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Is Pakistan the most boring Test nation?

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Dr Khan

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Contrary to the popular notion about Pakistan being unpredictable and exciting, I find the current Pakistan team to be the most boring test team to watch. There is no excitement especially when they bat. There is lack of intent and no proactiveness. Its like they are stuck in the 80s batting at 2 runs per over. Is it just me or others feel the same way as well :misbah?
 
I was there yesterday and there was nothing boring about the way Pakistan played.
 
Pakistan SA series was fine , this for some reason maybe due to the dead pitch has been a boring contest so far.
 
No, because they're usually very entertaining at 50/4, 80/6. This is just a one off, cut them some slack.
 
India 467 in 110 odd overs, Pakistan is only 290. These 250 ball centuries are no good in modern cricket. you have to stamp your authority on home grounds from day 1 .
 
Dr Khan said:
India 467 in 110 odd overs, Pakistan is only 290. These 250 ball centuries are no good in modern cricket. you have to stamp your authority on home grounds from day 1 .
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They are playing in different pitches against VERY different oppositions. Pakistan is playing against a World Cup winning team that is ranked No. 1 in Tests and is on the back of a thumping Ashes win.

India, on the other hand, is playing against Sri Lanka. Need I say more?
 
ExpressPacer said:
They are playing in different pitches against VERY different oppositions. Pakistan is playing against a World Cup winning team that is ranked No. 1 in Tests and is on the back of a thumping Ashes win.

India, on the other hand, is playing against Sri Lanka. Need I say more?
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Man this is not acceptable... Look at the pitch and tired bowling and also situation of the match... This block block block is no way justified... This is worst personal selfish cricket on display
 
ExpressPacer said:
They are playing in different pitches against VERY different oppositions. Pakistan is playing against a World Cup winning team that is ranked No. 1 in Tests and is on the back of a thumping Ashes win.

India, on the other hand, is playing against Sri Lanka. Need I say more?
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200/1 after 70 overs and then blocking and scoring at 2 rpo there after is acceptable is it? 😂😂
 
Its not about the opposition, its about the intent and developing an exciting and proactive culture. Even when they play Zimbabwe its the same block block method
 
Boring or not, tuk-tuk remains the recipe to success for Pakistan test cricket. It has won Pakistan way more games than it's lost.
 
hitthestump said:
Boring or not, tuk-tuk remains the recipe to success for Pakistan test cricket. It has won Pakistan way more games than it's lost.
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Not outside Asia we haven’t won a test for years in SENA only at home can we tuk tuk a few wins.
 
Moiz14 said:
Man this is not acceptable... Look at the pitch and tired bowling and also situation of the match... This block block block is no way justified... This is worst personal selfish cricket on display
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If Pakistan ends up winning, it’ll be worth it.

This is Test match cricket and you sound like a T20 fan to me.
 
India must learn from Pakistan batsman's temperament. Completely true here :yk3

Honestly speaking, this boring batting may work in Pakistan's favour because in modern era, we see that matches are getting over in 4 days. Now because it is a 5 day test, Pakistan can afford to bat at 2.5 run per over in first two days and bat big. Then after that, they can come back to the usual modern era cricket where things happen fast even in Tests. This will make sure that Pakistan are winning lot more home matches and games will also be completed in five days( unlike it is for other teams where it gets completed in 4 or sometimes 3.5 days).

Ultimately what matters is if you get the result in five days or not.
 
To me the issue is defiantly Azhar Ali. When this guy bats you could fall asleep. He is the most limited batsmen. Pakistan’s goal should be to play fast so they score over 600 to put Australia into bat. This dead batting is not helping. They are wasting bowls nothing more.
 
ExpressPacer said:
If Pakistan ends up winning, it’ll be worth it.

This is Test match cricket and you sound like a T20 fan to me.
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Not at all.. I am a test cricket fan and a die hard one... But if you think that playing at 2 rpo on a flat wicket with 9 wickets in hand and 300 plus on the board is test cricket, then you better get some awareness about cricket... Tell me honestly, which good team will play after being 300/1 on this phatta that slow.. Don't just argue for the sake of it.. Talk some sense man.
 
