Is there a more negative batting pair than Azhar Ali and Haris Sohail?

[Amjid Javed]

The main reason pakistan drew the 1st test against Australia was after being 200/2 both Azhar/sohail had a competition for wotlds best night watchmen and grinded the inns to a halt and ate up valuable time in game.

Today against new zealand 33 runs in 23 overs, its not acceptable at all. Whats the point in blocking for the sake of it? Knowing both these players they will probsbly end up with a 150 ball 35 and then throw their wicket away. Worst combination of batsmen to have at numbers 3/4 in test matches.

 

[in_cutter]

Haris was apparently the ‘future of Pak batting’ lmao.

 

[MenInG]

Well maybe there is a match situation to be looked at. I dont mind them taking their time but then they must convert that time to a good score

 

[Ab Fan]

Azhar has already faced huge criticism after the first test. So, in response, he is showing positive intent really.

Haris has been a disappointment. You don't bat this negativity at your home. This is not all about UAE and the slow pitches. I have seen several world class players striking at 55-60 in UAE on consistent basis. This is something which has been a disappointment for Pakistan.

 

[CricketJustice]

A lot of people are missing the point.

Yes it would be nice if Haris scored a bit quicker but it’s not the main issue here.

Pakistan didn’t lose the first test due to strike rate, they lost because they didn’t score enough runs. The test had a lot of time left in it so time was irrelevant. It was all about the amount of runs.

If Azhar had scored 65 at a run a ball, Pakistan still lose by 4 runs in theory. The main point is that he should not have got out not that he should have scored faster.

There is plenty of time in this test so just need to get a large first innings total however long it takes.

 

[AAli98]

When Bill Lawry says pak batting is too slow, u knw its slow!!

 

[Amjid Javed]

Well maybe there is a match situation to be looked at. I dont mind them taking their time but then they must convert that time to a good score

So what was match situation being 200/2 against Aussies and batting same way. These 2 bat the same regardless of game situation

 

[Amjid Javed]

A lot of people are missing the point.

Yes it would be nice if Haris scored a bit quicker but it’s not the main issue here.

Pakistan didn’t lose the first test due to strike rate, they lost because they didn’t score enough runs. The test had a lot of time left in it so time was irrelevant. It was all about the amount of runs.

If Azhar had scored 65 at a run a ball, Pakistan still lose by 4 runs in theory. The main point is that he should not have got out not that he should have scored faster.

There is plenty of time in this test so just need to get a large first innings total however long it takes.

If you read the OP i was tslking about 1st test vs Aussies, not NZ.

But yes lets take 5/6 sessions to get 400 runs and take loads of time out of a game that we need to win here. No need for reckless batting but no need for blockathons either.

 

[CricketJustice]

I wasn’t referring to the original post, I was more replying to AB Fan plus the general ideas I have read on this forum about strike rates.

Most tests these days finish in 4 days so I’m not too worried about scoring rate.

 

[happydavy]

The main reason pakistan drew the 1st test against Australia was after being 200/2 both Azhar/sohail had a competition for wotlds best night watchmen and grinded the inns to a halt and ate up valuable time in game.

Bowlers couldn't pick 10 wickets in 140 overs and you blaming batsmen for the draw??

 

[Bewal Express]

Really poor and unforgivable-The chances are that a wicket will fall and then we would have 180 in a day.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Bowlers couldn't pick 10 wickets in 140 overs and you blaming batsmen for the draw??

Yeah the go slow batting in 1st inns after we had a quick and huge early platform id one of reasons. Sarfrazs negative cataincy, poor bowling changes, use of reviews in that test are to blame to.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Really poor and unforgivable-The chances are that a wicket will fall and then we would have 180 in a day.

Its important we get 350 here it will only take 7 sessions but thats all that matters. If we can get a draw here the team will gain confidence. Maybe new zealand will get bored and gift wrap game to us.

 

[happydavy]

Yeah the go slow batting in 1st inns after we had a quick and huge early platform id one of reasons. Sarfrazs negative cataincy, poor bowling changes, use of reviews in that test are to blame to.

