Does Pakistan need a bowling coach?

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
1

Imran is right and Pakistan needs to employ a bowling coach.

Pakistan in disarray as India set up dream finish](http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/040322/3/2nit.html)

LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) - A war of words broke out between two Pakistani cricket legends after arch-rivals India engineered a remarkable comeback to level the one-day series 2-2.

The tourists kept their cool in the make-or-break game under lights at the Gaddafi stadium here on Sunday to overtake Pakistan’s 293-9 with five overs to spare and set up the decider at the same venue on Wednesday.

Former Pakistani captain Imran Khan and current coach Javed Miandad differed on the idea of appointing a bowling coach for the team after the hosts sent down a staggering 58 wides and 40 no-balls in the four matches.

Fiery fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was the worst culprit on Sunday, conceding 14 wides in his 2-63 in nine overs. New-ball partner Shabbir Ahmed gave away five no-balls and a wide in 0-62 from seven overs.

“It does not need a rocket scientist to realise the team needs a bowling coach to sort out its problems,” said Imran, one of the game’s great all-rounders who led Pakistan to World Cup victory in 1992.

"No team can afford to concede so many extra runs and hope to win. Both the captain (Inzamam-ul Haq) and coach (Miandad) are batsmen and do not have the expertise to look after the bowlers’ troubles.

“When we have former seamer Aqib Javed as the junior coach, there is no reason why he cannot be called on to help the senior bowlers.”

Miandad conceded the undisciplined work by his bowlers was a worry, but did not agree with Imran that a specialist bowling coach was the need of the hour.

“What can a bowling coach do when the player himself does not want to improve?” Miandad told AFP.

"A coach can only guide from outside, it is up to the bowler to improve and overcome the flaw.

"Bowlers like Imran, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis used to work hard at the nets and sort out their problems. The current bowlers need to work harder and show some discipline.

“The Indians have proved what a world class batting side they are. We were supposed to have a better bowling attack but it has been found wanting.”

Inzamam, caught in the crossfire between the former greats, chose to play safe.

“We did not bowl well at all,” he said. “But I have a lot of faith in my bowlers and I am confident they will do better in the decider.”

Inzamam had put Pakistan in command with a glorious 123 off 121 balls, but his century went in vain for the second time in the series.

He hit a flawless 122 in the first match at Karachi last week, only to see India conjure up a five-run win in the highest-scoring match in the history of limited-overs cricket which produced 693 runs.

On Sunday India were reeling at 94-4 in 13 overs when the seasoned Rahul Dravid turned the match around in the company of youngsters Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif.

Dravid, who remained unbeaten on 76, put on 68 for the fifth wicket with Yuvraj and a match-winning 132 for the sixth with Kaif, who returned unconquered on 71.

“I knew Kaif and I had to hang in there because we were the last recognised pair,” Dravid said. “But the earlier batsmen had set such a scorching pace that it was only a question of playing out the 50 overs.”

Sunday’s defeat was Pakistan’s first in their last eight matches at the Gaddafi stadium here since 2000.

India will also play three Tests from March 28 in their first full tour of Pakistan since November 1989.

2

apart from the bowling dept which is not firing..I guess captaincy dept is also one area which Pakistanis have to improve..Inzi if I am allowed to say does not inspire anybody...no doubt he is the greatest bat right now..but thats that..you need a functional brain to plan your strategy..
If you see Gangs in the past two matches - you will see what I mean..this man is not afraid of taking risks - he chooses Kartik ahead of Powar , gets the field placements right - talks to the bowlers continuously and uses his not-so-great resources effectively. The only thing which is missing is his performances which sadly are pathetic..

Inzi while his personal form is stupendous has a lot more thinking to do when it comes to captaincy..I would like him to take bold decisions ( by bold I dont mean thoughtless ones )

3

Re: Pakistan in disarray as India set up dream finish

In my openion imran is right. almost 100 extra runs and bolls in 4 ODI is no joke. it has to be taken seriously.
Afterall bowling consists of three things :

  1. taking wickets
  2. check runs
  3. bowlling in decipline.

you cannot be a good bowler if you dont have all the three things. one loose end can cost a match.
Pak mgmt should keep up with the changing faces of the game and if it needs an extra coach for bowling then it should do it.
lets not forget that indians took help of wasim akram to improve thier bowling ahead of the series. even tho they were critisized for choosing someone from arch rival team but they wanted the best available person .

And ofcourse imran knows much more than javed as far as bowling goes.

4

Javed's attempts to fix the problems have not worked. This problem is not new either we suffered during the world cup with different bowlers. If he can't fix the problem himself why not appoint someone who can?

England management weren't too proud to appoint a bowling coach and look at the strides Harmison has made as a result.

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Re: Re: Pakistan in disarray as India set up dream finish

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by kaka_in_usa: *

In my openion imran is right. almost 100 extra runs and bolls in 4 ODI is no joke. it has to be taken seriously.

[/QUOTE]

make that 145 extras in 4 games....

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Stop complaining and try some new bowlers.........

7

I agree with Imran, Pakistan do need a bowling coach. Wasim would be a good choice. These extras have been probelm for Pak bowlers for many years now. Its up to PCB to do the right thing for young bowlers.

