"The partnership between Fawad and I is crucial" : Azhar Ali

[Saj]

Azhar Ali speaking after day 4’s play

The pitch now resembles an Asian pitch on Day 5 and the spinners are getting extra bounce, but I’m sure they will rely mostly on their seamers. There is varying pace off the pitch now with uneven bounce and they are bowling wicket to wicket which makes it tough going out there.

It will be a challenge on Day 5 but we have to ensure that whichever player is set at the crease plays long innings as once you are in on this pitch you can play long innings. But it’s one of those pitches where if you get used to it, you can bat all day. Therefore the partnership between Fawad and I is crucial and we need to spend maximum time out there in the middle.

We’ll have to take one ball at a time and try to play as positively as possible. When you lose 3 early wickets then you are going to be under pressure but you have to just play each ball on merit and try to keep things simple.

It will be difficult but we need a good tart on Day 5 and the first session is crucial and we are focussed on that. After that let’s see where we are, what the run-rate is, but we definitely need a good start tomorrow.

I have a lot of respect for Wagner and he has shown what it means to play for your country. He’s been in so much pain and we didn’t expect him to bowl in the second innings but he still came back and bowled. As a cricketer, you can’t do much more than this for your country. It’s an example to all cricketers of just what it means to play cricket for your country and to give 110%, in fact he has probably given 200% effort given how much pain he was in.

 

[ARK Rafay]

Varying Pace and Uneven bounce. I wouldn't be surprised if Pakistan somehow get past the pacers but eventually get undone by a Santner's spell on this pitch.

Very difficult indeed to either draw or try to win the game now.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Our batsmen have a tendancy to not be switched on at start of a session so lets hope we dont lose one of these two batsmen straight away. Hopefully these two can some how help us salvage a draw.

 

[Hasan123]

If he gets a 50 he definitely keeps his place for another few series. But then again, Misbah is the coach so I doubt he gets dropped anytime soon.

 

[Osman]

Both of these guys need to be at their stodgy, gritty best if theres any chance of the draw. Rizwan and Faheem are both stroke makers - they have played well but i'd be less confident of the 2 of them grinding it out for a draw.

 

[Ucdkee]

Our players are mentally very weak. Asian pitch or not, we will lose either in the first session or the last session, but we will lose.

 

[Ucdkee]

Our players are mentally very weak. Asian pitch or not, we will lose either in the first session or the last session, but we will lose.

and if someone scores a century we will take the moral victory and Misbah and co will not miss the chance of celebrating it.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

230 all out before tea.

 

[hitthestump]

230 all out before tea.

Where are we going to get 230 from lol

Fawad and Azhar aren't even in the top 50 international batsman right now, and they're up against the top 5 bowlers in the world. From here Faheem Sobers and Rizwan may not be able to save us from humiliation a second time, and then it's Yasir strolling in at number 8.

Game over by tea yes, but 230 would be a miracle given what's to come.

 

[ShoaibM]

Even if we lose there will be a foundation to work off in the second test. Hope for a better show there. Or a miracle happens...

 

[shamaan]

if you wanted any batters to bat it out it would be these too.

 

[UzmanBeast]

A lot of people here are talking about Santner being a dangerman, look at his test match stats. His bowling is not as dangerous as we are making it to be. The pitch isn't even that dry, the ball won't spin uncontrollably either.

It's Wagner and Jamieson who are the biggest threats, particularly Jamieson with his height.

 

[Saj]

I sense it will either be a total disaster where Pakistan will fold very quickly or a majestic rearguard action which will see Pakistan draw.

 

[Slog]

I sense it will either be a total disaster where Pakistan will fold very quickly or a majestic rearguard action which will see Pakistan draw.

Haha those are kind of the only outcomes right? Unless you think win is a possibility.

Anyways I would correct you there: we will either fold very quickly or there will be a rearguard action which will see Pakistan lose in the third session. Lose we will.

 

[Slog]

A lot of people here are talking about Santner being a dangerman, look at his test match stats. His bowling is not as dangerous as we are making it to be. The pitch isn't even that dry, the ball won't spin uncontrollably either.

It's Wagner and Jamieson who are the biggest threats, particularly Jamieson with his height.

Since when has an opposition bowlers’ (or batsman’s) test match stats been relevant for us to make a hero out of him? We’ve also helped kickstart many middling career so perhaps this day is just the shot in the arm Santner needs for his career.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

When you have someone like Wagner in your side you can pretty much take the pitch out of the equation. Doesn't matter where he is bowling he will keep coming at you with his unrelenting bouncer barrage. Faheem took him on very well in the first innings and the strategy for these two should be the same. They can be sensible while taking him on. Because if they put on the same approach they did in the first innings then there's no hope in saving the test.

