Is this the perfect time to move on from Azhar Ali in Test cricket?

[Major]

scored a vry good 186 against starc, cummins and hazlewood.

bet so called Pakistani fans are angry at this and wanted him to fail....

 

[Kianig89]

Javed Inzi Yk Saleem malik Moyo then Azhar Ali the most capped test batsman for Pakistan show some respect 92 tests is no joke

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Javed Inzi Yk Saleem malik Moyo then Azhar Ali the most capped test batsman for Pakistan show some respect 92 tests is no joke

My guy just put Miandad, Inzi, YK, Saleem and MoYo in the same sentence as Azhar Ali. What an insult.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Javed Inzi Yk Saleem malik Moyo then Azhar Ali the most capped test batsman for Pakistan show some respect 92 tests is no joke

Sadly he will never get his due respect from certain people. But that's okay. That can't erase all that he has accomplished for Pakistan, and all that he continues to accomplish.

The guy is a legend in my eyes and his limitations as a batter are exactly what make him so great. Because he succeeds despite not being the most gifted or talented batter...though sheer grit and hardwork.

 

[TheSultan]

A score of 185 should be a dominant innings especially after passing 50, especially on a flat track and especially when you only have one or two wickets down.

He always has to make it look like such a big effort as if he’s playing on a seaming headingley track or a the Perth pitches of the 80s.

Making 470 odd in 2 days on a flat pitch and with only 4 wickets down is a disgrace.

 

[Shazzam]

My favorite thing about Azhar Ali is that he can put the opposition and the whole Pakistan to sleep.

 

[Maher96]

Pakistan's Azhar delighted by top ton against Australia

Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali was delighted with his brilliant hundred against Australia on the second day of the first Test in Rawalpindi on Saturday.

The veteran scored 185 to help Pakistan to a big 476-4 declared on a flat and batting-friendly Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch.

Opener Imam-ul-Haq also contributed with a career-best 157, adding 208 for the second as Australian bowlers toiled hard for wickets.

"I enjoy scoring runs against Australia, who are definitely one of the top teams in the world," said Azhar, whose hundred was his fourth against the visitors over the years.

"I wanted to score a double hundred, but they did not allow quick runs. When I took risks against spinners, I got out," he said, after falling to a reverse sweep off part-time spinner Marnus Labuschagne.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-ne...-azhar-delighted-by-top-ton-against-australia

 

[James]

Difficult to drop a guy that is still scoring so many runs.

 

[Hasan]

Only a top notch fool would question AA’s value to the team.

 

[moghul]

Believe me , we will pay a big price of this hundred by Azhar on a dead wicket . He will also join the 100 test club which belongs to great test players, it will be a shame if a mediocre batsman like Azharjoins joins the 100 test club.

 

[moghul]

Difficult to drop a guy that is still scoring so many runs.

Yes, we are stuck with Azar Ali now,

 

[YousafTheBeast]

How the standards have fallen, players are now being labelled as legends for averaging low 40’s and being compared to the likes of YK, Inzi and Moyo.

If Asad Shafiq was still in the team he’d be called a legend too because of the amount of test caps he has.*

 

[sali]

Time to focus on Shan, Abid Ali, Abdullah Shafiq as top three players. Followed by Babar, Fawad, and Rizwan. These are also your 50 Overs world cup 2023 players.

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

A guy makes 185 against a world class attack. Excellent at his age, still could offer a few years more.

 

[moghul]

A guy makes 185 against a world class attack. Excellent at his age, still could offer a few years more.

Yes, after a long failure , one century on a wicket where a granny could score against Lillee , Marshal and Waqar.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Its pathetic and sad that certain people can't put their bias/personal agendas aside and just admit that he played an excellent innings, especially in the context of the match where nobody else was trying to bat with any sort of intent. He is the only one who really really put the Australian bowlers under pressure by hitting boundaries and yet people here are actually saying he deserves to be dropped.

Just goes to show how thankless and out of touch certain Pakistani fans are. They think they can see the future and know what's best for the team, but the reality is that they aren't even capable of comprehending the present.

 

[The_KING]

You look at the people who hate Azhar. They are the same people who hate Misbah. Azhar isn’t amazing but he has been of our best players over the last decade, but people choose to hate him because they hate Misbah and Misbah has been one of Azhar’s strongest supporters. It’s a shame how these so called fans allow their hatred for one person to formulate their opinion of another player.

 

[moghul]

You look at the people who hate Azhar. They are the same people who hate Misbah. Azhar isn’t amazing but he has been of our best players over the last decade, but people choose to hate him because they hate Misbah and Misbah has been one of Azhar’s strongest supporters. It’s a shame how these so called fans allow their hatred for one person to formulate their opinion of another player.

Its pathetic to use the term "hate" for anyone who disagree with you opinion , yes Misbah is to blame for starting this ridiculous trend to keep on playing till you are are 40 plus and all you need one good score on a flat wicket or against weak opposition and then long list of failure .

