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How can Pakistan find it's long awaited 150+ SR batter?

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T20I and even ODI cricket is now a bat vs bat contest. Therefore, it is imperative to strategize around this, and the one thing Pakistan batsmen need to test themselves in the upcoming series against NZ is finding a way to bat at 200 SR for short periods. How can Pakistan find that 30 (14) performance? Or a batter that can play at 150 SR but give you 40 runs consistently. Can anyone stand up and be counted?

Coaches need to make note of this and not let batsmen coast to 180 in their comfort, when it's a 220 wicket. The target should be to reach 200 runs every match.

It's a matter of national shame that Pakistan cannot match the modern-day batting. Apart from Afridi there's no one below- Fakhar is languishing at the bottom but he's averaging only 21. Even Amla is above him which speaks volumes of the batting approach that we are relying on.

PlayerSpanMatRunsAveSR
SA Yadav (IND)2021-202360214145.55171.55
FH Allen (NZ)2021-202443110625.72163.6
C Munro (NZ)2012-202065172431.34156.44
GJ Maxwell (AUS)2012-2024106246830.09155.51
E Lewis (WI)2016-202253146529.89151.97
Shahid Afridi (PAK)2006-201698140518.01150.75
AK Markram (SA)2019-202339111838.55150.67
NLTC Perera (SL)2010-202180104721.36146.63
SR Watson (AUS)2006-201658146229.24145.32
DA Miller (SA)2010-2023113222734.26145.27
R Powell (WI)2017-202471131226.24144.81
JC Buttler (ENG)2011-2023114292734.84144.61
MM Ali (ENG)2014-202382115422.19143.35
GD Phillips (NZ)2017-202474181733.03143.29
DA Warner (AUS)2009-2024103309933.68142.67
AJ Finch (AUS)2011-2022103312034.28142.53
KP Pietersen (ENG)2005-201337117637.93141.51
RG Sharma (IND)2007-2024151397431.79139.97
HH Pandya (IND)2016-202392134825.43139.83
MS Chapman (NZ)2018-202451102631.09139.78
KL Rahul (IND)2016-202272226537.75139.12
DJ Mitchell (NZ)2019-202463126026.25138.61
AD Hales (ENG)2011-202275207430.95138.35
V Kohli (IND)2010-2024117403751.75138.15
JJ Roy (ENG)2014-202264152224.15137.61
JM Bairstow (ENG)2011-202370151229.64137.57
CH Gayle (WI)2006-202179189927.92137.5
Q de Kock (SA)2012-202380227732.52137.33
Yuvraj Singh (IND)2007-201758117728.02136.38
BB McCullum (NZ)2005-201571214035.66136.21
EJG Morgan (ENG)2009-2022115245828.58136.17
SS Iyer (IND)2017-202351110430.66136.12
BKG Mendis (SL)2016-202464155425.06135.72
MJ Guptill (NZ)2009-2022122353131.81135.7
MR Marsh (AUS)2011-202454143234.09135.34
AB de Villiers (SA)2006-201778167226.12135.16
KA Pollard (WI)2008-2022101156925.3135.14
SK Raina (IND)2006-201878160529.18134.87
MS Wade (AUS)2011-202485117526.7134.74
N Pooran (WI)2016-202488184825.66134.69
F du Plessis (SA)2012-202047146636.65134.24
TL Seifert (NZ)2018-202457120625.12134.14
DPMD Jayawardene (SL)2006-201455149331.76133.18
DJ Malan (ENG)2017-202362189236.38132.49
BA King (WI)2019-202447115028.04131.42
HM Amla (SA)2009-201841115832.16131.14
RR Hendricks (SA)2014-202356170231.51130.92
J Charles (WI)2011-202448108523.08130.88
Fakhar Zaman (PAK)2017-202481155921.95130.56
MDKJ Perera (SL)2013-202466167726.61130.4
 
One who can play with such SR is not getting picked. I am talking about Sahibzada Farhan. He has already shown his skills but he is nowhere near the Pakistan team right now.
 
Would be interesting to see their balls per six ratio. Those who have more sixes generally have better intent. M ay not be technically superior or sound. But they are likely to win you matches out of nowhere.
 
