All the 15 players are capable of getting chance to play as they are all talented. On a flat wicket in Abu Dhabi my bowlers bowled really well," he said.
