Ahmed Shehzad - the king of dot balls?

[Saj]

Of the 60 deliveries he's faced at the Champions League T20 tournament so far, 34 of them have been dot balls.

He seems to lack the awareness of rotating the strike when he can't hit a big shot.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Its a problem.

Hes young. Will work on it.

 

[Mamoon]

The crown prince of Tuk Tuk, will take over from the King once he retires.

A very limited and ordinary batsman. Can't rotate strike, can't play spin, can't play swing. Can't stay at the wicket for long if he tries to attack but yet a future great for PPers.

His attitude doesn't help either, he is very cocky for a player with such limited ability.

 

[menace2society]

He's a signature ODI and Test batsman.

Lets not judge him on his T20 performances, they are just a bonus.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

Relax guys, once "you know who" retires all of these problems will magically vanish and Pakistani batsmen will make centuries at 200 SR's at every format, thus bringing peace to the universe

 

[Aman]

he's a signature odi and test batsman.

Lets not judge him on his t20 performances, they are just a bonus.

potw.

 

[cricwiz]

Its a problem.

Hes young. Will work on it.

Its not just a problem... Its a BIG BIG problem...

Playing out dot deliveries irrespective of the nature of pitch shows the insecurity of one as a batsmen... Good batsmen play according to the nature of the pitch, and will go for their shots if wicket has true bounce or is a flat wicket...

Its understandable as an opening batsman to play out dot deliveries if there is big swing on offer or (for Asian batsmen) if the bounce is hard to handle..

 

[OmaIR1]

quickly becoming one of the most selfish players in the pakistan team

just concerned about getting his 50 and keeping his place for the next game... not focused on winning games and performing as per the team's requirements

 

[steelo green]

quickly becoming one of the most selfish players in the pakistan team

just concerned about getting his 50 and keeping his place for the next game... not focused on winning games and performing as per the team's requirements

Numbers would show otherwise.

 

[Jabo]

He's a signature ODI and Test batsman.

Lets not judge him on his T20 performances, they are just a bonus.

Does the same in ODI, if YK is to be in the squad, he should open because then Shezad would be forced to run

 

[Saqs]

Shouldn't be anywhere near the T20 side.

 

[GreenKnightRises]

First Try saying it to the The Kaptaan regarding this.

 

[GreenKnightRises]

Haters can hate. He is the only player from Pakistan to score an international T20 Hundred

 

[syedtumair]

Haters can hate. He is the only player from Pakistan to score an international T20 Hundred

with average of 16 against non minnows with a strike rate of 108 in 22 matches with only 1 50...
rest of 4 matches ( against BD,Zim and co ) he has 2 50s and a 100....

?

 

[Sunny786]

Almost a liability in T20s because of his inability to rotate the strike.

 

[Savak]

I believe I have a legitimate question for the op, why don't you create a similar thread or why haven't you created a similar thread for Misbah ul haq?

Sent from my SGH-T999V using Tapatalk

 

[Bullet Drive]

Remember Shehzad is an opener. He has higher chance of dot balls due to more fielders in the ring.

Misbah on the other hand, when he comes in the field is spread.

 

[Bullet Drive]

LOL.

Only guy to hit a t20 century for PAK and posters on PP are saying 'he shouldnt be in the squad'

Only on PP.

 

[cricwiz]

Remember Shehzad is an opener. He has higher chance of dot balls due to more fielders in the ring.

Misbah on the other hand, when he comes in the field is spread.

this is NOT a justification at all.... Look at opening batsmen of other teams.

- If its a batting friendly pitch they would not waste lot of balls and start with hitting boundaries. This will push all the close-in fielders on the edge of circle and than pluck easy singles...
- If its a bowling friendly pitch, they will wait for bad balls to punish and play with soft hands to sneak singles.

By now, Shehzad has never shown ability to play innings like above, especially the bolded part

 

[Bullet Drive]

I agree Shehzad is mediocre at strike rotation but he will improve.

