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[VIDEO] All hail Mohammad Abbas - the leader of the pack in Tests for Pakistan!

I think that Abbas was around 32 when he debuted in the West Indies and 33 when he did so well against England away and against Australia in the UAE.

And his performances have fallen off in 2019 and 2020 because he is too old now, probably 35 now.

It’s like with African footballers - from Babayaro to Amokachi. They peak at a young age because it’s a fake age.

Holy moly I was just about to agree and then explore the reasons why abbas has not been prolific in the last two years and again you jump out with your prejudices against age. I just don’t understand this obsession you have.

Let’s be specific. Abbas in 2017 and 18 was a one trick pony who could only bring it into the rhb. How he beat batsmen I just don’t know but he did.

Abbas has been injured or coming back from injury in 2019. He’s needed time to settle but I notice he’s making the ball move away and Come in with a scrambled as well as upright seam that’s making the odd ball kick. He’s bowled wonderfully without reward today in Southampton.

Now jump forward and you say you wouldn’t pick him ..I agree in principle because right now if he was English they would be working on his batting so he could be a decent no 8 or 9 and contribute with the ball. Then his 1 or 2 wickets in an innings would be very useful. However the cupboard is completely bare in Pakistani fast bowling spots. This means not only is there not a decent fast bowler but there also isn’t one that you could say is head and shoulders above Abbas. So Abbas and ssa stay.

Now the crucial question is player development. How do you develop your attack so there are no weak links. Cast your mind back to 2010.. it didn’t matter how good amir or asif were, with Gul and Kaneria releasing the pressure amir/asif could never finish the job in the England series. The whole attack has to click.

This attack simply needs 1 tear together. If ssa and Naseem become the wicket takers they look like they could become it would allow a tighter yasir and Abbas to bowl better together.

Talk of dropping Abbas is premature. You don’t just throw the baby out with the bath water.
 
Pakistan has three Number 11 fast bowlers.

Two are aged 19 and 20 and are huge talents.

The third is in his thirties, averages 38 over the last two years, has a strike rate of almost 100, bowls under 130K and has 21 wickets in his last 11 Tests.

You can’t have three Number 11’s.

And I know which one I would be getting rid of.
 
He has bowled well. DIdnt go for runs that much. His economy is very good

I still hope he gets the last remaining wickets.
 
Abbas first 10 Test matches: 59 wickets | average 15 | SR 38

Abbas next 11 Test matches: 21 wickets | average 38 | SR 97
 
Abbas first 10 Test matches: 59 wickets | average 15 | SR 38

Abbas next 11 Test matches: 21 wickets | average 38 | SR 97

Looks like he's been worked out. This is what the top teams do, while our lazy coaches like Waqar and Misbah are happy to do squat picking up their hefty pay cheques.
 
4/40 for Abbas on Day 2 of the 4-Day game vs NZ A for Shaheens. Seems to be enjoying those pitches.
 
Abbas will once again be in the forefront of Pakistan's Test bowling attack - this time against New Zealand.

24858401-2927-4b4e-b0b8-2469c4f665bf.jpg
 
Abbas will once again be in the forefront of Pakistan's Test bowling attack - this time against New Zealand.

View attachment 105573

Why do people keep slagging Naseem for his lack of height when number of pics show him he is as tall as Abbas and Abbas never faced the same criticism despite a slower pace.
 
Found out already. He is neutralized completely when batsmen stands out of crease. He has no short bowl to surprise batsmen in this case. My prediction is that if Waqar doesnt change his tactics for him Abbas will end up with 120 odd test wickets and be forgotten.
 
I expect Abbas to pick up wickets in this series. The pitches in New Zealand are very conductive for his style of bowling.

Please don't disappoint Abbas
 
Why do people keep slagging Naseem for his lack of height when number of pics show him he is as tall as Abbas and Abbas never faced the same criticism despite a slower pace.

Because Mohammad Abbas has a proven track record in domestics and great performances in Internationals, whereas Naseem is 80% hype
 
NZ batsmen are going to bat outside the crease to him.

Hope he has a few tricks up his sleeve.
 