I can't see many of the old guard managing this.

Saim perhaps, Usman Khan maybe?

Not too many options it seems.
 
I can't see many of the old guard managing this.

Saim perhaps, Usman Khan maybe?

Not too many options it seems.
If your Cat A contract players are not going to set the example, what do you expect from the others who can’t get a regular spot in the side?
 
In this list one guy averages 51@138. One guy averages 45@171. Kohli and SKY. All the others are 30 to 40. SOme beow 30. But that is the nature of the beast. In T20 strike rate > average. I do no think current ICC rankings give extra weightage to this factor. That would give an accurate indication of the ranking.
 
We endlessly talk about defensive technique as cricket fans but we don't pay enough to attention to attacking technique.

It's not solely a matter of intent. Boundary hitting is a highly trained skill in itself with many of the top T20 batsmen utilising ball striking techniques learnt from golf and baseball.

What's the point of attaching Mohammad Yousuf to the team to teach high elbow and forward defence ?
 
Hafeez transformed himself by playing golf and became a decent power hitter...but he's the only one that's been able to do this.

If you look through that list the vast majority of the players in the OP have decent test/fc careers too.

We seem to be the only cricketing country that has only blind sloggers and tuk tukers.

We do not cultivate quality cricket and an innovative mindset. It's due to fear of failure, low IQ, low strength/nutrition standards and allowing players to generate acclaim from staying in their comfort zones.

It needs a massive overhaul of Pakistan cricketing culture. I don't think we have it in us. Which is why despite my love of test cricket I think with our limited resources we should just try to produce T20 hitters. We don't have the ability or capability to produce 360 batsmen across formats.
 
Short-term you can do it by promoting an aggressive strategy and giving players freedom to play their shots. This includes promoting players that have this type of natural intent and backing them.

Long-term, you have to not only implement that strategy but also identify and then develop hitting skills around this concept. This includes assessing the field and properly playing ramp shots, scoops, and reverse sweeps.
 
As long as PCB is to be run on fans sentiments, we cant find such players, because such players are not consisstent and will keep an avg of 30ish.

For our fans, a match winner is someone that stays not out.

Fans are already after Iftikhar Ahmed, where alot of people want him to be dropped.

Mohammad Harris got dropped out of the blue, there is no way when he returns back he will play like he was playing before. Saim Ayub will also be changing his game when he gets dropped a few times.

Its just our culture.
 
Farhan would struggle above 120 in international cricket he's an average batsmen.
He is a naturally striking batsman as he has already shown in domestic games. If you make an opener play at the 5th position so obviously he won't be able to play his natural game.
 
He is a naturally striking batsman as he has already shown in domestic games. If you make an opener play at the 5th position so obviously he won't be able to play his natural game.
So why couldn't he do it in PSL? Where he was opening. What stopped him there?
 
He played with an average of 33 which is not bad though, SR of 133 is handy enough to play as an opener.

Only Saim Ayub has a better strike rate as an opener if u compare him with current lot of players.

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So why couldn't he do it in PSL? Where he was opening. What stopped him there?
 
The thread says 150 not 130.
That was an answer to ur question that what he has achieved in PSL 9 as an opener.

In pakistan national T20 cup he played with the SR of 160+

In international cricket I am sure he can easily surpass 150 if given proper chances.
 
As long as PCB is to be run on fans sentiments, we cant find such players, because such players are not consisstent and will keep an avg of 30ish.

For our fans, a match winner is someone that stays not out.

Fans are already after Iftikhar Ahmed, where alot of people want him to be dropped.

Mohammad Harris got dropped out of the blue, there is no way when he returns back he will play like he was playing before. Saim Ayub will also be changing his game when he gets dropped a few times.

Its just our culture.
Pakistan fans generally have a lot of time for aggressive players. Afridi was the darling of Pakistan for like 20 years.

The PCB isn't run on fan sentiment but is run by an old boys club who operate in an environment of fear and the players also operate in an environment of fear.

