Sarfraz Ahmed in Tests outside Asia

[Saj]

Sarfraz has 18 Test innings outside Asia and is yet to score a 50. He averages 19.52 outside Asia in Tests.

I'm a fan but time and again he throws his wicket away.

Today Pakistan had NZ struggling and lacking ideas but Sarfraz plays a shot that was shameful and gives New Zealand with the impetus they needed and exposes the tailenders again.

Thoughtless and poor cricket from Sarfraz.

 

[AlphaFighter]

Sarfaraz plays with the style of live and die by the sword. He will always play his shots regardless of the situation. That approach will either pay off or end in tears. But this is the only way he can be effective, i don't think he has a good defensive technique. In any case he did a better job than our top 6 so lets not criticize him.

 

[coy0607]

nothing shameful about Sarfraz's innings today- this is what he is, he plays an aggressive brand of cricket, and he's not going to change. You can either have him in the team, or if you have someone better you drop him, and currently there is no better WK-batsmen

shameful is the captain getting 1 off 18- he's the one who needs to be reprimanded

 

[Saj]

20s and 30s and the occasional 40 never hurt the opposition.

Just because your approach is aggressive doesn't mean that you have to keep throwing your wicket away.

Sarfraz is a better Test batsman than his stats outside Asia suggest.

We've heard this this is how he plays and live and die by the sword nonsense for some other Pakistani players also, some who went on to play 100s of matches, mainly with mediocrity with the bat.

 

[Boi]

If he's to bat at number 6 in the future when we start playing an al rounder at 7 he will have to show more responsibility.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Very valuable 40 today.

 

[coy0607]

Very valuable 40 today.

not just the 40 runs, but changed the tempo of the game. All of a sudden runs are flowing and the field is spread

if he'd played an Azhar Ali type knock- Pakistan would've been bowled out by now

 

[Major]

Fans will never hate him because he hits shots and for them those few shots for 20s and 30s are entertainment.

I think its time we bring in adnan back who has scores to back himself up.

Sarfraz is a walking wicket. Atleast shafiq and azhar could save pakistan with a 100 but his 40s are no use in test. It doesnt affect the opposition at all

 

[Major]

not just the 40 runs, but changed the tempo of the game. All of a sudden runs are flowing and the field is spread

if he'd played an Azhar Ali type knock- Pakistan would've been bowled out by now

Azhar has the ability to score a 300 atleast. Just because you play aggressive shots doesnt mean you could score runs.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

I would've liked him to carry on but his innings today set the tone and wasn't a good knock. Played crucial knocks at Lords too. Easily the best Test keeper batsman in the country and probably the 3rd best in the world.

 

[angrypathan]

To be fair a lot of his knocks outside Asia have come before he established himself in the team, the one test in Australia, and the horror show in South Africa. Nevertheless, he has been throwing his wicket away far too much. Two 50's in the last 20 innings with a highest of 56 isn't good enough

 

[The Paradox]

Fans will never hate him because he hits shots and for them those few shots for 20s and 30s are entertainment.

I think its time we bring in adnan back who has scores to back himself up.

Sarfraz is a walking wicket. Atleast shafiq and azhar could save pakistan with a 100 but his 40s are no use in test. It doesnt affect the opposition at all

You want to drop a guy who scores 20s, 30s, 40s in difficult conditions like this, although he definitely should do better when settled, for a guy who averages less than 25 playing almost his entire career in UAE?

Which scores does Adnan have to back himself up? What on earth?

 

[godzilla]

It was a frustrating and irresponsible shot to get out, but can't begrudge 40 runs and taking the attack to the opposition, which probably eased the way for Baber too, so was effectively worth more than his 40.

I hope he can hone his shot selection, but apart from that I would rather point the finger of blame at the feeble top order who's sole job it is to play responsibly and return big runs.

 

[jog_1]

Has a lot of potential, just needs to kick on from his starts. 30-40s aren't always gonna be good enough from him.

 

[Major]

You want to drop a guy who scores 20s, 30s, 40s in difficult conditions like this, although he definitely should do better when settled, for a guy who averages less than 25 playing almost his entire career in UAE?

