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"Probably one of the worst defeats I have ever suffered in my career" : Mickey Arthur on loss to NZ

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"Probably one of the worst defeats I have ever suffered in my career" : Mickey Arthur on loss to NZ

Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur on Tuesday described his team’s narrow four-run defeat in the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi as the “worst of his coaching career”.

Pakistan, set a modest 176-run target, were undone by a shambolic batting display as they lost their last seven wickets for just 41 runs after being on course for victory at 130-3 on Monday.

Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel had a dream debut for New Zealand as he picked up 5-59 on a turning Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch.

Arthur said Pakistan were hurting from the defeat. “This is probably one of the worst defeats I have ever suffered in my career,” Arthur, who also coached South Africa and Australia, told AFP.

“Everyone from myself as head coach to the players and the staff are hurting but we will use this defeat as a motivation to give ourselves every opportunity to win the second game,” vowed Arthur.

The victory gave New Zealand a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and was the fifth narrowest win by runs in Test cricket’s history.

Arthur said his batsmen’s shot selection was poor, having needed 139 on day four with all ten wickets intact.

New Zealand grabbed three quick wickets in the space of eight balls before Azhar Ali (65) and Asad Shafiq (45) added 82 runs for the fourth wicket.

Arthur refused to accept his batsmen were complacent. “There was no complacency, I can certainly say,” said Arthur, under whom Pakistan have now lost 13 of their 23 Tests, with nine wins and one draw.

“The guys tried unbelievably hard and everyone was disappointed from the decision of shot selection under pressure. We need to learn from this and move forward very, very quickly.”

Arthur also bemoaned his side’s continued failure to chase small targets, after also falling short in a chase of 136 against Sri Lanka last year at the same venue.

“The most disappointing thing was that it happened against Sri Lanka last year as well,” he said.

“That’s the thing the batting unit needs to get over and that we need to chase down targets in fourth innings,” said Arthur, before pointing to Pakistan’s failure to get a bigger first-innings lead than the 74 they managed after New Zealand’s 153.

“We left ourselves too much to do in the fourth innings. We had that opportunity to nail this game off in the first innings but we let that go.”

Arthur also defended batting coach Grant Flower, who has been in the role since 2014. “Grant works incredibly hard with the batsmen and his level of commitment and the work and efforts he put in is second to none.”

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...my-career-pakistan-coach-mickey-arthur-767724
 
Under pressure, Pakistan is always susceptible while batting. It is in the psyche.

Pakistani batsmen are never complacent - they are the opposite of complacent - too tight.

It is incurable unfortunately.
 
We left ourselves to much to do in 4th inns?

We were 30 odd for 0 going into 4th day? How is that to much to do?

Yes we should have had a 1st inns lead but we were in strong postion twice during batring inns to win match.

2nd year in a row a pathetic collapse and no lessons learned.
 
Mickey you need to dump Hafeez for starters, phase out Azhar and Shafiq at some point, and swallow your pride by admiitting you got it wrong on Fawad Alam.
 
Mickey you need to dump Hafeez for starters, phase out Azhar and Shafiq at some point, and swallow your pride by admiitting you got it wrong on Fawad Alam.

He will never accept it.HE should also accept by playing a spinner for the sake of it named Bilal asif.
 
Mickey you need to dump Hafeez for starters, phase out Azhar and Shafiq at some point, and swallow your pride by admiitting you got it wrong on Fawad Alam.
Sorry, but Fawad Alam is not the answer to our batting woes. If Fawad was stuck at the crease in place of Azhar, I don't see how the end result would have been anything different. YK was terrific because he took the attack to the spinners and demoralized the one weapon every team was banking their hopes on, on day 4 or 5. We need someone who plays at a good click and looks to dominate spinners atleast, forget about pacers.
 
This guys face on camera when we were falling like a pack of cards :))) I’ve never seen an expression like that on anybody’s face in moment of chaos be it in sports or real life. Probably took out the belt and chappal on Sarfraz and the others while Azhar watched from a distance.
 
