Pace bowlers for the Test series in Australia?

[Saj]

So it looks like Mohammad Amir and Sohail Khan have booked their seats for the upcoming Test series in Australia.

What about the others though. Seems like there are some important and tough choices for the selection committee.

Imran Khan - is he suited for the wickets in Australia?

Wahab Riaz - his form isn't great but the extra bounce in Australia could be to his liking.

Rahat Ali - has the ability to take wickets but tends to lack consistency.

Other options:

Mir Hamza
Mohammad Abbas
Tabish Khan
Hasan Ali
Mohammad Asif

Any others?

 

[Major]

Rahat ali might not be consistent but he is still better then the others we have got.


Honestly, there is no need for Pakistan to bring up more bowlers. Having 4 is enough for now. Bringing in new guys or giving debuts just creates a big mess.

Even if they wanted to go for someone then Ehsan Adil is someone who should be under the radar, if he is performing or good enough, get him on board.

Anyways, Pakistan has the bowlers, but to win this series against Australia Fielding will matter.

 

[Boi]

Would've liked Ehsan to go but I don't think he's had a good season with the ball. Anyone got his stats?

 

[Rayyman]

1 change:
Rahat out, Ehsan/Bhatti in.

 

[moghul]

Amir, Sohail and Wahab have to be there. Rahat and IK need to go back. Two will be added , one has to be Mir Hamza.

 

[Speedster777]

Asif / Mir Hamza to replace Rahat Ali.
Hassan Ali/ Ghulam Mudassar to replace Imran Khan.

 

[Ellipsism]

Amir, Sohail and Wahab have to be there. Rahat and IK need to go back. Two will be added , one has to be Mir Hamza.

He's not suited to dry conditions.

Personally I would like Rahat to go and Ghulam to come in, but I don't see it happening. We're probably going to see the same attack.

 

[Hasan123]

Want some new bowlers to be tried sick of seeing the same faces. Imran and Rahat have there issues and we all know wahab can be a lottery. Hasan Ali is a good prospect but don't know how successful he would be in Australia.

The other 3 Saj has mentioned maybe one of them is worth a gamble.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Have no interest in the names Saj bhaee mentioned. (Not Good enough)


I had my eyes on Ali Imran Pasha & Asif. Both injured. Both cannot get visa in time.


After them I am in interested in Ghulam Mudassir but he isn't ready at the moment. Very young and isn't able to bowl at consistent line & length at the moment.


Tabish, Mir & Abbass could have been handy on NZ green surfaces but not in Australia (Only 1 of them in pink ball test probably Mir) otherwise won't be of any use in other tests.


Most likely that all the pacers will be retained but


I have a feeling Sohail can get injured. I think his back can be a problem the way he was stretching continuosly yesterday while batting.

 

[Barragan]

I want to go back to the traditional Pak method of selecting a raw youngster.

Done it before and found success in the bowling department.

OUT:
rahat

IN:
Sameen Gul

 

[godzilla]

one thing is the ideal line up, and another is keeping continuity in the side and avoiding too much disruption.

i wrote a post a few months ago on the best players i could find that were some way along the lines of proving themselves (http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...-us-about-our-test-team&p=8753922#post8753922 ) probably needs updating, but for choice, in a pace vs spinning arena i would have hammad as my allrounder and would have sadaf as a bowling fixture. wahab would be the first name on the exit list for me - the numbers are just not there to justify a once in a blue moon spell.

just as a side observation, its astnishing that hammads numbers are almost identical to mir's - and yet he is so underbowled even domestically.

id keep my eye on salahuddin as a possible shoe in for once the great middle order begins their resignations. but its early days for him. if he fails, id consider bringing back the pakistani ian bell technique shafiq, who has proven himself to be solid if not spectacular.

