Is the number 5 batting position in ODIs the right one for Sarfaraz Ahmed?

[MenInG]

Sarfaraz Ahmed's comments to the media today:

"Misbah bhai and I have talked quite a lot about my batting. I will try to play at a set number. Babar Azam is at 3 and Haris Sohail at 4 so I will try to consistently bat at #5 for Pakistan in ODI cricket"

So is he suitable for a permanent number 5 batting position?

 

[re82h]

Too late. Missed the boat.
Should have batted at 5 in the world cup and before that. Was hiding down the order and clearly reluctant (Australia game at somerset) to get on strike in some of the games he batted.
Really doesn't matter where he bats now.

 

[Hasan123]

His best place is out of the team. A disgrace how coaches and chairmans have been changed, but the guy who doesn’t even make the team on merit is playing as captain.

 

[Saj]

Too much chat regarding his batting position.

Just needs to go out there and score runs irrespective of the position

 

[The Viper]

If Safaraz has to play, the number 5 position must be his position.

 

[Usman]

One place too high. Rizwaan is a proper batsmen and should bat at 5. Sarfraz is more aggressive than Rizwaan (although I accept Sarfraz is no Chris Gayle), and Sarfraz is nowhere near Rizwaan's quality as a batter. So it doesn't make sense to me. If anything, it shows they aren't going to play Rizwaan which is a travesty.

 

[Bewal Express]

At least Sarfi is going to take responsibility but I don't see a role for him. He doesn't have the power to be a finisher and isnt good enough as a Batsman alone.

 

[Bewal Express]

One place too high. Rizwaan is a proper batsmen and should bat at 5. Sarfraz is more aggressive than Rizwaan (although I accept Sarfraz is no Chris Gayle), and Sarfraz is nowhere near Rizwaan's quality as a batter. So it doesn't make sense to me. If anything, it shows they aren't going to play Rizwaan which is a travesty.

RIZ sweeps spinners really well, but he plays the medium pacer bowling 82mph like he is facing Allan Donald. Going forward he will struggle to keep Rohail out of the squad and the team.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Till Babar Azam doesn't open the batting 5 is the highest Sarfraz can bat in ODI.

 

[sweep_shot]

He should be #6 or #7. Not #5.

 

[ahmadharis1]

He should be opening with Fakhar, or Babar could open and Sarfraz come in at 3 but I like the former better

 

[Rellu_Katta]

he cannot open.... 2/3/4 are fixed ... only place for him is 5 and he isnt good for 5 ... his best position would be no4 but no1 in their right mind would move harris sohail away from no4 in LOI ...

problem is Rizwan isnt the best option at no5 as well.. he himself is more suited for no4 .... so doesnt actually matter who plays in between them at no5

 

[moghul]

at # 12, all other position belong to more deserving cricketers.

 

[aasifwanis]

Sarfaraz can't play in death overs to save his life. Either open or leave open your slot so that some youngster can be tried .

 

[Usman]

RIZ sweeps spinners really well, but he plays the medium pacer bowling 82mph like he is facing Allan Donald. Going forward he will struggle to keep Rohail out of the squad and the team.

I disagree. The evidence I witnessed during the ODI series against Aus was that he was perfectly comfortable playing both pace and spin. He is technically good. This was reflected in the multiple big scores he achieved. He did more with the bat in that series than Sarfraz has done for a very long time for Pakistan.

The term used to describe Sarfraz often is that he is a 'street fighter - I.e. he's not your typical top order batsman but he likes a scrap. Rizwaan however IS a top order bat with good technique.

In my view, the combination of Imam, Fakhar, Barber, Harris and Rizwaan as a top 5 is a winning combination. Playing Rizwaan beyond 5 however is a losing combination - he is not a big hitter of the ball and so he won't achieve his potential batting down the order.

If Sarfraz can come in after these 5 and scrap his way to a quick score, then Sarfraz will be serving Pakistan well. If however Sarfraz bats at 5, thereby taking the spot of a specialist batsman in Rizwaan, Sarfraz will not be serving Pakistan well.

 

[Shazzam]

Looks like the tail will start at 5.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Shouldnt even be in the ODI team, let alone captain. Am sure his "connections in karachi and PCB" will keep him in side for a while.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Can we have a extra option on the pole please?

No - he should not be in the team?

 

[Hawkeye]

The alternative is Rizwan.

Who is a dud, and worse.

Better stick with Sarfarz and find a better replacement.

 

[barah_admi]

The number five position in ODIs, traditionally, used to be for the batsman who was able to bridge the gap between the top order and the lower order. They needed to stay at the wicket, know how to play with the tail and accelerate when needed. Saffy kaptaan was never capable of that.

