Pakistani veteran batsman scores double ton to put Pakistan in commanding position against Australia
Abu Dhabi: Team-man not greatness is what Younis Khan wants to be remembered for in Pakistan's cricket history after his epic double hundred in the second Test against Australia in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
Younis, 36, cracked a magnificent 213 to guide Pakistan to an imperious 570-6 declared in their first innings, leaving them in a strong position for their first series win over Australia in 20 years after winning the first Test by 221 runs in Dubai.
Younis Khan walks off the field at the end of the second session in Abu Dhabi yesterday. PICS/GETTY IMAGEP
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At close on the second day, Australia were 22-1, trailing by 548 runs. Younis completed his 8,000 Test runs during the knock, third behind his illustrious countryman Javed Miandad (8832) and Inzamam-ul Haq (8829).
In all 28 batsmen have scored 8,000 or more runs in Tests with India's Sachin Tendulkar (15,921) on top. Younis is now Pakistan's highest Test centurion with 27.
During his 181-run fourth wicket stand with Misbah-ul Haq (101) he became the highest century partnership maker with his skipper on 11, beating the pairs of Miandad and Mudassar Nazar and Inzamam and Mohammad Yousuf who had 10 stands of over 100.
Younis said he still wasn't among the greats of Pakistan cricket. "I am not great like Javed, Inzamam, Yousuf or Hanif Mohammad. I can't compare myself with them," Younis said after the day's play.
Whitewash
"The era I am playing in is easy for me compared to theirs. I want to be remembered as a team-man who loves to serve and his performance makes his country proud and win."
Younis wants his team inflict a whitewash on Australia. "Obviously when you score runs and contribute a lot in the game you want the team to win comprehensively so I have a desire that we manage to pull a whitewash.
Misbah-ul-Haq en route his 101 against Australia yesterday
But it isn't easy for us, we still have to put the hard work in as despite the fact we have good spinners Australia have been in such situations more than once and it's a familiar case for them." Younis admitted it was tough to overcome the disappointment of being axed from the preceding one-day series, which Pakistan lost 3-0.
Skipper Misbah also completed his hundred with a reverse sweep off Maxwell, taking 166 balls for the mark before he gave a return catch to Steve Smith. Misbah hit 10 boundaries and a six and added 181 runs with Younis to further hit Australia badly.
At 63 Misbah also became the highest scorer as Pakistan captain, beating Imran Khan's 2408 runs in 48 Tests.
Brief scores
Pakistan 570-6d (Younis Khan 213, Azhar Ali 109, Misbah-ul-Haq 101) lead Australia 22-1 (David Warner 16, Imran Khan 1-18) by 548 runs
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