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The ideal Pakistan Test bowling attack for the next few series....

MenInG

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Who would have thought that after 2010, we would be talking about a bowling attack that could challenge the world?

Ok some did but it was more due to the romantic notion that a match-winner lived in every street corner in Pakistan rather than due to any solid proof!

But here we are today - call it the feel good from CT victory but there it is

I present to you

1. Mohammad Amir
2. Junaid Khan
3. Mohammad Abbas
4. Hasan Ali
5. Yasir Shah


I am not going for Shadab Khan although pure spinning pitches would make him a good option. Faheem Ashraf; now he could become something important but not now - needs more time and to prove himself in longer format

Wahab Riaz could make a comeback in my attack but he would have had to do something exceptional since this time....
 
Amir (left arm swing)
Abbas (right arm seam)
Hasan (right arm seam)
Yasir (leg spin)
Shaheen Shah Afridi (all rounder)
 
Wahab can be the 4th pacer in SA or AUS or 3rd pacer on slow wickets, apart from that I don't feel like he would be of much use.

Amir Junaid Hassan Abbas Yasir Asghar could be a good combo. Although Asghar is an unknown quantity right now, lets see what he can provide, feel like we will know about him come series against SL. Need a right arm pacer and an offie in the mix as well. We currently don't have an offie in our domestic circuit. Is there any other good prospect Right arm pacer in domestic apart from Sohail, Imran and Amir Yamin?
 
wahab is must on dry pitches and u will see he will be picked for UAE,,,hasan ali.amir.and yasir are my icks.with ASGHAR ON UAE and if they want some variety then the lahore white off spin all rounder agha salman is a good choice for UAE....and plz not all runder now like fahim....they have to prove themselves in loi first...we have to work on yasir ,hassan and amir batting and they can do it.......the other option is abbas,iwill add sadaf hussain if he is fir enough...and some saying that waqas ahmad the right arm quick is good.,he should be called to NCA and assesed ...
 
[MENTION=141227]BunnyRabbit[/MENTION] some were saying waqas ahmad 28 years old right arm quick is good and he was looking good in a video,but donno about his fitness...
 
Going to be a long tail. Junaid hasn't earned a Test recall yet - was mediocre in last QEA Trophy with a bowling average of 43 and we all know how seam friendly domestic conditions are.

It depends on the conditions. In the UAE we'll probably go for a 4 man attack with 2 pacers (Amir and Ali) and 2 spinners (Yasir and Asghar) - though I'd prefer Gohar.

In England next May - Yasir will likely play at Lord's but at Headingley we may go for an all-pace attack.

We really need a 5th bowler outside Asia though, preferably a batting AR.
 
Going to be a long tail. Junaid hasn't earned a Test recall yet - was mediocre in last QEA Trophy with a bowling average of 43 and we all know how seam friendly domestic conditions are.

It depends on the conditions. In the UAE we'll probably go for a 4 man attack with 2 pacers (Amir and Ali) and 2 spinners (Yasir and Asghar) - though I'd prefer Gohar.

In England next May - Yasir will likely play at Lord's but at Headingley we may go for an all-pace attack.

We really need a 5th bowler outside Asia though, preferably a batting AR.

Junaid needs a Test recall!
 
Mohammad Amir
Mohammad Abbas
Hasan Ali/Mohammad Asghar
Yasir Shah/Wahab Riaz
Imad Wasim
 
Why is Junaid a must in Tests? At his peak he was merely very serviceable. Ave 31, has only taken 5fers against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Meanwhile every domestic performer we try looks better than him. So let's try some more.

Glad he's performing in in ODIs but Tests are a different game.
 
Why is Junaid a must in Tests? At his peak he was merely very serviceable. Ave 31, has only taken 5fers against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Meanwhile every domestic performer we try looks better than him. So let's try some more.

Glad he's performing in in ODIs but Tests are a different game.

