'Over confidence' not the reason behind Pakistan's struggle in second test: Grant Flower

Karachi: Pakistan's batting coach, Grant Flower does not believe that the national team is struggling to avoid defeat in the second Test against England at Old Trafford because of any over-confidence after winning the first test at Lord's.

"No there is no element of over-confidence in our performance. The head coach told the players after we won the first test that there was no need to relax since the entire series was still at stake," Flower told reporters in Manchester.

He said everyone knew that Pakistan team had a problem of producing consistent performances or relaxing after a win.

"But this time the players were told not to take it easy at all as this was a tough series," the former Zimbabwean batsman said.

Flower felt that Pakistani batsmen struggled in the second Test because they were fatigued after staying on the field.

"More importantly the shot selection was just not right especially from the senior players. Muhammad Hafeez threw his wicket after looking good and Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq also self destructed," he said.

Flower, whose two-year contract has been extended by the Pakistan cricket board for the ongoing series in England, also defended the performance of senior batsman, Younis Khan.

"Yes he has changed his technique a bit and is hooping around a bit playing in the middle. But he has proven his class time and again and I think the pitch at Old Trafford is still good for batting and our batsmen have a very good chance to make amends for their first innings failure," he said.

Flower said Pakistan had good players for test matches but overall the shot selection of most players was very weak which was getting them into trouble.

"Our first innings batting performance in the second test was a disaster and I think the batsmen need to show more aptitude and resilience and try to stay at the wicket in the second innings," he said.

He noted that playing late and proper shot selection were the key to scoring runs in English conditions.

"The way Joe Root played in this test I think that is the way test match cricket should be played," he added.