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[VIDEOS/PICTURES] Is the end getting close for Azhar Ali's career?

Azhar has had a great run.
He was never very talented. Despite that he managed to score almost 6000 runs, avg 40+ and scored a triple as well as a double at MCG.
It is a great highlight reel and he will leave some happy memories.
He should quit now and not look back.
 
From Sky:

Since the start of 2018, Azhar Ali averages just 12.44 against good length balls from seamers.

In that time, his aggregate score against those balls is 112-9.
 
He needs to quit hes had a good career but time to move on not good enough anymore
 
Azhar needs to announce retirement at the end of this test match and play the last test as his final test match.

I'm sure if he announces retirement there will be plethora of support for him and he would play with less pressure too. There are good chances he might finish on a high by winning Pakistan a test in England if he goes down this route.
 
Extra_Cover said:
Azhar needs to announce retirement at the end of this test match and play the last test as his final test match.

I'm sure if he announces retirement there will be plethora of support for him and he would play with less pressure too. There are good chances he might finish on a high by winning Pakistan a test in England if he goes down this route.
Click to expand...

Agree, take the pressure off yourself and allow the succession planning process to begin.
 
Azhar, come on bro. It’s time. Please do not take the route so many others have taken and walk off into the sunset with some dignity left. I wish for your success in other endeavours, but that should be it for you in cricket.
 
Azhar is 35 and given the PCB’s recent history of selecting players in their 40s, or close to 40, (Younis, Misbah, Hafeez, Malik etc) there’s no reason why Azhar cannot be around until 2025/2026.
 
Misbah as chief selector extended Azhar’s career.

He should be gone in the next match, if not then next series.
 
Azhar Ali is finished for a while now. Yet he keeps making his way into the side.
 
Doing well so far in the 2nd innings vs NZ 34*
 
What a tame poke to get out so early in the day. Azhar has to go now. Let's not waste another home series on someone clearly past their prime.
 
Markhor said:
What a tame poke to get out so early in the day. Azhar has to go now. Let's not waste another home series on someone clearly past their prime.
Click to expand...

As Mohammad wasim is confirmed uptill WC 2023 as chief selector Azhar will play 2-3 more years because Mohammad Wasim is his mentor and he was saying once he won champions trophy and i told him not to retire from ODI and i called Younis khan to make him understand, he also said Azhar was good short term captain and he is a decent man even when he wasn't in 2015 WC squad he was cheering everyone and telling his kid to pray for team's win and didn't want anyone to fail so that he could get in so you can understand.
 
His reflexes went 2-3 years ago.

Misbah-ul-Haq has deluded every Pakistani batsman into thinking that they can play until the age of 45. It’s unfortunate for Azhar though because it puts a black mark on what was a fairly good test career.
 
He is finished now and it would be best to move on from him. I doubt that will happen though.

His decline has been huge, I remember a few years ago he averaged 46/47 and was amongst the best in the world.
 
He might keep surviving by scoring a 50+ score every other series ala Asad Shafiq, but he is really hurting Pakistan's chances by going on.

He needs to see and understand that his end is near. Should keep the honor to himself.
 
This is Azhar Ali's 83rd Test match - he is 9th on the all-time list for most Test matches for Pakistan.
 
3.5 years since this thread - still guy is commanding his Test spot. He’ll do for a year & half at least.
 
Even in bad form he bats better than half our batsmen. We need him for another 6 years.
 
This is his best innings yet. Been in total control. Absolute class, on a tough pitch.
 
There is no case to drop him. People who call for him to be dropped really don’t know much about cricket and our team imo.
 
He is on his way to play 100 tests.
I hope from here he starts performing consistently like the good old Azhar ali..
 
Don't get too carried away.

This is his 18th Test innings across 4 series in England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the last two years.

And this was only the second time in 14 innings that Azhar Ali reached 50.

