Azhar Ali fought hard, why no blame on Hasan Ali, Bilal Asif and Sarfaraz Ahmed?

[Rana]

They choked, they played horrendous cricketing shots and put Pakistan in this hole! Why no threads openly criticising them but everyone on the bandwagon to drop Azhar or asking him to retire! Can’t see how this close loss is actually his fault, he actually showed character and took it til the end!

Didn’t see Harris Sohail or wickets before Babars so I can’t say anything about them.

 

[the Great Khan]

add haris to the title since everyone here thinks he's the second coming of lara or tendulkar..

 

[RobinJay]

All of them are at fault here, but you do not get any brownie points for 'good effort'. He was there till the end, should have been able to protect the tail and chase down five runs considering all of the 'experience' that he has.

 

[Sher Khan]

Is Azhar Ali partially to blame for this loss?

On many occasions, there were opportunities to run twos. For example, when he played that cut shot to fine leg it was an easy two. I felt he wasted time. Sooner or later, the wicket was going to fall. So he may as well have gathered as many as he could for the team.

 

[Rana]

As I said I didn’t see his wicket but just saw the replay. Can’t say his wicket was. Poor judgement on his behalf

 

[BreadPakoda]

What was Azhar's plan? Take 12 singles in 12 overs to cross the line? Sorry, it was never going to work. Most Tailenders cannot handle pressure, its the batsman's duty to take charge.

 

[Barragan]

This is why you never select someone who can bat a bit (in this case he is no different to a tailender) over a specialist in Tests because it will hurt you.

bilal was the most useless selection and even a specialist spinner would have batted better, plus would have taken wickets.

Also, drop hafeez and his bowling is useless in Tests.

 

[Mamoon]

Yes they all deserve the blame, but what does it say about Azhar the senior batsman?

60+ Tests, 8 years, 120 balls, and he does not have the confidence or the skill to back himself to finish the game off with a couple of blows?

What was he trying to achieve by taking a single ever over? If it wasn’t him, Abbas would have been eventually dismissed.

An exhibition of disgusting cowardice.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Of course.

His plan was to take 12 singles in 12 overs. How can it work with muppets like Hassan Ali cowlashing every delivery?

 

[Rana]

All of them are at fault here, but you do not get any brownie points for 'good effort'. He was there till the end, should have been able to protect the tail and chase down five runs considering all of the 'experience' that he has.

What do you mean ‘he should have’. The objective for New Zealand was that they do not allow him to do so and they were successful in doing that. Azhar was doing the right thing and surrendering the strike on the 3rd-4th ball with Yasir Shah. It’s not really his fault that Yasir turned out to be an absolute nerve wreck out there!

 

[as-95]

Don't forget his brainless attempt at a single that caused Babar to get run out.. We would have cruised to victory if it wasn't for this.

 

[Aman]

It was silly to drag it out like he did, he was better off looking for 2 balls in his zone and going for it.

 

[AliMurtaza]

Yes they all deserve the blame, but what does it say about Azhar the senior batsman?

60+ Tests, 8 years, 120 balls, and he does not have the confidence or the skill to back himself to finish the game off with a couple of blows?

What was he trying to achieve by taking a single ever over? If it wasn’t him, Abbas would have been eventually dismissed.

An exhibition of disgusting cowardice.

For once I agree with this guy. Even when you put the run out on one side, it’s unimagibale that Azhar took 1 run a over for 6-7 overs before he eventually got out. With 4 needed for tie, he should have gone for a hit at least in the last over. Absolute mental midget.

 

[Khan12]

Hopefully bilal has played his last match can't believe this havk is selected ahead of Zafar gohar.

 

[Khan12]

Yes they all deserve the blame, but what does it say about Azhar the senior batsman?

60+ Tests, 8 years, 120 balls, and he does not have the confidence or the skill to back himself to finish the game off with a couple of blows?

What was he trying to achieve by taking a single ever over? If it wasn’t him, Abbas would have been eventually dismissed.

An exhibition of disgusting cowardice.

Spot on.