I was just watching highlights. When Azhar/Asad were together it was a mere formality. Whatever happened afterwards was mind boggling. I am sure he got the shock of his life.
 
I think Mickey also needs to stay calm when the match is on. Expressing disappointment every time a wicket falls just puts every batsman to follow under pressure. Pakistani batsmen may not be greats but more than decent players, they need to stay calm and that temperament has to follow from the coach. If the ambience becomes chaotic then every single player is bound to feel stressed.
 
Pakistan havent learnt anything from SL series in terms of team selections, game plans or mental hurdles. Just more and more excuses.
 
Sorry, but Fawad Alam is not the answer to our batting woes. If Fawad was stuck at the crease in place of Azhar, I don't see how the end result would have been anything different. YK was terrific because he took the attack to the spinners and demoralized the one weapon every team was banking their hopes on, on day 4 or 5. We need someone who plays at a good click and looks to dominate spinners atleast, forget about pacers.

Look beggars can't be choosers. We cannot pretend like we've a whole list of 50+ averaging batsmen in domestic FC cricket.

Fawad has a track record of consistency with 29 hundreds and an average of 55. Whereas not a single batsman in our Test team averages above 40 except Azhar who is on the decline. We keep crying about consistency and failure to convert starts yet keep picking batsmen with FC averages in the 30s.

Forget aesthetics or his unorthodox technique, we need a reliable middle order batsman and Fawad has never been given a fair shake in Tests.
 
Let's just face it that Fawad Alam is not a dashing player but he would have stick around and delivered the game. I watched Asia cup semi final or final game against Bangladesh and he is definitely more confident and has better temperament then most of the players we have now.
 
Look beggars can't be choosers. We cannot pretend like we've a whole list of 50+ averaging batsmen in domestic FC cricket.

Fawad has a track record of consistency with 29 hundreds and an average of 55. Whereas not a single batsman in our Test team averages above 40 except Azhar who is on the decline. We keep crying about consistency and failure to convert starts yet keep picking batsmen with FC averages in the 30s.

Forget aesthetics or his unorthodox technique, we need a reliable middle order batsman and Fawad has never been given a fair shake in Tests.
Look man, I believe Fawad deserved a chance in Test cricket, but looking at our current team, the last thing we need is another single-double player with a deficient technique. He won't be a major improvement on the current duds. International level teams are ruthless enough to work a batsman out, and I have seen Fawad absolutely lose it once against high quality bowling in UAE.

We need someone dynamic. Someone with the natural instinct of Fakhar. I've heard Saud Shakeel is a natural stroke-maker, but hasn't really done much against the A sides so far.
 
These defeats while chasing keep on happening in both Tests and ODIs, Ex: vs (West Indies, Srilanka, Bangladesh etc) don't know will we ever learn
 
Select a specalist spinner and you may not get this humiliation.

How far has our cricket fallen when fake all rounders like Bilal are regular in our test team ? :facepalm:
 
This guys face on camera when we were falling like a pack of cards :))) I’ve never seen an expression like that on anybody’s face in moment of chaos be it in sports or real life. Probably took out the belt and chappal on Sarfraz and the others while Azhar watched from a distance.

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I think the coach can start with acknowledging an open secret. Pakistani cricketers, especially batsmen, wilt under pressure whatever the format.
It’s a hard thing for a sportsman to admit, considering that’s what his entire life is supposed to be about.
Once you admit then you can work to fix the mental frailties
 
Select a specalist spinner and you may not get this humiliation.

How far has our cricket fallen when fake all rounders like Bilal are regular in our test team ? :facepalm:


Hehe. Team chasing 170 odd on last day lost because they didn’t play a specialist spinner. Go on, tell me how #winnignformula is to limit chasing to under 100. Normal test cricket.
 
