We are going to get demolished in Australia

[Pete Rose]

Maybe it sounds contrarian but the positive from this last test is the opening partnership. I think if we can replicate that in Australia, we will compete. The issue is the middle order, shafiq is out of form, misbah and younis are too old, Babar Azam is new, sarfaraz has done nothing of note in batting for a while.
I am tempted to have a top three of Azhar, Sami, and sharjeel.

 

[Justcrazy]

Rashid latif was asked about only yasir in top twenty bowlers. He said leave top 20, that fast bowlers playing are lucky to be playing. He said if Pakistan find some bowlers all will go.

 

[MRSN]

Unfortunately when you talk about stroke makers, you always bring Umar or Kamran Akmal.

Both are not good enough.

My point is adding Umar Akmal to the team would not have changed the result. Only made defeat inevitable faster by his quickfire 30 off 20.

Umar or Kamran is not the point. The point is we have a one dimensional batting line up that doesnt even bat at test standard run rate. Taking 60 overs for 100 runs when you have a total of 360 to chase in a do or die game is absolutely unacceptable. I am not saying they should have gone and destroyed the opposition with sixes. Yes it's a test match and yes it is very difficult to chase 360+ but why I don't want to be part of a team that accept losing the series 1-0 and gives away a chance to level the series. This batting line up didn't have in them to score at such a level to chase 360 runs on final day. They just cannot bat at such a rate even if their lives depended on it which it was on day five. Today's cricket team scores 350 odd runs on single day for a fun so it is not like it is not doable but our test batting standards are quite average to be honest. These guys take pride in not scoring against fast bowlers and taking plenty of runs against darters because there is no one to analyze their batting critically.

A team cannot become stronger if they have fundamental flaws which this batting line up has.
*They cannot bat at a decent rate.
*They do not have a batsman who can provide a firework(It doesn't have to be Umar or Kamran btw,all teams have one or more)
*They struggle to score runs against pace bowling. They love batting against spinners. They wait for spinners to come on to bowl.

Where is improvement?Misbah is senior yet he throws away his wicket on pull or slog sweep to the only fielder set on leg side?
YK keeps finding edges against a little moving ball?
Azhar Ali has zero improvement against spin.
Sami plays like he is playing cricket in the 60s.
Asad Shafiq still stuck in his technical flaws.No consistency.
Sarfraz keeps getting out playing stupid shots after getting good looking 20s.

 

[MRSN]

Maybe it sounds contrarian but the positive from this last test is the opening partnership. I think if we can replicate that in Australia, we will compete. The issue is the middle order, shafiq is out of form, misbah and younis are too old, Babar Azam is new, sarfaraz has done nothing of note in batting for a while.
I am tempted to have a top three of Azhar, Sami, and sharjeel.

Azhar Ali stated the plan was to chase the total so then how can it become positive?It was pathetic. They made it hard for other batsmen.

If Pakistan was 1-0 or 0-0 in the series then this partnership can make sense but there is no way we can defend it in the current scenario. Most fans who woke up all ten days in the middle of night to watch this team can't defend it. May be those who were following scores on cricinfo may not have a problem with Azhar and Sami playing at snails pace to ensure Pakistan does not win even if later batsmen try to.

 

[Pete Rose]

Azhar Ali stated the plan was to chase the total so then how can it become positive?It was pathetic. They made it hard for other batsmen.

If Pakistan was 1-0 or 0-0 in the series then this partnership can make sense but there is no way we can defend it in the current scenario. Most fans who woke up all ten days to watch this team can't defend it. May be those who were following scores on cricinfo may not have a problem with Azhar and Sami playing at snails pace to ensure Pakistan does not win even if later batsmen try to.

What is your point and how is it relevant to the fact that we get demolished in Australia because we have poor openers historically when we tour there.

 

[Pete Rose]

Rashid latif was asked about only yasir in top twenty bowlers. He said leave top 20, that fast bowlers playing are lucky to be playing. He said if Pakistan find some bowlers all will go.