 

[Poison]

This is his biggest weakness, he is technically sound and doesn't usually follow the ball when it swings like the majority of our openers have done for the past 15 years. Just has to learn to turn it over and he'll do well across all formats.

 

[mosh101]

Not a T20 batsman ! I don't understand who picks this guy for a fast format !

He's naturally very defensive and when you ask him to play T20 he ends up slogging because it's out of his comfort zone !

 

[srh]

He should not be playing T20s and ODIs. Only play him in Tests.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Its a problem for him in T20 and ODIS and just adds pressure to the team and batsmen at other end with him, been unable to do something as simple as rotate the strike just goes to show his batting hasnt developed that much as a player. very selfish and average batsmen in my eyes interms of development as a player.

 

[OmaIR1]

Numbers would show otherwise.

Highly doubt it.

You will struggle to find a match winning innings from him.

You guys are all ganging up on Savak, even though he is one of the few members on the forum who understands the fundamental requirements of a team batting (chasing or building a total) in the modern era.

I don't know how anyone can defend these slow batting displays of shehzad and misbah for that matter. Instead of addressing the root cause most are quick to turn a blind eye and go straight after our match finishers and lower order batsmen.

 

[Saj]

I believe I have a legitimate question for the op, why don't you create a similar thread or why haven't you created a similar thread for Misbah ul haq?

Sent from my SGH-T999V using Tapatalk

1. Every thread doesn't have to be about Misbah
2. I'm not obsessed with Misbah
3. Misbah doesn't play T20Is
4. Strike rate in T20Is should be higher than ODIs and Tests
5. A dot ball in T20Is is literally criminal
6. Ahmed Shehzad bats in the opening 6 overs, where there are a lots of gaps.

 

[Fahdi]

Giving Misbah a run for his money.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

He is a mixture of both misbah and afridi. So afridi and misbah fans can look upto shehzad after both these players retire.

 

[Bullet Drive]

1. Every thread doesn't have to be about Misbah
2. I'm not obsessed with Misbah
3. Misbah doesn't play T20Is
4. Strike rate in T20Is should be higher than ODIs and Tests
5. A dot ball in T20Is is literally criminal
6. Ahmed Shehzad bats in the opening 6 overs, where there are a lots of gaps.

Openers usually have highest dot ball percentage.

Its easier in middle overs to rotate strike.

 

[Saj]

Openers usually have highest dot ball percentage.

Its easier in middle overs to rotate strike.

Less fielders on the boundary also, so it should in theory be easier to reach the boundary.

 

[Aman]

with average of 16 against non minnows with a strike rate of 108 in 22 matches with only 1 50...
rest of 4 matches ( against BD,Zim and co ) he has 2 50s and a 100....

?

I wonder where you got that statistic from

 

[in_cutter]

Openers usually have highest dot ball percentage.

Its easier in middle overs to rotate strike.

What kind of nonsense is this? Lol. A opener has freedom to attack with fielders in the ring.

 

[anuk]

What kind of nonsense is this? Lol. A opener has freedom to attack with fielders in the ring.

if u look up the stats u'll see openers all over the world have a higher dot ball percentage. usually openers take their time getting in and to judge the conditions and it's harder to hit the gaps when there are so many fielders inside the ring.

 

[hussain.r97]

His lack of strike rotation is a huge issue now! He really needs to work on it. Shehzad seems like someone who learns from his mistakes, but he still hasn't learnt how to rotate the strike, someone needs to get it into his head that he doesn't have to play so many dot balls, strike rotation is the most important thing for a batsman! I'd rather have 6 runs off a over in singles than 5 dots and a 6. The former puts pressure on the bowler while the latter builds pressure on the batsman.

 

[hussain.r97]

Openers usually have highest dot ball percentage.

Its easier in middle overs to rotate strike.

Nope, it's easier for openers to hit boundaries because most of the field is up in the ring....

 

[Bullet Drive]

Nope, it's easier for openers to hit boundaries because most of the field is up in the ring....

Its not about boundaries. The OP is suggesting for strike rotation. Its harder to rotate strike at the top.

Openers have a higher dot ball percentage.

