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Australia v Pakistan | 4th ODI | Sydney | Jan 22, 2017 | Pre-Match Thread

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Abdullah719

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Looks like Azhar is likely to return, which would mean he slots into the playing XI with Asad dropping out. However, that will have us return to the saga of Hafeez's batting position as Azhar will probably (and should) open if he plays. So will Babar be demoted to #4 to accommodate Hafeez brilliance against the new ball? Changes in the bowling lineup?

Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali (c), Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Rahat Ali, Sharjeel Khan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz.
 
1. Umar Akmal
2. Sharjeel
3. Azhar
4. Babar
5. Malik
6. Hafeez
7. Rizwan
8. Imad
9. Amir
10. Junaid
11. Hasan
 
What we all want is for Azhar Ali not to play. But let's be honest that won't happen. I think Hafeez, because of his bowling will stay in the side too but if I had my way I would fly Fawad straight from Pak an for bring him straight in. Again, let's be honest that ain't happening either. Akmal is wasted down at 6, but the only way he gets promoted is if Azhar gets dropped. What if they give Akmal the gloves (who I know is very up and down) at 6 and bring in Wahab for Rizwan as the only change?
 
I think this is Pakistan best chance to Beat Australia and level the series. Sydney is a great pitch for spinners and it will definitely assist spinners alot because there will be some spin on offer. I think Pakistan need to believe in themselves that they can win here tonight.

If we bat score around 280-290 we have a decent chance. I also think Azhar inclusion can be a good thing as we are struggling to find stability in an opening stand, he can bat 50 overs azhar which will give a chance to others to bat positively.

Pakistan hopes pins on Babar, Malik, Umar, Amir. These 4 need to fire again to have any impact in the match. I am expecting a Umar Akmal 100 tonight don't know why i have this feelings.🇵🇰
 
Sydney pitch is a slow turner so I'm sure the spinners will come into play nicely.

My Ideal XI would be:
Azhar
Sharjeel
Hafeez
Babar
Malik
Umar
Rizwan
Nawaz/Imad (I'd go with Nawaz because he spins the ball much more but he could be expensive)
Amir
Hasan
Junaid
 
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With Azhar fit,I think only change would be Asad out and Azhar in.
Azhar
Sharjeel
M Hafeez
Babar
S Malik
U Akmal
M Rizwan
I Wasim
M Amir
H Ali
J Khan
 
Sydney pitch is a slow turner so I'm sure the spinners will come into play nicely.

My Ideal XI would be:
Azhar
Sharjeel
Hafeez
Babar
Malik
Umar
Rizwan
Nawaz/Imad (I'd go with Nawaz because he spins the ball much more but he could be expensive)
Amir
Hasan
Junaid

Can they not asked Rizwan to open the inning. This will give an extra space down the order.

Sharjeel
Rizzi Can be a better choice than azhar or hafeez to play strokes with field is up he can find gaps.
Azhar
Babar
Hafeez
Akmal
Malik
Imad
Amir
Hassan
Junaid
 
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I would want Akmal to open. Hafeez's limitations as batsmen in this series are not a surprise. If he had been dismissed first ball at the MCG plenty of captaincy threads would have died.
 
I would want Akmal to open. Hafeez's limitations as batsmen in this series are not a surprise. If he had been dismissed first ball at the MCG plenty of captaincy threads would have died.

Brother, Azhar Ali will open the innings with Sharjeel which is the right option I think. Babar Azam is likely to play at #3 after his last innings and Hafeez at #4 (Which I think is a better position for him than Number #3 or Opening but Ideally he should be batting at #6 because he is an all-rounder and can hit big against medium pace and fast bowling (Coming handy between 30-42 overs atleast).
 
However Hafeez and Malik are very much the same players. Ideally one should be in the team and Malik deserves it more than Hafeez.
 