Attritional cricket is what you have to play to make up for the difference in talent.
 
Pakistan 2.7 run rate vs India 4.5 RR on similar pitches!

Are we being super defensive when just across the border india is making full use of a flat road
 
Just hold on.

Fully expect Australia to be at 120/6 while chasing this.
 
I think every team needs to have its own formulae of winning, and it's fine if Pakistan has adopted this formula. If one or 2 batsmen down the order are able to score brisk 60s and 70s then overall run rate can still go beyond 3.2, which will be very good.
 
Dr Khan said:
Contrary to the popular notion about Pakistan being unpredictable and exciting, I find the current Pakistan team to be the most boring test team to watch. There is no excitement especially when they bat. There is lack of intent and no proactiveness. Its like they are stuck in the 80s batting at 2 runs per over. Is it just me or others feel the same way as well :misbah?
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No, but I know why you are feeling that way because most likely you have been watching too much of Pyjama cricket lately. :inti
 
Dr Khan said:
India 467 in 110 odd overs, Pakistan is only 290. These 250 ball centuries are no good in modern cricket. you have to stamp your authority on home grounds from day 1 .
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Yes India was facing Marshall, Ambrose, McGrath and Warne. Well done to them.

On a serious note Indian batsmen have flair and there is no doubt about that. Pakistan needs to do what suits them best. Each to their own. End of day this is not WWE, this is a game of cricket.
 
Let both teams play first & then start judging. The pitch isn't your usual pindi surface where ball comes nicely onto the bat. Pakistan is doing ok just need to make sure that we only bat once in this game.
 
Extremely boring. Pakistan is an unwatchable cricket team.

The only excitement is provided by Shaheen when he has the new ball in his hand and Babar when he is batting against a poor attack in a pressure-less situation.

You can’t compare Indian batsmen to Pakistan’s. There is a huge gulf in talent, skill and confidence.

The knock that Jadeja played today is beyond the capacity of our main batsmen.

Indian batsmen get boundaries on good deliveries. A good delivery against a Pakistani batsman results in either a wicket or a dot.

They only wait for freebies and they don’t always capitalize.
 
We cant complain when Azhar Ali is one of your main batsmen who bats at number 3. Any team that looks to play Test cricket at a run rate of 3.3-3.5 runs instead of 2.5-2.7 have assured, fluent batsmen that keep the scoreboard ticking. I feel Azhar takes 100 balls to find his balance at the crease before anything.

Pakistan need to have Babar at 3 IMO
 
Whilst taking this current innings into account,

Imam ul Haq was on 90 off 160 balls originally. God knows what happened to that fluency but i think he may have taken 70-80 balls to score the last 10 runs. Same as Azahr who completely stalled for his 50 and hundred.

These players are too fascinated with personal milestones and want to celebrate as if they have just liberated Kashmir from India when they score a 50!
 
No doubt Pakistan batting has been the most boring over more than last decade. Once Inji , Yousuf retired the boring show began. No exciting factor in their batting line up
 
Pakistan cricket is actually entertaining. Most neutrals would say this. What is boring and tedious however are the impatient fans who are finding something to moan about despite Pakistan’s strong position in what is a historic tour. These are the kind of whingers we could do without. They are completely ignoring the context of the situation which I find frustrating. A historic tour. A need for a crucial first statement innings. A slow pitch. A top class bowling attack. The ball not coming onto the bat.

Please. Stop. The. Whinging. 😀
 
After watching Azhar pull your hair out, you think you will finally get to watch some proper batting, only for the malnourished Fawad to walk to the crease and play hockey.

If you want young kids in Pakistan watch Test cricket then at least pick players who are good to watch.

No youngster is going to be attracted by the batting of Azhar and Fawad. It will only make them despise Test cricket.

Pakistan is a terrible advertisement for Test cricket.
 
