Lawson finally comments on Pakistan's performance

[willegg]

Source:http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=80552

Lawson defends Afridi and Misbah. Has said some odd comments which does not fill me with confidence. Is it 'gamesmanship' or is it the truth?

"insists that the two are working hard to become more consistent in the future"

"Its Afridi’s natural instinct to go for his shots but he is working to curb the habit of throwing away his wicket!"
He has got a long way to go!!!

"He (Afridi) is talking to team officials and his fellow players about his game and is trying to bring in more consistency to his batting"

"Lawson believes that the all-rounder is more useful for Pakistan if he comes lower in the order"
very odd who is making the decisions on the batting line-up, Lawson, Malik, PCB?????

"It can prove to be very useful if he (Afridi) comes in at number six or seven and hit a few boundaries like the way he did in Mohali”
So why did he open in the last ODI!!!!

"Misbah is a good batsman and is working hard bring more improvement in his game"

"Misbah mostly gets out trying to back paddle the ball towards the area behind the wicket and Lawson agreed he will have to stop doing that"

"Misbah is working on that area, he practicing some new shots and I’m sure he would do better in the coming matches"
What does that mean, instead of the paddle shot, he'll do the double flip boom boom shot!!?????

I'm confused!!!! Is this just gamesmanship or has Lawson no control on this team?

[aussiecricketer]

If you have a 45 ball hundred at a venue. And then you turn up there again and the track is flat, your going to be given the chance to open. Even if it was Mcgrath who had a 45 ball hundred there, he would have opened if Australia played on the same venue and the track was flat.

Afridi and Misbah are keys to Pakistan now. I like Misbah, very solid, can hit big if he needs to.

[Hash]

which comments exactly do you have an issue with and why?

[OZGOD]

Originally Posted by willegg Source:http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=80552 Lawson defends Afridi and Misbah. Has said some odd comments which does not fill me with confidence. Is it 'gamesmanship' or is it the truth? "insists that the two are working hard to become more consistent in the future"

Isn't this a good thing? A consistent Afridi would be very dangerous. At the moment he's hit or miss, missing more than he's hitting.

"Its Afridi’s natural instinct to go for his shots but he is working to curb the habit of throwing away his wicket!" He has got a long way to go!!!

Looking at his average over the past 20 matches it's difficult to disagree.

"He (Afridi) is talking to team officials and his fellow players about his game and is trying to bring in more consistency to his batting"

Ditto comments above.

"Lawson believes that the all-rounder is more useful for Pakistan if he comes lower in the order" very odd who is making the decisions on the batting line-up, Lawson, Malik, PCB?????

Precisely what I've been saying. I was surprised he was made to open in the last match, and not surprised he failed at the top, and not surprised at the pressure it put on his middle order. It could have been worse had Butt not scored a ton. Afridi is a lower order hitter and is at his best in that role.

"It can prove to be very useful if he (Afridi) comes in at number six or seven and hit a few boundaries like the way he did in Mohali” So why did he open in the last ODI!!!!

Exactly what I've been saying.

"Misbah is a good batsman and is working hard bring more improvement in his game"

Can't disagree.

"Misbah mostly gets out trying to back paddle the ball towards the area behind the wicket and Lawson agreed he will have to stop doing that"

Haven't seen him lately so can't comment.

"Misbah is working on that area, he practicing some new shots and I’m sure he would do better in the coming matches" What does that mean, instead of the paddle shot, he'll do the double flip boom boom shot!!????? I'm confused!!!! Is this just gamesmanship or has Lawson no control on this team?

Not sure what you mean. I'm a bit surprised that Afridi opened the last match though - people have this "if only" view of Afridi opening - they see him flog a few balls for six in the lower order and automatically extrapolate that to mean that if he bats at the top, with conceivably more overs to bat in, that he will automatically score 100 at a 150SR. What people forget is that he will be exposed to the new ball and bowlers have more chances to get him out.

[ajk88]

Originally Posted by OZGOD Not sure what you mean. I'm a bit surprised that Afridi opened the last match though - people have this "if only" view of Afridi opening - they see him flog a few balls for six in the lower order and automatically extrapolate that to mean that if he bats at the top, with conceivably more overs to bat in, that he will automatically score 100 at a 150SR. What people forget is that he will be exposed to the new ball and bowlers have more chances to get him out.

Agreed. I don't see how ANYONE could argue against this after reviewing his career. Only deluded Afridi fanboys could disagree.

