Is the series loss in New Zealand a blessing in disguise?

[The_Odd_One]

Losing a series is not something to be proud of, I know. However, Pakistan already has a good record in NZ and losing one series really does not mean much. Most probably, none will even remember this series after 10 years. Australian series on the other hand is a different challenge where Pakistan has not competed well for decades.

Pakistan has historically done well as underdogs. Recently, they tied the series in England contrary to the popular belief that they were going to get destroyed in England. Whenever Pakistan started as favorites, they have mostly disappointed, be it the 1999 WC final or their last tour of Bangladesh.

NZ series has also made it clear to both batsmen and bowlers that their place in the team is not as secure as they might have thought. Bad performance in the Australian tour might end some careers and some might get dropped. So, I am sure all the players are hungry to perform and give their 100% in Australia. There is no more room for complacency.

Also, everything that could go wrong went wrong in NZ. The team did not get any practice matches. The matches were affected by rain and the conditions were hostile for batsmen. I do not think Pakistani batsmen can do worse than that in Australia. NZ tour should have prepared them for easier conditions in Australia.

Last but not the least, the NZ tour was a wake-up call for many, the coach and captain know this team's strengths and its weaknesses. So, we can expect them to plan better for the Australian tour. I hope we do not see crazy chases in the 4th inning anymore.

 

[Buffet]

Did Pakistan learn something to replace any player in squad? Apart from lowering the expectations for Aus series, I don't see any positive of getting whitewashed in NZ.

 

[King Kong]

You could say the same for Australia as well. It's good to be positive and optimistic, but I just don't see Australia getting beaten in their home twice in a row.

 

[moghul]

Had Younis dropped after the tour, it certainly would have been a blessing in disguise .

 

[Jabo]

How can you say this when they have just selected the same squad again?

I

 

[The_Odd_One]

The same squad has done well in the past. It is logical to go with the tested combination.

 

[MMHS]

I think, blessings in disguise is great, but not so if they remain disguised.

This is, statistically the worst Tour of NZ by PAK - 2-0 clean sweep; no Century, no 5/10Fors and probably not a single session of advantage to a side, maximum I can say half decent at home.

So, it's a blessings in terms of reality check; but it remained disguised because after such series, identical 16 players were taken to a tougher assignment.

Oblate, there are too many Blessings coming thick & fast, which is a bit alarming.

 

[Suleiman]

Didn't we get this blessing in the loss to WI as well?

How many more blessings in disguise do we need... maybe we just need a blessing with no disguise this time.

 

[The_Odd_One]

I think, blessings in disguise is great, but not so if they remain disguised.

This is, statistically the worst Tour of NZ by PAK - 2-0 clean sweep; no Century, no 5/10Fors and probably not a single session of advantage to a side, maximum I can say half decent at home.

So, it's a blessings in terms of reality check; but it remained disguised because after such series, identical 16 players were taken to a tougher assignment.

Oblate, there are too many Blessings coming thick & fast, which is a bit alarming.

I am sure none in England will remember England failing to chase 140 in the UAE and losing the series. The point is NZ series is not as important as the Australian series. If Pakistan ties or wins this series, none will even remember what happened in NZ.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

There is no blessings in being a loser.

 

[Mamoon]

Losing to SA was also a blessing in disguise for Australia. They will not lose three consecutive series, or two consecutive home series.

They also know that soon they will be touring India, so they will give their 120% to win this series, and that is what they will do. Losing this series is an unthinkable disaster for Australia. They will go very, very hard on us. The level of motivation must be extremely high.

We couldn't have chosen a worse time to tour Australia. I don't do all this ''Australia's morale must be down'' rubbish.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Losing to SA was also a blessing in disguise for Australia. They will not lose three consecutive series, or two consecutive home series.

They also know that soon they will be touring India, so they will give their 120% to win this series, and that is what they will do. Losing this series is an unthinkable disaster for Australia. They will go very, very hard on us. The level of motivation must be extremely high.

We couldn't have chosen a worse time to tour Australia. I don't do all this ''Australia's morale must be down'' rubbish.

So, it will be a competitive series because both teams have a point to prove. However, Pakistan has more stable team this time around. If pitches are flat, Pakistani batsmen will be able to score runs and then anything can happen. Winning is very difficult be I won't be surprised if it is tied.

