Has Azhar Ali confirmed another 3 years with this knock of 93 in the 2nd Test versus New Zealand?

[Shoaib88]

Azhar Ali today scored 93 (172). A solid knock on a tough pitch favoring the bowlers. And we all know how the Kiwi bowlers bowl in their home conditions.

However, with this fantastic knock, do we overlook the failures after failures Azhar Ali has served us for the past 3 years? Or do we simply not have any better alternative? Fans are already supporting Azhar Ali to serve us for another 5 years after this knock and we all know how much Pakistan cricket management loves the good boy Azhar Ali.

So has Azhar Ali confirmed another 3 years in the team with this knock?

 

[Justcrazy]

He should keep performing with reasonable consistency if he averages 42 - 43 in Test Matches, that is more than enough because he is a limited range player.

 

[Marshland]

Looked a little streaky up front, but continued nicely once he got a start.

Unfortunate to miss out on a 100, but pressure was building around him you feel.

 

[Majestic]

Good player, better than Majid Khan. Walks into Pakistan modern era openers.

 

[hur rizvi]

He should keep performing with reasonable consistency if he averages 42 - 43 in Test Matches, that is more than enough because he is a limited range player.

With his record, he is comfortably among top test batsmen produced by Pakistan

 

[Slim]

Hes becoming like Asad Shafiq (in his heydays) which is scoring one big innings once a series. If history is of any lesson, this will impact us negatively in the long run. Azhar has served well and has been instrumental for us but has not been able to raise himself to the level of legends. I respect the guy in tests, and want him to retire gracefully now.

 

[offstump]

Fact is nobody has really been scoring apart from Babar so if you want to drop Azhar then might as well replace the entire team based on the same logic.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Azhar might not have had the best form since 2018, but he is a really good player. When he is in his zone, there is almost nobody else who looks as comfortable.

This innings won't confirm his spot, but what it shows is that he still has something left. He hasn't become a total washout, so I think that Mohammad Wasim will persist with him. After all, we don't have anyone who can fill the slot at 3 at the moment.

If we keep Azhar for about a year longer, and let the new domestic opener and Saud Shakeel settle into the team, then we can replace him with a new batsman.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

As long as there is no other opener really putting their hand up for contention, I’m fine with it. As long as he doesn’t bat at 3 - i think him and Abid can take the opener positions in Asia for the next year, while Babar, Saud, Kamran, and Rizwan are groomed as our middle order (with Fawad also there as long as he maintains form).

In the meanwhile, folks like Haider Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Ali Zaryab, Omair bin Yousuf can toil away in domestics for another year or two working hard in first class cricket to improve their technique and stamina, before they are ready at the age of 22-23. They will then replace Azhar for the opener position first, followed by Abid after another few series.

1. Azhar Ali
2. Abid Ali
3. Kamran Ghulam
4. Babar Azam (c)
5. Saud Shakeel
6. Fawad Alam
7. Mohammad Rizwan (wk) (vc)
8. Zafar Gohar
9. Sajid Khan / Yasir Shah
10. Hassan Ali / Mohammad Abbas
11. Shaheen Afridi / Naseem Shah

That would roundabout be my batting order in Asia starting with the SA series.

 

[Mesozoic]

As someone said , he's the best Pak test batter after Babar. Went through a rough patch for a year but now looks like he's back to his best with that last inning hundred in England and a brilliant Knock today.

He's going to play until he's 43.

 

[Cric1234]

With his record, he is comfortably among top test batsmen produced by Pakistan

He will end up playing as much matches as Miandad Inzi and Younis with a much inferior record an average close 40 with a similar strike rate not close to the bat test batsmen in Pakistan’s history.

His record in UAE and Asia is decent low strike rate despite mostly flat pitches hence his 42 average however the more he’s played outside Asia the more his average falls age is a factor too but him and Shafiq fall well below the best batsmen produced by Pakistan.

 

[Suleiman]

To his credit he did play a fine innings and honestly I would not mind him opening the batting which is what he’s essentially doing anyway, coming in when we’re 0/1 or 6/1 or whatever.

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

So the OP wants to drop the one good batsman who delivers in SENA conditions for some no name full hype debutant then?

 

[Thunderbolt14]

He will end up playing as much matches as Miandad Inzi and Younis with a much inferior record an average close 40 with a similar strike rate not close to the bat test batsmen in Pakistan’s history.

