What Pakistan batsmen could learn from Ben Stokes' wonder knock

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Can you guess what it is?

Not to hit the ball for sixes regardless of the stage of the game. You need a special talent for that.

Not to play with courage to keep hitting shots as the target approaches. That takes a special type of character which not everyone possesses.

The answer:

Put your team's and nation's goals above your own. Did you guys note how on reaching his century he didn't celebrate? Can you imagine a Pakistan player doing that? They would have been kissing the turf, praising Allah for his blessings ( on themselves) and would doubtlessly have got out on the next few balls.

Stokes isn't just a great cricketer, he has values which Pakistan players could learn from which go far beyond boom boom 6'ers.

 

[Markhor]

Not just that but the way he shifted through the gears and protected the tail.

In comparison, we saw how Sarfraz exposed Shaheen to strike at Taunton with 40 to get.

 

[Titan24]

No matter how irrational Abdul Razzaq might sound on occasions but he has mentioned it a lot of times that most current players arent playing for the team on most occasions. I think its something to do with mindset of the players and pressure of scoring certain number of runs and maintaining stats to remain part of the team.

However, other teams value performances in winning cause much more than individual performances. I also believe the aim should be to win your team matches and management needs to make sure there is only one aim for every player in the team and that is to win match rather than just focusing on individual performances without the context of the overall results.

 

[Rayyman]

Pathetic victim mentality.

Pakistani players have done this plenty of times.

For example, Razzaq vs SA, Shehzad vs BD, Misbah has done it on multiple occasions and Imad recently against Aus.

I hate how Stokes and English players get overrated so much.

After this innings he has been seen as an ATG player who played the GOAT Test match knock.

Kusal Perera is a better batsman who played a better innings yet nobody mentioned him.

The white worship has to stop.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Learn what? Stokes is the most talented cricketer in England team, there's nothing to learn because Pak batsmen are not as talented.

 

[Major]

throwback to when Sarfraz took that single and made Shaheen face the balls.

 

[ManFan]

throwback to when Sarfraz took that single and made Shaheen face the balls.

That may have been the single most cowardly act I’ve seen on the cricket field.

 

[Major]

Im glad that Stokes is getting attention, but there is something else that he deserved attention for, and that was the world cup last ball.

Look at his game awarness, he knew a super over will be played(or was told by the umpire), hence he didnt try to smack the ball for 2, he just took an easy single to scecure the tie first as he knew they had the players to bash in the super over.

 

[Saj]

None of the current Pakistani Test batsmen could play the innings Stokes did versus Australia. Mentally not strong enough.

 

[Greenstorm]

Our players simply do not have the ability. Stokes was hitting sixes for fun while Azhar Ali was trying to score last 12 runs by taking singles vs NZ.

 

[Majid Khan]

None of the current Pakistani Test batsmen could play the innings Stokes did versus Australia. Mentally not strong enough.

That’s the kind of innings from Stokes that separates men from boys - mental toughness but also this innings showed what a smart cricketer Stokes is, every move was calculated , the way he batted with no.11 , the big shots he played , yes there was some risk but calculated risk and someone who looked like he was in control. He never looked like he didn’t believe they would win at any moment.

You can imagine a Pakistani batsman even if somehow he took the game that far, batting with the tail is normally an excuse to just slog and wildly swing your bat - until you hole out with a top edge , and then walk away with pride at your own individual performance knowing that because of the situation no one would criticise that poor shot as it was a hopeless situation anyway - hopeless , glass half empty is how some of us see it but not everyone.

Can imagine a Pakistani batsmen

 

[aloo paratha]

None of the current Pakistani Test batsmen could play the innings Stokes did versus Australia. Mentally not strong enough.

Also not fit enough. Only Fakhar and possibly Babar could run 2's the way Stokes did.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

None of the current Pakistani Test batsmen could play the innings Stokes did versus Australia. Mentally not strong enough.

