Is Shadab Khan really Pakistan's second-best Test spinner?

[MenInG]

He is good, young and full of energy etc but is he our 2nd best Test spinner?

Think too much being expected of him

 

[Markhor]

Shadab is a terrific prospect but we're asking him to do a job he's not ready for.

Yasir has a tough job of holding up an end to allow Sarfraz to rotate his other bowlers whilst being an attacking wicket-taking threat. Even he's found it difficult overseas despite being our biggest matchwinner in Tests.

Shadab has only seven FC matches to his name and struggled on debut in spin friendly West Indian conditions. I wouldn't mind him being in the squad if there was another specialist spinner named too.

 

[barah_admi]

The WI is hardly spin friendly, although the ball does stick a bit in the wicket BUT the biggest issue is, is there a spinner in the domestic circuit who looks better than Shadab? Could Gohar have been picked or Nawaz? Would that have made a difference?

Shah is so good, it's like picking Herath or McGill to replace Murali and Warne. There will always be a huge drop off in quality. I think it would have helped to pick a second spinner to ease the load on Shadab.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

No Mohammad Irfan is.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

In UK, you basically need to bowl Nathan Lyon/Maharaj way, flight up the ball at the same area without trying too many different things(which Shadab does), hold one end and let the scorecard pressure and stranglehold do the rest. You don't really get many five fers as a spinner in UK. Shadab tends to bowl too many googlies and not much his leg breaks. I can see him getting milked for 4 an over sadly here in England.

 

[Hasan123]

No he isn't. He needs more first class experience. He needs to get experience of bowling 30 overs a day and bowling long spells. This will improve him as a bowler.

I think he has been picked on his potential and the x factor he brings.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

I am afraid he will get milked for runs by English bats.

I can not see in the future, but this looks like a poor choice from the team management. Hopefully it will not harm Shadab's limited overs career.

 

[NauV]

I personally don't think he is selected because he is the 2nd best spinner in the country.

In early english conditions, they would expect the fast bowlers and a fast bowling all rounder to get the wickets with the spinner probably bowling 10 overs a day . .

Since they don't have Yasir, they probably have chosen Shadab for his ability to score 20 30 runs down the order on top of giving 10 12 overs . .

Giving a 2nd spinner a debut in not very spin friendly conditions and also with unknown batting prowess would have been daunting . . Hence choosing a full time spinner (or best spinner as you say) may not have yielded any results in early english conditions and perhaps would have ruined his confidence . . so might as well get some runs out of your number 7 . .

I think the thought process the team selection has gone with is:

6. Sarfaraz
7. Shadab
8. Faheem
9. Amir
10. Hasan/Rahat
11. Abbas

Only a theory . . could be wrong!

 

[Amirforpresident]

He couldn't do the job on easy WI wickets, how the hell is he going to do it in England? He is not ready yet.

 

[j_kazmi]

I think Mohammed Nawaz would have been a better option in this series. Mainly because he is a better test bowler as he’s the kind of bowler who can bowl more or less the same delivery over and over again.

Shadab relies more on his variation and has less control which means he’s more likely to leak a lot of runs.

 

[Rishta Aunty]

Nowhere close to ready and I saw that despite the possibility of him stealing some Irish wickets. Test spin bowling is totally different from limited overs/T20.

It's the same way in which Chahal and even Kuldeep aren't ready for that kind of responsibility in Tests. We shouldn't harm his development by doing that, as he still needs to develop a solid stock leg spinner for tests.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

I think Mohammed Nawaz would have been a better option in this series. Mainly because he is a better test bowler as he’s the kind of bowler who can bowl more or less the same delivery over and over again.

Shadab relies more on his variation and has less control which means he’s more likely to leak a lot of runs.

The reason Yasir Shah is so special and why legspinners do not do that well these days in Test cricket.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Nowhere close to ready and I saw that despite the possibility of him stealing some Irish wickets. Test spin bowling is totally different from limited overs/T20.

It's the same way in which Chahal and even Kuldeep aren't ready for that kind of responsibility in Tests. We shouldn't harm his development by doing that, as he still needs to develop a solid stock leg spinner for tests.

