Saturday 27 August 2016 10:25, UK
Sami Aslam proved he can cut it as an opener in Test cricket against England, topping Pakistan's averages with 167 runs at 55.66. Now he's determined to make his mark in white-ball cricket too...
You're part of Pakistan's One-Day squad; is playing in all formats for your country a realistic proposition?
Sami Aslam: "Yes, definitely. At Under-19 level, I had a very good record in the 50-over format and my strike-rate was very good at that level. I carried that onto domestic cricket and I think that I can be successful in the limited-over formats for Pakistan when given the chance."
When did you know you would be playing in the third Test match at Edgbaston and what was your reaction?
SA: "Two days ahead of the match at our first practice session in Birmingham, I was told that I would be playing in the third Test match. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't nervous when I was informed that I was playing at Edgbaston. I think anyone in that position would have been nervous when they were told. But, I was also very excited and my immediate thought was that I was being given a chance to perform and I needed to grab that chance with both hands."
It was your first Test match outside Asia and that too against a top team. When you walked out to bat at Edgbaston, what was going through your mind?
SA: "My preparations had gone well leading up to the match at Edgbaston. I knew I was up against some of the world's best bowlers and I had to be strong in the heart and in the mind. I knew that if I let nerves get the better of me then I wouldn't be able to perform. I didn't even think about any score, I didn't have a target score in mind and my focus was just to go out there and give 100 per cent and just do my best."
That first Test century was there for the taking, wasn't it?
SA: "Yes, definitely. My dismissal came at a time when I was scoring quite freely and batting with confidence, which made missing out on the hundred even more frustrating. I guess it's part of the game, these things happen, but it hurt, it hurt a lot. It was a mistake in the running between the wickets but these things happen and hopefully more opportunities to make international hundreds will occur in future."
Your calmness and composure at the crease belies your age and experience. Is that something that you have worked on or does it just come naturally to you?
SA: "What you practice and learn is what you apply at the highest level. If you are calm and composed whilst batting in practice sessions, then you bat the same way in the middle. When I was dropped from the Pakistan team, I went away and looked at what I needed to work upon and improve on. My aim was to do at international level what had worked for me in domestic cricket. You sometimes learn more from sitting and watching when you are dropped and not in the starting eleven. I have watched and learnt how some of the best players apply themselves and what they do well to be successful. I'm a calm person away from cricket and I think that helps too. I'd also like to thank Grant Flower for all of his advice which has really helped me."
SA: "Sometimes minor adjustments can make all of the difference and Grant looked at my batting and he felt that I needed to make a few slight changes to make my batting be more suitable for conditions in England. His main message to me was you have all the shots, you can become a very good batsman, just bat like you do in practice when you are in the ground in a match situation. He also mentioned my calmness and composure and said that I should use that to my advantage as it will stand me in good stead in future."
Your batting game-plan seems simple yet effective. Surely an uncomplicated approach to batting is the best one?
SA: "I've watched a lot of Alastair Cook and the way he bats. His style is simple yet so effective. Look at his record, it's phenomenal. He bats according to his strengths and plays the shots that he feels comfortable in playing and that works for him. This is exactly my approach. Why play shots that you don't feel comfortable playing? There is so much time to bat in a Test match and there is no need to rush and go for silly shots. Bowlers are looking to expose your weaknesses so I think as a batsman, it's best to stick to basics and what you are good at, rather than trying something too extravagant or flashy which will only land you in trouble.
"I've got all the shots off the front foot and the back foot but I like to be cautious especially at the start of my innings. I think you have to bat within your limits at the start of an innings and build an innings."
I guess there's still a lot to learn and improve upon for you in the coming years?
SA: "Absolutely. I always recall Sachin Tendulkar saying that even when he played his last Test match, he was still learning and trying to improve. I have lots to learn and that comes with experience and hopefully from playing around the world. In any job, you are constantly learning and with good mentors around me, that should not be a problem. The opposition is watching videos of you all of the time to work on your weaknesses, so as far as I am concerned I have to counter that by looking to continually improve and work on my skills. Complacency can be a problem. You make some runs and a few good innings and it can be a problem, but you have to ignore that complacency and ensure you don't take things easy and become lazy. If you improve and work hard, you will do well; if you don't improve and work on your weakness, I believe you will not progress."
Watch the second ODI between England and Pakistan live on Sky Sports 2 from 10am this Saturday.
