PERTH, Australia, 8 December 2004 — A dashing century by opening batsman Salman Butt thrust him into pole position for a Test opening berth as Pakistan notched up their first tour win with a 43-run victory over a Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI at the Lilac Hill ground here yesterday.
Salman made a big impression on Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer after carrying his bat to blast 115 off 135 deliveries including 11 fours and one six as Pakistan finished with 256 for 9 after 50-overs.
In response, the Chairman’s XI petered out, losing five lower-order wickets for 10 runs after a promising start to finish with 213.
“It takes someone of his heart ... his guts ... he goes out there and produces performances so he’s knocking all the time, pushing us with his performance which is really good,” Woolmer said of Salman’s effort. “It definitely puts him into the mix (for Test selection) — yes. He got a hundred against India as well in Calcutta on a much bigger occasion so it showed what temperament he had then.
“He showed a bit of skill today so I think if you’re in form you’re always pushing aren’t you.” Butt’s innings was the highlight of an otherwise mediocre performance by a Pakistan side missing its main strike bowlers in Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami.
Shoaib had previously indicated he would be playing in the Lilac Hill match but was taken out of the side by Woolmer who wanted to rest both pacemen for the four-day match against Western Australia starting tomorrow.
“I don’t know why Shoaib thought he was going to play. I would rather he play in the four-day game and got four-day match fit than play in the one-day game so we changed it,” he said.
Spinner Shoaib Malik also missed the match after hurting his right bowling arm playing table soccer but Woolmer was hopeful he would be fit for the four-day fixture.