One failure and the players will be criticized on TV left right and centre. Same with the coaching staff. The criticism will be from ex players and non stop. No other country experiences this type of hysteria. In India criticism is checked because much of the ex players want to stay in the BCCI good books.

When you have some much fear and uncertainty then players will never even try to leave their comfort zones. The coaches won't want to take a risk in case they get the blame. The chairman is scared of being booted too. It's far easier for everyone to stand pad ( relative to their jobs) and hope someone else takes the flack.

This isn't the fans fault. Look at a fans XI on PP for example like @mominsaigol sometimes posts and it's dramatically different to what is on the field.

In fact the fans opinion and PCB output is at polar opposites.
 
That was an answer to ur question that what he has achieved in PSL 9 as an opener.

In pakistan national T20 cup he played with the SR of 160+

In international cricket I am sure he can easily surpass 150 if given proper chances.
In national t20 cup some of the teams are club level he won't get them in international. He looked clueless at times against proper bowlers in PSL.
 
You have to have everything. Decent technique, power, talent, footwork and fitness to run between wickets. Otherwise you are tied down at the crease. If you are fat but have power you are just left there swinging and missing.

None of our guys have an all round game. It’s frustrating because the most talented guys with power tend to be fat and unfit, not working on their game.

In recent times, the guys who had effortless power from ball one were Sharjeel khan, Umar akmal and Azam from what I’ve seen in recent times. Fakhar unfortunately just doesn’t strike clearly at the start which hurts his game in t20s. None of them have succeeded or will succeed. But story might have been different had they worked on their game, fitness or been developed better. I think all in theory had ability to score over 140 (perhaps not 150) reliably. I don’t think that sort of talent comes along very often even in other countries so you can’t afford to waste it when you get it.
 
In national t20 cup some of the teams are club level he won't get them in international. He looked clueless at times against proper bowlers in PSL.
No he didn’t look clueless

Stop spreading wrong information. If he looked clueless, how rubbish was Rizwan??
 
One who can play with such SR is not getting picked. I am talking about Sahibzada Farhan. He has already shown his skills but he is nowhere near the Pakistan team right now.
I hope this guy gets more chances. When he first got international debut he was dominating in domestic, and people were hyping him up and clamouring for his inclusion. After his international debut series he looked so bad both fans and management turned on him and never wanted him selected again. Took one series to conclude that he was a hack and not International material. And tbh, he was really bad that series. Maybe he was selected too early.

He has worked hard since being left out in the wilderness to get his spot back and to be considered for internationals again. Probably lost out on PSL opportunites too after people wrote him off for that one bad series.

It’s actually frightening to see how three bad games can pretty much derail your career like that. And the work the guy had to do to rectify that. Sad really. Had he never had that bad series all those years ago, I think people would be talking about him in a much higher opinion.
 
In T20 anyone who averages between 25-30 and strikes over 140 is more valuable than someone averaging 50 at a SR of 130. So that's what teams should have in their lineup. Cannot have too many 40/130 players in the XI.
 
As long as PCB is to be run on fans sentiments, we cant find such players, because such players are not consisstent and will keep an avg of 30ish.

For our fans, a match winner is someone that stays not out.

Fans are already after Iftikhar Ahmed, where alot of people want him to be dropped.

Mohammad Harris got dropped out of the blue, there is no way when he returns back he will play like he was playing before. Saim Ayub will also be changing his game when he gets dropped a few times.

Its just our culture.
That's isn't true, fans are polar opposites of pcb.

True fans want a team to be built and don't mind failure.

We were happy with the squad that we sent to Afghanistan. It is through that squad that we managed to discover saim ayub as a viable opening option as he single handidely took out Afghanistan showcasing talent.

Whereas non Pakistani fans and Babar cults used that series to say haha we are nothing without Babar and rizwan so let's go back to the old formula,

Even though if it wasn't for that series saim wouldn't have been tested as a viable opening option, and our main team struggles and rn got bullied by Afghanistan anyway.

Teams take years to build, as for chacha, we hate him cause he's been in the team for a good while and he isn't capable of functioning against good teams. He's a bottler and virtually the 2nd coming of misbah aka an old has been gun who tries to block and block and hit one in his arc.
 
