One key thing about this group is though this is essentially the best of what we have, their mentality and fear is instilled in them.
I know a plethora think Mickey Arthur was overrated but we definitely had a confidence and bounce to us with him at the helm.
I think the home coaches are always going to be a failure because there seems to be that lackadaisical “Bhai” is the coach versus the respect for a coach that we did when we brought in outsiders.
There are some definite changes required (Shadab, Faheem, Maqsood) but would that have won us the match? Reality is we are both lacking in talent along with lacking in tactics, a combination doomed for failure.
That’s not to say we should be all doom and gloom. To just watch to say I told you so is a poor attitude to have.
I think the coaching is a big problem and that fear has instilled in us like Pakistan of old.
There was once a minor league baseball player who I once heard say that most elite level major league players have the talent to be a good or even great player but the issue wasn’t always the lack of talent, some having more than others, but more than half was between the ears.
Do we lack talent? Yes.
Are we a top 5 side? No.
Accept that reality and then do the best with what you have but the mindset and fear needs to be removed.
This has been plaguing the team for decades. The fielding in recent years has honestly been solid, but today was Pakistan of old. That mindset may not take us to a top team but it should at the very least win us a match like today for some dignity and respect.
The dolly catches were a sight to behold.
Arthur said if you can’t make these plays you won’t play, and again many dislike him but an outsider from another country is probably the best bet to at least get the best of what you have and really bring some leadership and confidence.
Recycling Waqar who has been coach in and out now for a decade is just the same mindset and ideologies over and over again.
Unfortunately the “axe will fall” is unlikely to be heard and we will be going in circles with the same leadership and wondering why the results though probably the same in terms of series wins or losses, at least would lead to some respect with a win like today.
Mostly agree but putting a very high value on "talent" is a pill that I find hard to swallow.
Does "naturally gifted" talent play a role? Definitely yes!
However, determination, focus, and grit, supported by HARD WORK in the flourishing environment, trumps talent 99% of the time.
Let's dig into this "talent" myth a little more.
The question is?
Is "talent" natured or nurtured?
In other words, do you have it all naturally in you, or you are not born with it but you can build on it?
Yes, lots of shades of grey here but in an effort to answer this, I will divide it into two main categories.
"God Gifted talent".
This group is always, always, and ALWAYS very small no matter which country you look at, and no matter which race or nationality you look at.
So we will take it out and don't consider it into our discussion. (As I posted in a previous post, in our 50 years cricket history, we produced only ONE such God gifted talented player, and that was none other than Wasim Akram). So in this discussion, we are not yearning for Wasim Akrams.
The second group is general spectrum of talent. And this is the point of our discussion.
From the clinical psychology, we already know that kids from ages of 8 to 14 years go through an "Impressionist Phase".
This is usually where when their in born talents surface and curiosity on many various things starts to kick in as hormonal changes are in a frenzy of action.
And this is where the environment and the society plays an absolutely crucial role.
That environment can either nurture that talent/curiosity/skill/character or it can choke and kill it.
For example, this is where they may steal, or they may be open/curious towards homosexuality or show signs of academic excellence, OR show sporting interest/talent etc. Then its up to the environment/social setup and atmosphere they are in, that makes a crucial impact to whether nurture that talent/curiosity/skill/character or choke it.
In the western world, there is relatively more homosexuality in kids. And one of the reasons is, their environment nurtures it during the impressionist age.
In the Eastern/Muslim countries, kids hardly ever see guys dating guys, so even if they have any curiosity towards homosexuality, the environment usually chokes it, and they take heterosexual route because almost everyone is taking this path.
Same goes with the sporting talent. Do we have cricketing talent in Pakistan?
I think the answer is, we probably do. And it's not very far off from the cricketing talent present in England or Australia.
This talent spread, I think is pretty fairly divided among all races and all nations.
The subsequent question is: Do we have that environment and culture to nurture that sporting talent?
The answer is: No we don't.
And that's the major issue combined with a few others.
Take the example of Usman Khawaja.
Yes, not a huge and glorified international career but he went on to making it to Australia test side and played The Ashes. Which in my opinion is a huge deal. The point is, when the environment was right, his sporting talent flourished. Had he been in Pakistan, our environment may not have had helped him flourish his talent to become an Ashes level specialist batsman.
