Geoff Lawson said pitches like the one prepared at the Eden Gardens would not help India as they prepare for the upcoming tour to Australia.
KOLKATA: Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson said pitches like the one prepared at the Eden Gardens for the second Test would not help India as they prepare for the upcoming tour to Australia.
"Australia will be tough. Anybody touring Australia will find it tough because Australia is the best side for a lot of reasons. Playing on pitches like that will not prepare them for Australia," the former pace bowler said.
"The pitches in Australia recently have been good batting pitches, they haven't helped the bowlers too much, so that might help the Indians. But the bounce will be different and you got to play a different sort of game," Lawson said.
Talking about the Test which ended on Tuesday, the Pakistan coach praised his team for showing character in the face of adversity in denying India victory.
"Our team showed character. Character is the right word for the way we came back after being in trouble in both the innings. Three batsman brought us back. It's an achievement to get out with a draw," Lawson said at the post-match media conference after the Test ended in a draw.
Kamran Akmal and Misbah-ul Haq struck hundreds in the first innings while skipper Younis Khan played a match-saving century knock in the second innings.
The former Aussie pacer said Pakistan benefitted from the experience of Younis and Mohammad Yousuf who stitched together an unfinished 136-run fifth wicket stand.
"We had people down the order who have batted for long hours and our two experienced batsmen delivered. We are still in the series. In matches like this, you learn a lot," he said.
Lawson also said crucial chances spurned by Indian fielders came as a reprieve for the Pakistan team.
"When Kumble said at the prize distribution ceremony that catches win matches, it came as no surprise. It's obvious. Theoretically, its true that we had a reprieve. But we too dropped some chances in the first innings," Lawson said.
India leads the three Test series 1-0 and action now shifts to Bangalore where the third and final Test would begin on Saturday.
Lawson said the nature of the track came as a surprise to the visitors.
"It was still good to bat on on the last day. We batted appropriately. All credit to our batsmen. Different curators make different pitches. This one was loaded in favour of the batsmen. This Test will be remembered for some courageous knocks."
"Pitches all around the world have a bit more on the first couple of days. It did hang together well and India stuck with their job of bowling but the pitch didn't help a great deal and we batted appropriately," he said.
When asked whether regular captain Shoaib Malik will be able to play in Bangalore, Lawson said, "We will wait till the last moment before deciding.
"We have been told that it is a two-week injury so that will be just about before the start of the Test match. We just need to look at him after we get to Bangalore."
Abdul Rauf will join the team and Sarfaraz Ahmed is going back, the coach informed.
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