Azhar Ali bats like a night-watchman even after 90+ Tests and 6k+ runs to his name

[Major]

Despicable innings by the most senior batter in this line up. After having played 90+ test with 6900 runs, you go in and score 6 runs off 54 balls.

The question is what was the purpose and intent? Even if he had somehow survived and scored runs, by the end of the day, Pakistan would had been requiring 400 at the pace he was batting. Thus, surely the match was either going for a loss or a draw.

Looking at the innings by babar and abdullah shafique, atleast the possibility of win is still there.

Why is it that he bats like a night watchman and has never matured as a batsman?

 

[iRfaN_LA]

Age has caught up to him. He is too old and lazy. Should have retired a year ago.

 

[Villager6964]

Azhar Ali is true successor of misbah the destroyer of Pakistan cricket ul haq.
He is just gonna continue until he is in mid 40s just like misbah the destroyer.
It's misbah's fault Azhar is still in the team.

 

[Markhor]

I remember the 2014 Galle Test. We conceded a deficit of 82, but went into Day 5 batting second with 9 wickets in hand and a draw easily achievable if we batted normally.

Azhar and Shehzad however went into shells on a turning pitch, we eventually collapsed for 180 having faced 80 overs.

Batsmen failing occasionally is understandable, but refusing to learn from mistakes is not.

 

[Ab Fan]

This is final inning of the test match. The idea was to tire the bowlers and then see if they can score or not. A target of 510 is unimaginable and you cannot go out there playing shots freely. He did the same but it was just a matter of one delivery and he got out.

All in all, he is a good test batsman but extremely limited so expecting him to elevate himself from good to great one is not an easy job, especially in his case as I feel that is what his ceiling is.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Unless its a flat wicket, every ball is like a gernade to Azhar. Hes simple got no reflexs or ability to score otherwise. You could give some on PP a bat and they would score once a series like mr nightwatchmen does.

 

[Savak]

Azhar Ali is addicted to batting like this regardless of the pitch and match situation.

 

[andy0204]

I remember the 2014 Galle Test. We conceded a deficit of 82, but went into Day 5 batting second with 9 wickets in hand and a draw easily achievable if we batted normally.

Azhar and Shehzad however went into shells on a turning pitch, we eventually collapsed for 180 having faced 80 overs.

Batsmen failing occasionally is understandable, but refusing to learn from mistakes is not.

I will make it easy for you,
Pakistan was chasing only 150 runs against Newzealand in U.A.E only 10 runs were remaining to win and Ajaz Patel it was his first match,this guy was playing like he was facing Herath on a turner,such a defeatist mindset.

 

[Major]

Its not like he cant do it, back than in the magrib chase, this guy got a 100 and batted fast.

Yet he has this weird habit of just consuming the balls and doing nothing on the pitch

 

[Markhor]

I will make it easy for you,
Pakistan was chasing only 150 runs against Newzealand in U.A.E only 10 runs were remaining to win and Ajaz Patel it was his first match,this guy was playing like he was facing Herath on a turner,such a defeatist mindset.

That was horrendous as well. Had no faith in himself to take on the boundary fielders and finish the chase.

 

[Major]

This is final inning of the test match. The idea was to tire the bowlers and then see if they can score or not. A target of 510 is unimaginable and you cannot go out there playing shots freely. He did the same but it was just a matter of one delivery and he got out.

All in all, he is a good test batsman but extremely limited so expecting him to elevate himself from good to great one is not an easy job, especially in his case as I feel that is what his ceiling is.

Sorry bro, this isnt the first time we have seen him done this.

I am also a fan of Azhar, but many times this guy just bats out there with no intent. I have seen more of this from him after 2012. He just bats and doesnt score runs.

502 has never been done. But atleast dont just go out there and score 6 runs of 50+ ball. That gets you no where.

