Beautiful clips, that boundary against Hafeez could be a teaching point for many, many great SENA (& WIN) lefti batsmen, whom Hafeez kept in pocket on similar wickets.
What little I have seen his batting so far (exhibited perfectly in this innings), he is a perfect foil for modern day ODI opener. His batting is based on touch, timing & placement, but backed by decent defensive techniques which is the key to opening in ODI. Most people think Power Play 10 overs are all about going over the top and bang every ball, but actually it's far from that. A 23 ball 35 is worthless in ODI game (may be useful in T20), because it doesn't contribute anything much towards 300 ish total - be batting first or chasing, doesn't matter. What ODI game needs is a big score from top 3, preferably from one of the openers with a decent SR - ideal stats for an ODI opener is like 40~45/90~85, with good conversion rate, in short what Indian opening pair is doing and what Tamim has done in last few years, Warner/Kok has done one level better at their peak.
That role can only be played through proper batting in Power Play - 1. good defense, shot selection & technique to survive the best bowlers early in innings, 2. great timing, placements and 360 degree shot making ability on either feet to cash on every loose ball, 3. all-round batting to handle every ball on merit to rotate strike - soft touches, timely awaited pushes in gaps (one reason Ahmed can't rotate because he times it too brilliantly - bulls eye to the fielder in ring) with batting intelligence to maneuver singles and keep score board moving even against 9 fielders inside inner ring.
This kid has every thing for those 3 points - obviously not finished product yet, but he has time in his side. Couple of years like Babar at early age under Arthur could have made him a truly world class batsman by now (he should have been in PAK squad from 2016, after A tour of UK). And, he is a decent part-time spinner, can't be worse fielder than some of the stalwarts playing for PAK for years, decades together (and few of them leading in recent time) and he looks fit, stocky and compact. Should be a better player on true, faster surface because of this timing and placements - among very few PAK players who actually has an off-side game on back foot.
One observation is, among lots of qualities, one thing this young man Saud doesn't have is that, he can't butcher balls with bottom hand, neither can slog swing to clear fielders at 65 metres with planted feet, just from power of fore arm. SO, befittingly and obviously, PCB & it's think tanks have forced him into exactly that role at No. 7. But then, why I am wondering - it's the batting culture .....
. Great minds...
