"I have made up my mind that I want to play Tests in England" : Haris Rauf

[Abdullah719]

Haris Rauf at a press conference:

"This is my first tour of England with the team. I have a chance to play practice matches and bowl in the nets. I will give my 100% and try to perform well so that I can also get a chance in the Test team.

"Fitness is very important for a fast-bowler. In the past 2 months or so, I've worked a lot on my fitness as we couldn't work on skills. When you are fit then you maintain your pace as well. I think we all have worked hard on our fitness during the lockdown period.

"In the PSL, I had some problems with my heel. I had stressed it and was in quite a lot of pain. I wasn't able to perform too well due to my fitness. I think that if I had been fit, I could have performed better in PSL. I have worked hard on my fitness and I'm fully fit, I will try to perform in England as I did in the BBL.

"Wasim bhai advised me to strengthen my lower back and hamstrings as most injuries are related to that. So I have focused on strengthening muscles that were weak. But fast-bowlers often get injured and we do face problems in Australia and England. But I think if we work hard on our fitness, we shouldn't face any problems.

"I have aggression as a fast-bowler and that's necessary. But I remain in my limits, I don't want to get into a war of words on the ground. In BBL, I did something that I felt was wrong while doing it and I apologized after that and did adaab in the next match. I try to make sure that I don't do any celebration that results in scrutiny.

"I have made up my mind that I want to play Tests in England. I will try my best whether I get the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd match. I will give my 100% whenever the team needs me and I mentally ready and excited, I want to play Tests and I will do my best in the nets and practice matches.

"I hope to work on my skills. We have senior players in the squad and I will try to learn them. As I bowl longer spells, I will gain confidence and keep learning.

"The incident with Haider Ali was a spur of the moment thing in the ground. We don't have any problems with each other. It just happened in the moment due to the match. That was just aggression and I try to keep it within limits. I don't want to hurt anyone and I will try to make sure to stay within the limits.

"Since Waqar bhai has come, I have been learning how to use the crease as he did. He also knows a lot about bowling reverse swing with control. During the Bangladesh series, we worked a lot on yorkers and controlling reverse and I hadn't even focused on that before so that was something new for me. I was happy to be learning something new."

 

[Markhor]

I'm glad he wants to play Test cricket, but no way should Rauf be playing Test matches away from home without having played a single domestic FC match.

Sorry but PSL and BBL performances is not preparation for Test cricket.

 

[angrypathan]

Don't see him in our best attack, especially because he can't bat. If we play a 4th seamer it has to be Faheem. But if there's an injury or if one of the pacers plays awfully he could come in for the 2nd or 3rd game. Always good to have the option of someone with his pace on the bench, just wish he had more first class experience. Can see him being a similar bowler to Mark Wood going forward if he develops more control.

 

[Titan24]

I'm glad he wants to play Test cricket, but no way should Rauf be playing Test matches away from home without having played a single domestic FC match.

He did play 3 FC matches in QAE 2019 and bowled reasonably well. However, I get with your point that he needs more cricket under his belt in the format.

He is behind quite a few in the test pecking order so unless he shows something exceptional in nets I doubt he will play a test.

 

[Pakhs]

He was spanked around in PSL bowled really poorly. BBL standard must be really poor.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Look at the Misbah effect. Everyone wants to play test cricket. Beautiful!

 

[PakPremi]

He was spanked around in PSL bowled really poorly. BBL standard must be really poor.

Read above post where he has has explained that he had some injury. BBL batting can't be worse than PSL.

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

Read above post where he has has explained that he had some injury. BBL batting can't be worse than PSL.

I doubt so. Even Shinwari looked unplayable in Big Bash..

 

[Slim]

Look at the Misbah effect. Everyone wants to play test cricket. Beautiful!

Wont be surprised if Misbah has a deep insecurity with the LOI format considering the only little success he found was in the test arena. Zero centuries in ODIs and kicked out of T20Is after 2007.

 

[Slim]

He was spanked around in PSL bowled really poorly. BBL standard must be really poor.

I personally feel BBL is lower quality to PSL. Let the production values not confuse you.

 

[Junaids]

I'm glad he wants to play Test cricket, but no way should Rauf be playing Test matches away from home without having played a single domestic FC match.

Sorry but PSL and BBL performances is not preparation for Test cricket.

First class experience is actually of minimal benefit in the development of top class Test fast bowlers.

Wasim Akram
Waqar Younis
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Naseem Shah

None of them played even ten First Class matches before establishing themselves as Test fast bowlers.

Sure, batsmen need to learn the game at First Class level - to learn how to leave the ball.

But I’d happily pick Haris Rauf ahead of Sohail Khan or Imran Khan tomorrow. And possibly Mohammad Abbas too.

 

[coy0607]

Shaheen, Naseem, Abbas are looking good as starters, and just based on Misbah's approach, I think Wahab and Faheem are likely to be test-backups.
I don't expect Rauf to play tests, but wouldn't be surprised if he does - stranger things happen in Pakistan cricket every day

A potential Shaheen, Rauf, Husnain pairing in England for the the shorter formats is super exciting

 

[shamaan]

He was spanked around in PSL bowled really poorly. BBL standard must be really poor.

He was playing with injuries

 

[shamaan]

I personally feel BBL is lower quality to PSL. Let the production values not confuse you.

Agreed after ipl its psl

 

[shamaan]

First class experience is actually of minimal benefit in the development of top class Test fast bowlers.

Wasim Akram
Waqar Younis
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Naseem Shah

None of them played even ten First Class matches before establishing themselves as Test fast bowlers.

