Does Fakhar Zaman struggle on pitches that don't offer pace and bounce?

[rhony]

Better late than never - I think, since ENG tour of 2016, I am writing here that Babar should open in LOs, only that his partner (or the guy he should replace as opener) kept changing time to time.

Once for the final time - he should be better as ODI opener for his strengths & weakness (being less exposed). His strengths are his touch, timing & placement against new ball - he is a proper batsman who can punish most loose balls and he is someone who can convert a start into match winning 125+. Batting in PP is not about slogging, rather punishing loose balls (regardless of how many wickets are down - a four ball has to go to ropes), and teams best batsman should get the highest chance to play most of 300 balls. I don't believe in this power hitting issue - even if so, it's better for him to bat the earliest. Besides, in PP, rotating strike is equally important, otherwise team will keep losing wickets, one can't ride on boundaries only, which FZ's struggle should explain everyone here. His back-foot game is good, balance is great and wrist-work is outstanding - no reason why he shouldn't reach 35 in PP, only from punishing 5-6 loose balls and placing singles. These days, teams are forced to keep 5 men in ring for 40 overs, which makes it even easier for quality batsmen - look at Sharmas % of boundaries & sixes, but that doesn't make him so difficult to contain, rather it's his ability to back SIX & fours with constant singles that allows him to build daddy hundreds - Rohit Sharma should be Babar's idol in ODI cricket.

Weakness is, he is still poor against spin, remarkably against off-spin for a right hander & he plays for his numbers (no offense, he is not the only one). Making him opener allows him to get set before the spinners are on (Captains can open with spinners, which is even better if so - it takes new ball out of pacers & spinners will consume some of their quota before the ball stats to grip & bite. I put an analysis on his comparative SR by quarters (0-25, 25-50, 50-75, 75-100 & 100+) - he is remarkably slow (comparatively) in Q4. No brainier that a batsman should score faster between 75-100 than 0-25 after spending 2 hours in middle; but it's in context of team's scoring rate (PAK's scoring rate during his 5 quarters - obviously team's scoring rate in between 35-50 overs will also be much higher than between 11-35), he is considerably slower in that 4th Quarter, which is hurting PAK often & his remarkable acceleration after reaching 100, suggests his ability is better than his 4th quarter show. This is something he needs to improve, but making him opener allows him to reach that 4th quarter by 30th over - rest you can understand.

Coming to line-up, I'll still say - Imam doesn't make my ODI squad. He was pathetic in the SF & Final of QeA Cup. Don't go for that 87 in SF - he was like 15 (30) in PP, Jamal Anwar kept the rate up, later being caught-up by Imam because Imam is a far better batsman than Jamal. This can work in PAK domestics but not in Internationals - Imam successfully managed to take an asking to double by 41st over against a depleted attack, against whom few days later, ZIM put 290 for 5, batting first without dew.

I would pick Haris or Amin as opener instead, but that's not happening - so Imam opens with Babar & FZ bats at 3, followed by Hafeez, Malik & Captain (Or Rizwan). MoHa has changed to Hafeez - won't get hurt this time; also he had a reality check that in PCT he is to survive on field now. I am sure he won't mind batting at 4 and play the Javed role of 1992 (definitely can try, playing Javed role demands to be closer to Javed as well in ability as well, like Josh Butler role needs to be played by someone remotely close to Josh Butler). Or FZ even can bat at 4, which nicely spreads out the 2 left-handed batsmen among top 6.

Good analysis. However Imam and Babar at the top could mean very low PP scores and a lot of pressure on FZ and the rest to catch up. Babar and Imam will take 30 to 40 balls together just to settle. Also FZ's attacking value is more in PP overs with the field brought in. Babar at 3 is the best option.

 

[Zeeraq]

Out again today without contributing.

 

[Markhor]

He is garbage in limited overs cricket in UAE. The numbers don't lie.

Teams have worked him out - bowl into his body. He's so poor putting away legstump deliveries.