Mickey is great with pacers but doesn't always have the best judgment when it's about the spinners.

I hope we play 4 pacers against ENG incl. Faheem. Then we might stand a chance.

 

[Rishta Aunty]

Mickey is great with pacers but doesn't always have the best judgment when it's about the spinners.

I hope we play 4 pacers against ENG incl. Faheem. Then we might stand a chance.

Agreed. Though it all massively depends on Amir and Azhar. They will decide our fates. It's gonna be similar for India when they tour as well; how Vijay and Bhuvneshwar do will be a huge deciding factor.

 

[Saj]

Might be a good option for Pak to play with 4 seamers if conditions are like what they normally are in early summer.

 

[Khan12]

He's not the 2nd best spinner but he provides Much more then a lot due to his batting. If it was in UAE then would have gone with Zafar. Plus he was easily the best choice out of the 3 selected for the camp. I am sure pretty much everyone should take him over Kashif bhatti and Bilal Asif.

 

[silentkiller187]

it will be a good experience for young shadab to go to England. He has all the talent in the world, so hopefully he can pull something out of the bag.

 

[Junaids]

Might be a good option for Pak to play with 4 seamers if conditions are like what they normally are in early summer.

Exactly.

The Tests are in England on soft, green May wickets.

The “spinner” needs to score 120 runs in 2 Tests at an average of 30 and bat at 7, below Sarfraz, and will only really bowl in the fourth innings.

6. Sarfraz Ahmed
7. Shadab Khan
8. Mohammad Amir
9. Hasan Ali
10. Rahat Ali
11. Mohammad Abbas

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

no, Zafar is, but in the context i get Shadab's selection

I reckon the only match he has a chance in playing at is lords

 

[Saj]

Exactly.

The Tests are in England on soft, green May wickets.

The “spinner” needs to score 120 runs in 2 Tests at an average of 30 and bat at 7, below Sarfraz, and will only really bowl in the fourth innings.

6. Sarfraz Ahmed
7. Shadab Khan
8. Mohammad Amir
9. Hasan Ali
10. Rahat Ali
11. Mohammad Abbas

Looks a long tail that especially with Amir's not so great form with the bat.

 

[Baigel]

Come on guys lets give him a chance, there's obviously a reason as to why he has been selected for the tour. Now that he's been selected lets back him up and hope that he performs to the best of his ability.

 

[R3verse Swing]

When Fakhar Zaman was made to open in CT17, the same question popped up - was he our best opener etc? Well turns out he is.

I say give Shadab a chance, who knows he may become our best spinner!

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

I would play Shaddy at 7 in this series if pitch has some assistance for spin. Quality all rounder.

 

[babajee]

Seems like Mickey backs him to succeed so let’s see.

 

[NauV]

Exactly.

The Tests are in England on soft, green May wickets.

The “spinner” needs to score 120 runs in 2 Tests at an average of 30 and bat at 7, below Sarfraz, and will only really bowl in the fourth innings.

6. Sarfraz Ahmed
7. Shadab Khan
8. Mohammad Amir
9. Hasan Ali
10. Rahat Ali
11. Mohammad Abbas

I think the reason for Shadab's selection like you said is not how good a spinner he is and whether he warrants a place in the side as a spinner alone . . He is there to make the runs lower down the order . . early english summer, runs will be vital . . and I also think thats the reason behind Faheem Ashraf's selection . . so Shadab and him share the workload of the 4th bowler . .

For me, I'd replace Rahat Ali with Faheem Ashraf in your line up . .

 

[PakSarZameen]

There is definitely a case of going with 4 pacers, whether the 4th one is Fahim or Rahat, that is yet to be seen.

Haris, Fakhar and Shafiq can fill up the 5-10 overs of spin required.

 

[Justcrazy]

No , he is not.

 

[Square Drive]

Nah. Not ready yet.

I'd pick him in the line-up as a 5th bowler for sure, though.

