Should Sarfraz Ahmed bat at No. 4 for Pakistan in Test cricket?

[Billy1999]

Sarfraz is a good player as we have seen but most times in Test cricket he ends up Batting with The tail or Asad Shafiq now that he has become captain he should try and lead from the front,As we don't have many productive or Internatinal Quality Batsman back in Pakistan and He can become a middle order mainstay,one goal is to try and cover atleast 1 hole left by Misbah,Younis by an other current batsman

1:Sami Aslam
2:Azhar Ali
3:Asad Shafiq vc
4:Sarfraz Ahmed*Wk
5:Usman Salahuddin
6:Babar Azam
7:Faheem Ashraf/Other alrounder
8:Mohammed Amir
9:Hassan Ali
10:Yasir Shah
11:Mohammed Abbas

 

[Square Drive]

No.

Already has a very heavy workload.

 

[mak36]

In tests, it would be unfair to expect him to captain, bat at 4, and keep. However, I can see him batting in the top 4 in ODIs/IT20.

 

[MMHS]

May be, but work load is too high for him already. May be no. 5 is better which should give him 2-4 hours rest after keeping & ball is 40+ overs old. He shouldn't bat at 6/7 as it's bringing him almost always within 10 overs either side of the time, when 2nd ball is due.

 

[Usman]

How about we send all the other cricketers home and make Sarfraz do the bowling too. It will be good, he can bowl, quickly run to the top of the pitch, wear his gloves and collect the ball.

In all seriousness, there are 3 clear candidates for the positions left by Misbah and Younus. They are Harris Sohail, Usman Sallihudin and Fawad Alam. No need to overburden a captain who already has a very heavy workload with yet more work.

 

[Billy1999]

How about we send all the other cricketers home and make Sarfraz do the bowling too. It will be good, he can bowl, quickly run to the top of the pitch, wear his gloves and collect the ball.

In all seriousness, there are 3 clear candidates for the positions left by Misbah and Younus. They are Harris Sohail, Usman Sallihudin and Fawad Alam. No need to overburden a captain who already has a very heavy workload with yet more work.

It's just a suggestion and you can say now bring in Haris,Usman,Fawad but in the real world they wouldn't be performing reguly,my idea is to stick with the current guys whilst giving Usman a chance as he was in the queue first

 

[Usman]

It's just a suggestion and you can say now bring in Haris,Usman,Fawad but in the real world they wouldn't be performing reguly,my idea is to stick with the current guys whilst giving Usman a chance as he was in the queue first

Why wouldn't they be performing regularly? This belief of presuming someone will fail without giving them a chance is what has destroyed careers. Fawad Alam has scored heavily wherever picked yet because he doesn't look pretty, it is presumed he will fail. Misbah, the most successful capitain in the history of Pakistan and one of the most prolific batsmen in world cricket over the last few years, probably would never have played a game for Pakistan again had spot fixing not happened. Why? Because it was assumed that he was rubbish for his entire career.

Younus Khan is lucky to have played for Pakistan because he doesn't look pretty and at the start of his career, people would use that to try and keep him out of the team.

How many Younus Khans and Misbahs do we to lose in domestic cricket before this attitude of, oh, lets just use who we have already because anyone else will obviously fail, is dropped?

Haris, Usman and Fawad each have outstanding records. They deserve long and consistent runs. It may already be too late for Fawad but we will be foolish as a nation if we let Harris and Usman to go the same way.

 

[Billy1999]

Why wouldn't they be performing regularly? This belief of presuming someone will fail without giving them a chance is what has destroyed careers. Fawad Alam has scored heavily wherever picked yet because he doesn't look pretty, it is presumed he will fail. Misbah, the most successful capitain in the history of Pakistan and one of the most prolific batsmen in world cricket over the last few years, probably would never have played a game for Pakistan again had spot fixing not happened. Why? Because it was assumed that he was rubbish for his entire career.


Younus Khan is lucky to have played for Pakistan because he doesn't look pretty and at the start of his career, people would use that to try and keep him out of the team.

How many Younus Khans and Misbahs do we to lose in domestic cricket before this attitude of, oh, lets just use who we have already because anyone else will obviously fail, is dropped?

Haris, Usman and Fawad each have outstanding records. They deserve long and consistent runs. It may already be too late for Fawad but we will be foolish as a nation if we let Harris and Usman to go the same way.

It's called being a Pakistani batsman

You can't trust guys that have played 100 Tests how can you trust these bunnies

 

[kaifmazhar]

Nope. He should be there at 7 only.

 

[coy0607]

I don't understand the work load argument?