SAMPLE SIZE: 10 Tests in SENA since January 2019
SAMPLE DURATION: 24 months

Azhar Ali's record:
36 and 0
2 and 6
0 and 15
39 and 5
9 and 9
0 and 18
20
141 and 31
5 and 38
93

18 Innings
1 x not out
1 century, 1 fifty, 9 scores under 10

467 runs
AVERAGE 27.47

Asad Shafiq was dropped but his average in that time was 8 runs higher - and he's a good slip catcher.
 
Junaids said:
Don't get too carried away.

This is his 18th Test innings across 4 series in England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the last two years.

And this was only the second time in 14 innings that Azhar Ali reached 50.

SAMPLE SIZE: 10 Tests in SENA since January 2019
SAMPLE DURATION: 24 months

Azhar Ali's record:
36 and 0
2 and 6
0 and 15
39 and 5
9 and 9
0 and 18
20
141 and 31
5 and 38
93

18 Innings
1 x not out
1 century, 1 fifty, 9 scores under 10

467 runs
AVERAGE 27.47

Asad Shafiq was dropped but his average in that time was 8 runs higher - and he's a good slip catcher.
Click to expand...

Okay.

But, there's no better alternative in the domestic pipeline.

All we have are 3rd grade players, imitating to be world class, bullying low-quality domestic bowlers. As soon as they they step up to international cricket, they show their true colors.

E.g. Khushdil, Shafique, et. al.

Azhar is here to stay for a while, until we find better replacements.

So, there's no point posting very very selective stats to make him look worse than our poor-quality domestic batsmen in the pipeline.
 
Why are you using a stat “since 2019”

All players go through dips in form. What’s more important is the manner in which a player scores runs. He’s played really well today. Good for him and Pakistan. He’s counter attacked shown mastery over seam and awkward bounce. Nullified Jameson really well. Yes there’s been some flashes and edges but he hasn’t looked like sitting duck of yester year. He’s reflexes seem fine to me. Yes he doesn’t play LOI so his outings in international cricket are few and far between. Always looked rusty in the last 12 months.
 
Junaids said:
Don't get too carried away.

This is his 18th Test innings across 4 series in England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the last two years.

And this was only the second time in 14 innings that Azhar Ali reached 50.

SAMPLE SIZE: 10 Tests in SENA since January 2019
SAMPLE DURATION: 24 months

Azhar Ali's record:
36 and 0
2 and 6
0 and 15
39 and 5
9 and 9
0 and 18
20
141 and 31
5 and 38
93

18 Innings
1 x not out
1 century, 1 fifty, 9 scores under 10

467 runs
AVERAGE 27.47

Asad Shafiq was dropped but his average in that time was 8 runs higher - and he's a good slip catcher.
Click to expand...

Azhar Ali is better Test batsman than any Pakistani bar Babar, and he’ll remain there for another 2 years, if not more. Please try to deal with it and have peace.

The way you are getting desperate, at this rate you’ll put Nawaz at three over Azhar .....
 
Azhar is good enough to hold his place in forseeable future.

93 and 140* in his last 5 completed innings in tough conditions demonstrate that
 
Azhar Ali is becoming Asad Shafiq - one good innings per series. If we want to take lesson from history, these are absolutely useless in the long run. Rather than wasting time of talents like Rizwan, which we did when we played the downhill Sarfraz instead of him, its better to boot Azhar with grace.
 
Junaids said:
Don't get too carried away.

This is his 18th Test innings across 4 series in England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the last two years.

And this was only the second time in 14 innings that Azhar Ali reached 50.

SAMPLE SIZE: 10 Tests in SENA since January 2019
SAMPLE DURATION: 24 months

Azhar Ali's record:
36 and 0
2 and 6
0 and 15
39 and 5
9 and 9
0 and 18
20
141 and 31
5 and 38
93

18 Innings
1 x not out
1 century, 1 fifty, 9 scores under 10

467 runs
AVERAGE 27.47

Asad Shafiq was dropped but his average in that time was 8 runs higher - and he's a good slip catcher.
Click to expand...

