Where should Azhar Ali bat in Tests post-Misbah/Younis era?

[Slog]

I am a bit conflicted honestly.

I like the consistency he has brought in since becoming an opener and that we have a solid option up the order finally. Atleast one half of the opening problem seems to be solved on a long-term basis

But it is also true that since retirement of Younis and Misbah, our middle order is a wreck. Babar Azam hasn't delivered at Test level till now and cannot be counted as a reliable bat in the format. (even in ODIs he hasnt been as consistent against big sides). Asad Shafiq at #6 has been atrocious for over a year now (a few innings aside), so we can't trust him to take on the mantle of responsibility now, and even if he does, he is just one guy.

So we definitely need to strengthen the crucial middle order and in respect to Azhar one of the 3 options need to be considered, in my opinion:

1) Azhar remains as an opener. He has been very successful since his switch there and for a position which has been our weakness since Saeed Anwar retirement, why break something that is working?

2) Azhar goes back to his old position of #3. He built his career there and is arguably the most important position. He has success there and will allow Babar Azam to move own to #4 or #5 which are relatively easiest batting positions.

3) Azhar goes down to #4. The best batsmen in a team normally bat at 4 as you get to shape matches from there and allows you to maximize returns normally. It is arguably the easiest top order batting position as well which is why many of the best batsmen have batted there to maximize their runs.

(It is relatively easier because you dont face the new ball in most cases like openers or #3. The #4 usually comes in when the ball is a good 30,40 overs old and lost its shine, the pitch may have flattenned out if its an early morning start to innings and the pace bowlers have lost their initial bite. So the #4 gets a solid 40 or so overs to bat in the best conditions. For a #5 and esp #6 its tougher because they either end up coming when the second new ball is due or when an old ball may be reversing)

So what do you pick?

 

[Boi]

His game is best suited to opening. He's not the kind of batsmen who can dominate the innings and change the shape of the innings at number 4 or 5.

It would be pretty stupid to move him away from the opening spot after the success he's had there.

 

[zyrus]

#3 seems good. #4 is too late. Fawad Alam can be at #5. Khurram Manzor and Ahmed Shezad/Sami Aslam can open.

 

[mak36]

I touched on this in the thread debating who Pakistan should play as a second test opener.

I too am conflicted on this- it's a tough call. I think ultimately Azhar will know where he is best utilised- give him the choice and then plan accordingly. If he moves back to the middle order I think it would have to be at 3- he had great success there and moving Babar to 4 will allow him a little more breathing room.

 

[mak36]

#3 seems good. #4 is too late. Fawad Alam can be at #5. Khurram Manzor and Ahmed Shezad/Sami Aslam can open.

Khurram Manzoor and Ahmed Shehzad? Why don't we bring back Kamran Akmal and Imran Nazir whilst we are at it...

 

[Stallion__]

The change in his batting position can only be contemplated if we have solid options for both slots. Currently, we are struggling to find even one right batting partner for him. So no need to change his position. Don't want him to routinely come out at 10/2.

 

[sshakir411]

He should open. First choice opener paired with either Sharjeel or Sami.

 

[hadi123]

He should bat at number 3. We have lots of potential openers in tests. Sami Aslam, Jaahid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, maybe even Fakhar Zaman. AA must bat at 3

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Opener is fine for him IMO.He's been solid at the top mostly.

#3 would also be OK if we had another solid opener.

 

[Junaids]

Number 3.

1 Sami Aslam
2 Imam ul Haq (or Fakhar Zaman)
3 Azhar Ali
4 Babar Azam
5 Asad Shafiq or Umar Akmal
6 Sarfraz Ahmed (c/wk)
7 Aamer Yamin (outside Asia) or Mohammad Nawaz (in Asia)
8 Yasir Shah
9 Mohammad Amir
10 Hasan Ali
11 Mohammad Abbas

 

[Markhor]

Opener.

That spot has caused us far too much trouble over the years so let's not mess that about.

