Durrak
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2009
- Messages
- 3,355
- Reaction score
- 5
- Country
- Location
Pakistan showed good all round skills to down Kenya in their opening match. A win at the World Cup even against a weaker opponent holds value because irrespective of who you play, the pressure of the stage remains a constant.
Time out in the park and a winning start would have calmed the nerves of the players and hopefully made them battle ready against the Lankans.
The win even though was comprehensive, yet threw up few points to ponder. The openers were surprisingly tentative. The hesitant approach could have stemmed from the fear of getting out and not cashing in against a minnow side.
Occupation of crease is a good habit provided it is not exercised at the expense of your game. Both Hafeez and Shahzad are natural attacking batsmen but, strangely on a harmless pitch, appeared as if they were playing hand grenades rather than cricket balls.
In batting-friendly conditions, it is so important for the players to free their arms and dominate the power-plays because one day battles are won and lost in the first ten overs.
Besides settling the nerves of the dressing room, the big blows early on can force the opposition to change their settled plan.
Pakistan would need big totals as a cushion to allow its bowlers to follow their attacking instincts to perform. Openers aggressive pace and intent will be critical in achieving that result.
The batting recovered impressively after a bumpy start. Misbah and Umar Akmals knocks were head and shoulder above the rest. Misbah in particular surprised every one with his brisk strike rate and improvisation. Umar Akmal could be the Inzamam of this World Cup for Pakistan. The guy is oozing with talent. All he requires is careful handling and an understanding dressing room which should be patient with his form fluctuation. On the day he is a match-winner for sure.
The bowlers ticked most of the boxes. The start though was bit like the openers, dull and shaky. Shoaibs fitness was on every bodys radar and it went under it because Afridi surprisingly did not bring him on again after his first spell. It is his second and proceeding spells when Shoaib looks out of breath and short in pace. Playing him half-cooked against a top side like Sri Lanka can be risky.
The spinners, especially Afridi was in good rythm. Abdur Rehman with his strong showing in New Zealand has earned the respect and confidence of the captain over Saeed Ajmal. The off spinner, though, has to be considered favourably against Sri Lanka whose spin and doosra can come handy against quality Srilankan left handers.
Abdur Rehmans angle on the other hand can be a fodder to these batsmen. Opening the bowling with Razzak has its perils as the bow-legged, ageing star will be physically and technically challenged on these dead pitches. But if he can raise his bowling form, teams combination will become solid and complete.
Pakistan has been able to assemble a good bench strength which should enable Afridi to relax as he has ample choices to pick and fall back on.
There is now a healthy competition for places which, besides taking the team forward in the right direction, should force a cricket centric focus from the players. Such an environment helps to clean the place of player power and politics, two issues that have caused much grief and damage to Pakistan cricket.
The writer is a former Pakistan cricket captain
Time out in the park and a winning start would have calmed the nerves of the players and hopefully made them battle ready against the Lankans.
The win even though was comprehensive, yet threw up few points to ponder. The openers were surprisingly tentative. The hesitant approach could have stemmed from the fear of getting out and not cashing in against a minnow side.
Occupation of crease is a good habit provided it is not exercised at the expense of your game. Both Hafeez and Shahzad are natural attacking batsmen but, strangely on a harmless pitch, appeared as if they were playing hand grenades rather than cricket balls.
In batting-friendly conditions, it is so important for the players to free their arms and dominate the power-plays because one day battles are won and lost in the first ten overs.
Besides settling the nerves of the dressing room, the big blows early on can force the opposition to change their settled plan.
Pakistan would need big totals as a cushion to allow its bowlers to follow their attacking instincts to perform. Openers aggressive pace and intent will be critical in achieving that result.
The batting recovered impressively after a bumpy start. Misbah and Umar Akmals knocks were head and shoulder above the rest. Misbah in particular surprised every one with his brisk strike rate and improvisation. Umar Akmal could be the Inzamam of this World Cup for Pakistan. The guy is oozing with talent. All he requires is careful handling and an understanding dressing room which should be patient with his form fluctuation. On the day he is a match-winner for sure.
The bowlers ticked most of the boxes. The start though was bit like the openers, dull and shaky. Shoaibs fitness was on every bodys radar and it went under it because Afridi surprisingly did not bring him on again after his first spell. It is his second and proceeding spells when Shoaib looks out of breath and short in pace. Playing him half-cooked against a top side like Sri Lanka can be risky.
The spinners, especially Afridi was in good rythm. Abdur Rehman with his strong showing in New Zealand has earned the respect and confidence of the captain over Saeed Ajmal. The off spinner, though, has to be considered favourably against Sri Lanka whose spin and doosra can come handy against quality Srilankan left handers.
Abdur Rehmans angle on the other hand can be a fodder to these batsmen. Opening the bowling with Razzak has its perils as the bow-legged, ageing star will be physically and technically challenged on these dead pitches. But if he can raise his bowling form, teams combination will become solid and complete.
Pakistan has been able to assemble a good bench strength which should enable Afridi to relax as he has ample choices to pick and fall back on.
There is now a healthy competition for places which, besides taking the team forward in the right direction, should force a cricket centric focus from the players. Such an environment helps to clean the place of player power and politics, two issues that have caused much grief and damage to Pakistan cricket.
The writer is a former Pakistan cricket captain
