It's all on Younis Khan's shoulders

[Major]

There is no hidden truth in the fact that Younis Khan currently isn't liked by many fans or experts. Many believe that Younis Khan won't be able to bat on these Australian tracks which offer more bounce, as he had previously only crossed in to the 50s once in the last 12 away innings in Test cricket.

It is true that his technique is very bad for such away tracks. With him not scoring runs, we just have a walking wicket in the line up who could come up at the crease and leave without making much of a difference and throwing his own team in more deep trouble.

However, we also need to admit that without Younis Khan not performing, Pakistan cannot win this series nor draw it.

Younis Khan has an ability which no other batsmen in the Pakistani team has, not even Misbah ul haq or Babar Azam. Once Younis Khan is able to cross his 50, then there is no stopping this man. He could easily convert his 50s into 100s, and his 100s are more dangerous as he could convert those 100s into 150s, 200s or even upto 300.
This is the temperament which Younis Khan has got and the kind of temperament which is needed for Test cricket. This temperament doesn't also develop by itself; it takes years of cricket, and its no secret that Younis has been playing professional cricket since 1998.

The England vs Pakistan was a great example of this.
Pakistan was not able to win the series, and i believe that that was because Younis Khan didn't perform. Had he performed in the earlier test games, the series could had been won by Pakistan. However, I also accept that the series that could had been lost, was also drawn and saved by Younis Khan, as he was able to score his 218 to take the game away from England.

This Australia series is going to be an important series for Pakistan, as the recent test losses and the extreme changes in the Australian squad gives Pakistan an upper-hand in this series. But to achieve the series win or even a draw, all eyes would be on Younis Khan

 

[Hasan123]

The top 3 is our only hope lol.

 

[786warrior]

Don't blink!

 

[Pete Rose]

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand I am very unhappy that he is on this tour and definitely feel he deserves no sympathy if he fails. On the other hand, I also feel it is unfair on him. Of course his relfexes are slowing down, but he has hunger driven by whatever misplaced sense of proving the doubters wrong. It's up to Azhar, Sami, Shafiq, and sarfaraz to lead the way so that younis and misbah provide icing for the cake, rather than bake it

 

[aloo paratha]

No secret here, we need all our batsmen to perform.

 

[Belawal2014]

No secret here, we need all our batsmen to perform.

Especially our 4 #11s...

 

[Ab Fan]

Especially our 4 #11s...

Who are those four?

 

[Belawal2014]

Who are those four?

Rahat Ali, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan, and Amir (he tends to get reckless and throws his wicket away). Only Sohail Khan and Yasir Shah are capable of hold the bat and I still wouldn't slot either above #9..

 

[Ab Fan]

Rahat Ali, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan, and Amir (he tends to get reckless and throws his wicket away). Only Sohail Khan and Yasir Shah are capable of hold the bat and I still wouldn't slot either above #9..

Okay..I thought you were talking of some of your premier batsmen who are nothing better than #11 against top quality pace attack in a more bowling friendly conditions.

 

[Belawal2014]

Okay..I thought you were talking of some of your premier batsmen who are nothing better than #11 against top quality pace attack in a more bowling friendly conditions.

Not a bad assumption that, haha.

 

[Junaids]

I don't quite agree with the OP.

Yes, Pakistan lost the 2nd and 3rd Tests in England when Younis and Misbah failed to perform.

But I'm pretty sure that Babar Azam would have, just as Sami Aslam did when he came in for the 3rd Test.

But he is right - Younis Khan is still there are 42 or 43 and he has a responsibility now to pass 50 in at least every second innings on this tour.

One centuries and five failures is not acceptable. If he doesn't reach 50 in at least 3 innings out of 6, then he is letting the team down.

 

[Bilal7]

Expecting Younis to have a very good series and confirm his status as Asia's sixth ATG batsman.

 

[Zohaib Shah]

His shoulders are not wide enough to hold this countries passion. Its all on Babar Azam now.

 

[godzilla]

disagree - there are five other batsmen that need to perform, and although younis is either at the end of his career or in a woeful period of form, he is still not the worst of that top six.

technique shafiq would be the logical ejection way before younis.

 

[moghul]

Pakistan playing with 10 players. Younis is playing for Australia.

Younis will have the worst exit from the team than any other famous Pakistani player, he only himself is to blame. Many, including I used to admire him, not anymore, team comes first for me, not player.

 

[saeedhk]

I do not see him scoring more than 30 in any of the games. He just cannot handle pace, swing and bounce.

 

[ali2220]

We can expect 5 failures and 1 good innings from Younis in the coming series.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Beautifully written. Most of the posters here forget that Younis has been half of Pakistan's batting for so many years now. Without Younis performing, Pakistan cannot do well in this series. I hope he hits a couple of centuries in this series and retire with his head high.

 

[Bilal7]

Beautifully written. Most of the posters here forget that Younis has been half of Pakistan's batting for so many years now. Without Younis performing, Pakistan cannot do well in this series. I hope he hits a couple of centuries in this series and retire with his head high.

You got that right. Azhar and Shafiq are too soft, Sami and Babar are too young and Misbah is not good enough. The only Pakistani batsman that can dominate this series is Younis Khan and we need him to turn back the clock and hit a couple of masterclasses.

 

[Farhansk]

If he fails in 5 innings and wins us a match with his usual momentous hundred as he did in England, then, I would gladly call him a best Pakistani Test batsman as I don't recall any batsman in our history who won us a test match each in England and Australia and that too at the age of 40. Whoever does it, Misbah or Younis, would deserve to have a strong case to be considered as the greatest test batsman from Pakistan.

