The wait is over - Haris Sohail scores his maiden Test hundred, 7 years in the making

[Suleiman]

It's been a loong time as we've waited for this.

We thought he'd debut in 2011, then 2013 vs SAF test series where he was dearly missed, then 2015 brought a horrific injury.

So 7 years later we finally see the guy score his first ever test hundred, how long he and us fans have waited for it after all the delays.

I wonder how his career would pan out from here, part of his best years have been wasted as he heads into his 30s partly due to our wise selectors and injuries.

To me he was the best budding talent in last 10 years as opposed to Babar.

I'm very happy he scored his hundred, curious to see where his career will go from here.

It's a bit early to call, but I think he has the potential to go down as a Pakistani bat top 5 ever. Bigger expectations from him than Babar.

 

[Mir jibran]

should atleast play 70 test matches and score 5k runs

 

[Justcrazy]

Being a left hander it makes it better for Pakistan. talent was never a question , his fitness was always an issue.

 

[CadPakFan]

Being a left hander it makes it better for Pakistan. talent was never a question , his fitness was always an issue.

Yeah, I've heard rumors he smokes.

 

[Zaz]

I dont think hes helped himself Just doesnt look like the type of person who has had the drive or the fitness to get the best out of himself

Hopefully now he ll serve pakistan well for the next 5years before he retires

 

[Swashbuckler]

Was always a fan of his, my favorite batting prospect from Pakistan in a long time. Hope he can play non stop for another 5 years at least.

 

[Hasan123]

He has been really unlucky with injuries. Should have been given a chance much earlier. Hopefully now he can go and get some more big scores. He has the ability.

 

[Saj]

Delighted for him.

He's worked so hard to get through all the injury problems and deserves this moment.

Met him at the Champions Trophy last year and he said that he had been suicidal at times.

 

[alized]

Yeah, I've heard rumors he smokes.

Smoking isn’t necessarily bad. It’s a natural plant that many doctors recommend to alleviate physical pain and mental stress. If I’m not wrong he had a major knee injury for 2-3 years.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Congrats to all real fans of classical cricket from Bhaijaan.

Harris Sohail is here finally and Inshahallah he will play a long inning for the greens. Good luck to all.

A memorable gritty knock by the youngster. Many more to come.

 

[babajee]

Hopefully this is the catalyst for bigger and better things. Needs to be backed in both ODIs and Tests.

 

[Fahdi]

Hopefully more to come now. A shame his debut got delayed for so long.

In the future I hope he can be more assertive in his approach. The dead slow partnership between Azhar Ali(the main culprit given his experience) and Haris cost us a good 50 runs.

 

[Bewal Express]

Haris showed on the England tour that he had improved- when he first came he couldnt play through the off side because of a closed face but it is obvious he has worked on that. For me he still needs to improve on his fitness(although todays innings will help to prove people like me wrong), his strike rotation and his playing off spin. We needed a left hander in the middle order and hopefully he will be the guy.

 

[gazza619]

Met him at the Champions Trophy last year and he said that he had been suicidal at times.

Thank you sharing. I am happy for him but not good signs that he has been suicidal. He might see a drop in form at some stage in his career and he really needs to toughen up as a person.

 

[PakLFC]

Hope he can remain injury free. The talent is there for sure.

 

[CricketDon]

Umar Akmal did it in one in New Zealand ahaa isn’t a fierce bowling line up. Just saying

 

[MMHS]

Guy has lost 5 golden years of career, at least. Should have been PAK No. 3/4 on 1st April 2011, and Test No. 5 probably even earlier. I think, sometimes in 2010-12, he had a FC average of 50+ with couple of glorious domestic seasons. And, he was a top class lefti middle order, when a line-up of 11 right handers were regularly bunnied by spinners spinning ball away from them, could bowl as well. May be coming from Sialkot didn't help the cause.

 

[todfod 11]

Yeah, I've heard rumors he smokes.

He does.

