Hassan's views:Reviewing Pakistan's performances from now through the eye of a doctor

[Wasim_Waqar]

Some of you may or may not know that I am a doctor.

I have been a cricket fan for 19 years since the age of 7 years old.

For each Pakistan match from now, I will give a reflection in the method that we use in medicine to analyse events/consultations in order to see how we can influence future practice (or in this case, performance). I was hoping this scientific approach could help Afridi and his men

Today was NZ in Pallekele

- What was done well?

1) Shoaib actually bowled well with time in the first half of the innings and given better catching should have had NZ in bigger trouble
2) Gul bowled with pace and swing with good control
3) Razzaq batted very nicely with good control and lovely clean strikes
4) Umar Akmal looked technically sound against the moving ball by using a straight bat until his dismissal
5) Gul batted very well
6) Afridi although not massively successful bowled quite well today
7) Rehman bowled with good control for the most part

- What could have been done better?

1) Numerous batsmen were dismissed playing across the line against outswing bowling (Hafeez, Shehzad, Misbah)
2) Poor footwork against the fuller swinging ball early doors under the lights (Younis, Kamran)
3) Kamran Akmal's drops were critical in the outcome of the game (Taylor twice, Styris)
4) Umar Akmal needed to stay at the crease longer
5) Afridi playing with a straight bat (Younis' bat came down at an angle)
6) Shoaib's full-tosses- a total of 250 should have not been exceeded and was very chaseable with a quick outfield and good paced wicket which allowed good shotmaking
7) Preserving wickets in order for a dash at the end: considering the dew in the evening
8) Afridi not bringing on Hafeez at the death: Razzaq is a worse option as his bowling was declined notably
9) Lack of attacking and enough bowling options picked (conservative team selection)- Wahab and Ajmal are examples of those twiddling their thumbs

How can we use this to improve our future performance?

- Pick Wahab instead of Kamran Akmal as Umar could probably keep well
- Ajmal as an attacking spinner rather than Rehman
- Promote Razzaq up the order to allow some momentum
- Umar to split the two seniors to allow him time to construct a proper innings
- Wahab and Gul as death bowlers with Shoaib not bowling any overs after 35 overs

If you enjoy this one, I shall continue to post after Pakistan's matches-which could be anything from 2-5 (hopefully five )

[CalculatedRisk]

Great analysis. Look forward to reading your posts.

[Desi]

sry doc but there is nothing new in this post that hasn't already been mentioned in the other 100 rants

[asad100101]

But it was from the eye of a Pakistani doctor that was new.

[Wasim_Waqar]

Just saying that I could post a scientific approach in order to encapsulate what is the mystifying, unpredictable, rollercoaster that is Pakistani cricket

[Dr Khan]

I do not remember getting any classes on Cricket in med school. How does being an MD makes us better at analyzing cricket?

[PerfectionPersonified]

Loved the analysis , you read my heart and mind...

[md_tariq]

Is this a brag thread? telling everyone your profession. Dr Khan is another one. who cares what you are. this is a cricket forum.

[Saqs]

Pretty much agree with most/all of that.

The only danger, though, of making Umar keep is the potential effect it could have on his batting.

But agree that he needs to split Younis/Misbah.

Younis needs to come in first drop.

Let's also not forget that our openers have failed in all the games so far.

[Desi]

Originally Posted by Wasim_Waqar Just saying that I could post a scientific approach in order to encapsulate what is the mystifying, unpredictable, rollercoaster that is Pakistani cricket

i fail to see any scientific approach here, all that is present here are obvious observations (observations identical to those made by my 13 yr old brother)

[Uhaymid]

Originally Posted by Desi sry doc but there is nothing new in this post that hasn't already been mentioned in the other 100 rants

Yes but now we know another sensible person thinks the same.. high time our team management moved too...

every post may not say something new.. it could agree with what was said previously to move towards building a consensus....

[emclub]

What a thread

[Akbar C]

Would you like me to sign you off for this CBD/Mini-CEX/DOPS, Hassan?

I'm a doctor too, but I don't really see how this analysis is any way scientific or related to medicine. It's just feedback.

[emclub]

How many Doctors are here

[Cryin Out Loud]

Doc,

Given your title "....through the eye of a doctor", the thread would be more interesting if you brought your specialist knowledge - medicine - to the game to give new insights. For example, you could see that X was suffering from an injury, or Y was bound to get injured because of the stress he was putting on his body while playing.

Otherwise the analysis does not match the expectations raised by the title, because anyone could have written it, no matter how good (or otherwise) it was.

Just a suggestion.

[Cricketismylife]

any chance u can fix Akhtar's limp?

he keeps saying he is 110% fit but then still keeps limping ...

[Wasim_Waqar]

Akbar C- wow! Yeah, fancy a CBD

Just using reflective pose, seeing as it's a buzzword.

md_tariq, Wouldn't say it was 'bragging'- I mean, a job is a job: I don't get anything special out of telling that in terms of what I do. More within the job, there is an emphasis on reflection.

I'd much rather brag to others if Pakistan on the World Cup!

You don't have to feedback on my profession, more the details.

Or maybe should've posted in time pass