Sure, batsmen need to learn the game at First Class level - to learn how to leave the ball.

But I’d happily pick Haris Rauf ahead of Sohail Khan or Imran Khan tomorrow. And possibly Mohammad Abbas too.

If harris played more first class matches then yes I would pick him ahead of abbas but not just yet but yes I'd play him ahead of sohail and imran

 

[TeymurBlake]

Its great to see him wanting to play test cricket. The problem is that he hasn't played enough FC and his body isn't really accustomed to bowling long spells with maintained pace. Also pace is a great tool to have but he needs to be disciplined and accurate.

 

[Saj]

This is heading towards almost every player wanting to play Tests and T20Is on this tour.

 

[Markhor]

First class experience is actually of minimal benefit in the development of top class Test fast bowlers.

Wasim Akram
Waqar Younis
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Naseem Shah

None of them played even ten First Class matches before establishing themselves as Test fast bowlers.

Sure, batsmen need to learn the game at First Class level - to learn how to leave the ball.

But I’d happily pick Haris Rauf ahead of Sohail Khan or Imran Khan tomorrow. And possibly Mohammad Abbas too.

You don't become fit for 5 day Test cricket where a bowler is expected to bowl 15-20 overs/day playing in mid-tier T20 leagues bowling 4 overs a game.

You don't learn the art of setting up a batsman or hitting a consistent length when you're trying to bowl 6 different variations in an over in T20. It's like saying you've passed your driving test because you know how to ride a scooter.

This is not the 1980s and 1990s anymore where we can draft in some young sensation from nowhere who'll will hit the ground running for two reasons. Back then Pakistan's club system was much stronger than it is today so players like Wasim and Waqar could rock up with minimal FC exposure and make an immediate impact. Plus, there's far more footage available now allowing opposition teams to thoroughly research someone's strengths/weaknesses. The step up to international cricket is too great nowadays.

Wasim and Waqar themselves credit County Cricket for being a finishing school for Test cricketers like IPL is today for T20 players. They were better players for the experience. I'd argue Pakistan's victories in 1987, 1992 and 1996 in England were partly because so many of our guys had extensive experience in County Cricket.

Naseem and Shaheen haven't proven anything yet in Test cricket but you're already declaring them top class Test pacers ? Rauf hasn't even established himself in T20 international cricket let alone Test cricket, so the only basis for debuting Rauf in the Test series is if our frontline seamers drop with COVID-19.

 

[MMHS]

I don’t think his choice of words were correct - it’s not he who decides if he plays Test in England or not. But, it might be a case of interpretation - I haven’t heard the tone & seen the body language.

I don’t think Rauf is ready for Test cricket, let alone against England, in UK. A common mistake people make (when judging a fast bowler) is that Test cricket is not about one spell or 4-10 overs; it’s a different ball game with 19-23 overs expected to be delivered in a full day, sometimes in six different spells and often to set batsmen who are not forced in a mad rush to go after that bowling. Test cricket is a slow burning game - fast bowlers need to build the pressure by bowling on a particular plan & then may be a wicket in alternate spell will come through one unplayable ball or a mistake from batsman from the choke.

Another key is, in LO cricket, there are mostly 9 men to field for the loose ones, means a bowler can get away with the cost of a single bowling absolute filth (sometimes it can even earn him a wicket), but in Test, to be effective a bowler should need at least 5-6 catching fielders, means whatever loose ball is bowled, it’ll go for a boundary. The scoring rate/economy is relative - an economy of 8 in T20 or 6 in ODI these days is much, much less damaging than an economy of even 4 in Test. A day of 23 overs for 1/100 in Test is often more damaging than even 1/70 in 10 in an ODI. Therefore margin of error in Test is much, much narrower for bowlers.

Last problem (of picking unknown pacer as specialist bowler), is that one can’t use part timers in Test much - four main bowler have to bowl 85-90% of the overs. If one f them has a bad day, basically he is killing other three. In ODI, maximum number of overs are fixed hence in case of injury or loose bowling by someone, Captain is forced to use par-timers and often these par-timers get away with few overs, and the game is just for 50 overs, in one innings. In Test cricket, it’s foolish to pick specialist pacer, without knowing much about his fitness, stamina, endurance & flexibility from similar (FC) games.

So far, what I have seen is that Rauf just hadn’t played enough longer game to be ready for Test cricket. His body needs to be in acclimatised for 5-6 spells in a day -he will be used (if picked) in short bursts of 3-4 overs at one go, means he has very little time to warm up, and has to be on Mark from first over, which I didn’t see. Even in T20s, he was wayward in return spell. This is where Shoaib was outstanding - absolutely on mark from ball one. In that famous Eden Test (1999), I believe he took 8 wickets and many of those were in his 1st/2nd over of a new spell. My hunch is, right now Rauf will need 2-3 overs just to fix his RADAR.

This series is even worse for Rauf because PAK not likely to play any 3-4 day game - pacers will had to first Test almost from nets and there are only 3 Tests, means barring injury or illness, he is probably 6th or 7th on the packing order, and rightly so. If he is played some how - I hope he doesn’t end up with a pulled hamstring, calf or sore groin. I’ll actually play Wahab ahead of Rauf in Tests, if PAK opts for 4 men pace attack.

 

[Abdullah719]

I don’t think his choice of words were correct - it’s not he who decides if he plays Test in England or not. But, it might be a case of interpretation - I haven’t heard the tone & seen the body language.