8

Inzamam does not want a bowling coach :smack:

Team might undergo changes: Inzamam
(Update at 1515 PST)
LAHORE: Pakistani teams chief skipper Inzamamul Haq has said that Pakistani team did not require a bowling coach. ‘The flaw of extras will try to be checked during net practice and the team might undergo changes’ he said in a press conference, Geo news channel reported on Monday.

9

Imran may be right, but how do you coach a bowler to not throw a no-ball? The bowler knows its all about where the foot lands. No-ball is an exact science....just keep the foot on the line. THe bowlers know this fact fully well, so what good would a coach do in this situation? Make him write 100 times on a blackboard perhaps, that "The foot must not go beyond the line"?

10

How about re-mark your run up and start it 6 inches further back?

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Mr Xtreme: *
How about re-mark your run up and start it 6 inches further back?
[/QUOTE]

That is one of the ideas but that would require a bowler to re-evaulate where to pitch the ball with this run up. For example, a perfect yorker might become a half volley and an attempted good length delivery might result in short ball easy to belt anywhere.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Mr Xtreme: *
How about re-mark your run up and start it 6 inches further back?
[/QUOTE]

a bowler loses pace doing that, doesn't he?

IMO Pakistan needs a better coach and not a bowling coach. don't jump down my throat anyone, but miandad's style is a bit hatke. the other day i read yasir hameed's interview and he said (very humbly) how great miandad was and how hameed didn't know that a slower one was coming from irfan but miandad did. 'he gestured to me from the balcony but i made the mistake of not looking at him' said yasir.

phew. are batsmen supposed to look up at the balcony before every delivery? it's unhealthy of miandad to try and make players dependent on him for the next step. let the players do what they want, and do the gesticulating after the match.

13

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by saby: *
That is one of the ideas but that would require a bowler to re-evaulate where to pitch the ball with this run up. For example, a perfect yorker might become a half volley and an attempted good length delivery might result in short ball easy to belt anywhere.
[/QUOTE]

kewn bhai? If his foot land in right place without disturbing his run-rhythm why'd he fail to pitch the ball where he wants to? If he adjusts his foot-landing just before throwing to avoid the no-ball then yes he won't be able to pitch where he wants to but otherwise I don't see any problems.

14

With all the respect I have for the Great Khan and his contribution for Pakistan cricket. Is this the same Khan who said last week that I never worried about extras and asked my bowlers to go all out ????????????????

15

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by karina: *

it's unhealthy of miandad to try and make players dependent on him for the next step. let the players do what they want, and do the gesticulating after the match.
[/QUOTE]

Do you think that makes him a bad coach?...or umm put another way: is that the only problem you have with Miandad?

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by karina: *
phew. are batsmen supposed to look up at the balcony before every delivery? it's unhealthy of miandad to try and make players dependent on him for the next step. let the players do what they want, and do the gesticulating after the match.
[/QUOTE]

Well, I agree to some extent. It shows that Miandad didn't "coach" them about such tactics during practice sessions and other methods, and instead he was "coaching" (or instructing them) while player is already in the field and about to face the delivery.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ChthonicPowers: *

Do you think that makes him a bad coach?...or umm put another way: is that the only problem you have with Miandad?
[/QUOTE]

like, isn't that enough? it just shows he coaches more like a tyrannical father. do you think it's normal for a youngster like hameed to state in an interview how he forgot to look at his coach in the balcony?

18

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by smooth_guy: *
With all the respect I have for the Great Khan and his contribution for Pakistan cricket. Is this the same Khan who said last week that I never worried about extras and asked my bowlers to go all out ????????????????
[/QUOTE]

Imran knew how to get the best out of his bowlers. he wouldn't waste time publicly criticising the same guys he is going to rely on to win him matches that's for sure.

19

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by karina: *

like, isn't that enough? it just shows he coaches more like a tyrannical father. do you think it's normal for a youngster like hameed to state in an interview how he forgot to look at his coach in the balcony?
[/QUOTE]

What do you have to say about Football/Hockey/Basketball coaches of so many other sports jumping up and down on the sidelines then? Or what about that infamous Bob Woolmer/Hansie Cronje telemetry controvery? What about coach/captain sending messages in guise of refreshments? I don't see any of them labelled "tyrannical father" or a bad coach.

Coming to the point about Yasir Hameed: You are most likely mis-reading his statement. Yasir wasn't looking at Javed after every ball. Watch the match again, if you want proof. What Yasir probably meant was , and is likely misquoted is that when he reached the pavillion Javed told him that he was trying to signal him to beware of the slower ball just before he got out and had he looked to Javed, he could've avoided getting out on 98. Now whats wrong with that? Every player discusses how he got out with other players and the coach. no Pkistani batsman looks at or is expected to look at javed after every ball. Even to assume that is the case is ridiculous.

20

Pakistan in disarray?. Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?. I think they are doing all right. It wasn't the extras that cost usthe match. You know extras are so misleading. Even legbyes and bye are included in extras. I think India would have easily chased another 30 odd runs in Lahore.

I say play the same team.