Arsalan Pro
First Class Captain
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2016
- Runs
- 5,678
Match winning knock given the conditions
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How am I even asking for him to be dropped?! Some random guy accused me of wanting Ahmad Shahzad in the side instead of him. What I’m annoyed about is the way Pakistan are continuing to regress as a batting unit with players thinking it’s ok to spend an eternity at the crease and bat at a snail’s pace. That too at home! That too after winning the toss and electing to bat first!! That too on a flat deck!!!
If you can’t see it the way I do that’s ok. Mark my words, the guy has found success through this approach and he will apply this formula again, possibly all the time.
Believe me Rana, you have valid concerns which I also share. I wouldn't pay much notice towards hype squad who want to give everyone a false sense of security and that everything is rosy when it really isn't.
No one is asking for Haris Sohail to be dropped, he's a quality player but in future he cannot repeat these 70s/80s style innings because it simply isn't sustainable. If you bat this slowly (particularly outside UAE), you're just allowing the pressure to accumulate and merely transferring all the momentum to the bowlers.
Bat like this in SA and it will be a roasting. This will get bumped but the vicious cycle will continue.
Why should he bat like this overseas on much better and faster pitches when it doesn't fit in with his general style of batting?
This innings was an anomaly, but it shows he has the temperament and ability to play long innings which was the only worry with Haris so far (not really a worry, knew he would come through but some were worried). Everyone knows he is capable of playing much faster.
I trust Haris to bat more briskly in SA, but the likes of Azhar, Imam and even Shafiq (when he's bottling it) etc? - not so much.
My point is we should have our heads over the clouds and get complacent with this batting style like some posters are here because it will haunt us 8 times out of 10 especially away from home against top 5 sides.
If the message from Mickey turns out to be after the test: "same again boys" in future tests then this approach could end up being a curse in disguise. It's important that the team learns from this.
In this test so far I give spin bowling 9 or 10 out of 10 - couldn't really ask for more. Batting is 5 or a 6 if I'm feeling generous.
If New Zealand keep batting until lunch tomorrow then this knock will be exposed due to time wasted and lack of runs scored.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Some criticised Haris Sohail's innings. This is what Ross Taylor said yesterday "If we can just get through a couple of sessions with the least amount of damage, we know it can be done. The way Babar & Sohail batted, they showed the way for us to bat long periods of time" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvNZ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvNZ</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1067402046402375681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Some criticised Haris Sohail's innings. This is what Ross Taylor said yesterday "If we can just get through a couple of sessions with the least amount of damage, we know it can be done. The way Babar & Sohail batted, they showed the way for us to bat long periods of time" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvNZ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvNZ</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1067402046402375681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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So Ross Taylor hypocritically didn’t apply Harris Sohail’s approach at the crease? Taylor nai keh diya hai tou baat hi khatam.
Rana ji, you are a good poster. let it go now. Haris' innings has proved to be match winning. Surely he was asked to bat like this otherwise during the lunch breaks and tea breaks, the coach would have asked him to play quicker. He ALWAYS plays much quicker than this and you know it. Surely this was a role given to him by the management and he went against his own instinct by playing so slow. They probably wanted to tire out the pitch as much as they can before kiwis could bat.
Think you may want to revise views
Well I hope this was the last time the management went back down this route of making our batsman bat all day for 180-200 runs
I would much rather we lose but play the game in the right away and the correct approach as applied by all the top teams instead of resorting to this approach. Misbah injected a decade of lethargic cricket into our batting because the “rehabilitation” process outstayed its required time. When teams around the world kicked on, it was Pakistan who were too late to get off the mark and ti this day they are suffering.
My only concern is that Harris Sohail, who is a young Test cricketer and is working so hard to establish himself as a regular selection for Pakistan, will he know think that his way to move forward and produce enough is through this sluggish approach? It worked for Misbah and he was never dropped ever since he became the captain who could score runs
Why bring the Windies into it?Uncovered wickets, Windies quicks, not enough padding, etc Gavaskar is a great of the game please dont bring that up in this discussion.
Haris batted slowly and should have paced his inning better. This thread was about complaining and constructively criticising this innings however we are well on our way to victory which does not mean that there should be no criticism.
I agree that this approach isnt ideal. The point i was making is that this was surely a team plan rather than Haris being selfish or anything.
Your points beg a question :
This approach isnt ideal generally but is this approach the most ideal for UAE? Misbah's team achieved a monumental record in UAE using such tactics. Sarfaraz came and tried to bring more aggressiveness in UAE but it backfired and some losses were seen. But now as they revived Misbah's tactics the team won pretty easily.