He essentially meant that he hopes that he can impress in the practice matches and the nets, enough to get a chance in the Tests, even if it's just one. But he put the focus on doing well in the warm-ups which he mentioned a few times. Probably realizes that his chances are slim, but no harm in having big targets.

 

[shamaan]

You don't become fit for 5 day Test cricket where a bowler is expected to bowl 15-20 overs/day playing in mid-tier T20 leagues bowling 4 overs a game.

You don't learn the art of setting up a batsman or hitting a consistent length when you're trying to bowl 6 different variations in an over in T20. It's like saying you've passed your driving test because you know how to ride a scooter.

This is not the 1980s and 1990s anymore where we can draft in some young sensation from nowhere who'll will hit the ground running for two reasons. Back then Pakistan's club system was much stronger than it is today so players like Wasim and Waqar could rock up with minimal FC exposure and make an immediate impact. Plus, there's far more footage available now allowing opposition teams to thoroughly research someone's strengths/weaknesses. The step up to international cricket is too great nowadays.

Wasim and Waqar themselves credit County Cricket for being a finishing school for Test cricketers like IPL is today for T20 players. They were better players for the experience. I'd argue Pakistan's victories in 1987, 1992 and 1996 in England were partly because so many of our guys had extensive experience in County Cricket.

Naseem and Shaheen haven't proven anything yet in Test cricket but you're already declaring them top class Test pacers ? Rauf hasn't even established himself in T20 international cricket let alone Test cricket, so the only basis for debuting Rauf in the Test series is if our frontline seamers drop with COVID-19.

Becouse shaheen has showen enough in odis and enough in tests to say he can be top class

As for naseem hes raw he already had a 5 fer in asain conditions

 

[shamaan]

I don’t think his choice of words were correct - it’s not he who decides if he plays Test in England or not. But, it might be a case of interpretation - I haven’t heard the tone & seen the body language.

I don’t think Rauf is ready for Test cricket, let alone against England, in UK. A common mistake people make (when judging a fast bowler) is that Test cricket is not about one spell or 4-10 overs; it’s a different ball game with 19-23 overs expected to be delivered in a full day, sometimes in six different spells and often to set batsmen who are not forced in a mad rush to go after that bowling. Test cricket is a slow burning game - fast bowlers need to build the pressure by bowling on a particular plan & then may be a wicket in alternate spell will come through one unplayable ball or a mistake from batsman from the choke.

Another key is, in LO cricket, there are mostly 9 men to field for the loose ones, means a bowler can get away with the cost of a single bowling absolute filth (sometimes it can even earn him a wicket), but in Test, to be effective a bowler should need at least 5-6 catching fielders, means whatever loose ball is bowled, it’ll go for a boundary. The scoring rate/economy is relative - an economy of 8 in T20 or 6 in ODI these days is much, much less damaging than an economy of even 4 in Test. A day of 23 overs for 1/100 in Test is often more damaging than even 1/70 in 10 in an ODI. Therefore margin of error in Test is much, much narrower for bowlers.

Last problem (of picking unknown pacer as specialist bowler), is that one can’t use part timers in Test much - four main bowler have to bowl 85-90% of the overs. If one f them has a bad day, basically he is killing other three. In ODI, maximum number of overs are fixed hence in case of injury or loose bowling by someone, Captain is forced to use par-timers and often these par-timers get away with few overs, and the game is just for 50 overs, in one innings. In Test cricket, it’s foolish to pick specialist pacer, without knowing much about his fitness, stamina, endurance & flexibility from similar (FC) games.

So far, what I have seen is that Rauf just hadn’t played enough longer game to be ready for Test cricket. His body needs to be in acclimatised for 5-6 spells in a day -he will be used (if picked) in short bursts of 3-4 overs at one go, means he has very little time to warm up, and has to be on Mark from first over, which I didn’t see. Even in T20s, he was wayward in return spell. This is where Shoaib was outstanding - absolutely on mark from ball one. In that famous Eden Test (1999), I believe he took 8 wickets and many of those were in his 1st/2nd over of a new spell. My hunch is, right now Rauf will need 2-3 overs just to fix his RADAR.

This series is even worse for Rauf because PAK not likely to play any 3-4 day game - pacers will had to first Test almost from nets and there are only 3 Tests, means barring injury or illness, he is probably 6th or 7th on the packing order, and rightly so. If he is played some how - I hope he doesn’t end up with a pulled hamstring, calf or sore groin. I’ll actually play Wahab ahead of Rauf in Tests, if PAK opts for 4 men pace attack.

If it's a 4 man attack then fahim will play I reakon wahab is maybe 5th or 6th in line

Shaheen abbas naseem fahim (imran) wahab

 

[shamaan]

He essentially meant that he hopes that he can impress in the practice matches and the nets, enough to get a chance in the Tests, even if it's just one. But he put the focus on doing well in the warm-ups which he mentioned a few times. Probably realizes that his chances are slim, but no harm in having big targets.

Rauf imran wahab should play in 1 team for practise matches

 

[Shoaibbtt]

He's not ready in my opinion, he needs to focus on t20 first and then perhaps move to Odi. He's too fragile for me.

 

[aloo paratha]

Slow down there. Get some FC experience first.

 

[shamaan]

He's not ready in my opinion, he needs to focus on t20 first and then perhaps move to Odi. He's too fragile for me.

