Pakistan coach heaps praise on Anwar

Pakistan coach Daryl Foster has praised opening batsman Saeed Anwar for his efforts in their warm-up match against Kent on Sunday.

Anwar scored a superb 201 to allow the visitors to declare at 307 for one before Kent ended the second day at 94 for three, 100 runs ahead with a day to play.

"Obviously it's a big confidence booster for Saeed and the team as a whole," Foster, who coached Kent in the mid-90s, said.

"With Inzamam-ul-Haq struggling with an ankle strain and Yousuf Youhana having not played a lot it's nice to see Saeed in good form.

"Hopefully the other two will get a chance to open the innings on Monday. It was a great innings by Saeed but it may have been better if he had got out for around 120 and let somebody else in."

Foster said he believed Anwar was among the best two or three opening batsman in the world.

"As an opening batsman Saeed can control the game -- it's wonderful to have him in your team.

"A lot of the boys say he can give it away when he gets a few, but today he had the perfect lead up and you couldn't ask for much more from him on the eve of the Test match."

Foster and fellow coach Richard Pybus took advantage of the warm weather that has been prevalent in England over the weekend to get some extra practice before the first test against England, which begins on Thursday.

Pybus worked with most of the squad while Foster put Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis through a 40-minute session on a practice wicket at the St. Lawrence ground.

"We gather the weather is about to change and we might not get much practice at Lords so we have got to take what we can get here," Foster said.

Mail Cricket Editor