Is it worth considering Haris Sohail as an opener in ODIs?

[yasir]

Harris Sohail is one of the most skillful batsmen we have at the moment. He plays late, can play spin and fast equally well, has good range of shots, strong defense...He looks like to be our number 4 in test soon, many test #4 used to open the ODIs, like Lara, Tendulkar, KP etc, why Harris cannot be injected at #2 slot in ODI??

There are several reasons to make the adjustment:

We don't have quality openers

First, we do't have good player of pace bowling openers ATM, Shezad/Sami/Shaun/Hafeez cannot play shots against pace, they cannot manage new ball in testing conditions either, maybe Sami can, but he is too limited in his shots to be considered for ODI spot. Shezad/Hafeez plays too many dot balls, sadly playing pace bowling is not best part of their game, they are lot more comfortable against spin than pace... Harris has shown in last WC, that he can play well in first 10 overs, he was always there in first 10 overs, but never got out, almost played run a ball, even when wickets were falling on other end in PP...He plays late, reads the length early which is such an asset against pace. Loss of Sharjeel has open up this spot, Fakhir is doing ok at one end, but we need a well rounded solid player on the other side.

Harris is better option than Azhar


Again Harris has more range of shots than Azhar, he is well suited for opening in ODI. Azhar is a blocker, unless wickets is absolutely flat, he will not play shots in first 10, that can drag down the team, we need more dynamic player as opener.

Harris success as ODI will make him better test player

Its very important for team to have their top test players playing ODI, that allows them to play and experiment with shots which they would not in test right way, give them more freedom to grow. Imagine if Root or Smith only play test, their test game will become more defensive. You need you top talent to play multiple format to take the SR in test to 55/60, that pays off in long run...


Any thoughts on that front, what will take Micky to consider this important move??

 

[MMHS]

NO.

There is no point, forcing a middle order to opening. Besides, he & Fakhar makes a all lefti pair which again isn't the best idea. If not Ahmed/Azhar, they should open with Babar & Hari at 3.

What little I have seen, if he can really move with his game, Zeeshan Malik should be ready by WC.

 

[Saj]

The harsh reality at the moment is that it seems anyone could do a better job than Ahmed Shehzad.

 

[Abdul]

The harsh reality at the moment is that it seems anyone could do a better job than Ahmed Shehzad.

That's not a "harsh" reality since Shehzad isn't even good enough to be in the team. If he was just struggling with form, then yeah.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

I'm down for it for this series at least. This was the ideal series to introduce Sahibzada but who can stop Lord Shehzad? He has managed to sway the management once again with a timely misleading knock.

 

[ads101]

We could have him as opener I don't mind. Just Babar is an opener by trade who bats middle order, while Haris would be a middle order bat batting opener. Both are capable of playing opener or middle order, but would probably be easier for Babar to open.

 

[Madplayer]

We could have him as opener I don't mind. Just Babar is an opener by trade who bats middle order, while Haris would be a middle order bat batting opener. Both are capable of playing opener or middle order, but would probably be easier for Babar to open.

Haris is better against swing than Babar.

 

[Kohli The King of Chase]

You guys would do well with this.

1.Fakhar
2.Haris
3.Babar
4.Malik
5.Hafeez
6.Imad
7.Fahim/ Shadab
8.Sarfraz * + (Should play as a specialist keeper and captain till 2019 WC. Yes, should come up the order, if wickets fall quickly.)

 

[another drop catch]

no
Hafeez can easily replace shehzad

 

[ads101]

Haris is better against swing than Babar.

Haris looks like a player who opens quite frankly, just he's always played middle order. In both domestic and international he was shifted up the order to 3, he used to bat even further down. Might be confusing to open with Haris while he's playing test cricket as a middle order bat too. There's the argument to keep things constant (which applies to Azhar too, especially when it seems like he's more suited to opening too). So while he has the ability, might be out of the comfort zone of Haris, while it won't be for Babar. Just more of a risk with Haris even if he might end up a better opener than Babar.

