The balance of Pakistan's bowling attack

[Junaids]

I am becoming quite concerned about the balance of Pakistan's bowling attack. The comments of Waqar Younis about possibly playing two spinners are a particular concern, as is the record of Yasir Shah outside Asia.

Ultimately, you have to bowl 90 overs per day. And in the first 3 innings of the match it is hard to imagine the pace bowlers bowling fewer than 70 of those overs each day.

Until the last week I wanted Faheem and Shadab to bowl 30 overs per day, so that Abbas, Shaheen and Naseem would only need to bowl 20 overs each. That would let them retain their pace and sharpness. But it has the drawback that 30 overs per day would be bowled by Shadab and Faheem whose bowling is a weak link.

But surely the arrival of Mohammad Amir as a guy who is a frontline bowler who is not a Number 10 or 11 batsman changes this?

If Amir plays as a fourth quick, then Pakistan has 4 frontline quick bowlers who can bowl 20 overs each, or 25 if one of them breaks down.

And that in turn means that they can go without a specialist spinner at all, and pick whichever one of Iftikhar, Shadab or Kashif offers the most as a batsman, fielder and part-time bowler.

Yasir Shah really is not an option. He goes for 4 runs per over outside Asia, and 25 overs of him in a day is 100 free runs for the opposition. I'd rather add Amir as a fourth quick and just let Shadab bowl 3 overs per session.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

I do agree with you that it would improve the balance, but like you mentioned before, Amir has concerns about his body and is unlikely to ever play test or first class ever again.

I suppose in his absence 2 spinners/part timers allowing Shaheen Naseem and Abbas to rest isn’t all that bad.

 

[MMHS]

I am quite confident that, if PAK is white washed in this series, it won’t be for bowling and if PAK wins a Test or two, it’ll be for bowling, led by Yasir Shah, provided that he is perfectly fit.

Amir isn’t coming back in Test cricket and even if so, he hasn’t played much of a FC game in last few months - won’t last a full Test as lead pacer, while he is not good enough to bat as all-rounder. Even if he plays Test, it’ll be at the cost of Abbas or Naseem. This is July only and the way Reston Chase has bowled (& Poms have played him), I do agree with the assessment - PAK must go with one, preferably two spinners in a series in August. More than Amir, I would have liked Haris to make a comeback here - he is a far better batsman, bowler and slip fielder than the poster boy Shadab and wound have made a perfect balanced attack with Yasir & three pacers.

As of now, just one slot I am not sure about - No. 6 between Fakhar, Iftekhar, Imam or Shadab; otherwise rest 10 almost picks themselves.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Thoughts on playing 6 batsmen and 4 bowlers with Shan, Azhar, and Fawad making up the 5th bowler?

 

[Junaids]

Thoughts on playing 6 batsmen and 4 bowlers with Shan, Azhar, and Fawad making up the 5th bowler?

It would overwork Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi and render them slower and less incisive.

Faheem bowled really well in the last match: I would prefer:

6. Rizwan
7. Shadab
8. Amir
9. Faheem
10. Shaheen
11. Naseem

 

[Junaids]

Thoughts on playing 6 batsmen and 4 bowlers with Shan, Azhar, and Fawad making up the 5th bowler?

I think Misbah will go for:

7. Rizwan
8. Yasir
9. Sohail
10. Abbas
11. Shaheen

.... and “rest” Naseem Shah.

 

[Manunited18]

The forecast next week up here in north is hot so both teams will have to weigh their options with both teams having concerns over their spinners.

 

[tyron_woodley]

England haven't had enough rest. Why are they playing so soon?

 

[Thunderbolt14]

It would overwork Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi and render them slower and less incisive.

Faheem bowled really well in the last match: I would prefer:

6. Rizwan
7. Shadab
8. Amir
9. Faheem
10. Shaheen
11. Naseem

Faheem might keep it tight but isn’t a wicket taking option. If you just need someone to bowl from the other end, Azhar, Shan, and Fawad can more than make up the 5th bowlers workload.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

I think Misbah will go for:

7. Rizwan
8. Yasir
9. Sohail
10. Abbas
11. Shaheen

.... and “rest” Naseem Shah.

Unlikely. From what I could see in the brief videos released by the PCB, Naseem is the first name on the team sheet after Babar. He is finding supreme late swing, and I suspect he will have a better series than Shaheen.

However, I wouldn’t be surprised if Naseem is rested in the 2nd or 3rd test to manage his workload. Your lineup is what I suspect the 3rd test lineup will look like.

 

[Manunited18]

England haven't had enough rest. Why are they playing so soon?