If you read it you would see I wasn't really talking about ability or courage, the reason for the thread was mostly inspired by Stokes reaching his century and not even acknowledging it. There was something very powerful in that in that it showed how much he valued the team over his own efforts. The only players I've seen with this mentality in a Pakistan shirt are Imran, and possibly Misbah.

It's not about skill or power, it's about values and putting your country's needs above your own.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Stokes is a natural athlete and one of the most gifted player to ever play the game. Pakistani batsmen cannot learn anything from him. Sheep cannot roar like a lion.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Still missing the point.

 

[shah_1]

OP has a point

We needed 43 runs in 31 balls against Australia in the WC and Sarfraz gave up, let Shaheen take the single and tail ender facing the next over. Captain didn't even try

 

[Kroll]

Stokes is a natural athlete and one of the most gifted player to ever play the game. Pakistani batsmen cannot learn anything from him. Sheep cannot roar like a lion.

Well the thing is Stokes is one of the hardest working players in the game today. It's no coincidence that players such as him and Kohli have the impact they do due to their work ethic.

I think this where some of our players can take lessons from this because most think they no longer need to keep working hard once they've made it to the team.

 

[Saj]

If you read it you would see I wasn't really talking about ability or courage, the reason for the thread was mostly inspired by Stokes reaching his century and not even acknowledging it. There was something very powerful in that in that it showed how much he valued the team over his own efforts. The only players I've seen with this mentality in a Pakistan shirt are Imran, and possibly Misbah.

It's not about skill or power, it's about values and putting your country's needs above your own.

Our guys wouldn't have been anywhere near scoring a hundred in that situation - never mind the celebration.

 

[irfan]

None of the current Pakistani Test batsmen could play the innings Stokes did versus Australia. Mentally not strong enough.

I doubt any of the other English including Buttler could play that innings.

 

[zarar]

Asad Shafiq almost did it against Australia in their own backyard. Almost isn't a win but this is the thing with Pakistani batsmen; Mentality.

 

[Cricketrenew]

Mental Strength and not being afraid to losing but giving it you best shot.
Stokes did that.... Can't see many in world game doing that currently.
NZ captain Williamson maybe exception.

 

[The Viper]

OP has a point

We needed 43 runs in 31 balls against Australia in the WC and Sarfraz gave up, let Shaheen take the single and tail ender facing the next over. Captain didn't even try

Sarfraz might be the worst player to play with the tail. That was a pathetic display. He didn’t even try to keep the strike. He casually took the single without caring.

 

[kingusama92]

Inzi and YK (Tests) were probably the closest in terms of mental toughness under duress. Haven't seen anyone else soak up pressure like they did.

Since then we've only seen glimpses here and there from Pakistani batsmen.

To Stokes credit, he's also incredibly talented to go along with his mental toughness. Loads of batsmen can handle the heat but only a few can score the way he did. You need skill to execute the shots he was playing.

Same goes for Perera against SA.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Our guys wouldn't have been anywhere near scoring a hundred in that situation - never mind the celebration.

I doubt any of the other English including Buttler could play that innings.

Again though, the real point of the thread wasn't about the quality of the player, Stokes is a match winner and you only get so many of those in an era. The celebration - or lack of it - on reaching a hundred was the real difference. It showed his commitment to his nation and his team mates.

He knew the job wasn't done and there was nothing to celebrate yet.

How many of the current Pakistan players have this mentality? What does this say about Pakistani cricket today?

 

[James]

Pathetic victim mentality.

Pakistani players have done this plenty of times.

For example, Razzaq vs SA, Shehzad vs BD, Misbah has done it on multiple occasions and Imad recently against Aus.

I hate how Stokes and English players get overrated so much.

After this innings he has been seen as an ATG player who played the GOAT Test match knock.

Kusal Perera is a better batsman who played a better innings yet nobody mentioned him.

The white worship has to stop.

Only one person in this thread with a victim mentality, and I just quoted his post.

 

[pratiktc]

Clarity of thought and confidence is also something they could learn.

When most experienced batsman Azhar Ali was batting with no.11 with 10 runs to win he decided that a single every over for 10 overs was best way to win match