T20 is not the right format for Fab 4/5/Classical batters

[mon858]

Apart from Kohli who has performed well enough and can be a match-winner, I don't think T20 is a format for classic technique based batsmen.

Look at below:
1. Root - not even playing / needed for England
2. Steve Smith - didn't contribute to Australia lately, and likely to not future as much
3. Babar Azam - got top rankings through runs but with a low strike rate and hogging of opening slot, not able to make big impact on crucial games against top sides or high scoring target setting or chases
4. Williamson - good for anchor role like many above, but kept scoring with low strike rate unable to post big total for teal relying heavily on fin allen, conway, phillips to cover for his slowness. playing more for captaincy than batting alone

Out of all of above, England seemed to have realized this earliest and benefited from focussing on the right type of batters for this format.

At the end of the day winning a tournament does require a little bit of luck along the way, especially in knock outs but the way they played the knock-outs and their white ball / t20 cricket in general over the recent years, it is quite clear they are truly deserving of their world champion status in both t20 and odi.

Time for other countries to learn and move to their approach.

Only thing holding back some of those as they may not have good enough batsmen with those high strike rates, but next world cup is 2-3 years away so there is enough time to give others a chance to mature and get to that point rather than having slow strike rate players hog the top 3 batting slots, especially when playing bi-lateral series or playing weaker teams.

Conversely, they can work on these players bringing more big hitting skills and positive intent into their game over this time, if they are not having other batting stocks at all, and minimally allowing high strike rate players take at least 2 of the top 3 batting slots.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

I think that, like anything, these guys need to evolve their game for T20. But the media reaction if they do so would be incredibly shortsighted.

In Pakistan, pundits won’t shut up about how it’s important to play “proper cricketing shots” without realising how that applies to t20 cricket.

Buttler was made to look like a schoolboy against Naseem at times in the final, but still amidst that pressure, scooped Naseem for 6 to alleviate the pressure.

Now, imagine Babar trying that shot and getting out. The ex players and pundits just won’t forgive him. Because in Pakistan we’re happier to fail using the old ways rather than be bold and actually take a chance.

This is why I love Haris. Yes he failed in the final, but that lads greatest strength is his audicity. I pray that that mindset doesn’t get coached out of him.

 

[Champ_Pal]

You have to add Kohli too. He did well in this T20 WC. But he is really not a T20 player.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Kohli is fully deserving to be on that list also.. he is just a minor upgrade on Kane Williamson in T20s.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Babar is out of form. He has had plenty of positive impact on Pakistans and his country’s T20 games throughout his career.

Not too long ago, there were non stop praises for him.

He does have to improve his SR - and there was an upward trajectory to it - until he lost form.

Even so, Pakistan were 84 in 11. All set for atleast 150-160.

 

[Ab Fan]

Yes, tests and ODIs should be a different team.

T20s should be a different team.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Babar is out of form. He has had plenty of positive impact on Pakistans and his country’s T20 games throughout his career.

Not too long ago, there were non stop praises for him.

He does have to improve his SR - and there was an upward trajectory to it - until he lost form.

Even so, Pakistan were 84 in 11. All set for atleast 150-160.

T20 players have the ability to up the ante at will and they can play all around the park with innovative shots. None of Babar, KW, Smith, Root and even Kohli has that ability.

 

[Ashmal]

A team having a batting line-up as fragile as Pakistan, there's always room for a player like Babar Azam.

He will never bat like a Buttler or Hales,
but he can certainly evolve and bring in more release shots to his game....needs to play more sweeps, reverse sweeps, paddles and the odd aerial shots in PP.

Atm, he's just struggling for form so I won't judge him by this WC.

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Kohli is fully deserving to be on that list also.. he is just a minor upgrade on Kane Williamson in T20s.

If kohli on that list then almost all deserving on that list.
Kohli SR 160 in wc and overall career 140.
And Kohli KO' SR is more than 160, except the recent one.