Gather the Dragon balls folks! Maybe we can wish for a 150+ batter
 
I am not sure anyone watched the video of KP about range hitting. This is a good illustration of how you should align yourself into hitting position.

 
This wait is not gonna be over soon until the batters play a fearless brand of cricket and Pakistan is not known for this approach. We have seen players like asif ali and khushdil shah who were thought to be power hitters but their international games took a 360-degree turn.

The closest player I remember who could be one of the finest hitters of the ball was umar akmal. He was a proper batter who can hit sixes at will but he messed up his career for nothing.
 
It is through that squad that we managed to discover saim ayub as a viable opening option as he single handidely took out Afghanistan showcasing talent.

Whereas non Pakistani fans and Babar cults used that series to say haha we are nothing without Babar and rizwan so let's go back to the old formula,

Even though if it wasn't for that series saim wouldn't have been tested as a viable opening option, and our main team struggles and rn got bullied by Afghanistan anyway.
Saim was really bad in that series. He scored:
17(15)
0(2)
49(40)

The 49(40) is a 122.5 SR which is worse than Babar or Rizwan. Saim got selected again because of his great domestic and PSL performances.
 
Saim was really bad in that series. He scored:
17(15)
0(2)
49(40)

The 49(40) is a 122.5 SR which is worse than Babar or Rizwan. Saim got selected again because of his great domestic and PSL performances.
The 3rd knock looks bad in hindsight but it was a match winning knock. That knock coupled with Abdullah shafiq and shadab's innings put us at 182, the pitch was also difficult which resulted in Afghanistan folding, since on that pitch shadab Khan was rank turning it.

In hindsight being able to play Afghanistan spinners was a massive achievement.

One 49 of 40 in a match winning cause is much better then what babar and rizwan play 24/7, cough semi final and asia cup final cough.

That team should have been persisted with considering our main unit struggles against Afghanistan spinners 24/7 and recently received a massive butt whooping by them.

As for his first 2 games, it was his first time opening, Relax. I saw his potential and the fact that in the next series they shoved him to no 4 is criminal.
 
Saim was really bad in that series. He scored:
17(15)
0(2)
49(40)

The 49(40) is a 122.5 SR which is worse than Babar or Rizwan. Saim got selected again because of his great domestic and PSL performances.
BTW, I don't mind slow scores as long as we win. I hate it when Babar and rizwan play slow and cause us to lose.

Babar nearly made us lose to Bangladesh in a virtual quarter final last year. Smh.
 
The 3rd knock looks bad in hindsight but it was a match winning knock. That knock coupled with Abdullah shafiq and shadab's innings put us at 182, the pitch was also difficult which resulted in Afghanistan folding, since on that pitch shadab Khan was rank turning it.

In hindsight being able to play Afghanistan spinners was a massive achievement.

One 49 of 40 in a match winning cause is much better then what babar and rizwan play 24/7, cough semi final and asia cup final cough.

That team should have been persisted with considering our main unit struggles against Afghanistan spinners 24/7 and recently received a massive butt whooping by them.

As for his first 2 games, it was his first time opening, Relax. I saw his potential and the fact that in the next series they shoved him to no 4 is criminal.
It was an okay knock. Although the reason we were able to get to a decent total was because the other batsmen played at a higher SR.

But a 49(40) in a dead rubber against Afghanistan, after failing the previous 2 matches, was not the reason he continues to be selected. It’s because he puts up amazing performances in domestic cricket, List A, FC, and PSL and other T20 leagues.
 
One 49 of 40 in a match winning cause is much better then what babar and rizwan play 24/7, cough semi final and asia cup final cough.
Also Babar has 36 50+ scores in T20, we won 25 of those matches. Out of those 36 scores of 50+, only 3 have come at a SR lower than what Saim played in that match. Out of those 3 matches, 2 of them we ended up winning.

Rizwan also has 27 50+ scores, we won 20 of those matches. Out of all of those 27 50+ scores, only 1 of his innings has ever been as low of a SR than what Saim played in that match.

So if you’re rating a 49(40) in a match winning cause, then Babar and Rizwan play better than those innings in match winning causes literally all the time.
 