He carried our pace attack on flat decks for two seasons, there is valid criticism and then there is abuse. Junaid is a good bowler who is treated like he is a ttf
 
I like the bowling unit you have mentioned. I think Rumman Raees deserves to be mention among them rather than Wahab Riaz. Other than that I could see that as a our bowling unit for the next series. Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf can easily be developed into allrounders which I think would be essential for the team's future as both look like exciting prospects.
 
He carried our pace attack on flat decks for two seasons, there is valid criticism and then there is abuse. Junaid is a good bowler who is treated like he is a ttf

is he better than all other good bowlers in the country? or are we handing out places in the national team based on past service? hasan and abbas look a cut sharper than him already, and in domestics there are still a few bowlers who have done much better than him recently.
 
is he better than all other good bowlers in the country? or are we handing out places in the national team based on past service? hasan and abbas look a cut sharper than him already, and in domestics there are still a few bowlers who have done much better than him recently.

Don't change the parameters, you were talking about the past and that's what I was responding to. Junaid was more than "serviceable" for those two years prior to injury, anyone who saw those games would know that
 
Amir
Hasan
Yasir
Zafar (will be Asghar)

Abbas as backup.

Junaid sticks to ODIs for now IMO.
 
I watched few old highlights of Junaid against India and SL and I was surprised how he was able to swing the ball with good pace like Wasim Akram on the subcontinent pitches. Both Amir and Junaid are now half the bowler they were when younger. They should be getting better, not worst. Knowing their full potential, coaches need to work and get their old rhythm back. With Hasan Ali, they will be devastating in all formats. Take Wahab (tests only), Ruman Raees, Mohd Abbas, and Irfan along as back up and we are in good shape in the pace bowling department.
 
There are at least ten better options than Junaid. His fluke performances won't last. There is no point persisting with him when you can further improve your attack.
 
Test bowling attack in Asia has to be different than the one abroad

In Asia:
- Hafeez
- Shadab
- Amir
- Hassan
- Yasir

Abroad:
- Fahim Ashraf
- Yasir
- Amir
- Hassan Ali
- Junaid Khan
 
My bowling lineup

In Asia:
Amir
Hassan
Shadab
Yasir
Junaid ( keeping in mind the record of him on flat pitches)
Open slot ( Hafeez could have been an option but I think PAK needs to move forward from hafeez or a part timer like Haris Sohail)


In other continents:
Amir
Hassan
Junaid
Abbas ( Sohail khan can gets his place in XI if his fitness is fine.)
Yasir/ Shadab
Part timer
 
Don't change the parameters, you were talking about the past and that's what I was responding to. Junaid was more than "serviceable" for those two years prior to injury, anyone who saw those games would know that

What are you on about? The thread is about whether Junaid should be selected for coming Test series. I pointed out that even at his best, some years ago, he was never truly top drawer. If serviceable offends you than I can say that he was good, but no one can argue that he was ever excellent. And he has not gotten better. His FC performance recently is just middling by domestic standards. So how could you argue that he should be selected over players like Hasan, or Abbas, who have already in their brief careers looked better than he ever was, or for that any number of other domestic prospects? Again, I don't think he's a TTF at all, and if we didn't have players of the calibre of Hasan and Abbas he should play. But there are better options now. Simple as that. If he wants to prove otherwise he can perform in domestics and get another shot. I am not counting him out for ever. But his past performances have not earned him an automatic recall.
 
Amir, Junaid, Hasan Ali, Yasir and Shadab. Why do we keep chopping and changing for no good reason? Don't fix it if it ain't broke!
 
Amir, Junaid, Hasan Ali, Yasir and Shadab. Why do we keep chopping and changing for no good reason? Don't fix it if it ain't broke!

Shadab is not ready for test cricket yet. Needs a few more seasons in FC cricket. Doesn't have the control to be a test bowler yet.
 
Imad is a better option than Shadab. Excellent left arm bowler.

Would agree. Also, he can bat, has an FC batting average of ~42. Would be real handy down the order. I think if he can learn to spin the ball a bit, pitches in the UAE will help his style of bowling, not to mention he can hold an end down.
 