Brother, Azhar Ali will open the innings with Sharjeel which is the right option I think. Babar Azam is likely to play at #3 after his last innings and Hafeez at #4 (Which I think is a better position for him than Number #3 or Opening but Ideally he should be batting at #6 because he is an all-rounder and can hit big against medium pace and fast bowling (Coming handy between 30-42 overs atleast).

Yes I agree that's what will happen. Just expressing hope for something different.
 
Yes I agree that's what will happen. Just expressing hope for something different.

Hafeez will bat at 3, just watch. If Babar can be displaced after 3 consecutive hundreds, then what difference does an innings of 84 make?
 
Hafeez will bat at 3, just watch. If Babar can be displaced after 3 consecutive hundreds, then what difference does an innings of 84 make?

In between there was a poor test series and we have a habit of mixing up formats.
 
Although I think it's very unlikely to happen I would move Hafeez down the order he can provide us with the hitting we need.

1. Azhar Ali
2. Sharjeel Khan
3. Babar Azam
4. Malik
5. Akmal
6. Hafeez
7. Imad Wasim
8. Rizwan
9. Amir
10. Hassan Ali
11. Junaid Khan
 
Last match was pretty much the perfect start and we still finish at 260
 
Excuse ready from Babar Azam fans already, now that he will most likely be demoted to no.4, it would 'affect' his rhythm in batting
 
if they lose a wicket early, prefer to expose Hafeez then Babar, otherwise Babar at #3
 
Bottom line is we are 250 team if we bat first we score around 250 and any target more than 250 we cannot chase. We keep talking about power hitters but what about simple strike rotation maintaining strike rate of around 80 that's what Root etc. do
 
Excuse ready from Babar Azam fans already, now that he will most likely be demoted to no.4, it would 'affect' his rhythm in batting

Strange that you don't criticise what's worth criticising, i.e. Hafeez's insistence to bat in the top three, no matter what.

This Babar/Amir talk even when they perform is getting a bit repetitive.
 
Hafeez will bat at 3, just watch. If Babar can be displaced after 3 consecutive hundreds, then what difference does an innings of 84 make?


Babar batting at four or three makes no difference really. Babar's more a middle order batsman anyway, that's why he came into the team as one. He's only done better at three because at three he faced weaker opposition in West Indies.

Hafeez shouldn't be batting at three because it's clear he isn't handling the new ball well, and the pace upfront. Even that half century, was scratchy, he got lucky. If we're looking to move forward as a team, we need to look to the future, our better batsmen should be batting up the order.
 
Australia will win the toss and bat. When chasing we'll fall well short as always. Then here fans will go on about the like of Babar Azam needing more time or Afridi be recalled!
 
Hafeez should be played as a bowling all rounder , not as a batting one , that means he bats down at number 7 - 8.

Umar Akmal has to open , Azhar should be dropped.
 
Strange that you don't criticise what's worth criticising, i.e. Hafeez's insistence to bat in the top three, no matter what.

This Babar/Amir talk even when they perform is getting a bit repetitive.

I don't think it's Hafeez's insistence to bat in the top three. It's managements choice. Hafeez is an opener by trade, it's strange to put him down the order when he has no experience there. It could work, but it's an unusual move that management has not tried. I can't imagine management telling him to move down and him saying no otherwise he won't play. He doesn't have that power. He's only in the squad anyway on Azhar/Mickey's suggestion anyway, shows his power in the squad/team.

There has never been a case where we've had so many top 4 performing bats that Hafeez had to play down the order. We've usually only had one maybe two performing top 4 batsmen at a time.
 
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Another thrashing coming our way , we make it more boring by playing guys like azhar and shafiq.
 
Azhar coming back to the side does not strengthen it in any shape or form
 
I don't think it's Hafeez's insistence to bat in the top three. It's managements choice. Hafeez is an opener by trade, it's strange to put him down the order when he has no experience there. It could work, but it's an unusual move that management has not tried. I can't imagine management telling him to move down and him saying no otherwise he won't play. He doesn't have that power. He's only in the squad anyway on Azhar/Mickey's suggestion anyway, shows his power in the squad/team.