5 sessions and score only 394 runs with loss of just two wickets. That's just hillarious.

If Australia bat well, the match will be saved. But they have Travis Head and Cameron Green at 5 and 6 who don't know how to bat long and dull in subcontinent so that is a trick for them.

This game reminds me of the day when Shiv Sundar Das and Deep Das Gupta opened batting for India followed by Dravid at 3.
 
Pakistan should win this match. If they don’t, it will be as good as a loss.

Scoreboard pressure is a big factor and Australia will face the heat of the big total.

It is not about the result though - you just don’t have to win - you have to win with style.

You need to play a brand of cricket that makes you a watchable team. This is why the likes of India and England (white ball cricket) have been so exciting to watch over the last 5-6 years.

They have been winning machines but they have done it with a lot of swagger.

If we can’t do that then we need to admit that we are an average team.
 
They shouldve batted a lot quicker in the second session

They need to be a lot more proactive now if they want to win thr game

Quick runs and a declaration the need of the hour
 
Mamoon said:
It is not about the result though - you just don’t have to win - you have to win with style.
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Wrong again! This is not WWE mate. Pakistan is playing the number 1 ranked team and there are some crucial points on the line.
 
gazza619 said:
Wrong again! This is not WWE mate. Pakistan is playing the number 1 ranked team and there are some crucial points on the line.
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Australia is not the number one ranked team in Asian conditions.
 
Omer2002 said:
100% no declaration today thats for sure
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Azhar and Imam have basically played in a way that it would be suicide to declare now.

On this track, Warner may score a 350 ball 300 if he gets going the way he does against us
 
This is Pakistanis recipe for success at the moment, if it wins you games then you stick to it, teams have different styles of play there’s no right way to play test cricket. I’ve always enjoyed Pakistanis games so will disagree with op, similar to have teams like Barca who play one way then teams like Chelsea who played a more defensive way , neither styles are everyone’s cup of tea but are equally as effective
 
Rana said:
Azhar and Imam have basically played in a way that it would be suicide to declare now.

On this track, Warner may score a 350 ball 300 if he gets going the way he does against us
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Precisely my point all four batters are under 50 percent scoring rates whith two centurions thats criminal..warner can take the game away
 
Azhar and Imam have made sure that either we don't win or atleast don't win easily... I mean these are the most rubbish 150s I have seen
 
Scoring 400 in almost 6 sessions on good batting surface is utter pathetic especially with so few wickets lost aswell.

Dead bat blocking half volleys. Dire cricket.
 
Gonna be a draw.
That is not how you bat, if Azhar Ali has the Highest strike rate in a 500+ score (possibly 600)then there's definitely something wrong in your tactics.
 
Mamoon said:
Extremely boring. Pakistan is an unwatchable cricket team.

The only excitement is provided by Shaheen when he has the new ball in his hand and Babar when he is batting against a poor attack in a pressure-less situation.

You can’t compare Indian batsmen to Pakistan’s. There is a huge gulf in talent, skill and confidence.

The knock that Jadeja played today is beyond the capacity of our main batsmen.

Indian batsmen get boundaries on good deliveries. A good delivery against a Pakistani batsman results in either a wicket or a dot.

They only wait for freebies and they don’t always capitalize.
Click to expand...

You’ve got to hand it to Mamoon and his amazing comparisons between Indian cricket and Pakistan cricket.

I guess playing against Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon is the same as playing against Lakmal, Embuldaniya, Fernando and Kumara
 
Rana said:
You’ve got to hand it to Mamoon and his amazing comparisons between Indian cricket and Pakistan cricket.

I guess playing against Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon is the same as playing against Lakmal, Embuldaniya, Fernando and Kumara
Click to expand...

It is the same for India. They have dominated this attack twice in a row in Australia which is they have won back to back series Down Under.

Australia is scared of playing India.
 
Mamoon said:
Extremely boring. Pakistan is an unwatchable cricket team.

