Would you have Sami Aslam in the team just to see off the new ball?

[yasir]

What good is all that blunting when you get out for a single digit score?

Surely scoring runs is the only way to win a match. Never seen a team win a match just by blunting the ball.

Scores are going to come, just be patient, he is only 21. No excuse for middle order to get out with older and second stint attack, that's where the real problem is ATM.... he is atleast blunting new ball, which is fundamental job of opener, specially Asian ...What Misbah and YK has done in last 3 test?? - They are on the crease at best possible time to bat... Two 22 years are left to face fresh bowlers with new cherry ...

I was disappointed at Babar's wicket a tade more, loosing wicket in last over before break is more heart breaking....

Also, don't forget last SA tour where we used to have two down in first 5 overs, in every fricking match...

Pakistan needs to play 120 overs. Score will come, Azhar and Sami is best opening pair Pakistan had in very long time, even better than Sohail and Anwar, just let them grow, hold on to your horses

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Scores are going to come, just be patient, he is only 21. No excuse for middle order to get out with older and second stint attack, that's where the real problem is ATM.... he is atleast blunting new ball, which is fundamental job of opener, specially Asian ...What Misbah and YK has done in last 3 test?? - They are on the crease at best possible time to bat... Two 22 years are left to face fresh bowlers with new cherry ��...

I was disappointed at Babar's wicket a tade more, loosing wicket in last over before break is more heart breaking....

Also, don't forget last SA tour where we used to have two down in first 5 overs, in every fricking match... ������

Pakistan needs to play 120 overs. Score will come, Azhar and Sami is best opening pair Pakistan had in very long time, even better than Sohail and Anwar, just let them grow, hold on to your horses �� ��

That's a huge exaggeration.

But yes, they are better than the Farhats, Hafeez and all that other nonsense we've had to put up with.

The last real opener of any substance that I liked before Aslam was Yasir Hameed.

But he faltered away.

 

[Hasan123]

He is good at seeing of the new ball but his stroke range is limited. He needs to improve this, he's 21 so I'll give him some time. We have a easier test schedule next year if he still struggling with strike rotation and not scoring more than single digest than maybe drop him.

I would stick with him for now. Finally we have a pair who can see of the new ball better to stick with them than put someone with a batter strike rate who doesn't have the technique to see of the new ball.

 

[Moiza]

What good is all that blunting when you get out for a single digit score?

Surely scoring runs is the only way to win a match. Never seen a team win a match just by blunting the ball.

Scoring is something sami should really be doing but the current situation isnt bad either. He protects babar and younis from the new ball so rather than being 3 down by the 20th overs we are 1 down or 0 down with lesser runs scored. Getting runs like Azhar should be his next aim but calls for his replacement are totally unjustified.

 

[Moiza]

Seeing off the new ball will take you nowhere. Scoring runs are essential in today's test cricket. Yes, Aslam can see off the new ball but he is a very petrified batsman who struggles to score runs. Aslam is just not brave enough to succeed at the top level. I would boot him out of the team.

And replace him with Shan or hafeez? These two are the only real options available. Maybe we should give hafeez another chance since he has been wanting to settle some old scores against bowlers?

 

[Moiza]

And players like hafeez and shan have played an eternity on their UAE/Asian performances so why is everyone judging him on overseas performances so quickly? He averaged 46.8 in the last series he played against WI in UAE. And 30.5 vs NZ in NZ. I would take such an opener with my eyes closed considering the kind of crap we have had in team for some years now.

 

[Syed1]

Scoring is something sami should really be doing but the current situation isnt bad either. He protects babar and younis from the new ball so rather than being 3 down by the 20th overs we are 1 down or 0 down with lesser runs scored. Getting runs like Azhar should be his next aim but calls for his replacement are totally unjustified.

Please tell me what good is that 'seeing off the new ball' when it takes you 50 overs to score 140 odd runs, the next new ball is only 30 overs away and you hardly have any runs on the board.

There is merit in blunting the new ball but in typical Pakistani fashion we over do it. The ball loses its shine within the first 10-15 overs and here is a hint it looses its shine faster if you actually put bat to ball rather than leaving it ball after ball.

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

Once he is in, he will score. He got a good one yesterday.

He needs to start identifying his scoring options once he is in.

 

[Bewal Express]

Once he is in, he will score. He got a good one yesterday.

He needs to start identifying his scoring options once he is in.

No he didn't, he made an ordinary delivery look fantastic. His problem besides the difficulties with getting the pacers away is that he has no scoring shots against spinners bar the hit to cow corner.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

Doesn't compute at all.

You replace Aslam with another player if you think a. Aslam has failed over his *career* as an opener b. The other player will do a better job c. The other player is a better long term prospect.

None of these are true.

You can state that you don't think that they are true, and say why, but you can't state that they are not true as if they were facts. They are only your opinion. I hope that computes.