There has never been a case where we've had so many top 4 performing bats that Hafeez had to play down the order. We've usually only had one maybe two performing top 4 batsmen at a time.

Makes absolutely no sense that the management would rate him as a top 3 batsman when he is abysmal against lateral movement while he is usually good at dealing with spinners.
 
You are admitting defeat before the match . show sportsmanship please. You can't win if you are thinking of defeat before the match . play to win . don't be worry about defeat.
 
My team will be

1. S Khan
2. Azhar Ali
3. Babar Azam
4. M Hafeez
5. Malik
6. U akmal (wk)
7. Imad
8. Nawaz
9. Amir
10. H ali
11. Junaid khan
 
Makes absolutely no sense that the management would rate him as a top 3 batsman when he is abysmal against lateral movement while he is usually good at dealing with spinners.

His average since 2009 is 37.5. His average after 55 games is 40 at a SR 82. It's pretty obvious why they'll keep him at three. There's no one else that has been in our team who has that sort of performance over the last five or so years. Shehzad, Jamshed, Maqsood, Umar Akmal all did worse, the guys that should have been the mainstay of our order now. And Haris unfortunately was injured. We now have one batsman in Babar, but that's it, and he was introduced as a middle order batsman. He only moved up to three as management saw how they had no one in the top 3 to speak of.

Once we can establish a better top 3 without Hafeez in, then they will move him down. This hasn't happened yet. Sharjeel hasn't been consistent enough the man doesn't average even 29, and only big score was against Ireland.

I don't want him in the top three, but look at the names being put instead of him. Umar to open, a guy who has been abysmal for many years now (far worse than Hafeez). Sharjeel who I agree should open, but would hardly describe as "performing" yet, he's going on potential atm, hoping he'll improve. And Babar could be batting at four anyway, makes no difference (whom management see more as a middle order batsman anyway).

As mediocre as Hafeez has been in the top 3, he's been better than the rest. Hence it makes sense he is being played there.
 
Our ODI batsmen:
Babar

Malik


Sharjeel


Azhar

Hafeez




Akmal

Rizwan

Shafiq

Akmal and Rizwan haven't opened the innings or have been around the top 4. Rating our 2 Captains over Them is saying that those two ODI captains will finish the innings with a Century Stand in last overs of a match anywher,anytime.
 
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Our ODI batsmen:
Babar

Malik


Sharjeel


Azhar

Hafeez




Akmal

Rizwan

Shafiq

Only really rate two ODI batsmen atm, Babar and Sarfraz. They're ahead of the pack by far. Sarfraz I'm even surprised but guy has been performing. Malik's done a good job down the order, but he hasn't had the opportunity necessarily to prove whether he can make big scores yet (not necessarily his fault though, he's been doing well at the finisher/late order role). Difficult to gauge what kind of form he's in batting down the order or whether he'll excel against the pacers, but maybe considering we don't have many options and Malik looks in form, we should give him no.4 and see how he does.

All the rest are distinctly below average and lucky to be in the team. Sharjeel has done hardly anything except that hundred against Ireland. Hafeez is out of form. Azhar's too slow and isn't in great form atm. And the other three are hopeless beyond words atm.
 
My lineup:
Sharjeel
Azhar*
Hafeez
Azam
Malik
Rizwan+
Wasim
Amir
Hasan
Rahat/Riaz
Junaid

Kick out the unfit Akmal. Unfortunately, "Professor" will demand to bat at 3. Moving Azam and Malik down from their preferred spots. Rizwan better not go "tuk tuk" like he did in the last game. I put in an extra bowler because Malik got smashed in the last game and Warner is due in the next game.
 
