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[VIDEO] Azhar Ali for Somerset in One Day Cup and County Championship 2019 - Performance Watch

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Arham_PakFan

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Delighted to announce that Azhar Ali will be returning to Somerset County Cricket Club for the entire 2019 season! 🤝<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AzharAli_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AzharAli_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealPCB</a> <a href="https://t.co/fH2ftXjqgl">pic.twitter.com/fH2ftXjqgl</a></p>— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1066994953690247168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He will be available for both County and One-Day matches.
 
Oh this is fantastic news. I honestly don’t care one bit about his slow strike rate and inability to rotate strike...valid but overstated criticisms. He puts a price on his wicket and scores ugly runs but gets there more often than not. Playing English county will only help him develop further.
 
Very happy for Azhar. He comes in for a lot of criticism but he has made a solid contribution to Pakistan cricket over the years. With all the emphasis on white ball cricket the stint with Somerset will be a good opportunity for him. Somerset see his value not only as a player but as a leader.
 
I will be keeping a close eye on his performance here. This should be a good experience for him, and a chance for him to regain form. If he flops for Somerset I think we may see him dropped from the Pakistan side
 
Hopefully he will retire and can focus on plenty of county cricket, hes not going to improve at international level.
 
I think one of the first things you learn about playing short pitched bowling is too keep your eye on the ball and if you decide to sway out of the way keep your hands low. I personally think his reaction times have gone. He'll be ok on dead pitches, as long as the game is not on the line, but anything with any pace or bounce forget it. A shadow of the batsmen who scored at Old Trafford and the MCG
 
samiakh said:
I think one of the first things you learn about playing short pitched bowling is too keep your eye on the ball and if you decide to sway out of the way keep your hands low. I personally think his reaction times have gone. He'll be ok on dead pitches, as long as the game is not on the line, but anything with any pace or bounce forget it. A shadow of the batsmen who scored at Old Trafford and the MCG
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the way he played today vs Olivier I thought was dangerous for him!
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">All set <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SomersetCCC</a>⁩ <a href="https://t.co/wCUHsqLoWE">pic.twitter.com/wCUHsqLoWE</a></p>— Azhar Ali (@AzharAli_) <a href="https://twitter.com/AzharAli_/status/1109317893043433472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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A very good ODI option we had, but we had to force him to retire
 
Hopefully he has a good season. Makes good money and gets some solid runs and who knows might retire from the Test team.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome back to Somerset <a href="https://twitter.com/AzharAli_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AzharAli_</a> &#55357;&#56394;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://t.co/JOXsnfD4Mv">pic.twitter.com/JOXsnfD4Mv</a></p>— Somerset Cricket &#55356;&#57295; (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1110170896944242690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Any chance of a Kolpak deal for somerset so we dont have to see Azhar ever play for pakistan again?
 
saeed5646 said:
not we only you .Still valuable player for us in test .
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Valuable player in tests? He batting in last 18 months has been nothing short of pathetic, what exact value does he have to the team any more? :facepalm:
 
saeed5646 said:
not we only you .Still valuable player for us in test .
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He averages 31 in tests in last 2 years.



In last 12 months he averages 25.





Bhai itni value??? Kya kariengaye hum iss value ke baghair. :ua
 
MenInG said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome back to Somerset <a href="https://twitter.com/AzharAli_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AzharAli_</a> ��<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://t.co/JOXsnfD4Mv">pic.twitter.com/JOXsnfD4Mv</a></p>— Somerset Cricket �� (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1110170896944242690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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You can't question his work ethic.
 
English conditions are as tough as it gets. Let see if Azhar can improve on his stint last year.
 
After a promising start last season he ended up being underwhelming, producing runs at an average of low 30s.

Last summer UK experienced a very dry summer and Taunton is one of the flattest wickets in the country, that's how you know he's well and truly past it.
 
Looks solid in nets there. Has lost his touch and confidence in international cricket though.
 
Amjid Javed said:
Any chance of a Kolpak deal for somerset so we dont have to see Azhar ever play for pakistan again?
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I am losing patience with Azhar and Shafiq too. I have been a big supporter of theirs over the years but since Misbah and Younus have retired, these two just haven't stepped up.

