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Pakistan end Day 1 of the 2nd Test on 207/4 with Azhar Ali (81) and Haris Sohail (81*)

Probably, with Warner suspended, best Test opener right now is Lankan Karuna - scoring big & scoring quite brisk as well. Among regulars, difficult to pick the worst, but I guess our Imrul will give a good fight with 2 PAK openers, Powel of WIN & the English opener Jennings.
 
These kind of tactics use to work few years ago when the opposition use to capitulate on the 5th day, the only team that capitulates spectacularly is pak on the 4/5th day these days.

Get ur runs in the 1st innings at a healthy rate.
 
It's actually Haris is slower, making Azhar like Lamborghini !!! Must have been grilled properly for double blunder in last Test ..... unfortunately, instead of shot selection, he went to the usual route - defense means good technique & temperament.
 
New Zealand are a decent team and we are struggling with the bat so no one should be surprised. It’s a lose lose situation for Pakistan, you guys are slating the for them for getting stuck in and grafting it out there and if they get out trying to increase the strike rate then you guys would still moan! Our batsmen are not world beaters, accept that and maybe then you guys will be more forgiving.

Personally id be very happy if these two can build a solid foundation for the rest to capatlise on...
 
This performance is anything but uplifting, after gutless debacle... 33 runs from 23 overs...When this torture is going to be over?

There is nothing alarming in wicket, not in bowling, utter surrender for no reason. There is no intend to take game forward 🙄🙄🙄
 
yasir said:
This performance is anything but uplifting, after gutless debacle... 33 runs from 23 overs...When this torture is going to be over?

There is nothing alarming in wicket, not in bowling, utter surrender for no reason. There is no intend to take game forward ������
Click to expand...

I think, you are almost correct - just take out the "alarming" word - there is noting in this wicket for any one. Just dead slow, low and a life less sand bed which is squeezing the life out of Test cricket.
 
Good batting by Azhar. Still the best that Pakistan has in lamba format cricket.
 
My standard prediction for UAE tracks is 201-2 after 90 overs in Day 1 - you can't bat, bow, catch or hit boundaries .... only thing you can do is dead bat against dart of medium pace. Looks like AzHari is on course.
 
Just realised that Haris is only playing his 9th Test Match. I think he still needs to be persisteted with for the time being.
 
You know things are bad when you are striking at 28 while your partner with a name, Azhar Ali, is striking at 52.
 
MMHS said:
I think, you are almost correct - just take out the "alarming" word - there is noting in this wicket for any one. Just dead slow, low and a life less sand bed which is squeezing the life out of Test cricket.
Click to expand...
But it is dry, expect it to turn a lot on day 4-5
 
QuickCrick said:
New Zealand are a decent team and we are struggling with the bat so no one should be surprised. It’s a lose lose situation for Pakistan, you guys are slating the for them for getting stuck in and grafting it out there and if they get out trying to increase the strike rate then you guys would still moan! Our batsmen are not world beaters, accept that and maybe then you guys will be more forgiving.

Personally id be very happy if these two can build a solid foundation for the rest to capatlise on...
Click to expand...

Where were u hiding mate sensible posters are like a gem on this forum lately.
 
MMHS said:
I think, you are almost correct - just take out the "alarming" word - there is noting in this wicket for any one. Just dead slow, low and a life less sand bed which is squeezing the life out of Test cricket.
Click to expand...

It’s inability to rotate strike, which is major issue. YK used to do good job at rotating strike. Intend was there. We are now playing with 4 Misbah, not a single YK.

Kuch Shair Day Loog vhee Zalim San
Kuch sanoo maran da shook see
 
Ahmed216 said:
But it is dry, expect it to turn a lot on day 4-5
Click to expand...

It'll turn, but most people miss the key in UAE wicket - it's built on soft base, with little clay content and hardly any live grass root (in fact they probably kill the live grass with brine (salt water)). That makes the ball turn, but it's extremely slow turn, no bounce and ball doesn't hurry batsmen. On TV, it looks lots of things happening, but actually surviving isn't tough here (unless you try a Hasan or Bilal).

Just to explain it better, I am posting one of my post from the recent CTG Test -

"We should win this Test comfortably, but I don't think playing on such surface is helping our cause. I don't mind spinning tracks, but it shouldn't be such where on 2nd afternoon a 18 years old kid turns more than Murali. This is definitely hiding the core weakness of our cricket - bowling. I for one always will opt for wicket where good bowling & catching will be required for a direct result in 15 sessions.

