Value of decent back-foot game and horizontal bat shots in Australia

[Amjid Javed]

The warning signs were apparent in South African 3-0 test white wash that most of our batsmen only seem to be able to score runs when ball is pitched up anytime they were pepper with the short ball they were found wanting. The inability to judge what balls to hook, pull was apparent.

Now pakistan are in Australia and ok the 1st series is a T20 one before the test, but some of these players will be playing in the tests. Already its clear as soon as ball goes over waist height are batsmen are just hanging there bats out with no judgement on how to pull or cut properly.

Plain and simple if you cant play horizontal bat strokes in Australia you will struggle to score runs. I doubt the Aussie bowlers will be dishing up to many full length balls to our batsmen knowing thats only way our batters can score runs. A decent bat foot game is usually a must in Australia.

 

[Rayyman]

Agreed.

Pakistan got knocked out of the recent WC in the first match due to their batting vs the short ball.

Fakhar Zaman and Haris Sohail are not able play T20Is on bouncy pitches.

Pakistan needs a few better back-foot players in the shortest format. Sharjeel Khan is a good option, when he comes back from his ban.

As of now, Umar Amin and Rizwan Hussain should get an opportunity in the Pakistan T20I team. They both put up great numbers in the recently concluded domestic T20 tournament.

 

[Salman4.]

Only Umar Amin, Shan, Babar and Ifti can pull/hook.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Shan is horrible against fuller balls he is likely edge it or getting bowled/LBW.

 

[Abid Z]

It’s criminal that after all these years we still don’t consistently have a top 5 line up that can play the short ball. Some can play the odd short ball but none play with conviction. Sometimes when I read we have batting coaches and head coaches and elite coaches who are all “working with the players” I’m left wondering what on earth are they working on? It’s been a glaring flaw of Pakistan cricket for the last 20 years or so that we have always lacked a consistent top 5 that can hook or pull confidently on faster wickets.

Now are know we are at the waca but the first test is Brisbane. But the story of tests is fundamentally different in that you can let the short ball go if you choose not to play. But in LOI’s I just can’t see how we can improve our rankings unless we learn how to consistently take on the short ball.

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

It’s criminal that after all these years we still don’t consistently have a top 5 line up that can play the short ball. Some can play the odd short ball but none play with conviction. Sometimes when I read we have batting coaches and head coaches and elite coaches who are all “working with the players” I’m left wondering what on earth are they working on? It’s been a glaring flaw of Pakistan cricket for the last 20 years or so that we have always lacked a consistent top 5 that can hook or pull confidently on faster wickets.

Now are know we are at the waca but the first test is Brisbane. But the story of tests is fundamentally different in that you can let the short ball go if you choose not to play. But in LOI’s I just can’t see how we can improve our rankings unless we learn how to consistently take on the short ball.

in recent years i guess shahid afridi, ahmed shehzad before he got hit by a bouncer again nz, and young umar akmal was good against short stuff

 

[Amjid Javed]

The inability to judge length and what shots to play has been aparent all the way through the T20 series. Time after time miscued pull or hook shot attempts just going straight up in the air. Haris, fakhar, imam all have looked clueless against short stuff.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Short pitch deliveries have for some many years been a weakness of ours, yet there doesn't seem to be a way to fix it.

 

[Saj]

Iftikhar has shown that if you have the basics, you will score runs in Australia.

 

[Abid Z]

in recent years i guess shahid afridi, ahmed shehzad before he got hit by a bouncer again nz, and young umar akmal was good against short stuff

Even if I accept these names you mention which have to be at best very average players by international standards that’s still only 3 names out of a top 5 and again proves the point that we hardly ever have all top 5 being able to play all round the wicket especially in sena countries. Naturally this means put a few boundary riders and the batting will slow down and succumb to pressure.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Iftikhar has shown that if you have the basics, you will score runs in Australia.

I was impressed how he had balance at wicket and which balls to go at and which ones not to. He should be picked in middle order for tests.

 

[Hasan123]

Good thread. People talk about nonsense like Misbah being coach but forget fundamentals like this are needed to get somewhere in international cricket.

 

[fight_club]

Playing short Pitch Pace bowling Depend on multiple factors Like having a balanced Stance not too crouched ability to transfer weight or having more weight on back foot. These Technical Adjustments
can however cost you Front foot Play and makes you candidate for Nick behind the stump.

Pakistan Must hire curators who can give Hard pitches so that they can better prepare their batsmen
for Short Pitch stuff. In shorter format specially T20 bowl doesn't Swing much and hence Back foot play
becomes super important as bowlers try out short pitch stuff in the absence of Swing and seam

 

[aloo paratha]

I was impressed how he had balance at wicket and which balls to go at and which ones not to. He should be picked in middle order for tests.

Yep, I think he should play over Shafiq. His bowling will also be useful.

 

[Pete Rose]

There's nothing that stops one from playing the short ball on the offside as well, at least in the limited overs game. I expect the test matches are going to continue from where Duane Olivier left off.

 

[Abdullah]

Yep, I think he should play over Shafiq. His bowling will also be useful.

You think that is gonna happen do you.

The way I see it Shan haris Babar and Azhar have to play. As does rIzwan.
I don't think aZhar will open as the reflexes have gone, so imam will open.

That leaves shafiq Vs ifti.

I will pe hacked off if they drop haris

 

[aloo paratha]

You think that is gonna happen do you.

The way I see it Shan haris Babar and Azhar have to play. As does rIzwan.
I don't think aZhar will open as the reflexes have gone, so imam will open.

That leaves shafiq Vs ifti.

I will pe hacked off if they drop haris

I don't think it'll happen, but I hope it will.

Hoping Ifti scores big in the warm ups and Shafiq fails. Iftikhar along with Kashif will be a decent spin duo to keep runs down.

 

[Boiz Played Well]

I don't think it'll happen, but I hope it will.

Hoping Ifti scores big in the warm ups and Shafiq fails. Iftikhar along with Kashif will be a decent spin duo to keep runs down.

Shafiq scored a 137 last time round at Brisbane, a 50 at Melbourne and nothing of note in the last test. He averages 42.83 across 7 test matches vs. Australia. Not the best figures out there, but considering how limited our choices are in batting vs. Australia in Australia, would you still drop him?

 

[aloo paratha]

Shafiq scored a 137 last time round at Brisbane, a 50 at Melbourne and nothing of note in the last test. He averages 42.83 across 7 test matches vs. Australia. Not the best figures out there, but considering how limited our choices are in batting vs. Australia in Australia, would you still drop him?

Yes. He'll never score when the series or even match is alive.

 

[Veteran]

I think the important thing is to maintain one's balance and keep your eye on the ball. I know Hasmain is a bowler but I can't understand an international player not being able to connect the ball. I mention him because he was a perfect example of what a batsman should not be doing. Even several of our batsmen showed similar technique trying to hit the ball too hard. When you are playing pace timing is the key not brute strength. So many batters keep getting out mistiming balls that they are trying to hit out of the ground. Haris who is otherwise such a fine batsman got out in this way three times. Hope our coaching staff can work on this. Otherwise we will keep getting exposed and even otherwise mediocre bowlers like Duanne Oliver will get cheap wickets against us in all formats.