The Pakistani batters need to learn from Sarfaraz Ahmed on how to counter spin in the subcontinent

[Savak]

It was refreshing to see a proactive batsman against spin after ages. Sarfaraz has all the shots in the book against spin i.e cover drive, straight drive, back foot punch, pull shot, sweep, paddle sweep and even reverse sweep. He singlehandedly bossed the NZ spinners who had no idea how to bowl to him, how to keep him quite and Sarfaraz single handedly saved Pakistan's blushes. He was literally our Ben Duckett in this series.

Babar, Imam, Shan cannot play the sweep shot against the spinners to save their lives which is why it is much easier for the opposition spinners and captains to come up with a strategy to contain them and force errors.

Surely these players can watch and learn from Sarfaraz on how to counter spin in the subcontinent conditions.

In Pakistani home conditions, it should be a given that the Pakistani batters would be very much at home against any spin and reverse swing.

 

[Kianig89]

It was refreshing to see a proactive batsman against spin after ages. Sarfaraz has all the shots in the book against spin i.e cover drive, straight drive, back foot punch, pull shot, sweep, paddle sweep and even reverse sweep. He singlehandedly bossed the NZ spinners who had no idea how to bowl to him, how to keep him quite and Sarfaraz single handedly saved Pakistan's blushes. He was literally our Ben Duckett in this series.

Babar, Imam, Shan cannot play the sweep shot against the spinners to save their lives which is why it is much easier for the opposition spinners and captains to come up with a strategy to contain them and force errors.

Surely these players can watch and learn from Sarfaraz on how to counter spin in the subcontinent conditions.

In Pakistani home conditions, it should be a given that the Pakistani batters would be very much at home against any spin and reverse swing.

Exactly had Sarfraz being part of Eng Series we might not had lost this badly

 

[u0sama]

Exactly had Sarfraz being part of Eng Series we might not had lost this badly

Eng won due to their fast bowling.

 

[brokenrecord]

According to the commentators, the whole team is found practicing sweep shots before the day’s play. Then apparently no one except Sarfraz and Salman Agha actually tries to sweep. Strange.

 

[BreadPakoda]

While he was comfortable against pace, he was excellent against spin! His sweeps reminded me of the 90s / 00s star batsmen from India, SL, and Pakistan.

 

[Rana]

Imam is a bit predictable

Good spinners will fox him out more often than not

 

[BreadPakoda]

According to the commentators, the whole team is found practicing sweep shots before the day’s play. Then apparently no one except Sarfraz and Salman Agha actually tries to sweep. Strange.

One day’s practice won’t help a lot. Sarfaraz’ sweeping technique reflects decades of practice!

 

[Markhor]

It's amazing how so many of our guys do not employ the sweep shot. On low bouncing wickets in Pakistan, you can sweep safely all day long.

 

[Rana]

It's amazing how so many of our guys do not employ the sweep shot. On low bouncing wickets in Pakistan, you can sweep safely all day long.

I recon 7000 of Younis Khan’s runs are from the sweep shot

 

[brokenrecord]

One day’s practice won’t help a lot. Sarfaraz’ sweeping technique reflects decades of practice!

Could it be because many of our batters don’t actually play a lot of first class cricket on these pitches? Some are picked very early (e.g. Abdullah Shafique). Others like Babar and Rizwan don’t actually play a lot of first class at home. Most of them just seem almost foreign when using the sweep on home pitches.

 

[Rana]

Could it be because many of our batters don’t actually play a lot of first class cricket on these pitches? Some are picked very early (e.g. Abdullah Shafique). Others like Babar and Rizwan don’t actually play a lot of first class at home. Most of them just seem almost foreign when using the sweep on home pitches.

Abdullah Shafique plays all of his cricket on YouTube or Tiktok I think

Fast tracked into the side and learning his trade in the Test arena

He needs to play red ball cricket all around the world instead of being available for white ball cricket.

 

[Savak]

Sarfaraz has proven the value of domestic cricket. The PCB should make it mandatory for the Pakistani players to be available to play their home domestic season in all formats. Now that international cricket is returning back home, it is imperative our players are perfectly familiar with the conditions and the shots to play in these conditions.

 

[TeymurBlake]

He has always been a solid player of spin. A lot of the batters could learn from him on how to play, specially when you see Ish Sodhi's googly to Salman.