 

[Mamoon]

He is just not good enough. I expect him to fade away once the likes of Babar Azam and Sami Aslam mature, unless he can magically transform his game.

 

[Pete Rose]

Its not about boundaries. The OP is suggesting for strike rotation. Its harder to rotate strike at the top.

Openers have a higher dot ball percentage.

Worst of the openers on strike rotation in this tournament

 

[hussain.r97]

Its not about boundaries. The OP is suggesting for strike rotation. Its harder to rotate strike at the top.

Openers have a higher dot ball percentage.

Strike rotation still pretty bad even by opening standards. And even when Shehzad is in during the middle overs, his strike rotation is quite poor...

 

[Bullet Drive]

Strike rotation still pretty bad even by opening standards. And even when Shehzad is in during the middle overs, his strike rotation is quite poor...

I agree completely.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Really wish he can sort this part of his game out.

Still, even with these weaknesses he is a very good batsman.

 

[hussain.r97]

Really wish he can sort this part of his game out.

Still, even with these weaknesses he is a very good batsman.

He could be a much better batsmen if he could overcome this problem! His strike rate is around 70 because of this. If he could rotate the strike better, his strike rate would definitely be above 85...

 

[Justcrazy]

The coach and captain needs to have a chat with him and tell him that his attitude is poor and needs to think of his game plan. Players who do not improve should not be in the game.

 

[Mamoon]

He is as much of an opener as Hafeez is, incapable of handling movement and bounce with the new ball. A solitary hundred in SA without Morkel and just 7 deliveries of Steyn doesn't prove much.

Could have a future in the middle order, but then again, he's rubbish against spin. In short, he is the Junaid of batting - playing and enjoying the investment only because there aren't better alternatives making them andho mein kana raja and not the fantastic prospects their respective fan clubs like to think.

It will only take the emergence/reemergence of a genuine talent and player with great ability to show them the door and Amir/Babar Azam could very well be the two.

 

[Saj]

It makes me wonder why the coaches aren't picking up on these sort of stats and doing something about it with him.

 

[FreeBird]

^^
Picking up the stats is a far fetched thing.
Talk about the way he itches to get out after a few dot balls.
Even a blind can see how classless of a batting approach is this.

Typical galli Mohalla type mental intellect.
Unable to understand the concept reading the bowlers mind and play mind games with him.

 

[Rayyman]

Stop It! Why do our standards have to be so high? He is a great young talent and every talent has its flaw.

 

[sunnykhan]

quickly becoming one of the most selfish players in the pakistan team

just concerned about getting his 50 and keeping his place for the next game... not focused on winning games and performing as per the team's requirements

Since his comeback he has been selfish barring a couple of innings. A century against SA and 80+ against are the only innings where he had played with a good SR. You will find many threads on him due to slow batting.

 

[MMHS]

This is his big "scope of improvement" area. With hardly any rotating skills, particularly in first 50 balls, he is still averaging in mid 30s with an SR of 70+. If he improves his rotating skill, he can take these figures to 40+ & 80+ respectively. Already has a big scoring apatite, not the worst temperament & a decent technique - I think he can move to great player category from a good potential ranks, if he can improve on 3 aspects of his game - 1. Rotating strike 2. Footwork against moving ball & 3. Overall spin playing capacity. More or less, his role is defined in the team - he is the anchor man, who 'll do good with current capability, but improvement in those 3 aspects 'll take him to match winners' class. Not an easy job, but not impossible, he has the age by his side.

 

[junaid.ahmed]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/589307.html

This is the best example how he lost matches single handedly, he cant rotate the strike, cant find the gaps, cant hit the big. He is just termite for the team.
In that particular match he consumed almost 25% of the inning while scored only 16% of the requirement & in this way he used to put the entire batting order under pressure. He is a selfish rude player.