 

[Boom boom legend]

Losing to SA was also a blessing in disguise for Australia. They will not lose three consecutive series, or two consecutive home series.

They also know that soon they will be touring India, so they will give their 120% to win this series, and that is what they will do. Losing this series is an unthinkable disaster for Australia. They will go very, very hard on us. The level of motivation must be extremely high.

We couldn't have chosen a worse time to tour Australia. I don't do all this ''Australia's morale must be down'' rubbish.

How can you say we couldn't have chosen a worse time to play Australia when they have been beaten in two series in a row. Surely its the best time to play them, not only because of morale, but because they are just not as good anymore.

And dont forget we will be highly motivated to prove that this team is not finished and the England series was not a fluke. Our players will have a point to prove and are better prepared than when we faced NZ.

 

[Snatch]

I don't know that I follow the logic of the opening post. Considering they taking the same squad to Australia, I can't see how getting smashed 2-0 by New Zealand could be anything but a bad thing going into the tour of Australia.

That's not to say they will definitely play poorly in Australia, but surely had they won in New Zealand they'd be going over there in a much more confident frame of mind. A confident Pakistan team with self belief is still the most dangerous Pakistan side in my opinion, so no, I don't see being pretty much destroyed and outclassed by New Zealand is a blessing in any way whatsoever.

 

[Junaids]

Did Pakistan learn something to replace any player in squad? Apart from lowering the expectations for Aus series, I don't see any positive of getting whitewashed in NZ.

Firstly, Younis Khan is no longer untouchable.

Secondly, if players perform in the latter stages of QEA they now have a serious case for being called up as reinforcements.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Firstly, Younis Khan is no longer untouchable.

Secondly, if players perform in the latter stages of QEA they now have a serious case for being called up as reinforcements.

Both are myths and are not going to happen.

So your point stands in oblivion.

 

[Junaids]

Both are myths and are not going to happen.

So your point stands in oblivion.

Consider this:

Cairns warm-up match washed out.

First Test
Australia 500-7 declared
(Amir 3-120, Sohail 1-130, Wahab 3-120, Yasir 0-130)

Pakistan 130 all out
(Younis 0, Misbah 2, Shafiq 5)

Pakistan 170 all out
(Younis 12, Misbah 0, Shafiq 0)

I'd be expecting Asif and Hafeez to be called up for the MCG after that. Possibly Butt too.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Consider this:

Cairns warm-up match washed out.

First Test
Australia 500-7 declared
(Amir 3-120, Sohail 1-130, Wahab 3-120, Yasir 0-130)

Pakistan 130 all out
(Younis 0, Misbah 2, Shafiq 5)

Pakistan 170 all out
(Younis 12, Misbah 0, Shafiq 0)

I'd be expecting Asif and Hafeez to be called up for the MCG after that. Possibly Butt too.

The only realistic possibility is Hafeez coming in and taking Azhar's place at opening spot, and Pakistan being 10-1 all the time.

Others are just fantasies.

Asif is as likely to be called up, as snow happening in the middle of June in Africa.

Younis might be given the complete series, as a farewall tour, because as soon as he fails 2 tests, he will ask for a 3rd for his farewell which PCB will duly oblige.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

It's been good preparation for Australia.

 

[The_Odd_One]

I don't know that I follow the logic of the opening post. Considering they taking the same squad to Australia, I can't see how getting smashed 2-0 by New Zealand could be anything but a bad thing going into the tour of Australia.

That's not to say they will definitely play poorly in Australia, but surely had they won in New Zealand they'd be going over there in a much more confident frame of mind. A confident Pakistan team with self belief is still the most dangerous Pakistan side in my opinion, so no, I don't see being pretty much destroyed and outclassed by New Zealand is a blessing in any way whatsoever.

The whole point is that Pakistan plays better as underdogs. Take any test series from this decade and you will understand what I'm saying.

 

[Mamoon]

How can you say we couldn't have chosen a worse time to play Australia when they have been beaten in two series in a row. Surely its the best time to play them, not only because of morale, but because they are just not as good anymore.

And dont forget we will be highly motivated to prove that this team is not finished and the England series was not a fluke. Our players will have a point to prove and are better prepared than when we faced NZ.

Because I don't see a competitive team like Australia losing 2 consecutive home series. They badly need to win this series and they will leave no stone unturned.