He bats at 6 anyway, he's just coming in slightly earlier. How does that change his work load?

If anything it makes it easier for him. He'll have more time from when he finishes his batting to when he has to keep

 

[Billy1999]

I don't understand the work load argument?

He bats at 6 anyway, he's just coming in slightly earlier. How does that change his work load?

If anything it makes it easier for him. He'll have more time from when he finishes his batting to when he has to keep

Bats at 7

 

[sshakir411]

Should bat at 7 in tests and 5 in odis

 

[Hasan123]

He can bat at 5 or 6.

 

[ExpressPacer]

I'm all for Sarfraz batting higher up the order despite the work load but Asad Shafiq at 3? We've already tried that and it didn't work out. He's fine at number 6 and needs to start getting some runs because his position is under threat, as it should be. Babar Azam needs to stay at No.3 while Sarfraz can come in at No.4 or 5. Honestly, I'm happy with him where he is because he's been prolific at that position however, going up the order could also be good.

 

[Billy1999]

I'm all for Sarfraz batting higher up the order despite the work load but Asad Shafiq at 3? We've already tried that and it didn't work out. He's fine at number 6 and needs to start getting some runs because his position is under threat, as it should be. Babar Azam needs to stay at No.3 while Sarfraz can come in at No.4 or 5. Honestly, I'm happy with him where he is because he's been prolific at that position however, going up the order could also be good.

Not a big fan of Babar at no 3 he looks like a Timid kitten whilst batting and just doesn't look like Something good just hits a few good drives then gets out,Sarfraz is a fighter and this is a quality many experienced pundits,players,General supporter laud,If you ask a non Pak fan Whose the best batsmen in Pak team they will say Sarfraz because he genuinely is our best batsman in there eyes,I feel he can make more hundreds and Many runs at no 4

 

[Billy1999]

Nope. He should be there at 7 only.

Should be at 7 and bat with the tail?

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

nopes
no 6 or no 7 is fine for him in tests

 

[Jabo]

Captain
WK
and 4?

Too much, should remain at 6/7.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Sharjeel/Sami
Azhar
Haris
Babar
Usman
Sarfraz/Batsman
Sarfraz/Allrounder

Good enough batting side to give tough time to top teams!

 

[Junaids]

Dear OP

I know that we all got used to Misbah and Younis failing in 9/10 of their innings outside Asia, but try to remember the requirements for a Test Number 4:

1) Bat longer than 65 overs and score more than 150 at least once per 3 Test series.

2) Bat longer than 40 overs and score more than 80 at least twice more per 3 Test series.

You can't do that and keep wicket, as Kumar Sangakkara learned.

Plus there is no evidence that Sarfraz can Bat that long anyway.

He could probably go up to 6, opening up a slot for Aamer Yamin or Hammad Azam to be the fourth seamer in England and South Africa next year.

 

[Billy1999]

That is what skippers do Lead from the front not hide at No7

You don't need to bat 65 overs

We can't save a test match even if we have to bat out 2 sessions

Also if we can be 320/7 after 90

Instead of 235/4 after 90

these days scoring rate is massive and that's were our weaknesses come in overseas tests you need bat quick otherwise you'll get out for under 250,As shown in New Zealand instead of being 230 all out we could have been 300 all out so scoring rates do matter

 

[CadPakFan]

I could see him batting at 5.

 

[mak36]

How about we send all the other cricketers home and make Sarfraz do the bowling too. It will be good, he can bowl, quickly run to the top of the pitch, wear his gloves and collect the ball.

In all seriousness, there are 3 clear candidates for the positions left by Misbah and Younus. They are Harris Sohail, Usman Sallihudin and Fawad Alam. No need to overburden a captain who already has a very heavy workload with yet more work.

Haha

Regarding who replaces MisYou, you have assumed they will be replaced with two batsmen. They may use this opportunity to bring an all-rounder in to the team.

 

[mak36]

That is what skippers do Lead from the front not hide at No7

You don't need to bat 65 overs

We can't save a test match even if we have to bat out 2 sessions

Also if we can be 320/7 after 90

Instead of 235/4 after 90

these days scoring rate is massive and that's were our weaknesses come in overseas tests you need bat quick otherwise you'll get out for under 250,As shown in New Zealand instead of being 230 all out we could have been 300 all out so scoring rates do matter

Since when was batting at 7 hiding? It's where keepers typically bat. From memory, a certain Adam Gilchrist batted very well there. Or was he hiding too?

 

[Billy1999]

Haha

Regarding who replaces MisYou, you have assumed they will be replaced with two batsmen. They may use this opportunity to bring an all-rounder in to the team.