Akmal and Rizwan haven't opened the innings or have been around the top 4. Rating our 2 Captains over Them is saying that those two ODI captains will finish the innings with a Century Stand in last overs of a match anywher,anytime.

i do agree that Rizwan has hardly got much chance. I know people are pretty anti against him, but he's been in and out, batting at the end, sometimes even at 8. Not much we can do about that as while Sarfraz is performing it's going to be like that for him.

Umar hasn't had much chance to prove himself as he's just comeback. But post 2011, he's been far worse than pre 2011, and he had plenty of games/run in the side to prove himself. But watching him bat, he doesn't look like he's improved since last time he was dropped and his fitness isn't acceptable.
 
His average since 2009 is 37.5. His average after 55 games is 40 at a SR 82. It's pretty obvious why they'll keep him at three. There's no one else that has been in our team who has that sort of performance over the last five or so years. Shehzad, Jamshed, Maqsood, Umar Akmal all did worse, the guys that should have been the mainstay of our order now. And Haris unfortunately was injured. We now have one batsman in Babar, but that's it, and he was introduced as a middle order batsman. He only moved up to three as management saw how they had no one in the top 3 to speak of.

Once we can establish a better top 3 without Hafeez in, then they will move him down. This hasn't happened yet. Sharjeel hasn't been consistent enough the man doesn't average even 29, and only big score was against Ireland.

I don't want him in the top three, but look at the names being put instead of him. Umar to open, a guy who has been abysmal for many years now (far worse than Hafeez). Sharjeel who I agree should open, but would hardly describe as "performing" yet, he's going on potential atm, hoping he'll improve. And Babar could be batting at four anyway, makes no difference (whom management see more as a middle order batsman anyway).

As mediocre as Hafeez has been in the top 3, he's been better than the rest. Hence it makes sense he is being played there.

I think we need to move on from Hafeez but he can serve a purpose in the team due to his bowling which helps to balance the side. However, I am not in favour of playing both Hafeez and Malik in the same line-up, nor should Hafeez bat in the top 3.

The top three has been quite settled for the past few months until Hafeez's return. Azhar is holding down a spot since he is the captain though he doesn't necessarily warrant it. Sharjeel is there to provide momentum up front and Babar has done well at #3.

Even if Hafeez didn't ask to bat in the top 3, I highly doubt Arthur of all people would want that. It's probably just the senior culture shining through where seniors are automatically slotted in at their favoured position, no matter what someone else may have achieved in the same spot.

The reasoning behind calls for Umar Akmal to bat in the top 3 are based upon his struggles down the order more than anything else.

Having Hafeez in your top 3 when the next two major ODI tournaments are in England is a disaster.

Keeping Babar at #3 is an essential thing to do in the long-run. He is the batsman with the most potential in the team and is dynamic. Every team plays their best batsman at #3. Kohli, Smith, Root and Williamson all bat there and our target must be to aim to mould Babar in a similar manner. He has played 6 innings at #3 with three hundreds and an 84. Essential that he stays there.

All said and done, I am fully expecting Azhar, Sharjeel, Hafeez tomorrow up front.
 
1. Sharjeel
2. Azhar Ali
3. Babar Azam
4. Malik
5. U Akmal
6. Hafeez
7. Rizwan
8. Imad
9. Amir
10. Hassan Ali
11 Junaid Khan


Hafeez needs to bat down the order, might also partly fix the lack of a power hitter down the order issue.
 
Bottom line is we are 250 team if we bat first we score around 250 and any target more than 250 we cannot chase. We keep talking about power hitters but what about simple strike rotation maintaining strike rate of around 80 that's what Root etc. do

last game was pretty much that... 200/4 in 38 overs.. perfect to make another 100 runs, but they made 63 runs in 72 balls
 
1. Sharjeel
2. Azhar Ali
3. Babar Azam
4. Malik
5. U Akmal
6. Hafeez
7. Rizwan
8. Imad
9. Amir
10. Hassan Ali
11 Junaid Khan


Hafeez needs to bat down the order, might also partly fix the lack of a power hitter down the order issue.

hafeez says my foot, not sure why he is that adamant to bat in the top 3
 
Azhar
Sharjeel
Babar
Rizwan (He is not a good hitter,however, I see him as a good runner, perfect to bat b/w malik and Babar)
Malik
Akmal
Hafeez
Imad
Amir
Hasan
Junaid
 
Azhar is back, but at least he is a massive upgrade from shafiq.