The biggest problem with this Misbah like approach is you kill any chance of producing next Pakistan great. So far almost all Pakistan greats or ALGs in general make their debut in their early 20s or at least prior to their 25th BD, including Miandad, Inzi, Yusuf, Yunus and all others . Saud and Kamran both are already 26, and only God knows when will they make their test debut . One of them should have replaced Azhar couple of years ago and who knows by now one of them would have been an established world class batter who would serve Pakistan for next 10 years .

If a player is performing consistently , does not matter his age, he has all the right to keep on playing , but look at the last 3-4 years of Misbah , YK and Azhar, no consistency at all .

 

[shamaan]

How the standards have fallen, players are now being labelled as legends for averaging low 40’s and being compared to the likes of YK, Inzi and Moyo.

If Asad Shafiq was still in the team he’d be called a legend too because of the amount of test caps he has.����*

How is Ganguly and Laxman labelled as one of the legends of India but Azhar Ali isnt labelled as one.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

How is Ganguly and Laxman labelled as one of the legends of India but Azhar Ali isnt labelled as one.

If Ashok Dinda was considered a legend in India would that mean we should consider Mohammad Talah a legend too?

Also, I don’t think Ganguly was considered a legend for his batting in tests, it was mostly for his ODI career and his captaincy.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

How is Ganguly and Laxman labelled as one of the legends of India but Azhar Ali isnt labelled as one.

Because India has far greater respect for their legends. Fact is since Misbah Pakistan has not produced a single batsman who has achieved any kind of longevity or sustained success in test cricket besides Azhar Ali. And if you start looking for one before Misbah you would probably have to go all the way back to Yousuf and Younis.

Despite this Pakistan's thankless fans (who it seems were born yesterday) think the country is loaded with batting talent simply waiting to set the cricketing world on fire. Eventhough the last 20+ years have shown the contrary.

Not saying Azhar is as good as Laxman (he is definitely better than Ganguly). But more importantly though he has more test centuries than both of them in fewer innings. But you will never hear Pakistani fans talking about something like this, either because they don't know or don't want their illusions and biases destroyed.

 

[Amjid Javed]

scored a vry good 186 against starc, cummins and hazlewood.

bet so called Pakistani fans are angry at this and wanted him to fail....

Yes scored runs on a road well done..Also these Aussie bowlers arent great in Asian or UAE conditions. Pakistan average 1st inns score vs Aussies across 2014, 2018 series and now this test is 450. Even Hafeez, Ahmed shehzad have 100s against Aussies. Yet people over glorifying this one inns for Azhar.

 

[moghul]

Only in Pakistan players like Shoaib, Hafeez and Azhar are called legend . Two played for 20 plus years and one approaching 100 tests .

 

[shamaan]

If Ashok Dinda was considered a legend in India would that mean we should consider Mohammad Talah a legend too?

Also, I don’t think Ganguly was considered a legend for his batting in tests, it was mostly for his ODI career and his captaincy.

You don't think or your not sure ?
What about laxman why ain't you stating anything about laxman

 

[shamaan]

Because India has far greater respect for their legends. Fact is since Misbah Pakistan has not produced a single batsman who has achieved any kind of longevity or sustained success in test cricket besides Azhar Ali. And if you start looking for one before Misbah you would probably have to go all the way back to Yousuf and Younis.

Despite this Pakistan's thankless fans (who it seems were born yesterday) think the country is loaded with batting talent simply waiting to set the cricketing world on fire. Eventhough the last 20+ years have shown the contrary.

Not saying Azhar is as good as Laxman (he is definitely better than Ganguly). But more importantly though he has more test centuries than both of them in fewer innings. But you will never hear Pakistani fans talking about something like this, either because they don't know or don't want their illusions and biases destroyed.

Exactly but azhar can be mentioned in the same sentence as laxman but like you stated we don't respect our legends Compared to other countries.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

You don't think or your not sure ?
What about laxman why ain't you stating anything about laxman

Well, I’m not an Indian cricket fan so I can’t tell you and neither can you.


Laxman averages high 40’s, Azhar Ali averages low 40’s.

What’s Azhar Ali’s record in SENA? Please Mr Laxman share with us Azhar Ali’s SENA Record in test cricket and compare it to YK MOYO INZI AND MIANDAD. Once you get the answer you’ll find out what a legend is.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Exactly but azhar can be mentioned in the same sentence as laxman but like you stated we don't respect our legends Compared to other countries.

LOL legend that averages 30 odd in SENA.

 

[Zaz]

Azhars been a great servant for pakistan Hes provided stability and been non controversial - exactly what pakistan needed post 2010

Hes also been a solid reliable bat He definetly would make a second xi pakistan team, hats off to him hes a had a great career considering he wasnt the greatest in the talent dept Hes worked hard and been a brilliant role model showing exactly on how to conduct yourself over the years

But yes wheels need to be put in motion to phase him out Hes well past his best and its time to look to the future