1. aslam (for now)
2. azhar (for now)
3. babar (for now)
4. younis
5. misbah
6. alam
7. sarfraz
8. hammad (nawaz if its a spinning all rounder that is required)
9. sohail/amir/imran/mir/ehsan (all pretty much equivalent for me, prob sohail for his batting)
10. sohail/amir/imran/mir/ehsan (all pretty much equivalent for me, yasir if its a spin friendly track)
11. sadaf

the only caveat is that sadaf seems to be going through a rough patch this QEA tournament, and mir seems to be on good form - so perhaps that could be juggled around.

aside from my ideal line up, a less disruptive wish list for me would be:

hammad, sohail, imran, amir, rahat/mir.

in terms of what is likely given the pcb:

no change.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Have no interest in the names Saj bhaee mentioned. (Not Good enough)


I had my eyes on Ali Imran Pasha & Asif. Both injured. Both cannot get visa in time.


After them I am in interested in Ghulam Mudassir but he isn't ready at the moment. Very young and isn't able to bowl at consistent line & length at the moment.


Tabish, Mir & Abbass could have been handy on NZ green surfaces but not in Australia (Only 1 of them in pink ball test probably Mir) otherwise won't be of any use in other tests.


Most likely that all the pacers will be retained but


I have a feeling Sohail can get injured. I think his back can be a problem the way he was stretching continuosly yesterday while batting.

I ll be tempted to pick 6'4 Sadaf Hussain if he regains his form, takes 2-3 fivefers and wins Qea for KRL.

 

[Justcrazy]

Sadaf deserves one tour at least . Its unfair on him.

 

[Square Drive]

The same five should go, unless we're willing to take one of Asif/Sadaf (unlikely), in which case Imran/Rahat should go out.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Based on the wc r Ali and w riaz are a shoe in


Hasan Ali deserves a chance and it will be nice to see junaid Khan back too

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

In Aus you need pace and also do not forget that we will be playing at the MCG, SCG which are decent batting tracks.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

In Aus you need pace and also do not forget that we will be playing at the MCG, SCG which are decent batting tracks.

Well the greatest pace bowler Aus have ever produced (Mcgrath) wasn't that pacy was he now....and there is a bloke very recently who just took 5-21 with none of his wicket taking deliveries being bowled in access of 127 kph....

You need brain cells actually to be successful in Australia. If you're expecting Wahab or Rahat to suddenly grow the latter then we're up for a big disappointment when we tour down under.

 

[Timewaster]

Are there any express bowlers in Pakistan? I dont count Wahab because he is only 140kph in Tests. In Australia they'll need one speedster who can crank 150kph in Test like Starc, Rabada and Steyn.
India for the first time have faster and better bowlers than Pakistan in Yadav and Shami who consistanly bowl 145kph+ Shami looks like he can be a top 3 bowler

 

[Manager101]

Asif is must if he is fit

 

[hur rizvi]

We desperately need a quicker right arm fast bowler. I dont if there is anyone in the stocks

 

[Junaids]

The bigger issue is that Australia has just gone from 1 to 5 left-handers in the top seven.

Suddenly you need a high class offie. Not Hafeez, a specialist.

If I was Mickey Arthur I'd go for broke in the pink ball First Test with:

8. Mohammad Amir
9. Wahab Riaz
10. Saeed Ajmal (instructed to chuck)
11. Mohammad Asif

That's a really demanding attack for a novice batting line-up.

 

[Junaids]

Squad wise:

OUT
Imran Khan

IN
Mohammad Asif
Hasan Ali

 

[Timewaster]

The bigger issue is that Australia has just gone from 1 to 5 left-handers in the top seven.

Suddenly you need a high class offie. Not Hafeez, a specialist.

If I was Mickey Arthur I'd go for broke in the pink ball First Test with:

8. Mohammad Amir
9. Wahab Riaz
10. Saeed Ajmal (instructed to chuck)
11. Mohammad Asif

That's a really demanding attack for a novice batting line-up.

With all those left handers youd want Ali who is the only bowler who can move the ball away from the left handers. Shah will struggle against the lefties

 

[Saj]

and it's as you were from Inzi and co. as the same squad has been announced.

I guess they thought it was too risky to make any changes?

 

[Syed1]

So much for this discussion, Inzi sahab went with the same TTF lot

 

[Junaids]

and it's as you were from Inzi and co. as the same squad has been announced.

I guess they thought it was too risky to make any changes?

Imran Khan and Sohail Khan can't land two balls per over on the same line and length.