Also Babar has 36 50+ scores in T20, we won 25 of those matches. Out of those 36 scores of 50+, only 3 have come at a SR lower than what Saim played in that match. Out of those 3 matches, 2 of them we ended up winning.

Rizwan also has 27 50+ scores, we won 20 of those matches. Out of all of those 27 50+ scores, only 1 of his innings has ever been as low of a SR than what Saim played in that match.

So if you’re rating a 49(40) in a match winning cause, then Babar and Rizwan play better than those innings in match winning causes literally all the time.

You're spitting facts bro. Goal posts are about to shift
 
In T20 anyone who averages between 25-30 and strikes over 140 is more valuable than someone averaging 50 at a SR of 130. So that's what teams should have in their lineup. Cannot have too many 40/130 players in the XI.

Pak don't have nor ever had anyone like that. The mighty Shahid Afridi only averaged 18.

Among active cricketers, Shadab Khan has the highest strike rate of 137 and that in itself says a lot about the depth of the problem.
 
Pak don't have nor ever had anyone like that. The mighty Shahid Afridi only averaged 18.

Among active cricketers, Shadab Khan has the highest strike rate of 137 and that in itself says a lot about the depth of the problem.
If I’m reading the chart above correctly, there’s only ever been 10 batsmen who have averaged 30+ at 140+ SR and only 4 of them have won WC’s.

It would be wonderful if we could somehow find a batsmen of that caliber but it’s very difficult. Maybe Saim Ayub can possibly develop into that kind of player. On the other hand though, T20 WC’s aren’t nearly the run fests that league cricket is and especially during KO rounds, you don’t usually see such high scores. There’s a reason why Iftikhar can play at nearly a 200 SR in PSL but isn’t close to that in international cricket. So there’s ways for us to be competitive without a SKY level T20 player.
 
If I’m reading the chart above correctly, there’s only ever been 10 batsmen who have averaged 30+ at 140+ SR and only 4 of them have won WC’s.

It would be wonderful if we could somehow find a batsmen of that caliber but it’s very difficult. Maybe Saim Ayub can possibly develop into that kind of player. On the other hand though, T20 WC’s aren’t nearly the run fests that league cricket is and especially during KO rounds, you don’t usually see such high scores. There’s a reason why Iftikhar can play at nearly a 200 SR in PSL but isn’t close to that in international cricket. So there’s ways for us to be competitive without a SKY level T20 player.

Not only do you speak facts but you're also a realist bro! The obvious solution is to make do with what we have and use our resources wisely. We might not have been dealt with Aces but we do have a pair of Kings and are in the game.
 
Not only do you speak facts but you're also a realist bro! The obvious solution is to make do with what we have and use our resources wisely. We might not have been dealt with Aces but we do have a pair of Kings and are in the game.
I like many of your posts as well bro!

I think people forget how horrible our batting has been at certain times. The amount we used to struggle against fast bowling and particularly short pitch bowling was really really bad. Compared to some of those batsmen, Rizwan and Babar are on a different level.
 
Fakhar, Rizwan, and Babar. Only these 3 are contributing.

Rest are inconsistent/out of form/not good enough.
 
We’re going to have to go to Agha Salman and Shan Masood after this WC - these are not hard hitting middle order batters but right now, we have a middle order made of straw. Anyone with an ability to bat, fast or slow, gets in.
 
Sharjeel will need to be given a go, Aamer Jamal comes to mind - not a primary batter but mentally strong. Heck even Umar Akmal gets in at this stage. Has Haris Sohail retired as if not, he gets in. Mohammed Harris too.
 
We’re going to have to go to Agha Salman and Shan Masood after this WC - these are not hard hitting middle order batters but right now, we have a middle order made of straw. Anyone with an ability to bat, fast or slow, gets in.
two guys who dont strike 130 at domestic arent gonna strike 150 at international. haris and asif ali are the only one who can, but they are unlikely to average much over 20.
 
To be honest, the topic is a bit moot, almost stupid to me.

Because, as it looks to me, problem is not about scoring at 150SR, rather ability to chase or post 150 in 20 overs. In fact, now I see that 105 is looking like 150!!!

