Can Sarfraz Ahmed change the mindset of the Test team post Misbah-ul-Haq?

[fazleefridi]

We all know, test cricket is the true format, which tests your concentration, temperament and technique.

Yet, you gotta score at a str.rate of 55-60.

Since few months, pakistan has gone from bad to worse.

Azhar, Misbah and Younis scored less than 40 str. Rate.

Babar and Asad at 40+(still unacceptable).

Just sarfraz scored at a good/ brilliant str.rate.

When your captain scores 1(51), how can he motivate the team.

With this, you can never win matches, as there won3 be enough time to take 20 wickets.

Next captain would be Sarfraz.

Can he change the mindset if the team to score at a decent str.rate? Atleast 55+.

 

[fazleefridi]

I personally reckon, he would bring some change in their approach.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

personal will be the bigger issue.

 

[Sports_Psychologist]

Obviously he will do better... A hyper approach in tests might not be good idea while bowling... But the batting approach of the team is definitely going to change I can bet my life on that..

 

[JibranAnsari]

Misbah is going and younis was good most of these 7 years with his SR. Hafeez never had issue with strike rate in test matches , shehzad , well ,is shehzad.

The once who is replacing misbah/younis is usman salahuddin and he isnt a very good rotator of strike either.

Changing azhar wont be much productive really , he might lose his abilty to score runs.

 

[last_knight]

Atm, I'm not convinced if Sarfaraz can lead for 450 overs. Have seen him lose composure in ODIs.

Need to give him 7-8 matches first to learn it.

 

[Zak_Fan]

He can change the mindset, but not the ability. Most Pakistani's batsmen don't bat slow out of choice, it is the only thing they know.

 

[New Yorker]

Misbah is going and younis was good most of these 7 years with his SR. Hafeez never had issue with strike rate in test matches , shehzad , well ,is shehzad.

The once who is replacing misbah/younis is usman salahuddin and he isnt a very good rotator of strike either.

Changing azhar wont be much productive really , he might lose his abilty to score runs.

Fawad, if selected, is a diligent strike rotator.

 

[Saj]

I think the mindset will change but it depends if the players buy into the new setup.

Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood are not quick scorers in Test cricket.

 

[Rayyman]

I think the mindset will change but it depends if the players buy into the new setup.

Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood are not quick scorers in Test cricket.

Yea neither is Usman Salahuddin they should drop him

 

[Saj]

Yea neither is Usman Salahuddin they should drop him

Yes he's been terrible carrying the drinks. Done a lousy job.

 

[Big Mac]

Yes he's been terrible carrying the drinks. Done a lousy job.

If he was talented he wouldn't be be running out with drinks in his hands. He'd ride out there on a motorcycle with a super soaker and and soak the hell out of everybody on the field before doing a wheelie and zooming into the stands.

So he carried the drinks, so what? They used to carry drinks in the 50s and 70s, we need a modern approach to being 12th man now.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Yes he's been terrible carrying the drinks. Done a lousy job.

Sr of 42 in FC , yah he has scored runs but don't we want a departure from our current style of batting. Sami , shehzad , azhar , salahuddin and shafiq ; all will bat with srs in 30s and 40s. How are we every going to change the 'mindset' with the guys who arent capable of conforming to that mindset.

 

[Global Insight]

If he was talented he wouldn't be be running out with drinks in his hands. He'd ride out there on a motorcycle with a super soaker and and soak the hell out of everybody on the field before doing a wheelie and zooming into the stands.

So he carried the drinks, so what? They used to carry drinks in the 50s and 70s, we need a modern approach to being 12th man now.

Bring out the iPhones and take selfies during breaks?

 

[fazleefridi]

Sr of 42 in FC , yah he has scored runs but don't we want a departure from our current style of batting. Sami , shehzad , azhar , salahuddin and shafiq ; all will bat with srs in 30s and 40s. How are we every going to change the 'mindset' with the guys who arent capable of conforming to that mindset.