Relayed Chittagong track actually is a fantastic cricket wicket with high clay %, built on a solid base, therefore these are like 350 sort of ODI wicket, with proper rolling & watering, on a lighting fast out field. But, if they don't water it properly and allow to dry the compact clay surface on a hard base, it's impossible to face spinners, particularly accurate finger spinners, once the surface starts to crack. This wicket has at least twice the bounce than usual UAE tracks, it's turning sharp on dry cracks & it's among the fastest Asian wickets because of the grass covering & hard base. The dryness is clearly evident, as the wicket is best for batting in morning session, with a little over night moisture bonding top surface.

This could have been a fantastic Test wicket with a bit a moisture left in it, and yet it would have turned definitely, but that won't have made the finger spinners like Murali, Bedi & Laker. Need better conditioned wickets - I won't mind if match referee sanctions some demerit points here; it's equally, if not worse wicket than the last Test here (SRL)."
 
For SA tour I would like to see the following line up:-
Fakhar
Azhar
Haris
Babar
Asad (Not entirely sure)
Saad Ali
Sarfraz
Yasir
Hasan Ali
Abbas
Amir/Shaheen
 
yasir said:
Kuch Shair Day Loog vhee Zalim San
Kuch sanoo maran da shook see
Click to expand...

Lol Sabar sey kaam lean bhi jaban

Toss jitey hai tu match bhi jeet jayean ghey magar ahista ahista.
Hum batting karen ghey lambi magar ahista ahista.
 
yasir said:
It’s inability to rotate strike, which is major issue. YK used to do good job at rotating strike. Intend was there. We are now playing with 4 Misbah, not a single YK.

Kuch Shair Day Loog vhee Zalim San
Kuch sanoo maran da shook see
Click to expand...

Rotating the strike needs 360 shot making ability with timing and placement, which clearly missing - it's a top hand job. But, to the support of PAK batsmen, they are groomed either on these dead slow wicket, where you need bottom to play shots, on even worse domestic wickets where you need luck as well to connect.

I think, Dean Jones (one of the best ever in rotating strike), once explained - taking singles are like net practice - you have 5 holes (gaps) and what you need is to adjust your body balance & footwork to get into position and guide almost every ball into one of those holes, on either feet using your wrists. Unless ball is coming on to bat, it's impossible to learn rotating strike - and it's a learned skill, not genetic .... otherwise some of the best ever rotators won't have come from PAK - Javed, Asif, Zaheer, Malik (Salim), Inzi, MoYo ..... even YK is a fantastic 4th innings player because he never allowed bowlers to target him for 10-12 balls at one go on 4th-5th day tricky wicket (somehow, it didn't work for him in ODI)- and these players learned their initial game batting in 600-700 sort of innings.

Umar started career with fantastic rotator, then UAE & PAK domestic wicket made him a "cow slasher" .... now probably that slasher word is also missing from there.
 
Iddy said:
For SA tour I would like to see the following line up:-
Fakhar
Azhar
Haris
Babar
Asad (Not entirely sure)
Saad Ali
Sarfraz
Yasir
Hasan Ali
Abbas
Amir/Shaheen
Click to expand...

We can keep shuffling this old roster around until the cows come home. Azhar to open, Azhar at one down. Subtract Hafeez, add Saad Ali. I the end it won't' matter. Whatever the bowling achieves, we have not one world class batsman. Rubbish.
 
MMHS said:
It'll turn, but most people miss the key in UAE wicket - it's built on soft base, with little clay content and hardly any live grass root (in fact they probably kill the live grass with brine (salt water)). That makes the ball turn, but it's extremely slow turn, no bounce and ball doesn't hurry batsmen. On TV, it looks lots of things happening, but actually surviving isn't tough here (unless you try a Hasan or Bilal).


Just to explain it better, I am posting one of my post from the recent CTG Test -

"We should win this Test comfortably, but I don't think playing on such surface is helping our cause. I don't mind spinning tracks, but it shouldn't be such where on 2nd afternoon a 18 years old kid turns more than Murali. This is definitely hiding the core weakness of our cricket - bowling. I for one always will opt for wicket where good bowling & catching will be required for a direct result in 15 sessions.

