The pitfalls of Pakistan's defence : Defending towards cover

[Wasim_Waqar]

I heard a pundit (it may have been Chris Rogers) say that Pakistan were defending towards cover in Brisbane. That therefore increased the risk of nicking off to the slips or the keeper with any seam movement.

This is obviously a habit that's developed over the years for various players.

Is it possible for the players to defend straighter by changing their natural techniques in a series?

It is key that we defend straighter in order to succeed in the last 2 tests.

 

[Pete Rose]

I heard a pundit (it may have been Chris Rogers) say that Pakistan were defending towards cover in Brisbane. That therefore increased the risk of nicking off to the slips or the keeper with any seam movement.

This is obviously a habit that's developed over the years for various players.

Is it possible for the players to defend straighter by changing their natural techniques in a series?

It is key that we defend straighter in order to succeed in the last 2 tests.

They defended straighter in the second innings and had a better understanding of driving vs cutting length. Hence many drives down the ground by Azhar and cuts by yk, Amir, and shafiq. Key is to make this part of muscle memory

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

They defended straighter in the second innings and had a better understanding of driving vs cutting length. Hence many drives down the ground by Azhar and cuts by yk, Amir, and shafiq. Key is to make this part of muscle memory

It sounds like they were more decisive about whether they needed to move fully forward or fully back. That's absolutely key.

 

[Slog]

a lot of it has to do with muscle memory and you cant overhaul technique without short term negative consequences

 

[street cricketer]

Most Indian batsmen defend towards cover as well including Kohli.

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

Most Indian batsmen defend towards cover as well including Kohli.

He meets it with the full face rather than using half a bat which Pak did in the 1st test 1st innings or a "curtain rail" like KP once had.

 

[Veteran]

Interesting observations about technique of Pakistan batsmen. Not only is there a tendency to defend towards cover there is a corresponding tendency to play the ball away from the body. In the second innings they all did a better job of getting behind the ball perhaps with the exception of Misbah whose technique looked shaky

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

Interesting observations about technique of Pakistan batsmen. Not only is there a tendency to defend towards cover there is a corresponding tendency to play the ball away from the body. In the second innings they all did a better job of getting behind the ball perhaps with the exception of Misbah whose technique looked shaky

They don't know where their off stump is. Cue the long history of poking or fishing outside off stump.

However, if they have learned as they seemed to in Brisbane, that should stand them in good stead.

 

[JibranAnsari]

All i could see was poking outside off without much intent.

 

[Pete Rose]

All i could see was poking outside off without much intent.

Which innings?