Loud Thinking March 19, 2015 at 12:30AM

How to win #CWC15 QF match against Australia..?

If Pakistani cricket team really wants to beat the Australians in the #CWC15 quarterfinals game on Friday, the only way available for our team is to make a game plan, for snatching the victory from the jaws of the Australian players; because without any doubt, we know that the Australian plan will be to attack; and only attack.

The Australians, under no circumstances will give away the victory, without putting up a fight, till the last ball was bowled.

Hence, our plan must not be based on how to fight the Australian attack. We should simply plan how to attack the Australia team in mind game as well as, in batting, bowling and fielding areas: for offence is the best defence (Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of VICTORY in the attack…Sun Tzu) and in the words of Sun Tzu “Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy”.

The Pakistani team can not wait for something to happen, they will have to be the one to make it happen.

The Pakistani think tank must remember that after Muhammad Irfan, the next atomic weapon in their arsenal is Yaser Shah, who MUST be included in place of Ehsan Adil (whose fielding gives the impression that Nasir Jamshed was a super fielder like Jonty Rhodes).

Further, our batsmen must be given the task to score @ 8-10 runs/over in the 1st ten overs, 6 runs/over in the next 25 overs, 8 runs/over during the next 5 power play overs and 10 runs/over during the last 10 overs. This will take us to a cumulative score of around 350+ runs in 50 overs.

However, in cricket big scores are NOT accumulated without considering of playing of DOT balls, as a cardinal sin; and it is a must to rotate the strike for accumulating runs with singles, doubles and three runs, besides 4’s and 6’s.

Since, it is a do or die match; and Shahid Afridi has constantly failed to contribute with any significant score at the lower order: as such, either Shahid Afridi be sent as an opener, with Ahmad Shahzad/Sarfraz Ahmad, or he should be sent at one down position, with a license to bat freely, but sensibly. Shahid Afridi should be told that the major difference between the games of base ball and cricket is that in base ball, you are required to hit every ball, whereas, in cricket every ball is required to be played on merit.

Moreover, enough is enough as far Misbah ul Haq is concerned. He should be asked to come at two down position.

Mr. Misbah ul Haq should also be told that the major difference between an ODI and a Test match is that in a Test match on many occasions, you are required to play for a draw, but in an ODI game, there is no room for even an iota of defensive and negative approach.

The real acid test of leadership of a captain is during his marshalling of resources, while leading his team out in the field for bowling. Captain must know that placement of slips and close in fielders (obviously at an appropriate time) is the best way to create pressure on the minds of the batsmen. Cricket is a mind game played on a larger chess board. Misbah ul Haq will have to constantly think and act, one step ahead of the Australian moves, wherein, they always plan to attack the best batsman; and the best bowler of the opponent team.

There is also a need for out of box thinking and to place the third man fielder just on the 30 meters circle (as on many occasions caches fly between the slips and the point fielders) and place a fielder on the boundary line to stop shots hitting the rope between the area of cover and extra cover. Similarly, if the bowling is disciplined (particularly in 1st 10 overs) square leg fielder can also be placed inside the circle and one fielder can be moved to stop the shots going for four runs, at the boundary line of the mid wicket area.

Last but not the least, bowlers should not with hold their throws to run out the batsmen, after the batsman has moved out of the crease, after playing forward defensively and the ball comes quickly in the hands of the bowler.

With all the prayers and best wishes for the success of Pakistani team in the #CWC15 tournament.

Tags: My Views