“You have to be multi-skilled,” Pakistan cricket Mike Hesson said while responding to questions on what he wants from his players.
The former New Zealand coach is at the helm of Pakistan men’s cricket as they target a resurgence under new management. The form of Men in Green cricket has taken a nosedive across formats in recent years. Several shake-ups within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hierarchy and senior men’s teams have not produced required results.
But Hesson seems to be the man.
Pakistan registered a much-needed victory over Bangladesh in T20Is under Mike’s first game in charge. He has now gone on to detail his vision for the Pakistan side as they seek a boost in their on-field fortunes after years of constant issues.
Specialists Batters are “Very Much Outdated” – Hesson
Hesson believes versatility is what Pakistan needs across positions in their squad to make a difference in tight games. He also took a clear dig at specialist batting as uninspiring and irrelevant to the modern game:
“The idea of just specialist batters is very much outdated. Not everyone can read a pitch to a point where you know that these five bowlers are going to be perfect. If you’ve got 6, 7, 8 options that the captain can turn to, then, say, you’ve got two right-handers at the crease, you can bring on your left-arm spinner. You’ve got offspinners, who, if you get particular matchups, can do a job,” the Pakistan white-ball coach said.
Hesson Gunning for Robust Squads to Handle Difficult Match Scenarios
Mike aims to deliver a Pakistan side that can offer the team captain flexible options to cover bowling and batting responsibilities with the best players available:
“They might only be one or two overs, but that gives the captain the flexibility then at the back end to pick his best bowlers on that day. And that’s why I look at it both ways. You’ve got to cover both areas. You’ve got to be above par with the bat and you’ve got to be below par with the ball and that’s the way we’ll be trying to operate,” the white-ball coach added.
Hesson on Improving Team Culture
“You’ve got to understand what the team culture is and then try and [improve upon] that,” he said. “There’s no doubt there are some skills that need to be developed with all of our players and that’s just part of evolution for me. Fielding is critical in white ball cricket; there’s no room in a squad for somebody that can’t. You just can’t hide people in the field these days. So that’ll be a real push for me.”
Hesson Favours Smart Cricket Over Aggressive Gameplay
The white-ball coach suggests that smart and measured gameplay will always produce better results than aggressive cricket:
“The concept of playing aggressive cricket versus the concept of playing measured, smart cricket with intent is what makes the difference,” he added.
Hesson believes that introducing a structure in the team to help players max out their contribution is one of his major aims for this side:
“I thought I can add a little bit of structure there and I’m pretty good at identifying those that can be successful in white ball cricket. There’s some really good players who probably aren’t maximising their talent at the moment, that hopefully we can draw that out.”
Hesson on Leaving Out Big Names Like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from Pakistan Squad
Hesson stopped short of mentioning names when responding to questions about shutting out players from the national team. The coach says he doesn’t leave any player out but will need to discuss with anyone who wishes to represent the national team:
“I don’t shut the door on anybody and I think that once you’re a good player, you’re a good player, but sometimes you need to just stretch yourself a little bit,” the coach argued. “Those that aren’t in future squads, I’ll be having those communications. I’ll be talking with all those players that have a desire to play for Pakistan and being really clear around the expectations we have,” Hesson stated.
Former team captain Babar Azam and two other high-profile players Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan failed to make Hesson’s first-ever lineup. Pakistan showed glimpses of brilliance during Hesson’s first game in charge to remind fans of why they were once the best cricket side in international formats.
Hesson Does Not Care About Milestones
The current Pakistan coach believes team effort trumps individual milestones as he is set to build a formidable team to challenge for international honours. He had this to say about his current philosophy concerning player contribution in the Men in Green squad:
“If we need 14 an over, a single down the ground is not going to make a big difference. If you’re looking to hit it somewhere for four and you can’t – no problem. But if we can tell you’re not picking the bat up and you’re just trying to bunt it for one to get your milestone, those milestones don’t really matter if you end up losing by 20. It’s all about context and doing whatever you can to help the team win the game,” he concluded.
