SA v PAK 2018-19: Batsmen need to analyse their batting technique, says Coach Arthur after Pakistan's Test whitewash

Arthur extremely disappointed with Pakistan's whitewash in South Africa.

Pakistan needs to work on their batting | Getty Images

Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur has termed their whitewash in South Africa Test tour as a reality check and is really disappointed with the result and his team’s show in the rainbow nation after they lost the third and final Test of by 107 runs in Johannesburg on Monday (January 14).

The Men in Green whitewashed by the Proteas side in the three-match Test series 3-0 and their show in the throughout series was overall below par, but Arthur still sees some positivity in the defeat.

Arthur told reporters at the post-match conference, “It obviously is (a reality check). I am extremely disappointed. We've had our moments and we did not take them. Having said that, South Africa were outstanding. Their bowling kept coming at us and one thing I know that was going to be tested was our young batting group. There are a lot of positives in that department.”

The coach continued, “I think Babar Azam was amazing and he has taken his cricket to another level. Question marks have always been there surrounding Babar about his Test cricket. I think they will certainly disappear now. He will only go strength to strength from here now. I think Shan Masood played exceptionally well. Asad Shafiq played two innings and that was significant for us. Others chipped in from time to time. But we did not get enough runs.”

However, Arthur felt unfair to blame the national coaching staff for their humiliating defeat in South Africa, but the 50-year-old admitted that his batsmen need to analyze their batting technique.

He further added, “Leave the coaches alone. The amount of work that Grant Flower puts in with these batsmen, it would be harsh (to blame him). Certainly, the batsmen need to analyze their batting technique. There's a reason why no subcontinent team has never won in South Africa. Simply because the Asian guys here stay leg side of the ball which sees them get out to short-pitched balls. They need to be at the off side of the ball. We have got to develop a game-plan around those batting techniques. To a certain extent, we scored. But, there's a lot of work that has to be done.”

Arthur signed off by saying, “On a wicket that bounces, we need to do a little bit of technical work. There was a trend he got out four times in a similar manner and he admits it first up. He admitted yesterday that on Olivier's line coming back at him he should have kept his gloves down rather than keeping them up. As he goes away and plays for Somerset now, he will have some time off from us. And we will reassess when we come in September.”

(With AFP Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 15 Jan, 2019

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