Just hoping it is the 3rd coming of Azhar post England - very much like Hafeez 5.0.

Who knows, he may have come to some revelation about his batting. Or one can clutch at straws.

Next bad innings and PPers will be at his throat again.
 
Abid Z said:
Why are you using a stat “since 2019”

All players go through dips in form. What’s more important is the manner in which a player scores runs. He’s played really well today. Good for him and Pakistan. He’s counter attacked shown mastery over seam and awkward bounce. Nullified Jameson really well. Yes there’s been some flashes and edges but he hasn’t looked like sitting duck of yester year. He’s reflexes seem fine to me. Yes he doesn’t play LOI so his outings in international cricket are few and far between. Always looked rusty in the last 12 months.
Click to expand...
When you are about to be 36, considering the previous 2 years' returns seems very prudent to me.
 
Don't know how long he's got left in the tank but that'll rank as one of his finest knocks.
 
Junaids said:
When you are about to be 36, considering the previous 2 years' returns seems very prudent to me.
Click to expand...

And what exactly is the problem with 36? And of course it’s relation with 34...as opposed into 33-36 or 34-37.

Could it be that slightly prior to the cut off period you mention there is a century or two that skews your point about him being over the hill and therefore needs to be dropped?
 
Azhar's innings represented the same grit that he's always had, all the way back to his debut in 2010. I'm chuffed for him, and many others are too. He's always been a very respected Pakistani pro, a likeable lad, and sometimes it's just good to see a good guy do well.

That said, it would be incredibly prudent to start planning for Azhar's successor NOW. He's clearly in the last phase of his career and one day his form will permanently fall off a cliff. Thus, for the next year atleast, have him open, as he's currently facing the new ball anyway, given Shan's horror run.

In the meantime, have Abdullah Shafique play every minute of 'other' cricket possible. Have Abdullah as your permanent opener in the Shaheens and for Central Punjab, and if possible, get him an overseas first class contract. Having watched Abdullah, he's tailor made for tests. He's currently just very nervy when he comes in and enough batting reps should InshAllah sort that out. Then, in a year's time, you can start phasing out Azhar and start bringing in Abdullah as your test opener.
 
Junaids said:
Don't get too carried away.

This is his 18th Test innings across 4 series in England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the last two years.

And this was only the second time in 14 innings that Azhar Ali reached 50.

SAMPLE SIZE: 10 Tests in SENA since January 2019
SAMPLE DURATION: 24 months

Azhar Ali's record:
36 and 0
2 and 6
0 and 15
39 and 5
9 and 9
0 and 18
20
141 and 31
5 and 38
93

18 Innings
1 x not out
1 century, 1 fifty, 9 scores under 10

467 runs
AVERAGE 27.47

Asad Shafiq was dropped but his average in that time was 8 runs higher - and he's a good slip catcher.
Click to expand...

Meanwhile Shan averages 4.4 since his 150, when you called for him to become captain instead of Azhar. Still reckon you dropped the wrong player?
 
Is a good knock but I think he should retire anyway after this test. Not a player for the future. Pakistan should invest in younger options.
 
Very impressive knock played at a good strike rate whilst the ball was moving about
 
Nikhil_cric said:
Is a good knock but I think he should retire anyway after this test. Not a player for the future. Pakistan should invest in younger options.
Click to expand...

As we all know, these guys are extremely selfish and will play on till they can only stand on one leg. The guy publicly stated not along ago he wants to play for another 7 or so years.

These seniors can only get kicked out shouting and screaming.
 
Very impressive knock, he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He maybe on the decline but I genuinely don’t see any of the younger beauties in domestic cricket playing such a knock.
 
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/u4lmu9" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
 
Azhar Ali has given his all for us despite his limitations and also kept out of controversy. He probably does need replacing but if he does keep getting picked, I hope he continues to give stomach ache to people like Junaids and anyone who picks on him continually.
 