Hmm. That's astounding insight by Rashid. I.e. If better players found they will play instead of current players. How do I sign up for this expert gig.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Wasim and Waqar had tons of catches dropped off of them, but still ended ATGs.

You know why?

Because Waqar got people bowled with his Yorkers and LBW at pace.

Wasim was deceptive and could bowl 6 different deliveries and outfox people.

Amir is pedestrian straight at the moment (it could change at some point as I write this), and needs an ultra green track to get those edges. And when fielders don't catch, he goes into moping oblivion.

How in the world would anyone rate Amir as better than Hazelwood and then label himself as Australian is beyond me.

After 1994, Waqar averaged 31.59 in 43 matches against top 7 teams with just 1 5-fer. He was no better than current Aamir.

 

[MRSN]

What is your point and how is it relevant to the fact that we get demolished in Australia because we have poor openers historically when we tour there.

I'm saying we are not going to win against Aus if we bat at a pace that partnership you praising about.

 

[Abdullah719]

I'm saying we are not going to win against Aus if we bat at a pace that partnership you praising about.

And we're definitely not gonna win in Australia if we have Shehzad, Hafeez or Shan. Take your pick.

Azhar and Sami are fairly limited batsmen due to the lack of stroke-making ability but they are the best than Pakistan can offer in terms of playing against the new ball.

 

[Napa]

No, I think Amir is considerably better than Hazlewood, but takes less wickets because he bowls to an elderly slip cordon with the reflexes of a blind man.

Yes, yes... the #54 ranked bowler is "considerably better" compared to the #5 ranked player.

http://www.relianceiccrankings.com/ranking/test/bowling/

Expect another "I want answers for the New Zealand tour!" kind of thread after the Aus-Pak tour is over.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Hazelwood is the Australian Asif.

Amir is nothing compared to him.

 

[Abid Z]

Australian batsmen are actually very skilled, but they don't have discipline. They struggle against bowlers who can bowl on the same spot all day long, because then it comes a test of their temperament.

However, few teams are better than Australia when it comes to punishing bowlers who lack discipline.

I think in fairness Australia in 2010 was a lot stronger team and the series was closer than it appears looking at the scorecards. Our team was in total disarray yet competed both home and away, unlike in 2004. I think if we can get our bowling right we have a good chance. It'll be a great time to say farewell to younis Khan whose had a spectacular demise as A batsman barring the odd big hundred. But I always consider bowling attacks more important than batting units as unless you can take regularly 20 wickets you have no chance. But you are right Australia are always tough though this is their weakest team yet.

 

[Abid Z]

Actually, although Imran is a very good bowler in Asian conditions he is completely unsuited to Australian conditions.

It's okay to be slow if you get lift from a full length. He doesn't.

I don't think Imran Khan is selectable in Australia, sorry. Skiddy Asian bowlers always fail here - even Waqar.

Firstly who wouldn't want a tall line and length bowler for Australia or anywhere else for that matter? Unfortunately they are not that common in the Asian countries. Secondly skiddy bowlers who swing it are always a threat anywhere. Sami in 2004, sreesanth at some point in early 2000's did ok. Seem to remember some West Indians too and Bresnan (not Asian I know) doing ok in Adelaide. So to anticipate your point, while it would be great to have Asif and Adil in the squad, Imran is there and selected and I think it's his first chance on wickets outside Asia (apart from odd match in Uk) so he may yet be useful with his tidy line and length.

I say this in full recognition of the fact that Yasir is our only decent world class bowler and needs somebody to just keep things tight at the other end. Wahab will be used of course in bursts. Then it's between the mediocrity of rahat and sohail plus Aamir. So lots of questions if we want to get 20 wickets.

 

[Convict]

It's kind of hard to know when you're being serious or not.
How is Amir considerably better?

Junaids magic rating.

Only young quick considerably better than Hazlewood is Rabada