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Azhar Ali's record around the world - Is this not the mark of a good batsman?

MenInG said:
The Pakistan batting disaster this morning

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Azhar's head too far over to the off-side, squared up, gone.
 
Zaz said:
Its not panicking

Azhars been avge to poor for a 3-4 years now Hes not getting better Its time we moved on from him
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I know he is on the radar but these test specialists get such a long break in between series, its easy to get rusty when they return. Lets see how he does in the remainder of the series.
 
Are Pakistan ready to replace Azhar Ali with another?
 
Both Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali have been a disappointment. They could never replace Misbah/YK.

Anyways, time for Pakistan to find a replacement.

But knowing our history, I expect Azhar to hang around for at least 3 additional years.
 
MenInG said:
Are Pakistan ready to replace Azhar Ali with another?
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I thought best bet for Azhar to play for some time is to open the inns but now looks like his technique and reflexes are going down the hill.. Time to replace with someone who plays ODI cricket too, just because pakistan plays only 8-9 tests a year..

I believe Imam ul Haq can be tried as test no.3 just like Amla who opened in ODI and test no.3, Imam's technique with shortball and offstump is not great for test cricket but definitely will improve a lot because he has the temperament to succeed when given chances.. Other options are obviously Saud Shakeel and kamran ghulam..
 
ask_analyse_act said:
I thought best bet for Azhar to play for some time is to open the inns but now looks like his technique and reflexes are going down the hill.. Time to replace with someone who plays ODI cricket too, just because pakistan plays only 8-9 tests a year..

I believe Imam ul Haq can be tried as test no.3 just like Amla who opened in ODI and test no.3, Imam's technique with shortball and offstump is not great for test cricket but definitely will improve a lot because he has the temperament to succeed when given chances.. Other options are obviously Saud Shakeel and kamran ghulam..
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Nah, every test nation got at least 1 tall bowler who can execute short ball plans.

I'd rather we take Shan Masood back instead of Imam.
 
Azhar Ali is the best test batsman for Pakistan currently by a miles. Babar is not even close.
 
Yet another snail like inns after a good platform was set. Yes we won the game but pretty much kills any momentum in a team inns.

Time for him to retire and pakistan to groom a new number 3 in the side.
 
Arsal_AK said:
He is the best batsman we have had after YK in the last decade.

But now his time is up, its should be evident for a while to everyone. The only way he can extend his career for a bit is to play as opener, given the absolutely dire situation we have there.

Otherwise it's time to look for a new top three. The BD tests should be a perfect opportunity to do this, given they are right after the QeA trophy.
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Said this a while ago, Azhar shouldn't be on this tour.
 
It’s time he was replaced by Haider who looks like he’s scored a 100 on his comeback to first class.
We did an injustice to Umar who had the potential to be our best test batsmen recently hope we can develop Haider properly there’s also Saud in the mix no need for Azhar and his snail like batting now.
 
Statistically / on paper — yes.

In real time though he hasn’t ever fully convinced me as a reliable or imposing batter.

Seems to be more of an “above-average cricketer” whose legacy will be strictly limited, as opposed to him reaching into the upper tiers of really top players, IMHO.
 
With Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Agha Ali Salman and Usman Salahuddin all waiting on the wings. A big decision needs to be made on Azhar.

His time has come and gone, its better late than never to go on his own volition.
 
Struggling away but has survived so far in the 2nd Test
 
He needs to be put out of his misery He wasnt the best of players to watch but now its painful Even against poor attacks he looks totally out of sorts

A call to move forward needs to be made
 
Azhar Ali always batted like a tail ender who had a good defence. Now he bats like a tail ender depending on his luck to survive. He is no Virat Kohli who can’t be dropped. We have enough batsman waiting in the wings to replace him.
 
50 for Azhar Ali on Day 2 of the 2nd Test vs BD.
 
What kind of 50 was it — convincing or super scratchy :(
 
Azhar offers nothing to the side now other than just killing the whole momentum of a team inns. Unlike Misbah or YK who still performed against decent sides at end of their careers. Azhar is getting worse and was only decent at best in 1st place. time to move on.
 
dont worry guys, only another 10 tests to go. will be gone in two years. :ashwin
 
Ppl talking against Azhar Ali are same as indian fans who are crying for pujara to be kicked out. Most of these fellows know nothing about test cricket. Azhar Ali is the best batsmen to have come out of south Asia except Kohli in last 15 years ... Along with Mathews, closely followed by pujara ... He is still the best option Pakistan has at his place and should be allowed to get to 7.5k+ at 44 with 20+ test centuries. Pakistan destroys it's fast bowlers averaging in 20s and cuts their careers at 100 wickets at most (Junaid Khan, Abbas) ... It will do same with azhar Ali by restricting him to small numbers in test so that some new psl slogger can make test debut.
 
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So I was just looking at Azhar Ali's stats and saw that his SR is 41.89 which is shocking for someone who has played 94 Test Matches.