Either one opening don't mind, but do think it's in our best interests for one of them to open. And I'd rather Haris open than to be sitting on the bench wasted.

 

[Da_Future_Knick]

Fakhar
Hafeez
Babar
Haris
Sarfraz
Malik
Imad
Shadab
Hassan
Rumman
Junaid

I think Pakistan should play this eleven tomorrow.

Moving on, Pakistan should look to play this team.

Fakhar
Sharjeel
Babar
Haris
Amin
Sarfraz
Yamin/Faheem
Imad
Shadab
Hassan
Amir

 

[Fahdi]

Yes. Harris and Babar are our best bets as opener. Babar has been brilliant at number 3 and there is no point in tempering with him. Haris has proven his credentials in the first 10 overs during the WC. He can find the gaps and negotiate swing and seam early on. Your best players should be allowed to bat the maximum number of overs if you want to succeed. Had Haris been opening instead of Shehzad we would most likely have been 50/1 or 50/0. The only draw back to this is having two left handers open the batting otherwise I only see positives.

 

[PakPhenom]

Worth a chance. But this is Pakistan and if he failed in the opening slot he w kickllied out of the team altogether with Ahmad Shehzad making yet another comeback.

 

[yasir]

In ODIs your best batsmen should face maximum balls, that's why Tendulkar, Lara, KP (who are purely middle order in test) were opening for respective team...Harris and Babar are our best bet against high quality fast bowling, they both should be in top three, Pakistan need to shoot for 300 average score against top teams, Hafeez/Shezad etc are completely dud against top bowling, we have seen that millions of time...We need to make that adjustment now, not like two months from the World Cup like we did in 2015

 

[yasir]

Yes. Harris and Babar are our best bets as opener. Babar has been brilliant at number 3 and there is no point in tempering with him. Haris has proven his credentials in the first 10 overs during the WC. He can find the gaps and negotiate swing and seam early on. Your best players should be allowed to bat the maximum number of overs if you want to succeed. Had Haris been opening instead of Shehzad we would most likely have been 50/1 or 50/0. The only draw back to this is having two left handers open the batting otherwise I only see positives.

Haden and Gilly were both left handers, did that make them poor combination? - So was Amir and Anwar, most teams have both right handed... That consideration can only come when you have multiple choices are that equal, which is not the case...

There is another advantage, most teams have right handed fast bowlers, who are generally better at bowling against right handed bowlers with new ball, if we are thinking in that direction, but first and foremost is the quality and strength of player. As I highlighted upfront, Harris reads the length earlier than everybody, can play shots and defend as well. He is far superior batsman to both Hafeez/Shezad/Shaun against quality pace, there is no reason to not invest in him...As A think tank, you should focus on how we are going to beat top 4 teams not bottom 4...Hafeez and Shezad are more suited for bottom 4, that's why they should never be first choice...

 

[AFM]

Get Babar to open and give him the Amla role. Harry at 3.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Get Babar to open and give him the Amla role. Harry at 3.

Exactly. Babar can be Pakistan's Amla.

 

[Hermoine Green]

NO.

There is no point, forcing a middle order to opening. Besides, he & Fakhar makes a all lefti pair which again isn't the best idea. If not Ahmed/Azhar, they should open with Babar & Hari at 3.

What little I have seen, if he can really move with his game, Zeeshan Malik should be ready by WC.

Don't you think he is too raw for this right now? On the other hand Farhan is playing better than him.

 

[khurram39]

Pakistan can do any thing. if they had made their mind to give him a go they can & There is no problem and after watching current pair one can easily decide Ahmad shahzad can be replaced with anyone else.

 

[SARJ_BD]

Pak can experiment is after confirming the series victory. I hope Pak win first 3 Odis so that they experiment

>Haris as opener
>Usman Shinwari
>Imam as opener and Haris at #4

 

[Amjid Javed]

Should be in the middle order, if that means ahead of Hafeez or malik so be it. time to plan and move forward with our batsmen.

