Cup Runneth Over As Wheels Fall Off Pakistan's Wagon
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday January 14, 1993
Ever heard the song Four Wheels On My Wagon? A cowboy is passing through Indian territory and the scalp-hunters are not far behind.
He is relying on his wagon to go full pelt. Alas, life is betraying him and slowly the wheels fall off until he is left balefully intoning "No wheels on my wagon, and I'm still rolling along, the Cherokees are after me..."
Javed Miandad will know the feeling, for his team is sliding from defeat to defeat.
True, they are fighting the pygmy wars, and Pakistan remains strong in Test cricket, recent victories in England and New Zealand confirming their standing. But even so, they are plainly in decline.
Pakistan were dreadful in Brisbane, between breakfast and coffee losing their right to be regarded with the respect commonly assigned to champions.
Nor were they much cop in Melbourne. Not since Sonny Liston can any title-holder have fallen so quickly.
Two incidents in Brisbane encapsulated their predicament.
Having juggled the batting order in an attempt to land the first blow(which is, after all, half the battle), Pakistan lost an early wicket.
Enter Inzamam, puppy fat of body and mind, to play to his sixth ball a shot so rash as to embarrass a blacksmith playing in a twilight park match. Perhaps Inzamam was reacting to the stoning of his house in Multan, the very house to which he was carried in triumph after the World Cup - a celebration during which, incidentally, his younger brother lost two fingers lighting a firecracker. Possibly those dazzling World Cup innings harmed Inzamam, the worst runner between wickets in top cricket.
Pakistan continue to rely upon him plundering 70 in 40 balls, but it has not happened since.
Saeed Anwar was the second offender, needlessly hurling overthrows as Desmond Haynes stole a single.
To see Wasim Akram's withering glare afterwards was to see a man enraged by perfidy. Nor did a stream of no balls, wides and swipes help Pakistan's cause. It was the most self-indulgent performance seen in years.
They weren't much better at the MCG, delivering a potpourri of half-volleys, slower balls, bumpers and beauties, as the laws of line and length were disdained.
Only Akram and a couple of the lesser bowlers concentrated on accuracy. Waqar and Aaqib bowled as if it were a Test match, trying to blast batsmen out and giving them opportunities to hook and drive. No team can afford to give away so many easy runs.
In full flight, Waqar is a glorious sight, but he somewhat resembles a rich man's Prabhakar, a maverick dedicated to straining every muscle in pursuit of blood and wickets. Teammates may regret that economy is not higher on his scale of priorities.
To blame Javed entirely for the decline is to go too far. Pakistan never were all that good. They were lucky, in some respects, to win the World Cup.
Had it not rained in Adelaide, they would not have reached the final four, had Martin Crowe not been injured, had Inzamam not struck twice - the list goes on. Pakistan were outstanding only in the final, and their batting was vulnerable throughout the tournament, especially at the top.
Moreover, it was a World Cup of poor standard, with Australia, the West Indies and India all below their best.
But Australia, and especially the West Indies, have revived since, and were ready and eager to lynch the unsuspecting champions as they arrived here.
Pakistan's easy win in Perth may have been a misfortune because it bred complacency.
Difficulties, once they arose, were ignored, for surely salvation was just around the corner as it had been during the World Cup. Rather than returning to basics, Pakistan relied ever more on bursts from their great bowlers, and grew ever more selfindulgent.
Their tactics in Hobart were bizarre, as the massacre of Mushtaq began, with a good spinner being asked to bowl flat and wide because he had no protection on the leg side. It was as if singles did not matter, as if Pakistan could chase anything. Not even a team of geniuses could afford to give this much away.
Once Pakistan began relying on a mixture of talent and supposedly smart manoeuvres, rather than returning to basics, they were doomed.
Their fielding, running and teamwork, apart from that of the younger blokes, has deteriorated, and their batting has lost all authority.
Pakistan remain a powerful Test team, but are now inept at the biff and bash game. Only Akram, who may soon be captain, has been bowling with his head.
They have been beaten by two better and more diligent teams, and must go in search of a top batsman and an approach founded in humility.
© 1993 Sydney Morning Herald