 

[Asif321]

Time running out for fakhar lucky Micky and Sarfraz are coach and captain
Other captain coach would have benched him by now

 

[Hawkeye]

He is garbage in limited overs cricket in UAE. The numbers don't lie.

Teams have worked him out - bowl into his body. He's so poor putting away legstump deliveries.

Yeah, don't think he can make a comeback from this point.

If he's playing against an opposition that knows his weakness, they will never allow him to score.

 

[MenInG]

Yeah, don't think he can make a comeback from this point.

If he's playing against an opposition that knows his weakness, they will never allow him to score.

He can go back to the nets and work on that weakness (if it is that)

 

[rhony]

He can go back to the nets and work on that weakness (if it is that)

Danny and Ramiz have been talking about him. It's his inability to even tap the ball to the on side that's surprising. It's not just the incoming balls as the Indians showed in Asia Cup. Boult was bowling directly at his pads. ANy other batsman would have flicked those for boundaries.

 

[Hawkeye]

He can go back to the nets and work on that weakness (if it is that)

Not likely at this stage and age. And it's been more than 1 year since the public knows about this weakness.

If it was fixable, would've been fixed by now.

Or we just have a way too bad batting coach.

 

[Mohsin123]

I think the presence of Imam at the other end has created added pressure on Fakhar. I remember Mickey saying in an interview that Imam's role is to bat through in an innings (play slowly) and Fakhar's role is to smash the bowling around (be aggressive).
This mindset and game plan is atrocious in my opinion. By telling Fakhar that he HAS to bat fast you are turning him into a blind slogger.
Fakhar's NATURAL game is to be aggressive while maintaining a clear head. He always looks for runs and trusts his technique. What Mickey has done to Fakhar is to tell him that he has to smack every ball for a 4 or a 6. This is absolutely wrong. Just tell Fakhar to trust your normal game like he did in his test debut against Australia.

 

[Saj]

If you cannot play the ball off your pads then you will be found out and that is what is happening.

He is struggling with the ball coming into him and as a result he is getting frustrated and playing stupid shots.

 

[TeamPak95]

If Fakhar doesn't fix his leg-side issue, I predict he'll be severely found out in SA. I seriously hope I'm wrong..

 

[Plumb]

If you cannot play the ball off your pads then you will be found out and that is what is happening.

He is struggling with the ball coming into him and as a result he is getting frustrated and playing stupid shots.

They whole world can see this but our coach can't Flower has been riding the bus far too long

 

[Caved12]

Fakhar should try and be a bit more selfish. He is trying to be aggressive which is not needed on these pitches. Just wait for the bad balls. It is time we fire our batting coach.

Fakhar does have some technical issues with his batting, but he will be fine. Just don't touch this guy, leave him in for good and he will make lots of runs for Pakistan.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Fakhar should try and be a bit more selfish. He is trying to be aggressive which is not needed on these pitches. Just wait for the bad balls. It is time we fire our batting coach.

Fakhar does have some technical issues with his batting, but he will be fine. Just don't touch this guy, leave him in for good and he will make lots of runs for Pakistan.

Nah. Fakhar should look to play his role by being the aggressor, even if it doesn't work out. He shouldn't be dropped on the basis of a few failures on wickets that are slow and low, where it's apparent he struggles. People forget he struggled against Lanka aswell last year, but since we won 5-0 it isn't remembered as much.

Regarding the ball on his pads, people should go watch the first ODI in NZ earlier this year. Boult was bowling the exact same line and exact same length, and Fakhar kept flicking them to the boundary. Not to mention Mark Wood did the same thing in the SF in CT, and Fakhar was good enough tackle them thunderbolts then. It's a confidence issue and not something Fakhar should be dropped for.

 

[Caved12]

Nah. Fakhar should look to play his role by being the aggressor, even if it doesn't work out. He shouldn't be dropped on the basis of a few failures on wickets that are slow and low, where it's apparent he struggles. People forget he struggled against Lanka aswell last year, but since we won 5-0 it isn't remembered as much.

