Head to head: Misbah-ul-Haq vs Azhar Ali vs Salman Butt

[Junaids]

I was a little bit taken aback to see on a different thread that Salman Butt was trashed for his Test record, with no acknowledgment of how Misbah and Azhar Ali fared in the same matches on the same pitches against the same bowlers with the same balls.

Plus, of course, Salman Butt and Azhar Ali are only 3 months apart in age.

My stance is consistent: I think that Salman Butt should not be recalled because batsmen aged over 30 are a liability outside Asia. I want Azhar Ali as the only Test batsman aged over 32, and I want him to retire too within 2 years.

Anyway, here are the relevant FACTS. I have included all scores from series in which both batsmen under consideration were selected: Butt should not for example have his Hobart century ignored because Misbah had got himself dropped part way through the series.

COMPARISON 1: Azhar Ali v Salman Butt

Azhar Ali: 6 Tests, 12 Inns / 1 not out, 291 runs @ 26.45
Salman Butt: 6 Tests, 12 Inns / 0 not outs, 275 runs @ 22.92



COMPARISON 2: Misbah v Salman Butt

Misbah: 14 Tests, 24 Inns / 3 not outs, 853 runs @ 40.62
Salman Butt: 13 Tests, 24 Inns / 0 not outs, 806 runs @ 33.58



COMPARISON 3: Misbah v Salman Butt outside Asia

(Largely because Misbah's record above is inflated by two huge unbeaten centuries v India on featherbed pitches in 2007-08)

Misbah: 6 Tests, 11 Inns / 1 not out, 224 runs @ 22.40
Salman Butt: 7 Tests, 14 Inns / 0 not outs, 475 runs @ 33.93

Overall, the results are fascinating.

The overall run output of Azhar Ali compared with Salman Butt and of Misbah-ul-Haq compared with Salman Butt is almost identical.

The only difference is the effect on their averages of Not Outs, largely because Misbah ran out of partners at times.

The only stark difference among the batsmen is Misbah-ul-Haq's greatly inferior record outside Asia. But all of us who watched him in Australia and New Zealand knew all about that.

 

[Rayyman]

Test match runs:

Misbah: 5222

Azhar: 4968


Butt: 1889

Game.

Set.

Match.

 

[Junaids]

Test match runs:

Misbah: 5222

Azhar: 4968


Butt: 1889

Game.

Set.

Match.

Well that's no-one's fault other than Salman Butt's, for getting himself banned when he was the captain of the team.

He robbed himself of around 5,000 Test runs.

Seriously though, look at the head-to-head output when they played together:

Azhar Ali 291 runs in 6 Tests
Salman Butt 275 runs in the same 6 Tests

Misbah 853 runs in 14 Tests
Salman Butt 806 runs in 13 of the same 14 Tests.

It's insane for people to claim that Salman Butt was greatly inferior to them just because he hasn't bloated his average in the UAE like they did.

The bottom line is that head to head their run output was practically identical.

 

[Rayyman]

Averages:

Azhar: 46.86
Misbah: 46.62

Butt: 30.46

 

[Junaids]

Averages:

Azhar: 46.86
Misbah: 46.62

Butt: 30.46

....which is why I did this head to head comparison!

 

[ads101]

I really don't get your obsession with the guy Junaids. Do runs outside of Australia not count?

The matches you chose for Azhar was when Azhar was establishing himself new to the team. He averaged just 26, but that still beats Butt who captained the majority of those matches and was the senior player. Was also more involved in the wins in those matches in England than Butt was.

A 7 run difference between Butt and Misbah is pretty substantial tbh, it's not the same even including not outs. And Misbah wasn't part of the test team then, his output was considered sub par hence he kept getting dropped.

Misbah wasn't great outside of Asia granted. But his knocks in England and WI were arguably more important and match defining than Butt's Australia runs ever was. Not to mention he ran out his own team mates on some of the innings coupled with poor fielding.

As weird as it was why do you think Butt would have cashed in in the UAE? His record outside Australia was abysmal. His average actually dipped below 30 between the Aus tours. If he didn't tour Australia his average would be less than 30. If he performed to the same level as he did in Australia no one would be mocking him, but he didn't. Salman Butt is up there with the worse openers we ever had, at the end of the day this man struggled to keep his average above 30, when others were averaging 40 and 50. That's damn awful.