 

[AZ]

Ahmed Shehzad in won matches batting 2nd - 12 matches/innings, 509 runs @ 42.41, 2 50s & 1 100.

but of course the strike-rate mafia is unhappy since he actually takes his time and anchors the innings instead of going full pelt from ball one and throw his wicket away.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

He's only 22 and it's understandable that he hasn't mastered every aspect of his batting yet. Give him time and he'll improve on the singles and doubles too. Needs to sometimes play with softer hands imo then even with the field restrictions he'll be able to take more singles.

 

[Aman]

He's only 22 and it's understandable that he hasn't mastered every aspect of his batting yet. Give him time and he'll improve on the singles and doubles too. Needs to sometimes play with softer hands imo then even with the field restrictions he'll be able to take more singles.

Struggles to rotate strike, can't play swing or spin. Why is even playing at the International level? That's 3 massive flaws he has yet he's still found a way to make it into an international side. The only reason he's been successful so far is because he's played selfish innings to boost his average and keep his spot at the teams expensive. If he doesn't kick on after 50 his innings are effectively momentum killers up front.

 

[saeedhk]

A vastly overrated batsman.He cannot play spin,seam and cannot rotate the strike. These three are glaring and huge deficiencies.

Everyone can score a 50 in 90 balls,these kind of innings end up harming the team.

 

[Amjid Javed]

A vastly overrated batsman.He cannot play spin,seam and cannot rotate the strike. These three are glaring and huge deficiencies.

Everyone can score a 50 in 90 balls,these kind of innings end up harming the team.

pretty honest summary which tells us all we need to know about the player!

 

[Aman]

A vastly overrated batsman.He cannot play spin,seam and cannot rotate the strike. These three are glaring and huge deficiencies.

Everyone can score a 50 in 90 balls,these kind of innings end up harming the team.

The thing is, no matter how flat the wicket is, he always plays like that. And you're right, most average batsmen can play like that and get 50s. The good ones can play within themselves and get 50 off 65 or so balls before launching in to the attack.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Some of the batsmen cant rotate strike and some are silly

 

[Aman]

Some of the batsmen cant rotate strike and some are silly

If Umar had Shehzads temperament, he'd be world class.

 

[JibranAnsari]

If Umar had Shehzads temperament, he'd be world class.

Yah, unfortunately for us both are performing way below their potential.

 

[Arsal_AK]

If Umar had Shehzads temperament, he'd be world class.

But he doesn't have it and by the looks of it never will.

 

[Aman]

Yah, unfortunately for us both are performing way below their potential.

Nah Shehzad is performing right to the peak of his abilities.

 

[saeedhk]

The thing is, no matter how flat the wicket is, he always plays like that. And you're right, most average batsmen can play like that and get 50s. The good ones can play within themselves and get 50 off 65 or so balls before launching in to the attack.

Exactly.I would forgive him if he compensated for the dot balls after settling down,however,he cannot even do that.Terrible.

This is not how modern cricket is played.You have to be aggressive (not Afridi-like) and keep the scoreboard ticking.

 

[GreenKnightRises]

Nah Shehzad is performing right to the peak of his abilities.

Then You've never seen Shehzad playing to his potential

 

[GreenKnightRises]

If Umar had Shehzads temperament, he'd be world class.

its like saying If Shehzad had the strike rotating ability, he'd be world Class . You can improve on Strike Rotation, but from the looks its quite hard for Umar to improve on his temperament

 

[menace2society]

I will have Shehzad over tulla baaz Sharjeel, Imran Nazir, Awais Zia any day.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Numbers would show otherwise.

That's the whole point of selfish batting; that 'numbers' (average) will justify your play even if it hurts the team. All that indicates is that the numbers being used are wrong.

 

[Aman]

its like saying If Shehzad had the strike rotating ability, he'd be world Class . You can improve on Strike Rotation, but from the looks its quite hard for Umar to improve on his temperament

No.

Shehzad has so many flaws, he doesn't possess Umars talent either.

Shehzads's unrealized potential is about as real as the WWE.

 

[W63L35]

Some of the batsmen cant rotate strike and some are silly

Yah, unfortunately for us both are performing way below their potential.

I don't know what are you complaining and whining about..... in ODIs this is what both have done in their last 15 innings....