He needs to pkay qaid e Azam and play in the tramatches let's see if he can maintain pace and control

 

[MMHS]

He essentially meant that he hopes that he can impress in the practice matches and the nets, enough to get a chance in the Tests, even if it's just one. But he put the focus on doing well in the warm-ups which he mentioned a few times. Probably realizes that his chances are slim, but no harm in having big targets.

That’s exactly I thought - the wordings were misleading. I think, what he meant was that from a perceived T20 specialist, he wants to play/focus on Test cricket (& has agreed to be part of Test consideration) - it happens hat England tour coms as first hurdle. Guy does have a potential for the longer game, albeit a bit too late but still can give good 3-4 years; adds a new dimension in the bowling combination. But, he first make sure than he can last for at last 4 full days of play.

 

[MMHS]

If it's a 4 man attack then fahim will play I reakon wahab is maybe 5th or 6th in line

Shaheen abbas naseem fahim (imran) wahab

Absence of Haris (Sohail), has changed the equation completely.

A fit Haris was good enough for ~35 tight overs of SLAO spin and pluck couple of wickets here and there - in that case, unless it’s a brown track on hot summer days, PAK could have played four out & out pacers backed by Haris & may be Azhar. Now, I am not sure about the combination - Faheem & Shadab/Yasir + 3 pacers in a 5-1-2-3 combination or Yasir + 3 pacers in a 6-1-4 combination. Problem with all-rounder Faheem is that he might not add more than Wahab or Yasir with bat.

I actually don’t believe in such all-rounders for Test cricket. Test all-rounder can be a specialist bowler who can add valuable runs or a batsman who can roll arm but regardless is certain to make playing XI on batting merit only, like Hooper, Sanath, Border, Kallis or Stokes. I hope, PAK at least doesn’t end-up playing Ifti as “batting all-rounder - Faheem is much better alternative than that.

 

[Junaids]

I don’t think his choice of words were correct - it’s not he who decides if he plays Test in England or not. But, it might be a case of interpretation - I haven’t heard the tone & seen the body language.

I don’t think Rauf is ready for Test cricket, let alone against England, in UK. A common mistake people make (when judging a fast bowler) is that Test cricket is not about one spell or 4-10 overs; it’s a different ball game with 19-23 overs expected to be delivered in a full day, sometimes in six different spells and often to set batsmen who are not forced in a mad rush to go after that bowling. Test cricket is a slow burning game - fast bowlers need to build the pressure by bowling on a particular plan & then may be a wicket in alternate spell will come through one unplayable ball or a mistake from batsman from the choke.



Last problem (of picking unknown pacer as specialist bowler), is that one can’t use part timers in Test much - four main bowler have to bowl 85-90% of the overs. If one f them has a bad day, basically he is killing other three. In ODI, maximum number of overs are fixed hence in case of injury or loose bowling by someone, Captain is forced to use par-timers and often these par-timers get away with few overs, and the game is just for 50 overs, in one innings. In Test cricket, it’s foolish to pick specialist pacer, without knowing much about his fitness, stamina, endurance & flexibility from similar (FC) games.

So far, what I have seen is that Rauf just hadn’t played enough longer game to be ready for Test cricket. His body needs to be in acclimatised for 5-6 spells in a day -he will be used (if picked) in short bursts of 3-4 overs at one go, means he has very little time to warm up, and has to be on Mark from first over, which I didn’t see.

This is why I am a form believer that in SENA you always pick 4 quicks and a spinner, and that you need a wicketkeeper who can bat at Number 6 and one of the 5 bowlers capable of batting at Number 7, and another capable of batting at Number 8.

But if you have that structure to your team, you actually can afford to select a player like Haris Rauf.

Let's go back a step.

NUMBER 6: I am happy for Mohammad Rizwan to bat at Number 6 in England.

NUMBER 7: I am happy for Shadab Khan to bat at Number 7 in England. He's only half a bowler, but you only need half a spinner in England (apart from Lords and The Oval, which do not feature on this tour.)

NUMBER 8: I am happy for Faheem Ashraf to bat at Number 8 in England.

So you still have three additional quick bowlers up your sleeve at this point. And I'd be happy for the daily workload to look something like this:

SESSION 1 (26 overs)
Shaheen 5 overs / Naseem 5 overs / Shadab 3 overs
Abbas or Rauf 5 overs / Faheem 6 overs / Azhar 2 overs

SESSION 2 (Overs 26-54)
Shaheen 4 overs / Naseem 4 overs / Faheem 6 overs
Abbas or Rauf 5 overs / Shadab 6 overs / Azhar 3 overs

SESSION 3 (Overs 55-90)
a) UNTIL THE SECOND NEW BALL
Shaheen 4 overs / Naseem 4 overs / Faheem 5 overs
Abbas or Rauf 5 overs / Shadab 7 overs

b) WITH THE SECOND NEW BALL
Shaheen 5 overs
Abbas or Rauf 5 overs

TOTAL DAILY WORKLOAD
Shaheen Shah Afridi 18 overs (spells of 5/4/4/5)
Mohammad Abbas (Or Haris Rauf) 20 overs (spells of 5/5/5/5)
Naseem Shah 13 overs (spells of 5/4/4)
Faheem Ashraf 17 overs (spells of 6/6/5)
Shadab Khan 16 overs (spells of 3/6/7)
Azhar Ali 5 overs (spells of 2/3)

These short spells would keep the young bowlers - Shaheen and Naseem - able to bowl fast without bowling such long spells that they compromise their fitness. In fact, they would be capped at 5 overs per session except with the second new ball.

