Azhar Ali - The Pakistani version of Alastair Cook

[Ab Fan]

There are not many sights better than watching a top order batsmen seeing of the new ball and absorbing everything put in front of him, particularly when the opposition has a quality bowling attack.

In modern era, Alastair Cook is one name that comes to our mind known for his grit,concentration and ability to absorb everything put in front of him. But one name from Pakistan, Azhar Ali, gives the same vibe as Alastair Cook.

With 15 hundreds already in 70 tests, he has established himself as a solid top order batsmen and it is his grit, concentration and temperament which has helped Azhar achieve this much, just like it was for England's tall and handsome opening batsmen Alastair Cook.

I believe he still has in him to continue providing great services for Pakistan cricket and end up with 7000 tests runs and 20 hundreds which is generally a numerical standard for a very high quality player.

He is the Pakistan's very own Alastair Cook who has succeeded in international arena due to his grit, temperament and immense concentration of batting all the day and recovering team from trouble.

Whattay player!!!:

 

[Abdul]

He is a champion player.

 

[ddss]

Good century today and looks likely that he’ll get to 100 tests but wont pass Miandad/Inzi runs

 

[Kohli The King of Chase]

He'll be useful in England and New Zealand or, may be even in SA, to see off the new ball.

But, his game will be a match losing one in Aus and Ind, where you need to score quickly. Also, while looking to score quickly to declare. But, yeah, you can and need to have one such player.

 

[Aman]

Really underrated batsmen, definitely isn't the most talented but score valuable runs.

Think he's scored more Test 100s than Kane this year too.

 

[Suleiman]

He’s going to expose a lot of pundits and experts in South Africa. Rabada and his friends will be watching the ongoing innings right now.

 

[static]

Really underrated batsmen, definitely isn't the most talented but score valuable runs.

Think he's scored more Test 100s than Kane this year too.

This is his first 100 this year.

 

[Aman]

This is his first 100 this year.

Kane has 1 or none, I think.

 

[aukhan]

Azhar in Test team is never a problem. Its shafiq who is inconsistent and only contributes once in the series.

 

[Mamoon]

This is thread is an insult to Cook. He was two levels above him.

 

[AAli98]

Azhar = Hick
Asad = Ramprakash

Mental midgets!!

 

[Mute Witness]

He averages 81 in Australia with a top score of 205 not out. His strike rate there is also higher than his career strike rate, a pretty respectable 47 for an opener.
[MENTION=143805]kohli[/MENTION]

 

[AAli98]

Azhar exposed his limited abilities when he tried to get 10 runs of 10 overs can’t hit a boundary under pressure.

The amount of investment pak has done on Asad & Azhar they should have had 20+ centuries & averages around 55 especially on these dead tracks.

 

[Ab Fan]

Really underrated batsmen, definitely isn't the most talented but score valuable runs.

Think he's scored more Test 100s than Kane this year too.

And he has played as an opener when touring outside Asia.

 

[Ab Fan]

This is thread is an insult to Cook. He was two levels above him.

With due respect to the great Alastair Cook, this thread is not about any comparison between the two batsmen but rather how Azhar Ali has emerged as the Pakistani version of what Cook was for England.

A top order batsmen(Azhar even opens when playing outside Asia), a tough nut to crack, wonderful patience, great concentration and worth appreciating mental strength. These are the pros of both and that is what made them what they are.

Cook is a wonderful player and this thread is not made to show any kind of disrespect or insult to the tall, dark and handsome Englishmen but rather this is about how Azhar Ali has been a vital cog in this Pakistan team.

Just like Cook, he is a man who makes a comeback again and again. After the heartbreak loss in first test, the way he came out of that fallacy and then in next two tests, two out of two occasions, he saved team from collapse and went on to make it count explains how much instrumental he has been if Pakistan goes on to win this test series.

I applause his grit, patience, concentration and mental strength to the test team.

 

[Oligochaetes]

I remember Azhar once got a 200 Vs Aus in Aus. Pakistan declared in the first innings and still went on to lose by an innings. But still, he played really well for his double hundred and should be appreciated.

He is a good international batsman, but mostly reviled for being slow and steady.

He is playing really well today and is ensuring Pakistan reach a winning position.

I hope people appreciate his hard work, he will be very the most important batsman when the team squares against Rabada, Philander and Co.

 

[asifp]

Knee jerk reaction.

He has been miserable in tests for over a year plus one good innings and all is well. This is typical Azhar and Asad. Fail for a while and then play 1-2 good innings to save your position.

 

[GreenKhan]

He has been out of form this year but he is hardly the kind of player who plays one good innings per series . Has been very consistent in general . In fact I’m sure this is his 4th 50 on the trot so hardly a one innings wander .

 

[Ab Fan]

Knee jerk reaction.

He has been miserable in tests for over a year plus one good innings and all is well. This is typical Azhar and Asad. Fail for a while and then play 1-2 good innings to save your position.

Azhar is not the same. He was out of patch for a year, which is fine because it happens with everyone. However, he has been the best batsmen in this series and has saved team from collapse two out of two occasions,both when it mattered.

He was also excellent before that, in tours to England and Australia as an opener. A bad patch of 9-10 months means nothing.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Knee jerk reaction.

He has been miserable in tests for over a year plus one good innings and all is well. This is typical Azhar and Asad. Fail for a while and then play 1-2 good innings to save your position.

Azhar has hit 3 fifties and 1 hundred in the last 5 innings. It appears his bad patch is over.

Shafiq is another case, he has been inconsistent througout his career.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Azhar = Hick
Asad = Ramprakash

Mental midgets!!

Azhar has achieved more than Hick and Ramprakash combined. He also scored a double hundred infront of a packed Boxing Day crowd in Melbourne. Don't think you can name too many Asian batsmen who have done that.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He is a great batsmen and living proof that with enough hard-work and temperament you can succeed in this format. I hope he takes this good run of form to South Africa.