Just like how it happened to India and Pakistan in Hockey, cricket has fundamentally changed in the last two decades..
1) Test matches used to be won by Bowlers - Most of the great teams had great bowlers. WI in their peak, Australia and England in their peak had world beating bowlers who can win matches under most of the circumstances. That worked to Pakistan favor. Pakistan always had a great bowling culture. They won matches. But in the last few decades financial considerations have led boards to prepare flat pitches which help extend the test matches to the fifth day. This means teams need to have good batsman who can put up big scores and good enough bowlers who can persist for long stretches.
2) Matches being played longer means players need to have better fitness. Pakistan team always had poor fitness culture. it was okay in the era when you can have substitute runners, resting in the dressing room after each spell, poor fielding efforts and matches getting over in four days. With flat wickets and teams spending more time on the field, this poor fitness culture is hitting Pakistan hard
3) Pakistan also benefited a lot by having lots of young players starting at a young age. this used to work earlier with much less cricket being played and less scrutiny on them. Now with cricket being played all around the year, having half cooked players making their international debut is not an advantage. Sami, Babar, Aamer (in his second stint) all would benefit by having longer first class experience before coming to play at international level
4) More cameras and bigger focus on bowling actions have also had their impact. Players who made merry with dodgy actions and questionable antics are weeded out.
unless Pakistan finds ways to adjust to this new batting focused cricket played by fitness freaks on flat pitches for five days it stands to lose in the long term
1) Test matches used to be won by Bowlers - Most of the great teams had great bowlers. WI in their peak, Australia and England in their peak had world beating bowlers who can win matches under most of the circumstances. That worked to Pakistan favor. Pakistan always had a great bowling culture. They won matches. But in the last few decades financial considerations have led boards to prepare flat pitches which help extend the test matches to the fifth day. This means teams need to have good batsman who can put up big scores and good enough bowlers who can persist for long stretches.
2) Matches being played longer means players need to have better fitness. Pakistan team always had poor fitness culture. it was okay in the era when you can have substitute runners, resting in the dressing room after each spell, poor fielding efforts and matches getting over in four days. With flat wickets and teams spending more time on the field, this poor fitness culture is hitting Pakistan hard
3) Pakistan also benefited a lot by having lots of young players starting at a young age. this used to work earlier with much less cricket being played and less scrutiny on them. Now with cricket being played all around the year, having half cooked players making their international debut is not an advantage. Sami, Babar, Aamer (in his second stint) all would benefit by having longer first class experience before coming to play at international level
4) More cameras and bigger focus on bowling actions have also had their impact. Players who made merry with dodgy actions and questionable antics are weeded out.
unless Pakistan finds ways to adjust to this new batting focused cricket played by fitness freaks on flat pitches for five days it stands to lose in the long term
.png "Kumar Sangakkara :sanga")