 

[Fahdi]

Haden and Gilly were both left handers, did that make them poor combination? - So was Amir and Anwar, most teams have both right handed... That consideration can only come when you have multiple choices are that equal, which is not the case...

There is another advantage, most teams have right handed fast bowlers, who are generally better at bowling against right handed bowlers with new ball, if we are thinking in that direction, but first and foremost is the quality and strength of player. As I highlighted upfront, Harris reads the length earlier than everybody, can play shots and defend as well. He is far superior batsman to both Hafeez/Shezad/Shaun against quality pace, there is no reason to not invest in him...As A think tank, you should focus on how we are going to beat top 4 teams not bottom 4...Hafeez and Shezad are more suited for bottom 4, that's why they should never be first choice...

I meant this as a hypothetical comparison. Suppose we have two equally capable batsmen; one a lefty and one a righty. I'd choose to play a right handed bat to get the left hand right hand combination. But this is clearly not the case here and Haris is clearly better than all other batsmen in the team bar maybe Babar. Haris can do a better job as opener than anyone else at the moment and it will allow him to bat the maximum number of overs before wickets start falling and he is put under pressure.

The only other alternative is to open with Babar but I am reluctant to do that given how well settled he is at number 3.

 

[Anis10]

Drop Imad and play Haris at 4

Imad is not really needed to bowl anyways considering hafeez and malik are bowling doing well, plus haris can bowl a bit, so there’s no real need for Imad

 

[Desprado123]

Why Harris is not getting a chance in this team?

Harris has still not played in this Odi series yet and everyone got chance.

 

[Rayyman]

Should play in the next match ahead of Hafeez.

 

[Hasan123]

No. Pick a specialist opener.

 

[Seamer]

He should play next game, this should be lineup for 5th odi:

1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Imam ul Haq
3. Babar Azam
4. Haris Sohail
5. Malik
6. Sarfaraz
7. Fahim Ashraf
8. Shadab Khan
9. Hassan Ali
10. Rumman Raees
11. Junaid Khan

 

[finalfantasy7]

haris should only bat and 4/5 thats it, - thats his positions

 

[Rana]

To get the most out of Haris Sohail, he should play as an opener

My honest assessment of his batting. The guy is high quality against true pace bowling. Doesnt struggle too much against the short ball either. He gets seriously bogged down when pace is taken off the ball. His first 30 odd runs are exquisite, but near the end of that initial burst he has to deal with spin and he loses momentum. So i think Pakistan would be smart in not wasting time with Azhar, Imam or any other dud opener they see in in Pakistan. Give the guy a full run right from the word go where he plays the new ball and faces pace for 10-15 overs

 

[shah_1]

I agree with [MENTION=2016]Rana[/MENTION] and he will fail in the middle order with his spin struggle.

He needs to open, looks the most comfortable and assured batsman against pace.

 

[shah_1]

Play Saad Ali at 4 and get him to open. Some PPers needs to understand that you can experiment and be successful, likes of Dilshan and Rohit Sharma are a good example.



Fakhar Zaman
Harris Sohail
Babar Azam
Saad Ali
Sarfraz Ahmed
Hussain Talat
Shadab Khan

 

[Rayyman]

Play Saad Ali at 4 and get him to open. Some PPers needs to understand that you can experiment and be successful, likes of Dilshan and Rohit Sharma are a good example.



Fakhar Zaman
Harris Sohail
Babar Azam
Saad Ali
Sarfraz Ahmed
Hussain Talat
Shadab Khan

Dilshan played a full domestic season and smashed plenty of runs as opener before his return.

 

[shah_1]

Dilshan played a full domestic season and smashed plenty of runs as opener before his return.

There is no such rule we have to follow but the fact he was a mediocre lower order batsman but became the one of the best in ODI as an opener..

