Mohammad Hafeez's consistent low scores in Tests

[Attiq_Lone]

Mohammad Hafeez, one of the senior players of PCT, who recently made a comeback in the test team, has had quite a rollercoaster career in test matches.

He scored a brilliant hundred in the ongoing series, but that hundred has been followed up by a score of 17 and 5 (in this test so far). Wanting to analyse his performance in the previous series, I saw that there is one common thing: "a consistency in the scores below 50 and more precisely below 30 scores.

Here below is the summary of Hafeez's test innings since Australia series in 2014

Australia Series 2014

Innings: 3
100s:0
50s:0
scores under 30: 2 (3 and 24)



New Zealand Series 2014

Innings: 4
100s:2
50s: 1
scores under 30: 1 (24)



Bangladesh series 2015

innings: 3
100s: 1 (double century)
50s: 0
scores under 30: 2 (8 and 0)



Sri Lanka Series 2015

innings: 4
100s: 0
50s:0
scores under 30: 2 (2 and 8)



England Series 2015

innings: 6
100s: 1
50s: 2
scores under 30: 2 (19 and 27)




England Series 2016

innings: 6
100s: 0
50s: 0
Scores under 30: 4 (0, 18, 0 and 2)



Australia Series 2018 (so far)

Innings: 3*
100s: 1
Scores under 30: 2 (17 and 5)



Total

innings: 29
100s: 5 (17.2%)
50s: 3 (10.3%)
Scores under 30: 15 (51.7%)

From the stats mentioned above, we can clearly see that in every series (excluding the New Zealand one), Hafeez has more scores of below 50 than actual 50s. In most of the series there is one big score, but that is followed by some very low scores.

My point is that considering the age factor, added with the performance, which has not been consistent, shouldn't the Pakistan Cricket Team managenent and selection committee think of a younger option? We have so many performers in domestic cricket but we keep giving chances to players who score one big score in the series to cement their place in the team.

 

[Rayyman]

I really don't see why he has some god-given right to be in the team and bat in the top 4. Just not good enough as a batsman alone. Never was, never will be.

 

[shaaik]

He is a poor man's Ijaz Ahmed who used to score once in a series mostly in the first or the last match of the series and go missing rest of the times. But, only difference is when ever Ijaz scored it meant Pakistan would win most of the times unlike Hafeez plus he was not a sitting duck like Hafeez out side Asia.

 

[Cric1234]

Should only be selected in UAE as he will be a sitting duck overseas.

 

[Attiq_Lone]

He has been very inconsistent in any format, He was consistent in the 2011-12 season, but after that South Africa series, we couldn't really see the old good hafeez.

Mostly there is one big inning in the series and the place is cemented in the team.

From what I have read, coach doesn't want and they didn't want to include him in the team, but Saifi wanted him. Maybe pressure after that bad performance in Asiacup? who knows!

 

[gazza619]

To be fair to Hafeez that was a very lucky mode of dismissal against Starc.
Anyways for me Hafeez should bat in the middle order in SA.

 

[mastersaan10]

Still better than rest of batsman we have in uae. Everyone bats like the pitch is raging turner every time they come out to bat and so have sr of <40. Shehzad in uae and hafeez are out best batsman here as they play their shots.

 

[Abid Z]

Yes ok granted he will fail a few times. Most all rounders are content with a batting average of 30 -35 But the replacements are no good and hafeez does contribute with the ball. But he should never be an opener.

 

[Attiq_Lone]

To be fair to Hafeez that was a very lucky mode of dismissal against Starc.
Anyways for me Hafeez should bat in the middle order in SA.

Last time he played there, it was a nightmare for him. Why not trying the performers of domestic cricket and bring back fawad Alam for the middle order. you have the NZ series to sort your XI before the hard SA tour

 

[Attiq_Lone]

Still better than rest of batsman we have in uae. Everyone bats like the pitch is raging turner every time they come out to bat and so have sr of <40. Shehzad in uae and hafeez are out best batsman here as they play their shots.

They do, and they are very good to watch but instead of relying to someone so inconsistent why not trying performers of QeA trophy, Hafeez was selected in the team on the basis of one innings (the double hundred). What about the players who perform the whole year but they still dont get selected (e.g. Fawad Alam just a name)

 

[Attiq_Lone]

Yes ok granted he will fail a few times. Most all rounders are content with a batting average of 30 -35 But the replacements are no good and hafeez does contribute with the ball. But he should never be an opener.

Where would you play him in the middle order. For me Babar azam should play a whole season of QeA trophy before being selected to the team. Likes of Shadab, Hasan and Babar were selected here on the basis of their limted overs performance.

You have Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and Haris Sohail in the middle order and the person who deserves another spot here is Fawad Alam.

There are so many talented batters out there in Pakistan who managed to score well despite the pitches.

 

[MenInG]

Getting worse now.

Really Pakistan team management need to make a decision and say if he is or is not needed.

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

the fact he scored a 100, he will ride on it for 2 years to come by blackmailing via his friends in Media. Unfortunately this is how it works in Pakistan. Poor Salahuddin didn't even get a chance and this hack gets to chose opening or #3 .

