The numbers that condemn the seniors - even Mohammad Abbas

[Junaids]

Something had gone very wrong with Pakistan Test selection.

It's supposed to be hard to remain in an international team unless you are performing. Especially if you are over 30 - the conventional wisdom is one bad series and an elderly player should be replaced.

We all know that youngsters are inconsistent - that's why it is as weird that Misbah picks multiple kids as it is that he picks a legion of old men.

But let's look at the records of the seniors across the last 2 calendar years, 2019 and 2020.

1. Failed Test Cricketers
Mohammad Abbas: 19 wickets in 9 Tests at 36.42
Yasir Shah: 21 wickets in 8 Tests at 50.04
Azhar Ali: 311 runs in 10 Tests at 20.73
Haris Sohail: 93 runs in 4 Tests at 23.25

2. Underperforming but not yet failed
Asad Shafiq: 484 runs in 10 Tests at 37.23

3. Over 30 but performing to a high standard
Shan Masood: 697 runs in 10 Tests at 46.46

These are senior players. They should only be in the team if they are performing consistently well.

But Mohammad Abbas, Azhar Ali and Yasir Shah are consistently performing extremely badly, and I cannot see how their continued selection - and obstruction of the next generation - can be justified.

Is 2 years and 10 Tests really not a big enough sample size to conclude that age has destroyed these players?

 

[BreadPakoda]

Yasir Shah is more of an all rounder and tbh he’s done well in that role.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

This test team is an utter disgrace to watch since May 2017. They need a complete revamp.

 

[Junaids]

Yasir Shah is more of an all rounder and tbh he’s done well in that role.

He has reached 45 once in his entire 42 Test career.

Shadab Khan has done it 5 times in 6 Tests.

So you keep the guy who is averaging 50 with the ball because he is barely competent with the bat?

 

[sweep_shot]

He has reached 45 once in his entire 42 Test career.

Shadab Khan has done it 5 times in 6 Tests.

So you keep the guy who is averaging 50 with the ball because he is barely competent with the bat?

I think Shadab should replace Yasir after this series. Yasir has been too expensive and quite ineffective in Test. He gets wickets but most of his wickets are soft wickets.

 

[BreadPakoda]

He has reached 45 once in his entire 42 Test career.

Shadab Khan has done it 5 times in 6 Tests.

So you keep the guy who is averaging 50 with the ball because he is barely competent with the bat?

How many 100s does Shadab have?

 

[Mesozoic]

If not for Yasir, England would most likely have been 350/2 yesterday.

One of the two reasons why Pakistan could compete in the first test was yes once again..... Yasir Shah (alongside Shan Masood).

Your logic is honesty baffling.

 

[Indiafan]

I hate the pure ageism in Junaids post. I feel judging in the basis of age is discrimination and there is a reason most countries have a law against it

How is Abbas a senior? He has played only 20 tests and averages 20.

So we have already had a height qualification and now an age qualification. Soon the next post will be that in order to play for cricket, a player should be above 6 feet 5, below 25 years, only have green eyes, should only be left handed, should be born in october.

However all this criteria doesn't matter if your name is Amir or Umar Akmal

 

[Ellipsism]

Abbas has been exposed each and every-time the batsman bat outside of their crease. We saw it when we played NZ in the UAE, the SA tour, the Adelaide test and now here. He might get 1 in 1000 to do something special (ala the dismissal of Ben Stokes in the first test), but the vast majority of time he gets made to look like an innocuous trundler, and he has no response for it.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

I hate the pure ageism in Junaids post. I feel judging in the basis of age is discrimination and there is a reason most countries have a law against it

How is Abbas a senior? He has played only 20 tests and averages 20.

So we have already had a height qualification and now an age qualification. Soon the next post will be that in order to play for cricket, a player should be above 6 feet 5, below 25 years, only have green eyes, should only be left handed, should be born in october.

However all this criteria doesn't matter if your name is Amir or Umar Akmal

I think this is the crux of the matter.

It would be all good, if the same "best interest standards" was applied to all the people.

But sadly, for some, no matter if they hit a "duck" every match or have an average of "30 plus" they still are world class.

 

[Junaids]

I hate the pure ageism in Junaids post. I feel judging in the basis of age is discrimination and there is a reason most countries have a law against it

How is Abbas a senior? He has played only 20 tests and averages 20.

So we have already had a height qualification and now an age qualification. Soon the next post will be that in order to play for cricket, a player should be above 6 feet 5, below 25 years, only have green eyes, should only be left handed, should be born in october.

However all this criteria doesn't matter if your name is Amir or Umar Akmal

Sport is ageist. That’s how it works.

The superb Indian batting order which did well in Australia in 2003-4 then lost narrowly 4 years later and was massacred in 2011-12.

Time is limited in elite sport.

I’m 51 years old. Or perhaps I should say that I’m 45 years old in Mohammad Abbas or Yasir Shah years!

 

[Junaids]

If not for Yasir, England would most likely have been 350/2 yesterday.

One of the two reasons why Pakistan could compete in the first test was yes once again..... Yasir Shah (alongside Shan Masood).

Your logic is honesty baffling.

No other country would have given a spinner 15 overs yesterday, let alone 29.

It was a windy day, a day for seamers.

As ever, Pakistan under Misbah overbowled Yasir and in spite of some excellent deliveries he’s going to end up yet again with 3-180.

 

[Energy]

PCB is no different to any country club. The new guy needs a membership while the buddy group gets a pass.

The real question is - how do they get away with it systematically? Lack of accountability? Board too soft for its own good?

 

[Savak]

Abbas has been exposed each and every-time the batsman bat outside of their crease. We saw it when we played NZ in the UAE, the SA tour, the Adelaide test and now here. He might get 1 in 1000 to do something special (ala the dismissal of Ben Stokes in the first test), but the vast majority of time he gets made to look like an innocuous trundler, and he has no response for it.

Naseem Shah should get the new ball ahead of Abbas

 

[MenInG]

Naseem Shah should get the new ball ahead of Abbas

I agree - you have an express fast bowler - use him when the ball is hard and new.

 

[Saj]

In the past seniors carried the team, drove the team forward, these days the seniors are the weak link.

Some poor investment by the PCB in the wrong players.

 

[Mamoon]

In this series, Yasir is averaging 27.45 and Abbas 29.80.

Now guess the ages of the two bowlers who are averaging 52 and 55.

 

[Junaids]

In this series, Yasir is averaging 27.45 and Abbas 29.80.

Now guess the ages of the two bowlers who are averaging 52 and 55.

I am as reluctant to pick underrage players as overage ones.

For me, it’s non-negotiable that 7-8 of the starting eleven are aged 21-30.

 

[Savak]

In the past seniors carried the team, drove the team forward, these days the seniors are the weak link.

Some poor investment by the PCB in the wrong players.

Or by Misbah ul Haq as both captain and now coach