Shafiq will need to come up the order and take some bloody responsibility as a senior with 7 years of investment. Younis and Misbah aren't gonna be there to hold his hand anymore.

 

[Slog]

Number 3.

1 Sami Aslam
2 Imam ul Haq (or Fakhar Zaman)
3 Azhar Ali
4 Babar Azam
5 Asad Shafiq or Umar Akmal
6 Sarfraz Ahmed (c/wk)
7 Aamer Yamin (outside Asia) or Mohammad Nawaz (in Asia)
8 Yasir Shah
9 Mohammad Amir
10 Hasan Ali
11 Mohammad Abbas

batting too weak with hit and miss Sarfaraz starting at 6. (And UA or AS arent exactly paragons of consistency either)

 

[Square Drive]

Opener.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Has to open. People who want to dislodge him from the opening slot have absolutely no idea what they are talking about

 

[MMHS]

Has to open. People who want to dislodge him from the opening slot have absolutely no idea what they are talking about

Only spot, I mean literally only spot is to open. His partner should be a lefti - there are 4 available, Sami should get the nod.

 

[Ahson8]

He opens.

 

[Asim_khan]

He'd have to be in the top 3 for me. He's not dynamic enough to take a game by the scruff of the neck to bat any lower, he's not got the killer instinct or strike rate needed to hurt teams batting any lower.

My team would be

1) Sami Aslam
2) Azhar
3) Asad Shafiq
4) Babar Azam
5) Fawad Alan
6) Hafeez/Yamin/Nawaz/Imad(all rounder)
7) Sarfraz
8) Yasir
9) Amir
10) Hasan Ali
11) Wahab/Abbas

 

[aloo paratha]

Open. It shouldn't even be a question tbh.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Open

Azhar
Sami/Sharjeel
Haris
Babar
Usman

This should be our top 5.

 

[mumtaz]

Has to be number 3. If Babar had performed there, I would have voted to keep Azhar as the opener but as it stands, the middle order is basically empty, you cannot expose your best batsman to the new ball and hope to win many matches.

I havent done a statistical analysis but I think Azhar has a higher percentage of under-10 scores as opener rather than at #3 even though his average as opener is higher because of some daddy hundreds.

Azhar is not dynamic enough for a #4, though. At times, the #4 has to really cash in against the old ball like YK did against the spinners and Azhar cannot do that.

I would play the following team for the upcoming tests vs SL in UAE:

Sharjeel (if cleared)/Shehzad
Sami Aslam
Azhar
Babar
Shafiq
Haris Sohail
Sarfaraz
Yasir
Amir
Abbas
Shadab or Asghar

 

[Hasan123]

He should open. That's where his strengths like in blunting the new ball. His blocking and gridining won't work down the order. It could cost Pakistan.

Pakistan doesn't have a better player vs the new ball, so moving him will just bring him in earlier anyway.

 

[Buffet]

He is doing fine in position he bats. No need to change it.

 

[kaifmazhar]

Opener.

That spot has caused us far too much trouble over the years so let's not mess that about.

Shafiq will need to come up the order and take some bloody responsibility as a senior with 7 years of investment. Younis and Misbah aren't gonna be there to hold his hand anymore.

Shafiq behaves like a little lost kid still. 8 years of investment and still no hopes from him.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Continue to open with Azhar ali. He is consistent as an opener in tests with centuries overseas. Would be very stupid to move him to 3. Bring Sami aslam to strengthen the opening pair. Also a right and left hand combo. Bring haris sohail and Umar Amin back and retain usman salahuddin. Just drop Masood for Sami aslam and shehzad as back up opener. Babar has played all the away series so far. Don't do a UA to him. He will score runs at home (UAE) and build confidence from there

 

[New Yorker]

I am a bit conflicted honestly.

I like the consistency he has brought in since becoming an opener and that we have a solid option up the order finally. Atleast one half of the opening problem seems to be solved on a long-term basis

But it is also true that since retirement of Younis and Misbah, our middle order is a wreck. Babar Azam hasn't delivered at Test level till now and cannot be counted as a reliable bat in the format. (even in ODIs he hasnt been as consistent against big sides). Asad Shafiq at #6 has been atrocious for over a year now (a few innings aside), so we can't trust him to take on the mantle of responsibility now, and even if he does, he is just one guy.

