Pakistan pay the price for not selecting paceman Mohammad Abbas at the Gabba
Another forgettable chapter has been written into the enigmatic history of Pakistan cricket with the bizarre snubbing of one of the most miserly and reliable bowlers in world cricket.
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If the mountain won’t come to Mohammad, then Mohammad must go to the mountain.
The only trouble is Mohammad Abbas can’t get anywhere near the Mt Everest of runs piling up at the Gabba because he wasn’t selected.
Another forgettable chapter has been written into the enigmatic history of Pakistani cricket with the bizarre snubbing of one of the most miserly and reliable bowlers in world cricket.
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The result was a brutal mauling of Pakistan at the Gabba that still has one and a half Tests to go.
Abbas completely destroyed Australia when they last faced each other last year, taking 17 wickets at just 10.58 runs apiece.
Overall he has a formidable Test record, conceding just 18 runs for the 66 wickets he has taken across just 14 matches at the top level.
Pakistan selectors could find place for a 16-year-old debutant and a 32-year-old journeyman who hasn’t played a Test in three years in their attack – but nothing for Abbas.
Pakistan have left out their metronomic seamer Mohammad Abbas. Since 2005 - and the start of the CricViz ball-tracking database - only one seam bowler has bowled a higher proportion of balls on a good line & length than Abbas. Will Pakistan miss his accuracy? #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/yl3XBMLacS
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 20, 2019
The decision was howled down by commentators on day one before Pakistan had even bowled.
By the time David Warner and Joe Burns had celebrated a 200-run opening stand – Pakistan coach Misbah ul-Haq must have been looking for somewhere to hide.
Warner and Burns looked nervous early, but the bowler best capable of exploiting those edgy feelings was carrying water.
Abbas has proven a seam-bowling wizard on the dead tracks in the UAE, yet Pakistan didn’t want to try him on a pitch that would actually offer him some movement.
“If he can do it on really flat pitches like he did in the UAE against us, why can’t he do it in Brisbane and Adelaide where it’s going to offer something?” Ricky Ponting told cricket.com.au.
Allan Border "Mohammad Abbas tormented Australia in the UAE, very surprised he wasn't used here at the Gabba. He would have been a perfect guy to be in this bowling unit" #AUSvPAK
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) November 22, 2019
Someone in the Pakistani side needs to pretend to be concussed so that Mohammad Abbas can come in and bowl.
— Dennis Warner (@DennisCricket_) November 22, 2019
Quickly.
“Whenever the ball moves, we know it’ll challenge the Australian players.
“He’s going to have to get some lateral movement somewhere … but Brisbane and Adelaide will probably provide that for him.”
It’s understood Pakistani management are claiming Abbas simply isn’t in form.
He has struggled in his past two Test series in comparison to his glittering overall record.
But Cricket Australia XI coach Chris Rogers saw the 29-year-old up close last week in Perth when he bowled to his young chargers, and is adamant Abbas looked dangerous.
“I think that was a big mistake by Pakistan,” Rogers said on ABC Grandstand.
“I was in Perth at the WACA when he bowled against the CA XI.
“He did not miss his length. For them to leave him out for Imran Khan is a highly curious decision.”
Naseem Shah’s dream moment on debut turned to horror when his caught behind dismissal of David Warner was overturned for a massive front-foot no-ball.
Imran Khan and couldn’t conjure the magic of his namesake and was also thwarted by Warner and Burns.