The only excitement is provided by Shaheen when he has the new ball in his hand and Babar when he is batting against a poor attack in a pressure-less situation.

You can’t compare Indian batsmen to Pakistan’s. There is a huge gulf in talent, skill and confidence.

The knock that Jadeja played today is beyond the capacity of our main batsmen.

Indian batsmen get boundaries on good deliveries. A good delivery against a Pakistani batsman results in either a wicket or a dot.

They only wait for freebies and they don’t always capitalize.
Click to expand...


I know what is more boring, more cringeworthy, more annoying, more pathetic, more embarrassing.

It’s your constant whinging and negativity. I notice you only surface when there is negativity flying around. Lol.
 
Pakistan have seriously good batting unit in the Test cricket. It's going to be very difficult to beat them at home. People need to appreciate attritional cricket. I hope Indian batsmen will show similar application against Australia at home next year. We struggled a lot in last home series against Australia in 2017.
 
Boring is fine as long as they win against top sides, swager will come naturally when the team is winning a lot.
 
Sadly many of the people posting on this topic seem to have little appreciation or knowledge of the arch of test cricket (though one or two posters do enjoy being deliberately provocative).

In the first innings Pakistan scored at just under 3 runs an over (2.93 to be precise).
If one looks at the history of test cricket, 50 runs per 100 balls is actually not bad. Up to about 2000, and over about a thirty year period, the average run rate was below 3 runs per over.
Since the new millennium that has risen to about 3.3 runs per over (advent of T20 likely to have played a role).
Not a million miles away from what Pakistan achieved.
Too many posters have been watching too much PSL (which was excellent and exciting, by the way) and expect to see that in a Test match.
 
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Azhar Ali played a selfish inning. It has to be te worst batting performance by team scoring over 400. Any other team would have scored 600+
 
1. This is test cricket
2. This australia not bangladeshi team
3.anyone complaining is a tonty tonty fan
 
The timing of the declaration was pretty shocking to be honest, it's not as if it suddenly got over cast.
 
Once we reached 300, we should have attacked and got to 500. Instead we had guys still playing for stats and it cost us 30 runs and around 10 overs in relatively helpful bowling conditions under lights.
 
Mohammad Hafeez of all people agreeing with much of the sentiment here about low intent from Pakistan.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Slow & dead pitch.. above all low intent so far fading out chances of result in this historic test match. One team have to play very poorly to give a result in this test match. Result oriented cricket is the future of Test cricket not dead drawn games please &#55357;&#56911;</p>— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) <a href="https://twitter.com/MHafeez22/status/1500087148611239938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Just because its a test match doesn't mean you cant show incentive, rotate the strike and be positive. No one is expecting them to hit 6s,4s every over but you have to be brave especially at home. Its no just this test, this lazy and lackluster approach has been our methodology for many years now.
 
Personally I was fine with how Pakistan were batting, was refreshing to see such a dominant scorecard once more. How much can you really complain being 400/2 against Australia? Usually we would not score 400 across both innings in total.

The only bizarre thing for me was the period before declaration. They should have been upping the ante to get as many runs as possible before declaration. We were only 4 wickets down, Rizwan and Iftikhar should have been practically slogging boundaries. That may have allowed us to declare earlier and get a better shot at their openers before the light died. It ended up being a pretty pathetic finish to the day, when it could have been some big hitting followed by a lighting Shaheen spell.

Overall, we should be grateful to be in such a commanding position against a side like Australia, people seem quick to forget how rare this is.
 
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Firebat said:
Personally I was fine with how Pakistan were batting, was refreshing to see such a dominant scorecard once more. How much can you really complain being 400/2 against Australia? Usually we would not score 400 across both innings in total.

The only bizarre thing for me was the period before declaration. They should have been upping the ante to get as many runs as possible before declaration. We were only 4 wickets down, Rizwan and Iftikhar should have been practically slogging boundaries. That may have allowed us to declare earlier and get a better shot at their openers before the light died. It ended up being a pretty pathetic finish to the day, when it could have been some big hitting followed by a lighting Shaheen spell.

