Decoding Pakistan's bowling average challenges over the past five years

[FearlessRoar]

Among the cricketing powerhouses including India, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and England

Span: 2019-2024

Venue: Home/Away/Neutral

Pace+Spin

Tests:

Pakistan finds itself at the bottom, where India has valid reason to be giant of Test cricket.

• India: 23.75
• Australia: 26.18
• South Africa: 28.75
• New Zealand: 28.96
• England: 30.01
• Pakistan: 34.65

ODIs:

The struggle extends into One Day Internationals (ODIs) where Pakistan, unfortunately, holds the dubious honor of the worst bowling average among the powerhouse nations.

• India: 30.06
• South Africa: 31.34
• Australia: 32.14
• New Zealand: 32.45
• England: 33.09
• Pakistan: 35.85

T20Is:

In the T20I arena, Pakistan demonstrates a relatively better performance, though still trailing behind India and slightly better than England.

• New Zealand: 23.56
• Australia: 24.00
• India: 24.29
• South Africa: 24.82
• Pakistan: 25.50
• England: 25.69

Pakistan has this amazing history of churning out top-notch bowlers who could just tear down opposition batting line-ups. I mean, think about legends like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Abdul Qadir, and Saqlain Mushtaq.

But the situation right now is like a whole different ball game. As I mentioned, the stats from the last five years across formats show that the bowling average is the main concern. We have lost the fire. There's this one major thing that needs a closer look – the talent loop in Pakistan. It's not looking too hot. There's this missing piece, a robust system that used to be there.

It's not rocket science, but it's a bit of a head-scratcher. What do you think? Where did things go wrong?

 

[mominsaigol]

Among the cricketing powerhouses including India, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and England

Span: 2019-2024

Venue: Home/Away/Neutral

Pace+Spin

Tests:

Pakistan finds itself at the bottom, where India has valid reason to be giant of Test cricket.

• India: 23.75
• Australia: 26.18
• South Africa: 28.75
• New Zealand: 28.96
• England: 30.01
• Pakistan: 34.65

ODIs:

The struggle extends into One Day Internationals (ODIs) where Pakistan, unfortunately, holds the dubious honor of the worst bowling average among the powerhouse nations.

• India: 30.06
• South Africa: 31.34
• Australia: 32.14
• New Zealand: 32.45
• England: 33.09
• Pakistan: 35.85

T20Is:

In the T20I arena, Pakistan demonstrates a relatively better performance, though still trailing behind India and slightly better than England.

• New Zealand: 23.56
• Australia: 24.00
• India: 24.29
• South Africa: 24.82
• Pakistan: 25.50
• England: 25.69

Pakistan has this amazing history of churning out top-notch bowlers who could just tear down opposition batting line-ups. I mean, think about legends like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Abdul Qadir, and Saqlain Mushtaq.

But the situation right now is like a whole different ball game. As I mentioned, the stats from the last five years across formats show that the bowling average is the main concern. We have lost the fire. There's this one major thing that needs a closer look – the talent loop in Pakistan. It's not looking too hot. There's this missing piece, a robust system that used to be there.

It's not rocket science, but it's a bit of a head-scratcher. What do you think? Where did things go wrong?

sena and India are richer countries that can put more money into pitches, better coaching staff, education( in terms of cricketing sense), etc

That's primarily the reason

 

[Savak]

The answer is simple. Pakistan in the last 5 years has focused too much on T-20 cricket and the bowlers are also predominantly only interested in T-20 cricket. They don't want to play Test Cricket.

 

[FearlessRoar]

The answer is simple. Pakistan in the last 5 years has focused too much on T-20 cricket and the bowlers are also predominantly only interested in T-20 cricket. They don't want to play Test Cricket.

Yes, of course, franchise league cricket has affected our bowlers. But the main issue, in my opinion is our grassroots cricket development. Before modern cricket emerged something was happening and talent was shining through and dominating the world. Now in modern day cricket our grassroots level is being exposed. The grassroots facilities are the same as they were in the 1990s and it's not working anymore. We need modern training facilities now. Every ex cricketer has his own academy and not every youngster can afford it. The coaching staff at the national level lacks knowledge of modern day cricket and they are ruining the raw talent with their old techniques.

 

[FearlessRoar]

sena and India are richer countries that can put more money into pitches, better coaching staff, education( in terms of cricketing sense), etc

That's primarily the reason

Pakistan is also receiving money from the ICC for cricket development programs, but due to corruption, nobody knows where that money is going. Well, Pakistan has nothing but problems.

 

[mominsaigol]

Pakistan is also receiving money from the ICC for cricket development programs, but due to corruption, nobody knows where that money is going. Well, Pakistan has nothing but problems.

Yes but Pakistan is dependant entirely on icc for cash, whereas sena has internal money and internal revenue to spend as well. So big difference.

Secondly as you said, most of the money is going infavour of Increasing the salaries of people like shan's father rather then the economy of cricket itself.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

only challenge for Pakistan's fast bowlers is to keep themselves fit because the cake celebrations and biryani culture are the real causes that are letting them down.

 

[pakistani pride]

The slow demise of Pak cricket started a long time ago, Lets hope things change, but it does not look good at all.
No vision, no idea what to do and to top it off a pathetic team culture.

 

[RyanRyan10]

Economy rate must also be considered for the limited formats. Pakistan has the best bowling unit for T20s. They just need to pick the right bowlers.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

The mere fact that Pak bowlers are behind India make you feel embarrassed.

 

[Markhor]

There's the usual reasons from lack of FC cricket, substandard pitches, inadequate coaching and poor fitness.

However part of the issue is the decline in domestic batsmanship.