 

[Stewie]

I think the main culprits are hafeez, babar, haris, sarfaraz, bilal and hasan for the way they all got out.
Azhar sort of redeemed himself but its not for lack of his own stupid mistakes auch as not farming the steike with the tailenders. I think the blame should go around to them all except abbas and yasir who just had to play at the ball cuz of the angle..

As captain, i am going to put more blame on sarfaraZ.. then babar and hafeez followed bybthe rest.


Asad played well and he didnt look like getting out till he got that one ball that he just felt he had to play..

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Back in form timid, limited Azhar cost Pakistan a Test Match

Congratulations to Azhar Ali for getting back into form. It was much needed.

First and foremost Azhar Ali needs to be given respect by Selectors and Team Management by sticking with him. Yes he has had poor Test returns in last 12 months but it's natural and normal. I do not see any signs of poor reflexes or poor eyesight until now. Don't see ageing or dip in reflexes to be the factor.

Today we saw usual Azhar Ali. He was playing as like his peak years and surprisingly for first 35 to 40 runs he was striking at 60 - 65 SR which was a good sign.


But,


Azhar I am sorry Man. You deserve applause for your work ethics, attitude and discipline. You have lead Pakistan which is a huge pride and have served Pakistan well. Indeed.


But but


Today we saw once again that


1. Batting doesn't come natural to you.

2. Until U-19 Cricket you were a legspinner only.

3. Like Shoaib Malik you are someone who converted from being a bowler to a top order batsman. It was a progression.

4. Your skillsets and dimensions are limited. You are a gentleman (MashaAllah) but one dimemsional batsman who isn't dynamic.



Pakistan Lost this Test by winning dominating situation with only 4 runs. It is understandable that Bilal, Hasan, Yasir scored ducks but if you had sneaked in only 2 boundaries in last 50 balls you faced that we could have won this match.


Each over Wagner bowled one or two lose balls. Patel bowled one short ball every 2nd over in his last spell when Pak were 9 down but Azhar Ali failed to

A. Strike a boundary

B. Score a double by finding gaps



Risky, extravagant shot or slog sweep wasn't required. Normal merited classical shots were required as per the deliveries but Azhar Ali failed.


Commiserations Azhar Ali and Pakistan. Patel bowled exceptionally well but it was Pakistan's match. After Asad & Azhar's partnership we should have won it by atleast 4-5 wickets but even with 8 or 9 down we should have won it since Azhar had considerable strike and Abass gave him the support he needed but Azhar failed.

 

[Barragan]

No, not his fault.

3 guys getting out for ducks hurt the most and it would have meant victory, so blame those guys, especially bilal because he was picked for his so called batting ability.

 

[Last Monetarist]

I think it was a pretty ordinary innings under the circumstances. Anyone with a modicum of common sense could see that the Pakistani tail was low on confidence after the first innings collapse and that a recognized batsman would have to take responsibility by farming the strike if Pakistan were to chase this down.

As soon as the target required was under double figures, he needed to pick out the gaps in the field and try and put the bowlers off their lengths. Sadly he is not good enough to play in that manner.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Unpopular opinion: Azhar Ali was our best batsman in the fourth inning.

 

[Khan12]

I think the main culprits are hafeez, babar, haris, sarfaraz, bilal and hasan for the way they all got out.
Azhar sort of redeemed himself but its not for lack of his own stupid mistakes auch as not farming the steike with the tailenders. I think the blame should go around to them all except abbas and yasir who just had to play at the ball cuz of the angle..

As captain, i am going to put more blame on sarfaraZ.. then babar and hafeez followed bybthe rest.


Asad played well and he didnt look like getting out till he got that one ball that he just felt he had to play..

Azhar ran out Babar in case you wasn't watching. Babar clearly called no.

 

[Mamoon]

Let me put it this way - his strategy of taking a single ever over for 10 overs would fail 99/100 times, while going for a boundary was pretty much a 40-60 scenario.

If he had any understanding or confidence, he would have played the odds as any quality batsman would have.

 

[reversehook]

On many occasions, there were opportunities to run twos. For example, when he played that cut shot to fine leg it was an easy two. I felt he wasted time. Sooner or later, the wicket was going to fall. So he may as well have gathered as many as he could for the team.