 

[FastBowlingAllrounder]

Smoking isn’t necessarily bad. It’s a natural plant that many doctors recommend to alleviate physical pain and mental stress. If I’m not wrong he had a major knee injury for 2-3 years.

But it also causes respiratory problems due to an enlargement of the alveoli. This causes trouble with anaerobic respiration meaning he can have trouble batting for long periods of time if he continues smoking heavily.

On a lighter note, very happy for him, truly deserved it. All set to become the backbone for the Pakistan Test team for the next 5-6 years.

 

[alized]

But it also causes respiratory problems due to an enlargement of the alveoli. This causes trouble with anaerobic respiration meaning he can have trouble batting for long periods of time if he continues smoking heavily.

On a lighter note, very happy for him, truly deserved it. All set to become the backbone for the Pakistan Test team for the next 5-6 years.

The natural plant itself doesn't have to be in smoke form. Pills, edibles, and ointments can be used instead. Haris has hit his ton quite fast after debut, it only toke 10 innings to get it.

 

[FastBowlingAllrounder]

The natural plant itself doesn't have to be in smoke form. Pills, edibles, and ointments can be used instead. Haris has hit his ton quite fast after debut, it only toke 10 innings to get it.

Fair point, I have heard of ointments being used. But the problem is Haris is probably using it in smoke form, which isn't ideal for fitness.

Regardless, he knows how to take care of himself best.

 

[alized]

Fair point, I have heard of ointments being used. But the problem is Haris is probably using it in smoke form, which isn't ideal for fitness.

Regardless, he knows how to take care of himself best.

It isn't just fitness, it's also career. He should avoid being like Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Asif, and co. When the PCB finds out, its an imminent ban on him.

 

[FastBowlingAllrounder]

It isn't just fitness, it's also career. He should avoid being like Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Asif, and co. When the PCB finds out, its an imminent ban on him.

Yeah, hadn't thought of that. There have always been a few players in the Pakistan team who been lacking in discipline. Hope he can sort this problem out and not let it hinder his career.

 

[giri26]

Good innings, well done to him.

 

[asfandyar]

Need your input [MENTION=253]the Great Khan[/MENTION]

 

[Mobashir]

Always believed he can become one of the best middle order batsman in the world in the test format.

That innings was good but he can do even better. That s’ow, very slow start is mainly because he was not secure in the XI. I think with runs under the belt he will play better.

 

[Hawkeye]

Supported him from a long time.

He's a good batsman, ideal for Tests. And suitable for ODIs too if we have more dynamic accelerators around.

But that's for ideal batting lineup. Currently an automatic selection.

 

[the Great Khan]

Need your input [MENTION=253]the Great Khan[/MENTION]

My problem with him has always been his fitness and flirting outside the offstump..yes I called him a hack after getting frustrated at his continued carelessness and inability to stay at the crease. However this innings has come at the right time for him because I feel if he had failed in these conditions he would have been dropped.

When you play in these sorts of conditions you have to make it count because it helps your confidence and ultimately you can become a better player.

he has that century and now should go on..I want to see him hit big runs not just get to 40 and succumb..so well played to him and I hope to see more such innings because they help Pakistan.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

My problem with him has always been his fitness and flirting outside the offstump..yes I called him a hack after getting frustrated at his continued carelessness and inability to stay at the crease. However this innings has come at the right time for him because I feel if he had failed in these conditions he would have been dropped.

When you play in these sorts of conditions you have to make it count because it helps your confidence and ultimately you can become a better player.

he has that century and now should go on..I want to see him hit big runs not just get to 40 and succumb..so well played to him and I hope to see more such innings because they help Pakistan.

He will end his career as a 50+ average test batsman. Dont worry.

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

Really happy see him performing well.Hopefully he scores many test centuries

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Yeah, I've heard rumors he smokes.

So did Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff. And they were fast-bowlers. Didn't stop them from having long and successful careers

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I dont think hes helped himself Just doesnt look like the type of person who has had the drive or the fitness to get the best out of himself

Hopefully now he ll serve pakistan well for the next 5years before he retires

It's the style and nature of some guys who give this feel about themselves. Mohammad Yousaf and Usman Khawaja are two others of the same ilk.

