The crux of our problem is batting . . and the heart of our batting is comprised of Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq who were supposed to be our senior batters and run makers post the MisYou era!
I don't mind losing. Hell, we have all become quite accustomed to it by now! The last game was painful for all fans . . but you know what? We had a pretty young, inexperienced attack that bowled not that badly (compared to their much experienced and touted english counterparts) . . so I am willing to give them the leeway. They will have good games and bad games . . but they will develop and learn! We need to be patient with them . . the talent is there for everyone to see! Michael Holding, Atherton, Nasser, Warne were all praise . . so there must be something there!
But let's not kid ourselves! We didn't lose because of our bowling . . we came really close to winning because of our bowling! That matters . . and how it gets communicated in the dressing room also matters! We lost solely because of our shambolic batting performance in the 2nd innings (and honestly, wasn't that great in the 1st innings either but for Shan, Babar and Shadab)!
After MisYou retired, it was almost as perfect a transition as you can hope for! Both Azhar and Asad having played 50+ test matches, in their shadow . . it was time for them to step up! Carry the team forward . . carry a potential star player forward (so he doesn't get exposed and under serious pressure every time the batting collapses) - so that he has some room to play with! He can also settle in for a few test matches, just like Azhar and Asad did!
In today's batsmen ship, an average of 50+ is considered world class . . average of 45+ very good . . average of 40+ . . I guess you could be categorized as a solid player though with that average you can hardly be touted as the main batsman! Average below 35 is plain and simple mediocre! and if you're not bringing immense value in the field or some value with the ball, you really ought to question the selection! but we have 2 . . ironically, who were supposed to be our main batters!
In the last 3 years:
#AzharAli averages 27! Avg drops to 12!! away from home!
#AsadShafiq averages 36! Avg drops to 29 away from home!
These 2 were supposed to carry us after MisYou retirements! Absolute garbage!! How are they automatic selection?
3 years!!
That is the real problem!!!
When we fail, let's do the following - shall we?
1.) Shan is mediocre! Let's kick him out . . (who btw has the 2nd highest average and 2nd most runs since his return to the team - yea go figure!)
2.) Let's kick out Imam . . over hyped! Parchi . .
3.) Let's bring in Shadab . . oh but our batting becomes weak, let's bring in Faheem too! but he can't bat! well, aren't we in a pickle? (ever wonder why our batting is weak?) . . After Shadab isn't given a ball but performs decently with the bat as he has done for his test career, let's kick him out . . cuz his bowling sucks! Again ironically, Shadab averages more than both Azhar and Asad
4.) How about we bring in Fakhar . . he can score a few quickly!
5.) Oh what about poor Fawad? He has been hard done by! Let's bring him in as a consolation prize!
6.) Usman Salahuddin, anyone? Whatever happened to him . .
7.) Iftekhar Ahmad? He can be handy!
8.) Our openers suck!
9.) Sarfaraz Ahmed can't bat to save his life! Let's kick him out!!
10.) Harris Sohail . . oh, he is unfit . . so can't bank on him to play often! He has technical flaws! Let's kick him out too . .
11.) Oh and I almost forgot . . my favorite! Babar Azam is over hyped . . what's this nonsense about Fab 4/5/6/7 . . The guy never performs when we need his runs!
Don't you see it?! The problem ALWAYS lies else where . . and hence the changes made are always in areas that either aren't broken or are less of a problem!!
Our management, board, fans, etc. . need to realize what the problem is!! Our 2 senior batters haven't delivered in ages! They have been dopey as hell . . They haven't stood up . . they were supposed to lead our batting line up, but instead gave that mantle to Babar when he wasn't ready!
Unfortunately, we may not have any immensely talented batsmen knocking the door down . . but I am more than willing to go through a few losses with younger talent than these 2 . . who may have a chance to improve! Surely, they won't do much worse than averaging what Asad and Azhar have done! At least we may have a shot at the future . .