They've been resting majority of the year.

 

[Omer2002]

As i said i would be very surprised if the attack wont be Abbas Shaheen Naseem and Yasir...Sohail has done well but i am sure they wont go with him till second or third test

 

[shah_1]

Abass 25 overs
Yasir Shah 18 overs(first innings, more in the 2nd innings so no Shan Masood)
Naseem 20 overs
Shaheen 20 overs
Shan Masood 7 overs

Yasir Shah 18 overs will the key in the match otherwise we will get trashed

 

[mumtaz]

Pakistan will go in with 5 bowlers including Shadab. The reason is that no one has put their hand up for #6 and Pakistan cannot afford any of Shaheen or Naseem to break down with 3 tests in quick succession.

Pakistan's preferred balance of the attack is 3-2 (Shaheen, Abbas, Naseem, Yasir, Shadab).

If the conditions need a 4-1 attack (overhead, pitch), then Yasir will be sacrificed for Faheem or Sohail (I expect Faheem).

If the forecast is hot for the next week, then I fully expect the same team as the last warm-up to play.

 

[Omer2002]

Pakistan will go in with 5 bowlers including Shadab. The reason is that no one has put their hand up for #6 and Pakistan cannot afford any of Shaheen or Naseem to break down with 3 tests in quick succession.

Pakistan's preferred balance of the attack is 3-2 (Shaheen, Abbas, Naseem, Yasir, Shadab).

If the conditions need a 4-1 attack (overhead, pitch), then Yasir will be sacrificed for Faheem or Sohail (I expect Faheem).

If the forecast is hot for the next week, then I fully expect the same team as the last warm-up to play.

Mark my word they will NEVER go with 5 man bowling attack it will be a 4 man attack.

 

[Markhor]

England haven't had enough rest. Why are they playing so soon?

Sky are paying them £20m per Test. Plus they've got a white ball series vs Australia tacked on at the end of the summer.

 

[Arsal_AK]

It would overwork Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi and render them slower and less incisive.

Faheem bowled really well in the last match: I would prefer:

6. Rizwan
7. Shadab
8. Amir
9. Faheem
10. Shaheen
11. Naseem

That is a really weak bowling line up. Amir is not playing and nor should he. He has zero match practice and the last time he bowled in a test/FC match was a year ago.

Abbas has been solid on the tour so far, will give 20 or so accurate overs everyday and will always be in the game. There is no better option than him at the moment.

Faheem is the worst bowler of the lot and the way he is batting, I'll take Sohail, Yasir and Wahab over him even Amir. They will bowl much better and the batting certainly can't be worse.

 

[PakHammer]

I think Misbah will go for 6 specialist batsman being that it's the first match of the series and England bowlers are on hot form. Shadab or Faheem batting at number 7 will be asking for trouble.

My dilemma is will who will play at number 6. Will it be Fawad or Asad? If it's Asad, then Iman Ul Haq will be number 3.

 

[Amjid Javed]

If pakistan only pick 4 bowlers, then yasir needs to buck up his ideas, we cant have him bowling usual garbage with no control as that will put strain on our seamers.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

I think Misbah will go for 6 specialist batsman being that it's the first match of the series and England bowlers are on hot form. Shadab or Faheem batting at number 7 will be asking for trouble.

My dilemma is will who will play at number 6. Will it be Fawad or Asad? If it's Asad, then Iman Ul Haq will be number 3.

Imam at 3, Azhar at 4 and Babar at 5?

 

[PakHammer]

Imam at 3, Azhar at 4 and Babar at 5?

Yes that's what I think if Fawad does not make the starting 11.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Pakistan pace attack looks &#55357;&#56613; <br><br>Which of these men will have the biggest impact during the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvPAK</a> Tests? &#55357;&#56384; <a href="https://t.co/Jr163mBLqc">pic.twitter.com/Jr163mBLqc</a></p>— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1289011472257949701?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Saj]

I'll be amazed if it's not:

6 batsmen
4 bowlers
Rizwan

 

[MMHS]

I'll be amazed if it's not:

6 batsmen
4 bowlers
Rizwan

It should be as well - all-rounder for the sake of it doesn’t work. Only other combination is to play both Shadab & Faheem at the cost of Yasir (most likely) or Abbas. Individually both are far better bowler than the first two while Faheem doesn’t give much confidence with bat. This is one point that Shadab has to remember if he has to have a Test career - he must improve his bowling so that the combined weight of his bat-ball our scores a specialist spinner; otherwise if not Yasir, he’ll lose out to Gohar.

