The Pakistan coach Morne Morkel opened on their side’s defeat in the match against Australia in the ICC World Cup 2023.
Morne Morkel on defeat against Australia in WC
Pakistan cricket team has been stuck with another defeat against Australia due to the inability of the bowlers to work as a team at MCA stadium. It was their second defeat in a row after a seven-wicket battering by India.
The pacer Shaheen Afridi was back to his form with his five-wicket haul, but other pacers Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali failed to contain the openers, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh.
Pakistan did not look for another plan during the match where the openers scored 259 runs. On this occasion, the bowling coach Morne accepted that the Pakistan bowlers did not build a bowling partnership against Australia.
“The last couple of games, that is one of our talking points, to string partnerships together. I think in India that is the key, create pressure from both ends, and keep the stumps in play, and at the moment, we’re not doing that.
“We are not consistent with the ball. If we are going to lift that trophy on the 19th then we need to create consistency from both ends,” said Morkel after the match.
The coach said that the team missed Naseem Shah’s service in the match. His alliance with Afridi could have a positive impact on the match.
“Naseem is a quality bowler if you look at his stats, the consistency he gave us with the new ball upfront was amazing. The partnership he formed with Shaheen was… this we always talked about bowling partnerships. Naseem is a big loss,” he said.
“It’s a slightly new role for Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf bowling with the new ball in powerplays. These guys used to bowl sort of outside the powerplay. But I think, with the opportunity we’ve given them they are standing up to the occasion.
“It is quite tough with a new ball in India. The margins are small. So, they are learning and trying their heart out,” he said.
Morkel added that Rauf can look forward to game awareness and add pace and new tricks to his bowling.
“He is still one of the go-to guys, one of the X-factors. He can look at gaming awareness and maybe mix your pace a little bit more. But he’s a guy who always gives 100%. I can’t fault him for anything,” he added.
“We had honest conversations. We sort of unpacked the opening spells of the World Cup so far and looked at areas where we can look to attack and be smart. Perhaps, he was trying too hard. Tonight, he ran in and hit those hard lines, changed his game strategy, and mixed his pace up.
“He put up a performance like that on a tough bowling day against a team that is very aggressive, and it is a pleasing thing for me,” concluded Morkel.
Pakistan is set to face Afghanistan in their next World Cup match on October 23 at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