Hope to see this order, but highly doubt it.
1. azhar
2. Sharjeel
3. Babar
4. Akmal
5. Malik
6. Rizwan
7. Hafeez
 
If we're going on merit alone though the two that have earnt the no.3 and no.4 spot respectively are Babar and Malik. Only guys who have looked in good form. The top four really are the batsmen who have the biggest impact on the match, and in normal circumstances you'd want your two best batsmen to be batting together and in a position where if that they can set the tone of the run chase/innings.

And afterall Babar was batting at three and Malik at four when both of them rained down the runs against WI.
 
The importance of batting order is highly overrated!!!!

No it isn't - in ODIs you need your best batsmen playing up the order either opening or at one down so that they can come in early and face the majority of the balls as that will give the team the most chance of winning and usually they are also the ones that are most capable of taking advantage of the opening power plays.

Do you think the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would be equally effective if they were playing at numbers 6 and 7 respectively ? Course not as they wouldn't be playing enough overs to influence and mould the game.

Modern ODIs have changed the complexion of batting in that all batsmen should have some hitting ability but that doesn't mean that each batting position doesn't have a set requirement that any batsman can play, your openers will usually be asked to give a fast start, whilst your no 3 and 4 batsmen will be asked to bat through the innings and then the later batsmen will be looking to further accelerate and finish the innings strongly.
 
Hafeez and Malik in the same lineup make no sense because they are similar in batting while Hafeez edges out due to bowling.

Azhar (Shafiq dropped)
Sharjeel
Babar

Shouldn't mess with top 3.

Then tinker a little bit with the order based on match situation

Depending on the pitch play Wahab or Nawaz for Malik because you already have Hafeez. I don't know the suitability of Rahat in LOI, if he is a better option by all means go for him instead of Wahab (after looking at the pitch)
 
[MENTION=139150]aliasad1998[/MENTION] [MENTION=60967]Justcrazy[/MENTION] [MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION] [MENTION=139288]Abdul[/MENTION]

Is it worth it to stay up watching this match? Last match I stayed up we won, but I will be disappointed staying up until 6 AM to see Pakistan lose. But idk if I should stay up to see Pakistan win.
 
[MENTION=139150]aliasad1998[/MENTION] [MENTION=60967]Justcrazy[/MENTION] [MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION] [MENTION=139288]Abdul[/MENTION]

Is it worth it to stay up watching this match? Last match I stayed up we won, but I will be disappointed staying up until 6 AM to see Pakistan lose. But idk if I should stay up to see Pakistan win.

Every match is worth staying up for. :djb :sarf :shafiq2
 
[MENTION=139150]aliasad1998[/MENTION] [MENTION=60967]Justcrazy[/MENTION] [MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION] [MENTION=139288]Abdul[/MENTION]

Is it worth it to stay up watching this match? Last match I stayed up we won, but I will be disappointed staying up until 6 AM to see Pakistan lose. But idk if I should stay up to see Pakistan win.

I stayed up for all 3 and I don't regret it
 
[MENTION=139150]aliasad1998[/MENTION] [MENTION=60967]Justcrazy[/MENTION] [MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION] [MENTION=139288]Abdul[/MENTION]

Is it worth it to stay up watching this match? Last match I stayed up we won, but I will be disappointed staying up until 6 AM to see Pakistan lose. But idk if I should stay up to see Pakistan win.