Just crunched some numbers and saw that had Azhar batted at a SR of even 46 in his career on average, his runs scored right now would've been 7,709 as opposed to 7,021 currently and his average would've been 47.29 as opposed to 43.07 right now. Those stats alone would've put him in the 3rd tier of great batsmen. Right now he's probably 5th or 6th tier.

Inzamam in his whole Test career played less balls than Azhar Ali, yet has scored 1,800 runs more than him. Simply because he looked to dominate the game once set.

This should be a lesson to all aspiring batsmen to not be like Azhar Ali at all. You will never maximize your talent. Azhar has been that kind of a player who bats at exactly the same way if he is on 243 as if he is on 3. There is no gears associated with him and he looks shaky throughout his innings.

There needs to be a research done as to why Pakistani batsmen in today's world play at a 35-42 SR in Test cricket. I believe it boils down to lack of self-confidence in ones ability. They are just so scared and timid of being out there in the middle that the only way they think they can score runs is if they bat out a large amount of time.

I'm afraid Abdullah Shafique is another one who's following the lead of Azhar Ali in this timid approach despite the fact that he has Babar Azam at the other end to emulate. People laud the heroic escape of the Karachi Test but any team who has ambitions of becoming a world class team would have either won that Test or lost it. The draw should not have ever been part of the equation. To bat almost full 2 days and not score 500 is criminal and Abdullah Shafique is guilty for large part of it. That's the harsh truth.

I hope Pakistani batsmen can move on from the style of Azhar Ali and adopt a modern approach to Test match cricket. This does not mean going at 3.5 RPO every match. It only means that you look to score runs first and only stop when the situation demands it. I remember watching an interview of Kohli where he said that the first thought is that this delivery needs to go to the boundary. If the ball isn't there for a boundary, then the next thought is to score 3, then 2, then a single and then just defend it. That's how the mindset works. Our mindset is the exact opposite. Defend for a 0 first.

I hope when the time comes for Azhar Ali to retire, we replace him with someone who will look to score at 50 SR and dominate the game when set.
 
shariqnoor said:
So I was just looking at Azhar Ali's stats and saw that his SR is 41.89 which is shocking for someone who has played 94 Test Matches.

Just crunched some numbers and saw that had Azhar batted at a SR of even 46 in his career on average, his runs scored right now would've been 7,709 as opposed to 7,021 currently and his average would've been 47.29 as opposed to 43.07 right now. Those stats alone would've put him in the 3rd tier of great batsmen. Right now he's probably 5th or 6th tier.

Inzamam in his whole Test career played less balls than Azhar Ali, yet has scored 1,800 runs more than him. Simply because he looked to dominate the game once set.

This should be a lesson to all aspiring batsmen to not be like Azhar Ali at all. You will never maximize your talent. Azhar has been that kind of a player who bats at exactly the same way if he is on 243 as if he is on 3. There is no gears associated with him and he looks shaky throughout his innings.

There needs to be a research done as to why Pakistani batsmen in today's world play at a 35-42 SR in Test cricket. I believe it boils down to lack of self-confidence in ones ability. They are just so scared and timid of being out there in the middle that the only way they think they can score runs is if they bat out a large amount of time.

I'm afraid Abdullah Shafique is another one who's following the lead of Azhar Ali in this timid approach despite the fact that he has Babar Azam at the other end to emulate. People laud the heroic escape of the Karachi Test but any team who has ambitions of becoming a world class team would have either won that Test or lost it. The draw should not have ever been part of the equation. To bat almost full 2 days and not score 500 is criminal and Abdullah Shafique is guilty for large part of it. That's the harsh truth.

I hope Pakistani batsmen can move on from the style of Azhar Ali and adopt a modern approach to Test match cricket. This does not mean going at 3.5 RPO every match. It only means that you look to score runs first and only stop when the situation demands it. I remember watching an interview of Kohli where he said that the first thought is that this delivery needs to go to the boundary. If the ball isn't there for a boundary, then the next thought is to score 3, then 2, then a single and then just defend it. That's how the mindset works. Our mindset is the exact opposite. Defend for a 0 first.

I hope when the time comes for Azhar Ali to retire, we replace him with someone who will look to score at 50 SR and dominate the game when set.
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Good post and sheds a light on the timid nature of batsmen to come out of Pakistan in the last decade or so. With the resumption of home cricket and the likes of Babar leading the way, hopefully this trend will change.

Azhar was a solid enough defensive batsman a few years ago, but is well past it now. It's sad that he's only getting picked so he can reach 100 Tests despite his lack of impact.
 
Azhar’s whole game is based on relying on someone else to make the telling runs while he just scratches around. I seriously think (as with Misbah and other similar players) the opposition are not even seriously bothered whether he gets out or not. They concentrate at the other end while he creates pressure for them at his end. Win win
 
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