da apostebet： Brian Lara speaks to the media after a satisfying day in the field for the bowlers
Osman Samiuddin at Multan19-Nov-2006
‘On such a pitch it was very tough for the bowlers and to keep them under three an over was a very good effort’ – Lara © AFP
The day and the surface demanded unglamorous qualities; some toil, somegraft and liberal helpings of discipline. Happily for Brian Lara, the WestIndies provided precisely that, in restricting Pakistan to below threeruns an over and importantly, removing two-thirds of a heavy scoringmiddle-order triumvirate.”I was very satisfied with the bowlers,” Lara told reporters at the end ofthe day. “On such a pitch it was very tough for the bowlers and to keepthem under three an over was a very good effort. We had to bowl in theright areas, keep the runs down and take any chances that came our way. Wetook four of the five that did and I can’t fault the bowlers for theirefforts.”And some mammoth efforts they were. Corey Collymore might walk under aladder, break a mirror and let a black cat stroll across him repeatedlyand he’d still have more luck than has thus far come his way on this tour.Despite beating batsmen as if it were slipping out of vogue, he has thesolitary wicket to show for it and 16 overs today drew no reward butsympathy. He might try some of what Jerome Taylor is having, for though heeventually redeemed an iffy morning spell, his wickets came off widedeliveries Collymore would scoff at. Corey Collymore might walk under a ladder, break a mirror and let a black cat stroll across him repeatedly and he’d still have more luck than has thus far come his way on this tour Cruel to begrudge him success though, especially on a surface Larareckoned was made for batsmen. “The pitch again is made for batting. Justone day gone and we expect, in this part of the world, for it to continuelike that. There will be some deterioration of course, from bowlers’footmarks but as far as I can see it is full of runs. We’re hoping on thispitch we can get some good runs.”One man who won’t have the opportunity is Ramnaresh Sarwan, not includedin the team for this Test to the surprise of some. Sarwan’s recent formisn’t prolific – 137 runs in six matches during the Champions Trophy and112 in five DLF Cup matches – but Lara argued it was a decision based onthe needs of the team. “It wasn’t designed as a drop. I think it was asituation where the best team combination was chosen to get a result. Wealso made another change in dropping Fidel Edwards.”Two fifties in his last two Tests earlier this year in New Zealand,coupled with some ODI form, meant though that Runako Morton was adeserving replacement. “Runako has also had a couple of opportunities overthe last 12-18 months and he’s produced in it. Unfortunately, he foundhimself out of the team so he has an opportunity now. But it is just amatter of picking what we feel is the best team and Sarwan still remainsone of our main players. He’s only missing five days of cricket,” Larareasoned.A couple of early morning wickets, especially of Inzamam-ul-Haq, and thelabours of today may yet bear sweet fruit. Even without Sarwan, thereis as much depth in this batting as there is flatness in the pitch.”Sometimes you get the results of it the following day and we have to comeback and wrap up the remaining six wickets,” Lara continued. “I was pretty happy with theposition of the match on such a pitch and when the opportunity comes forus to bat we have to make full use of it.”