Losing toss at Headingly a blessing in disguise: Butt
July 22nd, 2010 - 11:56 am ICT by ANILondon, July 22 (ANI): Newly appointed Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt couldn’t have asked for a better start to his stint as his bowlers exploited the overcast conditions at Headingly to send Australia packing for 88 all out, and he believes that losing the toss proved to be a blessing in disguise.
“The loss of toss turned out to be a blessing in disguise for us. The onus was on Australian captain Ricky Ponting to decide what to do,” The News quoted Butt, as saying at the end of the Australian first innings.
Butt, however, said that his batsmen were fully prepared to bat first if Ricky Ponting had asked for that after winning the toss.
Ponting’s decision to bat first on a seeming track that too under cloudy conditions showed that he failed to read the track completely.
“I think the track is a true batting paradise and batting first will be an ideal decision,” Ponting had said after winning the toss.
Pakistani fast bowlers made full use of the conditions and bowled out Australia for 88, their second lowest total against the same squad.
In 1956, Pakistan, captained by Fazal Mehmood had dismissed Australia for a paltry 80 runs. That match, the first ever between the two teams, was played on a matting wicket. (ANI)
- Ponting's decision to bat 'shocking': Umar Gul - Jul 22, 2010
- England in command after first day of Boxing Day Test - Dec 26, 2010
- Zaheer and Ponting get into a verbal spat - Oct 01, 2010
- Ponting criticised for batting first on green SCG pitch - Jan 04, 2010
- Ponting 'selfish' in batting at No.3 in World Cup warm-up game against Proteas: Hogg - Feb 17, 2011
- Australia bat in fourth Test - Jan 24, 2012
- Australia opt to bat against India - Dec 26, 2011
- Roebuck urges Ponting to move to No.5 in batting order to prolong Test career - Dec 30, 2010
- After Ponting-Clarke century stand, Johnson-Cummins bowl Australia to victory - Oct 20, 2011
- India have nothing to lose: Ashwin - Jan 24, 2012
- Pattinson rips through Indian top order (Lead) - Jan 03, 2012
- It is time for Ponting to stand aside for a younger captain: Chappell - Jan 02, 2011
- Ponting certain to play in Boxing Day Test: Langer - Dec 21, 2010
- Will not let Sachin get the hundred: Clarke - Jan 25, 2012
- World Cup: Australia to bat against Zimbabwe - Feb 21, 2011
Tags: australia, australian captain, blessing in disguise, butt, captain ricky ponting, cloudy conditions, fast bowlers, fazal mehmood, london, onus, overcast conditions, packing, pakistan test, ricky, salman, stint, wicket
