Having missed a first Test in five years after sitting out Pakistan’s series opening win in Dubai last week after a bout of dengue fever, Younis Khan would have been forgiven had he not hit the ground running in Abu Dhabi.
But, on day one of the second Test, Younis eased back into the side with his 33rd Test century just weeks after being hit by the mosquito-borne virus.
There was no obvious hangover from Younis’ illness, Pakistan’s highest ever Test run-scorer glad for his extended break in order to fully recover and make an instant impact.
“I was actually [still feeling side effects], that’s why I asked the selection committee to not actually play that first game because at that time I had no energy,” said Younis who lost more than seven kilograms during his illness.
“If I was here at that time I would have suffered. That last ten days I was doing my preparation and now I feel a little bit rusty because my last game was on 14 August so it’s almost two months so that’s why I was a little bit rusty but I feel that my fitness is there.”
If Younis was rusty then he hid it well in a fluent innings of 127, only ended with the final ball of the day as light closed in.
Together with his captain Misbah-ul-Haq, the pair took their team to a position of power after a slow start that saw West Indies pick up two wickets in the first 14 overs on a flat, slow Abu Dhabi track.
The two most experienced players in the Pakistan team made history in their 175-run fourth wicket partnership as Pakistan’s most successful batting pair and Younis attributes their volume of runs to understanding and how they thrive on taking responsibility as the senior statesmen.
“There’s no secret [to our partnership], we have the responsibility to carry and the responsibility is always there for us, so that’s why me and Misbah, whenever we play together, know that 200 or 300 is more important for our team. It is the combination of the seniors and we have the responsibility on our shoulders,” said Younis.
“Me and Misbah, the way we play, everybody knows we like to take our time, and then suddenly we go after the spinner or the fast bowler as well. I think it is all about the mental preparation.”
Both Younis and Misbah were both given lives by the West Indians, chances coach Toby Radford rued.
“[The dropped chances were] very frustrating really as we toiled very hard on what was obviously a very flat wicket today,” said Radford who felt Younis’ pain having also suffered from dengue fever while in Barbados.
“We got those two early wickets this morning and for those two to go down, it could have been a very different looking scorecard overnight.”