Sami
Azhar
Haris
Babar
Shafiq
Shadab
Sarfraz
Fahim
Hasan
Amir
Abbas

 

[coy0607]

need to look at the bigger picture - the Shadab and Faheem combo will bat at 7/8 and serve as the 4th and 5th bowler

He’s a good fit for this scenario. Expectation from him is not what it would’ve been of Yasir

 

[Loralai]

No Mohammad Irfan is.

I agree. Irfan is the real deal.

 

[ads101]

Think he is in all honesty. We don't have many good test spinners at the moment.

Imad and Nawaz might save a few more runs, but doubt they'll pick up more wickets, even with shadab's lack of control at times, he's going to be more threatening than those two.

A guy like Zafar has had relatively no international experience hence will be at a disadvantage given Shadab's already made himself an automatic pick in two formats. Not the place you really want Zafar to return to international cricket to.

If Mickey had had sense to play a second spinner against SL, we may have had more options now.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Nah. Not ready yet.

I'd pick him in the line-up as a 5th bowler for sure, though.

Sami
Azhar
Haris
Babar
Shafiq
Shadab
Sarfraz
Fahim
Hasan
Amir
Abbas

Swap Shaddy's and Sarfi's place and Usman/Saad instead of Asad and your team is v.good.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

need to look at the bigger picture - the Shadab and Faheem combo will bat at 7/8 and serve as the 4th and 5th bowler

He’s a good fit for this scenario.

This, from the available options this will be the best choice.

 

[Square Drive]

Swap Shaddy's and Sarfi's place and Usman/Saad instead of Asad and your team is v.good.

Realistically, we all know Shafiq is a certainty to start.

However yes, this series should be make or break for him. Far too inconsistent.

 

[aloo paratha]

No he isn't, Zafar Gohar is.

That being said I think Shadab will still do well for his role since the English are terrible at playing spin.

 

[srh]

dont play him

 

[Fast Bowler]

Terrible idea!

He isn't ready for test matches

 

[emranabbas]

To be fair it seems like we are not going to England to win matches but to give youngsters some exposure of English conditions and some experience of playing away from home more or less building up for the World Cup shadab may not do wonders but it will be a good experience for him

 

[Abid Z]

Might be a good option for Pak to play with 4 seamers if conditions are like what they normally are in early summer.

I don’t think we can use the term normal English conditions any longer. Yes it wet and dreary in may and early June but if it’s not then lords after the first day resembles more a fast subcontinental wicket. Even headingly is a lot slower on a sunny day. Having a world class spinner against England still gives the attack some variation and potency but unfortunately shadab as yet is not world class. We can only hope he will be after the tour.

 

[Amjid Javed]

There is not a spinner in world in world cricket right now thats going to damage in the UK on pitches used in April/May. Shadab isnt the 2nd best spinner in pakistan but its obvious hes been picked as an all rounder and maybe asked to do a job as 4th bowler in attack and also do a job batting at number 7/8 which he is capable of doing so not a bad selection in this case.

 

[troodon]

Looks like Pakistan selectors are enchanted by his batting abilities while ignoring that he is an average spinner and needs 1 or 2 yrs to be ready for Test cricket.

When subcontinent teams tour, usually the batting lineups get exposed and there is always a tendency to offset that issue by choosing an average spinner who can bat rather than a pure class spinner who cannot bat. Its a tough situation.

 

[Xoib]

Shadab learning curve is quite good he is more complete as a bowler then he was at his debut.He is not going to run through England now but the expierence will do him good.I back the decision to select him

 

[rhony]

Considering the pitches, any spinner might struggle on this tour. Looks like a punt from the selectors similar to the one with Fakhar considering WC 2019 in England.

 

[Saj]

I worry that PCB is pushing this kid too much too soon.

I'm not sure he is quite ready for the 5 day format just yet.

 

[DeadBall]

Irfan for me too, saw him bowling and he is way better than Shadab. Gohar is also a better option.

 

[Gotham Cronie]

He may or may not be but it's not as simple as just going to the 2nd best guy.

 

[giri26]

I think he will do well against Ireland but might struggle against England if the pitches are not dry.