Bring Fakhar Zaman into the Test team!

[LegendInzi]

This approach to batting is downright pathetic and embarrassing to say the least.

Every batsman is playing like negotiating a mine blast. So tentative, unsure and scared! What I don't understand is that why don't you 'build up' once set and given a platform. Every batsman comes in and eats up a 100 balls to get their eyes in. Only to dismissed with a SR in early 30s.

Now, I understand this pitch doesn't have a result in it, but my God, where the intent!?!

I honestly feel we need a Fakhar Zaman kind of player up top to pull the team out of their tuk tuk comfort zone of pre-CT.

 

[Syed1]

No he is too fast for the Pakistani test side. You have to bat at SR of less than 40 to qualify for Pakistani test team selection.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Absolutely. I was against this initially but after watching the match today, I've realised how one dimensional our batting is. Not a SINGLE player that has the ability to bat over an SR of 40 (40!!).

He makes the team solely on merit. One of the best players of spin we have and a guys batsman. Pakistan play an extremely boring version of Test cricket which isn't even needed at most times.

 

[Rana]

Absolutely. I was against this initially but after watching the match today, I've realised how one dimensional our batting is. Not a SINGLE player that has the ability to bat over an SR of 40 (40!!).

He makes the team solely on merit. One of the best players of spin we have and a guys batsman. Pakistan play an extremely boring version of Test cricket which isn't even needed at most times.

Agree with everything you said but im not sure where you came up with this from? He looks wanting to get out against spin in limited overs cricket

 

[ExpressPacer]

Agree with everything you said but im not sure where you came up with this from? He looks wanting to get out against spin in limited overs cricket

I have heard a lot of people saying he's good versus spin, with many rating him over Sharjeel because of Zaman's superior technique against spin. Also heard Mickey praising him for his game versus spin in an interview.

And anyway, the way the guy molested some of the better spinners in Jaddu and Ashwin, you can't help but see he's very good versus spin.

 

[Hasan123]

I'm not against him playing in tests. I wouldn't play him as an opener as he could be vulnerable versus the new ball. I think he could do a good job in the middle order.

 

[mak36]

I have heard a lot of people saying he's good versus spin, with many rating him over Sharjeel because of Zaman's superior technique against spin. Also heard Mickey praising him for his game versus spin in an interview.

And anyway, the way the guy molested some of the better spinners in Jaddu and Ashwin, you can't help but see he's very good versus spin.

He feasted on the spinners in PSL too.

 

[Syed1]

Fakhar Zaman will become a better LOI batsman by playing tests too.

 

[mak36]

It's definitely on the cards. Here's what Mickey said recently:

“I am excited about Fakhar who — possessing a very aggressive batting technique in ODIs — is the right replacement of Sharjeel in ODIs.

Fakhar however is still in learning stage and we have to continue to work on him in order to develop his defence so that he may also do well in Test cricket, as Australia’s David Warner has done after acquiring a strong defence technique.”

 

[Markhor]

The strike rotation issues are valid.

However let's for once in our history play the right players for the right formats. Fakhar Zaman does not have the technique to succeed in Tests. He doesn't play the short ball well, we saw how Morkel worked him over in the World XI series.

Performances in matches against the white Kookaburra that doesn't swing an inch after a couple of overs on flat pitches does not mean you are equipped to play Test cricket.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Fakhar Zaman will become a better LOI batsman by playing tests too.

Exactly. The comfort of being able to spend as much as time as he wants on the crease is going to improve his shot-making ability.

 

[Syed1]

The strike rotation issues are valid.

However let's for once in our history play the right players for the right formats. Fakhar Zaman does not have the technique to succeed in Tests. He doesn't play the short ball well, we saw how Morkel worked him over in the World XI series.

Performances in matches against the white Kookaburra that doesn't swing an inch after a couple of overs on flat pitches does not mean you are equipped to play Test cricket.

They said short ball this short ball that when they first saw him in T20s too. Good batsmen find a way to succeed even with their limitations. Definitely worth a shot. We aren't going to be winning much with nightwatchman Sami Aslam and fitness-guru Shan Masood opening the batting for us.

 

[mak36]

They said short ball this short ball that when they first saw him in T20s too. Good batsmen find a way to succeed even with their limitations. Definitely worth a shot. We aren't going to be winning much with nightwatchman Sami Aslam and fitness-guru Shan Masood opening the batting for us.

I agree with giving Zaman a go in tests, but calling Aslam a tailender is grossly unfair. He is a very good batsmen. He has already shown he is exactly the type of opener you need in places where the opening 20 overs can make or break the test (England etc). He just needs to work on aspects of his game, like adjusting approach according to the conditions etc.

He will come good.

 

[troodon]

Fakhar does not have the technique to counter initial swing with new ball. But he has fast hands and ability to hit.

Since Pak plus most of its matches in UAE, his technique will not be exposed much.

 

[Plumb]

Seriously... we play too slow no matter what the opposition/bowlers/pitch is we will play "WiTh Caution" comon now show some guts and play some shots on dead pitches at least.

 

[troodon]

In this day and age, you cannot have too many players with strike rates in high 30's even in Test cricket.

Fakhar will bring a breath of fresh air to Pak Test team.

