[VIDEO] "There is no place for players that are stat-padding": Mike Hesson

[FearlessRoar]

Mike Hesson in his interview with PP (coming soon) taking no prisoners when it comes to the matter of stat-padding!

Mike Hesson speaking with me about Pakistan's T20 batting "there needs to be change. Teams around the world have made that shift years ago. There is no place for players that are stat-padding" #Cricket pic.twitter.com/FjWFjPxxyX

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) July 6, 2024

 

[MenInG]

Looks like everyone and their uncle knows that we have to change except for Pakistan players!

 

[Rana]

Looks like everyone and their uncle knows that we have to change except for Pakistan players!

I would say majority fans also

 

[cricketcricket79]

Looks like everyone and their uncle knows that we have to change except for Pakistan players!

Many people defend these statpadders with extreme passion. I would the message hasn’t really been driven home yet. Not taking names but I think everyone knows now who these players are who are more interested in stat padding than playing to make an impact on the game.

 

[followed]

Just kick them out and set the example for others.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Rich coming from a New Zealander when they played the likes of Conway and this guy himself kept supporting the king of all statpadders in Williamson.

 

[shaz619]

Rich coming from a New Zealander when they played the likes of Conway and this guy himself kept supporting the king of all statpadders in Williamson.

He’s a proper batsman, led his country with class and took them to glory in the World Test Championship. He’s the sort of leader who goes out on his shield doesn’t play petty politics with the team unlike the one who has been anointed King by the delusional .

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Hesson will get bashed for this while Babar and Rizwan will continue stat padding vs Bangladesh.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Stat padding has been a norm in Pakistan. These players do not want to change their approach. That is a truth.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

He’s a proper batsman, led his country with class and took them to glory in the World Test Championship. He’s the sort of leader who goes out on his shield doesn’t play petty politics with the team unlike the one who has been anointed King by the delusional .

All true but Tests are a different format and in T20's alone, he has been terrible and cost NZ both in 2022 and this time as well. Conway and Bracewell are similar players too in T20's.

KW maybe a great leader etc. but his spot in the team is not on merit.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

I am ok with stat padding too if they do it at a better strike rate.

 

[TheSultan]

Stat padding has been a norm in Pakistan. These players do not want to change their approach. That is a truth.

Aside from the fact that this is a simplistic take, which I will address later in this post, are you happy for the stat padding to continue?

Now on to the question of stat padding, the level of it has taken a more extreme turn more recently. Didn’t see much stat padding in the late 80s, 90s and 2000s from Pakistan. In fact, we used to criticise India for it back then.

Ironic that Indian fortunes have turned since they’ve removed this cancer from their cricket, but some Pakistanis are happy for it to continue.

 

[BouncerGuy]

are you happy for the stat padding to continue?

Nope. I am not. This should change. The change should start from the grassroots level. You cannot teach a guy who has played international cricket but you can teach a 19 year old boy who has a dream to play for Pakistan. These guys need grooming from the start not when they reach internationals.

 

[cricketcricket79]

Nope. I am not. This should change. The change should start from the grassroots level. You cannot teach a guy who has played international cricket but you can teach a 19 year old boy who has a dream to play for Pakistan. These guys need grooming from the start not when they reach internationals.

I disagree. Instead of bottoms up approach, I would say top down approach is better. You can’t expect a 19 year old player to play in a style which is dramatically opposite to what he is seeing his idols playing and being felicitated for it. These senior pros in the national team have to lead by example. The same way Rohit tried to do for last couple of years. All the youngsters will receive the the message unequivocally.

 

[Master Blaster]

Stats padding puts the name of the mulk in records book and also wins you some matches.

 

[TheSultan]

Nope. I am not. This should change. The change should start from the grassroots level. You cannot teach a guy who has played international cricket but you can teach a 19 year old boy who has a dream to play for Pakistan. These guys need grooming from the start not when they reach internationals.

Great - so are you happy for the international players who cannot stop stat padding to be dropped so others can try a hand at not stat padding? What is more important to you?

 

[TheSultan]

I disagree. Instead of bottoms up approach, I would say top down approach is better. You can’t expect a 19 year old player to play in a style which is dramatically opposite to what he is seeing his idols playing and being felicitated for it. These senior pros in the national team have to lead by example. The same way Rohit tried to do for last couple of years. All the youngsters will receive the the message unequivocally.

This is a great point. We have seen that the ones you look up to can set a great or a very poor example. There has been a marked change in approach from 2010 onwards with pak batting and certainly not for the better. Swathes of batsmen have been playing the same way one after the other resulting in a very stale brand of cricket.

I agree about Rohit. He was exemplary recently.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Great - so are you happy for the international players who cannot stop stat padding to be dropped so others can try a hand at not stat padding? What is more important to you?

Important is Pakistan wins.. SIMPLE.

 

[TheSultan]

Important is Pakistan wins.. SIMPLE.

And if they lose like they’ve perpetually been doing, then? Would you finally be willing to drop the stat padders?

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Stats padding puts the name of the mulk in records book and also wins you some matches.

But here things are going completely opposite. Records are being broken but team is not winning matches.

 

[pratiktc]

Pak white ball batting needs a mindset change more than personnel change.

All the top 8-10 batters in country are already in team or on its fringes. Its not like there are secret superstars sitting in domestic that are being ignored.

Change needs to come from top and senior batters Babar, Rizwan and Fakhar need to sit with head coach and draw up the new template for Pak white ball batting.

Identify and give the junior batters long run with clear role definition and outline expectations. I feel that Abdullah, Saim, Saud, Usman, Omair, Haris and Salman is a decent depth chart to try and build the teams of 2025 CT/2026 WT20 around.

It is clear that Ifthikar on age and Azam on fitness level should be moved on from. Shadab also should be dropped now and given time to work on his skillsets and see if he can fix his action biomechanics or else work on polishing batting capability as a specialist batter. Either case he needs to play a few first class games.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

He's forgetting that Pakistan is the only place for stat padding and more than anything most of the fans love that about their players.

 

[sweep_shot]

In T20, it is all about impact. Stats don't matter much in this format.

A 10-ball 23 can be more valuable than a 30-ball 35.

 

[BouncerGuy]

And if they lose like they’ve perpetually been doing, then? Would you finally be willing to drop the stat padders?

Why not.. Drop all those guys who are of no use to Pakistan. Need fresh blood in the team now.