If this is the most ideal strategy in UAE, then Pakistan should do everything it takes to get the heck out of there and find a new home.
If the biggest Issue is the UAE wickets then Mickey and his management must raise this concern with the PCB and the ICC to improve the quality of tracks in the UAE otherwise continue with this habit of producing below par international batting. The problem really isnt the wickets in my opinion, how do these same Pakistani batsmen struggle to score 350+ on tracks where England score that as their average score in ODIs? How did England manage to still produce modern international batting in ODI cricket on the same tracks? How does Pakistan score 280-2 or 3 on these same tracks against West Indies and Sri Lanka?
For me the issue is simple. These batsmen generally are very laid back and complacent and would rather not push themselves to match international standards. They find it so much easier to just hang in there and play themselves in, and a bit too casually in Tests. At least this was proven by one players approach
[MENTION=2016]Rana[/MENTION] Are you man enough to submit a public apology letter after your falsehood was proven ? Or do I think too highly of you![]()
My point stands dude, I would break my TV if i have to watch another torturous innings of 147 off 421 deliveries in my life. That too when there is no second/fourth innings scoreboard pressure. That too when you are chasing a series 1-0 down. That too when you won the toss and elected to bat first of a flat track.
Do you remember England's response in the 2nd Test against Australia in Edgebaston 2005? That is what I call a response! Thats how you take the bull by the horns! This is what Test cricket needs. Compare that to 147 off 421 balls, sorry but no, just no!
My point stands dude, I would break my TV if i have to watch another torturous innings of 147 off 421 deliveries in my life. That too when there is no second/fourth innings scoreboard pressure. That too when you are chasing a series 1-0 down. That too when you won the toss and elected to bat first of a flat track.
Do you remember England's response in the 2nd Test against Australia in Edgebaston 2005? That is what I call a response! Thats how you take the bull by the horns! This is what Test cricket needs. Compare that to 147 off 421 balls, sorry but no, just no!
Comparing run rates on fast scoring wickets of England to UAE sums up your cricketing knowledge.
I agree that this approach isnt ideal. The point i was making is that this was surely a team plan rather than Haris being selfish or anything.
Your points beg a question :
This approach isnt ideal generally but is this approach the most ideal for UAE? Misbah's team achieved a monumental record in UAE using such tactics. Sarfaraz came and tried to bring more aggressiveness in UAE but it backfired and some losses were seen. But now as they revived Misbah's tactics the team won pretty easily.
If this is the most ideal strategy in UAE, then Pakistan should do everything it takes to get the heck out of there and find a new home.
Was it the most fluent innings? No
Was it the easiest wicket to bat on? No
Was it Haris Sohail at his best? No
Could Haris have taken more risks? Yes
Did Haris' innings allow Pakistan to build up a big total in the 1st innings and put pressure on NZ? Yes
Was Haris' innings one of the reasons why Pakistan won the 2nd Test? Yes
Job done !
I agree with all points except the last one respectfully. Harris could be considered 10% of the reason why Pakistan won. Babar and Azhar could add another 20% but 70-85% of the reason was the phenomenal spell by Yasir Shah. Therefore Harris remains at 10% or even below unless he prophecised that he shall set the platform for Yasir Shah to deliver the killer blow
To be honest I thought Rana would understand the tactical side of Haris' performance.
In footballing terms, take yourself back to Inter Milan when they won the CL under Mourinho. At times they used 3 defenders at the back. Someone like Rana would say "Why use 3 defenders, when the whole purpose is to defend and use 4 defenders at the back." But you see that's what football is all about. Unorthodox tactics that you don't usually see. Another example is: Walcott playing as a RW when in reality, at times he would switch to playing upfront. Again someone like Rana would say, why not just play him upfront?
However with Haris' approach, nothing was abnormal or unorthodox at all. Firstly, test cricket is KNOWN for surviving on the pitch, test cricket is KNOWN for patience, TEST cricket is KNOWN for the understanding and reading the game and then using that to scoring big, which Haris exactly did. You know what was really impressive about Haris' approach? He actually re-adapted to the tactical side of the game plan and restricted himself to playing strokes which often led to him losing his wicket in previous innings - he learned and adapted.
