Is Mohammad Rizwan suited for Tests?

[MenInG]

Is Rizwan losing his lustre?

How long can we have him in the side for Tests or is he being used at the wrong batting position?

His 'keeping skills have always been good and has been a great motivator but Pakistan cannot afford to use him as a specialist batter - his current form does not warrant it.

So a temporary blip or time to move him out of the Test side? Who can take his place?

 

[Amjid Javed]

I said this on another thread he should not be batting any higher the 6, nor being played as a specialist batsmen. Simply not good enough. one 50+ score every 7 or 8 inns is not what you expect from someone batting in top 6.

 

[Xoib]

Yes.

But stop this fascination of using him as a specialist batsman he's not a Sangakarra who gets you runs in the top order he's more a Watling style gritty player who fights for you from 6-7

The moronic team combination has robbed us of two series wins.

 

[Sunzi]

Nope (he's not losing his lustre) - there isn't a better keeper/keeper-bat in Pak to my knowledge. He has the highest average of any Pak keeper ever and his recent form is consistent with his overall output if the stats list in the OP is anything to go off.

He had a match-saving ton vs Aus 3 tests back, forgotten so soon.

 

[Marooned]

In tests?

He has been great.

Let's not mix formats.

 

[Amjid Javed]

In tests?

He has been great.

Let's not mix formats.

1 x 50
1 × 100

in last 17 test inns - sorry but what exactly is great? hes batting 4 or 5 usually and thats a poor output for someone batting so high.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Rizwan is a good wicket keeping batsman in tests as his scores suggest.

Not great.

His best position is no 6 or 7. Filling upper half with proper batters is the way to go.

On his part, he needs to evolve his batting in tests. Have a mindset of scoring centuries as opposed to mindset of a busy bee.

Miandad was both but he always put big scores first.

I think Rizwan has time and ability to do that.

 

[cricenjoyer]

In short yes

Rizwan's since the start of 2021 Rizwan has been averaging 42 in tests with 2 100s vs Aus and SA. These are good stats for a batsmen alone, however also considering Rizwan's outstanding work behind the stumps, i'd say these stats make him our 3rd most valuable player behind Babar and Shaheen.

He however should not be batting below 6 and ideally should come at 7 and play an aggressor type role

 

[Marooned]

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in last 17 test inns - sorry but what exactly is great? hes batting 4 or 5 usually and thats a poor output for someone batting so high.

Poor output for batting that high, but he shouldn't bat that high.
As a keeper bat, he has done brilliantly. Crucial centuries vs SA and AUS. Excellent away tours of Eng and NZ.

His batting position should be 6. That's it.

 

[Xoib]

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1 × 100

in last 17 test inns - sorry but what exactly is great? hes batting 4 or 5 usually and thats a poor output for someone batting so high.

And why should he batting top 5 while keeping when his best output is at 6-7 looking at his numbers.
Blame the team managment for messing up with one of your best players

 

[Marooned]

In short yes

Rizwan's since the start of 2021 Rizwan has been averaging 42 in tests with 2 100s vs Aus and SA. These are good stats for a batsmen alone, however also considering Rizwan's outstanding work behind the stumps, i'd say these stats make him our 3rd most valuable player behind Babar and Shaheen.

He however should not be batting below 6 and ideally should come at 7 and play an aggressor type role

This. Pretty much.

I'm not sure what people really are on about. His position is a valid point, nothing much apart from that.

 

[Rana]

He isn’t suited to any format in reality

 

[Marooned]

If the argument is his high position, that's valid but that's hardly on Rizwan.

If the argument is that he as a keeper bat isn't doing enough and needs replacement, it's completely asinine.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Poor output for batting that high, but he shouldn't bat that high.
As a keeper bat, he has done brilliantly. Crucial centuries vs SA and AUS. Excellent away tours of Eng and NZ.

His batting position should be 6. That's it.

Yes number 6 should be wear he is batting, the way hes being used higher up is ruining team balance but also effecting rizwan as well.

Sadly under babars captaincy this will continue.

