Ponting’s decision to bat first ‘shocking’: Umar Gul

After choosing to bat first, Australia’s batsmen were left humiliated as they scrambled to 88 all out in 33.1 overs.

Leeds: Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul has described Ricky Ponting’s decision to bat first in the second Test at Headingley as “shocking” after the Australia recorded their second lowest Test total against Pakistan.

Australia’s batsmen were left humiliated as they scrambled to 88 all out in 33.1 overs, just eight runs more than the previous lowest mark set in Karachi in 1956. Teenage left-armer Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif claimed three wickets apiece while Gul chipped in with two of his own as Australia failed to deal with the swinging ball under cloudy skies. There was moisture under the wicket. So, I think it was a shocking decision, especially for Australia,” The Telegraph quoted Gul, as saying.I don’t know what the captain and coach’s decision was going to be but if we won the toss we (the Pakistan bowlers) were ready to bowl first,” he added.Australia’s bowlers failed to find the same sort of movement in the air to match Pakistan’s threat, and Gul believes it was simply because his team-mates bowled better. “It was a good day for us. The bowlers did very well. Aamer, Asif and myself did very well as we planned before the game,” he said.ANI