NZ batsmen are going to bat outside the crease to him.

Hope he has a few tricks up his sleeve.

Again nothing special. Medium paced County bowling with little movement in and even less out. Lets hope I am wrong but I am not happy
 
Found out already. He is neutralized completely when batsmen stands out of crease. He has no short bowl to surprise batsmen in this case. My prediction is that if Waqar doesnt change his tactics for him Abbas will end up with 120 odd test wickets and be forgotten.

He was found out like this in the England series so one would hope that him and Waqar have figured out a counter-strategy by now.

By then again Waqar has proved to be utterly useless as a coach so who knows.
 
He was found out like this in the England series so one would hope that him and Waqar have figured out a counter-strategy by now.

By then again Waqar has proved to be utterly useless as a coach so who knows.

sometimes the bowler may be limited. coach is not at fault here
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mohammad Abbas "We will try and take early wickets tomorrow, but I have to admit, Naseem, Faheem and myself failed to support Shaheen Shah Afridi today" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NZvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NZvPAK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1342793101153337344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Conceding only 25 runs in 21 overs is great but the wickets column is empty.

Looked down on pace again and didn't trouble the batsmen enough.

That type of day 1 surface was ideal for him, but he failed to deliver.
 
Pakistan has three Number 11 fast bowlers.

Two are aged 19 and 20 and are huge talents.

The third is in his thirties, averages 38 over the last two years, has a strike rate of almost 100, bowls under 130K and has 21 wickets in his last 11 Tests.

You can’t have three Number 11’s.

And I know which one I would be getting rid of.

Conceding only 25 runs in 21 overs is great but the wickets column is empty.

Looked down on pace again and didn't trouble the batsmen enough.

That type of day 1 surface was ideal for him, but he failed to deliver.
What’s changed?

Abbas is very economical, but for the last two years his strike rate is around 100.
 
What’s changed?

Abbas is very economical, but for the last two years his strike rate is around 100.

Batsmen been batting out of the crease so far, cos he bowls as fast as opening bowlers at our club.
 
If he bowls the way he does and could add another 7-10 mph to his bowling he would be lethal
 
If he bowls the way he does and could add another 7-10 mph to his bowling he would be lethal

At his age, this isn't going to happen.

He's bowling speed will only go one way now.
 
It’s still early days. Only the first day of the first match. Give the guy a chance. We all know he can be wicket less in an innings and then get a 5 for in the next.
 
He's listed as age 30, but my guess is that he's closer to 35 and that means pace, stamina etc will only go one way.
 
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He's listed as age 30, but my guess is that he's closer to 35 and that means pace, stamina etc will only go one way.

He’s bowling speeds of a part time seamer.

Similar to Philander but without making batsman play by bowling short and wide so often they can leave with no harm.

Similar pace but doesn’t seem to hit the deck as hard too.

0 threat of getting hurt physically by his dibbly dobblies

Even his county stats are going absolutely downhill.
 
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He’s bowling speeds of a part time seamer.

Similar to Philander but without making batsman play by bowling short and wide so often they can leave with no harm.

Similar pace but doesn’t seem to hit the deck as hard too.

0 threat of getting hurt physically by his dibbly dobblies

Even his county stats are going absolutely downhill.

His fans say it is a bad patch but don't think 2 years can be a bad patch. He has lost 5kph of pace plus the lack of zip hence these stats

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It's become all too obvious that the man is nearly done. He has been a low bounce wicket specialist since the start. He hasn't worked on improving his strength and athleticism, which could have added pace to his bowling. In the field he struggles to bend down like he is an old man with a back ache. All this reflects a very poor attitude, even if he is 35 years old as some are speculating he should be a lot more athletic as a professional cricketer.
 
His fans say it is a bad patch but don't think 2 years can be a bad patch. He has lost 5kph of pace plus the lack of zip hence these stats

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Abbas is still living off those first 10 matches, the pressure needs to build up on him. 21 wickets in 12 matches is pathetic, worse than Rahat Ali.