*popcorn in hand* ummm what's a cut shot to fine leg kind sir, a cut shot is played on the offside, not leg side, its mainly played to backward point or point... just saying...

he is not to blame, to blame you have 8-9 other people who failed... he actually hung out there did the job... (although didnt bring home the result)

 

[Khan12]

Don't know why he didn't try to go big hits. God knows what he was thinking. It was a matter of time before he or Abbas got out.

 

[reversehook]

Don't know why he didn't try to go big hits. God knows what he was thinking. It was a matter of time before he or Abbas got out.

that's a little something which we can question, should have tried to go big with 6/5 runs left...

 

[willegg]

Unpopular opinion: Azhar Ali was our best batsman in the fourth inning.

makes no difference. he is completely to blame for this defeat. Ran out Baber when there was no run. Did not protect the tail. Did not convert 1's to 2's.....

 

[castortroy]

Blame lies with the batters as a whole but sarfraz, bilal and Hasan batting was truely disgraceful. The shot by Bilal and Hasan who just had to block one delivery typified the mental midget status our batters have assigned to themselves

 

[aukhan]

He is our best batsmen in the current TEST side and he is andhon main kaana raaj.

 

[AAli98]

Problem is more tha half of team needs kicking out
Imam hafeez azhar asad bilal sarfaraz having seen the domestic batting theyr replacements are worse than these guys!!

 

[castortroy]

Classic pak fans blaming Azhar. Who was he meant to run two's with, Abbas? Lol

Also, they spread the field for 5 of the 6 deliveries so any shots in the air were very very risky

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

makes no difference. he is completely to blame for this defeat. Ran out Baber when there was no run. Did not protect the tail. Did not convert 1's to 2's.....

Still doesn’t change the fact that he was our best batsman in the fourth inning.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Ofcourse he was there in the middle and should have played a bit positively in the last wicket partnership.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Let me put it this way - his strategy of taking a single ever over for 10 overs would fail 99/100 times, while going for a boundary was pretty much a 40-60 scenario.

If he had any understanding or confidence, he would have played the odds as any quality batsman would have.

The rest of them batted like Viv Richards.

 

[We Bleed Green]

This is very painful. Dil ro raha hai mera.

When your most senior batsman does not have the confidence to score a four then there is some thing serioudly wrong with him. I was screaming my lungs out to tell him to trust his game but he was planning to take the test match to fifth day.

 

[Khan12]

Still doesn’t change the fact that he was our best batsman in the fourth inning.

And still doesn't change the fact that he is a coward who played a major part is us losing the game too. He is as much to blame as the others

 

[We Bleed Green]

Of course.

His plan was to take 12 singles in 12 overs. How can it work with muppets like Hassan Ali cowlashing every delivery?

No one knows what he was thinking. Tail enders were trying to slog and Azhar was playing like a tail ender

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

And still doesn't change the fact that he is a coward who played a major part is us losing the game too. He is as much to blame as the others

Still our best batsman. He didn’t ask to be in that situation.

 

[AAli98]

Classic pak fans blaming Azhar. Who was he meant to run two's with, Abbas? Lol

Also, they spread the field for 5 of the 6 deliveries so any shots in the air were very very risky

Azhars 22 of 92 sealed the fate if ur not going to score at a decent lick in the 1st innings, when u knw ur team is pathetic at chasing in 4th innings is beyond me.

 

[Fahdi]

Yes he does take part of the blame but he isn't the main culprit by any means. He made 2 big blunders: the Babar run out ( it wasn't all his fault but he was the main culprit, also Babar let him keep his wicket) and taking a single off the first ball and exposing Yasir to 5 balls from Wagner.

The prime culprit here is Sarfraz. He came out to bat at a crucial moment in both innings and got out in a silly manner. Plus he's the captain.

Haris and Hafeez deserve some blame as well.

 

[Markhor]

If a 33 year old batsman after playing Test cricket for 8 years cannot protect the tail and close out a runchase then what are they doing in the team ?

Yes the tail got themselves out horribly and I'm not excusing them. But it speaks to Azhar's limitations that he didn't have a plan to finish the game off and ended up consuming so many deliveries.

 

[Mamoon]

Azhars 22 of 92 sealed the fate if ur not going to score at a decent lick in the 1st innings, when u knw ur team is pathetic at chasing in 4th innings is beyond me.