And while batting may be comparatively easier to the the first 3 days, that doesn't mean the New Zealand pacers will be any less relenting. There's a reason they haven't lost a test match at home in 3 years and understanding how their home pitches play is a key component of that.

Thing is with Pakistan you can't even set benchmarks of success. Not losing a wicket in the first two sessions could well be meaningless because as we saw in Hamilton 2016, Pakistan is more than capable of losing 9 wickets in one session, let alone 7.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Since when has an opposition bowlers’ (or batsman’s) test match stats been relevant for us to make a hero out of him? We’ve also helped kickstart many middling career so perhaps this day is just the shot in the arm Santner needs for his career.

True but the conditions aren't even that condusive. Yasir was barely even getting any turn, and Santner of all as a finger-spinner would be even more likely to extract any turn.

We should target Santner if we can.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

A lot of people here are talking about Santner being a dangerman, look at his test match stats. His bowling is not as dangerous as we are making it to be. The pitch isn't even that dry, the ball won't spin uncontrollably either.

It's Wagner and Jamieson who are the biggest threats, particularly Jamieson with his height.

What were the test stats of Mark Craig, Colin de Grandhomme, Ajaz Patel and Will Somerville before they ran through the Pakistan batting?

 

[UzmanBeast]

What were the test stats of Mark Craig, Colin de Grandhomme, Ajaz Patel and Will Somerville before they ran through the Pakistan batting?

Like I stated, the conditions aren't too favourable for Santner either aside from a little bounce on offer.

Ajaz Patel bowled in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where the pitches are dry and conducive to spin bowling.

Mark Craig was also assisted by the conditions in UAE where the pitches are dry and condusive to spin bowling.

Colin de Grandhomme is a swing bowler and was bowling in conditions that assisted swing bowling, so it's no surprise that he was able to take wickets.

Lastly, Will Somerville is also a spinner who was assisted by the dead spinning tracks of the UAE.

Do you understand my point now?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Like I stated, the conditions aren't too favourable for Santner either aside from a little bounce on offer.

Ajaz Patel bowled in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where the pitches are dry and conducive to spin bowling.

Mark Craig was also assisted by the conditions in UAE where the pitches are dry and condusive to spin bowling.

Colin de Grandhomme is a swing bowler and was bowling in conditions that assisted swing bowling, so it's no surprise that he was able to take wickets.

Lastly, Will Somerville is also a spinner who was assisted by the dead spinning tracks of the UAE.

Do you understand my point now?

On paper even Shan Masood is a swing bowler. Doesn't mean he is any good. These guys would be put to the sword if they were bowling in India but Pakistan somehow made them heroes. And we all know their success had less to do with the pitch, and more to do with Pakistan's propensity of making heroes out of no-name mediocre players.

I'll give you a stat to illustrate my point.

All of these bowlers I mentioned recorded their best test bowling figures against Pakistan. And for all four their best bowling figures are still the ones they recorded against Pakistan.

 

[Slog]

Like I stated, the conditions aren't too favourable for Santner either aside from a little bounce on offer.

Ajaz Patel bowled in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where the pitches are dry and conducive to spin bowling.

Mark Craig was also assisted by the conditions in UAE where the pitches are dry and condusive to spin bowling.

Colin de Grandhomme is a swing bowler and was bowling in conditions that assisted swing bowling, so it's no surprise that he was able to take wickets.

Lastly, Will Somerville is also a spinner who was assisted by the dead spinning tracks of the UAE.

Do you understand my point now?

All these statements you put regarding conditions are statements in hindsight. Competent lineups would have fared well and people like you would have been terming these tracks as dead retrospectively.

Also these bowlers you named are mediocre bowlers. Even if the conditions are conducive you don’t just show up to get those wickets. Either you have to be good or have to be against an inept batting lineup like Pakistan’s. In most of these cases you mentioned it was the case of the latter and that is also supported by the fact that most of these bowlers have had run of the mill careers or disappeared into oblivion. For most of these bowlers, these were their best bowling performances of their career.

Today the conditions aren’t ‘too favorable for Santner’ as per you but when he or someone else invariably wraps up the game fairly quickly (majority chance of this happening), you would retrospectively call this a ‘tough day 5 wicket’ in a years time.