It's time we address the real problem! and no . . it doesn't revolve around changing everyone else but our 2 batting talisman!
I don't mind losing. Hell, we have all become quite accustomed to it by now! The last game was painful for all fans . . but you know what? We had a pretty young, inexperienced attack that bowled not that badly (compared to their much experienced and touted english counterparts) . . so I am willing to give them the leeway. They will have good games and bad games . . but they will develop and learn! We need to be patient with them . . the talent is there for everyone to see! Michael Holding, Atherton, Nasser, Warne were all praise . . so there must be something there!
But let's not kid ourselves! We didn't lose because of our bowling . . we came really close to winning because of our bowling! That matters . . and how it gets communicated in the dressing room also matters! We lost solely because of our shambolic batting performance in the 2nd innings (and honestly, wasn't that great in the 1st innings either but for Shan, Babar and Shadab)!
After MisYou retired, it was almost as perfect a transition as you can hope for! Both Azhar and Asad having played 50+ test matches, in their shadow . . it was time for them to step up! Carry the team forward . . carry a potential star player forward (so he doesn't get exposed and under serious pressure every time the batting collapses) - so that he has some room to play with! He can also settle in for a few test matches, just like Azhar and Asad did!
In today's batsmen ship, an average of 50+ is considered world class . . average of 45+ very good . . average of 40+ . . I guess you could be categorized as a solid player though with that average you can hardly be touted as the main batsman! Average below 35 is plain and simple mediocre! and if you're not bringing immense value in the field or some value with the ball, you really ought to question the selection! but we have 2 . . ironically, who were supposed to be our main batters!
In the last 3 years:
#AzharAli averages 27! Avg drops to 12!! away from home!
#AsadShafiq averages 36! Avg drops to 29 away from home!
These 2 were supposed to carry us after MisYou retirements! Absolute garbage!! How are they automatic selection?
3 years!!
That is the real problem!!!
When we fail, let's do the following - shall we?
1.) Shan is mediocre! Let's kick him out . . (who btw has the 2nd highest average and 2nd most runs since his return to the team - yea go figure!)
2.) Let's kick out Imam . . over hyped! Parchi . .
3.) Let's bring in Shadab . . oh but our batting becomes weak, let's bring in Faheem too! but he can't bat! well, aren't we in a pickle? (ever wonder why our batting is weak?) . . After Shadab isn't given a ball but performs decently with the bat as he has done for his test career, let's kick him out . . cuz his bowling sucks! Again ironically, Shadab averages more than both Azhar and Asad
4.) How about we bring in Fakhar . . he can score a few quickly!
5.) Oh what about poor Fawad? He has been hard done by! Let's bring him in as a consolation prize!
6.) Usman Salahuddin, anyone? Whatever happened to him . .
7.) Iftekhar Ahmad? He can be handy!
8.) Our openers suck!
9.) Sarfaraz Ahmed can't bat to save his life! Let's kick him out!!
10.) Harris Sohail . . oh, he is unfit . . so can't bank on him to play often! He has technical flaws! Let's kick him out too . .
11.) Oh and I almost forgot . . my favorite! Babar Azam is over hyped . . what's this nonsense about Fab 4/5/6/7 . . The guy never performs when we need his runs!
Don't you see it?! The problem ALWAYS lies else where . . and hence the changes made are always in areas that either aren't broken or are less of a problem!!
Our management, board, fans, etc. . need to realize what the problem is!! Our 2 senior batters haven't delivered in ages! They have been dopey as hell . . They haven't stood up . . they were supposed to lead our batting line up, but instead gave that mantle to Babar when he wasn't ready!
Unfortunately, we may not have any immensely talented batsmen knocking the door down . . but I am more than willing to go through a few losses with younger talent than these 2 . . who may have a chance to improve! Surely, they won't do much worse than averaging what Asad and Azhar have done! At least we may have a shot at the future . .
It's time we address the real problem! and no . . it doesn't revolve around changing everyone else but our 2 batting talisman!
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