The first Test loss against Sri Lanka was down to his meaningless first innings tuk tuk as well.

 

[rudra]

Azhar is such a limited batsman gosh!
All that needed was a boundary and couple of 2s for an easy win.
Even pujara would have done better I guess in such a situation. He is good in finding gaps at least with such an open field.

 

[Stewie]

Azhar ran out Babar in case you wasn't watching. Babar clearly called no.

When you play cricket at half decent level, you know its not his call. The ball went behind him, it was not his danger end either. He shiuld trust his partner and run. Not ball watch.. Babar was the one st fsult..

 

[Khan12]

Still our best batsman. He didn’t ask to be in that situation.

Ooh so he should come in to knock of few runs which are left and he should choose what situation he wants. Great. Babar has been our best bat this year in tests.

 

[happydavy]

Blame the guy who scored 58 runs. Not saying, he didn't commit any mistake but when one guy got you close to the target, then he doesn't deserve a critical thread in his name. There are 10 other players blame them not him. He may have adopted wrong tactics in the final 7-8 overs but he was the only one who had some tactic on first place. Rest of the players had no clue why they were there.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Ooh so he should come in to knock of few runs which are left and he should choose what situation he wants. Great. Babar has been our best bat this year in tests.

He came in at 3. Hardly about knocking a few runs off. He stood there while others were getting out left right and centre.

 

[Stewie]

Blame the guy who scored 58 runs. Not saying, he didn't commit any mistake but when one guy got you close to the target, then he doesn't deserve a critical thread in his name. There are 10 other players blame them not him. He may have adopted wrong tactics in the final 7-8 overs but he was the only one who had some tactic on first place. Rest of the players had no clue why they were there.

+1

 

[RobinJay]

What do you mean ‘he should have’. The objective for New Zealand was that they do not allow him to do so and they were successful in doing that. Azhar was doing the right thing and surrendering the strike on the 3rd-4th ball with Yasir Shah. It’s not really his fault that Yasir turned out to be an absolute nerve wreck out there!

You're telling me that the most senior batsmen in our team can't find a single gap for a boundary in ten odd overs? I cannot praise a batsmen for his limitations.

 

[Oligochaetes]

This is very painful. Dil ro raha hai mera.

When your most senior batsman does not have the confidence to score a four then there is some thing serioudly wrong with him. I was screaming my lungs out to tell him to trust his game but he was planning to take the test match to fifth day.

This cracked me up.

 

[Executioner]

Blame the guy who scored 58 runs. Not saying, he didn't commit any mistake but when one guy got you close to the target, then he doesn't deserve a critical thread in his name. There are 10 other players blame them not him. He may have adopted wrong tactics in the final 7-8 overs but he was the only one who had some tactic on first place. Rest of the players had no clue why they were there.

First of all I agree he isn't the main culprit

But he was the critical factor between win and loss. Others did not get to settle. He did.

And he could have been smarter. You don't win by scoring 9 runs in 9 overs. That is stupid

 

[emranabbas]

Hafeez at the top needs to go ASAP
I hope the rest of the team beat him up so bad in the dressing room so he's injured for the next test

 

[jagatk]

I don't understand why pak fans are angry with azahar ali for trying to play for time. It is a test match, from what i saw there were no demons on the pitch, only ali got out to a ball that deserved a wicket everyone else gave their wicket away.

 

[jagatk]

First of all I agree he isn't the main culprit

But he was the critical factor between win and loss. Others did not get to settle. He did.

And he could have been smarter. You don't win by scoring 9 runs in 9 overs. That is stupid

What if he tried to hit and end result was same as what we saw for hasan ali and the guy before him. You win whichever way you want. Poor guy got the 1 difficult delivery and that too was dependent on luck as had oxenford given him not out he would have stayed there and might have won the game.

 

[jagatk]

You're telling me that the most senior batsmen in our team can't find a single gap for a boundary in ten odd overs? I cannot praise a batsmen for his limitations.

He did get a boundary in the late stages and I dare you to find me a batsman who can get a boundary with 7-8 boundary riders.

