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Azhar Ali versus Ian Bell in Tests

Mir jibran

First Class Captain
Joined
May 4, 2014
Runs
4,655
As Ian Bell ends his Test career with 118 matches 7727 test runs 22 centuries at an avg of 42.69 let us compare his stats with Azhar.

Azhar has scored 6129 in 81 test matches with 17 centuries at an avg of 42.86

Bell has scored 4450 home runs at an avg of 47 in 65 matches while Azhar has scored 2864 home/neutral runs at an avg of 52.07 in 32 test matches

While playing away bell scored 3277 runs at an avg of 37.2 in 53 matches while azhar scored 3265 runs in at an avg of 37.10 in 49 matches

England won 48 test matches out of the 118 bell played and he scored 3531 runs at an avg of 56 with 15 centuries.

Bell while playing for England lost 39 test matches and scored 1916 runs at average of 25 with zero centuries

And England drew 31 test matches with bell playing and scoring 2280 runs at an avg of 53 with 7 centuries.

Surprisingly he never scored a century in the matches england lost

15 test centuries while winning and 7 in draw results

This shows BELL was an impactful cricketer and never scored soft runs

Azhar on the other hand has scored 2281 runs at an avg of 52.38 with 9 centuries in the 33 test matches Pakistan has won out of his 81 test matches.

Azhar has featured in 13 Drawn test matches and scored 1173 runs at an avg of 61.73 with 3 centuries.
And in the 35 lost test matches Azhar's average declines to 30 with 2075 runs and 5 centuries.

Above comparison shows both have played a crucial part in winning games as well as the drawn games.
Azhar might be on his last legs but the above stats shows how important he has been to Pakistan's test setup and has always contributed in victories

At the moment it looks Azhar too will end his career with an avg 42-44 with 7000 plus test runs and will easily score 20 plus centuries

So what do you guys think is Ian Bell better than Azhar Ali or are they on par with each other as Test cricketers?
 
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Ian Bell is a better batsman. Azhar Ali is kind of limited.

Bell wins this one.
 
Bell was more talented, Azhar is limited but did a fine job.

Bell was a bit of soft cricketer, didn't do well post the KP fiasco and retirement of Swann.

I still think Bell is just slightly ahead. He was man of Ashes 2013 at home for England.
 
Bell was more talented, Azhar is limited but did a fine job.

Bell was a bit of soft cricketer, didn't do well post the KP fiasco and retirement of Swann.

I still think Bell is just slightly ahead. He was man of Ashes 2013 at home for England.

Statistically they are on par
But we gotta find out how many match winning innings they have played
 
Bell was a better talent but Azhar at his peak was mentally stronger and punched above his weight.
 
Azhar is better than Ian Bell, in my opinion.

Ali has been pretty crucial for Pakistan regardless his form since last two years.
 
They are in the same league and there are like 100 batsmen in that league. It's not important to rank them all in an order.

Bell definitely played with more class. His cover drive was one of the best in the world.

Azhar more of a grinding batsman. Very good at it.
 
Both are good batsman in their own right . Bell struggled mentally at the start . The 2005 ashes series he got all 5 tests but barely averages 20 I recall . But he grew into his own as his career developed .

2013 Ashes series he reached his pinnacle .

Azhar was a a terrific batsman till the last two years where he has struggled . But his last test and that century he scored shows his mental toughness . It was a superb knock and ultimately helped Pakistan save the game .
 
They are in the same league and there are like 100 batsmen in that league. It's not important to rank them all in an order.

Bell definitely played with more class. His cover drive was one of the best in the world.

Azhar more of a grinding batsman. Very good at it.
Azhar can even surpass bells tally of runs and centuries
 
Azhar can even surpass bells tally of runs and centuries

I would look forward to it. He earned a lot of my respect in that match saving century of his. One of the best I have seen from any player any country.
 
Both are good batsman in their own right . Bell struggled mentally at the start . The 2005 ashes series he got all 5 tests but barely averages 20 I recall . But he grew into his own as his career developed .

2013 Ashes series he reached his pinnacle .

Azhar was a a terrific batsman till the last two years where he has struggled . But his last test and that century he scored shows his mental toughness . It was a superb knock and ultimately helped Pakistan save the game .

Azhar has always been mentally tough despite his limitations
Remember his 50 in debut test series vs australia which eventually helped us winning the test and this was a time when winning a single game vs Australia was a dream for us and then the 92* vs england at oval test which helped us to win that game
Its just his captaincy has lost him some fans
 
I would look forward to it. He earned a lot of my respect in that match saving century of his. One of the best I have seen from any player any country.

Captaincy is affecting his performance , he should just give up captaincy and enjoy these last years of his career.
Hands down it was one of the best but then he has to start performing consistently like the good old Azhar ali
 
Bell was superb and one of the best players of his generation. No comparison with Azhar.
 
Plz elaborate how and plz have a look at the comparison stats too

Technically speaking, Ian Bell is miles ahead.

Also, Bell used to play in middle order.

Averages of both are almost similar and hence Bell wins due to superior technique.
 
In my honest opinion Ian Bell is much superior. He has a better technique, more range of shots, better temperament. Ian Bell was a class act.

In comparison Azhar is a grinder who works with his limited ability. Completely old school batter that is playing the 1980’s brand of cricket. Right now he is past his best. With how little Test cricket Pakistan plays these days I do not see him surpassing Bell in numbers.

Azhar Ali should technically call it a day. Will he? I doubt it. He will continue to tarnish his legacy. Do not be surprised to see his averages take a dip.
 