Barber at 3 and Haris at 4 for me in tests. It's time we gave Usman Salahuddin a chance too.
 
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MenInG said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome back to Somerset <a href="https://twitter.com/AzharAli_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AzharAli_</a> ��<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://t.co/JOXsnfD4Mv">pic.twitter.com/JOXsnfD4Mv</a></p>— Somerset Cricket �� (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1110170896944242690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Interesting that there are no clips of him facing the short stuff. I used to be an ardent supporter of Azhar in Tests, but the farce that was the SA tour was the point of no return. It's acceptable if someone makes the same mistake once or twice, but he was such a sitting duck against the short ball that as a veteran, you have to say his time is up unless he has a great season at Somerset.
 
Amjid Javed said:
Valuable player in tests? He batting in last 18 months has been nothing short of pathetic, what exact value does he have to the team any more? :facepalm:
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every body goes through the rough patch.Look at the pujara who was criticized massively but he did turn it around in tough away series in aus in which his performances was instrumental for india winning in aus

Azhar ali is too good a player to be that long out of form .He will make a strong comeback in test bookmark my word :babar
 
Azhar Ali made 40 runs today against Middlesex in a pre-season match.
 
Rs3KDPt.png
 
Delayed start due to rain in his first game for Somerset vs Kent
 
Out for 2.... not going according to plan for Azhar
 
If he averages below 45 this season he should not be picked for test team
 
Looks like Azhar's done.

You can excuses that its difficult batting in early April in England but Azhar's form for 18 months has nosedived.
 
Misbah has skewed the perception of Pakistani players and their fans. Every 35 year old considers himself a youngster now, and feels that he still has years left in the game.

Misbah is an anomaly. In 150 years history of cricket, hardly 1% of the players were good enough to play at the top level in their 40s.

Cricket will always be a young man’s sport, and most players will be done by 36-37.

We need to change the mindset of our players and our fans and not allow someone like Misbah to set a precedence.

Someone like Azhar may feel that now that he has retired from white ball cricket, he can play Tests for another 10 years, but the reality is that he has already entered retirement age, and his form in the last two years shows that he is probably in terminal decline already.
 
Azhar was a very good batsmen from 2009/10 until 2016/17. However his time is up.
 
Seems that Azhar not sure whether he was out so stood his ground.

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 100%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/p81kk/xcodbr" frameborder="0" width="50%" height="50%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 50%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>.
 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Somerset squad including Azhar Ali pictured without the sponsor's (alcohol brand) logo on his shirt <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/4EdoPDlyL2">pic.twitter.com/4EdoPDlyL2</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1115220550270504963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Not many runs for Azhar but his team wins

SOM 171, 243
KENT 209, 131-all out (46.0) CRR: 2.85
Somerset won by 74 runs
 
Just 3 today!

Somerset won by 264 runs

SOM - 358/9 (50.0 Ovs)
KENT - 94-all out (27.0 Ovs)
 
Sad to see him go down the hill so quickly. He changed his game when he got involved in ODIs and picked a lot of bad habits.

He has never been the same since.
 
Prince of Pakistan said:
35 on paper and probably a few years older. His reflexes are giving up making it difficult to play genuine fast bowling or the moving ball.
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Worst case scenario is he is too stubborn to retire so Pakistan keep on picking him due to his name. He has a whole season here with Somerset to turn things around. Let's see what he does
 
topspin said:
After a promising start last season he ended up being underwhelming, producing runs at an average of low 30s.

Last summer UK experienced a very dry summer and Taunton is one of the flattest wickets in the country, that's how you know he's well and truly past it.
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As I was saying before the start of the season, he’s finished. Either he retires from Pakistan cricket or gets axed from the team for good.
 
Well atleast he can draw some solace from the fact that his side won!

SOM 261/9 (50.0)
GLAM 259-all out (48.1) CRR: 5.38
Somerset won by 2 runs
 
Mamoon said:
Misbah has skewed the perception of Pakistani players and their fans. Every 35 year old considers himself a youngster now, and feels that he still has years left in the game.