 

[Executioner]

What if he tried to hit and end result was same as what we saw for hasan ali and the guy before him. You win whichever way you want. Poor guy got the 1 difficult delivery and that too was dependent on luck as had oxenford given him not out he would have stayed there and might have won the game.

I am sorry but a specialist batsman should have better skill to find gaps or go over the top than a tail enders. Hasan Ali is a blind slogger. Azhar is a man with 300 run innings

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Not partially but

Completely


http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...imid-Limited-Azhar-Cost-Pakistan-a-Test-Match

 

[Rana]

Yes they all deserve the blame, but what does it say about Azhar the senior batsman?

60+ Tests, 8 years, 120 balls, and he does not have the confidence or the skill to back himself to finish the game off with a couple of blows?

What was he trying to achieve by taking a single ever over? If it wasn’t him, Abbas would have been eventually dismissed.

An exhibition of disgusting cowardice.

You talk a big game. This is Test cricket, the elite form of the game and batting at 65 with dud lower order and tailenders, only losing the game by 5 runs is an exhibition of cowardice? What should he have done? Danced down the track against the rampant Ajaz Patel?? The guy was bowling near perfect deliveries on such a track and field. Everyone who tried to hit him across the line failed naturally but he was also varying his pace so well that it really was a risk to try and finish the game off with a 6 down the track. He didnt take the risk so he is a coward?

 

[Rana]

You're telling me that the most senior batsmen in our team can't find a single gap for a boundary in ten odd overs? I cannot praise a batsmen for his limitations.

My brother, this match was being played on the placid, dead track of Abu Dhabi with 8 boundary riders. Did you see Wagner's bouncers at the end? they were taking 2 bounces before reaching the keeper shin height. Yes, had this been at lords, durban or the Waca I would understand your point but scoring a boundary with so much protection, especially when this ground is quite a massive one. Its not an impossible feat but you cannot say that he is a poor player for not being able to find the boundary

 

[Hasan123]

His batting did play a part in our defeat. Even after facing 100 balls he was struggling to hit a boundary or fins a gap to run 2.

He needs to take some of the blame.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

To add unavoidable evidence


Abbas defended 10 balls which helped Azhar to play 42 balls to score remaining 12 runs where Azhar could only score 8 runs.


What a mis Ajju bhai.


Seriously you can't bottle it as bad as this.

 

[AAli98]

His 22 of 92 was inexcusable in 1st innings.

2nd innings rest of pathetic batsman didn’t live to tell the tale. Azhar stayed till the end & exposed himself couldn’t even hit a 4 so what if there were fielders on the boundarys. Move on from these gutless players.

 

[Khan12]

When you play cricket at half decent level, you know its not his call. The ball went behind him, it was not his danger end either. He shiuld trust his partner and run. Not ball watch.. Babar was the one st fsult..

When you play cricket at half decent level and you hear a call of no means no so Azhar should have turned back but he still carried on running like a headless chicken

 

[Rana]

First of all I agree he isn't the main culprit

But he was the critical factor between win and loss. Others did not get to settle. He did.

And he could have been smarter. You don't win by scoring 9 runs in 9 overs. That is stupid

I really dont think this is what he was trying to do. New Zealand didnt offer any chance for him to score a welcome boundary with 8 fielders on the fence. The most he could have done was to take a single or have the power game to hit Wagner or Patel out of the park without having to move from his crease. He tried to ramp it over at one point but that failed. His game plan was smart and it just failed at the last moment. He was bringing the score down to 4/3 to win and thats when Kane Williamson would have no choice but to surround him with more fielders closer instead of giving him the easy single and trying to knock Abbas's wicket at the other end.

 

[castortroy]

They had boundary riders for practically 6 deliveries against Azhar and fans wanted him to go for it and run 2s with Abbas lol

 

[Hawkeye]

No, he didn't.

And there are already 2 threads over it.

 

[in_cutter]

They choked, they played horrendous cricketing shots and put Pakistan in this hole! Why no threads openly criticising them but everyone on the bandwagon to drop Azhar or asking him to retire! Can’t see how this close loss is actually his fault, he actually showed character and took it til the end!

Didn’t see Harris Sohail or wickets before Babars so I can’t say anything about them.