His record in UAE and Asia is decent low strike rate despite mostly flat pitches hence his 42 average however the more he’s played outside Asia the more his average falls age is a factor too but him and Shafiq fall well below the best batsmen produced by Pakistan.

That explains the 205* in Australia, 141*, 139, and 92* in England, 127 and 105 in WI, and 93 in NZ.

He was a very very good batsman in his prime, let’s not twist facts.

 

[Shoaib88]

So the OP wants to drop the one good batsman who delivers in SENA conditions for some no name full hype debutant then?

Lol here's some hard facts for you:

SAMPLE SIZE: 10 Tests in SENA since January 2019
SAMPLE DURATION: 24 months

Azhar Ali's record:
36 and 0
2 and 6
0 and 15
39 and 5
9 and 9
0 and 18
20
141 and 31
5 and 38
93

18 Innings
1 x not out
1 century, 1 fifty, 9 scores under 10

467 runs
AVERAGE 27.47

Asad Shafiq was dropped but his average in that time was 8 runs higher - and he's a good slip catcher.

 

[Cric1234]

That explains the 205* in Australia, 141*, 139, and 92* in England, 127 and 105 in WI, and 93 in NZ.

He was a very very good batsman in his prime, let’s not twist facts.

Indeed a record of a decent score every 1 in 10-15 innings outside Asia no wonder we’re minnow level in SENA and keep losing.

 

[FreePalestine]

This was a fine innings. Just appreciate it and hope he continues to bat like this. Technically, this innings suggested he had overcome one of his major issue which was not being able to get the knee out of the way and getting out LBW to an in ducker. When Azhar is on-driving well, it means that he is close to peak form. True, haven’t tested him out on really bouncy pitches, but a very good innings. So I don’t see the point of this question. It was an innings that showed technical progress so why are you unhappy about it?

 

[Shafi]

Azhar Ali is still far better than Shan, Abid and so-called talent Haris combined.

 

[Shoaib88]

This was a fine innings. Just appreciate it and hope he continues to bat like this. Technically, this innings suggested he had overcome one of his major issue which was not being able to get the knee out of the way and getting out LBW to an in ducker. When Azhar is on-driving well, it means that he is close to peak form. True, haven’t tested him out on really bouncy pitches, but a very good innings. So I don’t see the point of this question. It was an innings that showed technical progress so why are you unhappy about it?

The reason for unhappiness is that hes doing exactly what Asad Shafiq did. That is, one useless good innings followed by 10 failures. This innings will cost us in the long run. Although I am praying that I will be proven wrong.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Lol here's some hard facts for you:

SAMPLE SIZE: 10 Tests in SENA since January 2019
SAMPLE DURATION: 24 months

Azhar Ali's record:
36 and 0
2 and 6
0 and 15
39 and 5
9 and 9
0 and 18
20
141 and 31
5 and 38
93

18 Innings
1 x not out
1 century, 1 fifty, 9 scores under 10

467 runs
AVERAGE 27.47

Asad Shafiq was dropped but his average in that time was 8 runs higher - and he's a good slip catcher.

Very different roles. Azhar plays against the new ball while Asad in the middle order is expected to score big.

Further, Azhar had clear technical issues for the first half of your stats picked, where his head was falling over the line of delivery. Since he rectified that, his scores have been:
141 and 31
5 and 38
93

Further, we don’t have opener/number 3 replacements available in QeA trophy but we do have replacements for 4-6 between Saud and Kamran Ghulam (and Fawad, who replaced Asad Shafiq, while Babar is also yet to come).

So to say that Azhar should have been dropped instead of Shafiq only portrays half the picture.

 

[Square Drive]

As long as there is no other opener really putting their hand up for contention, I’m fine with it. As long as he doesn’t bat at 3 - i think him and Abid can take the opener positions in Asia for the next year, while Babar, Saud, Kamran, and Rizwan are groomed as our middle order (with Fawad also there as long as he maintains form).

In the meanwhile, folks like Haider Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Ali Zaryab, Omair bin Yousuf can toil away in domestics for another year or two working hard in first class cricket to improve their technique and stamina, before they are ready at the age of 22-23. They will then replace Azhar for the opener position first, followed by Abid after another few series.

1. Azhar Ali
2. Abid Ali
3. Kamran Ghulam
4. Babar Azam (c)
5. Saud Shakeel
6. Fawad Alam
7. Mohammad Rizwan (wk) (vc)
8. Zafar Gohar
9. Sajid Khan / Yasir Shah
10. Hassan Ali / Mohammad Abbas
11. Shaheen Afridi / Naseem Shah

That would roundabout be my batting order in Asia starting with the SA series.

