My heart goes out to Azhar Ali

[Hitman]

Not even Inzamam or MoYo or Younis has ever given such brilliant performance in a Test in Australia like Azhar did in the 2nd Test. And for the whole thing to end like this makes me very sad about him. His team mates definitely should have at least given respect to him and his performance by trying to draw the Test. Instead they did what 'only they can explain in words'.

Hold on, young man! You did wonderfully well for your team in this Test and I'm pretty sure you have quite a long and good future for you.

Keep your head up! As for the rest of his team mates, hang your heads in shame!

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

Same here bro, Azhar Ali is averaging over 100 delivery per inning as a opener this year and this has happened after may be decade

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Batted his tail off.

 

[Zohaib Shah]

This is a team game not a Azhar game. This loss effects the nation and not just Azhar.

 

[160KPH]

Forget Babar and Sami. The one who always is there for Pakistan is Azhar Ali.

 

[Syed1]

Unfortunate for Azhar he had Misbah as captain.


I would go so far to say that even Moyo won't have lost a test from here.



Thank you Misbah. How will we ever repay you for your sacrifices.

 

[Hitman]

This is a team game not a Azhar game. This loss effects the nation and not just Azhar.

That's right. However, the ones responsible for the loss are the rest of his team mates.

 

[Hitman]

One thing for sure, I'll remember this performance by Azhar for a long, long time. And my respect for him as a cricketer has grown leaps and bounds after his performance in this Test.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

He's absorbed so much pressure in this series. There's only so much he and Asad can do though. Oldies need to go now and Babar needs to step up in the next game and show what he's capable of. Nevertheless Azhar has proven to everyone that he is our best Test batsman. (Except those T20 fans who complain about his scoring rate or say he has a "tailender's" technique.) Technically the best batsman in Pakistan, comfortably. Started off as a leg spinner but he has become our best Test batsman through sheer hard work and determination.

 

[Zohaib Shah]

That's right. However, the ones responsible for the loss are the rest of his team mates.

Well he also lost his wicket during the run chase.

 

[Statsman]

Agree with everything in the OP except Azhar being a young man. He is almost 32.

 

[Belawal2014]

Always said that he's invaluable in what he bring to the TEST team.

 

[AlphaFighter]

Azhar Ali is Misbah ul Haq part 2 but atleast he has the guts to open the innings and atleast when he gets in he makes a really big score. He has punched above his weight but in modern times, any modern team at best can afford only one Azhar Ali, the others must bat at decent strike rates. Cant have defensive accumulators in the team.

 

[Boi]

Was unlucky to be given out with it being an umpires call. Just knew it wasn't meant to be after those two LBW calls went Australia's way.

Hats off to Azhar though, great performance and I'm sure he's earned the respect of many now.

 

[Hitman]

Well he also lost his wicket during the run chase.

Look at how much effort he put in that innings and compare it with how his team mates made a mockery out of themselves. The only reason why Pak even scored so much in the first innings is because of Azhar Ali.

 

[Belawal2014]

Agree with everything in the OP except Azhar being a young man. He is almost 32.

It's a matter of perspective. I'm 20, I find him old. Someone who's 60+ will find him young.

 

[QalandarFan]

It was a truly amazing performance! Feel so bad for him.

 

[Solid Snake]

Agree with everything in the OP except Azhar being a young man. He is almost 32.

Young by our standards

 

[Hitman]

It's a matter of perspective. I'm 20, I find him old. Someone who's 60+ will find him young.

32 is not young by cricketing standards, but he is still a young man.

 

[hussain123]

Only bright spot for pakistan in this game.played superbly well.

 

[Statsman]

It's a matter of perspective. I'm 20, I find him old. Someone who's 60+ will find him young.

I'm younger than him too. I wouldn't call him old but he's not a young man either for this sport. Young would be a Babar Azam, Sami Aslam or Rabada who have 10-15 year career ahead of them.

 

[Zohaib Shah]

Look at how much effort he put in that innings and compare it with how his team mates made a mockery out of themselves. The only reason why Pak even scored so much in the first innings is because of Azhar Ali.

Yeah he deserves all the credit for that first inning score. However all was not lost when it came to the second. Sarfraz pitched in to score. Had Azhar kept his wicket Pakistan would have saved the match.

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

Yeah he deserves all the credit for that first inning score. However all was not lost when it came to the second. Sarfraz pitched in to score. Had Azhar kept his wicket Pakistan would have saved the match.

He got really good delivery and was also probably unlucky with umpire decision.

 

[Hitman]

Imran Khan would have probably killed some of team mates today if he were the captain. There is a fine line between losing a Test and gifting the Test to your opponent on a silver platter.

 

[HateKiller]

I feel sorry for the team and fans. It is so disappointing.