 

[coy0607]

NO- having an opener to just last the first 15 overs is the definition of mediocrity - its fine if you want to be no. 4 or 5, no better

but I think Sam Aslam is more than that.. he shown as much, he's also struggled but that understandable for a young Pakistani opener starting his career in Aus / NZ

I think he's earned an extended run, Aus and WI series

 

[New Yorker]

Please tell me what good is that 'seeing off the new ball' when it takes you 50 overs to score 140 odd runs, the next new ball is only 30 overs away and you hardly have any runs on the board.

There is merit in blunting the new ball but in typical Pakistani fashion we over do it. The ball loses its shine within the first 10-15 overs and here is a hint it looses its shine faster if you actually put bat to ball rather than leaving it ball after ball.

Its difficult to argue with a thread whose premise is itself faulty. He doesn't 'just see off the new ball.' He has been out cheaply so far in three innings in Oz. But on tours in which he has played this year, as recently as the NZs series, he has put up some very good scores in very challenging circumstances.

 

[Moiza]

Its difficult to argue with a thread whose premise is itself faulty. He doesn't 'just see off the new ball.' He has been out cheaply so far in three innings in Oz. But on tours in which he has played this year, as recently as the NZs series, he has put up some very good scores in very challenging circumstances.

See post 20.

 

[New Yorker]

You can state that you don't think that they are true, and say why, but you can't state that they are not true as if they were facts. They are only your opinion. I hope that computes.

Sure fair enough, but the onus is not on the incumbent to make their case, it is on whoever wants to swap out the established player. And no one has actually made the case for Sharjeel on these grounds. Nor do I think they can.. If you want do so go ahead and I'll respond...?

 

[srh]

I want to see Sharjeel making test debut.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

Sure fair enough, but the onus is not on the incumbent to make their case, it is on whoever wants to swap out the established player. And no one has actually made the case for Sharjeel on these grounds. Nor do I think they can.. If you want do so go ahead and I'll respond...?

Sami Aslam is not an established player in the team. He's averaging in the low 30s thus far in his career. He's shown some promise, but so have other players shown promise initially. If he's in poor form (and he looks pretty timid out there), it's not going to do him any favours by sticking with him. Personally I'm not sure he's ever looked the part - his style of play is not one that I get confidence from. He never really looks comfortable to me.

As far as Sharjeel, he was selected because the coach, selectors and captain thought he has potential. If Aslam fails in the second innings, he should get a shot. he can't do much worse and could do a lot better.

 

[New Yorker]

See post 20.

Notwithstanding that clarification, most posts in this thread has read this as a debate about Sami Aslam, not a fictional figure who happens to be called Sami Aslam but never scores runs, just blunts the new ball. I wouldn't want anyone like that as an opener, and fortunately Sami Aslam is not that player.

 

[New Yorker]

Sami Aslam is not an established player in the team. He's averaging in the low 30s thus far in his career. He's shown some promise, but so have other players shown promise initially. If he's in poor form (and he looks pretty timid out there), it's not going to do him any favours by sticking with him. Personally I'm not sure he's ever looked the part - his style of play is not one that I get confidence from. He never really looks comfortable to me.

As far as Sharjeel, he was selected because the coach, selectors and captain thought he has potential. If Aslam fails in the second innings, he should get a shot. he can't do much worse and could do a lot better.

He averages in the high 30's, ie above 35. As a Pakistani opener, batting in England, New Zealand and Australia.

'Poor form' is specifically 3 innings so far and will 4 if he fails in the second. In New Zealand and Australia.

Any selection panel that drops a player who has been performing like him after 4 bad innings in New Zealan and Asutralia should themselves be dropped.

Suffice to say Shafiq would long be gone if that kind of run of form counted for anything.

'Look' comfortable' seems a peculiar metric - is it more important than scoring runs? But we could note that in his first England Test he looked so much at ease that a visibly nervous Azhar Ali acknowledged drawing confidence from the young man in constructing his own innings.

As for Sharjeel, I acknowledge that the selectors saw something in him - I don't know about the captain and coach, who seems quite discontent with many of the options given him.

But it is simply a fact that his domestic stats are far from the best on offer. If someone else was to be given a
chance it should rather be Fakhar Zaman, for instance.

So if we believe Sharjeel deserves it most we are taking the position that the selectors always know best. And history does not bear out that assessment.

Lastly, if Sharjeel were to be given a go it should be for 5-6 Tests at least. It is simply nonsensical to drop in
an opener and dump him after one Test. That is not how you build a team. It is how you ruin the confidence
and development of not one player but two.