Which scores does Adnan have to back himself up? What on earth?

look at his recent domestic records

 

[talha3]

20s and 30s and the occasional 40 never hurt the opposition.

Just because your approach is aggressive doesn't mean that you have to keep throwing your wicket away.

Sarfraz is a better Test batsman than his stats outside Asia suggest.

We've heard this this is how he plays and live and die by the sword nonsense for some other Pakistani players also, some who went on to play 100s of matches, mainly with mediocrity with the bat.

I take your point and understand your argument when applied to the other player you implicitly mention. However in Sarfraz's case it really is a case of taking the good with the bad.

I'm sure you have appreciated some of the wonderful innings he has played in the past for Pakistan, match changing innings. Throughout those innings he has played shots as loose as the one he played today but they came off then. There is a fine line between positive intent and recklessness in test cricket and on most occasions the eventual outcome (i.e success or failure) determines the label the player is given.

As another poster mentions, we should also not just regard this innings as 'just' another 40. The effect of the tempo and the pressure released off Babar during the innings is valuable.

 

[waleed88]

Sarfraz has 18 Test innings outside Asia and is yet to score a 50. He averages 19.52 outside Asia in Tests.

I'm a fan but time and again he throws his wicket away.

Today Pakistan had NZ struggling and lacking ideas but Sarfraz plays a shot that was shameful and gives New Zealand with the impetus they needed and exposes the tailenders again.

Thoughtless and poor cricket from Sarfraz.

Well he has been below par in 2016 :

5 Matches (9 innings) 242 Runs 46* H.S 26.88 Average

But it's not as bad as 19.52

 

[waleed88]

He averaged 32.16 in England, but this first test match vs NZ has taken down his average quite a bit..

 

[Speedster777]

It was Sarfraz who changed the tempo of the match not Babar or the rest. The problem is with younus, Azhar and Shafiq who are unable to score runs and lead us to this dangerous situation again and again.

 

[Major]

It was Sarfraz who changed the tempo of the match not Babar or the rest. The problem is with Azhar and Shafiq who are unable to score runs and lead us to this dangerous situation again and again.

the tempo? So it was because of him other batsmen are playing fast? THat logic makes no sense

Babar is playing the bad deliveries, and Sohail Khan is known for playing his attacking shots against bouncers.

This has nothing to do with sarfraz

 

[Speedster777]

It was Sarfraz who put NZ under pressure they were all over the place when he was on. His contribution was significant in putting Pakstan in control of the match.

 

[Hamza_]

Well he has been below par in 2016 :

5 Matches (9 innings) 242 Runs 46* H.S 26.88 Average

But it's not as bad as 19.52

Couldn't have done much in first test either. Got a ripper from boult

 

[MMHS]

His stats are a bit dented by his initial career (for which he was dropped), but still it's a valid concern. However, I don't think there is much option left - Adnan might bat below Sohail & Rizwan is not a Test class WK, not impressed with other options either.

May be PAK has to stick with Sarfu (but, for haven's sake, don't make him Test Captain) for next 2/3 years at least. I would have fast tracked the WC2016 U19 kid, as early as possible & make him wok with Rixon.

 

[coy0607]

the tempo? So it was because of him other batsmen are playing fast? THat logic makes no sense

Babar is playing the bad deliveries, and Sohail Khan is known for playing his attacking shots against bouncers.

This has nothing to do with sarfraz

Of course it does, don't be naive

If Azhar was on the other end with 30 off 100+ balls, do you really think Babar would be playing the same way- of course not

If a batsmen is playing shots and scorings runs, of course it'll effect his partner and how the opposition is bowling

 

[srh]

Sarfraz has 18 Test innings outside Asia and is yet to score a 50. He averages 19.52 outside Asia in Tests.

I'm a fan but time and again he throws his wicket away.

Today Pakistan had NZ struggling and lacking ideas but Sarfraz plays a shot that was shameful and gives New Zealand with the impetus they needed and exposes the tailenders again.

Thoughtless and poor cricket from Sarfraz.

selfish inning. these players become selfish the more they stay in the team

 

[The_Odd_One]

Fans will never hate him because he hits shots and for them those few shots for 20s and 30s are entertainment.

I think its time we bring in adnan back who has scores to back himself up.