Misbah is an anomaly. In 150 years history of cricket, hardly 1% of the players were good enough to play at the top level in their 40s.

Cricket will always be a young man’s sport, and most players will be done by 36-37.

We need to change the mindset of our players and our fans and not allow someone like Misbah to set a precedence.

Someone like Azhar may feel that now that he has retired from white ball cricket, he can play Tests for another 10 years, but the reality is that he has already entered retirement age, and his form in the last two years shows that he is probably in terminal decline already.
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While I used to think this way I think the age for players being done is now up around 38-40. This assumes a few big things though. The player needs to be hyper-focused on health and fitness. Misbah kept himself fit, and was a student of the game. I am personally really impressed by Virat Kholi and his obsession with fitness (I question recent reports of Veganism as thats not my cup of tea nor do I think its super healthy). It will probably be the reason he plays well into his 30's and ends up as the second best batsman after Bradman. Think of how much better Inzi, or even Indian "God" Sachin could've been had they had better fitness levels. Even the likes of Wasim or Waqar wouldn't have been who they were had Imran (ahead of his time given his era) not impressed fitness on them early on. Alongside today's medical standards I think if a player truly wanted, they could play to 40-45 easily. Look at Tom Brady playing in a heavily bruising sport still at the top. Even Kobe played at a high level because he was so obsessive. Ultimately it comes down to what the player wants and is willing to put his body through.
 
CleverSir said:
While I used to think this way I think the age for players being done is now up around 38-40. This assumes a few big things though. The player needs to be hyper-focused on health and fitness. Misbah kept himself fit, and was a student of the game. I am personally really impressed by Virat Kholi and his obsession with fitness (I question recent reports of Veganism as thats not my cup of tea nor do I think its super healthy). It will probably be the reason he plays well into his 30's and ends up as the second best batsman after Bradman. Think of how much better Inzi, or even Indian "God" Sachin could've been had they had better fitness levels. Even the likes of Wasim or Waqar wouldn't have been who they were had Imran (ahead of his time given his era) not impressed fitness on them early on. Alongside today's medical standards I think if a player truly wanted, they could play to 40-45 easily. Look at Tom Brady playing in a heavily bruising sport still at the top. Even Kobe played at a high level because he was so obsessive. Ultimately it comes down to what the player wants and is willing to put his body through.
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Batting is ultimately a game of reflexes, and it is something that is inevitably going to decline with age no matter how fit you are. While I do think it is possible for players to be very good fielders, spinners, and perhaps even good fast bowlers into their late 30s if their training regime and diet is up to the mark, I highly doubt that most batsmen will have the reflexes to face 90 mph fast bowling. That is why batsmen tend to have a sharp decline in their mid 30's.

Even someone like Kohli, who is perhaps the fittest cricketer of all time, may not be able to play fast bowlers with so much ease 6-7 years from now. For these reasons, I don't see a shift in the retirement age for batsmen.
 
Mamoon bhai, I'm not disagreeing with you in principle, all I'm pointing out is that around the world retirement age for athletes is going up and older athletes are doing incredible things. Out of all the batsman in the world I'd give Kholi the best chance at playing longer than 35 or so. That is due to his obsession with fitness and clean eating. My point is simply this, players who put in the effort like Kholi can and will defy the odds. Players who do not, will end up on the path you've described. This is why I want a task master strength and conditioning coach who can instill a similar work ethic in out cricketers. It won't happen overnight, it is a process (look at team England, Australia, India) that will probably take a decade but we need to start now or be left behind.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">SHOT! Azhar Ali gets his boundary count underway with this flowing cover drive. Somerset 13/0 after 4 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SUSvSOM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SUSvSOM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://t.co/CwWr7ITTM0">pic.twitter.com/CwWr7ITTM0</a></p>— Somerset Cricket &#55356;&#57295; (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1120994391777259521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Somerset 42/2 under cloudy skies. The floodlights are now on &#55357;&#56481;<br><br>&#55356;&#57295; Azhar Ali 25*<br>&#55356;&#57295; Hildreth 8*<br><br>LIVE ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/dF6GhNA901">https://t.co/dF6GhNA901</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SUSvSOM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SUSvSOM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://t.co/fE5N9p3l2h">pic.twitter.com/fE5N9p3l2h</a></p>— Somerset Cricket &#55356;&#57295; (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1121002772038606848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">5️⃣0️⃣ for Azhar Ali! It's been a good knock in tricky conditions, using all his class and experience &#55357;&#56399;<br><br>Somerset 104/2 from 23.2 overs<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SUSvSOM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SUSvSOM</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://t.co/b1w94DDE2v">pic.twitter.com/b1w94DDE2v</a></p>— Somerset Cricket &#55356;&#57295; (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1121013277641801728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Azhar Ali's match tomorrow will be televised live on Sky Sports!
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">TEAM: Somerset name an unchanged XI with play getting underway at 3pm<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOMvESS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOMvESS</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://t.co/ONDEWFB06d">pic.twitter.com/ONDEWFB06d</a></p>— Somerset Cricket &#55356;&#57295; (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1121770595174309893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Just pulled a shot for a flat 6 and he gets a 50 at a 100+ SR! :O :O
 
