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- Oct 2, 2004
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Pakistan Head Coach, Mickey Arthur, speaking to the media:
3-0 Down, ultimate difficulty for the coach to get the side up:
"Motivation is still very very high because we still got two games, we certainly are not going to just roll over and die. What it does though is give us the option to look at couple of different combinations that we think could play significant role for us going forward sowe will be doing that and also there is massive motivation you know, I have said numerous times you can't falter the effort and the effort of the players has been outstanding. We just got to learn how to bat particularly in conditions away from home and I guess that is a challenge for every international team around the world now."
As good as the bowlers have been, if you don't get runs on the board, you are going to struggle. That has been the basic problem, isn't it?
"Yeah it has and exactly right and you know, felt in Nelson our tail had pulled us out and we sort of had a sniff but other than that we haven't got enough runs and we haven't been able to dominate for long enough periods with the bat, saying that New Zealand are a fine bowling outfit and in these conditions they bowl exceptionally well but still we are a far better batting outfit than what we have shown"
So where is it gone wrong and how do you put it right
"I think it clearly we just haven't been able to get runs and I can go into other factors like that fact that we have only come out of T20 cricket, we haven't played any 50 over cricket since Champions Trophy or since the Sri Lankan Series and you know the players have played on good flat decks where the ball doesn't bounce higher than your waist and you come out here and your challenge has been your technique is challenged everyday in tough conditions but we have been but we are better than that so we certainly are not going to make those excuses. We just got to get out there, we got to up our game in terms of batting, we got to play with no fear, we have become very tentative, the key for us around the champions trophy win was when we took the game on. When we scored and put the pressure back on the bowlers, we haven't seen that intent yet in this series and that is something we have got to really really address."
The cricket world respect Pakistan for their fight back and when they do they are extremely dangerous.
"Oh Look Exactly right and that is one of the frustrations as a coach as I would like us to be on the front foot putting the pressure of the opposition before we need to fight back all the time and one thing we have given is lots of structure and stability and with that we hope comes more consistency and it started to pay off a little bit but you know these conditions haven't suited us, which is not an excuse but we got to be better. We are a better batting unit than what we have shown."
What message are you going to give your batsman who are well experienced
"You got to keep giving the message that you are good enough, you have got to keep giving them the confidence and the freedom to go out and play and express themselves. once they get into their shells, once they become tentative you become a walking wicket and we saw that a little bit in Dunedin when boult and Southee got their backs up we became very tentative, We went into our shells, nobody counter punched, we got to counter punch a lot more, we got to stand up and say we can take it on and thats sort of been the message this week to our players"
The changes you are anticipating most likely to be the batting ones?
"Yes, that would be batting ones. There will be a slight order change and there will be couple of new personnel"
Has this been one of the best Black Caps teams you have faced:
"Yes, it certainly is, I was hearing last week when they were talking about how poor the West Indies were and how we have been blown away but I am not 100% sure enough credit has been given to the Black Caps. They are a very, very good unit now particularly in this conditions and they seem to be all going in one direction and Mike Hesson and the staff have done a fantastic job and they are a very fine unit and you can shake up anybody."
How frustrating it is to see after putting so much effort in the practice session, the team doesn't perform to our expectation?
"Yes, look off course it is damn frustrating, we are working exceptionally hard day in and day out but thats part of the journey and its a journey for all of us. What we need to do is get better in these conditions because none of us can ever falter the effort and work ethic of these players, they are trying exceptionally hard. What we need to do is to get our confidence back come out show more intent and get on the front foot and take the game on a little more"
3-0 Down, ultimate difficulty for the coach to get the side up:
"Motivation is still very very high because we still got two games, we certainly are not going to just roll over and die. What it does though is give us the option to look at couple of different combinations that we think could play significant role for us going forward sowe will be doing that and also there is massive motivation you know, I have said numerous times you can't falter the effort and the effort of the players has been outstanding. We just got to learn how to bat particularly in conditions away from home and I guess that is a challenge for every international team around the world now."
As good as the bowlers have been, if you don't get runs on the board, you are going to struggle. That has been the basic problem, isn't it?
"Yeah it has and exactly right and you know, felt in Nelson our tail had pulled us out and we sort of had a sniff but other than that we haven't got enough runs and we haven't been able to dominate for long enough periods with the bat, saying that New Zealand are a fine bowling outfit and in these conditions they bowl exceptionally well but still we are a far better batting outfit than what we have shown"
So where is it gone wrong and how do you put it right
"I think it clearly we just haven't been able to get runs and I can go into other factors like that fact that we have only come out of T20 cricket, we haven't played any 50 over cricket since Champions Trophy or since the Sri Lankan Series and you know the players have played on good flat decks where the ball doesn't bounce higher than your waist and you come out here and your challenge has been your technique is challenged everyday in tough conditions but we have been but we are better than that so we certainly are not going to make those excuses. We just got to get out there, we got to up our game in terms of batting, we got to play with no fear, we have become very tentative, the key for us around the champions trophy win was when we took the game on. When we scored and put the pressure back on the bowlers, we haven't seen that intent yet in this series and that is something we have got to really really address."
The cricket world respect Pakistan for their fight back and when they do they are extremely dangerous.
"Oh Look Exactly right and that is one of the frustrations as a coach as I would like us to be on the front foot putting the pressure of the opposition before we need to fight back all the time and one thing we have given is lots of structure and stability and with that we hope comes more consistency and it started to pay off a little bit but you know these conditions haven't suited us, which is not an excuse but we got to be better. We are a better batting unit than what we have shown."
What message are you going to give your batsman who are well experienced
"You got to keep giving the message that you are good enough, you have got to keep giving them the confidence and the freedom to go out and play and express themselves. once they get into their shells, once they become tentative you become a walking wicket and we saw that a little bit in Dunedin when boult and Southee got their backs up we became very tentative, We went into our shells, nobody counter punched, we got to counter punch a lot more, we got to stand up and say we can take it on and thats sort of been the message this week to our players"
The changes you are anticipating most likely to be the batting ones?
"Yes, that would be batting ones. There will be a slight order change and there will be couple of new personnel"
Has this been one of the best Black Caps teams you have faced:
"Yes, it certainly is, I was hearing last week when they were talking about how poor the West Indies were and how we have been blown away but I am not 100% sure enough credit has been given to the Black Caps. They are a very, very good unit now particularly in this conditions and they seem to be all going in one direction and Mike Hesson and the staff have done a fantastic job and they are a very fine unit and you can shake up anybody."
How frustrating it is to see after putting so much effort in the practice session, the team doesn't perform to our expectation?
"Yes, look off course it is damn frustrating, we are working exceptionally hard day in and day out but thats part of the journey and its a journey for all of us. What we need to do is get better in these conditions because none of us can ever falter the effort and work ethic of these players, they are trying exceptionally hard. What we need to do is to get our confidence back come out show more intent and get on the front foot and take the game on a little more"
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