...and then Shehzad's ODI record in last innings broken down by opposition;


.

 

[Saj]

Well... if they picked "these sort of stats"... then lower than low S/R of certain player (or players) would also come under microscope.
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...2;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

....and if they started doing something about S/R (just a little more than him) then .... guess what is going to happen?

Shehzad is an example of a lot of our players who seem to have forgotten the art of rotating the strike. Akhtar in his interview with me went into some detail about it also.

34 dot balls out of 60 balls faced is appalling.

 

[Saj]

I will have Shehzad over tulla baaz Sharjeel, Imran Nazir, Awais Zia any day.

Thats hardly an endorsement for Shehzad's talent.

 

[srh]

Shehzad is an example of a lot of our players who seem to have forgotten the art of rotating the strike. Akhtar in his interview with me went into some detail about it also.

34 dot balls out of 60 balls faced is appalling.

Saj what do you think is it more because of his selfish play or his inability?

 

[Fastandfurious]

Shehzad is an example of a lot of our players who seem to have forgotten the art of rotating the strike. Akhtar in his interview with me went into some detail about it also.

34 dot balls out of 60 balls faced is appalling.

What do you think is the reason? Are the domestic coaches too old school?

Imho, Pakistan domestic cricket has lagged behind the standards of international cricket far too much.

 

[Savak]

What do you think is the reason? Are the domestic coaches too old school?

Imho, Pakistan domestic cricket has lagged behind the standards of international cricket far too much.

This is the real problem. We have so many pathetic coaches in domestic cricket who consistently get away with the fact that the players are themselves held accountable for poor performances, no body bothers to ask whether these coaches are good enough in the first place and after listening to interviews by domestic cricketers on tv, i am sorry to say but they are just pathetic readers and analyzers of the game who cannot even comment and propose proper solutions to cricketing weaknesses.

 

[Savak]

I don't know what are you complaining and whining about..... in ODIs this is what both have done in their last 15 innings....

...and then Shehzad's ODI record in last innings broken down by opposition;


.

The hypocricy on this thread. Whinning and complaining about Shehzad and Umar Akmal but unlimited excuses for Misbah.

 

[W63L35]

Shehzad is an example of a lot of our players who seem to have forgotten the art of rotating the strike.

Two overs:
6, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1

What is the difference? Net result to team score cards in identical.

Please see post # 73, in last 15 ODIs (recent form)..... a S/R of 81+ and Ave of 48+..... what's wrong with that...?
Some of our sr batsmen won't get a 81+ even if their life depended on it.

Akhtar in his interview with me went into some detail about it also.

Please see post # 73. Did Shaoib go into this much detail? Please share with us ... as to what he said.

Next you see him, please ask him the difference between these two overs
Two overs:
6, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1


Yes, I agree..... with you 100% .... that Strike Rotation is a great ability to have in ODIs... because it puts pressure on the fielding side.
But so does the S/R of 80+......no matter how and where the S/R is coming from.... 4s, 6s or singles.

Take Fawad Alam's example..... since his come back.... he have horrble S/R until he gets to 50 or so runs.... but then he accelerates and ends up his innings with a S/R of 100+. It is the END RESULT that matters...which our batsmen like Misbah have totally failed to produce in their batting. Should we drop Fawad for his inabilty to score faster in his first part of innings?

34 dot balls out of 60 balls faced is appalling.

We are judging him based on one innings.... in a tournament which had absolutely no significance to us when our teams were not part of it.

How many of his innings in last @1 year or so (last 15 matches) where he had S/R ....and Strike rotation issue?

 

[Savak]

Two overs:
6, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1

To be fair i would say the later is better than the first. Nothing frustrates a bowler more when a batsman takes a single, it means the bowler has to constantly adjust bowling to another batsman and cannot consistently keep working on a particular batsman. Secondly when a bowler is bowling well and a batsman is struggling for effectiveness, taking a single relieves the pressure and allows him some breathing space at the non strikers end. Now this is not to say any dot ball is criminal, sometimes some dot balls are unavoidable as the bowler will bowl a very good delivery which the batsman has no choice but to defend and the opposition will have close in fielders to stop the singles but when a batsman has faced 10-12 deliveries at the wicket, it is sufficient time for him to ***** the wicket, what the bowling and fielding side is doing and for him to come up with a strategy and game plan as to what needs to be done.