[waqar_ahmad]

Afridi has played over 200 ODIs, how much longer does he need to try and curb his natural instinct of throwing his wicket away by playing shots of 3 yr old

[Zechariah]

Originally Posted by waqar_ahmad Afridi has played over 200 ODIs, how much longer does he need to try and curb his natural instinct of throwing his wicket away by playing shots of 3 yr old

You are being very very harsh. 7 year old is perfectly fine.

[Genghis]

Didn't see anything wrong with Lawson's comments.

[umerpervaiz1]

Finally Misbah and Afridi are main person to lawson(as i mentioned earlier)

[willegg]

If Lawson belives that Afridi is best suited as a lower order batsman. Why did he let him open?

[aussiecricketer]

Originally Posted by willegg If Lawson belives that Afridi is best suited as a lower order batsman. Why did he let him open?

Read the record books. You might see 2nd fastest century against a familiar guys name at the same ground. Could be the reason.

As a cricketer, i think the any player with that record, batting as an opener, would open the innings. The player would want to and the coach really can't refuse. The players have a lot of power in the world of cricket.

[willegg]

Originally Posted by aussiecricketer Read the record books. You might see 2nd fastest century against a familiar guys name at the same ground. Could be the reason. As a cricketer, i think the any player with that record, batting as an opener, would open the innings. The player would want to and the coach really can't refuse. The players have a lot of power in the world of cricket.

Current batting performance suggests that he would have failed. That takes presendence over a yester batting record. To be honest Afridi played awful. It was slog after slog after slog.

Lawson himself says he is effective lower down the order. If the coach is not being listened to then what is his purpose.

[pakcricketfan]

Originally Posted by genghis81 Didn't see anything wrong with Lawson's comments.

same here!

[Hash]

Originally Posted by pakcricketfan same here!

and here.


This is just criticism for the sake of criticism. Lame.

[willegg]

Originally Posted by Hash and here. This is just criticism for the sake of criticism. Lame.

Let me make myself clear at what I find confusing.

1) Lawson belives that Afridi should bat lower down.
So why was he sent in to open in the 3rd ODI. Know one is answering this. Does he have a say or not? If he does how much of his opinion counts. Whats the point of saying the above and then lets the guy open and bat like a buffon.

2) Lawson says that he, Afridi, recognises the problem and is trying to change.
SA and this series apart from 1 or 2 innings then the rest have been quite frankly a waste of time. To be quite honest if Lawson's comments were true then where is the improvement? Somebody answer that? We saw a glipse of some improvement in the 2nd ODI. Then in the 3rd ODI it was same old same old. The man's played over 200 ODI's and he recognises now that he has a problem.

3)Lawson says that Misbah is learning new cricket shots - I assume to stop playing the paddle shot
The bloke is 33, and he wants to learn new shots!!! He is in the side as a specialist batsman and now he wants to learn new shots!

My view on these two are: Afridi I would keep in the side for his bowling, Misbah I would keep in for a little while longer but he needs to start putting scores togeather and finishing off matches

So those are my confusions, what is Lawsons role I thought he took an ACTIVE role in choosing the team and strategy. Clearly, if he belives what he said about Afridi then he would not have opened the innings in the 3rd ODI. As we all are aware he did, so someone went against Lawsons better judgement.

I await your response with eager anticipation.

[hellopak]

Originally Posted by willegg 3)Lawson says that Misbah is learning new cricket shots - I assume to stop playing the paddle shot The bloke is 33, and he wants to learn new shots!!! He is in the side as a specialist batsman and now he wants to learn new shots!

[iafzal]

Originally Posted by willegg If Lawson belives that Afridi is best suited as a lower order batsman. Why did he let him open?

If you don't know many sportsmen are superstitious, so knowing that Afridi hit a 45 ball 100 as an opener on this same ground against India would have some effect on the decision.

In hindsight it may look wrong but at the time I think it was the right decision.

[willegg]

I REPEAT AGAIN

1) Lawson belives that Afridi should bat lower down.
Sent in at number 5, with twenty overs to go. Why!!!!!!!

2) Lawson says that he, Afridi, recognises the problem and is trying to change.
He is trying. Trying all our patience

3)Lawson says that Misbah is learning new cricket shots - I assume to stop playing the paddle shot
We saw that great new shot today. It is closely related to the paddle on the legside, its called the paddle on the offside

I now hope that you are all as confused as me with this article.!!!!!!