"The Pakistani batsmen are playing for themselves instead of playing for the team" : Makhaya Ntini

[Abdullah719]

"The Pakistani batsmen are playing for themselves instead of playing for the team" : Makhaya Ntini

Ntini on commentary: "You can say the Pakistani batsmen are playing for themselves instead of playing for the team. They know that if they score 50 I will still be in the team and I cant be dropped because I scored 50 instead of thinking where can I take the team. They dont even get past the 50th over, they should be looking to bat longer instead of playing the game of quick runs on the board."

 

[emranabbas]

But that's what we as fans want inviduals scoring rather than looking at the whole picture. I can imagine the pressure these batsmen are under.

There was no way we were going to win anything in S.A I don't know why were fans expecting a win or two

Pakistan cricket is finished we don't have the quality simple.

 

[Haroon786]

Ntini on commentary: "You can say the Pakistani batsmen are playing for themselves instead of playing for the team. They know that if they score 50 I will still be in the team and I cant be dropped because I scored 50 instead of thinking where can I take the team. They dont even get past the 50th over, they should be looking to bat longer instead of playing the game of quick runs on the board."

The innings in particular which spring to mind are Asad Shafiq's 88 where he tried to get his runs as fast as possible without a care in the world about what the match situation was and Sarfraz's two 50s in the series, yes 50s are recognised as good innings but in Tests, only 100s are truly celebrated and in the end, 50s hardly ever win you games and they definitely seemed to go a long way towards helping the players save their spots in the team but not the team winning the Tests.

 

[shaaik]

The innings in particular which spring to mind are Asad Shafiq's 88 where he tried to get his runs as fast as possible without a care in the world about what the match situation was and Sarfraz's two 50s in the series, yes 50s are recognised as good innings but in Tests, only 100s are truly celebrated and in the end, 50s hardly ever win you games and they definitely seemed to go a long way towards helping the players save their spots in the team but not the team winning the Tests.

How many 100s have been scored in the series so far, only 1 by Faf... All South African batsmen have chipped in with 30-40 runs when needed. On the other hand, our middle order has completely failed bar babar to an extent. Even, scores of 40s and 50s would have made a huge difference if it was a collective effort.. Couple of batsmen scoring 50s would never win you test matches.

 

[AFM]

This is such a generic comment. Batting, especially in Tests, is all about playing for yourself. While cricket is a team sport, it is very selfish in nature.

The simple truth is that our batting is simply not good enough.

 

[Haroon786]

How many 100s have been scored in the series so far, only 1 by Faf... All South African batsmen have chipped in with 30-40 runs when needed. On the other hand, our middle order has completely failed bar babar to an extent. Even, scores of 40s and 50s would have made a huge difference if it was a collective effort.. Couple of batsmen scoring 50s would never win you test matches.

I think it speaks volumes that the Test match which SA won comfortably was the one they scored 400 in and also the one where there was a 100 scored by Faf.

 

[shaaik]

I think it speaks volumes that the Test match which SA won comfortably was the one they scored 400 in and also the one where there was a 100 scored by Faf.

The game was lost in the 2nd day when we conceded the lead...Same with Ist test, Imagine if South Africa couldn't have taken a lead of 40 odd runs in the Ist innings, they would have been chasing around 200 on that difficult wicket.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Ntini on commentary: "You can say the Pakistani batsmen are playing for themselves instead of playing for the team. They know that if they score 50 I will still be in the team and I cant be dropped because I scored 50 instead of thinking where can I take the team. They dont even get past the 50th over, they should be looking to bat longer instead of playing the game of quick runs on the board."

All PP fans know this aswell, sarfraz, imam, Azhar and shafiq are just playing for team retention.

 

[MMHS]

Can anyone translate it to Urdu & send a printout to PCB CS’s office?

 

[Haroon786]

The game was lost in the 2nd day when we conceded the lead...Same with Ist test, Imagine if South Africa couldn't have taken a lead of 40 odd runs in the Ist innings, they would have been chasing around 200 on that difficult wicket.

Which us why scoring 100s is absolutely crucial to winning matches, we need guys who can stick in and keep grinding out tough runs in difficult situations.

 

[shaaik]

Which us why scoring 100s is absolutely crucial to winning matches, we need guys who can stick in and keep grinding out tough runs in difficult situations.