Anyways I hope your optimism and positivity wins the day and Pakistan are able to hold out somehow.

 

[Slog]

All these statements you put regarding conditions are statements in hindsight. Competent lineups would have fared well and people like you would have been terming these tracks as dead retrospectively.

Also these bowlers you named are mediocre bowlers. Even if the conditions are conducive you don’t just show up to get those wickets. Either you have to be good or have to be against an inept batting lineup like Pakistan’s. In most of these cases you mentioned it was the case of the latter and that is also supported by the fact that most of these bowlers have had run of the mill careers or disappeared into oblivion. For most of these bowlers, these were their best bowling performances of their career.

Today the conditions aren’t ‘too favorable for Santner’ as per you but when he or someone else invariably wraps up the game fairly quickly (majority chance of this happening), you would retrospectively call this a ‘tough day 5 wicket’ in a years time.

Anyways I hope your optimism and positivity wins the day and Pakistan are able to hold out somehow.

Essentially what [MENTION=147292]RedwoodOriginal[/MENTION] is saying

 

[UzmanBeast]

On paper even Shan Masood is a swing bowler. Doesn't mean he is any good. These guys would be put to the sword if they were bowling in India but Pakistan somehow made them heroes. And we all know their success had less to do with the pitch, and more to do with Pakistan's propensity of making heroes out of no-name mediocre players.

I'll give you a stat to illustrate my point.

All of these bowlers I mentioned recorded their best test bowling figures against Pakistan. And for all four their best bowling figures are still the ones they recorded against Pakistan.

You can't simply leave out the pitches because that paints an incomplete picture. Your point that they performed well against Pakistan does not show that the pitches weren't important factors in the performances. The only way to justify your point would be to see their performances when the pitches were not in their respective favors.

 

[UzmanBeast]

All these statements you put regarding conditions are statements in hindsight. Competent lineups would have fared well and people like you would have been terming these tracks as dead retrospectively.

Also these bowlers you named are mediocre bowlers. Even if the conditions are conducive you don’t just show up to get those wickets. Either you have to be good or have to be against an inept batting lineup like Pakistan’s. In most of these cases you mentioned it was the case of the latter and that is also supported by the fact that most of these bowlers have had run of the mill careers or disappeared into oblivion. For most of these bowlers, these were their best bowling performances of their career.

Today the conditions aren’t ‘too favorable for Santner’ as per you but when he or someone else invariably wraps up the game fairly quickly (majority chance of this happening), you would retrospectively call this a ‘tough day 5 wicket’ in a years time.

Anyways I hope your optimism and positivity wins the day and Pakistan are able to hold out somehow.

The pitches were condusive to the bowling of all of the bowlers that were mentioned which is a fact. Never did I say that our batting wasn't poor quality, it was. However, they did also receive additional help from the pitch, something our batsmen are unable to comprehend how to play against.

If Santner takes 5 wickets against Pakistan today it will be because of his quality bowling on a wicket that isn't condusive nor friendly to spin bowling.

It doesn't take a miracle to put the ball in the right areas, and we have forgotten about this given our own lacklustered bowling.

Hardly one of the bowlers mentioned has a notable career, I agree, but whether it was Pakistan's poor batting approach or the pitch assistance is something we cannot determine as outsiders to the situation.

I am not calling your viewpoint wrong, that is mistaken. I am just saying that it becomes very difficult to remove the assistance of the pitch when determining the type of bowling display which was put on by each of the bowlers mentioned.

 

[Slog]

The pitches were condusive to the bowling of all of the bowlers that were mentioned which is a fact. Never did I say that our batting wasn't poor quality, it was. However, they did also receive additional help from the pitch, something our batsmen are unable to comprehend how to play against.

If Santner takes 5 wickets against Pakistan today it will be because of his quality bowling on a wicket that isn't condusive nor friendly to spin bowling.

It doesn't take a miracle to put the ball in the right areas, and we have forgotten about this given our own lacklustered bowling.

Hardly one of the bowlers mentioned has a notable career, I agree, but whether it was Pakistan's poor batting approach or the pitch assistance is something we cannot determine as outsiders to the situation.

I am not calling your viewpoint wrong, that is mistaken. I am just saying that it becomes very difficult to remove the assistance of the pitch when determining the type of bowling display which was put on by each of the bowlers mentioned.

This is where you are wrong. The wickets and conditions weren’t as conducive as you wanted to make it seem. It was much more of a case of Pakistani batsmen losing their heads like usual.