 

[ego-gambit]

Fakhar would definitely score runs look at dickewella so positive while batting

 

[htariq25]

Good idea actually didn't think of it. I think he is a good option for The test series vs England next year.

 

[QalandarFan]

Exactly what I've been saying for a while now we need a player like him in the team. He could do well in the middle order.

 

[Abdul]

Sure, if he replaces Masood.

 

[Kroll]

The strike rotation issues are valid.

However let's for once in our history play the right players for the right formats. Fakhar Zaman does not have the technique to succeed in Tests. He doesn't play the short ball well, we saw how Morkel worked him over in the World XI series.

Performances in matches against the white Kookaburra that doesn't swing an inch after a couple of overs on flat pitches does not mean you are equipped to play Test cricket.

Same thing was said by many in regards to inducting him into the LOI setup. If there's one attribut you need for test cricket it is mental fortitude which Fakhar possesses in spades. I think he'd be a better pick than Masood at least.

 

[backfootpunch]

The strike rotation issues are valid.

However let's for once in our history play the right players for the right formats. Fakhar Zaman does not have the technique to succeed in Tests. He doesn't play the short ball well, we saw how Morkel worked him over in the World XI series.

Performances in matches against the white Kookaburra that doesn't swing an inch after a couple of overs on flat pitches does not mean you are equipped to play Test cricket.

You sound like a guy who gets nightmares watching Fakhar Zaman and dreams watching Sami Aslam and his defensive colleagues. #defensivemindset

 

[Im Suds]

Totally agree with OP

 

[mak36]

The strike rotation issues are valid.

However let's for once in our history play the right players for the right formats. Fakhar Zaman does not have the technique to succeed in Tests. He doesn't play the short ball well, we saw how Morkel worked him over in the World XI series.

Performances in matches against the white Kookaburra that doesn't swing an inch after a couple of overs on flat pitches does not mean you are equipped to play Test cricket.

The same was said about Sharjeel.

 

[Markhor]

You sound like a guy who gets nightmares watching Fakhar Zaman and dreams watching Sami Aslam and his defensive colleagues. #defensivemindset

No I'll have a nightnare watching Fakhar nick off against Anderson and Broad on a seaming Headingley wicket next May, or get worked over by Morne Morkel in South Africa next winter exposing his short-ball weakness like he did in the World XI series.

We just drew a series in England with Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam opening - why do you want to change that ? In England and South Africa you need two openers who know their off-stump.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Fakhar does not have the technique to counter initial swing with new ball. But he has fast hands and ability to hit.

Since Pak plus most of its matches in UAE, his technique will not be exposed much.

As someone who only watched FZ in CT: what is basis for that? Is he a complete mug vs swing?

 

[hadi123]

Ideally I would want Zaman in only white ball cricket but seeing as there are not many options in Pakistan for test openers this could be an option.
I want Aslam to be given a long run but apart from him there are the likes of Masood/Butt/Ahmed Shehzad or Azhar Ali. I don't rate Shehzad or Masood that much. If none of them are good enough we may as well introduce Zaman as batting too slow will more often than not lead to draws/losses, even in tests.

 

[Savak]

No thanks. Don't want him to turn into another Sami Aslam.

 

[Slog]

To be honest it seemed that Mickey was open to the idea of having Sharjeel Khan play in tests. It's clear that Grant flower was working with Sharjeel on tightening his defence and show patience in shot selection and Sharjeel had showed improvement in this regard.

Sharjeel played the last test on the Australia tour and if he hadn't been banned there was no reason to think he wouldn't have a shot at being a test regular.

Also the team management had sent him on the 2016 A team tour to England so it was clear that for a while they had identified the potential his game brings into test cricket

Clearly he was identified as a potential test batsman. Unfortunately in Pakistan cricket you can plan all you want but often things just don't work out the way you thought they would

I definitely believe Sharjeel had a better adaptable game to test cricket as his risk taking was lower but let's see if Fakhar is given same chances

Definitely we need a batsman asides from Sarfaraz who can force the issue in UAE tests

 

[backfootpunch]

No I'll have a nightnare watching Fakhar nick off against Anderson and Broad on a seaming Headingley wicket next May, or get worked over by Morne Morkel in South Africa next winter exposing his short-ball weakness like he did in the World XI series.

We just drew a series in England with Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam opening - why do you want to change that ? In England and South Africa you need two openers who know their off-stump.

I agree he isn't ready to open but why can't he bat at say 5 or 6? Pakistan has all defensive (sub 50 SR) batsman batting from 1-6, they desperately need at least someone who can up the tempo otherwise this team will not challenge bowling line ups away from UAE; where they can get away with attrition cricket. They will get bogged down like we saw in Aus, NZ and 3rd test in England last year with very little runs on the board.

Shafiq clearly isn't good enough at this level and his average is creeping downwards due to his mental inabilities despite his technical capabilities. On the other hand Fakhar Zaman is 10x Asad Shafiq mentally as a cricketer and his technique will only get better and I don't think at the moment it will be challenged severely in UAE if he gets to bat lower middle order.

 

[another drop catch]

Thanks but no thanks
this is test cricket not t20 or ODI

 

[lehen]

I think, this guy can do a Warner for pakistan cricket, good try

 

[Adil_94]

Fakhar could do a much better job as a number 6 than the timid Shafiq.