Pakistan needs to have atleast 5 proper bowling options at home in Tests

[Savak]

The biggest problem for Pakistan since the Australian home series in March 2022 has been the inability of the bowling attack to take 20 wickets rapidly. He feels the captain and the selectors need to cut out the bits and pieces, part timers in Test Cricket and identify 5 proper bowling options to play in one test match in Pakistani conditions whether that comes in the shape of an all rounder whose bowling is the strongest suite or a proper bowler who can bat a bit or even a proper bowler who will be a suspect batsmen and if this means sacrificing the extra batsman then so be it but the bottom line is you cannot win test matches in Pakistan if your bowling attack cannot consistently pick up 20 wickets rapidly.

Something for the PCB, future selectors and captain, coaches to consider going forward.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Was Bazid asleep during 2022? Pakistan picked the so called 5 bowlers and didn't work. Add to that when you pick a batting line up with passengers in it (azhar, Shan etc..) a passenger keeper who contributes no runs (rizwan) you are asking for trouble.

Pakistan need to stop producing flat pancake wickets and ones like the South African series. That way you will get tests at least being by one side.

 

[sam_ahm]

Pakistan seems to be going the West Indies way. Far too much obsession with T20 cricket and as a result their bowlers (or batters for that matter) simply do not have a clue on how to play test matches.

 

[emranabbas]

You can field 10 bowlers result will still be the same.

We are best on par with Bangladesh, w indies and Sri lanaka.

Our management is useless our players have no talent and our domestic is rubbish too.

We can fluke a win vs big teams here and there and that's about it.

Better accept our weakness and work on it rather than being deluded

Everyone is just there for point scoring if so and so player was selected this would happen trust me result would be the same you can change chairman selectors captain nothing will change

Problem is with pakistani mentality better work together as team from grass root than slagging eachother off

 

[AliMurtaza]

Absolutely disagree playing 5 specialist bowlers unless two of them can bat. If your 4 premier bowlers are not getting wickets, what will the 5th bowler do?

The idea of 5th bowler only makes sense when your top 4 bowlers are getting 5-6 wickets but then struggling to get tail out/getting tried. But here that’s not the issue. Pak can play 6 specialist bowlers and the result will be the same. Yes, the pitches are flat but Aus and Eng on the same pitches run your ragged. So issue is not the lack of a fifth bowing option but rather the quality of the 4 front line bowlers.

Your 6th batsmen saved you in the first test by scoring a 100. We lost Lahore test against Aus as we played with 5 specialist bowlers and the tail was too long. Same thing happened in Sri Lanka when an out of form Rizwan in top 6 and Nawaz at 7 led to batting collapses.

6 specialist batsmen and a keeper who can bat can help you save matches and I will go with that strategy until you can find a genuine world class allrounder who can bat at 6 along with a bowler who can contribute with the bat at 8.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Absolutely disagree playing 5 specialist bowlers unless two of them can bat. If your 4 premier bowlers are not getting wickets, what will the 5th bowler do?

The idea of 5th bowler only makes sense when your top 4 bowlers are getting 5-6 wickets but then struggling to get tail out/getting tried. But here that’s not the issue. Pak can play 6 specialist bowlers and the result will be the same. Yes, the pitches are flat but Aus and Eng on the same pitches run your ragged. So issue is not the lack of a fifth bowing option but rather the quality of the 4 front line bowlers.

Your 6th batsmen saved you in the first test by scoring a 100. We lost Lahore test against Aus as we played with 5 specialist bowlers and the tail was too long. Same thing happened in Sri Lanka when an out of form Rizwan in top 6 and Nawaz at 7 led to batting collapses.

6 specialist batsmen and a keeper who can bat can help you save matches and I will go with that strategy until you can find a genuine world class allrounder who can bat at 6 along with a bowler who can contribute with the bat at 8.

QOTW nomination here, I'm glad someone can see sense.

 

[hitthestump]

Pakistan seems to be going the West Indies way. Far too much obsession with T20 cricket and as a result their bowlers (or batters for that matter) simply do not have a clue on how to play test matches.

Which team isn't? Outside of the Pig 3 there is no money in test matches and the local population increasingly does not care about it.

It's a discussion which needs it's own thread but it's debatable how long test matches even last in their current state.

 

[Kianig89]

If 4 bowlers can't do it then 5 won't

Pakistan need World class bowlers not these dibbly dobby trundlers, pace attack has gone to gutters literally, we need someone like David Saker

 

[Justcrazy]

You need but how will you get it ?

If you prioratize 20 20 , and discourage 3 day cricket and first class cricket , you will not get bowlers who can bowl long spells , they will all become 4 over bowlers. There is a way , art of taking wickets in Test Matches , you need experience for that.

 

[Savak]

My argument is that if you have 5 quality bowlers at your disposal, you have the benefit of using some of the pacers in short sharp bursts. But atleast 2 of these bowlers apart from being good quality bowlers have to be batting all rounders as well.

 

[Cricket-lion]

My argument is that if you have 5 quality bowlers at your disposal, you have the benefit of using some of the pacers in short sharp bursts. But atleast 2 of these bowlers apart from being good quality bowlers have to be batting all rounders as well.

You will not produce 5 quality bowlers from thin air. With departmental cricket being introduced again, watch the quality slide even more.