You have to experiment when you nothing going at all. Harris looks the best against pace, this makes him a good candidate for this role. Harris has struggled in the past against spin, will continue to do so in the future. I see him being wasted at 4

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Wouldn't be against it.

 

[Brilliance]

If he is made to play as an opener that'll make a way for another good player in the middle order like Talat. Pak doesn't have a better opener currently until Sharjeel returns.

Fakhar
Haris
Babar
Sarfaraz
Talat
Hafeez ( won't be thrown out now )
Shadab
Fahim

 

[Fahdi]

Haris Sohail Should Open

Time and time again I have seen Haris Sohail come in against the new ball and he has looked very comfortable. In my assessment Haris is our best batsman against the new ball in LOIs. He does the basics right i.e. puts away the bad balls and negotiates the poor deliveries. He did it today and has done it on multiple occasions in the 2015 World Cup.

I feel Haris's strength is his game against the fast men, every time he has come out to bat in the first 10 overs he has scored at a good clip. The brakes get applied during the middle overs against the spinners who can tie him up with tight bowling. He doesn't look to take too many unnecessary risks and prefers to rotate strike while waiting for the bad deliveries. Against fast bowling he has more opportunities to find the boundaries but against the spinners he gets forced to take calculated risks which he sometimes misjudges. One thing that may lend credence to his competency against fast bowlers is the fact that he has never been out lbw in ODIs.

As far as examples go look at his innings today where he was going well against the fast bowlers. His innings against India and Astralia in the CWC 2015. Each time he came out early and scored comfortably and quickly against the fast bowlers.

Haris is one of our best batsman,probably the best after Babar. Such players should be allowed to bat the maximum number of overs instead of having to save the game by the time it's too late. In modern day LO cricket players will win you more games batting in the top order than the middle/lower order. Form the core of your team around Haris and Babar. Haris can potentially be our best ODI opener since Saeed Anwar.

 

[rizrox]

Agree with the OP .....infact Umar Akmal too should have been tried as an opener .He had all the shots against pace and could have given us good starts on batting friendly wickets which we get more often nowadays .

 

[Azeem Zafar]

Agree with the OP .....infact Umar Akmal too should have been tried as an opener .He had all the shots against pace and could have given us good starts on batting friendly wickets which we get more often nowadays .

Umar Akmal as an opener springs a ray of excitement in me, but only for a second after which an image of him charging down a fast bowler and awkwardly trying to pull a short ball into the hands of keeper, midwicket or bowler himself appears. That guy is a lost cause, I totally gave away any hopes from him after NZ match @ T20WC'16. He should play atleast 2 full QeA seasons as an opener and top the charts before making any comeback to national team.

 

[Greenstorm]

Yes he should open along side fakhar. He looks comfortable against pace. Sarfaraz can bat at 4.

 

[ads101]

Yeah i think so. It would be nice a right left combo at top but cant be helped and i dont think babar is moving from 3.

Team after this series should be:
1. Fakhar
2. Haris
3. Babar
4. Saad Ali
5. Sarfraz
6. Talat
7. Malik/Hafeez
8. Shadab
9. Amir
10. Hasan
11. Junaid/Usman

 

[Saj]

He can't do any worse than some of the so called specialist openers have done in recent times.

 

[TeymurBlake]

I personally would prefer he stays at No.4. I believe he is one of the better batters we have in the country and I think it would be best to have him at No.4. The opening slot could go to Sahibzada, Mukhtar, Umar Amin or another opener, but not Haris.

 

[PakLFC]

Why not?. With only one match to go there is no harm in trying him out as opener.

 

[yasir]

He can't do any worse than some of the so called specialist openers have done in recent times.

My main reason was his skills against quality pace, along with solid defense. All others are not at same level. Fakhir is there as aggressor. He usually plays run a ball in power play anyway, because he can hit boundaries on bad balls, others are flustered by pace, bounce or hint of movement...