The wickets that I see at OT, had Gohar been there, may be, may be I could have suggested both Gohar & Shadab + 3 pacers - that could have made it a much potent and versatile attack. Two leggi is over kill while the other one (better batsman), is just not good with ball to replace the specialist leggi. Had Haris been there, it would have been smooth.

 

[Junaids]

I'll be amazed if it's not:

6 batsmen
4 bowlers
Rizwan

Which means:

1. The quicks bowl longer spells and more overs, so they lose pace and take less wickets in 25 overs per day than they would in 18.

2. You have to rest Naseem from the Second Test.

3. Yasir Shah bowls far more overs than Shadab Khan would, at his usual SENA 45-5-200-3. And whereas Shadab would score 70 runs per Test, Yasir will score 10.

Faheem’s economical spell at Derby, combined with the lack of a sixth batsman in form, combined with Abbas’ terrible strike rate, has sent me back to:

6. Rizwan
7. Shadab
8. Faheem
9. Abbas (rotating with Amir in 2nd Test)
10. Shaheen
11. Naseem (if necessary rotating with Rauf in 2nd Test).

Let Faheem and Abbas block an end for every session, bowling 8 over spells.

And then at the other end give Naseem and Shaheen a single 5 over spell in each session, with Shadab bowling the other 4 overs to give them a break.

So the daily workload is:

1. Strike bowlers
Naseem 3 x 5 over spells.
Shaheen 3 x 5 over spells

2. Stock bowlers
Abbas 3 x 8 over spells
Faheem 3 x 8 over spells

3. Part-time bowler
Shadab 3 x 4 over spells

 

[Junaids]

I'll be amazed if it's not:

6 batsmen
4 bowlers
Rizwan

Sohail Khan mustn’t be part of a 3 man pace attack. Not with his second innings record.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Pakistan to increase their chances of winning should go with 4 pacers + 1 spin attack..

If they go with 6 batsman 4 bowlers and Rizwan then they cant even compete here in english conditions.. Im very sure that they will let England score 400+ every inns and with 6 batsman Pak will struggle to reach 250 in the first 2 matches and score 300 in the final test..

If their last tour is any indication then they should play 3 bowlers + 2 bowlers who can bat a bit..
MA realized this after failing in the first 2 tests and went with this strategy in SENA conditions and the bowling department was doing well restricting the opposition under 200 and 300 , it is just the young batting lineup that couldn't put enough runs on the board and Babar was also finding his feat in intl tests during that time..

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Which means:

1. The quicks bowl longer spells and more overs, so they lose pace and take less wickets in 25 overs per day than they would in 18.

2. You have to rest Naseem from the Second Test.

3. Yasir Shah bowls far more overs than Shadab Khan would, at his usual SENA 45-5-200-3. And whereas Shadab would score 70 runs per Test, Yasir will score 10.

Faheem’s economical spell at Derby, combined with the lack of a sixth batsman in form, combined with Abbas’ terrible strike rate, has sent me back to:

6. Rizwan
7. Shadab
8. Faheem
9. Abbas (rotating with Amir in 2nd Test)
10. Shaheen
11. Naseem (if necessary rotating with Rauf in 2nd Test).

Let Faheem and Abbas block an end for every session, bowling 8 over spells.

And then at the other end give Naseem and Shaheen a single 5 over spell in each session, with Shadab bowling the other 4 overs to give them a break.

So the daily workload is:

1. Strike bowlers
Naseem 3 x 5 over spells.
Shaheen 3 x 5 over spells

2. Stock bowlers
Abbas 3 x 8 over spells
Faheem 3 x 8 over spells

3. Part-time bowler
Shadab 3 x 4 over spells

Faheem is not doing well , as he did before... He contributed with both bat and ball in the last tour.. going by the form in practice matches, Sohail khan should play instead of Faheem.... May be if Amir wants to return to red ball cricket, then play him as fourth seamer instead of Sohail..

I agree Faheem has more pace than Sohail but the issue is if he cant find the right line and length to bowl will become a cannon fodder... With sohail exp he looks to be bowling in the right areas with some swing which can help him take wickets here and there,..

But yes the idea should be to keep Shaheen and Naseem fresh to take wickets...

 

[Junaids]

Faheem is not doing well , as he did before... He contributed with both bat and ball in the last tour.. going by the form in practice matches, Sohail khan should play instead of Faheem.... May be if Amir wants to return to red ball cricket, then play him as fourth seamer instead of Sohail..

I agree Faheem has more pace than Sohail but the issue is if he cant find the right line and length to bowl will become a cannon fodder... With sohail exp he looks to be bowling in the right areas with some swing which can help him take wickets here and there,..