 

[MMHS]

I am really dragged into this thread - no love lost, but this is disgusting to bring Salman Butt with Azhar & Misbah at same line. Salman Butt's career highlights is 2 Test hundreds at SCG - like the theory of taking out "few good innings" of Misbah & Azhar, if I take those 2 innings out, Salman Butt is basically tail ender.

Without going in to many details, these are some fascinating figures of Salman's career

1. For 33 Tests, his career stats is 1889 runs @ 30.46 with 3 hundreds in 62 innings

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/42683.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting

- that's BANG average for a player, who was in his 6th year of International cricket, before getting banned. Compared to that with Azhar & Misbah itself is simply hilarious, but lets go further, based on OP.

2. His home average is 34.05 for 11 Tests, played on some of the highest scoring Tests ever played in history. Those 11 Tests includes, 1 against us when we were below Lancashire league level, 2 against IND where average scores/wicket were probably 100, 2 against SLR, where that same average was probably 250. In contrast, Azhar & Misbah has played their entire home career in UAE, where most of the matches ended in results, many low scoring results. Therefore, I have to conclude that Salman was damn lucky to avoid UAE, otherwise that 34.05 could have ended embarrassingly poor for an opener.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...=1;template=results;type=batting;view=innings

3. Head to head is misleading, because both sets didn't start at same time. However, still I see a gross mistake in the stats –

Misbah & Butt has played 12 Tests together – and, this is their summary
Butt : 12 Tests, 661 runs at 30.04 with 4 50s,, highest 71

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...r_involve=19596;template=results;type=batting

Misbah : 12 Tests, 793 runs at 46.64 with 2 hundreds & 3 50s, Highest 161*

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...r_involve=11647;template=results;type=batting


Coming to Azhar, those 6 were his 1st 6 Tests in career, young man playing first time in his career & that too in UK. Ironically, those 6 were Salman’s last 6 Tests (28th to 33rd), when he was at his career best form & a 6 years veteran – still Azhar leads.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...r_involve=11647;template=results;type=batting

Just for a silly comparison, if I do the same for Azhar, that’s his last 6 Test, stats stands like these – and ironically, his last 6 Tests are also outside Asia

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=batting

4. Now, coming to Misbah’s greatly inferior performance outside Asia, here is what I found –
Misbah: 26 Tests, 1684 runs at 39.16, with 2 hundreds & 15 50s

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=batting

Butt: 17 Tests, 1041 runs at 30.61 with 2 hundreds & 5 50s.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=batting

I understand the Not Out Factor, so here is the comparison when it comes to Runs/Test, & Runs/Innings

Misbah: 65/34
Butt: 61/31
I guess, it’s not all about Not Outs only.

Besides, going by the theory of “Contribution”, of an innings – Butt has contributed 7 times out of 34 innings – that’s 1 out of 5 innings of 50+ score; Misbah has 17 out of 50, that’s 1 out of 3. This is outside Asia – it’ll be insulting for Misbah if I do that in Asia. Also, it’s a disgusting to bring in & out of Asia, after watching AUS & ENG batsmen’s heroics in Asia – it’s probably not so cheap after all to score in Asia.

Initially, I thought this comparison was probably for ODI, but then noticing the OP, I knew I had to dig a bit in it. Now, it’s a bit tricky job, to include Hobart Test for Salman because he had a hundred & add couple of Test for Misbah as well to make it 14 Tests, which pulls his average down. So, the gap, what should have been almost 17 comes down to 7 – that’s why [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] is my boss, sometimes.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

A fixer / sell out who shamed our country is being compared with two blokes that have served the country with honor, honesty and a professional integrity that is hallmarked all over the globe

Salman Butt should never be selected for Pakistan ever again !!

 

[MenInG]

A fixer / sell out who shamed our country is being compared with two blokes that have served the country with honor, honesty and a professional integrity that is hallmarked all over the globe

Salman Butt should never be selected for Pakistan ever again !!

Think we have moved on from that.

However, it was due to Salman's work that Misbah came back to the team and was put under so much pressure from day one. Amazing achievement from him - regardless of runs and averages etc

 

[maxamax]

The question is whether he can get the same form back? If yes than I'd put him with Fakhar for ODI opening before moving him to test.

