Experience is a tough teacher

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Quote:

Experience is a tough teacher, it gives the test first and the lesson afterwards

Navjot Sidhu

Pakistani fans are accustomed to emotional fluctuations, and the incorporation of young players has altered nothing in this regard. Optimism, positivism, and genuine hope after the courageous performance in the First Test. But, from the messages on this board, such hope appears to have been torn apart, trampled on and thrown in the gutter after the debacle in the second Test, and the poor effort in the first innings of the Third Test. If I judge correctly, optimism has been supplanted by gloom, pessimism and depression.

But whilst the batting has plummeted to levels that even I did not think possible, there is need to view events rationally, not emotionally. It is not a case of excusing the performances, but instead an attempt to indicate that there is hope for the future.

Firstly, in the context of team selection evolution tends to work more effectively than revolution. Too many changes at once, is not likely to result in short term success. Pakistan has been forced into making several changes and the teams failure is not a big surprise, though the extent of it may be. Pakistan has lacked a guiding hand in the batting, as well as being short of someone who could lead the batting. But, it is a side very much for the future, and despite the abject batting performances, there is ability in the batting. Of the youngsters Imran Nazir, Hasan, Farhat, Taufeeq and Faisal all could potentially serve Pakistan well in the future when they have acquired some experience. Clearly they may need to refine their techniques, and learn from their errors. They also need to demonstrate the propensity to adapt to different situations, and to read the game. At the moment, they are little too impetuous, and do not always use their head. On the whole, the youngsters have at times shown a lack of patience which has manifested itself via poor shot selection. Hasan and Saqlain demonstrated what could be achieved, with some grit, determination and patience today.

Not only do the batsman need to be more patient, but the selectors, media and fans need to be as patient too. Playing a youngster, is like making an investment: the returns usually become apparent in the long term rather than in the short term. So let us keep the faith in the young batsman.

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Great article, did you write this ?
Every word is so true!

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No i didnt write it, i copied it from another cricket board, :)

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I think when picking young players, there are a few qualities that need to be there for a player to succeed. Imran Nazir and Farhat simply don't get the basics right, such as shot selection and playing staright against the new ball. Taufeeq I've not seen enough of yet, but he's been a bit unlucky in this series - given out wrongly today, run out by nazir in the last match. He deserves another chance, he played very well in Colombo.

Faisal has a great attitude and can definitely consider himself a contender right now. Hasan Raza was superb and the aussies just could not budge him. Great steely determination, refused to throw his wicket and remained cool as ice right through. He deserves a long run in the side.

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problem is that young players don't get much confidence from the selectors.....one bad innings and they are out of the squad! this shouldn't be the case......I remember Graham Gooch scoring a pair in his first test, yet the selectors kept faith in him (scored first century after 20-odd tests)......and he turned out to be one of the best english batsmen.

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very true NeSCio - Best example is Atapattu of Sri Lanka - The guys score 6 ducks in a row in his first 6 innings - look where is he right now.

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a good example of a pakistani batsman would be inzamam…right after the WC 92 when pakistan came to england he struggled somewhat in those conditions, and it was one of his first abroad series…but look what he achieved after that :k:
the selectors should give more confidence…despite one or two bad innings…this way the extra pressure will be removed from the players, who already are very tensed because they are the junior players of the squad.

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One thing to bear in mind though; does the player look like he is doing things right ? Inzimam and Youhanna both started their test careers a bit nervously but their class was obvious. If they have technical flaws like Farhat they will struggle no matter how many chances you give them.

Misbah looked quite correct for most of the series but he struggled against warne, while doing ok against the rest of the Aussie attack. Most people will struggle against warne, and i still think that Misbah will do ok if given a chance again...though the fact he is 28 might count against him.

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yes, furthermore the things working against these young players is that the team isn't winning lately, so the team cannot afford any bad innings from anyone......it's much easier to make your mark in a winning team where there's less pressure than in a struggling team.
(although there are some legendary players who made their struggling team into a winning one)