Fakhar Zaman vs Mark Wood

[FreePalestine]

Most informed cricket fans can see that FZ has a problem with a length / back of a length ball on fourth-fifth stump... especially if there is a little bit of extra bounce.

Mark Wood is possibly the best exponent of this type of back of a length, extra bounce delivery on fifth stump in the world imo.

What are the odds of Mark Wood getting FZ tomorrow? I would say he has an 80% chance of getting Fakhar's wicket.

Only possibility for Fakhar is if he recognises this fact, shows some maturity and plays MW with a bit more caution.

I think FZ is a good player, and with a little more time and care, can develop into exactly the type of player we need at the top of the order. But he should be careful against MW as I do not rate his chances against this bowler.

 

[czar]

Interesting thread. We will see tomorrow if Wood really gets Fakhar discussed.

I think they will bowl short at Fakhar and try to get him caught by the third man near boundary.

 

[Zabbaz]

This is cricket at its best. What will be will be, but at least we have someone who is willing to fight and not just meekly surrender by aiming for a slow 50 to stay in the team. Wood vs Zaman will be fun to watch. I think Zaman should just go for it instead of trying to alter his plan to much.

Wood is an exciting player as is Zaman. The battle is good for cricket.

 

[FreePalestine]

OP if possible, could you edit my thread a bit? I meant to say 3rd/4th stump line, not 4th/5th... not an issue if it is too complicated to do. Posters, please note clarification

 

[Commander]

I remember Sharjeel smashing Wood everywhere in the park. I think Zaman will do the same but probably give his wicket away in the process

 

[ExpressPacer]

I really like Mark Wood and I think he's a real asset for England with his fitness, aggression, pace and control - something we don't see in express pacers babar) often. He is absolutely going to cause a lot of destruction however, I think Zaman will not only see him through but also dominate.

I'm not saying this because I think Zaman is the epitome of batting talent however, we've all seen throughout history, pace works against the bowler once you face an attacking batsmen in a good nick. Even edges fly away and catches are hard to take.

 

[ExpressPacer]

I remember Sharjeel smashing Wood everywhere in the park. I think Zaman will do the same but probably give his wicket away in the process

Sharjeel Khan was an unbelievable talent. I haven't seen a batsmen handle pace as well as he did in the last 5 years. Maybe Rohit Sharma came close but even he wouldn't have been half as good on the pitches Sharjeel played on.

He thrived vs pace. Pakistan really lost an asset.

 

[castortroy]

He won't come off against England.

He struggles with the short ball and will be caught hooking or upper cutting to third man

 

[Syed1]

Same was being said about Sharjeel vs Wood. We all saw what happened next

 

[Mamoon]

I am not hopeful that he will perform tomorrow. Eager to be surprised though.

 

[Asif khan]

Not hopeful too, Sharjeel's strength was the short ball. Zaman has a bit of a peculiar style but he tends to get himself into a tangle when playing the short ball. Having said that, he will be expecting it tomorrow, so, he may be able to counter it slightly better than what he's shown so far.

 

[LordEddardStark]

Very interesting thread. Something to look forward to tomorrow. But I feel Fakhar Zaman has shown much maturity in these 2 matches, which frankly was lacking in PSL matches. More importantly he realizes that short ball is his weakness and I think he was trying to hook those balls for the same reason. He was attempting to counter attack such balls so that pacers wouldn't attack him with them in the first place.

In hindsight it would have been better for him to leave those, but I don't think he can resist temptation. It's not in his DNA to be honest. Still it shall be a good fight to watch.

 

[MRSN]

Same was being said about Sharjeel vs Wood. We all saw what happened next

Sharjeel was actually legside hack who loved anything on the legside even the short pitch bowling but Zaman is a very offside player who creates a weired angle anything angled into his ribs

 

[King Kong]

Sharjeel Khan was an unbelievable talent. I haven't seen a batsmen handle pace as well as he did in the last 5 years. Maybe Rohit Sharma came close but even he wouldn't have been half as good on the pitches Sharjeel played on.

He thrived vs pace. Pakistan really lost an asset.

Now you are going overboard. Rohit got 4 hundreds in Australia, which include a very big hundred of 170+ against Starc and co. What pitches did Sharjeel and Rohit play on and what were Sharjeel's big innings? Sharjeel maybe a good hitter but isn't even 25% of Rohit.

 

[QalandarFan]

Everytime I see mark wood I recall the Sharejeel Khan bashing.

IMO Fakhar will do good and play positively, I believe he has a Maiden ton coming up. No one can stop him.

 

[Pete Rose]

Such is the misery of the Pakistan cricket fan: fakhar will be dismissed early as will Babar and we will be given a grand display of last-session-fifth-day-test-batting-for-the-draw-exhibition by Azhar and Hafeez

 

[Hawkeye]

No idea how some people are comparing him to Sharjeel Khan.

Sharjeel is a monster vs. short pitched fast bowling and is never bothered if you ball into his body.

Fakhar struggles if ball is coming towards him or between 3rd to 4th stump.

But he has intent, so can end up scoring even if he struggles. And that's what I want .

Fill the top order with sloggers!

 

[talha3]

Everyone remembers Sharjeel smashing Wood but how many remember Wood dismissed him twice, including one on his second ball.

Yes, Sharjeel also had his way against him but the point is Fakhar only has one chance tomorrow so if he succeeds great but if he fails I hope people don't start coming out with 'Sharjeel would have fired'.

Fakhar should play his natural game and it could go either way but it will be exciting for sure.

 

[MRSN]

Such is the misery of the Pakistan cricket fan: fakhar will be dismissed early as will Babar and we will be given a grand display of last-session-fifth-day-test-batting-for-the-draw-exhibition by Azhar and Hafeez

And will be proud of seeing azhar holding one end.