Basically everything is to be blamed baring bowlers for not picking up 10 wkts in 140 overs. Got it.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Basically everything is to be blamed baring bowlers for not picking up 10 wkts in 140 overs. Got it.

Bowlers are to blame aswell, but the negative cricket played after 1st two sessions on day 1 is biggest factor.

 

[Madplayer]

Posters here dont understand the quality of Haris' innings today. This is how a seasoned campaigner battles his way out of tough bowling spells or a rough patch. We all know such slow going is not a norm for Haris but he has curbed his instinct and grinded his way out. Batsmen like Shafiq would have thrown it away to get out of jail. This innings should tell you why he averages 50 in first class cricket.

 

[Last Monetarist]

I think Azhar has batted normally, a strike rate in the 40s is fairly standard fare for him. Haris Sohail has batted like a tailender though, reminds me of Asif Mujtaba who used to bat at a snail's rate back in the day.

 

[Bewal Express]

Its important we get 350 here it will only take 7 sessions but thats all that matters. If we can get a draw here the team will gain confidence. Maybe new zealand will get bored and gift wrap game to us.

Slow batting gives bowlers confidence and in the heat the batsman lose energy and make mistakes hence the run out.

 

[coy0607]

Posters here dont understand the quality of Haris' innings today. This is how a seasoned campaigner battles his way out of tough bowling spells or a rough patch. We all know such slow going is not a norm for Haris but he has curbed his instinct and grinded his way out. Batsmen like Shafiq would have thrown it away to get out of jail. This innings should tell you why he averages 50 in first class cricket.

Oh come on.. this pitch is no minefield, it's just a little slow and he isn't exactly facing Murli or Warne.

52 of 195 balls is quiet pathetic for a top order batsmen

 

[in_cutter]

Posters here dont understand the quality of Haris' innings today. This is how a seasoned campaigner battles his way out of tough bowling spells or a rough patch. We all know such slow going is not a norm for Haris but he has curbed his instinct and grinded his way out. Batsmen like Shafiq would have thrown it away to get out of jail. This innings should tell you why he averages 50 in first class cricket.

Oh please. We don’t need lectures on how tough it is out there etc. They are not batting on a green, cracked pitch.

 

[Ab Fan]

Pakistan to end with 191/3 after end of days play.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Anyone would think we were playing on a moon dust indian wicket with ball turning square the way they are pathetically defending sohail.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Pakistan to end with 191/3 after end of days play.

You actually think they are going to go nuts in last 15 overs and play a few shots?

 

[Ab Fan]

You actually think they are going to go nuts in last 15 overs and play a few shots?

15 overs, 35 runs. Did I expected too much if they don't lose a wicket?

 

[moghul]

You bat like this to draw the match, all studies in last2-3 decades has shown you have to bat at better run rate if aiming to win the test. I guess our test team is yet to recover from Misbah Syndrome.

 

[Ab Fan]

Some aggressive batting now.

 

[Amjid Javed]

You bat like this to draw the match, all studies in last2-3 decades has shown you have to bat at better run rate if aiming to win the test. I guess our test team is yet to recover from Misbah Syndrome.

Even under misbah we werent tbis bad, this is even more pathetic.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Some aggressive batting now.

The nightwatchmen is out so no surprise scoring has picked up.

 

[Ab Fan]

I felt Pakistan were good under Misbah. Won 2-0 vs England 2015, 2-0 vs Australia 2014,drew 1-1 vs a good NZ side and 1-1 vs a great great SA side. Never lost to a good SL side which had luxury of Sangakkara and Jayawardene.

 

[ipl_fan]

Block For 50 Overs. Lose A Bunch Of Wickets.

The story of Pakistani Test batting these days. Either they collapse instantly or they block block block and block before they start losing wickets.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Well maybe there is a match situation to be looked at. I dont mind them taking their time but then they must convert that time to a good score

Blocked for 50 overs, lose a few wickets 180/4 in a days play. Well done.