To be frank, I don't understand what pressure Pakistan was playing under. They were 130/3 with two batters batting well, just 40 odd runs to get with a day and a half left. I understand if they had slipped to 60 or 70 for 5 at the start but that was not the case here. They seemed to have gotten past the initial set back. If they got under pressure to chase 40 runs with 7 wickets in hand, they need to really work on the mental aspect of the game. This does not sound right.
 
Hehe. Team chasing 170 odd on last day lost because they didn’t play a specialist spinner. Go on, tell me how #winnignformula is to limit chasing to under 100. Normal test cricket.

Chasing on Abu Dhabi surface in 4th innings is generally a nightmare though. Highest successful chase is only 45 . Can't really cone to any conclusions about Pakistani batting based on this match alone.
 
To be frank, I knew Pakistan won't be able to chase this target. I had posted in match thread saying " it is going to be hard to chase 175". I wanted to say it won't be possible but stopped myself thinking that will hurt Pakistani fans on this forum.
 
Chasing on Abu Dhabi surface in 4th innings is generally a nightmare though. Highest successful chase is only 45 . Can't really cone to any conclusions about Pakistani batting based on this match alone.

No we don’t need to do that basis this match alone, quite a few collapses over the last few years
 
Both the coach and captain do not inspire confidence with their antics.

Mickey dont u remember a similar Pakistan collapse when u were coach of SA in 2007 ODI.

being a Pakistan coach he should know such performances do drop in twice a year.
 
Mickey you need to dump Hafeez for starters, phase out Azhar and Shafiq at some point, and swallow your pride by admiitting you got it wrong on Fawad Alam.





Azhar
Imam
Babar
Haris
Asad
Saud is the way to go.



When it's a turner go for allrounder Haseeb ur Rehman at number 7 with Sarfraz at 8.


When it's SA or pacers friendly wickets go for Faheem Ashraf at 7.



When you need another genuine pacer or zafar/asghar in playing eleven than opt for Sarfraz at number 7 and don't play Haseeb or Faheem.


M Ilyas is a talented peshawar pacer. Fawad got his legstump uprooted by this newbie (marginally fast medium pacer). It was an embarassing dismissal for domestic giant. Watch it on Youtube.


Haris & Saud are better, versatile & dynamic batsmen compared to limited Fawad, Usman & Saad. Haris & Saud can rotate strike easily as like Inzamam and Yousaf or like Younis (against spin) whereas Fawad, Usman and Saad do not have this luxury.

Note : A website's statistics won't tell you these things.



Azhar did exceeding well as an opener and shouldn't have been demoted to number 3 again.

Yes He has had bad last 12-18 months but all batsman undergo bad patch at this age. He is back in form and must be given SA and the tour after that and than his fate should be decided. I hope he will improve his numbers if not than you can drop or rest him for sometime or completely.



Yes we have been quite poor lately in Tests but we must back Haris and Babar. For me this match was critical and it proved that indeed Haris & Babar will be long term replacements of Younis and Misbah and not Azhar and Asad.

It was a high class impactful partnership


https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release/babar-haris-stake-test-claims-with-hundreds.html

https://www.dawn.com/news/1138640
 
This loss was unlike a regular loss. The way Pakistan lost this game is just wrecking. Honestly, I have no interest in following this test series anymore. I will completely ignore the second test match.
 
Bilal Asif is not an international material inept bowling and non existant batsman who only slogs ..... should be given the boot.....
 
what was azhar doing running for a run when the ball went straight to the fielder .... and ran out Babar .... i blame Azhar 100% for Babar run out....
 
Azhar
Imam
Babar
Haris
Asad
Saud is the way to go.



When it's a turner go for allrounder Haseeb ur Rehman at number 7 with Sarfraz at 8.


When it's SA or pacers friendly wickets go for Faheem Ashraf at 7.



When you need another genuine pacer or zafar/asghar in playing eleven than opt for Sarfraz at number 7 and don't play Haseeb or Faheem.