There are two gigantically important Test series next year:

1) 2 Tests away to England in May-June 2018
2) 3 Tests away to South Africa in December 2018

Neither will offer the spin bowlers anything at all. The Misbah Plan of Yasir Shah bowling leg-stump garbage will not work (not that it did in England, New Zealand or Australia anyway).

Pakistan need to understand that they will require FIVE bowlers, of whom

1) At least 4 must be pace bowlers,
2) At least 1 must be able to bat at 7 and average 30 with the bat.
3) At least 1 must be able to bat at 8 and average 25 with the bat.
4) At least 1 must be able to bat at 9 and average 20 with the bat.
5) At least 1 quick must bowl over 140K.
6) At least 1 quick must be more than 6'3 tall.

There's no role for Yasir Shah in those series.

But better still, there will be an ancient Amla, 2 dodgy openers and Bavuma picked for quota reasons.

So my first choice attack would be:

6. Sarfraz Ahmed
7. Shadab Khan (because the spinner will hardly bowl, and needs to be a good batsman)
8. Mohammad Amir
9. Hasan Ali
10. Ehsan Adil IF he can fix his pace, stamina, action and batting
11. Mohammad Abbas
 
Why is Junaid a must in Tests? At his peak he was merely very serviceable. Ave 31, has only taken 5fers against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Meanwhile every domestic performer we try looks better than him. So let's try some more.

Glad he's performing in in ODIs but Tests are a different game.

I second this.
 
As other posters have mentioned, Pakistan have some very important series coming ahead and suggesting Imad for the Test squad is embarrassing. Pakistan needs specialists.
 
Think it's completely unwarranted to drop Abbas for Junaid. Junaid has just come back to the ODI team, been subpar for a long time till now. And not totally convinced he'll be able to keep his ODI spot from Raees. Let him focus on ODIs.

Abbas has an excellent domestic first class record and excellent start to his test career. While Junaid's record in tests isn't exactly shattering. Plus Junaid playing three formats given his history is more likely to get injured.

Give Abbas a fair crack at it first. Always nice having a test bowler too who is specialist for tests, means he's usually fresh for them rather than worn down by the LOI workload.

Hasan Ali, Amir, Abbas and Yasir would be my picks.
 
There are two gigantically important Test series next year:

1) 2 Tests away to England in May-June 2018
2) 3 Tests away to South Africa in December 2018

Neither will offer the spin bowlers anything at all. The Misbah Plan of Yasir Shah bowling leg-stump garbage will not work (not that it did in England, New Zealand or Australia anyway).

Pakistan need to understand that they will require FIVE bowlers, of whom

1) At least 4 must be pace bowlers,
2) At least 1 must be able to bat at 7 and average 30 with the bat.
3) At least 1 must be able to bat at 8 and average 25 with the bat.
4) At least 1 must be able to bat at 9 and average 20 with the bat.
5) At least 1 quick must bowl over 140K.
6) At least 1 quick must be more than 6'3 tall.

There's no role for Yasir Shah in those series.

But better still, there will be an ancient Amla, 2 dodgy openers and Bavuma picked for quota reasons.

So my first choice attack would be:

6. Sarfraz Ahmed
7. Shadab Khan (because the spinner will hardly bowl, and needs to be a good batsman)
8. Mohammad Amir
9. Hasan Ali
10. Ehsan Adil IF he can fix his pace, stamina, action and batting
11. Mohammad Abbas

Firstly, as you already know, I am HIGHLY critical of the quota system but suggesting that Bavuma is picked ONLY for quota reasons is wrong. You can make an argument for him having gotten the berth due to the quotas but as of now, he makes the team on merit.

Any-who, coming back to the crux of your post - firstly, it is hilarious that you've suggested dropping Yasir Shah for 2 Tests being played in England when he was one of the major reasons Pakistan won any in the UK in 2016.

Second, the only reason you're advocating for Ehsan Adil is because of his height and by that logic, why have you selected Hasan? Wasn't he 7 inches too short for Test cricket? Especially Test cricket being played in South Africa?
 