Babar Azam kept scoring at a very good SR. Whether they go for the win or not will be decided at Tea tomr looking at the situation. But atleast dont just play out for a draw when you have 5 sessions to bat.

Going ultra defensive gets you no where, and had Azhar scored a 50 at the stike rate of below 20. Than Pakistan would had been 400 behind. Thus, the result being either a loss or draw.

The fact that out of no where Babar Azam has laid a golden egg which gives us a win probability aswell has created pressure on Australia. And in such pressure you expect them to make mistakes.

Azhar Ali kept giving the upper hand to Australia by the way he batted. Babar Azam by playing cricketing shots is trying to go for the unthinkable.

If the one down batsmen is playing for the draw than he should be shifted to no.6

 

[Babeikh]

I feel he is too one dimensional a player - with the exception of that innings when we chased quickly against Sri Lanka, this has literally been his way of doing things and he cannot (or does not) play any other way.

I think balance is key - when you have to bat for 5 sessions, there is no point going into a shell and scoring 5 runs in 60 balls. If it is the final session on day 5 then fine, but not on day 4 because you literally cannot do that for 150 overs. Nobody is suggesting he goes gung ho, but just keep things moving as you can, try to get a single or two every over, I mean come on.

 

[TheSultan]

Despicable innings by the most senior batter in this line up. After having played 90+ test with 6900 runs, you go in and score 6 runs off 54 balls.

The question is what was the purpose and intent? Even if he had somehow survived and scored runs, by the end of the day, Pakistan would had been requiring 400 at the pace he was batting. Thus, surely the match was either going for a loss or a draw.

Looking at the innings by babar and abdullah shafique, atleast the possibility of win is still there.

Why is it that he bats like a night watchman and has never matured as a batsman?

I don’t know why you are complaining? This is straight from the Misbah playbook.

This is how we’ve played our cricket since 2010. Why are you complaining now?

 

[Kroll]

Can't really blame Azhar tbh, we all know how he bats and the form he's been in. The blame lies with the selectors and management who keep picking him though he's well past his use before date.

I mean surely, there's at least one batsman in the whole of Pakistan in the last 3 or 4 years who could do a better job than what Azhar has been doing. If there isn't, then there is no hope for Pak cricket but I don't think that's the case.

Seniors ultimately decide if they want to continue playing even if it means playing till you're 50 with declining reflexes, reduced cognitive processes, bad eyesight and knobbly knees.

We just need to embrace and accept this quirk of Pak cricket otherwise we will all go mental as well. Carry on Azhar, we always look forward to your one good innings out of 10. And that big goofy smile when you do it...

 

[Zaz]

Yeah really poor from him

Youd think someone so experienced would know you cant block 300-400 balls

Youre inviting pressure and fielders around the bat and it ll only be a matter of time before you get out

Score when theres opportunities so youre giving the opppsition something to think about and transfering some pressure as you edge closer to a respectable score for the team

Youd think someone so experienced would know this

 

[Ashmal]

He's just a limited player and has always batted like this.

 

[sweep_shot]

He is quite slow for modern day cricket (even for Test cricket).

His batting would've been good for 70's or 80's.

 

[Kianig89]

Just a limited player who played one test 90+ times as simple as that

 

[Kianig89]

He is quite slow for modern day cricket (even for Test cricket).

His batting would've been good for 70's or 80's.

Zaheer Abbas Wasim Raja Asif Iqbal Javed Miandad Mushtaq Mohammad Intikhab Alam ....he won't be a 12th man in that team let alone playing XI

 

[shamaan]

This is final inning of the test match. The idea was to tire the bowlers and then see if they can score or not. A target of 510 is unimaginable and you cannot go out there playing shots freely. He did the same but it was just a matter of one delivery and he got out.

All in all, he is a good test batsman but extremely limited so expecting him to elevate himself from good to great one is not an easy job, especially in his case as I feel that is what his ceiling is.

Should stil and try and pick the singles up and get the odd boundary like Abdullah did.