6,0,0,0,0,0 or 4,1,0,0,0,0 or 6,1,0,0,0,0 is completely the wrong way to play cricket in any format of the game especially the limited overs and T-20 version.

1,4,0,1,1,4 or 1,1,2,0,1,4 or 0, 6, 1, 4,1,0 or even 1,1,1,0,1,1,1 look much better in that there is strike rotation, minimal dot balls, initiative to score runs and put the bowler and bowling side under pressure and giving them something to think about. When you take initiative and put the bowling side, the bowler under pressure it puts the bowler and the bowling captain under more pressure thus inducing mistakes from them.

What Inzamam ul Haq and Mohd Yousaf have to say on how to bat in the Modern ODI and T-20 format and the problem with Misbah ul Haq's batting style.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...20-batting-tips-for-all-youngsters&highlight=

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...ammad-Yousuf-s-clarification-on-Misbah-ul-Haq

 

[W63L35]

To be fair i would say the later is better than the first. Nothing frustrates a bowler more when a batsman takes a single, it means the bowler has to constantly adjust bowling to another batsman and cannot consistently keep working on a particular batsman. Secondly when a bowler is bowling well and a batsman is struggling for effectiveness, taking a single relieves the pressure and allows him some breathing space at the non strikers end. Now this is not to say any dot ball is criminal, sometimes some dot balls are unavoidable as the bowler will bowl a very good delivery which the batsman has no choice but to defend and the opposition will have close in fielders to stop the singles but when a batsman has faced 10-12 deliveries at the wicket, it is sufficient time for him to ***** the wicket, what the bowling and fielding side is doing and for him to come up with a strategy and game plan as to what needs to be done.

6,0,0,0,0,0 or 4,1,0,0,0,0 or 6,1,0,0,0,0 is completely the wrong way to play cricket in any format of the game especially the limited overs and T-20 version.

1,4,0,1,1,4 or 1,1,2,0,1,4 or 0, 6, 1, 4,1,0 or even 1,1,1,0,1,1,1 look much better in that there is strike rotation, minimal dot balls, initiative to score runs and put the bowler and bowling side under pressure and giving them something to think about. When you take initiative and put the bowling side, the bowler under pressure it puts the bowler and the bowling captain under more pressure thus inducing mistakes from them.

What Inzamam ul Haq and Mohd Yousaf have to say on how to bat in the Modern ODI and T-20 format and the problem with Misbah ul Haq's batting style.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...20-batting-tips-for-all-youngsters&highlight=

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...ammad-Yousuf-s-clarification-on-Misbah-ul-Haq

I also think that 111111 is slightly better than 600000 for the reasons you stated but.... I am also a big fan of end result.

Remember there were many PPers who hated Fawad Alam for his batting sytle. Well, he has silenced his critics very well... why? Because the end result is runs and Fawad doing a great job.

Similarly you can not ignore what he is producing ... I mean, S/R of 81 and Ave of 48 in last 15 ODIs will never be questionable in any way, shape or form. Yes... he does need to improve upon S/R a little up to 85 and above to be with the best in the world but I seems odd to bash a player who has 5 100s in last 11 months... 3 ODI and 1 each in tests and T20!!! Only Sangakara (7) and Amla (6) has scored more international 100s than Shehzad in the same time frame.

Not to mention, he is the highest scorer for Pak.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...al1=span;team=7;template=results;type=batting

Now compare that you our best ODI batsman who can not score an ODI 100 if his life depended on it.

 

[Savak]

I also think that 111111 is slightly better than 600000 for the reasons you stated but.... I am also a big fan of end result.

Remember there were many PPers who hated Fawad Alam for his batting sytle. Well, he has silenced his critics very well... why? Because the end result is runs and Fawad doing a great job.