You would hope to see figures along the lines of:

Shaheen 18-5-50-3
Abbas/Rauf 20-6-50-2
Naseem 13-3-50-2
Faheem 17-5-55-2
Shadab 16-3-60-1
Azhar 5-0-20-0


I don't think that's an excessive workload for any of them! Whereas 3 quicks plus Yasir Shah would be the usual disaster outside Asia.

 

[Junaids]

Just to build on my previous post, this is what my team would look like at Old Trafford or Southampton - bearing in mind Yasir Shah's appalling record outside London.

1. Abid Ali
2. Shan Masood
3. Azhar Ali (c)
4. Babar Azam
5. Asad Shafiq
6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Mohammad Abbas or Haris Rauf
10. Shaheen Shah Afridi
11. Naseem Shah

I won't play 2 players aged closer to 40 than 30. So the only way that Fawad Alam gets in is by replacing Azhar Ali.

But I have 5 bowlers. And 4 quicks bowling short spells at full-pace. So I'm very open to selecting Haris Rauf ahead of Mohammad Abbas if Abbas is still down on pace and totally toothless like he was in South Africa and Australia. If I were an England batsman it would be Rauf and Naseem and Shaheen who would scare me.

 

[MMHS]

This is why I am a form believer that in SENA you always pick 4 quicks and a spinner, and that you need a wicketkeeper who can bat at Number 6 and one of the 5 bowlers capable of batting at Number 7, and another capable of batting at Number 8.

But if you have that structure to your team, you actually can afford to select a player like Haris Rauf.

Let's go back a step.

NUMBER 6: I am happy for Mohammad Rizwan to bat at Number 6 in England.

NUMBER 7: I am happy for Shadab Khan to bat at Number 7 in England. He's only half a bowler, but you only need half a spinner in England (apart from Lords and The Oval, which do not feature on this tour.)

NUMBER 8: I am happy for Faheem Ashraf to bat at Number 8 in England.

So you still have three additional quick bowlers up your sleeve at this point. And I'd be happy for the daily workload to look something like this:

SESSION 1 (26 overs)
Shaheen 5 overs / Naseem 5 overs / Shadab 3 overs
Abbas or Rauf 5 overs / Faheem 6 overs / Azhar 2 overs

SESSION 2 (Overs 26-54)
Shaheen 4 overs / Naseem 4 overs / Faheem 6 overs
Abbas or Rauf 5 overs / Shadab 6 overs / Azhar 3 overs

SESSION 3 (Overs 55-90)
a) UNTIL THE SECOND NEW BALL
Shaheen 4 overs / Naseem 4 overs / Faheem 5 overs
Abbas or Rauf 5 overs / Shadab 7 overs

b) WITH THE SECOND NEW BALL
Shaheen 5 overs
Abbas or Rauf 5 overs

TOTAL DAILY WORKLOAD
Shaheen Shah Afridi 18 overs (spells of 5/4/4/5)
Mohammad Abbas (Or Haris Rauf) 20 overs (spells of 5/5/5/5)
Naseem Shah 13 overs (spells of 5/4/4)
Faheem Ashraf 17 overs (spells of 6/6/5)
Shadab Khan 16 overs (spells of 3/6/7)
Azhar Ali 5 overs (spells of 2/3)

These short spells would keep the young bowlers - Shaheen and Naseem - able to bowl fast without bowling such long spells that they compromise their fitness. In fact, they would be capped at 5 overs per session except with the second new ball.

You would hope to see figures along the lines of:

Shaheen 18-5-50-3
Abbas/Rauf 20-6-50-2
Naseem 13-3-50-2
Faheem 17-5-55-2
Shadab 16-3-60-1
Azhar 5-0-20-0


I don't think that's an excessive workload for any of them! Whereas 3 quicks plus Yasir Shah would be the usual disaster outside Asia.

It reads so good on paper - Eng <300 all-out on day 1 (285 + 10/12 by/leg by). Last ENG-PAK Test at Oval was almost identical, though PAK did play with 6+4 combination & one master batsman took the game out of England’s reach. I hope PAK picks this line-up and give an opportunity to Shadab to prove that he brings better value than Yasir; who scored at 48+ average in last Australia tour and took two 5fors and a 10for in 2015 English tour.

 

[Junaids]

It reads so good on paper - Eng <300 all-out on day 1 (285 + 10/12 by/leg by). Last ENG-PAK Test at Oval was almost identical, though PAK did play with 6+4 combination & one master batsman took the game out of England’s reach. I hope PAK picks this line-up and give an opportunity to Shadab to prove that he brings better value than Yasir; who scored at 48+ average in last Australia tour and took two 5fors and a 10for in 2015 English tour.

Yasir got lucky on a flat and grassless Adelaide track against a pink ball with less varnish than usual.

But compare the career Test British Isles records of Yasir Shah and Shadab Khan:

BATTING
Yasir Shah: 92 runs in 4 Tests at an average of 15.33
Shadab Khan: 171 runs in 3 Tests at an average of 42.75

BOWLING
Yasir Shah: 19 wickets in 4 Tests at an average of 40.73
(Economy rate 3.25, Strike rate 75.1 balls per wicket)
Shadab Khan: 7 wickets in 3 Tests at an average of 34.42
(Economy rate 2.80, Strike rate 73.7)

Yasir Shah in England and Ireland trails Shadab Khan on every measure both as a batsman and even as a bowler in all 3 domains of average, economy rate and strike rate!

And when you have 3 Number Elevens in the team (Shaheen, Naseem and Abbas) I would have thought that you need Shadab Khan's batting at all costs!

