AliMurtaza
Debutant
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2014
- Runs
- 159
- Post of the Week
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Till end of 2021, Pak is mostly playing T20s and Tests. While in T20s, we are lacking 2-3 attacking batsmen (openers/middle or lower order), in tests we seem to be struggling with quality pacers and batting bench strength especially in middle order. A lot of blame for the non-development of a 3-man strong pace attack in tests could be attributed to playing in UAE conditions, betting on wrong choices like Rahat and Imran, and unfulfilled potentials of Amir and Wahab. But with decent options now in the form of Shaheen, Naseem, Musa (arguably), and Sameen, Pak coaches at least have some choices to work with. However, picture doesn’t seem to be rosy as far as middle order batting talent is conceded.
While for openers, you have few choices like Imam and Sami who are both young and Abid may get to play for few years, we don’t seem to have the same luxury with middle order batting. If you look at the top 15 batsmen in quaid trophy this year, all under-25 batsmen are openers namely Sami Aslam, Imran Butt, and Haider Ali. In the middle order, except Umar Siddique, you have the old culprits like Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, and Fawad Alam. To put it bluntly, no young middle order batting star seems to be knocking on the doors.
So, for the foreseeable future, Pak needs to persist with Haris at position 5/6 in tests where he may feel comfortable outside Asia. I believe he has the potential to overcome his technical flaws. Continue playing Azhar and Asad at 3 & 4 respectively and hope that Saad Ali and Usman Salahuddin regain their pre-2018 domestic form to replace them when the time comes. Alternatively, find 1-2 limited overs batsmen like Babar who you can work on to make them part of the test squad. Otherwise, things are looking bleak for the future as far as test middle order batting is concerned.
Discuss.
While for openers, you have few choices like Imam and Sami who are both young and Abid may get to play for few years, we don’t seem to have the same luxury with middle order batting. If you look at the top 15 batsmen in quaid trophy this year, all under-25 batsmen are openers namely Sami Aslam, Imran Butt, and Haider Ali. In the middle order, except Umar Siddique, you have the old culprits like Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, and Fawad Alam. To put it bluntly, no young middle order batting star seems to be knocking on the doors.
So, for the foreseeable future, Pak needs to persist with Haris at position 5/6 in tests where he may feel comfortable outside Asia. I believe he has the potential to overcome his technical flaws. Continue playing Azhar and Asad at 3 & 4 respectively and hope that Saad Ali and Usman Salahuddin regain their pre-2018 domestic form to replace them when the time comes. Alternatively, find 1-2 limited overs batsmen like Babar who you can work on to make them part of the test squad. Otherwise, things are looking bleak for the future as far as test middle order batting is concerned.
Discuss.