Meanwhile Amir, Rahat and Wahab who angle the ball across the right-handers to the slips suddenly have only two right-handers to bowl to!

It's insane. Imran and Sohail both bowl so short that every LBW appeal to a left-hander always pitches outside leg-stump.

 

[Syed1]

This is why I thoroughly dislike Misbah (and by extension Azhar) as captains they do not have the gall to ask for a player they want (unless it is a friend). Completely leaving it to a selector will give you the squad that you just got. Inzi probably woke up one morning and signed off on the squad while having his morning chai without even giving it a second thought.

 

[Shafi]

and it's as you were from Inzi and co. as the same squad has been announced.

I guess they thought it was too risky to make any changes?

What is the harm to many any change in the squad. It can not be worse than 4-0

 

[Jan Sher]

The same five should go, unless we're willing to take one of Asif/Sadaf (unlikely), in which case Imran/Rahat should go out.

for the love of God, why should Imran go out? Biased post. He is our best Test fast bowler, check his record, and outperformed everyone in the current Test match

 

[Jan Sher]

Imran Khan and Sohail Khan can't land two balls per over on the same line and length.

Meanwhile Amir, Rahat and Wahab who angle the ball across the right-handers to the slips suddenly have only two right-handers to bowl to!

It's insane. Imran and Sohail both bowl so short that every LBW appeal to a left-hander always pitches outside leg-stump.

The same Imran Khan outperformed everyone in the ongoing Test match. Please stop this bias against him. He has the best record among our pacers, and is our best Test fast bowler. Kindly deal with it

 

[Jan Sher]

This is why cricket is not played on cricinfo. Anybody who thinks Imran is our best bowler needs to rethink his cricketing prowess. The guy was utterly useless and didn't look threatening at all. If picking up cheap tailender wickets or mishits from batsmen make you our best bowler than may the Lord have mercy.

Bowling gun barrel straight at 125kph

Nothing can be as per everybody's wishes. His application is for all to see. He has the best average among our fast bowlers. This is what all matters. And what tailenders? He took out one of the best batsman in the world with a beauty yesterday. You are just one of those many biased people against him. You may not be able to digest it, just because he hasn't got the looks or Wasim-esque skills, lol

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Imran is a stain on our fast bowling legacy.

Can't bat either.

Overall a waste of space.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

This and this

Have no interest in the names Saj bhaee mentioned. (Not Good enough)


I had my eyes on Ali Imran Pasha & Asif. Both injured. Both cannot get visa in time.


After them I am in interested in Ghulam Mudassir but he isn't ready at the moment. Very young and isn't able to bowl at consistent line & length at the moment.


Tabish, Mir & Abbass could have been handy on NZ green surfaces but not in Australia (Only 1 of them in pink ball test probably Mir) otherwise won't be of any use in other tests.


Most likely that all the pacers will be retained but


I have a feeling Sohail can get injured. I think his back can be a problem the way he was stretching continuosly yesterday while batting.

I ll be tempted to pick 6'4 Sadaf Hussain if he regains his form, takes 2-3 fivefers and wins Qea for KRL.

So I agree with Inzamam.



After Rahat & Sohail got fourfers and Imran got 6 wickets in his first Test match after an year how could Inzamam drop them unless any of them got unfit ?


Since 1 year everybody is saying Wahab and the pace and bounce of Aussie wickets so He wasn't going to be dropped either and Amir getting dropped was also unlikely.



Asif, Ali Imran & Ghulam have the spark of former Pakistani pacers. But two got injured and Ghulam is too young and has not got control over line and length.



Guys like Abbass, Tabish & Mir would have only been effective in pink ball test.




So embrace it with Love

 

[Bilal7]

Mohammad Irfan is a must for Australia

In case you haven't noticed, we have the services of a 7-foot, intimidating giant bowler to call upon whenever the need arises and in my humble opinion, we absolutely need him to play the series against Australia.

Yes, he may breakdown and he is a liability with the bat and in the field but I promise you, if Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan are unleashed against these Aussies, you will see absolute carnage and Pakistan will become the first Asian team to win in Australia.