He's the biggest passenger in the Test team right now. Just too easy for batsmen to play him, even on seaming pitches
 
Shaheen is the leader of the attack now
Not sure it's a good thing to have a youngster in that position but it is what it is.
 
Only took him 172 balls to get a wicket....

Better than he did in Australia, at least!
 
Only took him 172 balls to get a wicket....

Better than he did in Australia, at least!

The guy has 14 maidens out of 31 overs and given 49 runs - but I guess this time Strike Rate works.
 
Looks like he's been worked out. This is what the top teams do, while our lazy coaches like Waqar and Misbah are happy to do squat picking up their hefty pay cheques.

He has not been found out. The pitches in UAE suited his style of bowling. He is a medium pace seam bowler. Slow and low pitches in UAE helped him to get LBWs and bowled dismissals. In NZ conditions, he is getting more bounce and only 50% of his balls are hitting the stumps. Commentators also pointed it out today that batsman are standing outside the crease to him which is forcing him to bowl bit short of his regular length. It took LBW out of the situation. It made him toothless. Maybe Rizwan should stand close to stumps in second innings to him. It will help him to bowl full length and be effective.
 
He has not been found out. The pitches in UAE suited his style of bowling. He is a medium pace seam bowler. Slow and low pitches in UAE helped him to get LBWs and bowled dismissals. In NZ conditions, he is getting more bounce and only 50% of his balls are hitting the stumps. Commentators also pointed it out today that batsman are standing outside the crease to him which is forcing him to bowl bit short of his regular length. It took LBW out of the situation. It made him toothless. Maybe Rizwan should stand close to stumps in second innings to him. It will help him to bowl full length and be effective.

Have been demanding Rizwan to stand up to the stumps from ball one. Even South Africa have done it for Pollock, Phillander and Australia for McGrath on occasions when the pitches demanded it
 
The guy has 14 maidens out of 31 overs and given 49 runs - but I guess this time Strike Rate works.

He has 21 wickets in his last 12 Test matches.

He offers zero threat now - he has actually been outbowled by Faheem Ashraf when they have played Tests together in the last 2 years.
 
Abbas has bowled very well.

NZ (and others) however are happy to play negative and defend against him. Hence the ridiculously low economy rate. The exact same thing happened against England.

This is where the other end is important where teams will look to make runs against. Aside from Shaheen with a new ball, NZ have been happy to target Yasir, Faheem and Naseem and play at a slow pace.
 
Abbas has bowled very well.

NZ (and others) however are happy to play negative and defend against him. Hence the ridiculously low economy rate. The exact same thing happened against England.

This is where the other end is important where teams will look to make runs against. Aside from Shaheen with a new ball, NZ have been happy to target Yasir, Faheem and Naseem and play at a slow pace.
Faheem got targeted?

Abbas 31-14-49-1
Faheem 19-8-40-1

We must be watching different matches.
 
Faheem got targeted?

Abbas 31-14-49-1
Faheem 19-8-40-1

We must be watching different matches.

Fair enough. My point still stands thought.

Whatever pressure and momentum Pakistan build was lost by Naseem and Yasir leaking easy runs. Not ot mention the ridiculous fielding and catching.
 
Fair enough. My point still stands thought.

Whatever pressure and momentum Pakistan build was lost by Naseem and Yasir leaking easy runs. Not ot mention the ridiculous fielding and catching.
I totally agree.

And the tail is too long - Amad Butt and Zafar Gohar should have been at 9 and 7 respectively, with Faheem at 8.
 
Toothless and a nothing bowler but don't think we have Wasim or Waqar waiting to play. He will play for sometime.
 
Should be his last tour. Even Hammad Azam can bowl at 125 kph with similar accuracy.

Tabish must replace him against SA.
 
He has 21 wickets in his last 12 Test matches.

He offers zero threat now - he has actually been outbowled by Faheem Ashraf when they have played Tests together in the last 2 years.

Have you counted how many PAK has picked as a team in those 12 Tests? Remember, 12 X 20 = 240 were on offer. Comparison with Faheem Ashraf is laughable, for who understands cricket.