 

[Pete Rose]

Best player in the team hence logically should be next captain. Instead we will fixate on his body language and decide sarfaraz should be captain.

 

[Wristy_Shuffler]

Yeh, definitely. He's not a the greatest player but he has heart and I've been a huge fan of his since his debut and this post reminds of his words from 2010...

"Before I became a cricketer, I was a fan. As both a fan and a cricketer there was always a desire to see Pakistan beat the best team in the world,"

"There is a certain sense of frustration when you see Pakistan repeatedly lose from a winning position and when you stood outside looking in as a fan then there's a feeling of helplessness too. That's why I was determined that I would make the Aussies work for my wicket, they would have to take it from me.

This was after he helped end a 15 year loss streak vs aus in the '10 series in Eng.

 

[Zohaib Shah]

He got really good delivery and was also probably unlucky with umpire decision.

Thats understandable. All I am saying is that he could have saved the match after that big innings. Thats not to take away his credit for the first innings. I just feel it was a team loss instead of an Azhar loss.

I would have felt sympathy for him if he never had a second chance to save the game.

 

[SandyB]

This guy is the Pujara of Pak. People can't stand him when he is in the team .. Always want him to be replaced with more talented strokeplayers

 

[Sarfarazian92]

I might be wrong but wasn't AA called the world's great nighwatchman on PP a few years ago?

I think I read this before I joined PP, maybe it was here.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Unfortunate for Azhar he had Misbah as captain.


I would go so far to say that even Moyo won't have lost a test from here.



Thank you Misbah. How will we ever repay you for your sacrifices.

You would think ?

Pakistan were chasing 160 odd to win and Yousaf was captaining when we folded for 140 odd.

And that team had amazing players including the much touted Umar and Kamran Akmal.

 

[Chrish]

I feel worst for Wahab.. The guy clearly bowls his heart out. Only if had better control

 

[Aman]

Class batsmen who deserved better than what his teammates offered this match.

 

[Hamza_]

Still some doubts over his ODI Spot. Hope everything goes right for him though, You don't want to see such people face hard times, Particularly when he is playing this well in test matches.

 

[KhalidRafi]

Let's not forget that sitter Sohail dropped off his bowling. That was absolutely horrific. Starc was on 51 then.

 

[Hasan123]

Azhar and Asad come out with some credit for this series.

 

[IAJ]

1st test haearts went to Asad, second Test Azhar Ali, let's see who will receive the hearts in third Test. That is the problem with most pakistani players, they perform in one match and go missing in next, no consistency and after 100 years they perform again and win the the hearts of people...

 

[Boi]

1st test haearts went to Asad, second Test Azhar Ali, let's see who will receive the hearts in third Test. That is the problem with most pakistani players, they perform in one match and go missing in next, no consistency and after 100 years they perform again and win the the hearts of people...

You have to be pretty consistent to have the year Azhar Ali has had. What a cruel way to cap off a wonderful year for himself personally.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

That's Pakistan cricket. One star performer and the rest watching the birds in the sky.

But yea it's sad indeed. Hopefully Mickey gets used to these kind of epic historical collapses as well otherwise he will end like Bob. Not saying that he should give up but like the fans he must know now how unpredictable this team is even on the flattest of roads.

 

[ali ray]

Now please not say this innings is bad bcause it came in losing cause

 

[Arham_PakFan]

He's my favourite test player,always backed him,ever since his debut.He may not be the best aesthetically,or the most entertaining,but you have to admit he works hard.His technique doesn't matter,what matters is his output.He has been remarkably consistent the last few years,and is churning out the runs.

But it is not a one man sport.I'm sure his team mates will also be gutted by their individual performances and the team performance as a whole.Of course Azhar deserved better,than such a loss but such things happen in sport.

 

[Pakprideuk]

Of course you feel for Azhar. The guy showed fight, grit and determination across both innings. Where Azhar scored 248 runs across two innings, the other 6 guys who also get paid the same/more had a joint output of 212 runs. So one guy outscored 6 batsmen in the team altogether! It shows our batsmen lack mental strength, determination and commitment otherwise they would have hung around longer!

 

[MRSN]

Azhar Ali is Misbah ul Haq part 2 but atleast he has the guts to open the innings and atleast when he gets in he makes a really big score. He has punched above his weight but in modern times, any modern team at best can afford only one Azhar Ali, the others must bat at decent strike rates. Cant have defensive accumulators in the team.

absolutely wrong. yes he may bat a bit similar but his true worth is miles ahead of Misbah. Misbah has 90% of his socres on flat decks of UAE slog sweeping spinners and negotiating fast bowlers even on UAE roads while Azhar has performed all over the world in crunch situations too. It's a great honor fight like he did on NZ and Aus tours for an Asian batsman. He is in the league of his own at the moment as far as Pakistani batting is concerned.