Are you for real,2 new batsmen in place of Misbah,Younis.Rather have none thanks but such is the problem that 1 will have to come in the team

 

[Billy1999]

Since when was batting at 7 hiding? It's where keepers typically bat. From memory, a certain Adam Gilchrist batted very well there. Or was he hiding too?

Well I feel that this batting team isn't that good and as Sarfraz is a decent player,We could benefit from him and also pump up our bowling resourses but of course we will need to know the teams plans and objectives

 

[Billy1999]

He can bat at 5 or 6.

Can definitely come at 5

 

[mak36]

Are you for real,2 new batsmen in place of Misbah,Younis.Rather have none thanks but such is the problem that 1 will have to come in the team

What on earth does that sentence even mean?

 

[mak36]

Well I feel that this batting team isn't that good and as Sarfraz is a decent player,We could benefit from him and also pump up our bowling resourses but of course we will need to know the teams plans and objectives

Fine, but that is not the same as accusing him of "hiding" at 7 though.

 

[Zaz]

what makes anyone think hes a test no 4? The best bats of the team bat at 3 or 4 Is sarfraz the best test bat in the team? Is he capable of consistently putting big regular scores on the board

I dont believe so His test career so far has shown hes good at counter attacking and making a quickfire 40s n 50s

Ive seen nothing to suggest hes capable of regular big tons

 

[Billy1999]

What on earth does that sentence even mean?

Basically a in experianced pak batsman is double trouble then a normal one instead of a 2 ball duck they save time so they go for a golden one therefore it's in my best knowledge not to take on more than 1 newbie in batting

 

[mak36]

Basically a in experianced pak batsman is double trouble then a normal one instead of a 2 ball duck they save time so they go for a golden one therefore it's in my best knowledge not to take on more than 1 newbie in batting

Now I am confused.
[MENTION=758]Usman[/MENTION] suggested there were three candidates to replace Misbah and Younis (ie Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin and Fawad Alam). I said he had assumed Misbah and Younis will be replaced with two batsmen, and that the management may in fact use this opportunity to bring an all-rounder in to the team.

Looking at your suggested playing XI in the OP, that is exactly what you have done- you have brought in Salahuddin and Ashraf for MisYou. So why did you take offence at my suggestion? Your posts don't seem to relate.

 

[kaifmazhar]

Should be at 7 and bat with the tail?

He is there doing fine. And 7 is lower middle order not tail. Also beside that somebody has to do the shoring up job for the team. Who better than captain to do that.

 

[Billy1999]

Now I am confused.
[MENTION=758]Usman[/MENTION] suggested there were three candidates to replace Misbah and Younis (ie Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin and Fawad Alam). I said he had assumed Misbah and Younis will be replaced with two batsmen, and that the management may in fact use this opportunity to bring an all-rounder in to the team.

Looking at your suggested playing XI in the OP, that is exactly what you have done- you have brought in Salahuddin and Ashraf for MisYou. So why did you take offence at my suggestion? Your posts don't seem to relate.

Just saying replacing them 2 spots with 2 batsman would be catastrophic

 

[ask_analyse_act]

keep him where he is now.. just bring Sami Aslam in for Masood and keep shehzad as back up opener..

After MISYOU the spots are wide open in the middle order for Shafiq, Sohail, Amin, Usman and even UA to battle it out..

 

[umerz]

In ODIs for sure but for tests he should be at number 6

 

[PakLFC]

No. Number 6 or 7 is fine. Batting at 4 he would mostly need to come in early as we mostly lose early wickets. Most of our fans are becoming to dependent on him. He will also have bad patches throughout his career.

 

[Billy1999]

Sarfraz has a decent enough technique to bat at No4 the only fault I see is a distraction or he edges it to the keeper or slips which he can overcome.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

Yes he should..... we will find out how good he really is

 

[saifi]

too much workload but he should bat at no.4 in ODIS.Hafeez is awful and he shd bat at no 3 in T20.

 

[msb314]

No he is not a technically good enough batsman to bat in the top 4.

 

[Billy1999]

No he is not a technically good enough batsman to bat in the top 4.

I wouldn't doubt his technique

 

[FreePalestine]

He should stay at 7 in test cricket, but should move up to four or five in ODI cricket.

 

[msb314]

I wouldn't doubt his technique

In ODI's it can work but not in Tests - he will get exposed up the order.

I would much prefer to have Babar/Haris/Usman at no. 4

 

[Kroll]

You need one of your best specialist batsmen to play at 4, Sarf is good for 6/7.