 

[Titan24]

He is batting technique wise, batting potential wise as well as keeping wise the best red ball keeper we have currently. So yes he is suited for tests in my opinion. Happy to stand corrected if I am missing some potential options currently available/

Its criminal to ask your keeper to first keep for 100s of overs and then bat at no 4. Irrespective of how fit you physically are, the mental exhaustion will come in at some point. He has solid FC record and if at all they want him to bat at 4 then have another keeper in the XI otherwise he should bat at 6 or below. He has quite a few years in him and also is in important part of Pak's leadership group as vice captain.

 

[Marooned]

Yes number 6 should be wear he is batting, the way hes being used higher up is ruining team balance but also effecting rizwan as well.

Sadly under babars captaincy this will continue.

That's right and I've said so a million times.

But the op is asking "Is he suited for tests?", "Should he be moved out of the test team?"

Complete nonsense if people are thinking in that direction.

 

[Amjid Javed]

That's right and I've said so a million times.

But the op is asking "Is he suited for tests?", "Should he be moved out of the test team?"

Complete nonsense if people are thinking in that direction.

i agree he shouldnt be dropped.

In regards to OP - he is merely trying to drum up discussion where there is no harm in doing so. maybe yes title needs changing.

 

[Romali_rotti]

To the OP.

Ofcourse he is suited for test cricket, he is a very good gloveman and you need that in test cricket.

 

[RyanRyan10]

He isn’t suited to any format in reality

And who will you pick instead of him?

 

[Rana]

I don’t understand what Sarfaraz did wrong for Babar to come in and do practically no different as captain?

Sarfaraz used to quietly bat at 6-7 and score useful runs for his side down the order. He didn’t interfere in the duty of the top 5 specialist batsmen

 

[PakEngFan]

On topic he should be batting at 6 and Babar should go at 4 get Saud in the team.

 

[PakEngFan]

I don’t understand what Sarfaraz did wrong for Babar to come in and do practically no different as captain?

Sarfaraz used to quietly bat at 6-7 and score useful runs for his side down the order. He didn’t interfere in the duty of the top 5 specialist batsmen

Sarfraz batting was no better then a tail ender. Rizwan is far better then him with bat and gloves evident by the stats. Sarfraz was no better then a no 9 outside Asia just look at his pathetic stats.

 

[Kroll]

Needs to be moved down the order to allow specialist batsmen in the middle order. While he can score big runs on the odd occasion, he's out of his depth in the middle order.

 

[Amjid Javed]

pakistan has a fascination that once their keeper batsmen scores a hundred and a few 50s they all of a sudden become a top 6 batting option.

We saw it with kamran akmal, sarfaraz and now rizwan. in case of all 3 the highest they should ever be batting is 6 and lowest at 7.


Rizwan isnt not good enough to be a test match number 4 batsmen.

 

[Bewal Express]

Yes and bat him at 7.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Like ppl have suggested above, he needs to bat at 6 or 7 and not play as a specialist batsmen as he just doesn't have the talent or ability..

 

[PakPremi]

Of course he is but why are you batting your keeper in position 4 or 5? This is just trying to plug hole in batting line and only adds more pressure on him on top of his long sessions keeping wickets.

 

[IMMY69]

Keeping has been superb.
Should really have batted at number 6.
It's just too much for someone to keep for so many overs and then have them come in at number 4 or 5.

Brainless thinking by the management.

 

[Xoib]

pakistan has a fascination that once their keeper batsmen scores a hundred and a few 50s they all of a sudden become a top 6 batting option.

We saw it with kamran akmal, sarfaraz and now rizwan. in case of all 3 the highest they should ever be batting is 6 and lowest at 7.


Rizwan isnt not good enough to be a test match number 4 batsmen.

Blame Saqlain for this he would pick a no rounder like salman for 6 and move Rizwan from his preferred batting position.

 

[shamaan]

Should not be batting higher than 5 let him come in at 6 we're he can look to play his shots.

 

[SportsWarrior]

He is an good cricketer and certainly deserves a place in your team. He is probably playing higher than he should be. He is no 6/7 bat where he will very well

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Should bat at 6, he's the best Pakistan got and also one of the best in the world.