 

[Amjid Javed]

Getting worse now.

Really Pakistan team management need to make a decision and say if he is or is not needed.

Dale Steyn has just sent an email to PCB to request that hafeez been given a run in the team until end of S.A test series later in winter.

 

[Boi]

Average of 38 in his comeback series.

 

[MenInG]

Dale Steyn has just sent an email to PCB to request that hafeez been given a run in the team until end of S.A test series later in winter.

But seriously though Pakistan need to take a decision and say they dont want him.

 

[gazza619]

Hafeez is an anomaly. Plays a world class knock in one innings and follows with a string of low scores. I will give him one last go in SA tests (just because of his bowling) in the middle order. Babar Azam has to go. Open with Fakhar and Imam

 

[Pakhs]

He has done his job in this series, still the only 100 from Pakistan side so far. He is not kholi that you guys were expecting two 100s. Although I am sure he is not going to perform in SA but keep him in the team for UAE matches.

 

[Rana]

I feel sorry for the guy as I think that he probably realises that he has disrupted the entire batting order a bit and has blocked the way for either Imam or Fakhar to be given a long rope. Also the added pressure that Pakistan's best Test player (Azhar Ali) is stuck having to bat at number 3 whereas he may prefer to play as an opener.

These tracks were tailor made for Hafeez to dominate, I believe the three low scores after his ton have not done him any favours

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

as I think that he probably realises that he has disrupted the entire batting order a bit and has blocked the way for either Imam or Fakhar to be given a long rope.

No he doesnt think this way. He is full of himself otherwise he would have retired long ago.

 

[moghul]

We will pay big price for let him play and score runs in one innings on a road. Now for next ten innings he will not score and will block another deserving opener.

 

[Rana]

As of now, he is basically on borrowed time until Imam becomes fit. I think Wahab has seen the writing on the wall and will possibly retire from Test Cricket, Hafeez is a great player with excellent shots. He needs to move on though, should have done what Malik did and focussed solely on becoming the best limited overs player he could have

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

Hafeez is consistent in only being USELESS

 

[Rinnegan Sasuke]

Hopefully better sense prevails and the door is finally shut on Hafeez, especially before RSA.

 

[arehaan]

I think with Fakhar and Imam we will have a much better opening pair. Moreover Bilal Asif takes over his utility of Off spin as well. Hence we should not even think of taking him to South Africa where he will be a sitting duck.

Time to move on in Tests.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

How many times must we broach this topic. He is not test calibre and never was. Just about lower order finisher in T20s.

 

[Markhor]

After a bruising Asia Cup where our lack of spin bowling depth was exposed and with Shadab injured - Hafeez was thrown in as a short term fix.

However given how little he's bowled his place in the team as an all-rounder cannot be justified.

We all know his limitations with the bat against pace so playing him as a specialist batsman is out of the question. It's 2018 and to still be giving Hafeez recalls says a lot about the state of our cricket.

 

[Hasan123]

He will still go to South Africa.

 

[MMHS]

He has done his job - given Ul Haq tools to pick him for SAF. Probably, Babar's bad luck as FZ, Haris & Azhar have put some scores in this series - if Imam comes back for NZ, which is like 5-6 weeks, Babar will be dropped for MoHa.

 

[ManFan]

He has done his job - given Ul Haq tools to pick him for SAF. Probably, Babar's bad luck as FZ, Haris & Azhar have put some scores in this series - if Imam comes back for NZ, which is like 5-6 weeks, Babar will be dropped for MoHa.

Agreed.

I do not see how anybody else in the Top Seven can be dropped now that FZ has scored well.

They will use the excuse of his " fifth bowling option" even though the captain did not trust him with ONE over in the 1st innings.

 

[Pete Rose]

Happy thah fakhar has performed, all adds to more pressure on hafeez. That’s a good thing for Pakistan long term

 

[Attiq_Lone]

Getting worse now.

Really Pakistan team management need to make a decision and say if he is or is not needed.

I hope imam comes back for the NZ series, Hafeez is still doing what he has been doing from the past 5 years or so in any format whether it's test odi or T20.

I wasnt expecting Fakhar to bat that well TBH, so he would make a good batting pair with imam hopefully

 

[MMHS]

Getting worse now.

Really Pakistan team management need to make a decision and say if he is or is not needed.

Team management has made decision - he is needed. Also, justified his selection as all-rounder - bowled in 1st Test for an average of 31, SR of 54 ... add to that batting average of 71.5. Sobers who?

Even is he doesn't bowl a single over in 2nd innings, he'll have a series like 31/54 with ball & 38.25/57 with bat!!!!! Enough for NZ & SAF tour.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

He could be so useful playing in the middle order at 5/6 and bowling 15+ overs in a day.

Not a big fan of Hafeez, but if he has to be there then we need to make best use of him.

 

[Hawkeye]

Hafeez needs to quit Tests. Not made for them.

And.. he needs to learn from Malik. Even though Malik is a far inferior cricketer, batsman than Hafeez. But Malik found a tactic to prolong his career.

