Mickey Arthur: Pakistan need to work as a team, adopting out-of-the-box approach
Mickey Arthur: Pakistan need to work as a team, adopting out-of-the-box approach
Micky Arthur, the new head coach of Pakistan cricket, stressed on the fact that he would be giving young talents full freedom to express as this brings out the best in them and won’t compromise on taking risky decisions for the benefit of the team in the near future. He has been researching on the players statistics and keeping a close tab on them as he doesn’t wish to waste anytime as soon as he takes over the tough job before the team leaves for England, this summer. He has openly talked about changing the way cricket is played in the sub-continental country and wishes to have a successful tenure as Pakistan’s head coach, which he believes is a tough job.
In an exclusive telephonic interview with The Express Tribune, Arthur said, “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 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 is keen on building a team-first mindset as he looks to introduce the modern way of playing the game to the Pakistan cricket. “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,” quoted 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. I’m 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.”
Arthur’s first assignment as Pakistan coach is a four-Test, five ODIs and one T20 in England. Arthur urges for razor sharp focus from his players. The tour to Australia in November is another challenge and Arthur hopes to rectify Paksitan’s past mistakes and terrible record they hold Down Under, with three consecutive Test series whitewashes since 1999.“We have to be united and focused; we can’t have external forces derail us. I have always said our real challenge would be batting, the duke ball will seam around in England and the ball will bounce in Australia.” Depicting his concerns with Pakistan’s batting, he said, “We have the bowlers to make any team worried. It’s just that we need enough runs on the board and it’s my job to help the team prepare as best as possible so that they have a chance of success.”
Speaking about his infamous tenure as Australian coach and putting an end to all rumors about his spat with Greame Smith, he stated, “I want to reiterate that I had absolutely no fallout with Smith, we were and are great friends and our working relationship was second to none, so there is no truth in any such reports. They are totally false.” Lastly on the sudden ouster as Australia’s head coach, the former batsman with 110 first-class appearances said that he has left the bitter experience behind. “We needed to set standards with a team in transition, I hear the term ‘Homework-gate’ a lot and I hate that term because it wasn’t that,” he explained. “It’s what I expect of professional cricketers to go back and analyze. In fact, to be fair to them, they had done it internally; they just hadn’t produced what I had wanted and we had to take that step to ensure that we drive forward a culture.”