Ideally, this should have been the line up

Sharjeel
Azhar
Haris
Babar
Shafiq/Salahuddin
Sarfraz
Tallat(3rd seamer in UAE)

Three lefties in top 7, but now you have 7 right hand batsmen in top 7.

 

[Saj]

If he was talented he wouldn't be be running out with drinks in his hands. He'd ride out there on a motorcycle with a super soaker and and soak the hell out of everybody on the field before doing a wheelie and zooming into the stands.

So he carried the drinks, so what? They used to carry drinks in the 50s and 70s, we need a modern approach to being 12th man now.

It's also the way he made the drinks which is a problem. Made the orange juice too strong and then got the energy drinks mixed up. Could only carry 3 drinks at a time which is not up to the required rate.

Should never play for Pakistan

 

[MRSN]

It's also the way he made the drinks which is a problem. Made the orange juice too strong and then got the energy drinks mixed up. Could only carry 3 drinks at a time which is not up to the required rate.

Should never play for Pakistan

you can't expect Misbah to drop his buddy on a farewell series can you?

 

[Big Mac]

It's also the way he made the drinks which is a problem. Made the orange juice too strong and then got the energy drinks mixed up. Could only carry 3 drinks at a time which is not up to the required rate.

Should never play for Pakistan

He made a crucial error by using Robinsons squash instead of half a tin of Tang.

Needs to go back to domestic cricket for a season and work on his game.

 

[shaz619]

If he was talented he wouldn't be be running out with drinks in his hands. He'd ride out there on a motorcycle with a super soaker and and soak the hell out of everybody on the field before doing a wheelie and zooming into the stands.

So he carried the drinks, so what? They used to carry drinks in the 50s and 70s, we need a modern approach to being 12th man now.

It's also the way he made the drinks which is a problem. Made the orange juice too strong and then got the energy drinks mixed up. Could only carry 3 drinks at a time which is not up to the required rate.

Should never play for Pakistan

He made a crucial error by using Robinsons squash instead of half a tin of Tang.

Needs to go back to domestic cricket for a season and work on his game.

) Top banter, pretty much fan mentality in 2017 [MENTION=47617]Red Devil[/MENTION]

 

[Rayyman]

On topic I feel like the Test team is dead, but Sarfraz will put more life into it.

 

[GreenShirts]

I will be pleasantly surprised if he manages to do so.

 

[Mo Dipsy]

He can change the mindset, but not the ability. Most Pakistani's batsmen don't bat slow out of choice, it is the only thing they know.

Well said. Imagine Azhar trying to bat like Warner - can't happen

 

[Big Mac]

Well said. Imagine Azhar trying to bat like Warner - can't happen

Agreed, Azhar will actually score runs in the subcontinent.

 

[Square Drive]

He can and he will.

The cancerous mentality will be no more.

 

[Sarfarazian92]

Nothing will change.

 

[Saj]

you can't expect Misbah to drop his buddy on a farewell series can you?

We are talking about Usman Salahuddin. No idea who you are talking about or where Misbah came from.

 

[Saj]

He made a crucial error by using Robinsons squash instead of half a tin of Tang.

Needs to go back to domestic cricket for a season and work on his game.

Wrong size bottle also. In addition brought water bottles out that were not room temperature.

Really poor from Salahuddin - ban him.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

He will.

 

[Hawkeye]

Yes, just like he changed the ODI mindset.

Screams, shouts, makes everyone nervous just in the span of 50 overs. Imagine what's going to happen in 5 days.

 

[Speedster777]

If Azhar Ali becomes the Test captain then forget about any change of mindset. he's another tuk tuk player with defensive mentality like Misbah and would carry on the downward spiral.

 

[Abdullah719]

If Azhar Ali becomes the Test captain then forget about any change of mindset. he's another tuk tuk player with defensive mentality like Misbah and would carry on the downward spiral.

He just gave up the vice-captaincy.

 

[Junaids]

I think the mindset will change but it depends if the players buy into the new setup.

Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood are not quick scorers in Test cricket.

No, but if you go back and read Mickey Arthur's interviews it seems clear to me that he intends for Umar Akmal to replace one of the two retirees and an all-rounder to replace the other.

Which I know is not popular here.

So I'm thinking:

3. Babar Azam
4. Asad Shafiq
5. Umar Akmal
6. Sarfraz Ahmed
7. Aamer Yamin or Mohammad Nawaz

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

No, but if you go back and read Mickey Arthur's interviews it seems clear to me that he intends for Umar Akmal to replace one of the two retirees and an all-rounder to replace the other.

Which I know is not popular here.

So I'm thinking:

3. Babar Azam
4. Asad Shafiq
5. Umar Akmal
6. Sarfraz Ahmed
7. Aamer Yamin or Mohammad Nawaz

Ahh Yes..... a guy who has not scored an FC/Domestic/Competitive Cricket Ton in FIVE YEARS should be drafted into the test team without any selection or filtering criteria.

And please don't bring in his 38.xx away average from a million years ago that has become as irrelevant to the context today as Bill Clinton's presidency era.....

 

[Syed1]

Don't think Sarfaraz will be able to bring a massive change since this problem runs far too deep in our cricket. When supposedly the next big things in Imam-ul-Haq and Imran Butt are batting at SR of 70 in ODIs and happy after scoring a 130 ball 100 then you know you have massive issues.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Sarfraz can't make Azhar bat at 50+ SR. At best Younis and Misbah's replacements might bat at better strike rates.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Sarfraz can't make Azhar bat at 50+ SR. At best Younis and Misbah's replacements might bat at better strike rates.

Younis has had a pretty decent strike rate of 50 plus , do not expect salahuddin to do that.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Younis has had a pretty decent strike rate of 50 plus , do not expect salahuddin to do that.

Younis plays too slow early in the inning but once he crosses 100, he bats at 70+ SR who has improved his overall SR.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Wrong size bottle also. In addition brought water bottles out that were not room temperature.

Really poor from Salahuddin - ban him.

while people calling for Salahuddin to be axed completely are wrong, I'm still disappointed with the lack of nuance in this discussion.
He SHOULD NOT, be discarded completely from the squad, but there are other players who better are better pics given the problems we face.

While Usman had a great first class season, his strike rate of 42 was comfortably the lowest of any of the top scorers. While he cant be a good player for us, there are better options.

In the same tournament Fawad was striking at 64 and we all know about his career average.

Haris Sohail gives you a decent part timeer, a left hander, a guy averages over 50 and person we know who can play pace well.

We need to start looking at the roles a player has to undertake, rather than blindly picking people based on runs scored.

If asad fails, that opens the door for Usman, either way im sure he will get his chance, but I think others need a a go first

 

[umerz]

Fawad Alam should be brought in to the team he is very good with strike rotation and we all know he can play big innings. Sarfraz should come at 6 he has been our 2nd best batsman during past 2 years and he hardly gets the time to score some big runs. At 7 we require a good all rounder

 

[MRSN]

We are talking about Usman Salahuddin. No idea who you are talking about or where Misbah came from.

he should have replaced Asad Shafiq who has been nothing but a passenger in last few series barring one knock.

 

[Saj]

No, but if you go back and read Mickey Arthur's interviews it seems clear to me that he intends for Umar Akmal to replace one of the two retirees and an all-rounder to replace the other.

Which I know is not popular here.

So I'm thinking:

3. Babar Azam
4. Asad Shafiq
5. Umar Akmal
6. Sarfraz Ahmed
7. Aamer Yamin or Mohammad Nawaz

No chance. Would be suicidal.

 

[ahsan_888]

I really dont think there would be any huge change . Players like Azhar Ali and Shafiq wont get for those booming drives aur cuts , considering they are gonna be the back bone of our batting lineup . Yeah some changes like introducing new players like Fakhar Zaman and playing Shadab might bring some changes, which will only come if Sarfraz stands on his desicions