 

[coy0607]

I felt Pakistan were good under Misbah. Won 2-0 vs England 2015, 2-0 vs Australia 2014,drew 1-1 vs a good NZ side and 1-1 vs a great great SA side. Never lost to a good SL side which had luxury of Sangakkara and Jayawardene.

That team also had Younis Khan and prime Azhar Ali (when he was actually good).

Pak batting is quiet pathetic now. There is clearly no world class batsmen in this team, I don't think there are even any above average batsmen now

 

[mastersaan10]

Yeah the best batsman is out of the squad, fakhar

 

[Rayyman]

Azhar is only a plus while opening. Outside of that, he is detrimental towards the team's cause. He is only capable of playing one way which isn't effective when the ball is old.

Meanwhile for Haris, he is a class player who is horribly out of shape. Better fitness will definitely allow him to play at a faster rate.

 

[ShahidDar08]

Worst batting ever.

 

[Madplayer]

Oh come on.. this pitch is no minefield, it's just a little slow and he isn't exactly facing Murli or Warne.

52 of 195 balls is quiet pathetic for a top order batsmen

Oh please. We don’t need lectures on how tough it is out there etc. They are not batting on a green, cracked pitch.

Let both teams bat on this surface first. And then come back and tell me how great i am.

 

[Ab Fan]

Haris batted well after he got his 50. I won't mind him batting slow if he can quick up once he gets a 50 but if he would have got out on, say, 35 off 160 balls, that would be frustrating as hell.

 

[austerlitz]

And some people boast what an exciting team to watch pakistan is.Arrey bhai yeh haris sohail toh pujara ka baap nikla.Time machine se kisi ne isko past se pakad kar laya he.

 

[Ami]

Simple answer.
They re not good enough.
Pak batters are average...all of em.
Last of the world class were Misbah and Younis

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Agree Haris has played slow but if we see the bigger picture if he scores a big ton here it will be great for Pakistan. He has the capability to play big knocks just hasn't found his rhythm till now in tests.

He is the only batsman in Pakistan right now who can average 50+ and an in form Haris in SA will give us a chance.

Azhar i thought today was pretty good.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Haris Sohail is class. Even if he starts slow he makes it up. Azhar is Azhar and you cannot do much about it.

But these two aren't the worse as Hafeez, Imam and Asad are bigger issues.

 

[Mainul]

This is boring,ridiculous,negative,unacceptable batting by Pakistan. After Mibah retirement I thought that tuk tuk era is over and I shall see again that Pakistani flavour of batting which I was used to, the era of Selim Malik, yousuf,Inji,Anwar,Sohail....fearless batting, strokeplay ,unpredictable Pakistani batting. But it continues...the boring tuk tuk tuk.....anyone will sleep snoring seeing Pakistan play in UAE. I shall not only blame players only,I shall blame Pak management for this. It's their decision which is being inplemented by the batsmen. It's Mickey , it's Azhar, it's captain all are involved.

 

[Darkrai]

Blocked for 50 overs, lose a few wickets 180/4 in a days play. Well done.

Haris definitely should have played quick like Hafeez, Imam, and Asad and scored a quick 50 or a 100 like them...oh wait.

Do you not see our batsmen are struggling to bat here??

When i went to bed we were 2 down already and i was sure we would collapse. Haris himself kept edging the ball, so to bat through that difficult situation is worthy of praise. Imagine if Haris played aggressively and edged the ball, and we know Asad is as useless as they come, and if Babar failed we would have been all out under 200.

So be grateful that Haris was smart about his batting. We all know he can bat quick if he want but in this case team required him to stay on the crease because we are prone to collapses.

 

[troodon]

MIsbah’s fault.

 

[Stewie]

We should be having this conversation when we are spoilt for quality test batsmen who can take the bull by the horns and score at over 3-4 an over and put 250-300 on the board for 3-4 wickets.


The reality is.. WE DO NOT!

This batting is only successful through war of attrition, hoping they will give enough runs for the main strength which is our bowling.

So just be happy we are not 200/7 or 220/all out..

This day was a win as far as I am concerned!

 

[Ab Fan]

Pakistan need to hope Babar becomes a world class batsmen as soon as possible and start averaging 50 soon.