So we definitely need to strengthen the crucial middle order and in respect to Azhar one of the 3 options need to be considered, in my opinion:

1) Azhar remains as an opener. He has been very successful since his switch there and for a position which has been our weakness since Saeed Anwar retirement, why break something that is working?

2) Azhar goes back to his old position of #3. He built his career there and is arguably the most important position. He has success there and will allow Babar Azam to move own to #4 or #5 which are relatively easiest batting positions.

3) Azhar goes down to #4. The best batsmen in a team normally bat at 4 as you get to shape matches from there and allows you to maximize returns normally. It is arguably the easiest top order batting position as well which is why many of the best batsmen have batted there to maximize their runs.

(It is relatively easier because you dont face the new ball in most cases like openers or #3. The #4 usually comes in when the ball is a good 30,40 overs old and lost its shine, the pitch may have flattenned out if its an early morning start to innings and the pace bowlers have lost their initial bite. So the #4 gets a solid 40 or so overs to bat in the best conditions. For a #5 and esp #6 its tougher because they either end up coming when the second new ball is due or when an old ball may be reversing)

So what do you pick?

He's the best opener we have had in decades, may end up the best ever for Pakistan. Keep. him. there. If Shafiq is not performing they clearly need to drop Shafiq. Babar is good enough that it is worth seeing how he could do could do lower down. Haris would make a decent no 3 I would imagine. Plays pace well. Fawad and Salahuddin should be other replacements for MisYou + Shafiq. Aslam comes in for Shan. Looks a very good middle order to me. The only thing missing is a batting allrounder for the no 5 bowler. In the long run worth trying with Shadab or Faheem I think.

 

[Abdul]

Babar has no business batting at #3 so I wouldn't mind if Azhar goes there again.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Azhar Ali #3 or #4, as the middle order is completley devoid of any experience and form. Fawad Alam , Harris Sohail can form the middle order. Ahmed shehzad and Sami Aslam (or Fakhar Zaman) Can open. Asad Shafiq is a question mark at the moment. Is he going to play consistently or do the same?? he can't hide behind Misbah and YK anymore. M Hafeez can be tried at # 6 (as a batting allrounder).

 

[muazy1]

1. Sami Aslam/Ahmed Shehzad
2. Fakhar zaman ( Hope he becomes another david warner in the making)
3. Azhar Ali
4. Babar Azam
5. Fawad Alam
6. Haris Sohail
7. Sarfaraz
8 Amir
9. Yasir
10. Hassan
11. Abbas/Junaid/ Wahab
Back up batsman : Asad Shafiq, Usman

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Babar has no business batting at #3 so I wouldn't mind if Azhar goes there again.

Babar so far has played at no. 3 in England, AUS NZ and WI. Need a bunch of series in UAE to settle his spot at no. 3 and he is good enough to do that. Expecting him to make good use of the upcoming SRL series in UAE. Don't do a UA to him.

 

[khurram39]

Opener or One down, No other option.

 

[Abdullah719]

He's doing fine as an opener.

 

[Slog]

Arthur is considering putting him at 3 again.

What I do know is Babar needs to be protected and doesn't seem cut out for 3 at this point

But opening has been such a problem for us for so long too so Creating a new one by taking out azhar doesn't make sense either

 

[Boi]

If you want to protect Babar then give Shafiq the responsibility of batting at number 3. Or the other option is to draft in Haris there who has decent technique against pacers. Azhar will practically be opening again if you're going to have duds like Masood or Shehzad partnering Sami.

 

[mmkextreme_1]

I hope he stays at the opening spot, classic example of "don't fix what ain't broken"

He's scored a triple and double hundred as an opener. Was always a natural opener, the amount of times he had to walk in early because of Pakistans opening issues.

