He keeps calm, stays patient and lets the game come to him instead of chasing it. It is the Misbah way of doing things. — AFP
Wahab is bowling with just one slip. He runs in and fires one outside off. No run! Misbah claps. He likes that. He likes being in charge.
Next ball is short of length; Jonny Bairstow hops back into his crease, defends to the leg side, starts taking a run and then says no. Wahab pounces on the opportunity and gets a brilliant run out. Misbah is happy, he likes his men trying hard, he likes them diving and giving their best shot.
Ball six: Still only one slip, point, cover and extra cover, all saving singles. Gone! Danger man Bairstow lobs one to Azhar Ali at extra cover. Misbah is the first man to hug Wahab. With eight down and Pakistan still with a five run lead, game is all but over for England and an innings defeat also a possibility.
England number 10, Steven Finn gets ready to face his first delivery as Wahab comes steaming in. “Edged, only two slips in place. Why not three? Why not four?” screams Ramiz Raja in anguish as the ball whistled through where third slip should have been.
If it were an Australian captain, there would have been at least four slips and a gully, I say to myself. Maybe Misbah needs Michael Holding to interpret the score again, or someone needs to inform him of Steven Finn’s first class batting average of 9.
Misbah however, knows better. Unlike most people, he knows exactly what he wants. He backs his strengths, plans, and strategies, and nurtures his men in his own mould. He keeps calm, stays patient and lets the game come to him instead of chasing it. It is the Misbah way of doing things.
He also understands the modern game and interprets it in a way that has served him well. With the increase in the shorter formats, the modern batsman will play his strokes and will score runs. And one of the best ways to get him out is to stop him from doing just that; strangle and choke him till he gasps for breath.
For Misbah, endless forward defensive shots (Tuk Tuks) are often not out of despair; instead they are his show of endurance. Wearing the bowler out and testing his opponents resolve. Third man, deep backward point and sweeper cover are not necessarily positions of retreat. These men patrolling the fence often form the core of Misbah’s choke lock.