Azhar Ali is a very good batsmen in tests but there it ends.

Shafiq and Hafeez are waste and mediocre as hell.

Need to wait more before I conclude on Imam or Haris.

So, if Pakistan has to improve their ranking and hit the top 5 league, they need a 50 averaging batsmen and a couple of 45 averaging batsmen in team. Babar, Harris and Azhar, that's how it looks like but we can't say if this will happen because Azhar is already 33, hasnt done much since Mis-You and the other two are still establishing themselves.

 

[CricFan2012]

You fans are disgustingly fickle, Harris has barely played enough games, why add his name in there? He is in the top 5 batsmen produced by Pak. Give him time.

Azhar was always going to be a weak batsman because he started off as a spinner, he can't change much from here.

 

[CricVet]

Does anyone have any idea how many aggressive top order batsmen with SR of 55+ and average of 40+
with at least 25 tests in resume' we have had in the past 30 years? I am not a stat guru. I am sure not too many.

 

[Hasan123]

Azhar can't really bat at a quick pace but expected better from Haris. But hopefully a century here will help him really kick on.

My main issue with our batting is that we don't put the loose balls away and rotate strike.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Sohail has opened up and played a few shots, but every time he bats with azhar its a negative borefeast.

 

[Ab Fan]

Does anyone have any idea how many aggressive top order batsmen with SR of 55+ and average of 40+
with at least 25 tests in resume' we have had in the past 30 years? I am not a stat guru. I am sure not too many.

You mean Pakistan have had or overall all countries included?

 

[CricVet]

You mean Pakistan have had or overall all countries included?

By WE I meant to say Pakistan which if I go by memory and have to guess would be Saeed Anwar, Amir Sohail, Mohd Yousuf, Inzi, and Younis Khan. Anyone else?

 

[CricVet]

I am not even sure about Amir Suhail

 

[CricketDon]

What a stupid thread.

Haris has all the shots and normally plays at a brilliant strike rate. It was one of them innings played to the situation.

 

[Ab Fan]

By WE I meant to say Pakistan which if I go by memory and have to guess would be Saeed Anwar, Amir Sohail, Mohd Yousuf, Inzi, and Younis Khan. Anyone else?

Aamir Sohail averages 35 in tests although has a SR of 55. So, can be discounted.

If you mean top order bat, then even Moyo and Inzi can be ignored as well. So, that comes down to Anwar and Younis Khan. Even Khan batted at 4 mostly. 55 Strike Rate is obviously hard to come by for a top order batsmen.

 

[Mamba Red]

Great batting by two elite players.

 

[CricVet]

Aamir Sohail averages 35 in tests although has a SR of 55. So, can be discounted.

If you mean top order bat, then even Moyo and Inzi can be ignored as well. So, that comes down to Anwar and Younis Khan. Even Khan batted at 4 mostly. 55 Strike Rate is obviously hard to come by for a top order batsmen.

Then I certainly do not understand the gripe about Pak upper order batting slow. We did alright in Eng. This surface is terrible in UAE. It hardly ever happened in UAE to bat like Kiwis did in their previous tour with McCullum in one of the tests. It is a pretty common knowledge that Pak can collapse probably matching SA in any given test. We have never had batsmen to score freely or sustain a high average in the upper order barring one or two may be. It has happened now too many times in UAE to collapse from being dominant. I will take Pakistan slow approach if it means a last day thriller.

 

[Bilal7]

If people have anything but good to say about two guys who scored 80s against a top quality bowling attack at its best, I'm afraid I don't know what to say.

Azhar is a world class batsman and a very good batsman overall, just a rung below the greats. Haris is a genuine prospective great batsman.

 

[Hawkeye]

It's a poor thread and assessment, to be honest.

Haris Sohail is a top bat, world class along with Babar Azam.

Azhar Ali is also a good grinder, defender.

Good partnership between the two.

 

[Amjid Javed]

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...=span;template=results;type=team;view=innings


1st inns of a match - pakistan batting 1st in UAE where inns has been 90 overs plus.