Im not going to blame Hasan. The blame lies with the so called seniors. Hang their head in shame.

 

[willegg]

Still doesn’t change the fact that he was our best batsman in the fourth inning.

WE LOST.... what are you talking about ......because of him. He got rid of our best batsmen

 

[Rana]

Im not going to blame Hasan. The blame lies with the so called seniors. Hang their head in shame.

Why not blame Hassan? because he took a 5fer???]

What about the needless slog sweep on the last ball of the over when batting with a set batsman at the crease? If Hassan was left batting with Yasir Shah and Mohammad Abbass I would still understand his decision to play that shot, but why do that when Azhar clearly gave him the strike to survive 2 balls??

 

[Dark_Horse]

Why nobody blames the Main culprit Hafeez his blockathon and wicket after imam gave some momentum plus by the look of it I feel he was the most relaxed/(happy) person in dressing room when 12 we had last wicket such a hypocrite

 

[Mamoon]

You talk a big game. This is Test cricket, the elite form of the game and batting at 65 with dud lower order and tailenders, only losing the game by 5 runs is an exhibition of cowardice? What should he have done? Danced down the track against the rampant Ajaz Patel?? The guy was bowling near perfect deliveries on such a track and field. Everyone who tried to hit him across the line failed naturally but he was also varying his pace so well that it really was a risk to try and finish the game off with a 6 down the track. He didnt take the risk so he is a coward?

I talk a big game but that is because I tend to back it up with facts that people do not like to hear and which is why I have a good measure of the capability of this deeply mediocre team.

Anyway, this is not about me. Firstly, much like the first Test against Sri Lanka last year, Azhar’s needless tuk tuk in the first innings played a big role in the defeat.

Secondly, his method of chasing the total in the last 4-5 overs was disastrous. There was no way Pakistan was winning the game by scoring 10 runs in 10 overs, with Azhar taking a single on the fourth delivery hoping that Abbas will keep it out.

99/100 times, this tactic is going to fail. Azhar failed to take charge and was waiting for the inevitable to happen.

I can say with conviction that any good batsman (let alone elite ones like Kohli, Root etc.) would have shown more guts in this situation and would have tried to make something happen.

I am not saying that they would all have succeeded, but their method would have a much better chance of working than Azhar walking his way to 10 runs in 10 overs.

All Pakistan needed was one boundary in the last 4-5 overs and the march would have been won, but our senior batsman with 8 years of experience under his belt did not have the confidence to back himself.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

WE LOST.... what are you talking about ......because of him. He got rid of our best batsmen

We lost. He was the last batsman to get out. Last time I checked, all our batsmen got out. He didn’t ask Imam, Hafeez, Haris, Sarfraz or Asad to throw their wickets. I can understand ppl blaming Azhar for getting Babar run out but it was also Babar’s responsibility to run carefully. If Babar thought he was our best bet to chase down the total then he should have stood his ground and let Azhar run himself out. Running between the wicket is a two way responsiblity. Ppl are just looking for scapegoats and clearly they aren’t finding the right one. CRICKET IS A TEAM SPORT!!!!!

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Congratulations to Azhar Ali for getting back into form. It was much needed.

First and foremost Azhar Ali needs to be given respect by Selectors and Team Management by sticking with him. Yes he has had poor Test returns in last 12 months but it's natural and normal. I do not see any signs of poor reflexes or poor eyesight until now. Don't see ageing or dip in reflexes to be the factor.

Today we saw usual Azhar Ali. He was playing as like his peak years and surprisingly for first 35 to 40 runs he was striking at 60 - 65 SR which was a good sign.


But,


Azhar I am sorry Man. You deserve applause for your work ethics, attitude and discipline. You have lead Pakistan which is a huge pride and have served Pakistan well. Indeed.


But but


Today we saw once again that


1. Batting doesn't come natural to you.

2. Until U-19 Cricket you were a legspinner only.

3. Like Shoaib Malik you are someone who converted from being a bowler to a top order batsman. It was a progression.

4. Your skillsets and dimensions are limited. You are a gentleman (MashaAllah) but one dimemsional batsman who isn't dynamic.



