Opening concerns continue to haunt Pakistan in Tests

[Saj]

I think opposition bowlers must be licking their lips when they watch our opening batsmen in Test cricket.

Lethargic, uncomfortable to watch, lacking gameplan, lacking urgency and low in confidence.

What to do?

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Azhar will be fine, i have feeling that he was trying to prove his ODI credentials this game, both his dismissals were careless

Shezhad I reckon can be okay, though obviously the jury is out

 

[Ami]

Did i just hear right ....that these 2 could open against India on June 4th...?

Haha.

 

[WC-Passion]

I swear we've had opening concerns for the last decade now. Most consistent form in a position ever.

 

[Big Mac]

No concerns over Azhar, we just need to find a partner for him at the top of the order.

 

[Abdullah]

Doors opening for mr butt unfortunately

 

[Square Drive]

Azhar is fine.

Shehzad in Tests is not too bad and should be given a longer run, with Sami on the bench.

Imam and Imran Butt should be next in line.

We'll be fine.

 

[PakLFC]

We don't have any good openers at all. I am surprised that many consider Ahmed Shehzad as being anything other then a tailender who opens for us. He would never make it in to any other top 8 Test playing sides.

 

[Bilal7]

They'll come good. Azhar is proven quality and scored a double recently while Shehzad has lots potential. Would be silly if this combination was broken up before the end of this series.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Azhar is the best Test opener in the World and Shehzad was coming back after a long time, so no big concerns at the moment, although our ODI opening is truly a big concern.

 

[Boi]

It wouldnt have been that much of an issue if Sami was still there. Azhar has done really well since moving up to open so surely this thread cant be about him? Shehzad is the issue, just not good enough.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

i am pretty sure davindra bishoo can open for us and he won't look out of place in any format. total lack of quality all around in all the formats.

 

[Syed1]

Well they did just drop Sami.

Sami may not score alot of runs, but atleast he can blunt the new ball

Shehzad is a hopeless case, and Masood is even worse.

 

[Justcrazy]

Sami was a good investment , should be brought back . He and Azhar should open.

Sarfaraz should move to number 6 . Try and slot a all rounder at number 7 & 8

 

[Usman]

No idea why Sami Aslam was dropped - showed real grit and determination in England. Yes he didn't have thr best tour of Australia but who did?

There might have been a case to drop Sami for Sharjeel, but given that Sharjeel is nkw gone probably permanently, there is no justification in dropping Sami.

Useless Butt/Masood/Shehzad are not the answer. I would be really, really tempted to try this line-up, post Misbah and Younus:

Azhar Ali
Baber Azam
Asad Shafiq
Harris Sohail
Fakhar Zaman
Usman Sallihudin
Sarfraz Ahmed

Back ups: Fawad Alam and Sami Aslam.

I know its brave but come on, that is a line up full of mouth watering talent. No more weak opener problems - and before people complain about hurting Baber - he might as well open if he's going to bat one down from sitting ducks like Shehzad or Masood.

 

[Hamza_]

No idea why Sami Aslam was dropped - showed real grit and determination in England. Yes he didn't have thr best tour of Australia but who did?

There might have been a case to drop Sami for Sharjeel, but given that Sharjeel is nkw gone probably permanently, there is no justification in dropping Sami.

Useless Butt/Masood/Shehzad are not the answer. I would be really, really tempted to try this line-up, post Misbah and Younus:

Azhar Ali
Baber Azam
Asad Shafiq
Harris Sohail
Fakhar Zaman
Usman Sallihudin
Sarfraz Ahmed

Back ups: Fawad Alam and Sami Aslam.

I know its brave but come on, that is a line up full of mouth watering talent. No more weak opener problems - and before people complain about hurting Baber - he might as well open if he's going to bat one down from sitting ducks like Shehzad or Masood.

Shan Masood ko bhe to kissi tarah fit karna tha naa.

 

[Usman]

Shan Masood ko bhe to kissi tarah fit karna tha naa.

Well if the top 6 are as set out in my post, I can just about fit in Shan Masood, but as 12th man in the second XI of my Sunday league team. With a mighty test average in the 20s and first class average of about 30, he'll fit right in.

 

[ExpressPacer]

I'm hoping Azhar sits out the next match and Shan and Ahmed play - and fail miserably so we can have Sami back!

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Batsmen? What more does Azhar have to do to prove his quality? He's allowed a lean patch whether it be a couple of games or series. No one scores every series.