 

[Junaids]

I was as revolted as anybody else by Salman Butt's behaviour 7 years ago.

But still, the arguments people are putting forward in this thread are absolutely bonkers.

Because these are the numbers when they played side-by-side:

Azhar Ali 291 runs in 6 Tests
Salman Butt 275 runs in the same 6 Tests

Misbah 853 runs in 14 Tests
Salman Butt 806 runs in 13 of the same 14 Tests.

 

[Haz95]

The answer to your problems is Sami Aslam. Besides, isn't Butt too old in your eyes anyway?

 

[Hasan123]

Azhar is leagues above Salman Butt. Don't under the comparison here.

 

[Rayyman]

Averages:

Shehzad: 40.91

Sami: 33.25


Butt: 30.46

 

[ads101]

Averages:

Shehzad: 40.91

Sami: 33.25


Butt: 30.46

Why stop there

Farhat 32.00

Nazir 32.84

Butt 30.46

Farhat even funnily enough played a lower percentage of his games in asian than Butt did, and a higher percentage in Oceania

 

[mak36]

I am really dragged into this thread - no love lost, but this is disgusting to bring Salman Butt with Azhar & Misbah at same line. Salman Butt's career highlights is 2 Test hundreds at SCG - like the theory of taking out "few good innings" of Misbah & Azhar, if I take those 2 innings out, Salman Butt is basically tail ender.

Without going in to many details, these are some fascinating figures of Salman's career

1. For 33 Tests, his career stats is 1889 runs @ 30.46 with 3 hundreds in 62 innings

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/42683.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting

- that's BANG average for a player, who was in his 6th year of International cricket, before getting banned. Compared to that with Azhar & Misbah itself is simply hilarious, but lets go further, based on OP.

2. His home average is 34.05 for 11 Tests, played on some of the highest scoring Tests ever played in history. Those 11 Tests includes, 1 against us when we were below Lancashire league level, 2 against IND where average scores/wicket were probably 100, 2 against SLR, where that same average was probably 250. In contrast, Azhar & Misbah has played their entire home career in UAE, where most of the matches ended in results, many low scoring results. Therefore, I have to conclude that Salman was damn lucky to avoid UAE, otherwise that 34.05 could have ended embarrassingly poor for an opener.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...=1;template=results;type=batting;view=innings

3. Head to head is misleading, because both sets didn't start at same time. However, still I see a gross mistake in the stats –

Misbah & Butt has played 12 Tests together – and, this is their summary
Butt : 12 Tests, 661 runs at 30.04 with 4 50s,, highest 71

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...r_involve=19596;template=results;type=batting

Misbah : 12 Tests, 793 runs at 46.64 with 2 hundreds & 3 50s, Highest 161*

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...r_involve=11647;template=results;type=batting


Coming to Azhar, those 6 were his 1st 6 Tests in career, young man playing first time in his career & that too in UK. Ironically, those 6 were Salman’s last 6 Tests (28th to 33rd), when he was at his career best form & a 6 years veteran – still Azhar leads.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...r_involve=11647;template=results;type=batting

Just for a silly comparison, if I do the same for Azhar, that’s his last 6 Test, stats stands like these – and ironically, his last 6 Tests are also outside Asia

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=batting

4. Now, coming to Misbah’s greatly inferior performance outside Asia, here is what I found –
Misbah: 26 Tests, 1684 runs at 39.16, with 2 hundreds & 15 50s

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=batting

Butt: 17 Tests, 1041 runs at 30.61 with 2 hundreds & 5 50s.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=batting

I understand the Not Out Factor, so here is the comparison when it comes to Runs/Test, & Runs/Innings

Misbah: 65/34
Butt: 61/31
I guess, it’s not all about Not Outs only.

Besides, going by the theory of “Contribution”, of an innings – Butt has contributed 7 times out of 34 innings – that’s 1 out of 5 innings of 50+ score; Misbah has 17 out of 50, that’s 1 out of 3. This is outside Asia – it’ll be insulting for Misbah if I do that in Asia. Also, it’s a disgusting to bring in & out of Asia, after watching AUS & ENG batsmen’s heroics in Asia – it’s probably not so cheap after all to score in Asia.