 

[CadPakFan]

My XI for the upcoming SL tests

1. Azhar
2. Sami/Sharjeel
3. Shafiq
4. Salahuddin
5. Fawad/Babar
6. Haris
7. Sarfraz
8. Amir
9. Yasir
10. Hassan
11. Abbas/ Wahab/ Junaid

 

[Abdullah719]

He's back down to #3.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

He should open. Mind boggling how he's been demoted to occupy Hafeez who shouldn't bat higher than 5, and not at all outside Asia.

 

[Pakhs]

Hi Should bat 3 in Asia and could open if we dont have an opener who can bat outside Asia. In UAE and other Asian conditions we have others who can open and score runs so no need to expose him to new ball but outside Asia I feel we dont have a better opener than him at the moment.

 

[Pakhs]

He should open. Mind boggling how he's been demoted to occupy Hafeez who shouldn't bat higher than 5, and not at all outside Asia.

Is UAE outside Asia? why is your mind boggling? Let me help you UAE is in Asia where Hafeez has even better stats than Azhar and can bowl too.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Is UAE outside Asia? why is your mind boggling? Let me help you UAE is in Asia where Hafeez has even better stats than Azhar and can bowl too.

When did I say UAE is outside Asia?

Let me make it simpler for you to comprehend

- Azhar should open in Test Matches

- Hafeez should not open and should bat at four or five in Test Matches in Asia

- Hafeez should not play in Test Matches outside Asia as he will be a liability

 

[Pakhs]

When did I say UAE is outside Asia?

Let me make it simpler for you to comprehend

- Azhar should open in Test Matches

- Hafeez should not open and should bat at four or five in Test Matches in Asia

- Hafeez should not play in Test Matches outside Asia as he will be a liability

Okay that's fine but let me tell you there is nothing mind boggling about hafeez opening the innings in UAE where his got better stats than Azhar over a long period of time. Hafeez also has a higher average opening the innings in UAE and Azhar is a specialist number 3 bat so why push him higher where he will score less than Hafeez? Outside Asia sure in test matches he is no good.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Okay that's fine but let me tell you there is nothing mind boggling about hafeez opening the innings in UAE where his got better stats than Azhar over a long period of time. Hafeez also has a higher average opening the innings in UAE and Azhar is a specialist number 3 bat so why push him higher where he will score less than Hafeez? Outside Asia sure in test matches he is no good.

Azhar averages higher as an opener than at No. 3

Azhar actually averages higher as an opener than Hafeez in the UAE.

Azhar averages 7 points higher as an opener than Hafeez overall.

So my argument is to push Hafeez in the middle order in Tests in Asia.

 

[Shafi]

He should be kicked out!!!!! He only knows how to block or blunt new balls and an upgrade version of Sami Aslam. Players like these not good enough to save team s or put pressure on opposition and our test team has full of accumulators.

Both Azhar, Babar (Not a player for longer format and only good for shorter formats with limited abilities), Sarfraz needs to go.

 

[Pakhs]

Azhar averages higher as an opener than at No. 3

Azhar actually averages higher as an opener than Hafeez in the UAE.

Azhar averages 7 points higher as an opener than Hafeez overall.

So my argument is to push Hafeez in the middle order in Tests in Asia.

Azhar is a specialist number 3 bat so no excuses he should bat there and score plenty of runs. On the other hand Hafeez value decreases if you push him lower down the order in UAE.

 

[shaaik]

He is ideally suited for Opening however as long as Hafeez is there and scoring, i cant see it happening.

 

[Hasan123]

Asad Shafiq should bat at 5. Azhar as an opener.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Azhar is possibly among the top 2-3 openers in test cricket. Keep him as opener, in tougher conditions Hafeez will go missing while someone like AA can offer great resistance.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Azhar hit his greatest peak as opener which Mickey and Sarfaraz have had trouble seeing. There's no doubt his position. He's a player who plays best in his bubble and opening allows him to do that. His role is clear and defined. 3s and 4s are dynamic players, he doesn't have the game or mental capacity to succeed in those positions.