I am seriously against Hasan Ali and Junaid Khan playing Tests, at least for now and I have legitimate reasons for it;

1) Pakistan has had the service of an abysmal bowling attack for ODI's over the last couple of years or so and our pathetic bowling was the MAJOR reason we were ranked as low as No.9. Now, Pakistan finally have the service of a couple of good, young fast bowlers who bowl at a relatively quick pace instead of the usual military medium and I think it would be an absurd decision to burden the already injury-plagued Junaid Khan and a fragile Hasan Ali with the duty of bowling in the desert of the UAE.

2) Junaid Khan has had a good return and I don't want to take anything away from him but to claim that he's justified a return to the Test XI is a farce. He needs to up his pace by at least another 5K (as Bumrah and Kumar have done so), regain his swing and work on his batting.

3) Hasan Ali is ONLY 23, mind you. As my fellow posters would second me on this, his age is the most important time to take care of ones body as fast bowlers are most vulnerable at this time to get injured and then succumb.

Other than that, there's a lot of reason to suggest that Pakistan could make up a formidable pace attack without the likes of Hasan and Junaid in Test cricket and we need them more in ODI's than we need them in Test cricket. Junaid hasn't played Tests in a lot of time and we did OK without him and Hasan has hardly played a game.

- Now coming back to the crux of this thread, in my opinion, the ideal Pakistan Test bowling attack for at least a couple of series here on would consist of:

1) Yasir Shah; he pretty much merits the team.
2) Mohammad Amir; not only does he merit the team but Pakistan desperately NEED him for his swing and lower-order batting.
3) Mohammad Abbas; if I were to be honest, I'm not his biggest fan but he's bough himself at least another series or so and deserves to be given a consistent run.
4) This person needs to be a specialist spinner. Shadab Khan is a good lad but he hasn't been able to win me over with his bowling YET and therefore, I'd select either of Zafar Gohar/Mohammad Asghar (I want to know what the hype is about).
 
Firstly, as you already know, I am HIGHLY critical of the quota system but suggesting that Bavuma is picked ONLY for quota reasons is wrong. You can make an argument for him having gotten the berth due to the quotas but as of now, he makes the team on merit.

Any-who, coming back to the crux of your post - firstly, it is hilarious that you've suggested dropping Yasir Shah for 2 Tests being played in England when he was one of the major reasons Pakistan won any in the UK in 2016.

Second, the only reason you're advocating for Ehsan Adil is because of his height and by that logic, why have you selected Hasan? Wasn't he 7 inches too short for Test cricket? Especially Test cricket being played in South Africa?

I'm English.

Tests in England in May will be like the Tests in New Zealand in November. Soft, spongy, green wickets on which the spinner will not bowl at all.

The question is "five quicks or four quicks plus a spinner who bats"?

Yasir Shah is hopeless in such conditions. It has to be either:

Aamer Yamin as a fifth quick who can bat.
Shadab Khan as a sole spinner who can bat.
Imad Wasim as an extra batsman who can bowl the odd over of spin.

Seriously, last year Pakistan toured in the second half of the summer. When it's drier. And their Tests where Yasir Shah performed were at Lords and The Oval, the two driest, bounciest pitches.

But at Edgbaston and Old Trafford, Yasir Shah took 5 wickets for 500 runs, at a horror average of 100.

England in May is cold and damp. The pitches NEVER have dried out enough for leg-spinners, which is why England haven't had a decent one in history. Ever.
 
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Totally agree, quite like this 17 year old Shaheen shah however for now I agree with your attack, and we should see how junaid performs in tests
 
Our next tests are against Sri Lanka

The bowlers in our squad should be as follows:

Pacers: Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Amir
Spinners: Yasir Shah, Mohammad Asghar
All rounders: Agha Salman, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail as these bowlers can bowl a few overs as well
 
Yes absolutely along with Abbas, but I feel junaid should be in the squad

in Asia - we should only good with Hassan and Amir as our pacers.

However, abroad, Hassan, Junaid, Amir and Fahim should all play in a 4 man pace attack.
 
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