T20 stats are a bit misleading in a sense that batting stats vary significantly because of the playing conditions- ground size, outfield, wicket, opposition bowling (A, B, C or D team), status of the game (bilateral or tournament game)…. Therefore just putting the numbers from excel sheet is a bit misleading.

For example, look at the SAF top 6/7 - everyone is probably at 150SR (some could be even in ODI) - because they play most of their T20s on 220 per conditions. A little testing condition or a bit pressure, they crumble like bowling pins.

Even after all the analysis & debunking of stats, at the end what keeps PAK batting ahead of associate level is the two cursed men - Babar & Riz (though their batting position can be revisited).

I think, more than 150SR batsmen, what PAK needs is proper batsmen in middle overs, who can maintain around 6 R/R without depending on hitting a boundary desperately every over - an odd boundary or two makes it 150+ total - add couple of 15+ overs, it’s 170+. And, unless it’s a cheap bilateral game, 170 is a damn good score in tournaments - be bat first or second.
 
Sharjeel will need to be given a go, Aamer Jamal comes to mind - not a primary batter but mentally strong. Heck even Umar Akmal gets in at this stage. Has Haris Sohail retired as if not, he gets in. Mohammed Harris too.
Can't be taking you serious if you're going to be naming Sharjeel, Akmal and Haris lol 😆 😂 🤣

These guys aren't even getting franchise leagues and you're asking for their inclusion in the T20 team.
 
Pakistan should focus on finding good genuine batsmans for middle order. Strike rates can be improved. Just focussing on strike rates will only result into hacks like azam khan, asif ali etc.
 
Can't be taking you serious if you're going to be naming Sharjeel, Akmal and Haris lol 😆 😂 🤣

These guys aren't even getting franchise leagues and you're asking for their inclusion in the T20 team.
two guys who dont strike 130 at domestic arent gonna strike 150 at international. haris and asif ali are the only one who can, but they are unlikely to average much over 20.

Sorry but we’ve tried the Azam Khans who are getting picked by every franchise league going and who are completely incapable of even surviving let alone performing with the bat on the international stage.

I truly wish I was sitting here saying “let’s select the gun batsman X from domestic cricket”, but batsman X doesn’t exist - we have no serious talent in the pipeline. In these desperate times, Sharjeel, Umar Akmal and Harris Sohail are far, far better than our current crop who crumble scoring a team total of 100 runs.

As far as Shan and Agha are concerned, yes they don’t strike at 150 but AT LEAST THEY CAN BAT!! We are in the horrid situation right now where we have literally no middle order. Not a mediocre middle order but NO middle order. It’s desperate times.
 
What did Fakhar contribute in this tournament?

Not in this tournament but he contributes frequently. Did you forget Fakhar's performances in 2023 WC?

I think Fakhar is the best Pakistani batter currently. He is an impact player.
 
To be a 150+ batter, power alone is not enough, you also need to be a 360 player with multiple strokes in your armoury.

T20 & ODI bowling has now evolved where professional teams know how to avoid batters strong areas and to bowl in the block hole, to bowl different slower deliveries ie slower ball bouncer, slower ball offspinner, back of the hand slower delivery, knuckle ball slower delivery, wide yorker, slower dipping yorker and of course intelligently placing the fielders in the right spot.

Based on the above it is imperative for batters to be able to play the ramp shot, reverse sweep, reverse flick, intelligently walking down the pitch at the very end to convert a yorker into a full toss, slicing a wide offstump yorker to the third man area.

Pakistani players are far behind the rest of the big 5 batters in this area. Even our big hitting hacks get figured out in a couple of innings
 
You can’t have more than 2 batsmen who need balls to ‘get in’. We already have that in Babar and Rizwan. Issue with these two is that they end up at the crease together, and that is not what’s needed. Rizwan needs to be the No4/5 like Younis Khan who anchored the batting if Pak collapsed. Babar should stay as an opener, with 360 / powerplayers batting around him.
 
Bring back haider ali and give him a consistent chance i am sure he can do way better than chacha in T20I cricket
 
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