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Pakistan's bowling lineup in first Test vs Australia in UAE

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Subhan999

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Predict Pakistan’s bowling lineup against Australia in first Test later this year
 
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Yasir should be the first name on the Teamsheet and the attack should be built around him. As much as I love Faheem, he needs to sit these game out because with Yasir coming in and Sahadab being the spinner, he's the only guy who should make way (especially in the UAE).

Hasan is there for reverse while Amir and Abbas are new ball bowlers. The third spinner could be Harry.
 
Faheem and shadab come as a package. Seems like Mickey can't play one without the other and rightly so because it gives the team balance. So has to be Yasir in for Hasan don't you think so
 
They could try imad instead of Fahim. Keeps the balance and adds a variation into the attack. Imad would lose nightmares on a 5th day uae pitch
 
Subhan999 said:
They could try imad instead of Fahim. Keeps the balance and adds a variation into the attack. Imad would lose nightmares on a 5th day uae pitch
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Imad could be a decent replacement for Fahim but I wouldn't drop Hasan for Yasir. I'd bench Amir then because playing him in UAE is useless and Abbas and Hasan are good enough to share the new ball. Imad wala idea isn't bad at all.
 
1 Azhar ali
2 Imam
3 Babar
4 Harris
5 Shafiq
6 Sirfaraz
7: Shadab
8: Yasir
9: Spinner
10: Abbas
11: Amir


12: Hassan
13: Faheem
14: Zaman
15: Usman
 
The_Odd_One said:
Abbass
Aamir/Hassan
Faheem
Yasir
Shadab
Haris
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i agree with this.

I can think essentially in a 5 man attack in the UAE, theres one spot between Faheem and Hassan. and i think due to what he offers as an all-round package, he gets that.

In any case a 3rd seamer is not going to bowl MANY overs behind 2 fast bowlers and 2 spinners in the UAE/Asia, so giving it to a pure bowler over an allrounder i think isn't needed.
 
When is the first Test match scheduled?
 
You need a finger spinner, especially an off spinner since Aus have so many Lefties.

Moreover, give them no way to get breathe, just keep spinners going at them.

07.Shadab
08.Faheem(has bowled well with the new ball)
09.Bilal Asif
10.Yasir
11.Abbas
 
Kohli said:
You need a finger spinner, especially an off spinner since Aus have so many Lefties.

Moreover, give them no way to get breathe, just keep spinners going at them.

07.Shadab
08.Faheem(has bowled well with the new ball)
09.Bilal Asif
10.Yasir
11.Abbas
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Bilal Asif ???? :O :O - If we need a finger spinner I'd get Gohar in rather than Bilal Asif.
 
ahmedwaqas92 said:
Bilal Asif ???? :O :O - If we need a finger spinner I'd get Gohar in rather than Bilal Asif.
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Well he did say off spinner and Gohar is a SLA but regardless I don’t think Asif is the way to go. Much rather try someone like Agha Salman but this may be the way to go:

Fakhar
Azhar
Haris
Babar
Sarfraz
Faheem
Shadab
Imad
Hassan
Yasir
Abbas

If you need an extra batsmen bring in Shafiq for Imad.
 
ahmedwaqas92 said:
Bilal Asif ???? :O :O - If we need a finger spinner I'd get Gohar in rather than Bilal Asif.
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If possible I'd get in Saqlain mushtaq. Bro, I am talking about which is possible.

Gohar is not even in PCB's plans. Asghar who was in the contract last year has been thrown out, which indicates he's also not in PCB's plans.

Only Bilal is the spinner(for Tests) in the contract apart from Shadab and Yasir. This clearly Indicates he's in PCB's plans. He was also present in last test squad in UAE. I am 110% sure, he's going to be selected in the squad.

Despite me being in India, I am aware what is going to be the realistic squad, I can't help if u say Gohar, Salman, Saqlain etc.
 
AUS might pick 6 lefties in their playing XI, which should force PAK to pick an Offie - add to that combined both sides, possible 3 left-arm pacers bowling over the wicket lots of overs. At this point, I am not sure whom but there must be a decent Off spinner in PAK, with a clean action.