Similarly you can not ignore the what he is producing ... I mean, S/R of 81 and Ave of 48 in last 15 ODIs will never be questionable in any way, shape or form. Yes... he does need to improve upon S/R a little up to 85 and above to be with the best in the world but I seems odd to bash a player who has 5 100s in last 11 months... 3 ODI and 1 each in tests and T20!!! Only Sangakara (7) and Amla (6) has scored more international 100s than Shehzad in the same time frame.

Not to mention, he is the highest scorer for Pak.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...al1=span;team=7;template=results;type=batting

Now compare that you our best ODI batsman who can not score an ODI 100 if his life depended on it.

I never had an issue with Fawad Alam's batting at all. His batting style is perfect for ODI's and even T-20 cricket. He rotates the strike, if the bowler is bowling a good tight spell he does the best thing by taking a single. Plus his lack of power shots is a misconception, he can hit the big shots. If you watch most of his innings, you will see he can hit fast bowlers for sixes, He has hit sixes of the likes of perera, fernando, butler but he can only do so when he gets his eye in and has spent time at the wicket. The fact he manages to enjoy a strike rate of 80 plus when most of innings is built on singles is just brilliant. In order for Pakistan to get the best out of him, he has to come in at No 4. We need a strike rotater and consolidator even in T-20 cricket and he would have been a much better selection compared to Malik in the T-20 WC.

I only feel dissapointed by the fact he has not been able to develop his bowling as much. Had he does so and still if he does so, it will make him an undisputed option in the team. I was dissapointed with his failure to finish the game off for Pakistan in the 3rd ODI vs SA in UAE in 2010 when he exposed the tail enders to the SA pacers, it was his responsibility to see the team home but because of that failure we ended up losing the series 3-2 when it could so easily have been 3-2 in our favor. Never the less i hope he continues to learn and improve which is the less said about our captain.

As for Shehzad, i agree that his dot ball percentage is extremely high especially early in his innings. He is only aiming for the big scoring shots and he is capable of hitting the big shots. But he has to understand the fundamental concept that if the bowler bowls a good delivery then look to play the ball softly and take the quick singles to relieve the pressure. This is one aspect of the game he must improve in order to not become a Misbah ul Haq. Secondly his game against spin is worry some, he plays continuosly off the back foot and doesnt use his feet which will be a big problem on turning pitches and against quality spinners. This is something the likes of Inzamam, Zaheer Abbass and Miandad should try to help him with. But i like the fact that the kid once he gets his eye in he really makes it count. Pakistan have a bright prospect on their hands provided he continues to work hard on his short comings, technical weaknesses of not moving his feet early on, playing away from the body and leaving a huge gap between bat and pad.

 

[sunnykhan]

Ahmed Shehzad in won matches batting 2nd - 12 matches/innings, 509 runs @ 42.41, 2 50s & 1 100.

but of course the strike-rate mafia is unhappy since he actually takes his time and anchors the innings instead of going full pelt from ball one and throw his wicket away.

So rotation of strike means pelting from ball one?

Does that stat includes century against Bangladesh which we won due to Fawad and Afridi? Another case of misleading stats.

Ahmed's fan are so insecure and I can't believe it that they turn blind to his glaring weakness.

 

[Aman]

Ahmed Shehzad in won matches batting 2nd - 12 matches/innings, 509 runs @ 42.41, 2 50s & 1 100.

but of course the strike-rate mafia is unhappy since he actually takes his time and anchors the innings instead of going full pelt from ball one and throw his wicket away.

Er, that's not a remarkable stat, you'd expect a much higher average in won games. Umar averages 68.85 at a SR of 98 while Misbah averages 72.61 at a SR of 73, and the player Shehzad thinks he is comparable to (RTed a comparison of the twos compares after a number of matches :faceapalm: ) Kohli averages 84.64 at a SR of 96.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...efault;result=1;template=results;type=batting

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...efault;result=1;template=results;type=batting

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...efault;result=1;template=results;type=batting