Arthur calls for return of Pakistan’s ‘warrior’ mentality

Mickey Arthur has warned his Pakistan players they will have to raise their game “considerably” if they are to defeat England in the third Test at Edgbaston.

Arthur, the Pakistan coach, admitted that he was “really disappointed” by his side’s performance in defeat at Old Trafford and questioned whether some of them felt they had achieved their objectives with victory at Lord’s. Now he has urged them to replicate the “warrior” performance they demonstrated in that game at Lord’s and insisted England have a vulnerability that can be exploited.

“We’re going to have to raise our game considerably from Old Trafford,” Arthur said. “I was really disappointed with our performance at Old Trafford. Really disappointed. There are credible losses and there are losses when you lie down and were steam rolled. Old Trafford was clearly that.

“At Lord’s we were upbeat and played with real spirit. We had that edge. I told the guys I thought we were warriors at Lord’s. But we were completely the opposite at Old Trafford.

“I wasn’t sure if it was as if we had reached our goal and our goal was to come and win a Test and then take your foot off the pedal.”

Part of Pakistan’s problem at Old Trafford was the balance of their side. With just four frontline bowlers playing in back-to-back Tests, Pakistan looked a weary side as England amassed a huge first-innings total. But it seems they have given up on the possibility of Mohammad Hafeez, who remains suspended from bowling in …

continue reading in source www.espncricinfo.com