 

[aloo paratha]

Absence of Haris (Sohail), has changed the equation completely.

A fit Haris was good enough for ~35 tight overs of SLAO spin and pluck couple of wickets here and there - in that case, unless it’s a brown track on hot summer days, PAK could have played four out & out pacers backed by Haris & may be Azhar. Now, I am not sure about the combination - Faheem & Shadab/Yasir + 3 pacers in a 5-1-2-3 combination or Yasir + 3 pacers in a 6-1-4 combination. Problem with all-rounder Faheem is that he might not add more than Wahab or Yasir with bat&#55357;&#56861;.

I actually don’t believe in such all-rounders for Test cricket. Test all-rounder can be a specialist bowler who can add valuable runs or a batsman who can roll arm but regardless is certain to make playing XI on batting merit only, like Hooper, Sanath, Border, Kallis or Stokes. I hope, PAK at least doesn’t end-up playing Ifti as “batting all-rounder - Faheem is much better alternative than that.

Fawad Alam has 50FC wickets, can be decent enough for 10-15 overs a day.

 

[MMHS]

Fawad Alam has 50FC wickets, can be decent enough for 10-15 overs a day.

If he makes the playing XI, but my hunch is if he indeed makes the playing XI ...... he might end up being better bowler than batsman

 

[MMHS]

Yasir got lucky on a flat and grassless Adelaide track against a pink ball with less varnish than usual.

But compare the career Test British Isles records of Yasir Shah and Shadab Khan:

BATTING
Yasir Shah: 92 runs in 4 Tests at an average of 15.33
Shadab Khan: 171 runs in 3 Tests at an average of 42.75

BOWLING
Yasir Shah: 19 wickets in 4 Tests at an average of 40.73
(Economy rate 3.25, Strike rate 75.1 balls per wicket)
Shadab Khan: 7 wickets in 3 Tests at an average of 34.42
(Economy rate 2.80, Strike rate 73.7)

Yasir Shah in England and Ireland trails Shadab Khan on every measure both as a batsman and even as a bowler in all 3 domains of average, economy rate and strike rate!

And when you have 3 Number Elevens in the team (Shaheen, Naseem and Abbas) I would have thought that you need Shadab Khan's batting at all costs!

Your use of selective data to prove your point is what really brings me in argument every time - otherwise, I myself am not sure at this age if Yasir should be an automatic choice and Shadab indeed can be a decent alternate.

Coming to the stats - I believe you have seen enough cricket to know the flaws of your stats shown here. Out of three Tests that Shadab played in UK, one was against Ireland, their first (or second ?) Test and excluding that his figure reads 3 wickets (Of Stoneman, Stokes, Dom Bass & I have to say Stokes must have kicked own a$$ to be hold on to that long-hop) in two Tests against ENG at 49.00, economy of 3.50, SR of 84. Compared to that, Yasir in his 4 Tests, couple of stats that you failed to remember is 10 for 141 at Lord's and a 5for at Oval - PAK winning both Tests. And, you do know that those Tests Shadab played were MUCH lower scoring than what Yasir played in 2015.

It's absolute hilarious to say the bold part of your post in terms of bowling by adding Ireland in the mix. Shadab is a better bat and expected to outscore Yasir, but that's not the first purpose from either. This time also PAK will be playing in second half of the summer, therefore not sure what's your argument here.

Now, coming to the stats again - despite knowing cricket extensively (and that's the only reason I bother to brag with you, otherwise won't have even read some of the staffs you write here), often you end up in trouble, because you try to put stats to your logic thinking readers will swallow it as you serve.

Shadab's bowling heroics in Ireland is an absolute hog wash - it can't be more misleading than this.
Against a side probably never played high quality leg spin, that guy Shadab Khan took 3 tail-enders in first innings (No. 7, 8 & 11), then No. 8 in second innings, after the pacers had reduced Ireland to 36/5 in first innings. You should remember that PAK enforced the follow-on means Shadab bowled 2nd & 3rd innings of the game with 300+ scores, and it was a four day Test with first day washed out. Even then, it was his MASSIVE FAILURE as a leg-spinner in second innings that let Ireland to post an uncomfortable target for PAK to chase, after a first innings lead of 180. After enforcing the follow-on, Shadab Khan took his first and only wicket of 2nd innings on 103rd over of Ireland innings, with the lead already touching 100 - you know enough cricket to realize what a monumental failure that was for the lead leggi!!!! It was Yasir's misfortune that he missed cashing on Ireland, otherwise the batting display that I have seen from them against Leg-spin in other games, probably another 10for was awaiting for him there and thereafter I won't have been writing this rant here.

I hope, you'll never come to sell Shadab Khan based on his England & Ireland statistical heroics - that little cricket I definitely understand to read it from CricInfo. But yes, with his dodgy fitness and state of PAK's batting, I myself isn't sure about Yasir now - Shadab is a realistic option, specially when Haris is absent. Otherwise, I would have bet with you at any stake - had both plays three Tests with full fitness, Haris Sohail will out bowl & out bat Shadab Khan every time.

 

[MMHS]

If it's a 4 man attack then fahim will play I reakon wahab is maybe 5th or 6th in line

Shaheen abbas naseem fahim (imran) wahab

Lot depends on the condition.

If it's a dry summer, I would like to drop Abbas for Wahab or Haris to team-up with Naseem & Shaheen, and definitely play Yasir ..... may be Faheem as well, risking a bit of batting but that'll ensure that Poms are batting really, really well on a flat, summer track. On a typical English wicket, Abbas should play and I don't mind Faheem as 4th pacer with Shadab making the XI as a bits & pieces package.