I think it is telling that no one is advocating this. We all know that Sharjeel is a highly flawed product.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

Aslam is averaging 34.89 after his score of 9 in this test, not high 30s. Regarding your other points, I'll just say I disagree. Talking about how selectors were wrong to select Sharjeel is really a different discussion. My point is if Aslam fails in the 2nd innings, yes, I'd rather see Sharjeel in there than take the risk of Aslam failing again and looking out of his depth for the 3rd test. Regarding looking comfortable and confident, yes I think it is important for a player to play positively and not timidly and not just block and leave the ball until one comes along with your name on it. Azhar is a relatively slow player, but he looks solid. I don't get that from Aslam. Anyway let's see how he does in the 2nd innings.

 

[hk031992]

I would play Aslam for the rest of the series. Infact i think he deserves a couple of more series after this as well. There is no doubt that he needs to be more agressive and being this passive isn't going to do him any favours in the long run. But we cannot disrupt this team in the short run. Let him play few more series and see if he can develop his stroke making.

 

[New Yorker]

Aslam is averaging 34.89 after his score of 9 in this test, not high 30s. Regarding your other points, I'll just say I disagree. Talking about how selectors were wrong to select Sharjeel is really a different discussion. My point is if Aslam fails in the 2nd innings, yes, I'd rather see Sharjeel in there than take the risk of Aslam failing again and looking out of his depth for the 3rd test. Regarding looking comfortable and confident, yes I think it is important for a player to play positively and not timidly and not just block and leave the ball until one comes along with your name on it. Azhar is a relatively slow player, but he looks solid. I don't get that from Aslam. Anyway let's see how he does in the 2nd innings.

After the England series Aslam averaged in the 40s and was by wide acclaim the find of the series. When this Test started he averaged 36 something. It's my understanding that until this Test is finished his average has not formally been changed. That is also why player and team rankings cannot be changed until after the results are in. As for him looking confident, you would have to acknowledge that there are many many posters who agree with me that he actually looks very composed most of the time. And that this was also the opinion of Azhar Ali. Which opinion you glossed over. I understand that you would like him to be more aggressive and I also think that would be nice.

 

[yasir]

Sami Aslam is not an established player in the team. He's averaging in the low 30s thus far in his career. He's shown some promise, but so have other players shown promise initially. If he's in poor form (and he looks pretty timid out there), it's not going to do him any favours by sticking with him. Personally I'm not sure he's ever looked the part - his style of play is not one that I get confidence from. He never really looks comfortable to me.

As far as Sharjeel, he was selected because the coach, selectors and captain thought he has potential. If Aslam fails in the second innings, he should get a shot. he can't do much worse and could do a lot better.

I don't care about stats and avg just yet, he has been in team for 6/8 months on really tough tours. His fundamental job was to blunt the new ball, he passes that test with flying color, A+ grade. He is only 21, never seen 30+ openers with that strong defense, it's not like we have Warner and Cook in the waiting. What we got (Hafeez, Shaun, Shezad, Sharjeel), whose defense is as good as M Amir,

We don't want Babar at crease in third over and YK in 8/10th, by 15/20 overs whole match will be over... in GABBA when Azhar was out early in first innings collapse happen around Sami, he was the only one who faced the hot bowlers in tough night conditions... Same was true in second test in NZ, it did not took long for NZ to pears through the defense of Pakistan once Sami was gone. Pakistan has to play 120 overs, runs will come, Sami and Azhar are core part of strategy.

I would not touch Sami and Azhar at all, this is the best opening pair, biggest Pakistani firewall In the making, why would I tinker with it so early

 

[coy0607]

And replace him with Shan or hafeez? These two are the only real options available. Maybe we should give hafeez another chance since he has been wanting to settle some old scores against bowlers?

Fakhar Zaman, Imam ul Haq to name 2... there's are lot more than just Hafeez and Shan as the options available

lot of young openers have been piling on the runs domestically, Hafeez and Shan are just the 2 that you know of

 

[MMHS]

He has to convert starts - 10 runs in 1st hour isn't bad, if every 3rd or 4th innings, that 10 ends up 50 or 100. But, now, he is playing as a stylish night watchman.

 

[LordJames]

He has to convert starts - 10 runs in 1st hour isn't bad, if every 3rd or 4th innings, that 10 ends up 50 or 100. But, now, he is playing as a stylish night watchman.

The entire top and middle order is suspect against the new ball. Sami blunts the new Ball so they don't have to face it.

He has done a tremendous job and I understand that improvement is needed in a few areas that I have pointed out but he is fine.


It will be foolish for selectora to drop a youngster who has been our firewall in England, New Zealand and Australia

 

[hur rizvi]

He is still young. He will learn and for that we need to persist with him

 

[hadi123]

Come on this kid is very young and he has more potential than any one else in the domestic scene. Drop him and we will not find a good replacement. Give him the 3rd test, give him the WI test series then if he carries on failing then we can consider dropping him. He did score 91 against NZ only a few innings ago so why are people calling for his head