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Fielding woes

The minute I walked out of the airport in Hobart, I thought of the last game we played there. It was one of the hardest fought and most haunting defeats I have suffered in my Test career. However, sports is all about looking ahead, and a win tomorrow would erase bad memories, and more importantly, virtually ensure us a berth in the final.

I don't expect tomorrow's game to be an easy one; no game featuring India and Pakistan ever is. Tomorrow India will be going all out because theirs is now a do-or-die situation. I expect it to be a close encounter like the game between the two sides at the Gabba, and this time too, the winner will be the side that holds its nerve till the very end.

Coming back to the game against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, it was a disappointing loss. We gave away too many runs primarily because our fielding let us down badly. We had a fielding practice session in Hobart, and I hope the effort shows on the field tomorrow. On the large grounds in Australia, a professional fielding performance is a prerequisite to winning.

Moin, too, has had couple of ordinary outings behind the stumps and this seems to be reflecting on his batting too. Hopefully, he will get over this bad patch and raise our performance on the field.

Another trouble area for Pakistan is the opener's slot. I thought Ijaz looked quite positive in the Sydney game, but we need someone to drop anchor if we have to achieve a 250-plus total. I have also had a word with Inzamam, who seems to have got into a negative frame of mind. He is so focussed on sticking on at the crease that he is getting bogged down and is unable to play his natural game. He is a natural strokeplayer, and has the talent to decimate any attack in the world. Hopefully he will be more positive in the next few games.

In Sydney we lost to the better team. The Aussies are simply superb on the field. They have the advantage of being used to the large grounds here, and know just where to stand in order to stop the twos and threes. Indians and Pakistanis on the other hand are completely at a loss on these large grounds. The Aussies are also incredibly agile and their throws from the deep are remarkably accurate. They are thoroughly professional and focus entirely on the game. The pressures that are part and parcel of being a cricketer in the subcontinent do not exist here. A few poor games does not mean having media will hound you, and fans are also a lot more moderate in their expectations as well as their reactions. It is no wonder that their sportsmen, be it in cricket, rugby or tennis have made it to the top.

I also am disappointed with yesterday's loss because I would have liked to reach the 400 mark in a game which went our way. Unfortunately, that was not to be. However, I am proud that the mark was first reached by a Pakistani.

At present, winning the games here are on top of my mind and maybe I will only savour the achievement later.

(Gameplan)

Wasim Akram