Pakistan Lost this Test by winning dominating situation with only 4 runs. It is understandable that Bilal, Hasan, Yasir scored ducks but if you had sneaked in only 2 boundaries in last 50 balls you faced that we could have won this match.


Each over Wagner bowled one or two lose balls. Patel bowled one short ball every 2nd over in his last spell when Pak were 9 down but Azhar Ali failed to

A. Strike a boundary

B. Score a double by finding gaps



Risky, extravagant shot or slog sweep wasn't required. Normal merited classical shots were required as per the deliveries but Azhar Ali failed.


Commiserations Azhar Ali and Pakistan. Patel bowled exceptionally well but it was Pakistan's match. After Asad & Azhar's partnership we should have won it by atleast 4-5 wickets but even with 8 or 9 down we should have won it since Azhar had considerable strike and Abass gave him the support he needed but Azhar failed.

No, not his fault.

3 guys getting out for ducks hurt the most and it would have meant victory, so blame those guys, especially bilal because he was picked for his so called batting ability.

To add unavoidable evidence


Abbas defended 10 balls which helped Azhar to play 42 balls to score remaining 12 runs where Azhar could only score 8 runs.


What a mis Ajju bhai.


Seriously you can't bottle it as bad as this.

[MENTION=2016]Rana[/MENTION] [MENTION=136113]Barragan[/MENTION] [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

I talk a big game but that is because I tend to back it up with facts that people do not like to hear and which is why I have a good measure of the capability of this deeply mediocre team.

Anyway, this is not about me. Firstly, much like the first Test against Sri Lanka last year, Azhar’s needless tuk tuk in the first innings played a big role in the defeat.

Secondly, his method of chasing the total in the last 4-5 overs was disastrous. There was no way Pakistan was winning the game by scoring 10 runs in 10 overs, with Azhar taking a single on the fourth delivery hoping that Abbas will keep it out.

99/100 times, this tactic is going to fail. Azhar failed to take charge and was waiting for the inevitable to happen.

I can say with conviction that any good batsman (let alone elite ones like Kohli, Root etc.) would have shown more guts in this situation and would have tried to make something happen.

I am not saying that they would all have succeeded, but their method would have a much better chance of working than Azhar walking his way to 10 runs in 10 overs.

All Pakistan needed was one boundary in the last 4-5 overs and the march would have been won, but our senior batsman with 8 years of experience under his belt did not have the confidence to back himself.

Two things I’d like to point out here.
1) Azhar is not a natural striker of a cricket ball so it is obvious that he wouldn’t back himself to clear the boundary with 7 men waiting for a catch.
And
2) There are eleven players in a batting lineup. Some were more suited than Azhar to play that role. They didn’t because they all belong to the country of both physically and mentally stunted growth.

 

[Rana]

I talk a big game but that is because I tend to back it up with facts that people do not like to hear and which is why I have a good measure of the capability of this deeply mediocre team.

Anyway, this is not about me. Firstly, much like the first Test against Sri Lanka last year, Azhar’s needless tuk tuk in the first innings played a big role in the defeat.

Secondly, his method of chasing the total in the last 4-5 overs was disastrous. There was no way Pakistan was winning the game by scoring 10 runs in 10 overs, with Azhar taking a single on the fourth delivery hoping that Abbas will keep it out.

99/100 times, this tactic is going to fail. Azhar failed to take charge and was waiting for the inevitable to happen.

I can say with conviction that any good batsman (let alone elite ones like Kohli, Root etc.) would have shown more guts in this situation and would have tried to make something happen.

I am not saying that they would all have succeeded, but their method would have a much better chance of working than Azhar walking his way to 10 runs in 10 overs.

All Pakistan needed was one boundary in the last 4-5 overs and the march would have been won, but our senior batsman with 8 years of experience under his belt did not have the confidence to back himself.

Right, so were you actually watching this match on TV or following the commentary on cricinfo and here on PakPassion. This was my reply earlier...

