Pakistan’s style of cricket has to change: Mickey Arthur

Coaching Pakistan can scarcely be termed as one of the most sought after jobs in world cricket, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) found it the hard way by undergoing a strenuous toil before securing Mickey Arthur as Waqar Younis’s replacement last Friday.
Of late, the world has caught up with the troubles associated with the job. Other than the comparatively low salary and ‘security risk’ of staying in Pakistan, the head coach has to endure the constant and unforgiving glare of a largely sensation seeking media.
As a result, many ‘high profile’ candidates like Justin Langer, Peter Moores and Stuart Law turned down offers to take over the reins of the sub-continental mavericks.
Foreign coaches Richard Pybus, Bob Woolmer, Geoff Lawson and Dav Whatmore were all subjected to intense scrutiny in their tenures – Whatmore even warned his successor Waqar that the job was a majorly complicated one.
Yet Arthur, who was initially absent from the top-half of the PCB pecking order, has ‘accepted the challenge’ as he hopes to redeem his own coaching fortunes by guiding a presently wobbly team.
In an exclusive telephonic interview with The Express Tribune, Arthur spoke at length about the challenges that the job offers and his venture to provide the players ‘the roots to grow their game and wings for flying high at the top.’
Arthur, who is tying up the loose ends in Perth before departing for Lahore in three weeks’ time, was first asked about his initial thoughts on sealing the opportunity that is as tough if not tougher than any he has undertaken in his coaching career.
“It’s a massive challenge without doubt but one that I am excited about,” said the 47-year-old. “The present ODI ranking of Pakistan isn’t a reflection of a nation so keen on the game. It’s our responsibility to get the rankings to improve.
“The rankings are good in Tests but the challenge is to play well outside the UAE. Bowling – both fast and spin – is exciting, but the concern in the long format is batting outside our conditions as well as fitness and fielding, which will be a priority.”
Arthur recognises the dire straits in both white-ball formats. As in-charge of the team, he wants to make it clear that the now ancient batting approach of keeping wickets in hand for the death overs isn’t going to work. Similarly, bowlers and fielders have to constantly find ways of dismissing opposition batsmen.”It [batting] has to change, there’s no debate about that. The style of cricket has to change. The challenge is to identify players who are flexible enough to play the modern game and bring at least two skills to the party; they have to uplift both their batting and fielding.”During the transitory period, Arthur wants to encourage players to be brave about their cricket and take on the opposition head-on.
“We need to look at players who can serve for long, and we should allow them to make mistakes, it will help them improve and play what I call brave cricket,” remarked Arthur. “We have to strive to score runs, getting people run out and getting wickets. We have to play an exciting brand of cricket that stimulates both players and fans.”
Since the premature end of his stint as Australia coach in June 2013 on the eve of the Ashes series in England, Arthur has worked with franchises around the world – a list that also includes Pakistan Super League (PSL) team Karachi Kings.
While the Kings had a forgettable time in the opening edition of the PSL, Arthur kept a close eye on the action that unfolded in the five-team event. These days, he’s looking up statistics of the players on the Pakistan scene but wants to keep the names close to his chest.
“I don’t really want to name players at this point in time, I first need to speak to selectors; right now, I am looking up statistics of all the players,” he confided. “I do feel there’s enough talent. Even in batting, the skill level that I saw at the PSL was exceptional.”Arthur is keen on building a team-first mindset as he looks to introduce the ‘modern way of playing the game’ to the Pakistani system.”We need to do three things: work as a team, embrace new ways of playing the game and adapting an out-of-the-box approach,” counted Arthur. “As a coach, I have always given players the roots to grow and wings to fly, I nurture them and give them the freedom to play their game that is the only way that their natural talent comes out, especially in batting. really hoping we can embrace all of that, it would be a challenge for sure, but if it comes off, we would be climbing up the rankings very soon.”