Bilal Asif - The Test match bowler

[Saj]

First time I am watching him bowl and I am very impressed.

Tall, lovely loop, flights the ball so well and spins the ball both ways.

Easy, languid run-up. Bowls in good areas with very few loose deliveries.

Has plenty of varieties and his wrist-work with the ball is superb.

 

[Kohli The King of Chase]

Very tall and he's getting good bounce.

That bounce has given him few wickets here.

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

Think he will be reported -CHUCKS

 

[mak36]

Think he will be reported -CHUCKS

No he doesn't. He was well within the limits when he was first tested. He just has a very strong/flexible wrist.

 

[Saj]

Think he will be reported -CHUCKS

His action was cleared previously in 2015.

 

[90MPH]

Think he will be reported -CHUCKS

It’s his wrist.

And wasn’t he already tested but found to be cleared ?

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

His action was cleared previously in 2015.

Series against Aussies and he is getting wickets, how long before he gets reported again

Doesnt have a straight action so might be misleading to the viewers like me

 

[gazza619]

Bilal Asif can be a regular as he has some batting capabilities as well as a lower order pinch hitter. I love bowlers who can bat.

 

[mak36]

First time I am watching him bowl and I am very impressed.

Tall, lovely loop, flights the ball so well and spins the ball both ways.

Easy, languid run-up. Bowls in good areas with very few loose deliveries.

Has plenty of varieties and his wrist-work with the ball is superb.

If you check his thread, I have saying this for a while now. Great to see him finally get his chance.

I think his first entry into international cricket as a batsman put a lot of people off him tbh.

 

[MenInG]

Ticking all the boxes so far!

 

[Rana]

Perfect kind of player. He would fit into all 3 formats as he would be highly useful

 

[Amjid Javed]

Nice cluster of 4 wickets, bowled with good loop and flight and hes got the Aussie batsmen coming and reaching for ball or flashing with in decision, excellent so far in his 1st test.

 

[Abid Z]

Wow this bowler is something else! Lovely tall upright easy going action. Shows the back of the hand to the batsman so impossible to pick out of the hand. Gets bounce and turn and lovely variation in speed and flight. More importantly knows how to use it and has loads of patience to sit and settle into a rhythm. I think his slower flighted balls are around 49 mph and the average ones are 55 with a top speed of 59. Have to check.

Now I can understand that some people may think he chucks but he’s just bowling with a curled wrist. In slow mo he only has a very insignificant kink. It’s his early release that prevents any straightening.

Lovely lovely off spinner, somebody that has been missing from this line up in ages to partner all the bowlers that take the ball away from the right handers.

 

[jazbati]

good bowling but will be reported

 

[Mirpur express]

Think he will be reported -CHUCKS

you think wrong*

 

[Mirpur express]

good bowling but will be reported

Here we go another expert *

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Very impressed. Could be a big find.

 

[Bubby]

Think he will be reported -CHUCKS

His action definitely looks very dodgy much more than hafeez so won't be surprised.

 

[Hasan123]

Very good start. Will do a good job in these type of conditions. Just need a left arm off spinner now.

 

[Bubby]

you think wrong*

he is not wrong, his dusra is deffo questionable, infact very questionable offies is okay but yes even without sleeves his action especially dusra is not clean, one can clearly see. If hafeez is reported, this guy has a far worse action while bowling dusra.

 

[Saj]

Spinners who have taken 5 wickets on Test debut for Pakistan:

Bilal Asif today against Australia
Shahid Afridi in 1998 against Australia
Mohammad Nazir in 1969 against New Zealand

 

[Bubby]

Spinners who have taken 5 wickets on Test debut for Pakistan:

Bilal Asif today against Australia
Shahid Afridi in 1998 against Australia
Mohammad Nazir in 1969 against New Zealand

Saj what do you think of his action especially dusra, deffo doesn't looks clean

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Bilal doesn't chuck.

Whattay performance.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

I havent seen his doosra though.

If anyone can post his doosra Youtube video, i will tell you if he chucks or not.

His conventional offspin is clean.

 

[Bubby]

I havent seen his doosra though.


If anyone can post his doosra Youtube video, i will tell you if he chucks or not.

His conventional offspin is clean.

His doosra is pretty similar to Johan Botha albeit at a slower pace, not as bad as Ajmal but worse than hafeez. So I won't be surprised if this guy gets reported.

 

[Pete Rose]

Not sure about his action

 

[hussain.r97]

Finally, we have a decent offie to pair with Yasir.