Ideally, Haris would have solved every problem - bat at 6 and bowl 12+23 overs in a 5 day game plus four out and out pacers - Naseed, Shaheen, Abbas and the 4th one from the cavalry. Unless it's a dry, scratchy track, I won't pick Wahab even as 4th pacer, hence Faheem indeed has a very good chance of playing.

 

[aloo paratha]

If he makes the playing XI, but my hunch is if he indeed makes the playing XI ...... he might end up being better bowler than batsman

With Haris Sohail out, and Misbah unlikely to go with the Faheem+Shabab combo over Yasir, I'd say he has a very good chance of making the XI.

 

[Mamoon]

A poor man’s Wahab. Not international material.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

First Class cricket first always.

 

[Junaids]

First Class cricket first always.

For fast bowlers?

Why? How does bowling in Pakistan prepare you for working in SENA conditions with a slip cordon?

Wasim, Waqar, Shaheen and Naseem had fewer than 15 First Class matches COMBINED when they made their Test debuts!

 

[Hasan123]

He is going to need to play more first class cricket. He could be a good test bowler but he needs his body to be able to handle long spells. First class cricket is what will help him.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

He needs to pkay qaid e Azam and play in the tramatches let's see if he can maintain pace and control

I just feel that he'll do himself an injury. The BBL was the most cricket he's played in a while yet late into it he got injured. I think patience is a virtue for this boy, bide your time and ease yourself into test cricket. Bowling long spells under the hot weather ain't easy.

 

[shamaan]

Absence of Haris (Sohail), has changed the equation completely.

A fit Haris was good enough for ~35 tight overs of SLAO spin and pluck couple of wickets here and there - in that case, unless it’s a brown track on hot summer days, PAK could have played four out & out pacers backed by Haris & may be Azhar. Now, I am not sure about the combination - Faheem & Shadab/Yasir + 3 pacers in a 5-1-2-3 combination or Yasir + 3 pacers in a 6-1-4 combination. Problem with all-rounder Faheem is that he might not add more than Wahab or Yasir with bat&#55357;&#56861;.

I actually don’t believe in such all-rounders for Test cricket. Test all-rounder can be a specialist bowler who can add valuable runs or a batsman who can roll arm but regardless is certain to make playing XI on batting merit only, like Hooper, Sanath, Border, Kallis or Stokes. I hope, PAK at least doesn’t end-up playing Ifti as “batting all-rounder - Faheem is much better alternative than that.

I think your going over board with 35 overs maybe 20 at most.
I would play shadab and fahim pluss 3 fast bowlers.shadab is more than capable with the bat and will bowl decent enough.fahim is okay selected.

shadab is better all rounder than ifti
Fahim can play in a 5 man a attack if shadab is in the team

 

[shamaan]

Just to build on my previous post, this is what my team would look like at Old Trafford or Southampton - bearing in mind Yasir Shah's appalling record outside London.

1. Abid Ali
2. Shan Masood
3. Azhar Ali (c)
4. Babar Azam
5. Asad Shafiq
6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Mohammad Abbas or Haris Rauf
10. Shaheen Shah Afridi
11. Naseem Shah

I won't play 2 players aged closer to 40 than 30. So the only way that Fawad Alam gets in is by replacing Azhar Ali.

But I have 5 bowlers. And 4 quicks bowling short spells at full-pace. So I'm very open to selecting Haris Rauf ahead of Mohammad Abbas if Abbas is still down on pace and totally toothless like he was in South Africa and Australia. If I were an England batsman it would be Rauf and Naseem and Shaheen who would scare me.

Agreed with the team

 

[shamaan]

Lot depends on the condition.

If it's a dry summer, I would like to drop Abbas for Wahab or Haris to team-up with Naseem & Shaheen, and definitely play Yasir ..... may be Faheem as well, risking a bit of batting but that'll ensure that Poms are batting really, really well on a flat, summer track. On a typical English wicket, Abbas should play and I don't mind Faheem as 4th pacer with Shadab making the XI as a bits & pieces package.

Ideally, Haris would have solved every problem - bat at 6 and bowl 12+23 overs in a 5 day game plus four out and out pacers - Naseed, Shaheen, Abbas and the 4th one from the cavalry. Unless it's a dry, scratchy track, I won't pick Wahab even as 4th pacer, hence Faheem indeed has a very good chance of playing.

Yup it does depend on conditions.

Even if it is dry abbas wont be replaced for wahab defo not.its naseem,shaheen,abbas then depends on conditions if its seeming then fahim ashraf and shadab as the all rounder.

If it's hot weather it will be yasir ahead of shadab

 

[shamaan]

I just feel that he'll do himself an injury. The BBL was the most cricket he's played in a while yet late into it he got injured. I think patience is a virtue for this boy, bide your time and ease yourself into test cricket. Bowling long spells under the hot weather ain't easy.

I agree with you he will get his chance but not yet he needs to be managed properly

 

[MMHS]

I think your going over board with 35 overs maybe 20 at most.
I would play shadab and fahim pluss 3 fast bowlers.shadab is more than capable with the bat and will bowl decent enough.fahim is okay selected.

shadab is better all rounder than ifti
Fahim can play in a 5 man a attack if shadab is in the team

After 14 Tests, Haris has 13 wickets at 21 average, 46 SR & 2.77 economy - that’s better than any spinner in history playing Tests and bowling 100+, 6 balls overs. It’s his pathetic fitness and lack of imagination for his Captains (& previous head coach) that didn’t allow him to flourish as a spinner; otherwise he is a far better spinner than Santner, who bowls around 29 overs/Test, mostly played in NZ.

