Why are Indian and Australian cricketers of the current era more calm under pressure in ODIs?

[GLORY OF '92]

Just watching India they have a sense of calm especially when batting. So many times they have won games due to making fewer mistakes and taking their chances.

What is it that instills this into their players which we are missing out on? I don't think it is just the IPL.

Mentally they are stronger along with Australia and dominate other teams in ICC events.

Dhoni and Kohli are of course crucial but even new players display this calm, intelligent method.

Thoughts?

 

[Pete Rose]

Two things:
- Australian players have always wanted to be gun players whatever the era, they want to be in a situation when the going gets tough and win from there.
- India's batting has always been robust, but now there is a sea-change driven by many well documented factors (IPL, exposure to foreign tours, better captains, the security that comes with being well-paid)

The question you have to ask is that for all of Pakistan's near mythical aggression: why have we been chokers in for the last 30 years. Why do our players become shrinking violets when the heat is on (word cup 99, hobart 99, sydney 2010, mcg 2016 and countless times when we have to play to square a series or bat second).

The first step towards remedy is to admit you have a problem. I made a thread about this and was pilloried. Our players do not play for glory, they play for safety. You will never be battle hardened if you do that.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I don't think the Pakistan batsmen are technically good enough personally. Australian and Indian batsmen will find a way to score off most every ball, Pakistan batsmen struggle to find the gaps and that is why so often you will see them either blocking dot balls then swinging wildly for boundaries when the runs dry up. They just aren't very good.

 

[Slog]

Even PSL in its current format wont have that much of a big effect

With just 5 teams and laughably 4 going into play offs there just arent that many high pressure games

 

[Pete Rose]

I don't think the Pakistan batsmen are technically good enough personally. Australian and Indian batsmen will find a way to score off most every ball, Pakistan batsmen struggle to find the gaps and that is why so often you will see them either blocking dot balls then swinging wildly for boundaries when the runs dry up. They just aren't very good.

Steven Smith is an abomination technically but that hasn't stopped him. Our players lack self belief.

 

[Convict]

Both players are confident chasing targets with runrates of about 9.

The only time they actually come under pressure is when they are batting first and they lose a whole bunch of early wickets

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Steven Smith is an abomination technically but that hasn't stopped him. Our players lack self belief.

They lack self belief because they don't know how to score runs against disciplined bowling. It doesn't matter if Smith doesn't look like a classical batsman, he knows how to get the ball into areas of the pitch which will yield runs. That's all the technique you need.

 

[Pete Rose]

They lack self belief because they don't know how to score runs against disciplined bowling. It doesn't matter if Smith doesn't look like a classical batsman, he knows how to get the ball into areas of the pitch which will yield runs. That's all the technique you need.

Sure but you are on the one who started off talking about players not having the technique. Its got nothing to do with it in my opinion. Malik and Hafeez have been playing for well over a decade. And they are played in this team supposedly for their battled hardened experience. But they failed. I have never said that self-belief is the only answer, but in Pakistan's case its a big part of their problem. They wilt under pressure.

I would say that its unfair that South Africa is the butt of jokes for being chokers. Unfortunately, we are the more deserved chokers.

 

[Tekcirc]

I think it boils down to better coaching at younger levels. Batsmen are taught to bat for long and not throw away their wicket after scoring a 50. Pakistan has always taken too much pride in being a rebel. This affects players mentally and they avoid listening to coaches who ask them to maintain temperament.

Again back to Afridi bashing, when you worship a player like Afridi as the greatest player in your team, that kinda mentality will rub into all junior players. Misbah, Younis were ideal mentors but the younger players see the immense fan love Afridi gets (Boom Boom). Love of the fans, no matter how misguided, is pretty seductive.