ALSO, you are absolutely pathetic to manipulate data - please don't try it with me, I'll catch you at first sight. You picked last 12 Tests as a mark because the guy got injured and lost his pace since that point - still one of the best bowler of this PAK side. If I go back 5 more Tests to that 12, guy adds another 36 wickets including 4 5fors and a 10 for. Interestingly, when you mentioned 12, IMMIDIATELY I knew exactly where to look for numbers :)
 
"All hail Mohammad Abbas the leader of the pack in Tests" - man some of these threads are absolutely hilarious.
 
Have you counted how many PAK has picked as a team in those 12 Tests? Remember, 12 X 20 = 240 were on offer. Comparison with Faheem Ashraf is laughable, for who understands cricket.

ALSO, you are absolutely pathetic to manipulate data - please don't try it with me, I'll catch you at first sight. You picked last 12 Tests as a mark because the guy got injured and lost his pace since that point - still one of the best bowler of this PAK side. If I go back 5 more Tests to that 12, guy adds another 36 wickets including 4 5fors and a 10 for. Interestingly, when you mentioned 12, IMMIDIATELY I knew exactly where to look for numbers :)
Why would you give someone a longer rope than 12 Tests over 2 years?

Are you saying to go by a bowler’s long-lost pace?
 
Why would you give someone a longer rope than 12 Tests over 2 years?

Are you saying to go by a bowler’s long-lost pace?

That’s different issue - losing pace for faking age. But yes, if the faint version is still better than whatever else available, I’ll definitely pick him. Abbas was head & shoulders above any PAK pacer in UK and here also he has been outstanding. Eventually, PAK has to find his replacement, but not the way you are witch hunting - guy deserves better than this.
 
That’s different issue - losing pace for faking age. But yes, if the faint version is still better than whatever else available, I’ll definitely pick him. Abbas was head & shoulders above any PAK pacer in UK and here also he has been outstanding. Eventually, PAK has to find his replacement, but not the way you are witch hunting - guy deserves better than this.

Spot on. He isn't perfect but he isn't the biggest issue.
 
He is waste of space. He offers little with old ball and with his lack of pace he offers little with the new ball as catches don't even carry..

I think he does a decent job with the new ball but he isn't picking up wickets right now. Also he does know how to keep things tight.

If he is dropped, I would not complain but I don't think he is as bad as some posters think.
 
Last 12 Test matches:

23 wickets for 895 runs at an average of 38.91

These 23 wickets have taken him 381.4 overs

The numbers are worrying, very worrying.
 
I think he does a decent job with the new ball but he isn't picking up wickets right now. Also he does know how to keep things tight.

If he is dropped, I would not complain but I don't think he is as bad as some posters think.

He doesn't, remember we won the toss and bowled 1st, he is the senior bowler, its up to him to take wickets. Instead we get Darren Stevens bowling at 75mph on the 1st morning of the 1st test. The guy isn't good enough, and shouldn't be in the team.
 
I think he’s bowled beautifully without reward. Slips were too deep, catches dropped edges didn’t always carry. Yes he could do with adding a couple mph to his average speed but he’s not much slower than southee. Unlike southee though he lacks a good all round attack to support his tight bowling. You can all see how this pitch had flattened out as the days wore on.

But he certainly needs to improve
 
Reminds me of Philander, so deadly accurate. A valuable bowler in any side and showed he has some fight with the bat. Top class cricketer.
 
Lol but no wickets to show. He's even slower than Philander and that is saying something. If u look at the wicket he got bowled in the second innings when NZ batsmen were hitting out it summarises the problem - it gently knocked back the leg stump like you see at club level.
 
Totally agree. Waqas Maqsood is much more skilled than Abbas, and there you have the vagaries of selection and success

He has been bowling beautifully this season

We need to recoginize performances with kookaburra balls, it is a very difficult ball to bowl with.
 
Lol but no wickets to show. He's even slower than Philander and that is saying something. If u look at the wicket he got bowled in the second innings when NZ batsmen were hitting out it summarises the problem - it gently knocked back the leg stump like you see at club level.