 

[angrypathan]

He's bowling in half sleeves there's no way he chucks

 

[hussain.r97]

Haven't seen his doosra, but looking at all the different camera angles in slow motion, he looks totally clean. You get the impression he chucks because of his wrist position.

 

[Boi]

AND To think Mickey wasn’t going to play him if Shadab was fit!

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

AND To think Mickey wasn’t going to play him if Shadab was fit!

Most of the ppers were mocking him too.

Imagine if he wasnt playing today.

 

[sali]

Why wasn't he brought in earlier when Ajmal dropped out? Much better than Nawaz and others Pakistan has been playing.

 

[Saj]

Saj what do you think of his action especially dusra, deffo doesn't looks clean

It's unorthodox, but it looks ok to me.

It's the overspin with his wrist that comes over the top that makes it look like he's chucking.

 

[the Great Khan]

Haven't seen his doosra, but looking at all the different camera angles in slow motion, he looks totally clean. You get the impression he chucks because of his wrist position.

His action was cleared in India of all places and he has not had to face any bans etc..he is clean..until he plays against India then theyll call him..dont be surprised if the aussies start their cheating mind games too..

 

[ads101]

What a debut so far. We've been needing a good offspinner to join our ranks, really fantastic for us that he's performing.

 

[Pakhs]

So far he has looked good and we were missing an off spinner.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

He sure has surprised quite a lot of people.

 

[Sher Khan]

His action seems okay but it is deceptive.

 

[Josh]

Was extracting good bounce on dead wickets.

 

[Barragan]

His action is clean!

He's very wristy and that may create an illusion, but put his action on slow-mo and you will see it is clean.

Wrists have nothing to do with chucking, so even if he is reported, then it won't make much of a difference because he is clean and in fact, passed a test previously is well.

 

[Bewal Express]

good bowling but will be reported

I havent seen today but surely the worst that can happen is that he will be stopped from bowling the doosra. His stock ball is ok.

 

[Rana]

Any exciting off spinner will always be targeted in a witch hunt for their action. Something needs to change, I’m not saying Chucking should be allowed but i feel the margin for leeway is just too small at 15 degrees.

 

[Amjid Javed]

6 wickets in one inns, should be aiming for 10 in match.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

He will not be reported unless biased decision comes

 

[Abid Z]

I havent seen today but surely the worst that can happen is that he will be stopped from bowling the doosra. His stock ball is ok.

If you haven’t seen him bowl today (his first test match) then best not comment. His doosra is very clean there is no discernible difference in his action when bowling it. It’s more like his top spinner that jumps and bounces that little bit more. Doesn’t turn that much it’s just the bounce that is so effective.

 

[Syed1]

He should have been selected for the Asia Cup

 

[Syed1]

His action is clean!

He's very wristy and that may create an illusion, but put his action on slow-mo and you will see it is clean.

Wrists have nothing to do with chucking, so even if he is reported, then it won't make much of a difference because he is clean and in fact, passed a test previously is well.

He was called previously by biased Indian umpire, the official report of the testing said he was WELL WITHIN THE LIMIT.... so I have no doubts that his action is clean.

 

[ARK Rafay]

As long as this rule stays. I don't there will be any new upcoming off spinners in the world.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

AND To think Mickey wasn’t going to play him if Shadab was fit!

Even Shadab wasn't played last year in favor of a third seamer on these pitches. #JustMickeyThings

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Looks like a very good spinner, even better than how he bowled in that Zim series and the sole ODI against England in 2015.
However saying that, he is not an allrounder, just a specialist offie who can whack a few like Hasan Ali does.

 

[Barragan]

He was called previously by biased Indian umpire, the official report of the testing said he was WELL WITHIN THE LIMIT.... so I have no doubts that his action is clean.

Exactly.

Honestly speaking, umps can report him, but he will come back 100% clean.

He is wearing a half-sleeved shirt and you can clearly see the action has no kink and is relatively straight.

Being wristy is not chucking.

 

[Plumb]

After 1st innings heroics we are ready to build the hype .

 

[Savak]

His height is a huge asset. Compared to Yasir, he was getting a lot more bounce on this flat pitch which added to the anxiety of the batsmen

 

[Nikhil_cric]

He was called previously by biased Indian umpire, the official report of the testing said he was WELL WITHIN THE LIMIT.... so I have no doubts that his action is clean.

