Pakistan must take a feather from Black Caps

For the men in green, gone is the idea of having fun on the cricket field

“I've said it time and time again; this is the greatest time of our lives. We're enjoying the experience, it's been an incredible ride all the way through. The crowds that we've had turn up in New Zealand to support this team, the brand of cricket we're trying to play, has been phenomenal. Hope they are all dreaming as much as we are, we've got a huge occasion in a few days’ time, and jeez it would be nice to win it,” New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum memorably said after his side’s semi-final win over South Africa in the 2015 World Cup.

New Zealand never did come close to winning that trophy, with McCullum falling on a duck in the very first over of the final. But they went out of the tournament the way they had played it throughout — with a smile on their face, hearts on their sleeves and no fear in their eyes. They were ultimately unsuccessful but they were unsuccessful on their own terms. They gave it their all and they had fun along the way doing it. And for that, they perhaps earned more respect and admiration than even eventual winners Australia.



PHOTO: AFP

And their captain’s words before the final were indicative of their priorities. Talk of “enjoying the experience”, of “the greatest times of their lives”, of “the brand of cricket” they played. Only at the end, almost as an afterthought, came the mention of winning the biggest prize in the sport.

“It's a must-win game for us. It won't be easy because England played well in the last two games and won, but we all realise the importance of this game, we will do our hardest work to win the game,” said Pakistan captain Azhar Ali before the fourth and final ODI against England at home.

They too, like New Zealand in that historic final, were unsuccessful. But the difference in the language is telling; “must-win game”, “importance of the game”, “do our hardest work”.



PHOTO: AFP

One is overshadowed by the rugby side back home, the other has its every move scrutinised. One is fearless and aggressive, the other is uncertain and timid. One attacks no matter what, the other goes with a decidedly defensive mindset. New Zealand and Pakistan are perhaps the two most contrasting teams in cricket right now, and while once they may have been the neutrals’ favourite two teams by a country mile, only one of them can lay claim to that title now.

The Black Caps have shown how much fun cricket can truly be, not only to watch but to play as well. Pakistan travel Down Under with much to prove but they are up against a dangerous opposition. New Zealand’s recent demolition of Sri Lanka highlighted their determination to enjoy themselves, to continue that ‘incredible ride’.



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The second ODI was the perfect example of what they could do. They dismissed Sri Lanka for a paltry 117 but what was to come was even more incredible. Instead of taking their time in the 50-over game as many would have done, they heaped even more misery on the visitors. Martin Guptill narrowly missed out on the fastest-ever fifty in ODI history as they chased down the target in just 8.2 overs, with a remarkable 250 balls to spare.

The approach humiliated England in the World Cup, and it was also on display in the second T20I against Sri Lanka on Sunday as New Zealand chased down 142 by scoring 147-1 in 10 overs.

New Zealand roller-coaster cricket is the absolute antithesis to Pakistan’s watching-the-paint-dry version. For that they have more ODI wins than any other team in 2015, scoring almost 40 runs more per game than Pakistan. In T20Is their batsmen are just as destructive. New Zealand’s run-rate of 9.31 is the highest of any side, while Pakistan’s languishes at 7.95.



PHOTO: AFP

A similar lack of aggression can be seen in the bowling. While their runs conceded per over is almost identical (New Zealand’s 5.58 to Pakistan’s 5.62), Pakistan give away 8.5 runs more for every wicket they take. In T20Is, the run-rates of Pakistan’s 7.86 to New Zealand’s 7.83 are again almost identical but Pakistan concede 24.41 runs per wicket to New Zealand’s 21.06.

What is even more worrying than the numbers is the way Pakistan look a shadow of the side that so mesmerised cricket lovers back in the day. Gone is the swagger and cocky arrogance associated with the Men in Green, gone are the toe-crushing yorkers of yesteryear, almost gone is the tendency to play at the edge, to compete through sheer force of will.

But most importantly, gone is the idea of having fun.