Hasan123 said:
Azhar Ali has given his all for us despite his limitations and also kept out of controversy. He probably does need replacing but if he does keep getting picked, I hope he continues to give stomach ache to people like Junaids and anyone who picks on him continually.
Click to expand...

In his last 10 Test matches outside Asia, across 4 series (SA, Aus, Eng, NZ):

AZHAR ALI HAS HAD 19 INNINGS
- he has failed to reach 50 in 17 of those 19 innings.

He has scored 504 runs at an average of 28.00.

You can't keep a Number 3 who fails to reach fifty 17 times in 19 attempts.

He should go.
 
Junaids said:
In his last 10 Test matches outside Asia, across 4 series (SA, Aus, Eng, NZ):

AZHAR ALI HAS HAD 19 INNINGS
- he has failed to reach 50 in 17 of those 19 innings.

He has scored 504 runs at an average of 28.00.

You can't keep a Number 3 who fails to reach fifty 17 times in 19 attempts.

He should go.
Click to expand...

His “youngster” replacement will take 38 innings to score 500 - that’s the problem. He’ll stay - at least for couple more years.
 
Junaids said:
In his last 10 Test matches outside Asia, across 4 series (SA, Aus, Eng, NZ):

AZHAR ALI HAS HAD 19 INNINGS
- he has failed to reach 50 in 17 of those 19 innings.

He has scored 504 runs at an average of 28.00.

You can't keep a Number 3 who fails to reach fifty 17 times in 19 attempts.

He should go.
Click to expand...

I don't mind if you didn't like him due to his ability. But you hate on him due to his age. We can have difference of opinion in rating a players ability but you just don't like him due to his age.
 
Azhar seems to be a shining light if you consider the performances of some of the other batsmen

He should be in the team as long as he can perform to a decent level which is avge 45 from now on
 
He should play 100 matches for Pakistan & from now on after Shan is dropped (presumably) Azhar should always play as an opener.
 
I think Azhar will play 100 Tests.

Currently sitting on 83, there are 10 this year against SA at home, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, West Indies.

Unless he flops terribly against SA, he will play all the remaining series and probably do well. By the end of the year he will be on 93 Tests.

Then there are 3 home series against Australia, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. He is likely to do pretty decently in all of these, and I can expect him to reach 100 by the time of NZ’s tour.
 
Thunderbolt14 said:
I think Azhar will play 100 Tests.

Currently sitting on 83, there are 10 this year against SA at home, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, West Indies.

Unless he flops terribly against SA, he will play all the remaining series and probably do well. By the end of the year he will be on 93 Tests.

Then there are 3 home series against Australia, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. He is likely to do pretty decently in all of these, and I can expect him to reach 100 by the time of NZ’s tour.
Click to expand...

He is playing till he is at least 40 imo. Like his mentor Misbah.
 
NZ series has probably added years to his career, despite being pretty average overall he showed just enough fight.

There's too many other weaknesses in the team. All but 2 (Babar and Azhar) of the top 5 batting positions are up for grabs. Although I do hope Pak selectors have the confidence to rest Azhar against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh to experiment with the batting
 
Thunderbolt14 said:
I think Azhar will play 100 Tests.

Currently sitting on 83, there are 10 this year against SA at home, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, West Indies.

Unless he flops terribly against SA, he will play all the remaining series and probably do well. By the end of the year he will be on 93 Tests.

Then there are 3 home series against Australia, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. He is likely to do pretty decently in all of these, and I can expect him to reach 100 by the time of NZ’s tour.
Click to expand...

Yes by the end of 2022 he ll reach that 100 test feat
 
Zaz said:
Azhar seems to be a shining light if you consider the performances of some of the other batsmen

He should be in the team as long as he can perform to a decent level which is avge 45 from now on
Click to expand...

In his last 10 Test matches outside Asia, across 4 series (SA, Aus, Eng, NZ), Azhar Ali has had 19 innings.

AND AZHAR ALI has failed to reach 50 in 17 of those 19 innings.
 