 

[adivic82]

Younis Khan, historically, has been average outside Asia. In 32 tests & 59 inn he has 5 tons and 9 50's and averaging 39. Excluded Zim.

In Asia he has 27 tons (11 UAE and 7 Pak) and an average of 58.

Too much to ask of him to score loads of runs during this Aus series when historically he has been inconsistent.

 

[Major]

I don't quite agree with the OP.

Yes, Pakistan lost the 2nd and 3rd Tests in England when Younis and Misbah failed to perform.

But I'm pretty sure that Babar Azam would have, just as Sami Aslam did when he came in for the 3rd Test.

But he is right - Younis Khan is still there are 42 or 43 and he has a responsibility now to pass 50 in at least every second innings on this tour.

One centuries and five failures is not acceptable. If he doesn't reach 50 in at least 3 innings out of 6, then he is letting the team down.

Babar azam is still new and needs alot of learning.

Another thing which i forgot to add in op was that younis k ows how to make his partner score runs aswell. Like shan masood did in that famous run chase.

No other batsmen in the team has younis like abilities. If orher batsme perform we will give a good fight but to win we nees the khan to get going with the bat

 

[shaz619]

Expecting Younis to have a very good series and confirm his status as Asia's sixth ATG batsman.

1.Javed Miandad
2.Hanif Mohammad
3.Younis Khan
4.Inzamam ul Haq
5.Mohammad Yousef
6.Saeed Anwar

 

[shaz619]

There is no hidden truth in the fact that Younis Khan currently isn't liked by many fans or experts. Many believe that Younis Khan won't be able to bat on these Australian tracks which offer more bounce, as he had previously only crossed in to the 50s once in the last 12 away innings in Test cricket.

It is true that his technique is very bad for such away tracks. With him not scoring runs, we just have a walking wicket in the line up who could come up at the crease and leave without making much of a difference and throwing his own team in more deep trouble.

However, we also need to admit that without Younis Khan not performing, Pakistan cannot win this series nor draw it.

Younis Khan has an ability which no other batsmen in the Pakistani team has, not even Misbah ul haq or Babar Azam. Once Younis Khan is able to cross his 50, then there is no stopping this man. He could easily convert his 50s into 100s, and his 100s are more dangerous as he could convert those 100s into 150s, 200s or even upto 300.
This is the temperament which Younis Khan has got and the kind of temperament which is needed for Test cricket. This temperament doesn't also develop by itself; it takes years of cricket, and its no secret that Younis has been playing professional cricket since 1998.

The England vs Pakistan was a great example of this.
Pakistan was not able to win the series, and i believe that that was because Younis Khan didn't perform. Had he performed in the earlier test games, the series could had been won by Pakistan. However, I also accept that the series that could had been lost, was also drawn and saved by Younis Khan, as he was able to score his 218 to take the game away from England.

This Australia series is going to be an important series for Pakistan, as the recent test losses and the extreme changes in the Australian squad gives Pakistan an upper-hand in this series. But to achieve the series win or even a draw, all eyes would be on Younis Khan

This is a top post from you not that I always agree with you, I totally agree this time. Younis Khan is criminally underrated, many don't like him due to stuff beyond the pitch so I guess they'll be overly critical with regards to his performances on the pitch which are taken for granted by pakistan fans; when they are judging his personality they are no better because they go overboard with personal attacks and take it way too far. It's a shame because Khan deserves some respect, he isn't perfect but he's our champion match-winner.

 

[TQ89]

Would be tough as his reflexes have been letting him down recently which is why he has that awkward jumping stance. He isn't a bad player of short balls as some posters perceive him out to be. He played short balls very good in NZ 2011 & before that in england beautifully.

It is just that father time isn't kind to batsmen above 36,37. Even sachin, ponting were struggling past that age & as cricket lover it hurt to see them struggle the way they did in the end.

Never doubted his grit & determination though. They guy has a knack for scoring when you lose all hope from him but I think he is finished & we must admit it & prepare for a reserve batsmen in his place.

 

[MenInG]

I see a significant score from YK on this pitch. Nothing here apart from bounce probably and listening to Starc yapping about.

 

[Bilal7]

Got the perfect delivery today. No batsman, not Sachin nor Ponting, would have played that easily when they were just starting out under lights.

 

[Hitman]

I've been such a big supporter of Younis Khan, but it's getting embarrassing lately for me.

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

Got the perfect delivery today. No batsman, not Sachin nor Ponting, would have played that easily when they were just starting out under lights.

lol even if he somehow got away with that delivery he wont last their anyway.
he his expired product.

 

[Boxer]

Younis' last six Test scores: 0, 2, 1, 2, 11, 0

 

[King Kong]

Younis' last six Test scores: 0, 2, 1, 2, 11, 0

Think you got it wrong with no comma between the two 1s.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Sadly his reflexs are shot to pieces and hes not getting any better. Time for YK to retire.

 

[petercat]

Was never a good player of fast bowling and is getting exposed.

 

[Major]

And he blew it.

Pakistan are now under big pressure. Follow on lingers on us now.

Younis could had made the difference here

 

[Major]

His innings was good today, though he threw his wicket at the end, but atleast he went above 50.

With him providing that platform, our team performs better, his performance is always inspiring for other batsmen.