Multan –Noman Ali paying no heed to pitch criticism Pakistan’s aggressive strategy to overwhelm opponents with spin on home soil appears to have spectacularly backfired, at least temporarily, in the second Test against the West Indies. Instead of a slow strangulation, the hosts engineered a chaotic, whirlwind of a match that saw 20 wickets tumble on day one alone, leaving veteran spinner Noman Ali unfazed and focused on a now condensed “one-innings” showdown.
In their quest to spin oppositions out, Pakistan ended up with a pitch that produced 20 wickets on day one. The Multan pitch, prepared with a clear directive to favor spin, turned into a minefield from the very first session. West Indies, bundled out for 163, witnessed their own spinners, Jomel Warrican and Gudakesh Motie, rip through the Pakistani batting order, restricting them to a paltry 154 in reply.
Noman Ali, the unlikely hero of the day, emerged as the lone bright spot for Pakistan, bagging a historic 6 for 41, including the first-ever Test hat-trick by a Pakistani spinner. His heroics, however, were overshadowed by the sheer carnage on a pitch that seemed to have a mind of its own.
Speaking after the day’s frantic play, a calm and collected Noman said, “such a match was bound to happen,” given the extreme conditions. “We will try our best [to bowl West Indies out quickly] because it is a one-innings match,” he added, acknowledging the precarious position Pakistan finds itself in, trailing by nine runs. Noman Ali paying no heed to pitch criticism as second Test becomes
Spin-First Strategy Under Scrutiny
The focus has inevitably shifted to Pakistan’s spin-first strategy, implemented since their first Test defeat to England last October. While it yielded a victory in the first Test against the West Indies, albeit in a truncated three-day affair, the Multan pitch has raised serious questions about the balance being sought. Noman Ali, however, is paying no heed to pitch criticism.
Noman, ever the pragmatist, defended the approach. “Even when we used to have a full five-day match before, fans criticised us a lot,” he pointed out. “We were criticised saying the results are not coming. [But] now the results are coming. If the results are coming in two or three days, then I think [it is fine]. The results have been positive so far, and we’ll try that this match also has a positive result.”
Tail-End Troubles and Lessons Learned
A recurring theme in this series has been Pakistan’s inability to clean up the opposition’s tail. West Indies added crucial runs in both first innings of the two Tests after being reduced to eight down for meager scores. Noman admitted, “There’s a lot of spin, [and] a lot of bounce – sometimes it’s inconsistent as well” – James Franklin•PCB Franklin: Both batting orders finding it difficult West Indies assistant coach James Franklin pointed out that it’s been a challenge batting for both teams this series. In the first game, only once did a team breach 200, with Pakistan making 230 in the first innings. And today, 20 wickets…”There’s a lot of spin, [and] a lot of bounce – sometimes it’s inconsistent as well,” were the words of James Franklin to the press. “We made some mistakes” and vowed to rectify them in the second innings.
West Indies Perspective: Battling the Minefield
West Indies assistant coach James Franklin echoed the sentiment that batting was a challenge for both sides on this treacherous pitch. He highlighted the difficulty in adapting to the variable bounce and sharp turn, particularly in the initial overs of an innings.
Franklin emphasized the importance of small partnerships and setting modest targets in such conditions. He believes a lead in the “high hundreds, 200, [or] 200-plus” would be “very competitive” and urged his batsmen to focus on “small milestones.”
A Test Match on Fast Forward
The second Test in Multan has become a spectacle unlike any other in recent memory. While the quality of the pitch will undoubtedly be debated, one thing is clear: this match has transformed into a high-stakes, one-innings battle. Noman Ali’s unwavering focus and experience will be crucial as Pakistan attempts to navigate this unprecedented situation and snatch victory from the jaws of a self-created spin storm, with Noman Ali paying no heed to pitch criticism. The game continues.