There was no Indian umpire in that match in Zimbabwe .

 

[hafizexpress]

This is a lot of hyping for a debut performance, although he did look good.

If he continues performing good no reason why he can't play for another 7-8 years as he's only a lower order batsman and spinner.

 

[Boi]

Most of the ppers were mocking him too.

Imagine if he wasnt playing today.

PPers can be excused but the coach atleast needs to be a better judge of conditions and players’ talents. Mickey has been disappointing on that part.

 

[Bewal Express]

His height is a huge asset. Compared to Yasir, he was getting a lot more bounce on this flat pitch which added to the anxiety of the batsmen

I have just snippets and his action looked ok, whats your view?

 

[Savak]

I have just snippets and his action looked ok, whats your view?

Just meeting the 15 degree requirement

 

[Bewal Express]

Just meeting the 15 degree requirement

Lets see how this develops. For me only Saqis doosra was clean and hope he is the 2nd.

 

[Bilal7]

Very good start. Will do a good job in these type of conditions. Just need a left arm off spinner now.

Lol, this guy (and some others) were calling for Inzamam's head because he selected Bilal and Shadab over the Muralis and Heraths wrecking the FC circuit.

 

[Bilal7]

He should have been selected for the Asia Cup

He's 33 years old so not a long term option. However, he can do a good holding job until our younger spinners develop further.

 

[Hasan123]

Lol, this guy (and some others) were calling for Inzamam's head because he selected Bilal and Shadab over the Muralis and Heraths wrecking the FC circuit.

I had an issue with Shadab selection. I didn't have that much of a problem with Bilal selection. I wanted another specialist spinner and if we had 1 , Australia would have probably been dismissed earlier.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Credit to Bilal Asif, very good performance. However, we should be careful with the hype. Let him perform consistently in the current season, before we can jump on the bandwagon. Has probably won Pakistan this test though, so great job and good luck for the coming challenges.

 

[Titan24]

I am not sure why he never played for Pak post his ODI debut series against Zimbabwe. His action was cleared by ICC back then but he never played again that time around.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

I am not sure why he never played for Pak post his ODI debut series against Zimbabwe. His action was cleared by ICC back then but he never played again that time around.

Not reliable with the bat. They already had Hafeez and later Imad Wasim for the allrounders spot.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Few days ago some posters were taking offence at the fact that he was playing as a front-line spinner and arguing he shouldn't have been selected. No I can only assume that they are all eating humble pie

 

[Bilal7]

I had an issue with Shadab selection. I didn't have that much of a problem with Bilal selection. I wanted another specialist spinner and if we had 1 , Australia would have probably been dismissed earlier.

Lol. How would that be? You would play a no-namer over Yasir Shah or you think that one of these Muralis and Warnes would have taken a 7-wicket haul?

 

[New Yorker]

Lol, this guy (and some others) were calling for Inzamam's head because he selected Bilal and Shadab over the Muralis and Heraths wrecking the FC circuit.

Inzimam may well feel vindicated with this selection. Good for him. But the fact that Bilal has done well surely does not mean that there are not more good bowlers in the domestic circuit. Kashif Bhatti's numbers are simply eye watering and he has been in tremendous form recently. I really want to see him play too. In hindsight I don't understand why neither he nor Bilal were not selected for the Asia Cup. Shadab is simply not a 3-4 wickets a game kind of strike bowler.

 

[New Yorker]

Lol. How would that be? You would play a no-namer over Yasir Shah or you think that one of these Muralis and Warnes would have taken a 7-wicket haul?

This is silly. The question was about Shadab's selection, not Yasir's. Would Shadab have taken a 7 fer in this game? Understanding that at least one backup spinner selected would sit out for Yasir, you would still want to pick the best one. Shadab has a good domestic record, but if one is looking for a specialist spinner, there are players who have done better. So it is fair to debate the selection.

 

[Hasan123]

Lol. How would that be? You would play a no-namer over Yasir Shah or you think that one of these Muralis and Warnes would have taken a 7-wicket haul?

I wouldn't have dropped Yasir. Stop embarrassing yourself to defend Inzi ).

Could have dropped Wahab for another finger spinner.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

13 overs for no wicket so far in the second innings. Is it a case of they will come tomorrow, or perhaps Aussies have been able to play him better after analysing his bowling from the first innings?