He ditched Tests for LOIs. Hafeez can do the same for World Cup.

 

[Attiq_Lone]

Happy thah fakhar has performed, all adds to more pressure on hafeez. That’s a good thing for Pakistan long term

Hafeez is more of a burden on the team, he does not fit into the T20 team which is set, with the inclusion of Asif in ODIs his role as a finisher is useless as well, and test cricket performance is illustrated in the states above. I won’t mind if he takes retirement before the world cup (but he won’t).

 

[Attiq_Lone]

Hafeez needs to quit Tests. Not made for them.

And.. he needs to learn from Malik. Even though Malik is a far inferior cricketer, batsman than Hafeez. But Malik found a tactic to prolong his career.

He ditched Tests for LOIs. Hafeez can do the same for World Cup.

Tbh he doesnt even fit in the LOIs squad. The only position he could play is as a finisher, and that is occupied by Asif Ali who is doing his job.

 

[giri26]

He is surely going to go to SA as he scored a hundred. So it doesn't matter how he did in the rest of the 3 innings.

 

[Attiq_Lone]

He could be so useful playing in the middle order at 5/6 and bowling 15+ overs in a day.

Not a big fan of Hafeez, but if he has to be there then we need to make best use of him.

I would prefer the top 6 to be something like this rather than having hafeez there:

Fakhar
Imam
Azhar
Asad
Usman Salahuddin
Sarfraz

 

[Pete Rose]

Hafeez is more of a burden on the team, he does not fit into the T20 team which is set, with the inclusion of Asif in ODIs his role as a finisher is useless as well, and test cricket performance is illustrated in the states above. I won’t mind if he takes retirement before the world cup (but he won’t).

i am happy we have the tour to south africa to separate the men from the boys.

 

[Attiq_Lone]

He is surely going to go to SA as he scored a hundred. So it doesn't matter how he did in the rest of the 3 innings.

That good old 2013 series steyn is back so is hafeez

 

[Pete Rose]

He is surely going to go to SA as he scored a hundred. So it doesn't matter how he did in the rest of the 3 innings.

He will be in the squad, but fakhar performing and imam doing ok in tests, gives mickey and sarfaraz cover to keep hafeez on the bench.

 

[giri26]

He will be in the squad, but fakhar performing and imam doing ok in tests, gives mickey and sarfaraz cover to keep hafeez on the bench.

Don't think so, he will play. Pakistan will want to have his "Experience" in SA. You will hear Sarfaraz say that.

 

[Attiq_Lone]

Team management has made decision - he is needed. Also, justified his selection as all-rounder - bowled in 1st Test for an average of 31, SR of 54 ... add to that batting average of 71.5. Sobers who?

Even is he doesn't bowl a single over in 2nd innings, he'll have a series like 31/54 with ball & 38.25/57 with bat!!!!! Enough for NZ & SAF tour.

SA tour will be same as 2013 with the kind of technique he has against pacers in tests, just a little movement and he starts struggling

 

[Attiq_Lone]

the fact he scored a 100, he will ride on it for 2 years to come by blackmailing via his friends in Media. Unfortunately this is how it works in Pakistan. Poor Salahuddin didn't even get a chance and this hack gets to chose opening or #3 .

Salahuddin has been benched after playing his first match (a lollypop...most probably)

 

[Attiq_Lone]

Average of 38 in his comeback series.

100 in the first innings, in the next 3 innings he scored less than 30 runs

 

[Attiq_Lone]

Hafeez is an anomaly. Plays a world class knock in one innings and follows with a string of low scores. I will give him one last go in SA tests (just because of his bowling) in the middle order. Babar Azam has to go. Open with Fakhar and Imam

I wont play him, the allarming bells of 2013 are still ringing

Fakhar
Imam
Azhar
Asad
Usman Salahuddin
Sarfraz
Followed by your 5 bowlers

 

[MMHS]

SA tour will be same as 2013 with the kind of technique he has against pacers in tests, just a little movement and he starts struggling

I don’t think it matters how bad MoHa does, rather it matters how bad other younger players do. MoHa doesn’t need to perform, rather needs just 1 young player to fail (this time 1 excluding Imam). Last time also both he & Jamshed failed in Test series, but Jamshed got dropped in ODI after scoring 3 hundreds & a 97 in previous 12 months. He has done enough with one innings & one wicket @ Dubai, to cover SAF.

 

[WengerOut]

Hafeez is to Steyn what spinach is to Popeye.

 

[Attiq_Lone]

I don’t think it matters how bad MoHa does, rather it matters how bad other younger players do. MoHa doesn’t need to perform, rather needs just 1 young player to fail (this time 1 excluding Imam). Last time also both he & Jamshed failed in Test series, but Jamshed got dropped in ODI after scoring 3 hundreds & a 97 in previous 12 months. He has done enough with one innings & one wicket @ Dubai, to cover SAF.

Classic isn’t it?

 

[Attiq_Lone]

Hafeez is to Steyn what spinach is to Popeye.

hahaha true, specially the technique he has against pacers on seaming wickets is LOL