Regarding the ball on his pads, people should go watch the first ODI in NZ earlier this year. Boult was bowling the exact same line and exact same length, and Fakhar kept flicking them to the boundary. Not to mention Mark Wood did the same thing in the SF in CT, and Fakhar was good enough tackle them thunderbolts then. It's a confidence issue and not something Fakhar should be dropped for.

Chadda Sahab, I agree with most of your posts, but he has been struggling and as you said, these pitches are slow and low, then why not play yourself in and help Pakistan chase these totals. Trust me, he will still end up with a healthy strike rate if he does so.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Chadda Sahab, I agree with most of your posts, but he has been struggling and as you said, these pitches are slow and low, then why not play yourself in and help Pakistan chase these totals. Trust me, he will still end up with a healthy strike rate if he does so.

Fakhar playing himself in is okay as long as his partner isn't someone as useless as Imam. Imam tuk tuks so much, Fakhar would forget he's playing himself in and start playing stupid shots.

 

[Chokli]

If he debuted in the UAE before the Champions Trophy, we may not have won the Champions Trophy because he wouldn't have been selected.

UAE doesn't suit our new players.

 

[Caved12]

Fakhar playing himself in is okay as long as his partner isn't someone as useless as Imam. Imam tuk tuks so much, Fakhar would forget he's playing himself in and start playing stupid shots.

If openers gave a start of something like 30/0 in 10 overs, we would have won this game. Yes, cricket has changed and we must change our style of batting and play fast, but not on these pitches. Also time and time again, I notice captains and coaches simply believing in playing fast and not having plans against good bowlers. There was absolutely nothing wrong in making sure that we did not give any wickets to Boult, who is world class, but not sure what were we thinking while facing a bowler who could swing the new ball and literally pick up wickets at will.

 

[Gunner85]

Now it is up to fakhar whether he could quickly fix his problem when bowlers target his body.even on foreign pitches bowlers will never give him any room to play through off side.he has problems against short pitch stuff and in SA pacers will target that.

 

[Markhor]

Better. Easily his best innings in UAE.

Hopefully he's cracked it and realise what you need to do on sluggish surfaces.

 

[Saj]

Slight changes make all the difference at the international level and that's exactly what happened today. A few tweaks and he looked a lot better on the on-side.

 

[Kohli The King of Chase]

Looked good.

 

[Chokli]

Slight changes make all the difference at the international level and that's exactly what happened today. A few tweaks and he looked a lot better on the on-side.

I wonder why it took the team management 18 UAE LOI innings just to help him make those tweaks.

 

[Chokli]

Better. Easily his best innings in UAE.

Well of course it'll be his best if this is been his only innings where he scored some runs, lol.

 

[pakistani pride]

Hes a class act and needs to take his time. Once set he can hit.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Too good a player to let go off. Couldn't believe how there were calls for Fakhar to be dropped, and Imam to be paired up with Babar at the top. A good innings by Fakhar is good enough to bury the opposition 9/10 times.

 

[Chokli]

Too good a player to let go off. Couldn't believe how there were calls for Fakhar to be dropped, and Imam to be paired up with Babar at the top. A good innings by Fakhar is good enough to bury the opposition 9/10 times.

Well when he fails in 18 consecutive innings in the UAE, what else do you do?

Good innings nonetheless, hopefully he's aware of what he needs to do to be successful on these wickets.

 

[shaz619]

Better. Easily his best innings in UAE.

Hopefully he's cracked it and realise what you need to do on sluggish surfaces.

The kid has only been around for a short while but the expectations and pressure fans / media have put him under has been absolutely diabolical and a bloody disgrace. He earned a long rope and constructive criticism is fair but folk are not patient at all especially with the premature conclusions, but some basic common sense; with anything life, there are many things which may not come naturally to you or put you down but with a good work ethic and more experience you can improve.