Overall, we should be grateful to be in such a commanding position against a side like Australia, people seem quick to forget how rare this is.
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Mostly fair points but it seemed that players were concerned about stats more than getting to a total they should have had in mind. We lost a great chance to attack the openers under lights. Poor by Babar and the think tank
 
Historic game being killed by one team batting with no intent. pathetic!
 
End result of winning is what counts.
Babar Azam looked exciting for first 40 balls. He has 36 runs to his name.
Azhar Ali looks boring.. he has 173 runs to his name. Prefer 173 over 36 on any day in Test Cricket.
Application.. not flashiness.
 
Firebat said:
Personally I was fine with how Pakistan were batting, was refreshing to see such a dominant scorecard once more. How much can you really complain being 400/2 against Australia? Usually we would not score 400 across both innings in total.

The only bizarre thing for me was the period before declaration. They should have been upping the ante to get as many runs as possible before declaration. We were only 4 wickets down, Rizwan and Iftikhar should have been practically slogging boundaries. That may have allowed us to declare earlier and get a better shot at their openers before the light died. It ended up being a pretty pathetic finish to the day, when it could have been some big hitting followed by a lighting Shaheen spell.

Overall, we should be grateful to be in such a commanding position against a side like Australia, people seem quick to forget how rare this is.
Click to expand...

Sorry to burst your bubble, but your going on about pakistan rarely being in a strong position against Australia? The last 5 tests at "Home/UAE" for pakistan suggests otherwise
pakistans vs Australia 2014 - UAE

1st test day 1 - 219/4 (454 All out) - Won
2nd test day 1 - 304/2 (570/6 Dec) - Won

pakistan vs Australia 2018 - UAE

1st test day 1 - 255/3 (470 All out) - Draw
2nd test day 1 - 282 All out - Won

Current match

Pak 245/1 (474/4 Dec).

Pakistans average 1st inns score 450 over that period. So lets put your so called pakistan dont get into strong positions theory to rest.

also its rizwans and iftis fault for not slogging 🤣🤣. Pakistan were 200/1 after 70 overs with 2 well set batsmen and then decided to block and score at a pathetic rate of around 2 runs per over, you clearly just ignore that fact.

Similar thing happened in 1st test in 2018. Pakistan were 200/0 after around 60 overs and as soon as a wicket fell Azhar as usual sucked the life out of the inns and pakistan went on a go slow for rest off inns. match ended in a draw, pretty much down to pathetic slow batting on day 2.

Even hafeez had tweeted saying team has shown no intent today.
 
hoshiarpurexpress said:
End result of winning is what counts.
Babar Azam looked exciting for first 40 balls. He has 36 runs to his name.
Azhar Ali looks boring.. he has 173 runs to his name. Prefer 173 over 36 on any day in Test Cricket.
Application.. not flashiness.
Click to expand...

I agree with that theme, Pakistani fans generally love style over substance. Babar hasn't scored a 100 in 19 Test innings yet gets a pass because of his aesthetically pleasing manner.

Rizwan and Iftikhar were trying to accelerate but couldn't quite time their shots due to the slowish pitch.

What's actually boring are surfaces like this which we saw very often pre-2009 in Pakistan. I'm all for flat pitches that break and take turn - but this doesn't look like deteriorating. The only way of getting out is batsman error.
 
Markhor said:
I agree with that theme, Pakistani fans generally love style over substance. Babar hasn't scored a 100 in 19 Test innings yet gets a pass because of his aesthetically pleasing manner.

Rizwan and Iftikhar were trying to accelerate but couldn't quite time their shots due to the slowish pitch.

What's actually boring are surfaces like this which we saw very often pre-2009 in Pakistan. I'm all for flat pitches that break and take turn - but this doesn't look like deteriorating. The only way of getting out is batsman error.
Click to expand...