Initially, I thought this comparison was probably for ODI, but then noticing the OP, I knew I had to dig a bit in it. Now, it’s a bit tricky job, to include Hobart Test for Salman because he had a hundred & add couple of Test for Misbah as well to make it 14 Tests, which pulls his average down. So, the gap, what should have been almost 17 comes down to 7 – that’s why [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] is my boss, sometimes.

This is an excellent post- you have confirmed what everyone knew to be case (except for OP of course!) Don't forget this is the same OP that thinks Salman Butt is "the only Test quality batsman [in Pakistan] apart from Azhar Ali".

You have beaten Junaids at his own game.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

I am really dragged into this thread - no love lost, but this is disgusting to bring Salman Butt with Azhar & Misbah at same line. Salman Butt's career highlights is 2 Test hundreds at SCG - like the theory of taking out "few good innings" of Misbah & Azhar, if I take those 2 innings out, Salman Butt is basically tail ender.

Without going in to many details, these are some fascinating figures of Salman's career

1. For 33 Tests, his career stats is 1889 runs @ 30.46 with 3 hundreds in 62 innings

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/42683.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting

- that's BANG average for a player, who was in his 6th year of International cricket, before getting banned. Compared to that with Azhar & Misbah itself is simply hilarious, but lets go further, based on OP.

2. His home average is 34.05 for 11 Tests, played on some of the highest scoring Tests ever played in history. Those 11 Tests includes, 1 against us when we were below Lancashire league level, 2 against IND where average scores/wicket were probably 100, 2 against SLR, where that same average was probably 250. In contrast, Azhar & Misbah has played their entire home career in UAE, where most of the matches ended in results, many low scoring results. Therefore, I have to conclude that Salman was damn lucky to avoid UAE, otherwise that 34.05 could have ended embarrassingly poor for an opener.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...=1;template=results;type=batting;view=innings

3. Head to head is misleading, because both sets didn't start at same time. However, still I see a gross mistake in the stats –

Misbah & Butt has played 12 Tests together – and, this is their summary
Butt : 12 Tests, 661 runs at 30.04 with 4 50s,, highest 71

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...r_involve=19596;template=results;type=batting

Misbah : 12 Tests, 793 runs at 46.64 with 2 hundreds & 3 50s, Highest 161*

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...r_involve=11647;template=results;type=batting


Coming to Azhar, those 6 were his 1st 6 Tests in career, young man playing first time in his career & that too in UK. Ironically, those 6 were Salman’s last 6 Tests (28th to 33rd), when he was at his career best form & a 6 years veteran – still Azhar leads.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...r_involve=11647;template=results;type=batting

Just for a silly comparison, if I do the same for Azhar, that’s his last 6 Test, stats stands like these – and ironically, his last 6 Tests are also outside Asia

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=batting

4. Now, coming to Misbah’s greatly inferior performance outside Asia, here is what I found –
Misbah: 26 Tests, 1684 runs at 39.16, with 2 hundreds & 15 50s

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=batting

Butt: 17 Tests, 1041 runs at 30.61 with 2 hundreds & 5 50s.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=batting

I understand the Not Out Factor, so here is the comparison when it comes to Runs/Test, & Runs/Innings

Misbah: 65/34
Butt: 61/31
I guess, it’s not all about Not Outs only.

Besides, going by the theory of “Contribution”, of an innings – Butt has contributed 7 times out of 34 innings – that’s 1 out of 5 innings of 50+ score; Misbah has 17 out of 50, that’s 1 out of 3. This is outside Asia – it’ll be insulting for Misbah if I do that in Asia. Also, it’s a disgusting to bring in & out of Asia, after watching AUS & ENG batsmen’s heroics in Asia – it’s probably not so cheap after all to score in Asia.

Initially, I thought this comparison was probably for ODI, but then noticing the OP, I knew I had to dig a bit in it. Now, it’s a bit tricky job, to include Hobart Test for Salman because he had a hundred & add couple of Test for Misbah as well to make it 14 Tests, which pulls his average down. So, the gap, what should have been almost 17 comes down to 7 – that’s why [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] is my boss, sometimes.

Complete destruction of OP's argument.What a post!

 

[MMHS]

As I said no love lost & I do respect [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] for his Cricket.

But, we have to be impartial here. Not only in contemporary Cricket, in history of PAK Cricket, Misbah & Azhar are truly two outstanding personality, who are the most comited & honest trier. Might not be the sparkling stroke maker that we cherish as a batsman, but these two are truly gutsy player who stood ground in their way when it mattered.

