Azhar Ali - To open or not to open in Tests?

[Bilal7]

He should move back to #3 given that we have two pretty promising openers in the squad and he's done very well at one-drop in the past. It might help him rediscover his form and will make it easier for Haris Sohail and the rest of the lineup as well.

1) Sami Aslam
2) Imam-ul-Haq
3) Azhar Ali
4) Haris Sohail/Asad Shafiq
5) Asad Shafiq/Haris Sohail
6) Babar Azam
7) Sarfaraz Ahmed (c) (wk)
8) Fahim Ashraf
9) Mohammad Amir
10) Hasan Ali
11) Mohammad Abbas

 

[ask_analyse_act]

time to find another no.3, i think haris expected to fill that .. Azhar should open.

 

[ads101]

If we're playing five bowlers no way Azhar can't open.

It'll be
1. Azhar
2. Imam
3. Haris
4. Babar
5. Asad
6. Sarfraz

If in future we play 7 batsmen instead of 6, then Azhar can play at no.3, but that would mean Sami or Fakhar would come in.

The two best performing first class batsmen of recent years of Usman and Saad who I feel at this point of time would outperform Imam and Sami. Yet you can't add them in either unless Azhar opens.

I don't think there's much difference opening or not, it's only protecting him if the openers have a good stand. And if that happens, then there's less reliance on Azhar anyway. If we want Azhar to be protected a bit, has to bat at four or below really. Which I wouldn't want.

 

[The_Odd_One]

He should move back to #3 given that we have two pretty promising openers in the squad and he's done very well at one-drop in the past. It might help him rediscover his form and will make it easier for Haris Sohail and the rest of the lineup as well.

1) Sami Aslam
2) Imam-ul-Haq
3) Azhar Ali
4) Haris Sohail/Asad Shafiq
5) Asad Shafiq/Haris Sohail
6) Babar Azam
7) Sarfaraz Ahmed (c) (wk)
8) Fahim Ashraf
9) Mohammad Amir
10) Hasan Ali
11) Mohammad Abbas

I agree. They should give some time to Sami and Imam. Then they can play Azhar, Asad, Babar, and Haris in the middle order. That will be a much better batting unit.

 

[Mamoon]

Opening is the only position where you can hide him, without him proving detrimental to the team's cause. He is disastrous everywhere else.

 

[ArsenalFC]

He should move back to #3 given that we have two pretty promising openers in the squad and he's done very well at one-drop in the past. It might help him rediscover his form and will make it easier for Haris Sohail and the rest of the lineup as well.

1) Sami Aslam
2) Imam-ul-Haq
3) Azhar Ali
4) Haris Sohail/Asad Shafiq
5) Asad Shafiq/Haris Sohail
6) Babar Azam
7) Sarfaraz Ahmed (c) (wk)
8) Fahim Ashraf
9) Mohammad Amir
10) Hasan Ali
11) Mohammad Abbas

Averages 55 as an opener including a triple ton and double ton after a brilliant series in Australia. 2 inexperienced openers isn't a great idea against Anderson and Broad.

 

[ArsenalFC]

Opening is the only position where you can hide him, without him proving detrimental to the team's cause. He is disastrous everywhere else.

This is harsh! He's been Pakistan's best test batsman for a good couple of years now. He averages 55 as an opener including a fantastic tour of Aus with the highlight of a double hundred in the boxing day test at MCG. He has also scored a triple ton as an opener in the day night game in UAE.

At least we can agree he is best suited in this team as an opener.