Sarfraz is a walking wicket. Atleast shafiq and azhar could save pakistan with a 100 but his 40s are no use in test. It doesnt affect the opposition at all

When do Azhar and Asad score 100s outside Asia?

 

[The_Odd_One]

Sarfraz is wasting his potential. I think he has taken aggressive style too seriously. He has improved as a LO batsman but regressed in tests.

 

[waleed88]

the tempo? So it was because of him other batsmen are playing fast? THat logic makes no sense

Babar is playing the bad deliveries, and Sohail Khan is known for playing his attacking shots against bouncers.

This has nothing to do with sarfraz

I think he basically negated Southee's initial spell and took him out of the attack.. Southee was the most lethal bowler yesterday and his toying with him made Williamson decide to get Wagner in..

When Southee's 3 overs went for 30, it sort of signalled a change in the mindset and put NZ on the backfoot

But then threw it away vs Wagner...

By the time he was out, the team was still in dire straits 125/6, so it wasn't a wise thing to do and should be criticized for that

However SK sort of took aback the NZ bowlers, with some luck (2 top edged sixes, SK's leave shot boundary) and a couple of over throws going for 4, it took the wind out of NZ's sails a little bit... SK scored some bonus runs and reprieved Sarfaraz of his error..

 

[waleed88]

Southee came back to remove SK, but the damage had been done by Sarfraz, SK by then..

 

[Mamoon]

He is no Bairstow, de Kock or Buttler, but he's well ahead of our other options.

He has improved greatly in ODIs but I think people are looking at his slump in Tests from a wrong angle.

He had a purple patch in 2014-15 where he batted like Gilchrist and scored a hundred every series. He was averaging close to 50.

That is not a true reflection of his caliber because he's the type of batsman who will score quick 30s and 40s with the odd big score.

What he's doing now is performing at his par level, which is reasonable enough.

 

[MRSN]

nothing shameful about Sarfraz's innings today- this is what he is, he plays an aggressive brand of cricket, and he's not going to change. You can either have him in the team, or if you have someone better you drop him, and currently there is no better WK-batsmen

shameful is the captain getting 1 off 18- he's the one who needs to be reprimanded

but its shameful when Umar Akmal applies it but not when Sarfraz does the same? Really? We have double standards don't we?

 

[Slog]

Fans will never hate him because he hits shots and for them those few shots for 20s and 30s are entertainment.

I think its time we bring in adnan back who has scores to back himself up.

Sarfraz is a walking wicket. Atleast shafiq and azhar could save pakistan with a 100 but his 40s are no use in test. It doesnt affect the opposition at all

You want Adnan akmal back who averages 24 :-O

We can disagree on how good or useful Sarfaraz is but he does average 50 or so in Asia!

surely in asia he is on a different planet to adnan akmal and overseas at worst, they are equals.

 

[Slog]

but its shameful when Umar Akmal applies it but not when Sarfraz does the same? Really? We have double standards don't we?

sarfaraz is wk

umar akmal will play as a specialist batsman

 

[Slog]

When do Azhar and Asad score 100s outside Asia?

every other tour pretty much

asad has centuries in SA, Eng and good knocks earlier in NZ.

 

[coy0607]

but its shameful when Umar Akmal applies it but not when Sarfraz does the same? Really? We have double standards don't we?

Not at all. We have better batsmen than Umar Akmal in the country so he's out, and we don't have a better WK batsmen than Safraz so he's in

No double standards about it

 

[chacha kashmiri]

I still think kamran akmal should be wk
The best batsman we've had as a counter attacker since imran nazir

Sarfraz has not let Pakistan down
Outside Asia maybe he needs to play more cleverly and not give the impression that he doesn't value his own wicket

 

[The Paradox]

look at his recent domestic records

It seems like he's doing well. Averaging 50.

But it's a complicated matter. You can also argue someone like Kamran Akmal deserves a shot as a batsman because of how well he is performing and while I do rate domestic performance high, I think in some cases unless there's a clear improvement, it could be very misleading when it comes to players who has represented the team before and have shown to be lacking in their skill.

I would stick with Sarfraz for now, but perhaps Adnan should be taken on A tours to assess where he stands now?