M Ilyas is a talented peshawar pacer. Fawad got his legstump uprooted by this newbie (marginally fast medium pacer). It was an embarassing dismissal for domestic giant. Watch it on Youtube.


Haris & Saud are better, versatile & dynamic batsmen compared to limited Fawad, Usman & Saad. Haris & Saud can rotate strike easily as like Inzamam and Yousaf or like Younis (against spin) whereas Fawad, Usman and Saad do not have this luxury.

Note : A website's statistics won't tell you these things.



Azhar did exceeding well as an opener and shouldn't have been demoted to number 3 again.

Yes He has had bad last 12-18 months but all batsman undergo bad patch at this age. He is back in form and must be given SA and the tour after that and than his fate should be decided. I hope he will improve his numbers if not than you can drop or rest him for sometime or completely.



Yes we have been quite poor lately in Tests but we must back Haris and Babar. For me this match was critical and it proved that indeed Haris & Babar will be long term replacements of Younis and Misbah and not Azhar and Asad.

It was a high class impactful partnership


https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release/babar-haris-stake-test-claims-with-hundreds.html

https://www.dawn.com/news/1138640



Fresh ecvidence for my claim.
 

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If I were Mickey I would leave before they kick me out and blame everything on me.

I know in the end everyone is going to start blaming Mickey but this is as an issue that’s been going on for an extremely long time, which will take several years resolve, if it is even possible to fix in the near future.

There seems to be a deep problem in Pakistan’s batting culture. Bringing these new domectic ‘stars’ will not change anything as they’ll just replicate the performances of their seniors.
 
He himself has to take lots of blame here. PAK went to an UAE series with 5 pacers & 1.5 spinners - and I know the reason; they were expecting overs from Hafeez & Haris. A genuine SLAO spinner, and Kiwis we’re toast here - won’t have crossed 300 in combined innings. And, Abbas was NO in both innings - apart from him the lowest scorer of the match is Captain courageous- 5 in total.

I doubt, if Courtney Walsh has that record - being out twice in a Test match & end up as the lowest scorer of the team.
 
Even worse than losing to India 4-0?

Would never have happened under Misbah


Mickey should step down if he has any honor
 
This loss was unlike a regular loss. The way Pakistan lost this game is just wrecking. Honestly, I have no interest in following this test series anymore. I will completely ignore the second test match.

In sport this can happen. You can't stop following your team because of a bad loss and yes it was very bad but Pakistani are still favourites to win the series.

Mickey cant control how the players play on the field, I'm sure he's done his job well but it's upto the players to do it on the pitch.
 
what was azhar doing running for a run when the ball went straight to the fielder .... and ran out Babar .... i blame Azhar 100% for Babar run out....

The run was on. Babar was just ball watching. Turning singles into doubles was the requirement of the moment but no effort was made. The tail wanted to just launch the ball into orbit and New Zealand are too good to let that happen. It’s just inexperience that compounds pressure. They will learn to be more measured.
 
Hehe. Team chasing 170 odd on last day lost because they didn’t play a specialist spinner. Go on, tell me how #winnignformula is to limit chasing to under 100. Normal test cricket.


Batting is already a known issue with us. But we have spinners in domestic who are better than Bilal. A better spinner than him and we could have been chasing less.
 
I'm going to guess, that Faheem is going to come in for Bilal.

Now, what if Yasir breaks down in the middle of the match?

You're effectively going to have Hafeez and Haris as the spin duo, but Hafeez is ineffective in Tests and Haris is only good for a few overs.

micky needs to put his love for pacers and ego aside, so Pak can play two genuine spinners.
 
Bilal Asif needs to never be picked again for the idiotic shot he hit. Damien Martyn had his career cut short after he hit that dumb shot against South Africa and this shot was even worse.
 
Select a specalist spinner and you may not get this humiliation.

How far has our cricket fallen when fake all rounders like Bilal are regular in our test team ? :facepalm:

Not picking Shaheen was also mind boggling.
 
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