Relayed Chittagong track actually is a fantastic cricket wicket with high clay %, built on a solid base, therefore these are like 350 sort of ODI wicket, with proper rolling & watering, on a lighting fast out field. But, if they don't water it properly and allow to dry the compact clay surface on a hard base, it's impossible to face spinners, particularly accurate finger spinners, once the surface starts to crack. This wicket has at least twice the bounce than usual UAE tracks, it's turning sharp on dry cracks & it's among the fastest Asian wickets because of the grass covering & hard base. The dryness is clearly evident, as the wicket is best for batting in morning session, with a little over night moisture bonding top surface.

This could have been a fantastic Test wicket with a bit a moisture left in it, and yet it would have turned definitely, but that won't have made the finger spinners like Murali, Bedi & Laker. Need better conditioned wickets - I won't mind if match referee sanctions some demerit points here; it's equally, if not worse wicket than the last Test here (SRL)."
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
PakPremi said:
Where were u hiding mate sensible posters are like a gem on this forum lately.
Click to expand...

I’m finding it hard disagree with you, although it is interesting to read how others perceive the same game.

Get to session 3 without losing a wicket then hopefully Haris can start shifting gears and capatlise on a tired bowling attack with Azhar carrying on as he is..
 
MMHS said:
Rotating the strike needs 360 shot making ability with timing and placement, which clearly missing - it's a top hand job. But, to the support of PAK batsmen, they are groomed either on these dead slow wicket, where you need bottom to play shots, on even worse domestic wickets where you need luck as well to connect.

I think, Dean Jones (one of the best ever in rotating strike), once explained - taking singles are like net practice - you have 5 holes (gaps) and what you need is to adjust your body balance & footwork to get into position and guide almost every ball into one of those holes, on either feet using your wrists. Unless ball is coming on to bat, it's impossible to learn rotating strike - and it's a learned skill, not genetic .... otherwise some of the best ever rotators won't have come from PAK - Javed, Asif, Zaheer, Malik (Salim), Inzi, MoYo ..... even YK is a fantastic 4th innings player because he never allowed bowlers to target him for 10-12 balls at one go on 4th-5th day tricky wicket (somehow, it didn't work for him in ODI)- and these players learned their initial game batting in 600-700 sort of innings.

Umar started career with fantastic rotator, then UAE & PAK domestic wicket made him a "cow slasher" .... now probably that slasher word is also missing from there.
Click to expand...

That last line made me laugh 😂
 
16 runs in last 10 overs. We might salvage a draw in this test.
 
QuickCrick said:
I’m finding it hard disagree with you, although it is interesting to read how others perceive the same game.

Get to session 3 without losing a wicket then hopefully Haris can start shifting gears and capatlise on a tired bowling attack with Azhar carrying on as he is..
Click to expand...

Fact is with Younis Khan retiring we do not have a world class batsman in our team to take the game to opposition. Haris, Imam and Babar are early in their test careers. Of the three Babar is the likely candidate to be our world class batsman with ability to perform consistently and score big often. Our D&G brigade keep thinking bringing x y z will dramatically change our batting. The only two not playing on merit in this test are Hafeez and Bilal. Hopefully Fakhar will return in next test to replace him and Shaheen to replace Bilal as we have no other spinner in the squad unless they add Shadab to the squad.
 
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Again full-toss almost got him .... via run-out; why this guy can't hit knee high juicy full-toss in gap?
 
Sohail seems to become a number 11 type batsmen any time hes batting with Azhar.
 
Amjid Javed said:
Sohail seems to become a number 11 type batsmen any time hes batting with Azhar.
Click to expand...
We must be the only team with 4 no 11 batsmen
According to most posters: Azhar, Sarfraz
Of course Abbas and new addition Haris
So when opposition bat against us in similar way in tests they are Legends .
 
10 runs in last 10 overs.

Anyone would think we were playing on a minefield against warne and murali.
 
Good session for Pakistan - main thing is not to lose further wickets
 
MenInG said:
Good session for Pakistan - main thing is not to lose further wickets
Click to expand...
Wow one more poster with understanding for test matches. Pak run rate maybe not be improving but sensible poster rate is definitely on up now.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
PakPremi said:
Fact is with Younis Khan retiring we do not have a world class batsman in our team to take the game to opposition. Haris, Imam and Babar are early in their test careers. Of the three Babar is the likely candidate to be our world class batsman with ability to perform consistently and score big often. Our D&G brigade keep thinking bringing x y z will dramatically change our batting. The only two not playing on merit in this test are Hafeez and Bilal. Hopefully Fakhar will return in next test to replace him and Shaheen to replace Bilal as we have no other spinner in the squad unless they add Shadab to the squad.
Click to expand...

