Centurion Salman Ali reveals bazballing approach: Can take on spinners anytime
Salman Ali Agha revealed his bazballing approach en route to his hundred during the Day 2 of the 1st Test between Pakistan and England at Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on October 8, Tuesday. Salman revealed that it is his natural tendency to attack the spinners and this was not pre-planned. He also highlighted that batting with the tail-enders brought the best out of him as his hundred guided Pakistan to a mammoth first innings total of 556. Salman Ali Agha brought up his third century in Test cricket. The Pakistan all-rounder played a crucial knock, scoring an unbeaten 104 off 119 balls, laced with 10 fours and three sixes.
“There was no plan as such but I tend to attack on spinners, it’s part of my game so I just did that. I attacked the spinners and we made runs, but there was no plan as such, it was natural. My game is like that, no matter what the situation is I just attack the spinners. I feel I can take on the spinners in any situation. If I scored runs against any specific spinner, it just came naturally and wasn’t planned,” Salman said in the press-conference.
Salman Ali’s sensational hundred
England seamer Chris Woakes nearly pulled off a sensational catch on Day 2 of the first Test match at Multan. Fielding at long off on Tuesday, October 8, Woakes tip-toed at the boundary line and saved a lofted shot from Salman Agha. Woakes saved the ball but was not able to catch shot in a controlled manner and ended up conceding a six.
“Initially, I did think that I was out and was walking towards the dressing room. So I had a word with umpire and he revealed that when the fielder took the catch and grasped it again, his foot was outside the boundary. I don’t know because I haven’t really seen it again, but earlier I thought that it was out,” Salman reflected on the tip-toeing catch.
With this century, Salman also achieved a personal milestone of surpassing 1,000 Test runs in just his 15th match. He now has 1,033 runs at an impressive average of 46.95. His tally includes three hundreds and seven fifties, highlighting his consistency and ability to perform under pressure.
“If you score hundreds, things have to go your way and you can say it was my day. England is a very challenging side. Whenever you play against them, you have to be at the top of your game. About playing with the tail, I have been doing it for two years now. I have an idea what I need to do when the tail comes. So it was pretty normal for me and you can say it brings the best out of me,” he added.
Salman’s performances have been particularly strong at home, where he boasts 588 runs at an average of 49. His valuable contribution has solidified his place in the Pakistani Test setup as a reliable middle-order batter.