Historically, Aussies are poor against finger spin, particularly Offies - may be one reason is their batting technique and their grooming. Aussie batsmen are groomed on hard, bouncy tracks and their game is built on back-foot. One disadvantage for that is in AUS, they hardly play finger spinners - it's mostly Leggis and may be few SLAO. There is Lyon indeed in recent times, still Off-spinners are fewer than Leggis in AUS domestics. Second reason is, Off-spin is a type, to dominate (or survive on turners), one has to play it on front-foot (by right handers), because it attacks the wicket and makes batting a little risky on back-foot. Some of the greatest demolishers of Off-spin were predominantly front-foot players - Sehwag, Zaheer, Hick, KP, Mahela, Gooch, Azharuddin, Dravid, Pujara .... Historically, if we notice Off-spinners have always troubled Aussies - from Laker, Hugh Tayfield, Prassanna, Gibbs, Tauseef, Bracewell to modern days Bhajji, Murali, Saqlin, Swan, Dilruhan... Off-spinners block their bread & butter shot - back-foot punch/cut squire of the wicket. That's one major reason in another way, Poms are vulnerable against Leg-spin - sweeping Leggi is a risky proposition.

Add to the Aussie woes against Offies, one has to consider 5/6 lefties, mostly in top half. It's a must that an Offie should play. If there is a no ready made Offie available, one has to take a risk and debut someone with potential or experience. Obviously every player has to debut at some point to start career, and it's not essential that the debut has to be always against tried & tested minnows, one can start against Aussies as well. I can recall Tauseef, who was hardly a FC cricketer when he was called for Karachi Test in 1979 against Aussies, probably less than 48 hours before toss and he won that Test with 7/8 wickets. Those days, PAK team/management had characters and people who would take risks with youngsters or unknown faces if the required skill set is there - these days, still PCB is stuck with an option of MoHa being Off-spinner!!!!

Yasir in an automatic choice and only reason Shadab I might play is that he is decent with bat and his stock ball is Googly, which takes it away from Lefties, other wise a classical SLAO spinner was better suited. At this point, I probably'll suggest Fahim to play as he & Shadab covers one less batsman, and Fahim can be decent with old ball. Rest 3 bowlers are Yasir, an Offie & a pacer - I don't mind Wahab, if he is fit. PAK is not going to hurt AUS much with new ball in desert - it has to be spin & old ball.

It's a race against time Vs 20 wickets to win a Test in UAE. If it takes about 200-210 overs to take 20 Aussie wickets, probably 160-170 have to be bowled by spinners - Wahab can bowl 25 overs absolute flat out, mostly with old ball in short spells while 12-15 overs from Fahim is fine, if he can chip in useful 20s & 30s with bat.
 
Imam
Azhar
Haris
Asad
Babar
Sarfraz
Shadab
Yasir
Hassan
Gohar
Abbas
 
1) Imam Ul Haq
2) Azhar Ali
3) Haris Sohail
4) Asad Shafiq
5) Babar Azam
6) Sarfaraz Ahmed
7) Shadab Khan
8) Faheem Ashraf
9) Yasir Shah
10) Muhammad Amir
11) Muhammad Abbas
 
1) Fakhar Zaman
2) Azhar Ali
3) Haris Sohail
4) Asad Shafiq
5) Babar Azam
6) Sarfaraz Ahmed - Would rather have someone else but options are limited.
7) Shadab Khan
8) Faheem Ashraf
9) Yasir Shah
10) Muhammad Amir
11) Muhammad Abbas
 
Abbas
Amir
Faheem
Shadab
Yasir

With Shadab and Faheem batting at 7 and 8
 
It should be like this from 6 onwards. Sarfraz at no.6.
7. Shadab
8. Fahim
9. Amir/Hassan
10. Yasir
11. Abbas

Babar was pretty poor against spin last year. If he doesn't sort his weakness against spin, I would have Saad Ali or Fawad over him. Same goes for Asad Shafiq and Harris. They need to deliver.
I feel Harris will be pretty susceptible against Lyon. Fakhar can definitely get a look in. He can dominate against spin something none of the current team can do. Azhar and Shafiq are good players of spin, but can't dominate spin like Younis or Misbah did. Sarfraz is too inconsistent and needs to improve his batting.
 
So the Top Six will be Azhar, Imam, Haris, Shafiq, Babar, and Sarfraz.

Then it gets interesting.

Sarfraz has stated in the press-conference following the 200+ score that “we might try FZ in the UAE”. With Salahuddin’s less than stellar debut, MA is just waiting for the right moment to debut him.

