Changing cricket strategies

Pakistan has always been known as the most unpredictable team. The national team can change its defeat to victory and vice versa. Though skillful, they have often failed to deliver. The evidence of it was seen during the first test match against England at Old Trafford.

Pakistan was in a commanding position on the final day of the first Test at Old Trafford but ended up losing the game by three wickets. If we analyze the first test match, the first question arose on the playing XI.

An inexperienced player like Shadab Khan was included in the playing XI despite not having a significant domestic performance. On the other hand, a player like Fawad Alam, who has performed impressively in domestic cricket, was once again dropped. This decision was also criticized by several international and Pakistani cricketers.

The inclusion of two leg-spinners in the national team on English soil was also an unwise decision. In contrast, the English team decided to play with four fast bowlers and one off-spinners. The management of the national cricket team should understand what aggressive cricket is all about. Aggressive cricket means changing strikes; it doesn’t mean losing wickets by playing inverted shorts in a hurry.

England preferred aggressive cricket despite losing five wickets for 119 runs in chasing a total of 277 runs. England’s Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes played brilliantly and aggressively. Captain Azhar Ali made the biggest mistake by replacing fast bowlers and giving a big spell to spinners. In this regard, the pair – Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes – snatched the victory from Pakistan’s hand.

The think-tank of the Pakistan cricket team has handed over the leadership to such a person whose average of the last 10 to 12 matches is 11 to 12 runs. Where is the wisdom in giving leadership to such a person in a major Test series?

The national team needs to change its strategy for the second Test on August 13 because the inappropriate experiences in the first match gave the national team nothing but another disgrace. And in the second match too, if the same team is played, then there may be difficulties for the national team. The management of the Pakistan cricket team needs to make changes in the team for the second match.

The strategy of making quick decisions by correcting the mistakes has to be adopted and the entire team has to give their best performances because it is irrational to rely on a single batsman or a bowler. Pakistan cannot achieve victory until the entire team performs.