 

[shamaan]

After 14 Tests, Haris has 13 wickets at 21 average, 46 SR & 2.77 economy - that’s better than any spinner in history playing Tests and bowling 100+, 6 balls overs. It’s his pathetic fitness and lack of imagination for his Captains (& previous head coach) that didn’t allow him to flourish as a spinner; otherwise he is a far better spinner than Santner, who bowls around 29 overs/Test, mostly played in NZ.

Hes only played 14 games majority in asain conditions and he proberly bowls proberly before tea lunch and at the end.exactly Santander mostly played in new zeland were it doesnt spin at all if he had them stats playing 40 tests then that's different his job is a batter who can bowl abit l.

 

[MMHS]

Hes only played 14 games majority in asain conditions and he proberly bowls proberly before tea lunch and at the end.exactly Santander mostly played in new zeland were it doesnt spin at all if he had them stats playing 40 tests then that's different his job is a batter who can bowl abit l.

Even if I make the figures twice worse on average & SR, that’s 40/90 - damn good for a guy averaging around 38 with bat. Bottom line is, Haris is under utilised by his Captain and his fitness is not helping either. The amount of effort & opportunities PAK wasted behind Faheem Ashraf, had Haris been given that (that’s drafted at right time - 1st April, 2011), by now PAK should have the best batting all-rounder in contemporary world

 

[MoFresh23]

Just to build on my previous post, this is what my team would look like at Old Trafford or Southampton - bearing in mind Yasir Shah's appalling record outside London.

1. Abid Ali
2. Shan Masood
3. Azhar Ali (c)
4. Babar Azam
5. Asad Shafiq
6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Mohammad Abbas or Haris Rauf
10. Shaheen Shah Afridi
11. Naseem Shah

I won't play 2 players aged closer to 40 than 30. So the only way that Fawad Alam gets in is by replacing Azhar Ali.

But I have 5 bowlers. And 4 quicks bowling short spells at full-pace. So I'm very open to selecting Haris Rauf ahead of Mohammad Abbas if Abbas is still down on pace and totally toothless like he was in South Africa and Australia. If I were an England batsman it would be Rauf and Naseem and Shaheen who would scare me.

The venues where Pak is going to play their Test matches is South Hampton and Manchester. These venues are good for spinners. Yasir should def play. Yasir has a good track record in England. A yr ago when Eng and India had their test played at South Hampton, Moeen Ali picked up 10 wickets in that test match. Also Yasir is going to have the best mentor, who is Mushy bhai.

 

[shamaan]

The venues where Pak is going to play their Test matches is South Hampton and Manchester. These venues are good for spinners. Yasir should def play. Yasir has a good track record in England. A yr ago when Eng and India had their test played at South Hampton, Moeen Ali picked up 10 wickets in that test match. Also Yasir is going to have the best mentor, who is Mushy bhai.

Stil wouldnt play him but in mushy we trust

 

[Bullet Drive]

After 14 Tests, Haris has 13 wickets at 21 average, 46 SR & 2.77 economy - that’s better than any spinner in history playing Tests and bowling 100+, 6 balls overs. It’s his pathetic fitness and lack of imagination for his Captains (& previous head coach) that didn’t allow him to flourish as a spinner; otherwise he is a far better spinner than Santner, who bowls around 29 overs/Test, mostly played in NZ.

This tells you how naturally good a cricketer he is. He hadn't ever bowled prior to 2014. One week later, he was bowling to New Zealand and taking wickets. I think he also got Kohli out in 2015 WC but catch was dropped?

 

[Saj]

3 failed covid tests.

Not looking good for him.

 

[Rana]

The venues where Pak is going to play their Test matches is South Hampton and Manchester. These venues are good for spinners. Yasir should def play. Yasir has a good track record in England. A yr ago when Eng and India had their test played at South Hampton, Moeen Ali picked up 10 wickets in that test match. Also Yasir is going to have the best mentor, who is Mushy bhai.

I would play Yasir and Shadab both,

Shadab should be our number 7

 

[sweep_shot]

Can't see him getting any game.

Only way I can see him getting a game is if someone from main XI gets injured.

 

[MenInG]

Right now, Haris should look to get well again and forget this tour - opportunities will come again later.

 

[KhanNn]

Was watching a video today where the guy mentioned Haris Rauf is actually a Pathan. His Father is from Swat, he understands Pashto bit doesn't know how to speak it.

That explains his aggressiveness. Most of our bowlers these days are Pathan

 

[fieldMarshal]

Well actually u got it some wt wrong.
He hail from mansehra n is a swati.

Swatis r yousafzais who come from swat with the lashker of Shah Ahmad shaheed to fight the seikhs during the time of ranjeet singh.

Around manshera they fought the decisive battle against the seikhs and lost. So the ones who survived settled in the hazara district of kpk instead of going back. Today the swatis are the largest tribe of hazara division.

 

[KhanNn]

Well actually u got it some wt wrong.
He hail from mansehra n is a swati.

Swatis r yousafzais who come from swat with the lashker of Shah Ahmad shaheed to fight the seikhs during the time of ranjeet singh.

Around manshera they fought the decisive battle against the seikhs and lost. So the ones who survived settled in the hazara district of kpk instead of going back. Today the swatis are the largest tribe of hazara division.

Very interesting! Thanks for clarifying