Had Haris not scored the 100+ then today NZ would have been bowled out with a potential LEAD. Such contribution from Haris stopped NZ from having a lead as we had a total on board. Without Haris' occupation on the pitch, his running between the wickets causing the rough marks to further deteriorate on the pitch supported Yasir Shah's bowling. Haris' composure on the pitch almost meant Babar was allowed to ease in and get his 100. Haris' composure allowed Azhar to put crucial runs on the board.
I'm sorry, I know Modern cricket has affected many but please let test cricket stay as test cricket. The fact he faced more delivered in three digits than the actual score he obtained in 3 digits was very pleasing to see on the scorecard. Haris played an important innings, match winning and a fine tactical performance. He showed grit, determination, adaption and composure.
Was it the most fluent innings? No
Was it the easiest wicket to bat on? No
Was it Haris Sohail at his best? No
Could Haris have taken more risks? Yes, but then if he got out he would have got slated.
Did Haris' innings allow Pakistan to build up a big total in the 1st innings and put pressure on NZ? Yes
Was Haris' innings one of the reasons why Pakistan won the 2nd Test? Yes
Job done !
How exactly was that a difficult wicket to bat on during 1st two days? The fact 1 wicket fell on day 2 but its a difficult wicket?
Am actually shocked on your comments.
Are you a critic or fan?
I joined this site because I thought it is a fan forum and what I am finding is quite the opposite. There are only a handful of posters with positive content, most seem intent on posting ** to divide opinion.
If you are a fan, then be happy we won the game! Haris was given a role which he executed to near perfection. Look at the bigger picture, in the future if we need to bat to save a test then the team and us fans will have this fallback on and maybe just maybe we can do something similar to what khawaja and Australia did to us..
Yes Yasir was brilliant but he was also part of the same game plan, if haris didnt bat time would Yasir even come into the equation? Yasir overperfomed which meant we could enforce the follow on but even without that spell I think there would have been enough time for us to win, just look at when the game finished and how many sessions/overs were left...
Also a little shocked about the comments you made about not watching us play if we use these tactics again... Well this is test cricket and if you cant handle it then instead of criticising just follow ODI/T20 or another team that you can bare to watch because in truth we dont need fans like you.
[MENTION=2016]Rana[/MENTION]
Are you a critic or fan?
I joined this site because I thought it is a fan forum and what I am finding is quite the opposite. There are only a handful of posters with positive content, most seem intent on posting ** to divide opinion.
If you are a fan, then be happy we won the game! Haris was given a role which he executed to near perfection. Look at the bigger picture, in the future if we need to bat to save a test then the team and us fans will have this fallback on and maybe just maybe we can do something similar to what khawaja and Australia did to us..
Yes Yasir was brilliant but he was also part of the same game plan, if haris didnt bat time would Yasir even come into the equation? Yasir overperfomed which meant we could enforce the follow on but even without that spell I think there would have been enough time for us to win, just look at when the game finished and how many sessions/overs were left...
Also a little shocked about the comments you made about not watching us play if we use these tactics again... Well this is test cricket and if you cant handle it then instead of criticising just follow ODI/T20 or another team that you can bare to watch because in truth we dont need fans like you.
[MENTION=2016]Rana[/MENTION]
I see where you are coming from but a win can often hide the flaws in the team. The pitch was an absolute batting paradise on day 1 and 2, the kiwi bowling attack had no demons in them, our batsmen could have easily scored 500 plus. They lacked intent which is needed to put the bad balls away. Even after Haris got out we continued with the same slow lame batting approach leading up to declaration which is mind boggling.
I see where you are coming from but a win can often hide the flaws in the team. The pitch was an absolute batting paradise on day 1 and 2, the kiwi bowling attack had no demons in them, our batsmen could have easily scored 500 plus. They lacked intent which is needed to put the bad balls away. Even after Haris got out we continued with the same slow lame batting approach leading up to declaration which is mind boggling.
The only issue was that we made our bowlers work really hard again. I feel like our bowlers should get double wages. Yasir and Co had to work a lot on Day 4 to make sure it was an innings defeat for NZ.Maybe they were haunted by the humbling collapse in the 1st test and were determined to take no risks? I think it was a brave declaration. Yes they could have batted quicker. But it was a slow wicket and priority one was a score over 400. The best way to get this was to dig in and take no risks. Good old fashioned test match batting. The match is over with a day and a half to spare. What is there to complain about? For me, it is just the team selection. Fakhar and Gohar for Hafeez abd Bilal but it won’t happen.
I have said this before in this thread, and I am saying it again. Our batsmen played poorly on day 1 and 2.