 

[Bilal7]

This is silly. The question was about Shadab's selection, not Yasir's. Would Shadab have taken a 7 fer in this game? Understanding that at least one backup spinner selected would sit out for Yasir, you would still want to pick the best one. Shadab has a good domestic record, but if one is looking for a specialist spinner, there are players who have done better. So it is fair to debate the selection.

Shadab deserves his chance more than anyone else. Why would you suddenly discard a promising, young bowler who has found some success at the international level for another guy who may or may not be as good? That is not how you develop young players. They need to be given time.

I wouldn't have dropped Yasir. Stop embarrassing yourself to defend Inzi ).

Could have dropped Wahab for another finger spinner.

Playing three spinners is a bone-headed move most of the time but when you have two very capable part-time spinners in Hafeez and Haris in the team, it makes you question the sanity of the person making the suggestion.

 

[Bilal7]

Inzimam may well feel vindicated with this selection. Good for him. But the fact that Bilal has done well surely does not mean that there are not more good bowlers in the domestic circuit. Kashif Bhatti's numbers are simply eye watering and he has been in tremendous form recently. I really want to see him play too. In hindsight I don't understand why neither he nor Bilal were not selected for the Asia Cup. Shadab is simply not a 3-4 wickets a game kind of strike bowler.

Bilal has been selected because he did well at the domestic level and because he is an off-spinner. We saw the damage he did.

Shadab may or may not be a strike bowler but he will never become one if he keeps getting discarded for the shiny new toy PP-ers are going ga-ga over.

 

[Hasan123]

Shadab deserves his chance more than anyone else. Why would you suddenly discard a promising, young bowler who has found some success at the international level for another guy who may or may not be as good? That is not how you develop young players. They need to be given time.



Playing three spinners is a bone-headed move most of the time but when you have two very capable part-time spinners in Hafeez and Haris in the team, it makes you question the sanity of the person making the suggestion.

Playing 3 spinners in spinning conditions is a bone head move when the opposition is weak against spin?

Haris hasn't even bowled in the game . So why mention him ?

 

[Bilal7]

Playing 3 spinners in spinning conditions is a bone head move when the opposition is weak against spin?

Haris hasn't even bowled in the game . So why mention him ?

Yes, because if the conditions are friendly towards spin, then two spinners are plenty enough since the opposition won't last long and if the conditions are not friendly towards spin, then playing three spinners is a liability.

Haris not being needed just tells you how useful a third specialist spinner would have been. So yeah, don't criticize the selections without looking at the performances first.

 

[PakLFC]

How many potentially great Pak spinners have faded away? He'll be another one like Raza Hasan. .

 

[Hasan123]

Yes, because if the conditions are friendly towards spin, then two spinners are plenty enough since the opposition won't last long and if the conditions are not friendly towards spin, then playing three spinners is a liability.

Haris not being needed just tells you how useful a third specialist spinner would have been. So yeah, don't criticize the selections without looking at the performances first.

There's no point in debating with you. If Inzi selected 3 spinners you would still defend that whilst here you are defending the selection of 2 spinners.

 

[New Yorker]

Bilal has been selected because he did well at the domestic level and because he is an off-spinner. We saw the damage he did.

Shadab may or may not be a strike bowler but he will never become one if he keeps getting discarded for the shiny new toy PP-ers are going ga-ga over.

There is a place for 'becoming' and it is called domestics . If you have bowler A who is taking 5-fers in domestics, and B who merely looks like he has the potential to in the future, it is perfectly reasonable to play A and let B work on himself for a while longer. It is not an an either/or situation. Shadab does have a bit more than mere promise in FC cricket, I will have to acknowledge, but if you compare the numbers, Kashif is quite ways ahead. And Shadab is only 20 (!!) He has all the time in the world to get better.

 

[New Yorker]

Bilal has been selected because he did well at the domestic level and because he is an off-spinner. We saw the damage he did.

Shadab may or may not be a strike bowler but he will never become one if he keeps getting discarded for the shiny new toy PP-ers are going ga-ga over.

We have yet to see if Bilal can sustain his form. Aussies picking him easily now. And he was not picked solely on domestic form, in FC cricket, that is clear going by his numbers, which while OK, are still reflective of a very small sample, and do not hold up to Kashif.

 

[wrongun]

He looks a good bowler, with that magic wrist that can bowl a legitimate doosra (don't forget he was NOT asked to remodel when tested, all his deliveries were CLEARED).

Bounce, flight. I think he's worth keeping around as those qualities mean that he can also succeed in foreign conditions, not just Asia.