Azhar Ali on 73* runs off 60 balls.
 
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Azhar Ali to make a come back into Pak WC squad. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets selected for the playoffs game. very underrated cricketer especially after his innings against India in CT final.
 
He's batting very differently today. Using his feet every delivery.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A brilliant 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ for Azhar Ali!!! He brings it up with a glorious six over the off-side!! &#55357;&#56399;&#55357;&#56399;&#55357;&#56399;<br><br>Somerset rocketing along at 207/1 and that is a 200 partnership!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOMvESS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOMvESS</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://t.co/2ZbY32rFWj">pic.twitter.com/2ZbY32rFWj</a></p>— Somerset Cricket &#55356;&#57295; (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1121802500582068224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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MenInG said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A brilliant 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ for Azhar Ali!!! He brings it up with a glorious six over the off-side!! ������<br><br>Somerset rocketing along at 207/1 and that is a 200 partnership!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOMvESS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOMvESS</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://t.co/2ZbY32rFWj">pic.twitter.com/2ZbY32rFWj</a></p>— Somerset Cricket �� (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1121802500582068224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Talk nah :)
 
topspin said:
As I was saying before the start of the season, he’s finished. Either he retires from Pakistan cricket or gets axed from the team for good.
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not so quickly buddy

.2017 was his purple patch and 2018 was completely appositive terrible. i hope so for sake of pakistan cricket he gets in form ahead of 2019
 
Out! 110 from 92.

Seemed to be having discomfort wit his groin.
 
saeed5646 said:
not so quickly buddy

.2017 was his purple patch and 2018 was completely appositive terrible. i hope so for sake of pakistan cricket he gets in form ahead of 2019
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No he was finished a long time ago. He's 34 (possibly older in reality) and his reflexes are starting to go. One good innings today on a batting paradise wicket of Taunton doesn't change that.

Azhar Ali needs to retire from international cricket.
 
AFM said:
Out! 110 from 92.

Seemed to be having discomfort wit his groin.
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P Walter to Azhar Ali, out Caught by Harmer!! Azhar Ali c Harmer b P Walter 110(93) [4s-9 6s-4]
 
topspin said:
No he was finished a long time ago. He's 34 (possibly older in reality) and his reflexes are starting to go. One good innings today on a batting paradise wicket of Taunton doesn't change that.

Azhar Ali needs to retire from international cricket.
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as i said 2019 is make or break for him but hopefully he will find some form ahead of important away series

still alot of county cricket to be played .Lets see what is next excuse will be btw in last match he did score 60 odd which was in on difficult pitch
 
We will need Azhar Ali to perform if we want to win in Australia this year.
 
Ronaldo7 said:
Rip pak's chances in the WC. Even Notts scored 400+. This is going to be a long world cup for pak.
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Not really. Pakistan is not that 2009 kind of team that could defend a 260ish score on a tricky pitch. Our bowling need more runs from our batsmen and if our batsmen pull up their socks I think we'll be OK.
 
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