We don’t have batsmen that are strong against spin, our best two batsmen Babar and Harris both struggle against spin. The bulk of the batting in test cricket is done against spinners, the sole reason why YK was so successful.

We need our domestic set up to changes, if it carries on then we will carry on producing similar batsmen and more worryingly lack of world class spin bowlers. So yes bringing in x y z won’t make massive changes in our batting performance until the underlying issue is managed.

I actually think this current team are better suited away from the UAE and wouldn’t be surprised if we challeneged SAF.

The only change that I can’t disagree with anyone on is Hafeez - he has been a passenger for too long and his inclusion is not allowing us to nurture someone new.
 
The question is can Pakistan bat this defensively to save a test match in 4th inning?
 
What a pathetic batting!!!!! Azhar will never known as quality batsman. Haris has lost his touch too.
 
It's ironic that the last test saw a thriller (despite losing) from Pakistan.

And just the very next test, Pakistan looks like the most boring team in the world.
 
A might run rate of 2.

Pakistan really don't know how to drill the home advantage.

A place where they have been playing for 10 years, yet empty stands, no passion, no cheering as if this is a second grade club teams battling out over 5 days.
 
YousafTheBeast said:
Are people actually watching this match? Turned the tv off 2 hours ago
Click to expand...
I have not even tuned in for a single ball so far, just saw the score when it was 40-2 and I didn't bother.

On top, have been occupied with other things so not watching but following here.
 
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Even the likes of when Zim and Ban were playing the test series it had a bigger turnout than any of these games played in the UAE over the 2 series that Pak has played.
 
This session will determine how good this partnership is, score heavily without losing many wickets then it is a plan well executed..
 
Deewana Mastana said:
Even the likes of when Zim and Ban were playing the test series it had a bigger turnout than any of these games played in the UAE over the 2 series that Pak has played.
Click to expand...

What are you doing here, why aren’t you in UAE?

Such a stupid attention seeking comment!
 
Is Inzi watching RR of this match? The guy is all talk. Really disappointed with him.
 
NZ should start bowling full-tosses consecutively now. That might give them a wicket.
 
What's up with the wickets spinning so much from day one? First Lyon, and now Ish Sodhi.

Says a lot about Ajaz Patel (and Pakistan's mediocrity in the last test), when he is the only one going at 3.08 today
 
Posters here dont understand the quality of Haris' innings today. This is how a seasoned campaigner battles his way out of tough bowling spells or a rough patch. We all know such slow going is not a norm for Haris but he has curbed his instinct and grinded his way out. Batsmen like Shafiq would have thrown it away to get out of jail. This innings should tell you why he averages 50 in first class cricket.
 
Usman Chadda said:
What's up with the wickets spinning so much from day one? First Lyon, and now Ish Sodhi.

Says a lot about Ajaz Patel (and Pakistan's mediocrity in the last test), when he is the only one going at 3.08 today
Click to expand...

These are the types of wickets that Pakistan have asked for that spin from Day 1.

If they have not had a say at the wickets they have been playing on then who has and why.
 
From normally getting nice looking 30’s to scoring an ugly 50.. what Haris do you guys prefer?

I’m not jumping up and down with the 50 but if he can build this into a big 100 then i’d forget all about how he got the first 50..
 
Madplayer said:
Posters here dont understand the quality of Haris' innings today. This is how a seasoned campaigner battles his way out of tough bowling spells or a rough patch. We all know such slow going is not a norm for Haris but he has curbed his instinct and grinded his way out. Batsmen like Shafiq would have thrown it away to get out of jail. This innings should tell you why he averages 50 in first class cricket.
Click to expand...

It is good to see Haris being the slow grinding type here as I was surpirsed to see Azhar going at 40+ out of the 2 as he normally goes at 30 otherwise.
 
Pakistan batsmen hoping new zealand will fall asleep here and forfeit the test match.
 
QuickCrick said:
From normally getting nice looking 30’s to scoring an ugly 50.. what Haris do you guys prefer?

I’m not jumping up and down with the 50 but if he can build this into a big 100 then i’d forget all about how he got the first 50..
Click to expand...

Hes only got to 50, lets not get carried away here.
 
I think Mazhar came up with some stats and from 2015 on Fakhar Zaman and Abid Ali have been the highest averaging opening bats in Pak FC cricket.

Abid Ali has done well for Pak A as well. Stats do not lie and tell us that Fakhar, Abid are the best options. How did we come up with Hafeez and Imam? Probably the worst opening pair ever.
 
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