 

[JaDed]

Was always a fan of his, my favorite batting prospect from Pakistan in a long time. Hope he can play non stop for another 5 years at least.

What did you like about him?

 

[Khan12]

Love watching Harris bat inshallah he will get many more tons in future. Inshallah Babar will get his soon too. Would love to see a middle order of Harris, Babar, Saud Shaakeel.

 

[Swashbuckler]

What did you like about him?

Stylish batsman.

 

[MMHS]

Supported him from a long time.

He's a good batsman, ideal for Tests. And suitable for ODIs too if we have more dynamic accelerators around.

But that's for ideal batting lineup. Currently an automatic selection.

His ODI stats is 43/81 with 9 innings of 50+ in 24 outings - in any standard that's fantastic for a No. 4. Add to that his bowling; he should have played over 150 ODIs by now.

One problem for him I see is 9 innings of 50+ but no hundreds - that's Inzi syndrome, after batting couple of hours he becomes too thirsty to battle out there, some how finds a way to return back in AC dressing room; that was exactly the reason why Ul Haq didn't have 25 ODI hundreds instead of 10-12 that he had and why he didn't average 48 instead of 38 or so.

Considering his thirst, might not be a bad idea to put him at 3 in ODI or even as opener - yes, one of Fakhar or Imam has to make way for that, but that's actually better option. And, guy can't do much worse than Nawaz or Imad with 5-6 overs of his SLAO spin against when 2 right-handers are batting. FZ might find a place at No. 5, because he hits spin really well, but Imam isn't made for ODI - the earlier PAK realizes that, the better for both Imam & PCT, otherwise history will repeat like Taufique Umar.

 

[babajee]

FZ might find a place at No. 5, because he hits spin really well.

FZ also hits pace really well so......

 

[MMHS]

FZ also hits pace really well so......

He hits pace even better, but might not be for long - in ODI opener has to last long as well.

This is one problem for PAK since mid 90s - Power Play is not about slogging, rather it's a platform to give best match winners most times in middle & get a head start. Every team brought their better middle order with good hitting ability backed by proper batting technique up in the order - from Lara, Tendulkar, Mark to Fleming, Astle, Sanath .... PAK tried with Afridi (& never tried with Umar). A start of 90-4 in 10 overs is fantastic in T20, but 90% times team'll lose ODI from that start. 20/150 is a fantastic stat for a T20 opener, but in ODI you should look for 45/85 openers than 30/100 (I know FZ's average is 60) - IND always does that, but PAK put MoYo at 4, Inzi at 5 for YK, Malik & ARazzak to bat at 3

At present, PAK's strategy seems to be like a true Muslim - believe in single death. Fakhar or nothing - that makes the team completely single dimensional and crippled in batting. That startegy will work against lower ranked teams because first FZ will blast most time, then others will also catch up; but against better planned teams with better individuals, they'll target FZ's weakness and get him cramped from blocking his scoring areas - game ends there.

It's a recipe for disaster - rather openers should always be better shot makers around 360 & someone who can rotate strike after hitting a boundary. If you analyze current Indian pair or Sehwag - they do selective hitting, may be just one hit in an over & immediately tries to get a single to get off the strike. One hit per over, backed by a single, without risking much, one can reach 100 in 20 overs. FZ needs to play too many high risk shots, which might work in his purple patch, but won't last long. When FZ is struggling, he is the ugliest batsman to watch, because he doesn't have a 2nd method of batting. Besides, FZ's biggest problem is, he plays most of his shots in air, which isn't the best method when you have 7 fielders in circle - best openers in ODI keeps it on grass, in gaps; something that's airborne has to fly long & high. Look at his dismissal patters - most of them from half-cooked drives/cuts/edges within circle or skier.

..... and remember, I wrote something similar long back, not just because BD has beaten PAK in Asia Cup, or FZ had a tournament to forget.

 

[DRsohail]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] I believe haris Sohail will do better as an opener in ODI.