12 games in the UAE is not a big sample to make judgements, furthermore in those 12 games if a Batsman makes one single error or things don't go his way then you're gone! a bowler on the other hand has 6 chances every over, if they get smashed they can come again, and this is me quoting Bob Woolmer's cricket encyclopedia which is like a bible. And it's just 12 games remember, how many shots do we get to prove our own worth regardless of field ? it's rare for a world wonder to set everything on fire every time an obstacle is thrown their way. Fakhar no doubt has his weaknesses but one thing which as been his forte is the mental strength, for this reason he should be supported all the way unless people want Umar Akmal to return for his dynamism.

 

[Saj]

65 but still a bit of a struggle and not great to watch.

A few nice shots but still some major technical flaws.

A lot of bottom hand in his shots these days too.

 

[babajee]

65 but still a bit of a struggle and not great to watch.

A few nice shots but still some major technical flaws.

A lot of bottom hand in his shots these days too.

It was good to watch for his first 40 runs or so but then he started to struggle.

 

[Kohli The King of Chase]

Still work in progress but, certainly has improved .

 

[zarak]

65 but still a bit of a struggle and not great to watch.

A few nice shots but still some major technical flaws.

A lot of bottom hand in his shots these days too.

Do not think being bottom handed is a problem for modern day odi cricket. He is never going to be Sangakara. Plus I think the fact that he can make some ugly runs is a good sign.

 

[yasir]

65 but still a bit of a struggle and not great to watch.

A few nice shots but still some major technical flaws.

A lot of bottom hand in his shots these days too.

This is one of the reason I hate UAE FOR CRICKET. Batsmen struggle to time the ball, than you try too hard, lot of bottom hard creeps in... Those bad habits kills your game... UAE is only good for 40+ cricket not international. We will always struggle to produce batsmen here who can boss pace, our skills against pace has gone down significantly in last decade. We are worse than even BD in playing pace.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Fakhar has struggled in WI and UAE. Now, even in Zimbabwe he seems to be struggling for timing.

Will this be a limitation for him, or can he work on this?

He is luckiest batsman in the Pakistani team.
In every match he skys atleast once only to be dropped or ball lands in no man zone.

Going back to CT 2017 and he was very lucky with alot of top edges going for boundaries. If I am not wrong he struggled against SA pacers.


He has this forward press and crouch and when 6 ft + 140+kph bowlers bowl him at throat he is unable to transfer his weight on backfoot and skies the ball up in the air.


Haven't seen any improvement in this area in last 2 years and from now on it will be exploited more and more by bowlers like Ferguson, Rabada, Steyn, Bumrah etc etc. Steyn isn't 6 ft plus but he has ability to bowl 145 kph.

 

[babajee]

Going back to CT 2017 and he was very lucky with alot of top edges going for boundaries. If I am not wrong he struggled against SA pacers.


He has this forward press and crouch and when 6 ft + 140+kph bowlers bowl him at throat he is unable to transfer his weight on backfoot and skies the ball up in the air.


Haven't seen any improvement in this area in last 2 years and from now on it will be exploited more and more by bowlers like Ferguson, Rabada, Steyn, Bumrah etc etc. Steyn isn't 6 ft plus but he has ability to bowl 145 kph.

He was slapping the SA pacers around for fun until Morkel got him with the extra bounce outside off stump.

So far he has dealt with Ferguson's bouncers both in NZ and in the UAE.

 

[BaankeJi]

He is playing too many shots. For tests, he needs to curb his shot playing instincts.

 

[Rayyman]

He was slapping the SA pacers around for fun until Morkel got him with the extra bounce outside off stump.

So far he has dealt with Ferguson's bouncers both in NZ and in the UAE.

Might be best for him to focus on LOIs only. Like Rohit, Dhawan and Guptill do.

 

[cricket_cfa]

Why jayasuriya was so successful as compared to fakhar
Was he better front foot and backfoot player than fakhar and could play on both sides of the wicket

 

[Nasty Naz]

He is playing too many shots. For tests, he needs to curb his shot playing instincts.

Might be easier to do that if they actually had him play some FC matches the last 2 years or so.

 

[Chokli]

Batting is a game played mentally.

If you're not feeling good mentally, you'll never be successful no matter how good your technique is.

It's a confidence issue.