But yes the idea should be to keep Shaheen and Naseem fresh to take wickets...

The thing is, Faheem was rusty and inaccurate in the first match, but in the second match he was the best bowler: he had the accuracy of Abbas but combined it with the extra menace of Sohail Khan.

I'd actually argue that the four in-form bowlers are Naseem, Sohail, Shaheen and Faheem, in that order. Abbas is keeping it tight but can hardly buy a wicket currently!

 

[Babar_Azam_fan]

A ALI
S MASOOD
A ALI *
B AZAM
A SHAFIQ
M RIZWAN +
S KHAN
S KHAN
M ABBAS
S AFRIDI
N SHAH


You need 4 pacers, and 5 bowlers at least, as simple as that. I’d have been tempted for Faheem either in place of Abbas or Sohail but he doesn’t add anything with the bat. I am sure Sohail can score more than zero, which is what Faheem scores. So, I’ll just add Sohail given the form he’s in to strengthen the bowling.

First innings Shadab will be a more of a batsman, and a bowler to support 4 pacers. I’ll open the bowling with Abbas and Sohail

Second innings, we all know the problem with Sohail, so Shadab has to bowl more on day 4 and day 5 pitch. I’ll open the bowling with Abbas and Shaheen, as Sohail will not be of much use in the second innings.

Second new ball in both the innings will be used by the two Shahs

INNINGS 1

SESSION 1
ABBAS 8
SOHAIL 7
SHAHEEN 7
NASEEM 6
SHADAB 2

SESSION 2
ABBAS 8
SOHAIL 7
SHAHEEN 5
NASEEM 5
SHADAB 5

SESSION 3
ABBAS 8
SOHAIL 7
SHADAB 5
SHAHEEN 5
NASEEM 5

TOTAL
ABBAS 24
SOHAIL 21
SHAHEEN 17
NASEEM 16
SHADAB 12


INNINGS 2

SESSION 1
ABBAS 8
SHAHEEN 6
SOHAIL 6
NASEEM 5
SHADAB 5

SESSION 2
ABBAS 8
SHADAB 7
SHAHEEN 5
NASEEM 5
SOHAIL 5

SESSION 3
ABBAS 8
SHADAB 7
SOHAIL 5
SHAHEEN 5
NASEEM 5

TOTAL
ABBAS 24
SHADAB 19
SHAHEEN 16
SOHAIL 16
NASEEM 15

 

[Kroll]

Faheem is the only logical choice as fourth pacer. Amir and Wahab are retired, IK snr is bench and Sohail Khan is too knackered to play second innings.

Misbah should be held to account for not getting enough of the right players in place for a tour of this magnitude, instead concentrating on getting his mates in.

 

[Junaids]

Faheem is the only logical choice as fourth pacer. Amir and Wahab are retired, IK snr is bench and Sohail Khan is too knackered to play second innings.

Misbah should be held to account for not getting enough of the right players in place for a tour of this magnitude, instead concentrating on getting his mates in.

You’re actually right: Ehsan Adil would have been useful and is a decent Number 9.

 

[shamaan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Pakistan pace attack looks �� <br><br>Which of these men will have the biggest impact during the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvPAK</a> Tests? �� <a href="https://t.co/Jr163mBLqc">pic.twitter.com/Jr163mBLqc</a></p>— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1289011472257949701?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Am not to sure but they will take all 3 similar wickets

 

[Saj]

Both Manchester and Southampton should take spin and this is where Yasir Shah needs to step up. Even Chase was causing England problems, Yasir could be Pakistan's main weapon.

 

[mumtaz]

I think Pakistan will look to play two leggies and bat first unless the overhead conditions dictate otherwise.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

The thing is, Faheem was rusty and inaccurate in the first match, but in the second match he was the best bowler: he had the accuracy of Abbas but combined it with the extra menace of Sohail Khan.

I'd actually argue that the four in-form bowlers are Naseem, Sohail, Shaheen and Faheem, in that order. Abbas is keeping it tight but can hardly buy a wicket currently!

Keeping it tight also a good teamwork and nice strategy to have where they will look to go after the bowling against Shaheen and Naseem
If they can bowl in the right areas , wickets will come due to not enough runs on the board. The English openers are both same type of batsmen who will take lot of time and deliveries to score runs. With tight bowling they can easily dry up the runs and take wickets.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistan's 3 main pace-bowlers - 30 Test matches combined.<br><br>James Anderson and Stuart Broad - 293 Tests.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvPAK</a> <a href="https://t.co/KQEMcOjezQ">pic.twitter.com/KQEMcOjezQ</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1290729995644665856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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