If the selectors actually bothered watching the upcoming test openers in domestic, this wouldn't be a problem. Jahid Ali, Imran Butt are solid test openers and one of these two should've been selected. The Revolutionary needs to get his act together.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Sami should never have been dropped.Shehzad should have been selected as backup only.

 

[Inzi_fan_No_1]

Our CT openers could not even chase 32

 

[todfod 11]

Pamistan cricket is just laughable... Sami was doing well at opening and suddenly he is dropped and the joker is selected to open.. I mean How on earth we expect a team like this to win..
And Against India if pakistan wins the toss they will score around 240 at best and if they beem asked to chase then will play to loose decently.
These gutless players like shehzad and Azhar makes my blood boil.. Look at India hardly any player from 2013 champion trophy team and look at pakistan team clown dated back to 2003 will be playing and will emberrace themselves for the umpteenth time.

 

[SaadAliG]

Sami aslam
Khurram Manzoor
Azhar
Babra
Shafiq Don
Saifi Don
Shahdab
Sohail
Amir
Yasir
New pacer

 

[Junaids]

I think that Mickey Arthur is hoping to lower Azhar Ali back down to Number 3 in Tests.

My guess at this stage for 12 months from now looks like this:

1 Sami Aslam
2 Ahmed Shehzad
3 Azhar Ali
4 Babar Azam
5 Asad Shafiq
6 Umar Akmal (yes, I'd rather have a fast bowling all-rounder too)
7 Sarfraz Ahmed (c/wk)
8 Shadab Khan
9 Mohammad Amir
10 Hasan Ali
11 Mohammad Abbas or Wahab Riaz

Shadab may or may not develop that fast. Otherwise Yasir Shah.

 

[Hasan123]

Azhar is fine. Shehzad deserves a bit more time. He looked good in the 1st innings till he was dismissed.

I think Sami Aslam, Imam ul haq,and Jaahid Ali are contenders to be openers in the future.

 

[syed abbas]

I think that Mickey Arthur is hoping to lower Azhar Ali back down to Number 3 in Tests.

My guess at this stage for 12 months from now looks like this:

1 Sami Aslam
2 Ahmed Shehzad
3 Azhar Ali
4 Babar Azam
5 Asad Shafiq
6 Umar Akmal (yes, I'd rather have a fast bowling all-rounder too)
7 Sarfraz Ahmed (c/wk)
8 Shadab Khan
9 Mohammad Amir
10 Hasan Ali
11 Mohammad Abbas or Wahab Riaz

Shadab may or may not develop that fast. Otherwise Yasir Shah.

So Hassan Ali has now increased his height to become a test bowler.

 

[Junaids]

So Hassan Ali has now increased his height to become a test bowler.

No, it's not MY team!

 

[syed abbas]

No, it's not MY team!

Ok then.

 

[Saj]

Is Ahmed Shehzad any better than Sami Aslam as a Test opener?

Would it not have been better to continue with Sami rather than play musical chairs?

 

[dildildalwalla]

I think opposition bowlers must be licking their lips when they watch our opening batsmen in Test cricket.

Lethargic, uncomfortable to watch, lacking gameplan, lacking urgency and low in confidence.

What to do?

Have you forgotten Azhar Ali has probably been the best test batsman of the last 18 months or so?

Also, all of you "fans" jump in any mistake by a Pakistani players as if sportsmen never make mistakes. I've seen English openers struggle for months on end, I've seen India try in excess of 20 opening partnerships, I've seen warner look out of sorts for Australia for almost a year etc etc etc

Shehzad is clearly talented and skilled with age on his side. He already averages over 40 and is making his way back into the side after being dropepd for 2 years...after just 3 matches from his previous century. he has been terirbly managed by selectors, coaches and captains. Give the guy an extended run and learn from sides that persevere with talented players.

The likes of Bell, Kohli, Cook, Smith et al would not have had the careers they did or are currently having if teams did not persist with them and ultimately if fans never got off their backs.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Unsettling Taufeeq & Imran turned out to be disastrous.


Now Unsettling Azhar & Sami was as terrible as it could get.


Azhar & Sami should open for Pakistan for next 5 years.

 

[Kianig89]

Sick of these changing and xhopping just Shehzad and Azhar 5-6 and backup epeners should be Sami and Massod

 

[Pete Rose]

To be fair. This is just one test against windies. Problems against Australia, England, NZ were to be expected. Given the nature of pitches in windies, I would expect shehzad and azhars style of play will get them a century partnership at some stage in this series.
Whether a performance against lowly West Indies solve our opening problems is a different question altogether.