Still, on batting technique, skills or subjective qualities, we can ignore, but comparing Butt with Misbah & Azhar with cherry picked stats & then drawing a parity is not acceptable at all. Butt played most of his career in what was one of PAK's best ever batting lineup - when he became senior, we have seen his level. In contrast, the way Azhar & Misbah had raised their game, it's mind blowing that someone would dare to compare these three in the frame of statistics. I actually have seen each of those 11 Test Butt played at home - I can safely say Shaan Masood would have much better stats than 34.05 average if he had replaced Butt, who is that ordinary.

And comparing Butt with Misbah & Azhar when it comes to role model of a team is blasphemous.

 

[Abdul]

I am really dragged into this thread - no love lost, but this is disgusting to bring Salman Butt with Azhar & Misbah at same line. Salman Butt's career highlights is 2 Test hundreds at SCG - like the theory of taking out "few good innings" of Misbah & Azhar, if I take those 2 innings out, Salman Butt is basically tail ender.

Without going in to many details, these are some fascinating figures of Salman's career

1. For 33 Tests, his career stats is 1889 runs @ 30.46 with 3 hundreds in 62 innings

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/42683.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting

- that's BANG average for a player, who was in his 6th year of International cricket, before getting banned. Compared to that with Azhar & Misbah itself is simply hilarious, but lets go further, based on OP.

2. His home average is 34.05 for 11 Tests, played on some of the highest scoring Tests ever played in history. Those 11 Tests includes, 1 against us when we were below Lancashire league level, 2 against IND where average scores/wicket were probably 100, 2 against SLR, where that same average was probably 250. In contrast, Azhar & Misbah has played their entire home career in UAE, where most of the matches ended in results, many low scoring results. Therefore, I have to conclude that Salman was damn lucky to avoid UAE, otherwise that 34.05 could have ended embarrassingly poor for an opener.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...=1;template=results;type=batting;view=innings

3. Head to head is misleading, because both sets didn't start at same time. However, still I see a gross mistake in the stats –

Misbah & Butt has played 12 Tests together – and, this is their summary
Butt : 12 Tests, 661 runs at 30.04 with 4 50s,, highest 71

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...r_involve=19596;template=results;type=batting

Misbah : 12 Tests, 793 runs at 46.64 with 2 hundreds & 3 50s, Highest 161*

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...r_involve=11647;template=results;type=batting


Coming to Azhar, those 6 were his 1st 6 Tests in career, young man playing first time in his career & that too in UK. Ironically, those 6 were Salman’s last 6 Tests (28th to 33rd), when he was at his career best form & a 6 years veteran – still Azhar leads.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...r_involve=11647;template=results;type=batting

Just for a silly comparison, if I do the same for Azhar, that’s his last 6 Test, stats stands like these – and ironically, his last 6 Tests are also outside Asia

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=batting

4. Now, coming to Misbah’s greatly inferior performance outside Asia, here is what I found –
Misbah: 26 Tests, 1684 runs at 39.16, with 2 hundreds & 15 50s

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=batting

Butt: 17 Tests, 1041 runs at 30.61 with 2 hundreds & 5 50s.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=batting

I understand the Not Out Factor, so here is the comparison when it comes to Runs/Test, & Runs/Innings

Misbah: 65/34
Butt: 61/31
I guess, it’s not all about Not Outs only.

Besides, going by the theory of “Contribution”, of an innings – Butt has contributed 7 times out of 34 innings – that’s 1 out of 5 innings of 50+ score; Misbah has 17 out of 50, that’s 1 out of 3. This is outside Asia – it’ll be insulting for Misbah if I do that in Asia. Also, it’s a disgusting to bring in & out of Asia, after watching AUS & ENG batsmen’s heroics in Asia – it’s probably not so cheap after all to score in Asia.

Initially, I thought this comparison was probably for ODI, but then noticing the OP, I knew I had to dig a bit in it. Now, it’s a bit tricky job, to include Hobart Test for Salman because he had a hundred & add couple of Test for Misbah as well to make it 14 Tests, which pulls his average down. So, the gap, what should have been almost 17 comes down to 7 – that’s why [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] is my boss, sometimes.

Thank you for this.