 

[Saj]

My main reason was his skills against quality pace, along with solid defense. All others are not at same level. Fakhir is there as aggressor. He usually plays run a ball in power play anyway, because he can hit boundaries on bad balls, others are flustered by pace, bounce or hint of movement...

Yes I agree.

I like him in the middle order but I think at some point he may be asked to open and I think he could doa decent job.

 

[khurram39]

Then its clear we don't have openers in our domestic cricket who can open in internationals.

 

[Fahdi]

More and more evidence in favor. I see absolutely no reason why he shouldn't be a permanent opener in ODIs.

 

[Mueez]

Should Haris Sohail open the innings in ODI’s?

I have been thinking this since I have seen Haris Sohail taking on the fast bowlers.

He has played perfect cover drives and picked up the gaps beautifully.

Maybe we should utilize him within the PowerPlay overs?

Thoughts about this?

Discuss.

 

[sweep_shot]

I think you can drop Fakhar and make Haris open.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Babar should open and Haris should bat at 3

 

[gazza619]

We have specialist openers knocking on the doors.

Haris is fine in the middle order. If anything I would open with Babar and have Haris at no.3.

 

[PakLFC]

No. Harris is not an opener.

 

[Chokli]

Nope, we need to have a solid middle order and Haris provides that option.

1.Umar Akmal
2.Imam Ul Haq
3.Babar Azam
4.Haris Sohail
5.Mohammad Rizwan (wk) (c)
6.Saud Shakeel
7.Imad Wasim
8.Haris Rauf
9.Usama Mir
10.Shaheen Afridi
11.Mohammad Amir

Shadab isn't good enough.

 

[ManFan]

Replace FZ with a young opener.

Worst thing that can happen is he will learn from his mistakes.

 

[Abdullah]

I think we keep the solidity of imam Babar and haris at 2 3 4 and we out Imad in at number 6 and give him responsibility with the bat.
We need 3 spinners when we go India so making this move will help get in the 3rd spinner.

The team for the next subcon assignment should be

Imam
Fakhar/Sharjeel/Shan
Babar
Haris
Sarfaraz ( Rizwan needs to get a lot more consistent at playing spin)
Imad
Shadab
Quick bowling hitting AR
Shaheen
Amir
Umer khan

 

[srh]

I have been thinking this since I have seen Haris Sohail taking on the fast bowlers.

He has played perfect cover drives and picked up the gaps beautifully.

Maybe we should utilize him within the PowerPlay overs?

Thoughts about this?

Discuss.

Sharjeel Khan and Haris Sohail? Dont think its a good idea. Sharjeel Khan should be partnered with a right-hand modestly aggressive batsman i.e. not as aggressive as Sharjeel himself. May be try Babar Azam.

 

[Pete Rose]

No

 

[kabirg]

I think he’s one of the best players of pace in the team should definitely be tried as an opener.

 

[Imr4n_Khan]

No, he is not an opener. He plays fast bowlers very well, but he shouldn't open. He needs to bat at number four.

 

[PetroDollars]

i think hes a no.3, baber should open

 

[Madplayer]

Making Babar open in ODIs would be a disasterous move. He is fine at 3. Why do you want to risk your best bat against the new ball? Every team's best batsman bats at 3.

Haris can open because he is superior against pace and swing but its best to find a specialist opener. Haris is good at 4.

 

[Greenstorm]

Harris cannot open with poor fitness levels. He was struggling to catch his breathe against SA.
Fakhar and Sharjeel should open after WC.

 

[Mueez]

Sharjeel Khan and Haris Sohail? Dont think its a good idea. Sharjeel Khan should be partnered with a right-hand modestly aggressive batsman i.e. not as aggressive as Sharjeel himself. May be try Babar Azam.

I don’t think we should let Babar open after seeing him bat at 3 with so much responsibility in this tournament.

I agree with your left-right combination though - we should get a right handed opener (preferably someone who can blast the oppositions away)