The 2014 test where Mark Craig performed well was a case of the batsmen choking due to scoreboard pressure. The wicket was flat as they come. Heck Trent Boult took 4 wickets in 4th innings btw.

The wicket Ajaz Patel did well was conducive but no minefield. But I can give you that. However the pitch Somerville performed on was a very standard wicket. It was poor batting.

Of your examples only Colin de Grandhomme was a clear case of the conditions and pitch being the major reason for the collapse.

You can say today that the wicket isn’t conducive etc but of the 4 matches you quoted, that was being said for 2 pitches of those matches too on the day of the final morning of the test. By your metric even the pitch today can be termed as somehwat supportive if you focus on a few aspects of it like bounce etc.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

This is where you are wrong. The wickets and conditions weren’t as conducive as you wanted to make it seem. It was much more of a case of Pakistani batsmen losing their heads like usual.

The 2014 test where Mark Craig performed well was a case of the batsmen choking due to scoreboard pressure. The wicket was flat as they come. Heck Trent Boult took 4 wickets in 4th innings btw.

The wicket Ajaz Patel did well was conducive but no minefield. But I can give you that. However the pitch Somerville performed on was a very standard wicket. It was poor batting.

Of your examples only Colin de Grandhomme was a clear case of the conditions and pitch being the major reason for the collapse.

You can say today that the wicket isn’t conducive etc but of the 4 matches you quoted, that was being said for 2 pitches of those matches too on the day of the final morning of the test. By your metric even the pitch today can be termed as somehwat supportive if you focus on a few aspects of it like bounce etc.

How was Craig getting the wickets due to scoreboard pressure when we were batting first and he took 7 wickets in the first inning I believe.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Would be real irritating if one of them goes back to pavilion in the first 5 overs now.

 

[hur rizvi]

How was Craig getting the wickets due to scoreboard pressure when we were batting first and he took 7 wickets in the first inning I believe.

I remember that match clearly. I think Players lost interest in that match after phil hughes's sad demise and that made them play very rubbish shots. As a result a nothing bowler like Mark Craig ended up with 7 wickets

 

[Slog]

How was Craig getting the wickets due to scoreboard pressure when we were batting first and he took 7 wickets in the first inning I believe.

Scoreboard pressure is wrong word I guess. Basically Pakistan were 310/5 but going at a very slow rate so had to get a move on. So he got bunch of Lower order wickets. Most of his wickets were off errors. The wicket was so flat that NZ scored almost 700 at 5 an over against significantly superior spinners

 

[Slog]

I remember that match clearly. I think Players lost interest in that match after phil hughes's sad demise and that made them play very rubbish shots. As a result a nothing bowler like Mark Craig ended up with 7 wickets

I’ve always felt that was a case. Till the day Phil Hughes unfortunately passed away we were had not just dominated that match but pretty much every day of that series.

 

[hur rizvi]

Would be real irritating if one of them goes back to pavilion in the first 5 overs now.

I think it's down to ability. Azhar ali at this stage of his career despite possessing grit and determination is not good enough to counter southee and boult whereas Fawad is an even more limited player.

I dont doubt their grit I have severe doubts about their abilities as cricketers

 

[hur rizvi]

Would be real irritating if one of them goes back to pavilion in the first 5 overs now.

Azhar goes

 

[Majestic_Inzi]

Azhar shud retire..

 

[moghul]

Azhar shud retire..

Belongs to Misbah scholl of thought, will never retire , needs to be shown the door.

 

[kingusama92]

)

Lasted three deliveries.

 

[UzmanBeast]

This is where you are wrong. The wickets and conditions weren’t as conducive as you wanted to make it seem. It was much more of a case of Pakistani batsmen losing their heads like usual.

The 2014 test where Mark Craig performed well was a case of the batsmen choking due to scoreboard pressure. The wicket was flat as they come. Heck Trent Boult took 4 wickets in 4th innings btw.

The wicket Ajaz Patel did well was conducive but no minefield. But I can give you that. However the pitch Somerville performed on was a very standard wicket. It was poor batting.

Of your examples only Colin de Grandhomme was a clear case of the conditions and pitch being the major reason for the collapse.

You can say today that the wicket isn’t conducive etc but of the 4 matches you quoted, that was being said for 2 pitches of those matches too on the day of the final morning of the test. By your metric even the pitch today can be termed as somehwat supportive if you focus on a few aspects of it like bounce etc.

Thanks for the insight.