Even couple of 50s from the middle order would have gone a long way in this series specially the Ist Test.

 

[Saj]

You can sense the joy and relief on the batsmen when they reach 30 or so. Almost as if that's my job done and that's my place in the next match sorted.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

It's not new at all as this is something that is in their DNA to just play for themselves and not for the country. There's no passion no hunger to succeed in anyone who puts on the shirt.

As harsh as it may sound but we all have seen it throughout the years.

 

[Araash]

Ntini on commentary: "You can say the Pakistani batsmen are playing for themselves instead of playing for the team. They know that if they score 50 I will still be in the team and I cant be dropped because I scored 50 instead of thinking where can I take the team. They dont even get past the 50th over, they should be looking to bat longer instead of playing the game of quick runs on the board."

Well, they've already taken the team into the ground. Now only thing they can worry about is to save their own positions in the team and that's exactly what they're doing now.

 

[hadi123]

Agreed. People just want to cement their places. We need changes in our whole cricketing culture

 

[Mamoon]

The laziest statement associated with Pakistan’s batting failures.

 

[Confucius]

Ntini is spot on. Our batsman lack team spirit and mental application. Azam taking singles off the first/second ball in consecutive overs with the tail says it all. But when you have mouse amongst men seniors like Shafiq and co what can we expect?

 

[j_kazmi]

The laziest statement associated with Pakistan’s batting failures.

I know there’s a lot of issues with our batting but I think his statement is pretty accurate with the way some of our guys bat especially during dead rubbers.

 

[Markhor]

I don't think our batsmen are even good enough to play for themselves.

 

[Shandarchowka]

Was this comment directed towards Babar and Sarfraz? Funny because you can't criticize the only batsmen that are scoring..

 

[Bewal Express]

Ntini is right and he should have added that they also lack of courage.

 

[Amjid Javed]

You can sense the joy and relief on the batsmen when they reach 30 or so. Almost as if that's my job done and that's my place in the next match sorted.

You could see that in this game when Sarfraz got to 50 and babar 49, still 100 behind you would think, dig in and get big runs and get on par with SA. Instead they played shots as though it was a T20 gsme. No regards for team with either inns.

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

Err, I don't understand the jibe, isn't test cricket about playing for yourself unless you are setting a target on fourth day.
See even Kohli was playing slow in Adelaide

 

[Amjid Javed]

Was this comment directed towards Babar and Sarfraz? Funny because you can't criticize the only batsmen that are scoring..

Both players well set and your 100 behind SA and you play T20 shots and get out? This where top class players dig in, get big 100s and lead team forward. Not a nice 40-50 and out.

 

[Mamoon]

I know there’s a lot of issues with our batting but I think his statement is pretty accurate with the way some of our guys bat especially during dead rubbers.

Lack of ability and skill has been confused with selfishness for far too long now.

 

[j_kazmi]

Lack of ability and skill has been confused with selfishness for far too long now.

Yes you’re right about that. Lack of ability is definetly an issue.

But the way some of our batsmen(namely Shafiq and Sarfraz) begin scoring exactly when they’re on the verge of being dropped show us the mentality of our batsmen.

 

[Pete Rose]

That’s not true. If Pakistani batsmen were playing for themselves we would score minimum 250 every game. Pakistani batsmen have been bad or mentally weak.

 

[srh]

He is talking about ones who scored but could have scored more if they had thought about team first. Babar Azam and Sarfraz Ahmed are the chief culprits.

 

[Ahmed216]

They need someone like kohli in team. Kohli after recent edgbaston 150+ innings said his innings was useless because India lost.
At least in Pak someone should stand-up after a loss and say my 50 was useless.
But a non-performing average captain like Sarfraz whose own place is always under threat cannot tell that to likes of Azhar Imam Asad

 

[jnaveen1980]

Conversion is not as easy as people sound. Joe Root struggled for a long time. I think he is still struggling. Concentration, energy, focus, shot selection so many factors need to be in place to consistently convert starts.

 

[Hasan123]

He has a point. It's become for our players to throw their wicket away when set.

 

[Shafi]

Wish Ntini criticized selection procedure and indirect attack to mr. revolutionist.

 

[IMMY69]

It’s all mental...

 

[Shafi]

It’s all mental...

Mental issue is not a excuse. Its the lack of abilities and skills.