Head coach Justin Langer has urged his batsmen to use their feet in Test matches following his side’s 373-run defeat against Pakistan, to lose the two-Test series 1-0.
Australian batting folded for 145 and 164 in the second Test in Abu Dhabi with none of the batsmen reaching half-centuries against some accurate seam bowling by Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas, who finished with ten wickets in the match.
“You talk about the great Australian players they moved their feet like boxers, every one of them,” said Langer, who scored 7696 runs in 105 Tests during an illustrious career. “They had footwork patterns and then from there you have the skill of run-scoring ability. And it’s a really important thing.
“Even in T20 cricket or one-day and most certainly first-class and Test cricket when the ball starts moving around, if you don’t’ move your feet then you’re going to come unstuck.”
“I think really, a huge disappointment,” said Langer. “I thought our preparation was brilliant. We came into the first Test really encouraged, really upbeat. We knew we were evenly matched with Pakistan in terms of ages and games played.”
Both Australia and Pakistan will now play a three-match Twenty20 International series, starting October 24.
