Hope Yusuf Pathan will fire for us in the big matches: Bayliss

Hope Yusuf Pathan will fire for us in the big matches: Bayliss

                                                                                                                                                    Cricket +

Yusuf Pathan has been a big letdown so far in the Indian Premier League but Kolkata Knight Riders are hoping the out-of-form all-rounder lives upto his reputation in the knockout stages.  


"I am sure with the player of his calibre, he would be there for us in the big matches," coach Trevor Bayliss told reporters in Kolkata on Thursday.


"He has not had much of opportunities. It's difficult in Twenty20 to get going without spending some time in the middle."


The coach added that the lack of opportunities to some of their batsmen has been the reason for the middle-order's failure.


"Obviously, we would like him to score runs when he gets an opportunity. But as I said the lack of opportunities plays a part in not having confidence.


"The middle-order probably had some lack of runs but that's only because of lack of opportunities. We have been scoring runs at the top. We still need to improve in all the departments."


The Aussie feels their star-studded batting line-up has finally started to click.


"Our batting has started to click in the last five or six games. Obviously, Gambhir has done extremely well. McCullum started to score runs.


"We have played some very good cricket ever since we lost the first two games in all the departments. But we know that there is half a dozen tough games to go. Four more before the semis and we must do well."


Showering praise on Sunil Narine, Bayliss said the West Indian mystery spinner was extremely difficult to put away in T20 and that bowling has been their main strength.


"One of his strengths is his accuracy which is very similar to (Ajantha) Mendis during the first few years. It's not only the mystery of his delivery but he is very accurate. That's the same with Sunil Narine.