I stayed up for all 3 and I don't regret it

Does the game start at 3:30am for any of you? :yk2
 
If it started at 3 30am I wouldn't mind. I'd get up at 5 and watch the rest of it. Because it starts at 10 for me, I have to stay up all night

I'd prefer that tbh, watch the game for 3-5 hours and go to bed. I guess am use to that range because Boxing, UFC and wrestling tend to be on between 1-5am every now and then. Waking up at 3:30am is just effort, although while doing some late night work watched the recent ODI until about 4 in the morning.
 
Can they not asked Rizwan to open the inning. This will give an extra space down the order.

Sharjeel
Rizzi Can be a better choice than azhar or hafeez to play strokes with field is up he can find gaps.
Azhar
Babar
Hafeez
Akmal
Malik
Imad
Amir
Hassan
Junaid

score will b 0/1 1st over
 
rizwan should bat at 4.. of he is playing.. he is an accumulator..

azhar
sharjeel
babar
rizwan
hafeez
umar
malik
imad
amir
junaid
hasan
 
I like Azhar but am in agreement that perhaps ODI's are not for him, he does well to punch above his weight but he always looks to be in immense pain batting in ODI's; I admire his resilience, work ethic and determination but I'd like to savour him for the Test level. However, the management are high on him and he seems to be a dependable individual for them so I can see him playing through to the champions trophy next year.
 
I like Azhar but am in agreement that perhaps ODI's are not for him, he does well to punch above his weight but he always looks to be in immense pain batting in ODI's; I admire his resilience, work ethic and determination but I'd like to savour him for the Test level. However, the management are high on him and he seems to be a dependable individual for them so I can see him playing through to the champions trophy next year.

News is Sarfaraz will replace him as ODI captain but Azhar will take over test captaincy.
 
My selection for Australia

Warner
Head
Smith
Handscomb
Maxwell
Wade
Faulkner
Cummins
Starc
Hazelwood
Stanlake
 
News is Sarfaraz will replace him as ODI captain but Azhar will take over test captaincy.

Am not convinced, Azhar is a popular lad and the coach plus management are in favour of him which is why I believe that he will only be given the boot if pak are to fail in the CT next year
 
Azhar
Sharjeel
Hafeez
Babar
Akmal
Malik
Rizwan
Imad
Amir
Junaid
Riaz

don't expect much, i expect a bunch of excuses for the 2 main batsman who wont score and will try and worm themselves into the WI tour
 
Am not convinced, Azhar is a popular lad and the coach plus management are in favour of him which is why I believe that he will only be given the boot if pak are to fail in the CT next year

He isn't required to play ODIs to enhance his reputation. Even Bradman only played Tests. :don
 
My selection for Australia

Warner
Head
Smith
Handscomb
Maxwell
Wade
Faulkner
Cummins
Starc
Hazelwood
Stanlake

A little too light on the batting there I think. Khawaja should open with Head somewhere in the middle. Stanlake can be rested. There's a case for Zampa too on this surface
 
I'm pretty hyped for this match! I want Amir to get a maiden fifer! Or Sharjeel to get his 1st 100 vs Aus. Or a brilliant all-around performance from Wasim.
:amir3 :sharjeel :imad
 
[MENTION=139150]aliasad1998[/MENTION] [MENTION=60967]Justcrazy[/MENTION] [MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION] [MENTION=139288]Abdul[/MENTION]

Is it worth it to stay up watching this match? Last match I stayed up we won, but I will be disappointed staying up until 6 AM to see Pakistan lose. But idk if I should stay up to see Pakistan win.

I'll see the first innings, by the end of it the picture will be very clear which direction the match is headed.

If we dismiss them for under 250 then I'll hold on and watch the first 10-12 overs of our innings, otherwise bed time. If we bat first and score anything less then 270, then bed time.
 
How does Hafeez, who just came back into the team due to a injury automatically start at #3.....
Rizwan has to really play up the order, he rotates the strike, takes 1's, 2's and 3's. He opens for Peshawar. Might as well not play him if you are going to bat him at #7 and #8.
 
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