Before the series most people expected South Africa to have to much firepower for Pakistan and would win the test series. The only wish a lot of Pakistan fans would have been is players show some heart, some skill and make the series at least competitive.
Listening to Pollock and KP on there thoughts during series there was massive disappointment the series wasn't even remotely competitive and they were right.
Lets look at SA player mindsets.
Amla - not in good form and some say on decline, did he go out and just flash his bat around hoping he would regain form? No he dug in during series and made important runs and showed heart, guts and desire to get his form back.
Faf - makes a pair in 1st test, wonders if he can still make a contribution. Come the 2nd test did he smile when he got off mark thinking he had done a job. There was a period in 2nd test runs came quick, did he get carried away and throw it away? Did he shy away from battling it through a tough period after and throw it away? No he made a vital 100, not a nice 40/50.
de Kock - again out of form, but in parts during series. 1st test and 3rd he showed focus to score vital runs when needed.
Application, heart and skill when required.
Now comes the selfish, gutless, pathetic side of it from Pakistan.
Azhar Ali gets out 4 times in same fashion. Once or maybe twice i can understand. You dont hook or pull well and your peppered with short ball. Where was the heart on wearing a few on the body and showing some heart. Happy to dead bat and bore the hell out of everyone in UAE but no stomach for the fight.
Then we get the odd flash of decent batting for 20 overs in each test from team. Shan, Sarfaraz, Asad, Babar all playing shots. All of a sudden SA get a break of a session and bowl differently did we get our batsmen showing grit now runs were hard to come by? No we got players playing as though it was a T20 game. Did they look at Amla, Faf and de Kock and think i need to stick around here as we need to atleast get on par with SA. Pathetic, gutless and selfish cricket.
You have Sarfaraz who gets a pair and sees getting of the mark in 2nd test as an achievement, then slashing at everything until your luck runs out. His dismissal in 3rd test 2nd inns summed it up, being fearful of the short ball to point where he was practically hiding behind stumps when he was clean bowled. Again wheres the bravery?
Then we get Asad king of soft runs. Played two significant inns according to our coach, when 1st inns runs were needed in series he was petting his ducks in dressing room, but then lets go out and throw the bat in 2nd inns as i cant lose my place. Against selfish and gutless batting. Am sure Asad's mentor Mohammad Yousuf is very proud as he was king of soft runs and selfishness in 1st hslf of his career.
No one expect miracles in series, but the gutless display of showing no heart and playing a few nice T20 knocks fooled no one.
The culture was bread by a captain backing his failed seniors, not taking responsibility himself either.
You have a coach who has excuses like "young batting group" & "best batsmen in changing room" - no matter how mediocre you are will back you.
No accountability, no pride in playing for the team, no pushing yourself to be better players.
Then Mr. Revolutionary (Inzi), no point picking back up players to push "complacent players" in team as its not allowed to upset senior players, as seniority is everything in Pakistani cricketing culture.
SA Through out series showed heart to push each other whether it was with bat or ball.
I knew we would lose series 3-0 due to lack of skill, but lack of heart and willingness to tough it out was not acceptable.
We are an average test side, but you can cause upset or compete if you show positive mindset and fight it out.
2 years, same rubbish results, same mistakes. Clearly homework wasnt done.
Gutless mindset running ripe through team at all levels - selection, captaincy and coaching.
Everyone sugar coating comments to save there own jobs. There's the difference in attitude.
No accountability in Pakistani cricket, every gutless coward for them self attitude.
well deserved one.