 

[aniket1911]

There are many way chasing works, India - who is top heavy dependent batting with lack of power hitter in the lower order, they try to keep playing regardless of dot balls, no risky shots and take singles for the first 15-20 overs. From 20- 35 overs is where they take command over the chase, that's the best period to bat as opposition's best bowler are off the attack and as field is spread out, you convert single into double and dab and run with occasional boundaries. This way you have 7-9 runs an over without taking any significant risk, following this template you have 220- 230 by 35th over. Generally, one middle order batsman sticks around but even if middle order is cleaned off, the run rate becomes manageable for lower order batsman to close it off. Ofcourse, top-notch fitness standard and taking responsibility are subset of this way.

England- while not the calmest of the teams while chasing, have been phenomenal chasers too recently. Psychological advantage is one of the most significant aspect while chasing, knowing there are dogging lineup of power hitter to smack the white leather out of the park, playing 5-6 dot balls doesn't faze you.

Australia are more like India Right now, their lower order is woeful currently and need heavy score from one of their top order batsman to gun down 300+ scores.

 

[adit_sh]

I don't think the Pakistan batsmen are technically good enough personally. Australian and Indian batsmen will find a way to score off most every ball, Pakistan batsmen struggle to find the gaps and that is why so often you will see them either blocking dot balls then swinging wildly for boundaries when the runs dry up. They just aren't very good.

To me Inzi and to an extent Moyo was the last great batters Pakistan has produced and he did not play much with the current youngsters unlike where likes of SRT/RD played and worked with VK etc...preparing for next gen. Australia have different structure so it doesnt matter as the system produces great players so lets not compare with them. it doesnt work in SC
YK and Misbah consolidated well but cannot be someone who could be followed
Persisting with Akmal bros was a major mistake and growing with Afridis of batters didnt help either.

I actually miss Pakistan of 90s and even early 2000s

 

[jeetu]

Flat tracks at home are big factor for both sides. For India weak bowling is another factor.

 

[itsme]

Deep batting line up

 

[TestMatch]

Let's not forget, Kohli has been playing high pressure knocks since his under 19, World Cup days. The guy knows pressure and loves the buzz of conquering impossible situations.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Well Kohli lives for goals.

Our players lack both passion and ability.

 

[saeedhk]

It all boils down to better mental firmness; Pakistani bowlers are too mentally weak and they lack self-belief. Indian and Australian batsmen are mentally superior.

 

[Indiafan]

I don't think the Pakistan batsmen are technically good enough personally. Australian and Indian batsmen will find a way to score off most every ball, Pakistan batsmen struggle to find the gaps and that is why so often you will see them either blocking dot balls then swinging wildly for boundaries when the runs dry up. They just aren't very good.

Its not only batsmen, our bowling might not be the greatest but they defend small scores lots of time too. Its an overall sense of calmness which kind of we know, yeah they can still win at any point in the game. Same with fielding

 

[ads101]

It's because they are used to winning. Much less pressure when you are the favourite to win, then when you are the underdog trying to cause the upset.

India and Australia especially know they have posted many 300 plus scores in the past. While we haven't.

Also the fact that Pakistan is poor at fielding also gives an edge. Less pressure on the batsman knowing that you could get a lifeline due to the fielding anyway. While when you're batting against a fielding side that doesn't give you an inch, much more pressure as you know you have to do everything right.

 

[Syed1]

First of all they do not have dot ball experts opening the batting hoping to 'anchor' the innings and take the required run rate upto 9 or 10. They have attacking batsman right at the top that aim to bring the RR down to more manageable levels.

 

[Varun]

You have to be natural and cavalier and play one-day cricket on instinct. See ball, hit ball.

Pakistan is the complete opposite of that.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Its not only batsmen, our bowling might not be the greatest but they defend small scores lots of time too. Its an overall sense of calmness which kind of we know, yeah they can still win at any point in the game. Same with fielding

Spot on.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Besides T20,IPL which most teams have access to, i would put down to few players who inspired many people. I would start with Dhoni, Yuvi followed by Kohli. These guys gave fellow Indians lesson after lesson about how to chase with calm head. Nowadays everyone relishes that challenge.

 

[Cricket World]

It basically starts from strong leadership, team management, captaincy and whole environment conduce to positive mind set that allows player development and that brings stability.