Adding to the conundrum, both Shadab and Fahim have been match-winners in two tough matches from back-to-the-wall situations. Therefore, to drop either would seem unreasonable.

Yet, Yasir Shah has been the go-to-man for PAK in the UAE for the last four years. He has taken 79 wickets with 5 five-wicket-hauls at just 25.30 with an ER of just under three.

I would prefer Numbers 7-11 to be the following:

Shadab

Bilal (If needed, be replaced by FZ at #6).

Yasir

Junaid (You do not want Wahab’s erratic control to cost you runs which are gold dust in the UAE and neither do you want to risk breaking the back of a young seamer like Amir, Hasan, UKS, Faheem, etc).

Abbas
 
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Subhan999 said:
Faheem and shadab come as a package. Seems like Mickey can't play one without the other and rightly so because it gives the team balance. So has to be Yasir in for Hasan don't you think so
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That should be in OD , not test cricket.
 
ahmedwaqas92 said:
Imad could be a decent replacement for Fahim but I wouldn't drop Hasan for Yasir. I'd bench Amir then because playing him in UAE is useless and Abbas and Hasan are good enough to share the new ball. Imad wala idea isn't bad at all.
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Imad's style of bowling is very similar to Jadeja and he could be a genuine menace on spinning wickets with his disciplined line. But don't see this happening since he has just returned from injury and is nowhere near the test team.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Imad's style of bowling is very similar to Jadeja and he could be a genuine menace on spinning wickets with his disciplined line. But don't see this happening since he has just returned from injury and is nowhere near the test team.
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Jadeja has mastered flight, line, length, subtle variation and his action allows him to actually spin the ball.

Imad cannot spin the ball away from the right-handed therefore teams’ after facing him for 10-15 overs, play him as a military-medium in-swing bowler.

The reason he got spanked in AUS after having a wonderful intial two ODI’s.
 
7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Mohammad Amir
10. Yasir Shah
11. Mohammad Abbas


Personally think selecting a finger-spinner like Kashif Bhatti (leading spinner of last QEA Trophy) or Imad Wasim over Faheem would be better but we all know Mickey is in love with the idea of playing 3 seamers and Faheem provides him with the opportunity to do so. And besides the Australians are going to unravel even if we send our U-15 spinners
 
Subhan999 said:
Predict Pakistan’s bowling lineup against Australia in first Test later this year
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Opening pair - Amir and Abbas
First change - Ali
Leggy - Yasir and Shadab (his batting is enough to put him in the side)
4th seamer - Faheem

I know 6 bowlers may seem a lot but Pakistan's quality lies in their utility players and neither deserves to be dropped.

The batting line up will form as thus (I hope)

1. Aslam
2. Zaman
3. Ali
4. Babar
5. Shafiq
6. Sarfraz
7. Faheem
8. Shadab

Azhar Ali could go in as opener, meaning Haris probably gets into the middle order but whatever the combo, Zaman has to play as do the two all rounders.
 
If you have so many left-handed batsman playing I will be tempted to play Hafeez . Can score runs can choke the batsmen. There is no harm in choosing horses for courses
Kind of a farewell series , in a way deserved farewell series. When chips were down in 2010 Hafeez did alot for the team . He is still decent for UAE
 
Pack your team with spinners.

No need of pacers against Aus. They will love to play against Hasan, Amir rather than Shadab, Imad, Yasir.
 
ManFan said:
Jadeja has mastered flight, line, length, subtle variation and his action allows him to actually spin the ball.

Imad cannot spin the ball away from the right-handed therefore teams’ after facing him for 10-15 overs, play him as a military-medium in-swing bowler.

The reason he got spanked in AUS after having a wonderful intial two ODI’s.
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Are you serious? Jadeja barely spins the ball. Yes, he has mastered all the areas you mentioned but he is not a conventional spinner like Ashwin.

I realize that Imad with his action poses even less of a chance of spinning the ball but he is one of those bowlers who is capable of bowling a disciplined and tight line which makes him difficult to get away and as a result he can capitalize on the batsman's mistakes. As a test bowler he has a lot of potential. Only problem I see in his bowling is that he currently does not possess the ability to deceive the batsman with flight. At all. Which is something you have to be good at if you can't spin the ball.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Are you serious? Jadeja barely spins the ball. Yes, he has mastered all the areas you mentioned but he is not a conventional spinner like Ashwin.