My sentiments exactly, word for word. Game recognize game.

Abid will be a beast in Asia and Azhar essentially opens anyway, so that should be the opening pair for the foreseeable future. That line-up is exactly what I'd field against SA.

 

[angrypathan]

Someone posted in the match thread that our next 17 tests are in Asia and the West Indies. So yeah, he's set for the next 3 years, and chances are that he'll do quite well.

 

[Hawkeye]

So the OP wants to drop the one good batsman who delivers in SENA conditions for some no name full hype debutant then?

Sadly, that's the cricketing IQ of many casual cricket fans.

Azhar has been our best Test batsman if we exclude Younis/Misbah and now Babar. Yes, went through a really bad patch.

But

It's absurd to think he should be dropped. Dropped for EXACTLY WHO?!?!?!

There are No better or even equal players in the domestic pipeline. All we have is trash in the likes of Khushdil,Shafique etc.

Azhar ain't going anywhere until we find a player with better ability, technique and grit.

Some new names should be tried but certainly not in place of Azhar.

First to be dropped can be Fawad Alam, who has failed in every innings since his comeback except the inconsequential knock in the last Test.

I don't see any good names coming up anyway sadly. Saud probably has some hope.

 

[Savak]

It was a very streaky innings, he had a lot of edges and glides to third man. But it was an innings that he himself and the team desperately needed and a knock which could prove to be a match winning one given the conditions.

My biggest frustration with him is that this is a guy who has been playing regularly for Pakistan in test cricket for the last decade, has enjoyed 2 tours of Australia, 2 tours of South Africa, 5 tours of New Zealand, 4 tours of England. He knows the ball seams, moves around in these conditions, even today he knew the ball was moving around, he was batting on 93, after a very streaky and lucky innings, he still played away from his body to an out swinger. These are not the kind of mistakes you expect from the most seasoned, experienced batsman in the side

 

[ShoaibM]

It was a very streaky innings, he had a lot of edges and glides to third man. But it was an innings that he himself and the team desperately needed and a knock which could prove to be a match winning one given the conditions.

My biggest frustration with him is that this is a guy who has been playing regularly for Pakistan in test cricket for the last decade, has enjoyed 2 tours of Australia, 2 tours of South Africa, 5 tours of New Zealand, 4 tours of England. He knows the ball seams, moves around in these conditions, even today he knew the ball was moving around, he was batting on 93, after a very streaky and lucky innings, he still played away from his body to an out swinger. These are not the kind of mistakes you expect from the most seasoned, experienced batsman in the side

The same type of conditions in which Kohli and co failed rather miserably. Lets give the guy a break and a little appreciation shall we. Haris on the other hand...

 

[Kroll]

Yes, but hes well past it. It wont be long before he fails again and the knives will be out.

The entire batting needs freshened up.

 

[Slim]

We wasted Rizwan by playing an over the hill Sarfraz. We will waste the career of some other good player by keeping an over the hill Azhar in the team.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Azhar's form has been on the uptick since his 157 against England. He had a failure in the first innings of the last test but put on a much better display in the second. And today's innings was one of this best. People can underrate it all they want but this was a tough pitch. He came in essentially as an opener, against New Zealand's best ever fast-bowling attack, had to blunt the new ball and then score quickly aswell perhaps knowing it was only a matter of time before a ball had his name on it.

I don't know what innings certain posters here were watching. Yes, he had some streaky edges and had trouble settling in (not surprising considering he was batting on a seaming first day wicket) but once he set in, his judgment was impeccable. He was at his best driving the ball and almost always put the looseners away.

One of his best knocks and a better innings than many of his hundreds.

 

[FreePalestine]

The reason for unhappiness is that hes doing exactly what Asad Shafiq did. That is, one useless good innings followed by 10 failures. This innings will cost us in the long run. Although I am praying that I will be proven wrong.

Yes, I can see where you are coming from, and it is a reasonable thing to think. But yes, I too hope you are proven wrong! I was very happy with this innings because if you compare it to the way he was batting during the long drought you mention, there is a technical change there. If you recall he was constantly getting out LBW in swinging conditions to the in ducker as he was planting his foot — this has been one of his two major issues. If you look carefully, I am sure the highlights will show it as well, you will see the knee is bending again, allowing him to access the in ducker better and play the on drive and the leg glance without going across his pad. So there is cause for optimism here.