We all know that Pakistan's batting is poor when it comes to pressure, even today with Azhar Ali being dismissed

I'm curious to know your thoughts on how we improve as a batting unit.

 

[Savak]

Azhar Ali is all talk. He talks like a decent nice acha bacha in press conferences but unfortunately that is all he is good for. Experienced players like him are the root cause of all our problems in the side. It is one thing for inexperienced players or players making a comeback to struggle but this guy has enjoyed such an unpressurized ride in the team since 2010 but is incapable of leading by example

Sincerely hoping and praying that Mohd Wasim cleans up the squad and starts afresh as soon as this tour is over.

 

[Usman]

This is a lesson about why you shouldn't talk the talk when you're not good enough to walk the walk

In any half decent team Azhar would be out the door
Unfortunately in our team, there are bigger problems than Azhar. God have mercy!

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Azhar goes

Just know my team so well.

Azhar has been a good servant of Pakistan cricket but now is the time for him to go. Doing more bad than good tbh. He will still get a good score once every 5-6 innings but that's just not enough. He had a wonderful purple patch back in 2016-2017 but he's done now.

 

[Slog]

This is a lesson about why you shouldn't talk the talk when you're not good enough to walk the walk

In any half decent team Azhar would be out the door
Unfortunately in our team, there are bigger problems than Azhar. God have mercy!

This is the most hopeless Pakistan team I have ever seen which is saying something.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Why dont our players avoid interviews or statements when they are in the firing line.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Scoreboard pressure is wrong word I guess. Basically Pakistan were 310/5 but going at a very slow rate so had to get a move on. So he got bunch of Lower order wickets. Most of his wickets were off errors. The wicket was so flat that NZ scored almost 700 at 5 an over against significantly superior spinners

He did end up with a 10fer without being good enough for that and our batters made him a champion in those 4days. so.
Same with Nathan Hauritz, he shouldn't have gotten a 5fer at SCG there but our batters just weren't good enough.

 

[Kroll]

Chalo, now he will say he needs to redeem himself in the next match and the cycle will continue.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I remember that match clearly. I think Players lost interest in that match after phil hughes's sad demise and that made them play very rubbish shots. As a result a nothing bowler like Mark Craig ended up with 7 wickets

Remember the good old days when Shoaib Malik stonewalled a 148 against SL in 2006 against Murali and co on a turner or a Kamran Akmal century in India in 2005. We weren't that good during those days but we were still extremely better than this side when it comes to Tests.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Chalo, now he will say he needs to redeem himself in the next match and the cycle will continue.

Good thing this series doesn't have a 3rd match, so he will have just one test for a make it or break it(for now atleast)

 

[Saj]

Why dont our players avoid interviews or statements when they are in the firing line.

This interview was actually by the PCB

 

[ShoaibM]

The takeaway here is test match cricket is not so much about skill (which is important) but more so state of mind. Yesterday Haris, Shan and Abid were in terrible defeatist states of mind and it showed. Azhar was dug in it was impressive. Then he starts chirping and puts too much pressure on himself, cant handle it and gets out early. I see the problems just as everyone else does, but really hoping Misbah can drive this message home if nothing else.

Ultimately all 4 will need to be replaced. Sad but I do feel maybe we finally have some courage to start removing this dead weight. Started with Sarfaraz and Asad Shafiq. Not lets work our way up I suppose...

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

You can't simply leave out the pitches because that paints an incomplete picture. Your point that they performed well against Pakistan does not show that the pitches weren't important factors in the performances. The only way to justify your point would be to see their performances when the pitches were not in their respective favors.

Okay let's take the conditions. Were the conditions in the game where de Grandhomme took a 6-fer not good enough for Boult or Southee? How did a batting all-rounder who bowls gentle medium pace [and has never since then taken a five wicket haul] manage to run through Pakistan?

I'm not saying pitch is meaningless. I'm saying it matters less than Pakistan's sheer incompetence against tackling such innocuous players, who would rarely succeed against most top-quality sides.

 

[adzzy786]

230 all out before tea.

Where are we going to get 230 from lol

Fawad and Azhar aren't even in the top 50 international batsman right now, and they're up against the top 5 bowlers in the world. From here Faheem Sobers and Rizwan may not be able to save us from humiliation a second time, and then it's Yasir strolling in at number 8.

Game over by tea yes, but 230 would be a miracle given what's to come.

Uhum

 

[hitthestump]

Uhum

Happy to be proven wrong bhaijan

 

[BunnyRabbit]

This interview was actually by the PCB

That's even worse.