What is Sporting Alignment?

[unemployedgm]

Pakistan may go ahead and win the 2nd T20 International against Sri Lanka. In fact they may go ahead and win this series. But it goes without saying that we've been brutally exposed by Sri Lanka. Although I contend that this Sri Lanka is talented. In fact I would go so far as to say that the batsmanship on the Sri Lanka side as a whole is far greater than that of Pakistan. That said, Sri Lankan Cricket since the departures of Mahela and Kumar Sangakarra has been a shambles with no clear direction. That in itself is an indicator of where we are as a Cricketing Nation. Why?

There are many reasons but one reason is poor or non-existent Sporting Alignment.

1. Ambition: What is our Ambition as a Cricketing Nation?

2. Philosophy: How do we want to bat, bowl, and field in each format? How do we want our bowlers to approach the first 6 overs of a T20 Match? This is simply not clear to anyone.

3. Roster Construction: Based on the Talent Available, How should we construct an Overall Roster?

4. Lineup Construction: Based on the Talent Available and our Philosophy, How should we construct our XI?

5. Overall and Game Specific Strategy Implementation

6. Roster and Lineup Manipulation

7. Reconciling Short-Term and Long-Term Strategy

8. Building a Team Through Constant Evolution

 

[fasihulhaq94]

you are speaking of concepts alien to this nation

 

[unemployedgm]

you are speaking of concepts alien to this nation

We need to begin having even menial conversations about important topics. The idea of Sporting Alignment is actually very rare. Even here in the States you will rarely hear a General Manager talk about it. They will prefer to speak to gantry about Analytics. The topics I mentioned are actually very simple, easy, and obvious.

Take for example the concept of form in cricket. I don't believe in picking or dropping players on form. Because I think the concept is relative to many variables. As a result, I expect Shoaib Malik to get selected based on his and his teams performances in the CPL.

But in the past we've seen players picked on form like Shoaib Malik. They carry that form against Zimbabwe and the weaker sides. But when facing quality opposition they fail. Did the form run out? Did luck run out? The answer is neither. The answer can be found in quality. Shoaib Malik's weaknesses at this stage in his career simply do not allow him to consistently perform against high level in elite international competition. Yet he'll get picked and maybe even made captain based on form.

How is this relevant to Sporting Alignment? It is relevant to Sporting Alignment and Winning, because decisions should be logical from the beginning of the process to the end of process. We often think that our problem is selection. Selection comes far later in the process of building a team. We don't even have the right template to Identify Talent.

In fact I would go so far as to say that Cricketers. Yes professional cricketers who have played the game at a high level lack the ability to look at talent holistically. We have no processes in place. I can guarantee that the processes in place are weak. Take these three subjects.

1. Talent Identification
2. Building a Team
3. Building an Organization

Nevertheless, although simple and obvious at the surface these subjects require nuance and significant discourse. I hope Misbah and the PCB consider these topics in their effort to improve Pakistan Cricket.

 

[MenInG]

We need to begin having even menial conversations about important topics. The idea of Sporting Alignment is actually very rare. Even here in the States you will rarely hear a General Manager talk about it. They will prefer to speak to gantry about Analytics. The topics I mentioned are actually very simple, easy, and obvious.

Take for example the concept of form in cricket. I don't believe in picking or dropping players on form. Because I think the concept is relative to many variables. As a result, I expect Shoaib Malik to get selected based on his and his teams performances in the CPL.

But in the past we've seen players picked on form like Shoaib Malik. They carry that form against Zimbabwe and the weaker sides. But when facing quality opposition they fail. Did the form run out? Did luck run out? The answer is neither. The answer can be found in quality. Shoaib Malik's weaknesses at this stage in his career simply do not allow him to consistently perform against high level in elite international competition. Yet he'll get picked and maybe even made captain based on form.

How is this relevant to Sporting Alignment? It is relevant to Sporting Alignment and Winning, because decisions should be logical from the beginning of the process to the end of process. We often think that our problem is selection. Selection comes far later in the process of building a team. We don't even have the right template to Identify Talent.

In fact I would go so far as to say that Cricketers. Yes professional cricketers who have played the game at a high level lack the ability to look at talent holistically. We have no processes in place. I can guarantee that the processes in place are weak. Take these three subjects.

1. Talent Identification
2. Building a Team
3. Building an Organization

Nevertheless, although simple and obvious at the surface these subjects require nuance and significant discourse. I hope Misbah and the PCB consider these topics in their effort to improve Pakistan Cricket.

Misbah has to first win using the current side he has - only then will people take him seriously and he can do other fancy things.