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Concerns about Azhar Ali and Imam-ul-Haq as a Test opening partnership

Markhor

T20I Captain
Joined
Aug 18, 2010
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This winter will see Pakistan play three Test series against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - and we should expect all three opponents to have good new ball bowlers. Therefore it is critical we have a settled opening combination.

It's likely Imam-ul-Haq will continue to partner Azhar Ali who are fine players individually but I've concerns about them batting together. Let's look at the opening stands so far:

1) Ireland Test - 13-1 after 8 overs (Imam went the next ball) in the 1st inns and 2-1 after the fourth ball.

2) Lord's - 12-1 after 5 overs and 12-1 after 2.3 overs.

3) Headingley - 0-1 after 2 overs (17-2 after 9 overs) and 20-1 after 4 overs.

In the three Tests they've opened together, they've consumed a lot of deliveries without moving the scoreboard along. Then one of them gets out putting an inexperienced middle order under early pressure. You can argue they've faced tough early season English/Irish conditions where the new ball has hooped around and they deserve to open together in the UAE. I'm all for giving this pair the Australia Tests.

However I feel long-term Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman would complement each other's batting better as we saw in the Champions Trophy. Fakhar has a higher FC average than Imam and has been working on his defensive technique with Grant Flower. I think he has a better defensive game than Sharjeel who was trialled in Tests back in Sydney last year.

People will say it'd affect his white ball form but a good player should be able to adapt between formats in the modern game. There's minimal lateral movement with the new ball in UAE and he can put pressure on the opposition bowlers early.
 
Will Pakistan play against all three of them in uae or away from home?
 
It's a concern once they have seen the new ball. You can't dead bat in modern day test cricket once you are set. You should be able to rotate strike and put the loose balls away.

Whoever opens needs to be able to rotate strike and put the loose balls away.
 
I'd just open with Fakhar and Imam and put Azhar back down to 3. Azhar's form has been a bit worrying so might as well drop him back down to 3, and let the ODI opening pair open. We have space for all three anyway.
 
Azhar should be playing at 3. Pakistan are wasting the number 3 slot on Haris who is much better suited to No.5 or 6. Also Azhar is still our best test batsman and should be batting at 3 rather than opening. Open with Fakhar and Imam
 
They didn't really get best of conditions in Ireland and were up against Anderson/Broad in England. Too early to judge.
 
I would be very surprised if Fakhar doesn't open in one of the upcoming UAE series. He will need to adjust his game to the UAE wickets as he prefers the ball coming on to the bat.

If Fakhar opens, the only worry would be the management being tempted in moving Azhar down to three (again). Hope that doesn't happen.
 
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