"New Zealand didnt offer any chance for him to score a welcome boundary with 8 fielders on the fence. The most he could have done was to take a single or have the power game to hit Wagner or Patel out of the park without having to move from his crease. He tried to ramp it over at one point but that failed. His game plan was smart and it just failed at the last moment. He was bringing the score down to 4/3 to win and thats when Kane Williamson would have no choice but to surround him with more fielders closer instead of giving him the easy single and trying to knock Abbas's wicket at the other end"

Im not saying that I play cricket therefore I understand the psychology of batsmen, but this is what he was doing. Hes not going to play cricket according to posters here on PP, he doesnt have an iRobot style vision in front of his eyes where he reads what Mamoon or any other poster is writing on PP for him to use as a manual. The ball that got him out was a peach of a delivery, it squared him up from leg stump with sharp turn on the bounce. Respect the cricketer, he was fighting for his country and he lost.

 

[willegg]

We lost. He was the last batsman to get out. Last time I checked, all our batsmen got out. He didn’t ask Imam, Hafeez, Haris, Sarfraz or Asad to throw their wickets. I can understand ppl blaming Azhar for getting Babar run out but it was also Babar’s responsibility to run carefully. If Babar thought he was our best bet to chase down the total then he should have stood his ground and let Azhar run himself out. Running between the wicket is a two way responsiblity. Ppl are just looking for scapegoats and clearly they aren’t finding the right one. CRICKET IS A TEAM SPORT!!!!!

sorry to say this your delusional. it was a selfish knock. his innings means nothing. Babar was not selfish like him. Azar continued running when should not have he had time to stop. No scapegoats clear BLAME Azar is responsible.

 

[cricket_cfa]

He is hard working honest batsman......not the brightest mind.... And certainly way behind in scoring ability than the likes of babar....
Looked like a survivor when in partnership with babar
Expecting to be any ones match on this day but azhar was too slow

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

sorry to say this your delusional. it was a selfish knock. his innings means nothing. Babar was not selfish like him. Azar continued running when should not have he had time to stop. No scapegoats clear BLAME Azar is responsible.

You don’t know the basics of cricket do you?

 

[Mamoon]

Right, so were you actually watching this match on TV or following the commentary on cricinfo and here on PakPassion. This was my reply earlier...

"New Zealand didnt offer any chance for him to score a welcome boundary with 8 fielders on the fence. The most he could have done was to take a single or have the power game to hit Wagner or Patel out of the park without having to move from his crease. He tried to ramp it over at one point but that failed. His game plan was smart and it just failed at the last moment. He was bringing the score down to 4/3 to win and thats when Kane Williamson would have no choice but to surround him with more fielders closer instead of giving him the easy single and trying to knock Abbas's wicket at the other end"

Im not saying that I play cricket therefore I understand the psychology of batsmen, but this is what he was doing. Hes not going to play cricket according to posters here on PP, he doesnt have an iRobot style vision in front of his eyes where he reads what Mamoon or any other poster is writing on PP for him to use as a manual. The ball that got him out was a peach of a delivery, it squared him up from leg stump with sharp turn on the bounce. Respect the cricketer, he was fighting for his country and he lost.

I watched the match, and I know that Williamson had packed the boundary. I am not suggesting that he should have aimed for the stands. He cannot do that even it he plays against an U-19 woman’s team, but there were enough gaps in the field for him to maneuver the ball for a boundary or even 2-3 runs.

However, it appears that he does not even have the skill for that. He is great at one thing though - he is the most successful nightwatchman in history. Not many can boast of scoring a double-hundred at that MCG.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

When a ball goes behind the wicket, through either inside or outside edge, it is the call of the non striker the should be positively responded by the striker. It was Azhar’s call to take the single and Babar paid no attention and paid a huge price for it. So much for being the ‘best batsman’.

 

[Mamoon]

Two things I’d like to point out here.
1) Azhar is not a natural striker of a cricket ball so it is obvious that he wouldn’t back himself to clear the boundary with 7 men waiting for a catch.
And
2) There are eleven players in a batting lineup. Some were more suited than Azhar to play that role. They didn’t because they all belong to the country of both physically and mentally stunted growth.

I agree, and they are to be blamed more than Azhar for the second innings debacle. However, much like the Sri Lanka Test last year, his pathetic knock in the first innings was a significant catalyst.

My only problem is with people making him a fallen hero for today’s defeat as if he had played a champion innings only to be let down by his teammates.

This was his Mohali moment.