Yeah bit surprised. Rawalpindi generally has good support for seamers.
Even in India's 2004 and 2006 tours pitches were dead flat. Is it more to do with climate/soil content.
All we can hope now is that it spins for next 2-3 days, else if Smith/Labu etc get on this wicket, it looks like a draw.
 
I was fine with the first day setting up the solid base Today there shouldve been more intent with an eye on declaring as early as possible

So they are definetly short by about 50-60 runs where they shouldve been by the declaration stage

However i do realise from watching the game that the pitch and outfield is boringly slow

Its not the best pitch to play your shots on as the ball didnt seem to be coming onto the bat at all

The curators really do need to produce better pitches going forward as this one seem to have very little in for the bowlers so far
 
Chrish said:
Historic game being killed by one team batting with no intent. pathetic!
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+1

The only thing that can make it interesting is scoreboard pressure leading to collapse in Aus batting.

Slow batting is not an issue. Many teams do it till they get to some decent score. But after getting to a decent score and having so many wickets, no team keeps playing like you are 5 down with 100 runs.

400/2 and yet playing like you are 100/5.

Anyone talking about T20 is missing the point totally. This is extremely poor cricket and it's not even about results. You just don't play this way after 400/2 on such flat track.
 
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By and large, the batsmen are defensive in nature so taking any sort of intent when an advantage has been built is an alien concept to them.

If you want to see swashbuckling test cricket, watching Pakistan batsmen is not it.
 
Back in 2000s Afridi would come and kill the tired attack to ground. I don't think Pakistan has such players in this line up. Azhar Ali seemed to be the most aggressive of the lot. Babar Azam was the only guy that is capable of doing that.
 
jnaveen1980 said:
Back in 2000s Afridi would come and kill the tired attack to ground. I don't think Pakistan has such players in this line up. Azhar Ali seemed to be the most aggressive of the lot. Babar Azam was the only guy that is capable of doing that.
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There is a middle ground. You don't have to play aggressively like Afridi, but you shouldn't be playing 2 runs per over after being in such a dominating position.
 
Pakistani Test bowling is quite exciting. But, their batting has become slightly boring.
 
Varun said:
Just hold on.

Fully expect Australia to be at 120/6 while chasing this.
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This is not UAE low bounce double pace turner. It is a flat road. Totally expect Warner and co. To thrash Pak bowlers for 400+ tomorrow.
 
jnaveen1980 said:
Back in 2000s Afridi would come and kill the tired attack to ground. I don't think Pakistan has such players in this line up. Azhar Ali seemed to be the most aggressive of the lot. Babar Azam was the only guy that is capable of doing that.
Click to expand...

Pakistan never had such boring batting before Misbah era. Misbah would be proud of this batting. Azhar is his top student. Imam was playing today like he has never batted before despite scoring 130+ yesterday.

At least there should be intent rather than playing for averages. Rizwan and Iftikhar knew declaration would be soon and they should be trying to add as much runs as they can but they preferred to statpad and play for their averages.

Apart from Baber Azam and Abdullah Shafiq no other batsman showed any intent to score.
 
MRSN said:
Pakistan never had such boring batting before Misbah era. Misbah would be proud of this batting. Azhar is his top student. Imam was playing today like he has never batted before despite scoring 130+ yesterday.

At least there should be intent rather than playing for averages. Rizwan and Iftikhar knew declaration would be soon and they should be trying to add as much runs as they can but they preferred to statpad and play for their averages.

Apart from Baber Azam and Abdullah Shafiq no other batsman showed any intent to score.
Click to expand...

Lol Rizwan was trying

He just isn’t good enough
 
Today what we saw was exactly how Misbah became hero and prolonged his career. These batsmen know no matter the result of the game or changing conditions like rain, you should not lose your wicket nor should you try to accelerate unless you have got big score so that you are safe. It is a selfish approach to the batting which is how Misbah became hero. These players know that and that's how they want to prolong their careers. They know if they score big no matter with what strike rate they will be able to play for years and people will love them just like Misbah.

Unless fans change such perception I don't think these players are going to move out of that medieval approach.
 
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