A Cool Calm Head
Pakistan Tour Diary by DENESH RAMDINMultan, where we played the second Test match was quite different from Lahore. It was colder and damper and on mornings it was misty and a chilly and that contributed to the ball doing quite a bit in the morning sessions.
Going into the second Test we were looking for a win so that we could keep the series alive but unfortunately we didn't bowl out the opposition twice. I thought I had a decent performance behind the stump but I could have done better, there were a few lapses in concentration.
When I went to bat, Brian (Lara) was at the crease and I was trying to build a partnership with him and get some runs under my belt so that I could be more confident but unfortunately that did not happen.
That is in the past now and I am looking forward for my next innings in the third Test. I am really keen on going out there to do well. I continue to work hard in the nets. I know I have the ability to go out there to do the job for the team with the bat. I have to spend more time at the crease and be patient in order to get runs and results with the bat.
Looking at Brian bat was incredible and magnificent. We could all learn a lot from him just by watching him, the way how he structured his innings and how he went about building his innings. He chose his bowlers who he wanted to attack and bowlers who he wanted to play more cautiously to and he batted for the team and the situation in building partnerships with others players.
I felt special when I was there when he got his double hundred. Being there with the best batsman in the world, I will cherish that moment forever because I missed out in Adelaide Australia when he broke the record for the most runs in Test cricket.
It was also a tremendous achievement for Shiv (Chanderpaul) to play his 100th test match. I have always learnt from him by watching him bat. It takes a lot out of someone to dedicate their entire life to cricket and that is what Shiv has done. One hundred Test matches is a great achievement in anyone's book. I would like to specially congratulate him on that and hope that he continues to play and do well for the West Indies and himself in both forms of the game.
The team spirit remains good since there were a lot of positives coming out from the second Test. Most of the senior players got runs and all the bowlers bowled well especially Jerome (Taylor) and Corey (Collymore) and we are looking forward for to the third Test match. Hopefully we can continue in the same manner and win the Test to level the series. It will take a solid team effort to come out on top, that will give us some momentum going into the one day matches.
I have been selected in the One Day squad again and I am obviously delighted about that. I am really keen on doing well. I have been working hard on my game and the team needs a person like myself with a calm, cool head in the lower order to win matches and put the team in a good position when needed.
Also it is especially crucial for me to play the leading role from behind the stumps in motivating the bowlers and fielders. First of all though we have the important task of the third Test ahead.
* Pakistan tour diaries are provided by team sponsor Digicel.