Defeatist mindset - The difference between Pakistan and Australia batters

[BouncerGuy]

So what differentiates Pakistan batters from the Aussie ones? To me that is simply the mindset of the batters.

In summary:

1. Just like Pakistan batters, the Aussie batters survive the good deliveries. Of course, the Aussie bats also miss edges, and they gut lucky with LBW decisions, and they do fend off balls away from the fielders.

2. But when it comes time for push to shove, our batters succumb too quickly.

It's not just luck. It has to be technique. Perhaps we play from inside the crease. Aussies from varied positions outside the crease.

Or perhaps it simply is the defeatist mindset.

Is this what is the difference between winners and the also-rans?

 

[The Bald Eagle]

So what differentiates Pakistan batters from the Aussie ones? To me that is simply the mindset of the batters.

In summary:

1. Just like Pakistan batters, the Aussie batters survive the good deliveries. Of course, the Aussie bats also miss edges, and they gut lucky with LBW decisions, and they do fend off balls away from the fielders.

2. But when it comes time for push to shove, our batters succumb too quickly.

It's not just luck. It has to be technique. Perhaps we play from inside the crease. Aussies from varied positions outside the crease.

Or perhaps it simply is the defeatist mindset.

Is this what is the difference between winners and the also-rans?

I think both factors contribute to some degree to the easy and reckless dismissals of our batters. Especially if you look at the dismissals of Babar and Imam in recent times. Their foot do get stuck on the crease at times and consequently they aren't able to play the ball as per merit and gets out cheaply then.

 

[Asad T]

This quote, I think encapsulates the difference between Aus and Pak. You see it in the way Maxwell batted that day against Afgh, you saw it in the way they bounced back after losing their first two matches in the WC, and you saw it while they silenced the 100k crowed in Ahemedabad.

Pak on the other hand, crumble under pressure time and time again from easy possitions.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

i think self believe is a biggest difference between both of the teams

Australian plays for their pride but Pakistani players usually plays to secure their place in the playing 11.

 

[Buffet]

There is a small issue of skills as well. If you count that as part of mindset then it's fine, otherwise there is a big gap in skills when it comes to playing on bouncy tracks.

 

[hassan918]

Australian batters look so much more mentally strong than Pakistani batters and it has been the case for a few decades now. Whenever we play against Australia away, our batters struggle generally.

 

[MenInG]

Imam is a case in point.

Weathered the quicks but falls for spin. The mental side of things is a huge issue for Pak players.

 

[MenInG]

And now what a difference a positive mindset makes - let's see how long it lasts!

 

[MenInG]

And now what a difference a positive mindset makes - let's see how long it lasts!

Well that didn't last

Seems just the Pakistan captain has a positive mindset, rest are are just hoping for the day to end.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

There is a small issue of skills as well. If you count that as part of mindset then it's fine, otherwise there is a big gap in skills when it comes to playing on bouncy tracks.

I don't think there is any lack of skills because these same players have many runs under their belts and have also proved their worth on multiple occasions. The basics remain the same on bouncy tracks too but one thing that has let them down is the fear, the fear of stories that they are going to play on a hell like a track, that extra pressure brings them down.

 

[RidiculousMan]

This Australia series has been a sort of a revelation if you look at the way certain players were able to perform. Specially the likes of Aamir Jamal.

Aamir not extraordinary talented by any means. Doesn't bowl at 145 KPH express pace. But he makes his debut and picks up a 6-fer. Ends up the series with just 1 wicket behind Pat Cummins and scoring crucial runs.

Similarly we have seen Rizwan over the years. Who in difficult situations performs better more often than his mates in the field. He also played good knocks in this tour.

Salman to an extend you can say is also able to perform with the bat, ball and in the field.

What is common among all these players is the mentality. The fighting attitude, the ability to overcome pressure and not crumble every time. The great thing about me mentally strong players is that they play others and make them believe as well.

Abdullah Shafique also had great pressure performances at the start of his career but lately he is becoming more of a shell player and maybe a bit too much under the shadow of Babar Azam.

Fakhar Zaman although had a very tough patch but he's also an example of a player that you can back to deliver for you when everything is against the wall and things look impossible. His knock vs New Zealand in the World Cup is a good recent example.

Sure talent is fine and even consistency, as perhaps you need that even in meaningless series but nothing is more important than performing in the big stage, in the pressure game and in crunch situation.

It is about time that we look for and invest in mentally strong players who are able to stand in any difficult situation. Pakistan could've won this series 2-1, if they only had mentally apt players. Players who understand and are able to stand in the face of adversity. To have such a strong self belief that even seemingly insurmountable path down the road looks possible.

Note: Not every individual player is going to have the same strong mentality but we need a bar to filter and determine who is just strong enough to handle most situations.

 

[zaidihusain]

This Australia series has been a sort of a revelation if you look at the way certain players were able to perform. Specially the likes of Aamir Jamal.

Aamir not extraordinary talented by any means. Doesn't bowl at 145 KPH express pace. But he makes his debut and picks up a 6-fer. Ends up the series with just 1 wicket behind Pat Cummins and scoring crucial runs.

Similarly we have seen Rizwan over the years. Who in difficult situations performs better more often than his mates in the field. He also played good knocks in this tour.

Salman to an extend you can say is also able to perform with the bat, ball and in the field.

What is common among all these players is the mentality. The fighting attitude, the ability to overcome pressure and not crumble every time. The great thing about me mentally strong players is that they play others and make them believe as well.

Abdullah Shafique also had great pressure performances at the start of his career but lately he is becoming more of a shell player and maybe a bit too much under the shadow of Babar Azam.

Fakhar Zaman although had a very tough patch but he's also an example of a player that you can back to deliver for you when everything is against the wall and things look impossible. His knock vs New Zealand in the World Cup is a good recent example.

Sure talent is fine and even consistency, as perhaps you need that even in meaningless series but nothing is more important than performing in the big stage, in the pressure game and in crunch situation.

It is about time that we look for and invest in mentally strong players who are able to stand in any difficult situation. Pakistan could've won this series 2-1, if they only had mentally apt players. Players who understand and are able to stand in the face of adversity. To have such a strong self belief that even seemingly insurmountable path down the road looks possible.

Note: Not every individual player is going to have the same strong mentality but we need a bar to filter and determine who is just strong enough to handle most situations.

Very well articulated. It's a fact that only Jamal, Rizwan & Salman Agha fought hard in this series, the best thing was these 3 were trying to challenge the opposition even though they have limitations. Shan also tried to play positive cricket by playing at better SR but he failed to build the innings. On the other hand Babar, Imam, Saud, Abdullah, Sarfraz played negetive cricket just for survival.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Since the ICC T20I World Cup 2022, Pakistan has not scored 200 in T20Is

 

[Energy]

It's a defeatist mindset. And it's not just limited to cricket.

And let that not mean that Saim, Haris, Asif Ali et al have a positive mindset. Playing and missing, not being able to put bat to ball, and lofting it in the air directly to fielders each time is also a defeatist mindset.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

honestly speaking its not only about the positive mindset, there is a huge difference of a skillset too.