Still don’t know whether he will be back to his best against the short ball, but I was very happy to see the way he played this innings. So more a qualitative rather than quantitative judgement on where Azhar is at currently with his batting from me..

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

The same type of conditions in which Kohli and co failed rather miserably. Lets give the guy a break and a little appreciation shall we. Haris on the other hand...

Kohli averaged 9.50 against these very same bowlers. And on this very same pitch India got a hammering to remember. Certain posters will always have something to nitpick and complain about.

The fact that Pakistan, a 7th ranked team is putting on such a fighting performance in New Zealand eventhough they are without their best batsman is a remarkable thing on its own.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

The cycle continues.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Azhar Ali to his critics: "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."

 

[Shazzam]

If he is our best batsmen after Babar we are fine being minnows on this format.

 

[Shoaib88]

Kohli averaged 9.50 against these very same bowlers. And on this very same pitch India got a hammering to remember. Certain posters will always have something to nitpick and complain about.

The fact that Pakistan, a 7th ranked team is putting on such a fighting performance in New Zealand eventhough they are without their best batsman is a remarkable thing on its own.

Why are we comparing ourselves with green wicket minnows and home track bullies like India? 36

 

[Slim]

If he is our best batsmen after Babar we are fine being minnows on this format.

Hes not. Rizwan is our best bat after Babar in tests.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Why are we comparing ourselves with green wicket minnows and home track bullies like India? 36

Because India is a much better team than us with much better batsmen.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

South Africa is his bane for some reason but he is still one of our better batters.
Back when he started, consistency was his best attribute, he was always scoring 40s and 50s with immense consistency. For the last 2 years, he has been more like a poor man's Younis Khan. One big innings after a few low scores. But Younis would score big centuries.
Azhar is still very serviceable if he just gets his consistency back.

 

[Barragan]

I'd get rid of abid and play Azhar as an opener.

Haris out as well, with Saud or Usman coming into the middle order.

 

[ShoaibM]

Kohli averaged 9.50 against these very same bowlers. And on this very same pitch India got a hammering to remember. Certain posters will always have something to nitpick and complain about.

The fact that Pakistan, a 7th ranked team is putting on such a fighting performance in New Zealand eventhough they are without their best batsman is a remarkable thing on its own.

Agreed. With a little bit of luck and more application we could have had a positive result in the first test. In with more than a fighting chance in this test. We should really be getting behind the team. At least I am!

 

[JibranAnsari]

He has regained his form , this was a very good knock against seam and swing. As long as he keeps playing like that he is welcome in the team , we arent exactly spoilt for choices anyways.

 

[guldozer]

I echo some of the complementary words people have written about Azhar's innings today.

I don't think he will retire anytime soon, especially as we are playing our next series in Asia.

 

[Rana]

We need to start showing this guy more respect. He averages more and has scored more runs than 3 ex England captains from recent history.

Sometimes we fans go overboard with our expectations from our players. I would like him to play 100 Tests for us.

 

[Mesozoic]

Because India is a much better team than us with much better batsmen.

Don't hurt him like that.

 

[Rana]

I'd get rid of abid and play Azhar as an opener.

Haris out as well, with Saud or Usman coming into the middle order.

Get rid of Shan and Play Azhar as an opener more like

 

[PakPremi]

A very good knock against difficult bowlers in their home condition on a first day green lively pitch. As long as he scores one big inning like 70 plus and a 50 in each series there is no reason why he cannot carry on. He is clutch player will alway score a 100 every 5 tests as well. I have seen no issue with his fitness but sooner or later age will catch up with him, and that will be rime ro say goodbye. Pakistan team needs one quality experienced anchor.

 

[Mueez]

Deserved a hundred.

Anyways a great innings by a classy batsman!

 

[TeymurBlake]

For me, he's playing on a series by series basis. Each series could be his last, despite that he looked quite comfortable in difficult circumstances against a solid bowling line-up.

 

[deems]

As long as there is no other opener really putting their hand up for contention, I’m fine with it. As long as he doesn’t bat at 3 - i think him and Abid can take the opener positions in Asia for the next year, while Babar, Saud, Kamran, and Rizwan are groomed as our middle order (with Fawad also there as long as he maintains form).

In the meanwhile, folks like Haider Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Ali Zaryab, Omair bin Yousuf can toil away in domestics for another year or two working hard in first class cricket to improve their technique and stamina, before they are ready at the age of 22-23. They will then replace Azhar for the opener position first, followed by Abid after another few series.

