Don't take wickets and even 600 runs won't help: Mohammad Wasim

Former Test cricketer Mohammad Wasim on Sunday said that an improved bowling attack is more important for winning Test matches cricket than batting.

The cricketer-turned coach said that teams need to get opponent out 20 times to win a Test, and if they fail to do so then even a huge score won't be enough to hand them the victory.

“We need to take 20 wickets in Test cricket. If we can’t do that then even 600 or 700 on board wouldn’t help us winning the Test,” Wasim told media representatives in Karachi where he’s with his domestic side Northern for a Quaid e Azam Trophy match against Sindh.

“Asad and Azhar did well previously as batsmen and I hope they’ll do well again, but we need to strike with the ball to do well in the upcoming Test series against Australia,” said Wasim who represented Pakistan in 18 Tests.

He endorsed the talents of young pace duo Nasim Shah and Muhammad Musa Khan.

“There are two to three promising youngsters as well. With a little experience, I hope the fast bowling department would do well,” he said.

Wasim, who is also a member of the national team's selection committee, said that in future only domestic performances wouldn’t earn you a berth for tours like Australia or South Africa.

“Conditions in sub-continent aren’t much different from ours so the domestic performers may get there on the basis of performance but for tours like Australia or South Africa, where the conditions are entirely different, we may have to think that whether or not a batsman is technically backed to play in such conditions,” Wasim said while indicating that the policy can be applied for preparing squad for next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

He backed the current team in Australia, saying that even the top teams had struggle there in the past.

“We have always struggled there and the way Australia are currently playing, any team would have faced the similar situation,” he said.

“In the past, even star-studded squads found it difficult in Australia,” Wasim said while adding that youngsters should be given ample time.