I realize that Imad with his action poses even less of a chance of spinning the ball but he is one of those bowlers who is capable of bowling a disciplined and tight line which makes him difficult to get away and as a result he can capitalize on the batsman's mistakes. As a test bowler he has a lot of potential. Only problem I see in his bowling is that he currently does not possess the ability to deceive the batsman with flight. At all. Which is something you have to be good at if you can't spin the ball.
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Jadeja spins it just enough to cause doubt in the batsman’s mind.

Imad just angles it in with the natural angle.
 
ahmedwaqas92 said:
Yasir should be the first name on the Teamsheet and the attack should be built around him. As much as I love Faheem, he needs to sit these game out because with Yasir coming in and Sahadab being the spinner, he's the only guy who should make way (especially in the UAE).

Hasan is there for reverse while Amir and Abbas are new ball bowlers. The third spinner could be Harry.
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We can rest Aamir for tests in UAE instead play fahim in his place. I would also like Hasan to be used wisely in tests in UAE till the world cup next year.. Abbas, Fahim, Yasir, shadab, hasan ( rotational basis).
 
Shadab
Faheem
Yasir
Hasan
Gohar

Faheem and Hasan can share the new ball and Hasan can bowl reverse swing later in the innings.

Just because Aussies have a bunch of lefties doesn't mean we need an off spinner, if we had a good enough off spinner I would recommend him but we don't and we're better off picking the better bowler even if he's a SLA
 
aloo paratha said:
Shadab
Faheem
Yasir
Hasan
Gohar

Faheem and Hasan can share the new ball and Hasan can bowl reverse swing later in the innings.

Just because Aussies have a bunch of lefties doesn't mean we need an off spinner, if we had a good enough off spinner I would recommend him but we don't and we're better off picking the better bowler even if he's a SLA
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Faheem is not good enough to be the 2nd seamer. I would replace him with Abbas.

I agree with the rest of the attack.
 
Yasir Shah
Hasan Ali
Mohammad Abbas
Shadab Khan
Faheem Ashraf
Haris Sohail

3 spinners, 3 pacers.

Have Wahab and Imran Khan as backup pacers in the squad, and Zafar as backup spinner.

Don't play Amir in UAE Tests.

If Zafar is not picked and Bilal is, I wouldn't mind too much (as that's more realistic and I'm not expecting Gohar to get a call up).
 
AFM said:
Faheem is not good enough to be the 2nd seamer. I would replace him with Abbas.

I agree with the rest of the attack.
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It's the UAE, he can open the bowling and bowl around 5 overs, and come back when the ball is reversing, bulk of the bowling will be done by Yasir, shadab and Gohar anyways, Faheem is good enough to bowl 12-15 overs a day.
 
I am not worried about our bowling, you pick any 4 Pakistani bowlers and they have the ability to bowl Australia under 250. The problem is our batting..,
 
gazza619 said:
I am not worried about our bowling, you pick any 4 Pakistani bowlers and they have the ability to bowl Australia under 250. The problem is our batting..,
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You will need five bowlers not four. Only question will be which alltounder Pakistan plays (Shadab, Faheem, Nawaz)
 
Pakistan need to get a test match for junaid khan and shaheen shah somehow during this home season. Will need one or both of them in South Africa. They might need to step in if Aamir does poorly in the tests
 
I firmly believe finger spinner like Gohar or Ashgar should play to compliment Yasir's wrist spin. I'm pretty indifferent as to who, but Zafar might pip it for me as he's handier with the bat.

It's surely an ideal series to hand out a debut. Australia should be weak and pitches will be helpful.
 
Zafar/Ashgar
Hasan
Yasir Shah
Abbas

I'm not sure Shadab's ready for tests, he might be but last time on spinning tracks he wasn't.
 
I'd go with an overall line up of

1. Imam
2. Fakhar
3. Azhar
4. Haris
5. Babar
6. Asad
7. Sarfraz
8. Yasir
9. Zafar
10. Hasan
11. Abbas

Usman unfortunately misses out as both ODI openers Fakhar and Imam have been getting big innings in LOIs, as well as Imam showing potential in tests. Plus with Azhar's recent woes might be worth trying him down at 3, and putting what is becoming our established pair in ODIs at the top.

Asad gets to go down at 6 again, as other places are filled, and Babar got his scores before getting injured at 5 anyway.
 
Take 3 spinners.

Match over in less than 3 days.

No need to even bother showing up for other bowlers.
 