 

[coy0607]

you can take any numbers and manipulate them any way you want.

But the bottom line is Butt averages a pathetic 30 in test matches after a signifant number of innings. There's no room for him in any international team

 

[coy0607]

I am really dragged into this thread - no love lost, but this is disgusting to bring Salman Butt with Azhar & Misbah at same line. Salman Butt's career highlights is 2 Test hundreds at SCG - like the theory of taking out "few good innings" of Misbah & Azhar, if I take those 2 innings out, Salman Butt is basically tail ender.

Without going in to many details, these are some fascinating figures of Salman's career

1. For 33 Tests, his career stats is 1889 runs @ 30.46 with 3 hundreds in 62 innings

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/42683.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting

- that's BANG average for a player, who was in his 6th year of International cricket, before getting banned. Compared to that with Azhar & Misbah itself is simply hilarious, but lets go further, based on OP.

2. His home average is 34.05 for 11 Tests, played on some of the highest scoring Tests ever played in history. Those 11 Tests includes, 1 against us when we were below Lancashire league level, 2 against IND where average scores/wicket were probably 100, 2 against SLR, where that same average was probably 250. In contrast, Azhar & Misbah has played their entire home career in UAE, where most of the matches ended in results, many low scoring results. Therefore, I have to conclude that Salman was damn lucky to avoid UAE, otherwise that 34.05 could have ended embarrassingly poor for an opener.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...=1;template=results;type=batting;view=innings

3. Head to head is misleading, because both sets didn't start at same time. However, still I see a gross mistake in the stats –

Misbah & Butt has played 12 Tests together – and, this is their summary
Butt : 12 Tests, 661 runs at 30.04 with 4 50s,, highest 71

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...r_involve=19596;template=results;type=batting

Misbah : 12 Tests, 793 runs at 46.64 with 2 hundreds & 3 50s, Highest 161*

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...r_involve=11647;template=results;type=batting


Coming to Azhar, those 6 were his 1st 6 Tests in career, young man playing first time in his career & that too in UK. Ironically, those 6 were Salman’s last 6 Tests (28th to 33rd), when he was at his career best form & a 6 years veteran – still Azhar leads.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...r_involve=11647;template=results;type=batting

Just for a silly comparison, if I do the same for Azhar, that’s his last 6 Test, stats stands like these – and ironically, his last 6 Tests are also outside Asia

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=batting

4. Now, coming to Misbah’s greatly inferior performance outside Asia, here is what I found –
Misbah: 26 Tests, 1684 runs at 39.16, with 2 hundreds & 15 50s

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=batting

Butt: 17 Tests, 1041 runs at 30.61 with 2 hundreds & 5 50s.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=batting

I understand the Not Out Factor, so here is the comparison when it comes to Runs/Test, & Runs/Innings

Misbah: 65/34
Butt: 61/31
I guess, it’s not all about Not Outs only.

Besides, going by the theory of “Contribution”, of an innings – Butt has contributed 7 times out of 34 innings – that’s 1 out of 5 innings of 50+ score; Misbah has 17 out of 50, that’s 1 out of 3. This is outside Asia – it’ll be insulting for Misbah if I do that in Asia. Also, it’s a disgusting to bring in & out of Asia, after watching AUS & ENG batsmen’s heroics in Asia – it’s probably not so cheap after all to score in Asia.

Initially, I thought this comparison was probably for ODI, but then noticing the OP, I knew I had to dig a bit in it. Now, it’s a bit tricky job, to include Hobart Test for Salman because he had a hundred & add couple of Test for Misbah as well to make it 14 Tests, which pulls his average down. So, the gap, what should have been almost 17 comes down to 7 – that’s why [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] is my boss, sometimes.

End Thread

 

[leatherface58]

Tremendous respect for Misbah. He took a team which could have disintegrated and in the face of some harsh and unnecessary criticism from his own countrymen, he did very well. He was not perfect and had technical issues and issues with scoring quickly but he is one of the best captains Pakistan had.

 

[The_Odd_One]

The whole premise of this thread is wrong by comparing someone who was playing his debut series to someone who was in his 6th year of international cricket.

Butt can average more than Bradman but he can never reach the stature of Misbah and Azhar.

 

[sshakir411]

I'd go as far as saying Azhar Ali is a better odi batsman than Butt and clearly the best out of the lot.