1. Azhar Ali
2. Abid Ali
3. Kamran Ghulam
4. Babar Azam (c)
5. Saud Shakeel
6. Fawad Alam
7. Mohammad Rizwan (wk) (vc)
8. Zafar Gohar
9. Sajid Khan / Yasir Shah
10. Hassan Ali / Mohammad Abbas
11. Shaheen Afridi / Naseem Shah

That would roundabout be my batting order in Asia starting with the SA series.

Hussain Talat has been playing the wrong format.Get him in the middle order as a batting all rounder.

 

[Pakhs]

Azhar Ali has always been a middling batsman every good team has the likes of which are required along side 2/3 world class batsmen who can average 50 plus. The problem is after younis Pakistan didnt have anyone averaging over 50 and people blamed him for not making the next jump.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Hussain Talat has been playing the wrong format.Get him in the middle order as a batting all rounder.

I’m not sure he’ll really bowl anything meaningful apart from making up the overs. He will essentially be playing as a specialist batsman.

As specialist bat, he relies too much on circus T20 shots which make him a good Glenn Maxwell type for T20 or ODI cricket and he’s competing for the 5th/6th bowler position with Faheem Ashraf.

Even in QeA trophy his 200 comprised of a lot of these scoops/ramps/reverse sweeps, a lot of shots played behind the wicket. So in reality, his QeA knock tells me he can be a good ODI batsman and 6th bowler but not a good Test bat (where he has to make it as a specialist ahead of Kamran Ghulam or Saud Shakeel).

 

[GreenKhan]

It was a very streaky innings, he had a lot of edges and glides to third man. But it was an innings that he himself and the team desperately needed and a knock which could prove to be a match winning one given the conditions.

My biggest frustration with him is that this is a guy who has been playing regularly for Pakistan in test cricket for the last decade, has enjoyed 2 tours of Australia, 2 tours of South Africa, 5 tours of New Zealand, 4 tours of England. He knows the ball seams, moves around in these conditions, even today he knew the ball was moving around, he was batting on 93, after a very streaky and lucky innings, he still played away from his body to an out swinger. These are not the kind of mistakes you expect from the most seasoned, experienced batsman in the side

It was not a streaky innings . Playing and missing is part of test cricket . A lot of his runs came from very controlled shots and the New Zealand commentary were calling it a “ master class “.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Hes been like a tailender away from UAE/Pak for last few years.

But he deserves credit here for probably one of his best ever test inns given the pitch conditions and oppostion been faced. He wont last 3 years but has saved his place in team for now.

 

[PakPremi]

It was not a streaky innings . Playing and missing is part of test cricket . A lot of his runs came from very controlled shots and the New Zealand commentary were calling it a “ master class “.

Exactly Williamson hit and missed so many times against Pakistan as well and we dropped his catches, he had one close lbw reviewed and one we did not.

 

[deems]

I’m not sure he’ll really bowl anything meaningful apart from making up the overs. He will essentially be playing as a specialist batsman.

As specialist bat, he relies too much on circus T20 shots which make him a good Glenn Maxwell type for T20 or ODI cricket and he’s competing for the 5th/6th bowler position with Faheem Ashraf.

Even in QeA trophy his 200 comprised of a lot of these scoops/ramps/reverse sweeps, a lot of shots played behind the wicket. So in reality, his QeA knock tells me he can be a good ODI batsman and 6th bowler but not a good Test bat (where he has to make it as a specialist ahead of Kamran Ghulam or Saud Shakeel).

I think he can adapt well to the longer format. He's young, if he plays at 6..those unorthodox shots will defo come in handy when he's batting with the tail.

 

[ElRaja]

has averaged mid 30s last few years, which is acceptable for an opener, not really for a number three. should defo go back to opening and then his spot in the xi is justified.

 

[Pakpak]

Hes becoming like Asad Shafiq (in his heydays) which is scoring one big innings once a series. If history is of any lesson, this will impact us negatively in the long run. Azhar has served well and has been instrumental for us but has not been able to raise himself to the level of legends. I respect the guy in tests, and want him to retire gracefully now.

This is very accurate. Success once a series should never be good enough at all. The reason why we are so mediocre.

 

[moghul]

One good performance after a long run of failure for batsman already 37-38, should not be enough. Yes , now cannot be dropped in 1st test against SA, but another failure, he should be replaced by someone younger.