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Asif Ali : Why are his domestic numbers so poor?

Hamza_

T20I Debutant
Joined
Dec 4, 2011
Runs
8,341
Asif Ali has got some power in his shots. Can surely hit it long.

Very strong wrists, good hand eye co-ordination. Muscle/Pull/Jab shots are good as well as cut and placing the ball on the off-side.

But those numbers are that of a tail-ender, Surely not of a batsman of his ability and shot array? So why exactly are those numbers poor? Is it due to shot selection and inability to kick on from 20s/30s? Alien domestic batting conditions? Or what?
 
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[MENTION=97]pakistani pride[/MENTION] Originally he came in as opener.
 
I think he was talented from start but he tends to throw away his wicket but after those three sixes to hasan ali his confidence is sky high and also dean jones proper coaching in psl have improve his game massively
 
He’s scoring clutch runs at a high strike rate. Get him in the Pakistan team.
 
He has improved a lot in terms of batting.

He has that clutch gene and scores runs in difficult situations.
 
this man is made for tough situations unlike selfie and those who call themselves superstars
 
I think, batting has three aspects.

First one is natural - sweet hitting ability, timing, hand-eye, reflex, power; most of these qualities few people are born with, just like some people can run faster, some can jump higher and some has more muscle power than other. Second aspect is that it's highly technical, and extremely perfectionist jobs, it needs lots of skills, technique & applications - this one is coaching dependent, need lots of proper coaching and practice to master the technique in both side of the game, that's attacking and defending - there is no point hitting a exquisite squire drive and then push the next ball to points throat. Third and last one is tactics - situational analysis, shot selection, bowler selection, adjusting to wickets, temperament ..... - this one is learned from diversified match condition, after spending hours in the middle and learning on job.
Every ball starts from scratch in cricket, therefore you need same focus and concentration after 2 minutes or 2 days of batting - next ball can be the last one.

Coming to Asif, I think he is naturally gifted with sweet hitting ability, guy can hit exceptionally big compared to his size. But, his game wasn't perfected by the coaching system, neither mental aspects were nurtured by proper systematic cricket - hence his stats are extremely poor. BUT, I am sure even in his average of 18/19, he had some stunning shots and looked much better player than his stats (otherwise he won't have been picked for PSL with such stats).

Now, what I understand is Asif was always an eye catching player with lots of flair, and for that in PAK domestics he obviously was used to bat at 6/7 - winning it larke lenge style, hence that tailenderesque stats. They say - batsman for batting spot - those top 7 batting spots in cricket has unique identity and character - a batsman has to fit into that with his skills. In last couple of years, for the first time, Asif has got a literate batting coach to work on his game, at least for 8 weeks, so there has to be lots of positive shift (otherwise Dean Jones & Basit Alis becomes same - no point paying big dollars for skin color).

The last hurdle is a bit too higher though - yesterday I watched part of KKR's game, and in a T20 for an U19 kid, the composure, calmness Shubham Gill showed at that level - that completeness doesn't happen from playing Quaid e Azam style on those wickets, you know - and it's not genetics, that part is system generated.

For PAK cricket, it'll be a shame if MoHa and Malik are carried to WC (before that, cashing on ZIM/IRL/WIN/BD) while Asif & Maqsood left to learn their trait from Basit Alis in domestics.
 
For PAK cricket, it'll be a shame if MoHa and Malik are carried to WC (before that, cashing on ZIM/IRL/WIN/BD) while Asif & Maqsood left to learn their trait from Basit Alis in domestics.

So you’ve changed your mind on Asif...He should be in the ODI team?
 
So you’ve changed your mind on Asif...He should be in the ODI team?

In the squad, for sure. He indeed has changed his stats in List A cricket, therefore it's not a surprise to consider him for ODI as well. Guy is not 38 either.

Problem for PAK ODI team is No. 4 to 7, because there is absolutely no batsman who can come can instantly start rolling - in T20 it'snot exposed because of 2 reasons, T20 is a bowling game and it's too short for No. 4 to 7 come into equation, it's a head heavy game and 1-3 are the batting factors.

FZ, Babar, Haris, Sarfraz, Maqsood, Talat/Asif, Asif/Talat - makes a decent top 7 for ODI. Take Babar at 3 for Azhar or Ahmed opening (Drop Hari), and MoHa, Malik at 4, 5 (for Maqsood, Talat/Asif) and drop Sarfraz at 6 - now think about the difference.
 
Domestic stats don't mean much.

It's the ability of the players, the kind of shots they can play and their stroke play that matters. Esepciallay for those who have not played more than 50 international matches.

There's a reason why Fawad Alam isn't rated by anyone (or Mickey/Inzi) but Asif Ali is.
 
Think it could be to do with his batting position. Batting at 6 or 7 he doesn't get enough chances and enough time. Also don't think the pitches are helpful to play strokes.
 
Asif Ali in Pakistan Cup: 4 innings, 328 runs, avg 109, sr 128, 2 hundreds, 1 fifty

Asif Ali in List A before Pakistan Cup: 35 innings, 587 runs, avg 18, sr 89, 1 hundred, 1 fifty
 
PP post: Asif Ali is a hack club cricketer
Reality: Bradman Ali is the finest batsman to take foot upon the cricket pitch
 
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