The modern number five has to be able to accelerate the innings, consistently reach the boundary and get a quick 50 to prop up momentum from the top order. Saffy kaptaan is also unable to do this.

 

[AdamM97]

The alternative is Rizwan.

Who is a dud, and worse.

Better stick with Sarfarz and find a better replacement.

Worse? Rizwan is no Buttler or de Kock but at least he’s better than Sarfraz.

 

[Hawkeye]

Worse? Rizwan is no Buttler or de Kock but at least he’s better than Sarfraz.

With his recent improvements, probably not worse but not better either.

Both are limited batsmen in their range of shots, both weak against pace, cannot accelerate.

 

[Mercurial]

He should not be in the ODI team in the first place, let alone his batting position.

 

[Pakhs]

One place too high. Rizwaan is a proper batsmen and should bat at 5. Sarfraz is more aggressive than Rizwaan (although I accept Sarfraz is no Chris Gayle), and Sarfraz is nowhere near Rizwaan's quality as a batter. So it doesn't make sense to me. If anything, it shows they aren't going to play Rizwaan which is a travesty.

He is better than Rizwan - his got 100 in England in ODI and runs in Australia opening the batting. Rizwan has scored those UAE runs is a losing cause at a lower strike than required at the time and lost both games. If you score a 100 and your team losses on a run-rate when you are chasing 260-270 you should be chucked out to make an example. Most selfish innings I have ever seen.

 

[Pakhs]

Worse? Rizwan is no Buttler or de Kock but at least he’s better than Sarfraz.

Rizwan has proven to be worst. Came in at for scored 100s at a rate that we could not chase 260 LOL. He should be out of team to make an example of no selfish innings allowed at international level.

 

[Hawkeye]

Rizwan has proven to be worst. Came in at for scored 100s at a rate that we could not chase 260 LOL. He should be out of team to make an example of no selfish innings allowed at international level.

Rizwan's really bad. Many times bats like a headless chicken under lights.

Panic.

No timing or conviction in his shots, especially when he's required to accelerate or finish.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Dont know why he is still in the team , he failed as a batsman in the world cup. He surely wont be fit enough to play iny the next world cup. The planning division of pcb is still non existent.

 

[Pakhs]

Dont know why he is still in the team , he failed as a batsman in the world cup. He surely wont be fit enough to play iny the next world cup. The planning division of pcb is still non existent.

Planning is too groom Babar for captaincy and rohail for WK spot after ICC T20 WC where he is taken his team to No. 1.

 

[Sir-fraz]

need to see vs stronger bowling and fielding teams.. his runs vs SL shouldnt mean much.

real question is why didnt he take batting and fitness seriously under mickey.

 

[Mamoon]

Babar and Haris at 3 and 4 with Sarfraz at 5 means that there is no room for Rizwan - a player who scored 2 hundred in 5 matches against Australia, which is more than that Sarfraz has done in the last 2 years.

All because there has been no accountability for our pathetic captain who has led the team two minnow-like results in the last two years, has batted like a tail-ender and was yawning with his tummy sticking out when Rohit Sharma was smashing his bowlers in the World Cup.

 

[Kroll]

No batting position should be availed for a player and captain that is clearly passed his sell by date. We are in desperate need of new direction and leadership in the team, but Misbah needs to stick with TTFs.

 

[KingKhanXi]

23rd position is best for him. Not good enough for Pakistan A too.

 

[Rayyman]

The number five position in ODIs, traditionally, used to be for the batsman who was able to bridge the gap between the top order and the lower order. They needed to stay at the wicket, know how to play with the tail and accelerate when needed. Saffy kaptaan was never capable of that.

The modern number five has to be able to accelerate the innings, consistently reach the boundary and get a quick 50 to prop up momentum from the top order. Saffy kaptaan is also unable to do this.

Not really.

#5 is the best player of spin in the XI and the best at getting singles/doubles/triples.

Defensive technique and power-hitting are less important for this role.

Sarfraz in his prime was best suited for this position, but his peak batting years were wasted by his neglection of fitness, to accommodate Hafeez/Malik in the XI and his burden of captaincy. Imo it's too late now for Sarfraz, I really think Rizwan can do a better job as he is perfectly suited for #5 and deserves the opportunity.

 

[hussain.r97]

On merit, Rizwan deserves the #5 spot 100x more than Sarfraz. Unless Sarfraz proves me wrong, I'm hoping Babar eventually takes over and Rizwan slots into the XI.