Pakistani batsmen are always so underrated.

No it's just Azhar ali has been underrated because of his slow game and lately his captaincy has also damaged his reputation otherwise some of our mediocre batsmen are overrated and overhyped
 
Is Azhar Ali better than Majid Khan? I think Azhar's stature would have been bigger had he played more as opener. He was best suited for that position.
 
Ian Bell was far better. Azhar wouldn’t have had a game for England while Bell would have been a legend in Pakistan.
 
Is Azhar Ali better than Majid Khan? I think Azhar's stature would have been bigger had he played more as opener. He was best suited for that position.

Majid played in a different era and he had a sr of 74 in odi back in the 1970s
Unfortunately we dont have any record of his test SR
But Azhar ali is no comparison to Majid khan
 
Ian Bell was far better. Azhar wouldn’t have had a game for England while Bell would have been a legend in Pakistan.

I would like to disagree with that
Only Kp comes to my mind as batsman who is better than Azhar
Rest all were on par with azhar
Collingwood, morgan , Vaughn,atherton,nasir hussain
You can check their test stats too
On the other hand Pakistan have had better test batsmen like inzy moyo yk misbah
 
No it's just Azhar ali has been underrated because of his slow game and lately his captaincy has also damaged his reputation otherwise some of our mediocre batsmen are overrated and overhyped

No I meant in general the likes of Inzimam, Mohammad Yousaf, Saeed Anwar, Younis Khan etc.

They all were class bats.
 
It depends how much Azhar will drag his career?

As of now only Root Kp,Cook (and maybe Stokes in future) are the only English batsmen ahead of Azhar Ali who debuted in 2000's.
 
Ian Bell was a very stylish player — one of the most elegant I have seen.
Azhar has a fine career.
Similar averages, though it should be acknowledged that Bell player more than half his tests in England which is a lot harder as a batsman than playing at home in the UAE.

Both have been a credit to their respective countries.
 
Majid played in a different era and he had a sr of 74 in odi back in the 1970s
Unfortunately we dont have any record of his test SR
But Azhar ali is no comparison to Majid khan

Yeah but his test average is 38 with around 4000 runs. So, not sure who is better? Azhar has a test average of 42 with a lot more runs.
 
Ian Bell is better. Better range of shots and a better player of spin for me. Also he scored a lot of runs under pressure.
 
Yeah but his test average is 38 with around 4000 runs. So, not sure who is better? Azhar has a test average of 42 with a lot more runs.
Majid Khan played in a different era
U cant compare 2 players whose career have around 50 years gap
Averaging 38 those days was like 45+ and remember majid was an opener
And u should check out his centuries against the windies of 70s
Majid saab was a beast
 
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I thought azhar would change for good after his superb match winning century against srilanka in a chase in 2014 but he somehow refused to take a step up. Azhar has been very caucious all his career which hindered him to acbieve much more than he has achieved.

Overall he has been more im portant to pakistan than bell has been to enghland. Bell was more classy though. I wouldnt watch azhars batting highlights.
 
They are in the same league and there are like 100 batsmen in that league. It's not important to rank them all in an order.

Bell definitely played with more class. His cover drive was one of the best in the world.

Azhar more of a grinding batsman. Very good at it.

Azhar was only good at being a grinding batsman at home, make sure you qualify that point
 
Majid Khan played in a different era
U cant compare 2 players whose career have around 50 years gap
Averaging 38 those days was like 45+ and remember majid was an opener
And u should check out his centuries against the windies of 70s
Majid saab was a beast

So, Gavaskar as opener from the same era will have career avg of 60 then? :yk

Boycott 56
Greenidge 53

Ofcourse, I understand the different era rule, no helmets, unlimited bouncers, using nails was norm back then but then same should be done for bowlers. A bowler averaging 23 in that era should be equal to a bowler averaging 27 today.
 
Azhar Ali. A beast in the UAE with plenty of big scores, has a 200 in Australia and a couple of 140s in England. He has played at 3 or has opened throughout his career which are difficult positions to bat at. Though how much harm he does to his career remains to be seen.
 
So, Gavaskar as opener from the same era will have career avg of 60 then? :yk

Boycott 56
Greenidge 53

Ofcourse, I understand the different era rule, no helmets, unlimited bouncers, using nails was norm back then but then same should be done for bowlers. A bowler averaging 23 in that era should be equal to a bowler averaging 27 today.
Still u cant compare him with majid
Majid was an attacking cricketer who started his career in 60s and the brand of cricket he played even today some of your players fail to even play at that SR
 
I thought azhar would change for good after his superb match winning century against srilanka in a chase in 2014 but he somehow refused to take a step up. Azhar has been very caucious all his career which hindered him to acbieve much more than he has achieved.

Overall he has been more im portant to pakistan than bell has been to enghland. Bell was more classy though. I wouldnt watch azhars batting highlights.

Well he did good till 2017
It went all downhill for him since misbah and younis departed and i feel he is around 38 years of age just like bell instead of his official 35 years age
 
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Bell was exteremley talented & he was very aesthetically pleasing player to watch but he underperformed througout his career, on the other end Azhar a very limited player but has done extremely well because of his hardwork & mental toughness, at one time at his best he was the best opener in the world.

So Azhar Ali for me
 
Bell was exteremley talented & he was very aesthetically pleasing player to watch but he underperformed througout his career, on the other end Azhar a very limited player but has done extremely well because of his hardwork & mental toughness, at one time at his best he was the best opener in the world.

So Azhar Ali for me

When was he the best opener in the world?
 
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