How are people putting both Shadab and Yasir in the same line-up.... :facepalm:


If Shadab plays then Yasir doesn't and vice versa. I for one would want Yasir to play and Shadab to be replaced with Gohar or Asghar. We need Shadab as a number seven batsman and competent bowler when we tour abroad, but on the dead pitches of UAE he might not be as effective as a bowler and his batting might not be needed.


Bowling attack for me:

Amir
Abbas
Fahim
Yasir
Asghar/Gohar
 
Syed1 said:
How are people putting both Shadab and Yasir in the same line-up.... :facepalm:


If Shadab plays then Yasir doesn't and vice versa. I for one would want Yasir to play and Shadab to be replaced with Gohar or Asghar. We need Shadab as a number seven batsman and competent bowler when we tour abroad, but on the dead pitches of UAE he might not be as effective as a bowler and his batting might not be needed.


Bowling attack for me:

Amir
Abbas
Fahim
Yasir
Asghar/Gohar
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What is Amir doing in that lineup. Why should he be there even in the squad?
 
I would say that we should have 3 seamers in the XI, Abbas, Amir, and Hasan Ali.

2 spinners in Shadab and Yasir, we all know Aus struggle against spin.

I think I may have said a few months ago in the thread about the overall hypothetical squad for that series, I may have said differently, can't remember what I said tbh but I think Ashraf won't be needed in the XI, in the flat pitches of UAE I can't see him doing much.
 
Good that Misbah is not captain anymore otherwise Zulfiqar Babar would have been recalled.
 
Fakhar
Imam
Azhar
Haris
Asad
Babar
Sarfraz
Shadab
Yasir
Amir/Hasan
Abbas

Keep Asghar, Fahim and Usman in the squad
 
1. Imam
2. Azhar
3. Haris
4. Asad
5. Babar
6. Sarfaraz
7. Shadab
8. Zafar Gohar
9. Hasan/Yasir
10. Amir
11. Abbas
 
Azhar
Imam
Haris
Asad
Babar
Sarfraz
Shadab/imad/hafeez (imad or hafeez for variety if they don't want 2 leg spinners)
Faheem
Yasir
Amir
Abbas

Or

Azhar
Imam
Haris
Asad
Babar
Fakhar
Sarfraz
Yasir
Amir
Abbas
Asghar

Not entirely sure which one I would choose, both are good lineups
 
Pakistan would earn better revenue if they played their home games in England, USA or even Canada.

Boringggg!
 
Yasir/Shadab
Zafar
Hasan
Abbas

That should be the attack. No need for faheem I think . Asad and Azhar are decent part time options and pace is pretty useless here anyway. Pakistan really need to play 6 batsmen + Sarfraz here. I'd even think shadab over Yasir might be fine since he can add runs.
 
Yes Shadab and Yasir can play together because with the former I feel his greater asset is with the bat currently in the longer form of the game, also underpinned by the frailty of the batting line up. His leg spin has a long way to go in tests but batting seems to come more natural to him for sure.

I believe his bowling in LOIs will still come handy for many years to come. For someone so young his composure and awareness with his batting is very impressive, so it will just be a matter of time when he is recognised globally as a batting all-rounder. Unlike Shehzad and Umar Akmal, I don't see this guy letting fame get to his head.

He is also a captain and a star in the making; reinforced by his cricketing brain, work rate and his brilliant standard of fielding. Shadab has the charisma unlike the other players in the side - the younger people will actually want to aspire to be him - not the bland looks/personalities of Shafiqs, Sarfrazs, Faheems et al.

Not to forget Smith played his first game or two as a number 8, if we cast our minds back to the 2010 series v Pak, where he was picked as a specialist leggie but even back then the Aussie representative in the comm box (forgotten his name) knew that he was a very talented batsman and was proven correct.

So Shadab should bat up the order which will allow 2 specialist spinners; one of them will be Yasir as the main spinner and the other should either be a leftie or ideally a right offie given there is a strong possibility of Australia playing many left handers. Unfortunately in respect of the latter, only Bilal Asif has a clean action who could be effective with his dip and bounce (given his height).

Fakhar Zaman is a must as there isn't anyone who in the current test set up who plays spin better than him but I would bat him lower down the order because I don't think he is ready to open in all conditions against the red cherry.

Never been a fan of Shafiq and to me he's always been a serial bottler plus he's not getting any younger either. I'm also not a fan of Faheem but I want to see what he can do against spin because the batting against the spin of SL was woeful to say the least.

