Mike Hesson, Pakistan’s recently appointed white-ball coach, emphasises the importance of versatility over traditional roles in T20 cricket. Following Pakistan’s 3-0 clean sweep against Bangladesh in their latest T20 series, Hesson discussed his vision for reshaping the team with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“You have to be multi-skilled,” Hesson revealed during an in-depth interview. According to him, relying solely on specialist batsmen is outdated.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.”
In the recent series against Bangladesh, Pakistan applied this strategy effectively. Eight bowlers were utilised in the second game, marking a record in their T20I history, while seven were used in the other two matches. Players like Salman Agha and Saim Ayub, known for their batting, contributed with the ball as well.
Hesson plans to apply similar tactics from the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where his Islamabad United team used an average of 6.25 bowlers per innings. This strategy aligns closely with his aspiration to cultivate a broad skill set within the team.
His approach is part of a broader cultural shift that mirrors Mickey Arthur’s tenure as head coach from 2016 to 2019. Arthur, alongside fielding coach Steve Rixon, dramatically improved Pakistan’s fielding standards. However, these declined after Rixon’s departure, and Hesson intends to revitalise these areas.
“You’ve got to understand what the team culture is already and then try and improve upon that,” Hesson stated, underscoring the significance of fielding in white-ball cricket. “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.”
As Hesson embarks on rebuilding the team, he aims to instil a ‘team-first’ mindset, prioritising flexibility and superior fielding to elevate Pakistan’s white-ball game.