Current run rate 2.28 (272 runs)

Average (3.18)

So basically pakistan have scored same number of runs in 4 sessions which are usually scored in 3 when pakistan have batted 1st.

But we are toughing it out and rightly grinding it out.

poor assesment? Its pathetic batting go slow.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Then I certainly do not understand the gripe about Pak upper order batting slow. We did alright in Eng. This surface is terrible in UAE. It hardly ever happened in UAE to bat like Kiwis did in their previous tour with McCullum in one of the tests. It is a pretty common knowledge that Pak can collapse probably matching SA in any given test. We have never had batsmen to score freely or sustain a high average in the upper order barring one or two may be. It has happened now too many times in UAE to collapse from being dominant. I will take Pakistan slow approach if it means a last day thriller.

Average scoring rate - pakistan batting 1st (inns 90 overs + in UAE) = 3.18

This inns 2.28 - so basically a sessions worth of batting slower. Theres slow and theres a blockathon.

Theres context of how pathetically slow we have been.

 

[Kroll]

Azhar can't really bat at a quick pace but expected better from Haris. But hopefully a century here will help him really kick on.

My main issue with our batting is that we don't put the loose balls away and rotate strike.

Nail on the head. It's either block block block or hit out. Priority should be to improve strike rotation, automatically we should start seeing quicker scoring.

 

[CricVet]

Average scoring rate - pakistan batting 1st (inns 90 overs + in UAE) = 3.18

This inns 2.28 - so basically a sessions worth of batting slower. Theres slow and theres a blockathon.

Theres context of how pathetically slow we have been.

I am not a stat guru but I do remember us doing it in the past in UAE - if my memory serves me right, it was against Eng under Misbah. I also understand that this brand of attritional cricket is such a turn-off.

I was planning to watch some of the game during this weekend, but no thanks. This is too boring. For entertainment, we will need to wait for SA tour where the wickets are as different as the weather in southern hemisphere. I also hope to see our batting SR to go up there with ability to survive at least a day of test match per inning by some miracle, which again is hard to fathom.

 

[topspin]

Have to admit having batted so sedately for a second day in a row I found myself bursting with laughter - shows that's how bad it's gone with their batting.

 

[Hasan123]

Nail on the head. It's either block block block or hit out. Priority should be to improve strike rotation, automatically we should start seeing quicker scoring.

Asking to rotate strike and put any loose balls away isn't too much to ask. As long as that is done I don't have any issue with crease occupation. If this was done we would have scored closer 500 plus.

 

[rudra]

Is the pitch that slow?

 

[aukhan]

Is the pitch that slow?

No...our batsmen have the specialty of making viewers believe that they are playing on minefields.

 

[Madplayer]

Oh please. We don’t need lectures on how tough it is out there etc. They are not batting on a green, cracked pitch.

Oh come on.. this pitch is no minefield, it's just a little slow and he isn't exactly facing Murli or Warne.

52 of 195 balls is quiet pathetic for a top order batsmen

Let both teams bat on this surface first. And then come back and tell me how great i am.

Tell me how great i am.

 

[in_cutter]

Tell me how great i am.

Yasir Shah is a different beast. NZ don’t have such bowler in their lineup. No excuses.

 

[coy0607]

Tell me how great i am.

why would you be great? Just because Yasir produced one of the all-time great bowling spells doesn't mean it changes anything about the innings by Haris

It was a decent innings overall, but we know Haris is a better batsmen that someone who only gets 147 off 421 balls - especially on decent batting wickets

 

[in_cutter]

[MENTION=131678]Madplayer[/MENTION] NZ are going at a rate of over 3..even though they are in deep trouble..where are the demons in the surface..?

 

[ILcricket]

not in World cricket .

 

[Last Monetarist]

There is absolutely nothing in the surface that merited batting at a strike-rate of 35. You can see that when a player like Azhar Ali was able to bat at his usual rate in the mid-forties without looking discomposed till he was run out. Ordinarily, Sohail's slow batting might have cost Pakistan victory in this test match. But as things stand, thanks to an excellent spell of bowling by Yasir Shah, Pakistan are on top.