Azhar Ali
Imam
Haris
Fakhar
Babar
Shadab
Faheem
Sarfraz
Bilal Asif/Gohar/Asghar
Hasan Ali/Amir (rotate between tests)
Abbas
 
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troodon said:
Pack your team with spinners.

No need of pacers against Aus. They will love to play against Hasan, Amir rather than Shadab, Imad, Yasir.
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I agree with this, don't do what the opposition wants you to do.

The Australian batsmen have been rolled over time and again by spin bowling in Asia. We should play a minimum of two spinners, but I'd go further and play three - in the UAE in late Sep/early Oct you expect extremely hot and dry conditions that will give pacers no assistance whatsoever. We saw the three pacer strategy backfire against SL last autumn.

shariqnoor said:
3 spinners. Amir to sit out. 2 leggies and 1 offie.
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Yep, Amir just hasn't produced the goods in Test cricket when wickets have been flat. Given he's intimated that he wants to reduce his Test workload, his fitness issues and the fact we have a World Cup on the horizon - I would rotate him in UAE Tests with Hasan Ali who's also playing all three formats, with both playing together only outside Asia.

ads101 said:
I'd go with an overall line up of

1. Imam
2. Fakhar
3. Azhar
4. Haris
5. Babar
6. Asad
7. Sarfraz
8. Yasir
9. Zafar
10. Hasan
11. Abbas
Click to expand...

I want Fakhar in the side in the UAE too. I don't like the Azhar-Imam combination as when they struggle, they consume a lot of overs with the scoreboard having gone nowhere. We were 15-2 after 10 overs a few occasions on our UK/Ireland tour and it puts pressure on our inexperienced middle order.

Overall, I'd go Azhar, Imam (replace with Fakhar for NZL if he fails vs Australia), Haris, Shafiq, Babar, Sarfraz, Shadab, Yasir, Amir/Ali, Gohar/B Asif/K Bhatti, Abbas.
 
MMHS said:
AUS might pick 6 lefties in their playing XI, which should force PAK to pick an Offie - add to that combined both sides, possible 3 left-arm pacers bowling over the wicket lots of overs. At this point, I am not sure whom but there must be a decent Off spinner in PAK, with a clean action.

Historically, Aussies are poor against finger spin, particularly Offies - may be one reason is their batting technique and their grooming. Aussie batsmen are groomed on hard, bouncy tracks and their game is built on back-foot. One disadvantage for that is in AUS, they hardly play finger spinners - it's mostly Leggis and may be few SLAO. There is Lyon indeed in recent times, still Off-spinners are fewer than Leggis in AUS domestics. Second reason is, Off-spin is a type, to dominate (or survive on turners), one has to play it on front-foot (by right handers), because it attacks the wicket and makes batting a little risky on back-foot. Some of the greatest demolishers of Off-spin were predominantly front-foot players - Sehwag, Zaheer, Hick, KP, Mahela, Gooch, Azharuddin, Dravid, Pujara .... Historically, if we notice Off-spinners have always troubled Aussies - from Laker, Hugh Tayfield, Prassanna, Gibbs, Tauseef, Bracewell to modern days Bhajji, Murali, Saqlin, Swan, Dilruhan... Off-spinners block their bread & butter shot - back-foot punch/cut squire of the wicket. That's one major reason in another way, Poms are vulnerable against Leg-spin - sweeping Leggi is a risky proposition.

Add to the Aussie woes against Offies, one has to consider 5/6 lefties, mostly in top half. It's a must that an Offie should play. If there is a no ready made Offie available, one has to take a risk and debut someone with potential or experience. Obviously every player has to debut at some point to start career, and it's not essential that the debut has to be always against tried & tested minnows, one can start against Aussies as well. I can recall Tauseef, who was hardly a FC cricketer when he was called for Karachi Test in 1979 against Aussies, probably less than 48 hours before toss and he won that Test with 7/8 wickets. Those days, PAK team/management had characters and people who would take risks with youngsters or unknown faces if the required skill set is there - these days, still PCB is stuck with an option of MoHa being Off-spinner!!!!

