ABU DHABI // When Misbah-ul-Haq took to the field in Dubai for the first Test against Australia last week, it was the first time in 27 Tests he did so without Saeed Ajmal. It must have felt a little like getting rid of the training wheels.
Pakistan’s reliance on Ajmal has grown since he became a fixture in the Test side in May 2011. Over the past three years he became the guy Misbah went to every time he sniffed trouble, whether he wanted wickets, whether he wanted to stop runs, or whether there was nobody else.
It was that heavy reliance that brought Pakistan success, but also his own – perhaps temporary – downfall.
Not having him around in Dubai, Misbah said, was a little strange. He handed it well, changing his bowlers around with greater proactivity than he might have been inclined to if Ajmal was playing.
“I think credit must be given to the bowlers that they did not let us feel Saeed’s absence at all,” Misbah said yesterday.
“The way they contributed, it was wonderful. Saeed is a great bowler and we had relied on him for so long and on Abdur Rehman, but these bowlers being new played their roles.”
As it is Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah, on debut, were more than adequate, sharing 14 wickets between them. Nine of them came in the second innings.
Yet, had Ajmal played there is no telling how Australia would have handled him. He was left to cheer on his replacements from the sidelines on Twitter but it is fair to assume he would have had some success.
His record in Dubai affirms that: six Tests and 37 wickets at an average a shade over 21.
Past short-format success against these opponents and three left-handers in their order meant there were moments Misbah felt like turning to Ajmal.
“You feel Ajmal’s absence when you play here and the Australians had not played him much, so he would have played a major role,” he said.
“I think these bowlers filled in for Ajmal in a better way, which was great, and they fulfilled their roles.
“But when you looked at the pitch, with the rough there, with left-handers playing and a Dubai pitch where he has a wonderful record, you feel his absence.”
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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