I won´t deny that bowling too has become an issue, but this is an era of batting - hitting, slogging, aggression etc. - so in my view it´s batting that needs to be sorted out and should be the top priority. The bowling will follow on its own once the batsmen become capable of putting up 320s on the board, or even chasing. This will automatically allow the bowlers some space and freedom. The constant pressure of either restricting the opposition under 240 or defending the same kind of totals is asking too much of the bowlers in the era that we´re in.
As for batting, you know, dot balls aren´t an issue in my opinion. Dhoni is known for taking time to get set, as is Kohli or Steve Smith for example, but my problems is the absolute lack of plan or a vision on the batsmen´s part. They neither play aggressively, nor preserve their wicket. It´s like, a flood of dot balls then mindless heaves until one of them finally finds the fielder. Initial dot balls aren´t an issue if the batsman has a plan, but it´s never like that.
Yesterday for example, there was a point where Pakistan required 266 in 35 overs or something. A huge ask no doubt, but an attempt should´ve been made by breaking down the total in periods of play. If you don´t have Maxwells, de Villiers, Buttlers etc. to hit from ball one, no complaints, but at least try to get set and then launch. I was for example thinking of getting the first 66 runs off the 10 overs, which wouldn´t have been too much of an ask and which would´ve allowed them to preserve their wicket too, and then the next 100 of the next 15 overs, again not a mountain to climb at all as singles and doubles coupled with the occasional boundary would´ve got them there without taking too many risks, and then they could´ve hunted for the last 100 runs in the remain 10 overs with eight or seven wickets in hand.
Easier said than done of course, but was there an option other than going for the score? Did the think-tank have any such plans? Probably not! This is the problem.