Yasir in an automatic choice and only reason Shadab I might play is that he is decent with bat and his stock ball is Googly, which takes it away from Lefties, other wise a classical SLAO spinner was better suited. At this point, I probably'll suggest Fahim to play as he & Shadab covers one less batsman, and Fahim can be decent with old ball. Rest 3 bowlers are Yasir, an Offie & a pacer - I don't mind Wahab, if he is fit. PAK is not going to hurt AUS much with new ball in desert - it has to be spin & old ball.

It's a race against time Vs 20 wickets to win a Test in UAE. If it takes about 200-210 overs to take 20 Aussie wickets, probably 160-170 have to be bowled by spinners - Wahab can bowl 25 overs absolute flat out, mostly with old ball in short spells while 12-15 overs from Fahim is fine, if he can chip in useful 20s & 30s with bat.
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[MENTION=143344]babajee[/MENTION]

How much do you see of this happening? :)
 
MMHS said:
AUS might pick 6 lefties in their playing XI, which should force PAK to pick an Offie - add to that combined both sides, possible 3 left-arm pacers bowling over the wicket lots of overs. At this point, I am not sure whom but there must be a decent Off spinner in PAK, with a clean action.

Historically, Aussies are poor against finger spin, particularly Offies - may be one reason is their batting technique and their grooming. Aussie batsmen are groomed on hard, bouncy tracks and their game is built on back-foot. One disadvantage for that is in AUS, they hardly play finger spinners - it's mostly Leggis and may be few SLAO. There is Lyon indeed in recent times, still Off-spinners are fewer than Leggis in AUS domestics. Second reason is, Off-spin is a type, to dominate (or survive on turners), one has to play it on front-foot (by right handers), because it attacks the wicket and makes batting a little risky on back-foot. Some of the greatest demolishers of Off-spin were predominantly front-foot players - Sehwag, Zaheer, Hick, KP, Mahela, Gooch, Azharuddin, Dravid, Pujara .... Historically, if we notice Off-spinners have always troubled Aussies - from Laker, Hugh Tayfield, Prassanna, Gibbs, Tauseef, Bracewell to modern days Bhajji, Murali, Saqlin, Swan, Dilruhan... Off-spinners block their bread & butter shot - back-foot punch/cut squire of the wicket. That's one major reason in another way, Poms are vulnerable against Leg-spin - sweeping Leggi is a risky proposition.

Add to the Aussie woes against Offies, one has to consider 5/6 lefties, mostly in top half. It's a must that an Offie should play. If there is a no ready made Offie available, one has to take a risk and debut someone with potential or experience. Obviously every player has to debut at some point to start career, and it's not essential that the debut has to be always against tried & tested minnows, one can start against Aussies as well. I can recall Tauseef, who was hardly a FC cricketer when he was called for Karachi Test in 1979 against Aussies, probably less than 48 hours before toss and he won that Test with 7/8 wickets. Those days, PAK team/management had characters and people who would take risks with youngsters or unknown faces if the required skill set is there - these days, still PCB is stuck with an option of MoHa being Off-spinner!!!!

Yasir in an automatic choice and only reason Shadab I might play is that he is decent with bat and his stock ball is Googly, which takes it away from Lefties, other wise a classical SLAO spinner was better suited. At this point, I probably'll suggest Fahim to play as he & Shadab covers one less batsman, and Fahim can be decent with old ball. Rest 3 bowlers are Yasir, an Offie & a pacer - I don't mind Wahab, if he is fit. PAK is not going to hurt AUS much with new ball in desert - it has to be spin & old ball.

It's a race against time Vs 20 wickets to win a Test in UAE. If it takes about 200-210 overs to take 20 Aussie wickets, probably 160-170 have to be bowled by spinners - Wahab can bowl 25 overs absolute flat out, mostly with old ball in short spells while 12-15 overs from Fahim is fine, if he can chip in useful 20s & 30s with bat.
Click to expand...
its time to remind.
 
mak36 said:
You also said Waleed Ahmed should play.
Click to expand...

As usual one liner summary .... anyway, I need to clear it, other wise one liner will grow brunches.

I said, one Off spinner is a must against AUS, why, I think there is an essay for explaining that. Now, if not a ready made one available either find a new kid or a new face with lots of experience, even if required he can debut against AUS.

Waleed's name came because his father was picked almost from nets 24 hours before Karachi Test 1979, against AUS ..... and he did take 7/8 wickets in his debut to win that Test. He is an Offie and took a 5 for in both List A & FC debut or something like that.