I would drop Rahat Ali for Mohammad Irfan which would mean that our starting attack will be: Amir, Irfan, Riaz and Shah. Imran and Sohail as the backup.

Now whether we want to play Shah in the D/N test or not and if the management thinks Sohail will be a better choice than Riaz for that first test is a different debate.

 

[Square Drive]

for the love of God, why should Imran go out? Biased post. He is our best Test fast bowler, check his record, and outperformed everyone in the current Test match

Thanks for ignoring the rest of the post, genius.

I said one of Rahat/Imran should go out IF Asif/Sadaf are selected.

Who else would you take out from the pacers?

Wahab will thrive in Australia, Sohail's been picking up wickets, and Amir's average since his comeback would've been 23-odd had it not been for our clumsy fielders.

 

[Jan Sher]

Thanks for ignoring the rest of the post, genius.

I said one of Rahat/Imran should go out IF Asif/Sadaf are selected.

Who else would you take out from the pacers?

Wahab will thrive in Australia, Sohail's been picking up wickets, and Amir's average since his comeback would've been 23-odd had it not been for our clumsy fielders.

But Imran Khan is our best Test fast bowler, has the best record. You just can't even think of dropping him!

 

[Amirforpresident]

But Imran Khan is our best Test fast bowler, has the best record. You just can't even think of dropping him!

Exactly!! He took 3 wickets in both innings and that after not playing for quite some time.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

In case you haven't noticed, we have the services of a 7-foot, intimidating giant bowler to call upon whenever the need arises and in my humble opinion, we absolutely need him to play the series against Australia.

Yes, he may breakdown and he is a liability with the bat and in the field but I promise you, if Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan are unleashed against these Aussies, you will see absolute carnage and Pakistan will become the first Asian team to win in Australia.

I would drop Rahat Ali for Mohammad Irfan which would mean that our starting attack will be: Amir, Irfan, Riaz and Shah. Imran and Sohail as the backup.

Now whether we want to play Shah in the D/N test or not and if the management thinks Sohail will be a better choice than Riaz for that first test is a different debate.

What has his domestic form been like?

 

[New Yorker]

Thanks for ignoring the rest of the post, genius.

I said one of Rahat/Imran should go out IF Asif/Sadaf are selected.

Who else would you take out from the pacers?

Wahab will thrive in Australia, Sohail's been picking up wickets, and Amir's average since his comeback would've been 23-odd had it not been for our clumsy fielders.

This is very optimistic, to say the least. He's 'thrived' ie taken a 5fer, only twice in his entire cricket career. More likely to take a few wickets here and there but still end up rather expensive. If there is bounce I am more optimistic about Amir exploiting it.

 

[Junaids]

In case you haven't noticed, we have the services of a 7-foot, intimidating giant bowler to call upon whenever the need arises and in my humble opinion, we absolutely need him to play the series against Australia.

Yes, he may breakdown and he is a liability with the bat and in the field but I promise you, if Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan are unleashed against these Aussies, you will see absolute carnage and Pakistan will become the first Asian team to win in Australia.

I would drop Rahat Ali for Mohammad Irfan which would mean that our starting attack will be: Amir, Irfan, Riaz and Shah. Imran and Sohail as the backup.

Now whether we want to play Shah in the D/N test or not and if the management thinks Sohail will be a better choice than Riaz for that first test is a different debate.

Yep, Irfan was born to play the MCG Test!

 

[Saj]

From the Australian perspective they are going to look at the Pakistan pace attack and think see-off Amir, watch out for Wahab from time to time and feed of the other pace bowlers.

 

[Junaids]

From the Australian perspective they are going to look at the Pakistan pace attack and think see-off Amir, watch out for Wahab from time to time and feed of the other pace bowlers.

Exactly.

That was my argument for the economy of Asif and the disconcerting bounce of Irfan. I think they should both have been identified six months ago when Mickey Arthur took over as being key bowlers, and put on strict fitness and bowling regimes.

 

[Xoib]

From the Australian perspective they are going to look at the Pakistan pace attack and think see-off Amir, watch out for Wahab from time to time and feed of the other pace bowlers.

After his first couple overs he is no better then others, the boy is finished.