Don’t think he’s going anywhere anytime soon. With the amount of home series coming up, and his century in England and 90 odd in NZ, he’s solidified his spot for the time being. Think they should push him to open now that it’s pretty clear he’s not going anywhere.
 
Can’t believe a 50 is enough to cement a PAK’s Test cricketer’s status.

But then again, it’s a reflection of how our standards have fallen.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Azhar Ali’s scores of 93 and 37 in the 2nd Test against New Zealand have helped him advance 7 places to 18th position and Mohammad Rizwan’s first-innings half-century has helped him gain 10 places to reach 37th position in the latest ICC Test batting rankings <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/1348908034626641920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Azhar Ali is exactly the kind of thing Inzamam in his youtube channel talks about which has badly hurt Pakistan Cricket, a player fails for a year and in his last ten innings, scores one big 50 and then that is enough to cement his place for the next two series and he gets another ten innings in which he fails in 7-8 knocks. When you have an entire team filled with such players, you will not challenge the Big 5 teams and will consistently remain in the bottom 3.

I remember Sehwag actually scored a century in his 3rd last test innings but the BCCI selectors could tell he was just not the same player anymore and they took the tough decision to drop him. Similarly Zaheer Khan had one bad series against England in 2013 where his pace was low and the BCCI selection committee dropped him for good. No emotional sentiments, no keeping a player on because of his past contributions. India was also quick to move on Yuvraj, Gambhir where i can guarantee you if these players were playing for Pakistan, the Pakistani selectors would have kept these two players on for the next 2 years just in tribute of their past performances without much regard to their current form.

I honestly and sincerely believe that a tough ruthless selection committee is what will keep each and every player on their toes and will force them to work ten times harder on their games as they will know full well that they need to be on top of their games or they will be out
 
Played a good knock today and was part of an important partnership. Despite all the doubters he’s still quietly going about his business with success. Never moans, zero controversy - just gets his head down and does his best for his team.
 
Do we think this could be it for azhar after this series?

He really needs an excellent series with the bat to keep the pressure of him which is mounting every series
 
Azhar plays one good knock in 5 or 6 inns to save his place, should have been dumped with asad shafiq years ago. now just holding the number 3 spot hostage with his night watchmen performances.
 
Zaz said:
Do we think this could be it for azhar after this series?

He really needs an excellent series with the bat to keep the pressure of him which is mounting every series
Click to expand...

Azhar is not going anywhere until he plays 100 test matches 🤦*♂️
 
Zaz said:
Do we think this could be it for azhar after this series?

He really needs an excellent series with the bat to keep the pressure of him which is mounting every series
Click to expand...

Big series for him. Needs runs after some poor form of late.
 
Saj said:
Big series for him. Needs runs after some poor form of late.
Click to expand...

Hes been avge or below avge since start of 2017 Saj

Its not poor form of late Its a prolonged career slump which considering how long its been and at his age he isnt getting out of
 
Saj said:
Big series for him. Needs runs after some poor form of late.
Click to expand...

It's something bigger than "poor form".

AZHAR ALI SENA RECORD SINCE MISBAH AND YOUNIS RETIRED
13 Tests
25 innings, 1 not out
Highest score 141 not out
577 runs
1 century
2 fifties
AVERAGE 24.04

It's a pathetic record for a batsman of any age - it's roughly comparable to the batting output of Vernon Philander or Mitchell Johnson.

But for a man whose official age is 37, it's scandalous that he can still be in the team when his record is so awful.

What's worse, his record is bloated by cashing in on the same Southampton track where Zak Crawley scored 267.

Remove that one Azhar Ali innings and his average in the other 12 SENA Tests sincw Misyou retired falls down to 18.17.

And that is an absolute disgrace.
 
Apparently according to some reporters the selectors had a word with him in pvt that if he fails this series, then they are going to move on
 
Needs to bat positive when he gets chance after openers are giving a platform.
 
I believe Huraira is the ideal fit for Azhar Alis role. This season might as well be his breakthrough time
 
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