At times, it is better to catch teams when they are complacent. That is not the case here.

 

[Mamoon]

So, it will be a competitive series because both teams have a point to prove. However, Pakistan has more stable team this time around. If pitches are flat, Pakistani batsmen will be able to score runs and then anything can happen. Winning is very difficult be I won't be surprised if it is tied.

Australia have a bigger point to prove than Pakistan. If Pakistan loses, it will not be the end of the world - Asian teams always lose in Australia.

However, losing back to back home series is almost unthinkable.

 

[Saj]

Blessing in disguise? No

It was horrendous.

I keep reading how the pitches were very green and unplayable for Pakistan. That's rubbish - look at some of the shot selection. A lot of the dismissals were down to poor batting and not down to the nature of the wickets.

 

[Boom boom legend]

Because I don't see a competitive team like Australia losing 2 consecutive home series. They badly need to win this series and they will leave no stone unturned.

At times, it is better to catch teams when they are complacent. That is not the case here.

Australia dont have a right to win games, they have to be good enough to earn it. In the past, they may not have lost two home series in a row because they were simply too good for it to happen.

At the moment, no matter how motivated they are or want to avoid back to back losses, they have to be good enough to get the win.

Currently, I think they are at the weakest they have been in a long time so it is no way the worst time to play them.

 

[New Yorker]

I am sure none in England will remember England failing to chase 140 in the UAE and losing the series. The point is NZ series is not as important as the Australian series. If Pakistan ties or wins this series, none will even remember what happened in NZ.

New Zealand will certainly remember, and Pakistani fans will too, just as we
remember the ignomy of a loss to Zimbabwe

And why do you assume that Pakistan will win or draw?

It is a strange argument. We failed, but if we do fantastically well in the next series,
which we will not, that failure will be forgotten.

I suppose we could say that even if Pakistan looses in Aus, because no one really
expected otherwise, what will matter is the next series against XYZ...

Just a matter of time until we reclaim the no 1 spot with that attitude.

 

[Buffet]

Blessing in disguise? No

It was horrendous.

I keep reading how the pitches were very green and unplayable for Pakistan. That's rubbish - look at some of the shot selection. A lot of the dismissals were down to poor batting and not down to the nature of the wickets.

In supposedly green mamba, NZ batsmen averaged 33 per wicket.

Pakistani batsmen averaged 18 runs per wicket in series. Conditions were not like UAE, but it was not a pitch where you average in teens per wicket. It was very poor batting from Pakistan.

 

[moghul]

Firstly, Younis Khan is no longer untouchable.

Secondly, if players perform in the latter stages of QEA they now have a serious case for being called up as reinforcements.

If I was some Usman Saladdin or any other performing player in QA trophy, would have left cricket and had gone to studies or some other profession. Whats the use of playing and performing in QA trophy when not a single new player was made after the disaster tour of NZL.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

No. It was not a blessing in disguise. Just preparing your lot for the customary thrashing in Australia

 

[Junaids]

If I was some Usman Saladdin or any other performing player in QA trophy, would have left cricket and had gone to studies or some other profession. Whats the use of playing and performing in QA trophy when not a single new player was made after the disaster tour of NZL.

This was always the risk of appointing Inzamam as Chief Selector.

If you read Shaharyar Khan's book, he to all intents and purposes describes Inzamam as an unthinking and uneducated man who is incapable of processing or analysing information and therefore cannot make any sort of competent decision, but rather falls back onto religious zealotry instead.

So I was totally unsurprised when:

1. The A team tours of England and Zimbabwe were not used to groom players for national selection in the short-term.

2. There was no element of the selection for Australia which addressed Australia's very unusual situation of having 7 left-handers.

3. The team was announced on the 4th evening of the second Test, seemingly oblivious that events the next day could - and did - make the selectors look very foolish indeed.

 

[jaisan]

As moral victory is for India blessing in disguise is for pakistan

 

[King Kong]

Wasn't there a thread about the defeat to West Indies in the final test being a blessing in disguise for NZ series? Why always blessings in disguise only?

 

[Sadevdesai]

Yessss ..... it is a Blessing .... until the next screw up ..... when that screw up becomes a Blessing !!!! Great way to Spin a mess !!!!!!!

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Loss against west indies in the last test match was also a blessing in disquise.