After a shameful defeat in the T20I series against New Zealand on their home soil, Pakistan also lost the ODI series without any resistance.
The second ODI defeat was Pakistan’s 12th consecutive ODI defeat in New Zealand. The Men in Green has not won an ODI match or series in New Zealand since 2011
Both experienced and young players failed to handle New Zealand’s pace attack on unfamiliar conditions.
Pakistani team struggled to beat a weakened New Zealand team as most of their first-choice players Williamson, Santner, Rachin, Conway, Ferguson, Philips, Henry, Jamieson, Latham, Young, Sodhi are either busy in the IPL or dropped due to injury.
In many cricketing nations, the management typically gives young players the chance to showcase their talent in relatively less challenging conditions. For example, in home series or against teams like Zimbabwe or Bangladesh, which are not known for their high-pressure fast-bowling attacks, young batsmen are often provided the platform to adapt and perform. These controlled conditions help them build confidence and gain experience without the overwhelming challenge of facing world-class fast bowlers right away.
However, the approach in Pakistan is often quite different. Young batsmen are often thrust into testing conditions, particularly when the team is playing in fast-bowler-friendly environments or against top-tier bowling attacks. This intense exposure early on can overwhelm these budding talents, resulting in poor performances. Despite their potential, the lack of proper nurturing leads to frustration and failure. Later, the selectors tend to shift the blame, claiming they provided opportunities to these young players, even though the conditions were far too demanding for their development at that stage.
A more balanced approach is needed. Allowing young players to develop in less extreme conditions before testing them against the best could result in more consistent performances, ensuring a stronger and more confident future generation of cricketers in Pakistan.
New Zealand is renowned for its challenging cricket conditions, characterized by its fast, bouncy pitches and volatile weather. While the country has consistently produced some of the world’s best bowlers, it is also a testing ground for visiting batsmen, particularly those from subcontinent nations. Pakistan, with its rich cricketing heritage, has often faced difficulties when touring New Zealand.
The young Pakistani batsmen, in particular, seem to struggle the most in these conditions, with technical flaws and mental barriers preventing them from flourishing. It’s a big question that why Pakistani cricketers, especially young batsmen, have difficulty adjusting to the conditions in New Zealand and what can be done to bridge the gap.
One of the primary reasons why Pakistani batsmen face difficulties in New Zealand is the nature of the pitches. New Zealand wickets are known for their pace, bounce, and consistency, all of which are a far cry from the slower, turning tracks that many Pakistani cricketers are accustomed to. In contrast to subcontinental pitches, which can be more predictable, New Zealand’s pitches often have a steeper bounce and are considerably quicker, making it more difficult for batsmen to play their shots confidently.
The challenge for Pakistani batsmen lies in adjusting their technique to counter these elements. On subcontinental wickets, batsmen often play late, using their wrists to maneuver the ball into gaps. However, on New Zealand wickets, the same technique can result in edged balls flying to slips or gully. The bounce and pace force batsmen to play with a more forward stride and a tighter technique, particularly when dealing with the new ball. For many young Pakistani cricketers who are still in the developmental stages of their careers, adapting to this difference in conditions can be overwhelming.
Another reason why Pakistani batsmen struggle in New Zealand is the lack of experience in playing abroad, particularly in challenging conditions. Pakistan’s cricketers have historically spent much of their time playing on familiar home soil or in the subcontinent. While tours to England, Australia, and South Africa have provided some exposure to different conditions, New Zealand often remains a rare destination for Pakistani teams.
New Zealand’s weather conditions are also notoriously unpredictable. Batsmen must deal with conditions where the ball swings extensively in the early overs, and sudden changes in weather can affect the state of the pitch and the ball. Rain, cool temperatures, and overcast skies are frequent during New Zealand’s summer months, and the ball moves significantly under such conditions, making life even harder for batsmen who are not used to such variations.
Pakistani batsmen, particularly younger ones, are often caught off guard by the sharp swing and seam movement in New Zealand. The swing bowlers in New Zealand are adept at exploiting even the smallest hint of movement in the air, which can make the ball appear unplayable to batsmen who haven’t experienced such conditions.
Psychologically, the pressure of performing in foreign conditions can weigh heavily on young cricketers. Pakistani batsmen often arrive in New Zealand with a sense of vulnerability, knowing the history of previous failures by subcontinental batsmen in the country. The mental aspect of cricket is vital, and for young batsmen, the thought of failing in challenging conditions can lead to hesitation in shot selection and a lack of confidence. When batsmen are under pressure, they tend to revert to old, less effective techniques or become defensive, which often leads to their downfall.
The limited preparation time for tours to New Zealand is another factor that hampers Pakistani cricketers. Due to the rigorous schedule of international cricket, teams rarely have sufficient time to acclimatize to the local conditions. Pakistan’s cricketers tend to arrive in New Zealand just days before the start of the series, leaving little time to adjust to the pitch conditions, weather patterns, and local bowling styles. More comprehensive preparatory tours, including domestic matches in New Zealand or training camps, could help young players adjust better to the conditions.
Moreover, New Zealand’s domestic competition – the Plunket Shield – is vastly different from Pakistan’s domestic cricket setup. Exposure to New Zealand’s local bowlers and conditions through this league could be invaluable. However, few Pakistani cricketers get the chance to participate in such competitions, leaving them underprepared when they finally make their international debut.
For Pakistani batsmen to succeed in New Zealand, there must be a more strategic approach to both preparation and mindset. First, greater emphasis should be placed on training and acclimatization before tours. Extended tours with more practice matches can help batsmen get a feel for the local conditions. Secondly, incorporating modern techniques such as playing the moving ball with soft hands and practicing playing the ball later will be crucial in ensuring success.
A change in mindset is needed. Young players must be given the confidence to adapt and express themselves without the burden of fear. Support from coaching staff, mental conditioning, and leadership can go a long way in helping these players overcome psychological barriers.
While much of the focus on Pakistan’s struggles in overseas conditions is often placed on the performance of its batsmen, the country’s bowlers have also faced significant challenges, particularly in bowlers’ friendly conditions. Conditions that traditionally favour the bowlers, such as those found in New Zealand, England, and South Africa, have often exposed the shortcomings of Pakistan’s pace attack in recent years.
Pakistan has historically been known for producing world-class fast bowlers, and their success in subcontinental conditions is well-documented. However, when the team travels to countries with conditions that heavily favour the bowlers, the Pakistani bowling attack has often failed to make the desired impact.
In places like New Zealand, where the pitches offer swing and seam movement, the Pakistani bowlers have struggled to consistently trouble the opposition. While bowlers like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah possess the potential to excel in such conditions, they often lack the consistency required to exploit the conditions to their fullest extent.
Part of the issue lies in the lack of exposure to challenging overseas conditions, which hampers the bowlers’ ability to adapt their lengths and lines effectively. In places like England and New Zealand, where swing and seam movement are crucial, Pakistani bowlers often struggle with accuracy and the patience needed to succeed.
Moreover, mental fatigue and inconsistency under pressure have led to below-par performances, even when the conditions should have been favorable for their skill set.
The absence of a solid, consistent bowling plan, coupled with an overreliance on raw pace, means Pakistan’s bowlers are often unable to capitalise on bowlers’ friendly conditions, resulting in their failure to deliver match-winning performances abroad.
The challenges Pakistani batsmen face in New Zealand are significant, but not insurmountable. The combination of different pitch conditions, lack of experience, and mental pressures creates a perfect storm of obstacles for young players. However, with better preparation, experience, and mental resilience, Pakistani batsmen can develop the skills necessary to adjust and succeed in one of the most challenging cricketing environments in the world.
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