Why only Waleed - I named three others, excluding the guy taking a 6for today - one is 38 years old Tahir Khan, another two are a new kid Asiq Ali (or similar name), and the last one was some Hasseb guy taking 10 wickets in one game. Bottom line is to play a specialist Offie, instead of MoHa the all-rounder who has bowled in total 3/4 overs in this innings.

I believe, I have a bad reputation of writing essays, still looks like the only thing stuck is "Waleed" .... may be next time I'll have to write epics so that at least some context also reach below the skull.
 
MMHS said:
As usual one liner summary .... anyway, I need to clear it, other wise one liner will grow brunches.

I said, one Off spinner is a must against AUS, why, I think there is an essay for explaining that. Now, if not a ready made one available either find a new kid or a new face with lots of experience, even if required he can debut against AUS.

Waleed's name came because his father was picked almost from nets 24 hours before Karachi Test 1979, against AUS ..... and he did take 7/8 wickets in his debut to win that Test. He is an Offie and took a 5 for in both List A & FC debut or something like that.

Why only Waleed - I named three others, excluding the guy taking a 6for today - one is 38 years old Tahir Khan, another two are a new kid Asiq Ali (or similar name), and the last one was some Hasseb guy taking 10 wickets in one game. Bottom line is to play a specialist Offie, instead of MoHa the all-rounder who has bowled in total 3/4 overs in this innings.

I believe, I have a bad reputation of writing essays, still looks like the only thing stuck is "Waleed" .... may be next time I'll have to write epics so that at least some context also reach below the skull.
Click to expand...

The part you have missed is you also said Mickey wouldn't pick an offspinner.

As for your reputation, I think it is more that you refuse to accept when you are wrong and are very sensitive to criticism (your exchange with Saj today is a case in point). :)
 
mak36 said:
The part you have missed is you also said Mickey wouldn't pick an offspinner.

As for your reputation, I think it is more that you refuse to accept when you are wrong and are very sensitive to criticism (your exchange with Saj today is a case in point). :)
Click to expand...

Mickey has a track record of playing 3 pacers in two UAE Tests, but I guess sarcasm also needs to be elaborated with essay so that it reaches below the skull. And, I am still not sure if Mickey would have picked Bilal had Shadab been full fit. Last year, SRL won the series not because of Herath, rather Karuna, a lefti who scored a daddy hundred in 1st Test, still Mickey didn’t pick 2nd spinner, let alone an Offie.

I am well aware of my reputation here, most of the posters are as well. Therefore, what exchange I had with Saj in case of point, I am not sure. Let’s call him here, just to make sure that someone is not trying to save own reputation after being called on bluffing.
[MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] - dear bro, did I refuse to accept something that I was proven wrong? I need to know that, so that I get myself corrected from reacting on “sensitive criticism”.
 
MMHS said:
Mickey has a track record of playing 3 pacers in two UAE Tests, but I guess sarcasm also needs to be elaborated with essay so that it reaches below the skull. And, I am still not sure if Mickey would have picked Bilal had Shadab been full fit. Last year, SRL won the series not because of Herath, rather Karuna, a lefti who scored a daddy hundred in 1st Test, still Mickey didn’t pick 2nd spinner, let alone an Offie.

I am well aware of my reputation here, most of the posters are as well. Therefore, what exchange I had with Saj in case of point, I am not sure. Let’s call him here, just to make sure that someone is not trying to save own reputation after being called on bluffing.

[MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] - dear bro, did I refuse to accept something that I was proven wrong? I need to know that, so that I get myself corrected from reacting on “sensitive criticism”.
Click to expand...

Such insightful analysis:

MMHS said:
There won’t be found any one before MoHa retires, may be after 2027 WC. He has enough contacts to keep that space vacant - like this time Billal was picked to make sure that no new offie can get a shot at 5-6 Aussie lefti on turner.
Click to expand...

MMHS said:
Bilal was picked to ensure that the off-spinner's spot is NOT booked. What do you think - Mickey Arthur is a tool to play a 33 years old Offie, who has 59 wickets in 23 FC games, more importantly someone bowling 29 overs/FC game - when the requirement is more than 29 overs/innings.
Click to expand...
 
mak36 said:
Such insightful analysis:
Click to expand...

Stupid post, as usual - last 2 posts were against a question of why PAK didn't find an Offie in 5-6 years. An Offie is must against AUS & they picked the best one they thought, who happens to bowl 29 overs/FC game. Do you think it's factually incorrect?
 
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