Kane is lol what 110 SR and Babar 93.

 

[jnaveen1980]

You have to add Kohli too. He did well in this T20 WC. But he is really not a T20 player.

He is the quintessential T20 player for a team that lacks depth. He can play all three roles of Malan/Stokes/Stoinis in one innings. All these high strike rate/low average players are suitable on flat pitches. But on a slghtly challenging surface where new batsman struggles right of the bat you will need someone like Kohli

 

[Aseem_04]

Kohli is fully deserving to be on that list also.. he is just a minor upgrade on Kane Williamson in T20s.

Cry more, he scored 293 Runs At strike Rate of 136.6 and In top 10 batters who hit number of Sixes in this tournament, also In all time 20 Batsman who take less number of balls to hit sixes in T20He's Goat ,So much desperation ,If you can't have ferrari then thode who have make them sinners by negative campaign.

 

[Aseem_04]

Kohli Has Death overs strike rate 212+ In this wc and his career death over strike Rate also over 200+ (15-20 over) ,Even Pandya ,Surya ,Warner,Buttler Don't have that kind Death over strike Rate, That's why he's Goat LOi ,The Greatest Batsman Along with Abdv post 2000.

 

[SamNJ]

Kohli is probably the greatest ever T20I batsman. Don't compare him to Root/Kane/Smith.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Apart from Kohli who has performed well enough and can be a match-winner, I don't think T20 is a format for classic technique based batsmen.

Look at below:
1. Root - not even playing / needed for England
2. Steve Smith - didn't contribute to Australia lately, and likely to not future as much
3. Babar Azam - got top rankings through runs but with a low strike rate and hogging of opening slot, not able to make big impact on crucial games against top sides or high scoring target setting or chases
4. Williamson - good for anchor role like many above, but kept scoring with low strike rate unable to post big total for teal relying heavily on fin allen, conway, phillips to cover for his slowness. playing more for captaincy than batting alone

Out of all of above, England seemed to have realized this earliest and benefited from focussing on the right type of batters for this format.

At the end of the day winning a tournament does require a little bit of luck along the way, especially in knock outs but the way they played the knock-outs and their white ball / t20 cricket in general over the recent years, it is quite clear they are truly deserving of their world champion status in both t20 and odi.

Time for other countries to learn and move to their approach.

Only thing holding back some of those as they may not have good enough batsmen with those high strike rates, but next world cup is 2-3 years away so there is enough time to give others a chance to mature and get to that point rather than having slow strike rate players hog the top 3 batting slots, especially when playing bi-lateral series or playing weaker teams.

Conversely, they can work on these players bringing more big hitting skills and positive intent into their game over this time, if they are not having other batting stocks at all, and minimally allowing high strike rate players take at least 2 of the top 3 batting slots.

Very good OP.
I have been thinking about it and it looks like in the end, there will be only one winner.

Either Fab 4 or 5 batsmen will need to refrain from playing the lapaaru and tulla type T20 format to preserve their class and art of stroke making

OR

We we will need to scrape off the Fab 4 or 5 concept.

And money trumps everything.
The Fab 4 or 5, wouldn't hold themselves long enough to wait n play Test cricket only or ODI n Test only.

So what's gonna happens is perhaps we will either scrape off the idea of Fab 4 or the quality, standard and class of becoming part of Fab 4 will be diluted.

Look at Babar Azam - he was a class test batsman - but adapting to play the lapaaru T20 format had a trade off. He diluted his Test batting class.

Playing T20 will screw up with a Test batsman's brain, temperament, class and artistic quality. There is no other way around it.

 

[Sachin136]

You have to add Kohli too. He did well in this T20 WC. But he is really not a T20 player.

Kohli is by all metrics the greatest T20 internationals player in history. Averaging 50+ at a SR of 140 in over 100 T20Is with two man of the tournament awards in world cups.