Absolutely...i am surprised no one noticed how little damage the ball did to the stumps.
He has lost a lot of pace.
Just taking a look at him tells you how weak and unathletic he is.
 
He has been bowling beautifully this season

We need to recoginize performances with kookaburra balls, it is a very difficult ball to bowl with.
I would give him a go too.
He is a wholehearted bowler, who knows his game and how to pick up wickets.
 
I had much higher expectation of Abbas than what he has delivered in the last few series.

All the nagging lengths and bowling in the channel are good for nothing if there are no wickets in the column.

There is only so much analysis one can do on a bowler - in the end, he has to perform on the field.

He must rectify this in the next test or be on the chopping block along with half a dozen others.
 
Absolutely...i am surprised no one noticed how little damage the ball did to the stumps.
He has lost a lot of pace.
Just taking a look at him tells you how weak and unathletic he is.

Do you think he wasnt attacking the stumps as much and also the keeper should have come upto the stumps
 
He isn't bowling bad, in fact far from it, just that his deliveries are too slow and harmless to cause any real damage. He is a luxury bowler, he can be an asset in a team that can field at least two quality fast and penetrative bowlers who could attack relentlessly while he chokes the run flow and force the batsmen to commit mistakes or attack other bowlers. Pakistan is not that team.
 
Also if he continues to lose pace at this rate, the day is not far when he would be bowling as fast as Kumble or Afridi.
 
This is probably it for him?
What a strange little career if thats the case.
If only he could have kept that pace at around 132_134 kph post shoulder injury.
 
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Haris, Abbas and Shan will be invited to the High Performance Centre in Lahore so that they can work on their technical faults with the qualified coaches. Zafar who made his Test Debut in Christchurch remains part of selectors long term plans in both red and white ball cricket, and will also work with NHPC coaches on further improvement of his all-round skillset.
 
About time. We were not making any strides with him as the leader of our attack. He is no Asif!
 
About time. We were not making any strides with him as the leader of our attack. He is no Asif!

I think the decision to not include him part of the squad is justified based upon his wickets
 
Hampshire Cricket are delighted to announce the signing of Pakistan pace bowler, Mohammad Abbas.

The 30-year-old seamer has signed a deal to become the Club’s overseas player for the start of this year’s County Championship campaign, putting pen-to-paper on a two-month red-ball contract for 2021.

Abbas has quickly become one of the world’s best Test bowlers since making his international debut in 2017, with 84 wickets to his name at an exceptional average of 22.80 in just 23 appearances. He currently holds the third best bowling average of all active international bowlers, behind only Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins, and sits 12th in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings.

After impressing Pakistan’s national selectors through sustained domestic success in 2015 and 2016, Abbas burst onto the international scene four years ago, claiming his maiden Test wicket two deliveries into his debut against West Indies, before going on to record his first five-wicket haul in just his third Test appearance.

An incredible 2018 saw right-armer continue his meteoric rise, claiming 50 Test wickets in his first 10 Tests – becoming the fastest pace bowler to reach 50 Test wickets for Pakistan – as he was named PCB Test Player of the Year.

Further success followed in 2019 with Abbas continuing to be an integral part of Pakistan’s attack during series against South Africa, Australia and Sri Lanka, before featuring in all three behind-closed-doors Tests during last summer’s tour of England.

Abbas is no stranger to English domestic cricket too having showcased his ability throughout two seasons at Leicestershire in 2018 and 2019. Leading the Foxes’ attack, he returned 79 wickets at an average of just 20.67 – including five five-wicket hauls – in 19 County Championship fixtures with the side.

Giles White, Hampshire Director of Cricket, said: ““We are really excited about the arrival of Mohammad Abbas. He is a bowler of the highest quality and to secure him for an early season Championship stint is a huge boost to the squad. He joins Kyle Abbott as our second overseas signing and we are hopeful that they form a formidable pairing in early season conditions.”

Mohammad Abbas said: “I’m really pleased to be joining Hampshire and I can’t wait to join up with the team this summer.”
 
Good for him. Mohammad Abbas and Kyle Abbott as a new ball pair will be a handful for most County openers.

Southampton is a pleasant place to live too.
 
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