It's one thing not having to work hard to knock over weak FC batsmen. However at international level against better opponents who can attack your best deliveries, these bowlers become exposed.

 

[FearlessRoar]

There's the usual reasons from lack of FC cricket, substandard pitches, inadequate coaching and poor fitness.

However part of the issue is the decline in domestic batsmanship.

It's one thing not having to work hard to knock over weak FC batsmen. However at international level against better opponents who can attack your best deliveries, these bowlers become exposed.

In Karachi, our bowlers can practice on juicy wickets, and in Rawalpindi, there should be a green deck. In Lahore, there should be turners pitch, and in Multan, there should be a flat wicket.

The purpose is to prepare our bowlers for all types of conditions. Now, in the PSL, I'm noticing that the majority of pitches have been prepared as flat tracks, except today's pitch, which was a turner.

In the PSL, they didn't provide different varieties of pitches just because of entertaining the crowd with sixes. And now, the bowling product that will come out from it will fail in the international arena, and the problem with averages will persist.

 

[FearlessRoar]

In Karachi, our bowlers can practice on juicy wickets, and in Rawalpindi, there should be a green deck. In Lahore, there should be turners pitch, and in Multan, there should be a flat wicket.

The purpose is to prepare our bowlers for all types of conditions. Now, in the PSL, I'm noticing that the majority of pitches have been prepared as flat tracks, except today's pitch, which was a turner.

In the PSL, they didn't provide different varieties of pitches just because of entertaining the crowd with sixes. And now, the bowling product that will come out from it will fail in the international arena, and the problem with averages will persist.

And the problem with the average for our bowlers is not just the pitch.

There are many other issues, such as technical skill flaws, old-fashioned and incompetent coaching staff at the domestic level. They don't know what video analysis and simulation drills are. And then in fact the fitness culture.

 

[jnaveen1980]

In Karachi, our bowlers can practice on juicy wickets, and in Rawalpindi, there should be a green deck. In Lahore, there should be turners pitch, and in Multan, there should be a flat wicket.

The purpose is to prepare our bowlers for all types of conditions. Now, in the PSL, I'm noticing that the majority of pitches have been prepared as flat tracks, except today's pitch, which was a turner.

In the PSL, they didn't provide different varieties of pitches just because of entertaining the crowd with sixes. And now, the bowling product that will come out from it will fail in the international arena, and the problem with averages will persist.

I caught a couple of clips. The pitch has a sheen and you see reflection. Reminded me of 1990s Sharjah Roads where Basit ali bullied Ambrose. Such an eye sore. No wonder England made 500 plus runs in a single day.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Best Bowling Economy in PSL 9

1. Arafat Minhas
Bowling Economy 2.75

2. Khurram Shahzad
Bowling Economy 6.34

3. Shoaib Malik
Bowling Economy 6.39

What have we achieved in this PSL 9? The problem of our bowlers' economy persists, as only Arafat Minhas has an excellent economy rate in bowling.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

The main problem is lack of consistency and poor display in death overs.

 

[UzmanBeast]

The answer is simple. Pakistan in the last 5 years has focused too much on T-20 cricket and the bowlers are also predominantly only interested in T-20 cricket. They don't want to play Test Cricket.

Yes, along with the downfall of our available spinners. The drop in quality from the times of Saqlain Mushtaq, Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afrid (for white-ball cricket) has been horrific.

One only needs to simply look at the bowling averages of the spinners which have featured most regularly in the last few years.

Shadab Khan (ODIs):

2019: 14 games, 17 wickets, 41.11 average, 5.73 ER.
2021: 5 games, 3 wickets, 79.33 average, 5.95 ER.
2022: 5 games, 8 wickets, 28.37 average, 4.82 ER.
2023: 17 games, 15 wickets, 49.66 average, 5.74 ER.

Usama Mir (ODIs):

2023: 12 games, 15 wickets, 42.26 average, 5.98 ER.

Mohammad Nawaz (ODIs):

Ignoring 2019 and 2021 where he featured in just one game each.

2022: 6 games, 11 wickets, 23.09 average, 4.37 ER.
2023: 15 games, 11 wickets, 55.63 average, 5.36 ER.

Zahid Mahmood (ODIs):

2022: 4 games, 4 wickets, 55.00 average, 6.11 ER.

It is pathetic that this is the crop of spinners which is rotated, and these averages are so poor that at this point, one could create a bowling line-up out of Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, and Saud Shakeel, and they would probably perform the same or at least a little better than this.

Even in test cricket, the likes of Noman Ali (33.53 average), Abrar Ahmed (31.07 average), and Sajid Khan (38.16 average) all average above 30, despite playing most of their cricket at home games.

I know the pitches have not been the best, but it is clear that spinners are not trying to revolutionize themselves or add variations to take wickets on these tracks, especially in high-pressure situations against more quality batsmen and oppositions.

Spin bowling talent needs to seriously be nurtured in Pakistan.

All things considered, the pacers will improve with more discipline and if the Shah family can keep producing such talents, but there are no saviours in our domestic system for our failing spin-bowling department.

Half-tracker Usama, Full-Toss Shadab, and No-Spin Nawaz cannot be trusted as front-line spinners.

Abrar is perhaps the best talent we have regarding spin, but he needs to be playing in more spin-friendly pitches too, especially in test cricket.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Pakistan's last best death-over bowler for me was Umar Gul with his pinpoint yorkers. Since then, haven't seen any bowler who can do death bowling. But now, we have Zaman and Naseem the potential names to be the best death-over bowlers.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Probably, this is the lowest point we are witnessing in Pakistan's bowling

 

[Buffet]

Batting and Bowling average, both have gone up for Pakistani team due to these roads.